Doing the Gators Double Dip

This past weekend, I took my two boys to Gainesville for the basketball game on Friday and the football game on Saturday. It was a great time. First we went to the hoops game. We arrived just in time for tip off.

The crowd was fairly small again, which I still don’t get, especially with the football crowd arriving. But it was also loud. The first half the Gators again struggled on offense. This time they were also getting beat on the glass. They did manager to pull ahead but at the end of the first half they went on a turnover spree. Troy led 32-31 at the break. I don’t know what Billy Donovan said to them at halftime but he needs to bottle it. The Gators came to play in the second half. Erving Walker, who was scoreless in the first half, had 13 points in lees than ten minutes in the second half. He found his three point shot and so did Dan Werner and Chandler Parsons. Vernon Macklin and Alex Tyus took over down low as well making it very difficult for Troy to score. Troy produced only 13 points in the first 14 minutes of the second half. With two minutes to play, the Gators had turned a 1 point halftime deficit into a 28 point lead at 80-52. Donovan then emptied his bench and

Troy ended the game on a 6-0 run.

After the game I took my two sons, ages 16 and 4, across the street to the new Heavener complex. It was closed but we still got a good look at the place. WOW! That thing is really cool. Those three crystal trophies stare you right in the face. And with the videos screens behind them, I can’t see how a recruit coming to UF cannot want to be part of this. My only question is, where will this year’s go? There didn’t seem to any wasted space. The Gators’ 3 Heisman Trophies are also on prominent display on the south wall. I hope this weekend to catch the place when it’s open.

After a post game trip to Larry’s (I don’t know why but Larry’s always tastes better in Gainesville) we crashed at the in-laws’ house. We got up early the next day and headed for the Swamp. We didn’t have tickets and getting three as opposed to two is a bit more difficult. We were walking around, doing the ticket wheel and deal, and were actually in the right place at the right time for the team busses pulling in for the Gator Walk. That was cool. Seeing Tim Tebow step off the bus made my 4 year old’s day.

We managed to score three tickets with the cash we had. Good seats too. North end zone 21 rows up. The game went like expected. FIU didn’t put up much of a fight. Less than two minutes into the game, Brandon Spikes picks off a pass and waltzes into the end zone. A few minutes later, Tebow runs for his record breaking (SEC career touchdowns scored) from 55 yards out. Seriously, you guys are from South Florida. You can’t catch a 249 pound QB? I don’t think they really wanted to catch him. Who can blame them?

It was the 4 year old’s first Gator football game. I wanted him to see Tebow before he graduates. I don’t know if he’ll remember the game itself, but I’m sure he’ll remember seeing Tebow. That’s what it’s all about people. You don’t win championships every year. After this year, if we do win it, it may never happen again. But that’s ok, because those trophies will still be in the trophy case. Those banners will still hang in the O’Dome. They will still do the Gator Walk. And 90 thousand folks will still show up in the fall wearing orange and blue. And somewhere in that crowd, it will be the first game for somebody. And they will never forget it.

Florida Gators: 1984 Revisited, 25 years later

For you young Florida Gator fans out there, believe it or not we haven’t always had it this good. Growing up in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, being a Gator’s fan was a lot like being a Mississippi State fan is now. A good season was finishing over .500. A great season was getting a bowl bid. The ultimate would be to win the SEC. Not that it would ever happen. Because it never had before. A National Title? Be serious. We’re Florida. National Titles are not for us. They’re for Notre Dame, Alabama, USC,  Oklahoma, or Nebraska.

Oh sure we had some good teams in the 70s. One year we went to the Sugar Bowl and almost beat Nebraska. But somehow we always managed to mess up when that first SEC title was within our reach. Most of the time it was at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party where we lost it. Georgia drank theirs before the game. We drank ours after.

In 1980, things went from bad to worse. The Dawgs found a great running back. His name was Herschel Walker. He was big and he was fast. He would run defenders over on one play and blow right by them the next. Nobody could stop him. In 1979 the Gators went winless. Florida State went unbeaten. We thought that was rock bottom. It wasn’t. I’m sure you’ve all seen the replay of “Lindsay Scott.” Had that play not happened, we win our first SEC. Instead Georgia went on to win the National Championship. And Walker was only a freshman. He came back to torment us for two more years. My three years of high school were Walker’s three years at UGA. One of my best friends was a huge UGA fan. So you can imagine what it was like.

Then it happened. A walk-on QB named Kerwin Bell came to UF. He was way down on the depth chart. In fact, he may not have even been on it. But he got the coach’s attention. He worked his way all the way up to #1. He was an instant hit. Behind the “Throwin Mayoan” the Gators were winning games. They lost the first game to defending National Champion Miami, and the second game was a tie vs. LSU. After that it was nothing but Ws. This included a 27-0 shutout of the hated Dawgs. So it all came down to a road trip to Kentucky. The Gators won a tight game in bad weather and it had finally happened.

The Gators celebrated much like celebrate National Titles today. We bought anything and everything that said “1984 SEC Champions” on it. Whether it was t-shirts, hats, coke bottles (I still have a few unopened), if it had that on there, we had to have it. It was pure joy in Hogtown. Then came the word from the SEC. There would be no Sugar Bowl. There would be no SEC Championship. It was being taken away for NCAA violations. To make it worse the National Championship was won by BYU. They got it by winning the Holiday Bowl by beating a 6-5 Michigan team. Had we been allowed to go to the Sugar Bowl, who knows? Several polls voted us National Champs anyway. But not the ones that really counted like the AP and UPI.

It was a bitter pill to swallow. But this should not mean we forget that team. The 1984 Florida Gators gave us our first taste of what it’s like to be a Gator today. They gave us our future. After that team, we knew it could be done. Gator fans and boosters have never settled for mediocrity since. There used to a “1984, 1985” marked on the façade at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that has since been taken down. It wasn’t taken down because we have forgotten. It was to make room for the many Championships won since. We just needed the room. We have the 1984 and 1985 teams to thank for that. Thank you Kerwin Bell. Thank You Ricky Nattiel. Thank you John L Williams. Thank you Neal Andersen. Thank you to all the 1984 Gators. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Is Special Teams Ready to be Special Again?

Brandon James is lethal when it comes to special teams. Give him an opening and he’ll make you pay with 6 points in a matter of about 10 seconds. In less time, the rest of the special teams unit can block a punt and score a touchdown, get a safety, or set up the Gator offense in great field position. It’s nice to be the one with options on fourth down, when you don’t even have the ball yet.

Last season the Gators appeared to favor going after the kick. Between the blocks, partial blocks and near-blocks, it rarely seemed like Florida dropped back just to defend for James. It’s something that’s missing this season. On pure memory, which is lacking, I can only recall one blocked kick and numerous times where I asked myself, why aren’t they gunning for the punter?

James has proven he is elusive and could still return a punt for a touchdown if the block attempt went unsuccessful. Do you think Meyer is trying to showcase James for NFL scouts? He is, in my opinion, the next Devin Hester. Will we see the Gators let loose on the LSU kicking team?

Team Captains Named for Florida Gators Football

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Urban Meyer announced the five players who will serve as the Gators’ captains during the 2009 year. The captains were voted on by their teammates.

1. Brandon James
2. Joey Sorrentino
3. Brandon Spikes
4. Ryan Stamper
5. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow, Ryan Stamper and Brandon Spikes are of elite status being named twice as captains.  Only 8 players have been named twice in their career.

Bryan Jones and Jim Barrie Likely to be Gone

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Practices seem to be going fairly well for the University of Florida, but this week has been a tough one in terms of the roster on a very talented team. Head Coach Urban Meyer announced Tuesday that reserve offensive linemen Byran Jones and Jim Barrie are likely done as members of the Gator football squad. This follows the news last week of reserve receiver Paul Wilson suffering the same fate.

Full article available to insiders at Scout/Fightin’ Gators

Bryan Jones is no longer with the Gators and is seeking to play football at another school in Jacksonville Meyer told media after practice on Tuesday.  Meyer doesn’t just let anyone leave whenever they want.

“It depends on why,” he said. “If their uncle is telling them they need more playing time and they are a good kid, then no. If they can’t make it academically and it is in the best interest of them to go to a smaller school, or because they will never really play, then we wish them the best and move on.”

Meyer also brought other news of Jim Barrie likely to not be a Gator football player but for other reasons.  This fell in the line of injury that had this Gator player possibly looking at not playing anymore:

“Jim Barrie had a devastating knee injury and he tried to come back, but it doesn’t look like he will play again,” Meyer said not totally ruling out the chance Barrie returns. “He might be a medical (hardship) and that is going to be done here in the next four days. There is a chance he might be a student assistant. He’s an excellent student and wants to be a lawyer. He’s a great kid and has a year and a half or two years left. That was a tough surgery last year, it was not a normal ACL injury.”

Nonetheless, practice today looked good overall in Meyer’s eyes but execution seemed tough.  Guys are getting banged up and there’s not that “rah rah” enthusiasm.  He went on to say that they have to feel lousy before they feel good.

Q & A with James Wilson

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Snagged this quick interview from Gainesville Sun with Gator offensive linemen James Wilson:

Q: Playoff or no playoff in college football?

A: No playoff. I like it the way it is. I like that the season is so much more shorter. That takes a toll on our bodies a lot. It’s just popular vote. Sure, the playoff will sort out who can beat who, but I like it the way it is.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: Playing video games, sleeping and that’s about it.

Q: What kind of games?

A: Halo, with Duke Lemmens and Justin Trattou. That new UFC Undisputed game is pretty sweet, too.

Q: Who is the best Halo player?

A: Duke. He makes that rifle and sniper sing.

Q: That makes sense. With a name like Duke, you have to be good with a gun, right?

A: (laughs) Exactly. I’d hope so.

Q: How long do you normally take off from football after a season?

A: They give us about two weeks, but then we start back up. I try to do that and take that time. I just need a little rest, but it’s always fun to get back into it. It starts a new challenge.

Q: Is two weeks enough to rest and recuperate from a long season?

A: Yeah it is. That’s what we’re here for. If something is not right with you, they’ll work with you.

Q: If you weren’t playing football, what would you be doing right now?

A: I’d be in college, but I’d probably be at Santa Fe Community College or UNF back home. Luckily, I’m good at sports, so they picked me up here.

Q: A wide receiver willing to go over the middle: brave or stupid?

A: Brave, definitely. Stupid is people telling you that you should be an offensive lineman when you’re little (laughs). I was a big kid that got skinny for a while, but I was always strong. I like it, though. I like being depended on.

 

CAREER:

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman played in 10 games last season after redshirting his first year on campus.

 

 

2008: Dressed for all 14 games and saw action in 10 as a Gator during Florida’s 2008 SEC and 2008 BCS title runs…Played against Hawaii, Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida State and Alabama…Graded out a Champion for the first time during the season for his effort against The Citadel, checking in at 82 percent.

2007: Did not see action, but dressed for four games (Western Kentucky, Troy, Tennessee, Michigan)

PREP: Rated the No. 1 offensive guard and No. 2 overall prospect by Rivals.com…Rated second among offensive guards according to Scout.com…Rated 44th on the ESPN150 list…The Scout.com five-star offensive guard chose Florida over Southern California and Notre Dame…In 2006, he was chosen as a U.S. Army All-American…A member of the Class 4A all-state team after leading Nease to a 14-1 record with district and regional championship wins…Helped Nease win the state championship in 2005 by collecting 69 pancakes and 51 downfield blocks…Also played basketball for Nease and was a state weightlifting qualifier in ‘06…High school coach was Craig Howard.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 19, 1989…Parents are James Wilson II and Carla Wilson.

MAJOR: Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Aaron Hernandez ESPN Interview

I found this video on ESPN regarding Aaron’s take on becoming the top target for Tim Tebow in the upcoming season:

Get your Tim Tebow Ultimate He15man Shrit!

Riley Cooper Texas Bound?

Riley Cooper may have very well went as the most under appreciated Florida Gator receiver last year.  With Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy almost taking the show, it was easy for Cooper to sneak under the radar especially with the support from other Gator receivers.  However, Cooper could play a huge factor or lack of one next year.

Cooper was 4th last year on the Gators receiving list and is currently in serious contract negotiations with the Texas Rangers.  Gator Bytes gives us a bit of the background behind this:

Cooper, expected to play a major role this fall as a replacement for departed receivers Percy Harvinand Louis Murphy, began his summer playing baseball in the Cape Cod League. But last week he transferred to the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League to let the Rangers take a good look at him play as he negotiates his contract.

McKinney is a northern suburb in the Dallas Metroplex, located a stone’s throw from the Rangers’ Class-AA affiliate, the Frisco Roughriders. Through two games, Cooper is batting 1-for-6 with three walks, but his one hit was a two-run home run.

MLB teams have until August 17th to sign their draftees, and Cooper’s father,Larry Cooper, said his son may take the negotiations right up to the deadline. That won’t exactly work out well for the football team, which will begin two-a-days the first week of August. Cooper also missed this year’s spring practice to be with the baseball team.

There are some tough decisions ahead for Riley Cooper.  As a Gator fan it’s easy for us to say “Stay and get another National Championship”.  However, it’s hard to turn down the kind of contract he’s probably in negotiations with and risk another year as a receiver and take a chance towards the NFL draft.  There’s no real guarantee of what he could get in the NFL or if he would even make it as a pro receiver.

“We don’t know. We’re just taking a wait-and-see approach,” Larry Cooper said Sunday night from his home near St. Petersburg. “I don’t think we’ll know those answers until the deadline gets closer.”

Apparently Cooper starting on the Gator Football team will not play a factor into whether he stays or goes.  At this point I think it all depends on what kind of signing bonus that the Cooper family can turn out.  If they are able to negotiate a low 6 figure signing bonus, I think we can kiss Riley goodbye.

Matt Elam Shopping Around

Five-star athlete Matt Elam said Monday he is still committed to Florida but he plans to take official visits naming Georgia, Alabama, West Virginia and Virginia Tech as the possible destinations.

Full article at GatorBait.net

Elam stated he is still committed to Florida but wants to give other people a chance.  He hasn’t visited any other schools and has been hearing rumors about coaching changes at Florida after this season but wouldn’t comment on where those rumors came from.

“I’m still committed to Florida,” Elam said. “I’m just looking around to see something different in case something goes down and I can’t go to Florida anymore.  … I’ve heard a lot about coaching changes and things like that and I haven’t visited any other places but Florida. I want to look at other places and give other people a chance.”

Sounds like someone has gained the trust of young Elam and is giving him information that is making him doubt his committment to Florida.  The obvious would state his other top schools that he plans to visit as the source of this rumor.

Matt Elam is rated the top athlete and the No. 5 prospect in 2010 recruiting class according to Rivals.com.  He has played on both sides of the ball and looks beastly in whatever position he plays… we need him!

Mack Brown Not Swayed by Emotion

One of the more heated battles in college football recruiting is taking place in the state of Georgia between the home state Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. The schools annually square off for the top prospects in the two states and this year seems to be an even bigger rumble with more prospects. Mack Brown may be the best, and despite rumors, it’s still status quo for the elite running back.

Full story available to insiders at Fightin’ Gators

Florida is keying in on Mack Brown as that back that can make FL a one RB team.  He possesss all the things FL needs to put him in the RB position and can stay healthy.  Mack has Florida and Georgia at the top with UF being the #1.  There are rumors now that he will be ready to commit soon but his comments still show a bit uncertainty.

“I might, I don’t know yet,” he said about committing sometime soon. “It’s still Florida and Georgia at the top.  Both are good programs. Both have good coaching staffs. Both have good offenses that are real productive. They are pretty even, but Florida is number one right now.”

Brown could be the Gators’ answer on having one back to run the majority of the carries.  We haven’t had a back like that in quite some time and would be a spot the Gators would love to have filled by Mack Brown.

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