Gator Clause

Florida Gators RB Chris Rainey wants more carries

GAINESVILLE -- University of Florida tailback Chris Rainey rushed one time for 76 yards during Saturday's season opener. That's a pretty good yards per carry average to start the season.

Rainey's first carry of 2009 was a brilliant collection of speed, vision and shifty moves. After cutting through the Charleston Southern defense, he actually watched himself on the JumboTron as he raced down the field. Rainey said after that game that he watches himself during runs "every once in a while. It depends on what kind of run it is."

Maybe that explains why the redshirt sophomore was nearly tackled from behind by a Buccaneers defender. Nope. Rainey says he was just tired.

"I gave out," Rainey said. "I ran out of gas."

As for carrying the ball just once on Saturday?

"I wish I could have had at least two more carries or something like that," Rainey said. "But you got to be a team player around here or something."

-jo-

What we learned after Week One

GAINESVILLE -- What did we learn after the first weekend of college football? What modicum of information retained? What nugget of truth acquired?

Well, turns out the media hotel for the 2010 BCS National Championship is the Newport Beach Marriott in Orange County, Cali. So, that's a slightly interesting development for any reporters covering Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma State, USC and Cal. Those are you top contenders after Week One.

Slightly related to that opinion: the Georgia Bulldogs and Louisiana State Tigers didn't exactly look like top 5 teams during the first week of the season. Can anyone look at Florida's schedule and point to an opponent that has the ability to beat the Gators? Maybe LSU will improve. Maybe Georgia will figure things out in the next month. Or, maybe not. After Week One those teams did not resemble national title contenders.

Here are you top news stories throughout the SEC East after the first week of the season...

Georgia starter out for the season

Florida has safety in numbers

Tennessee freshman Bryce Brown's debut

South Carolina offense too conservative

Vandy frosh add flash to 'Dores offense

Receivers emerge for Kentucky

-jo-

Florida Gators OL Carl Johnson probable for Saturday's game against Troy

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer said on Sunday that starting left guard Carl Johnson suffered a bone bruise during Saturday's 62-3 win against Charleston Southern.

Meyer said that Johnson is probable for Saturday's game against Troy. If Johnson is unavailable, then reserve lineman James Wilson will get the start. Johnson was the only player injured during the season opener on Saturday.

-jo-

Was DE Jermaine Cunningham suspended for the opener?

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer would not disclose the reason why defensive end Jermaine Cunningham did not play in the season opener on Saturday. Meyer said that Cunningham, a potential first-round pick in next year's NFL Draft, "wasn't ready to play" against Charleston Southern.

When asked if Cunningham was suspended, Meyer said "he wasn't ready."

As for the new safety rotation, Meyer wasn't ready on Saturday night to answer questions about it. When asked (again, again and again), he said he simply didn't understand the question. We'll try again on Sunday. For those unaware, sophomore Will Hill started in place of junior safety Ahmad Black on Saturday. Black, Hill and Wright eventually ended up rotating into the game.

-jo-

Florida Gators pregame notes and observations

GAINESVILLE -- A few minutes to kickoff here at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. New scoreboards are impressive. The band is still mediocre. A few observations before we get going...

--As reported by this blog a few days ago, sophomore safety Will Hill is starting ahead of Ahmad Black.

--Tight end Christopher Coleman is on crutches. As if UF had some surplus of tight ends.

--Second-string middle linebacker Brendan Beal is wearing a neck brace. He's not playing. Guess that makes freshman Jon Bostic the No.2 man on the depth chart.

--Can't find receiver Carl Moore on the sideline. Moore is suffering from an injured back with no real timetable for a return. Not good.

--There are recruits here despite this being a ho-hum season opener. Pretty sure I saw QB Trey Burton cruising the sidelines.

-jo-

Christmas Day is here!

GAINESVILLE -- I woke up this morning like I was 10 years old and it was Christmas Day. Oh, boy, look what Gator Claus left me under the cypress tree! A shiny new college football season!

Not even a right cross from LeGarrette Blount could keep me away from the television/computer today. College football is finally here. (We'll give the sport we love TWO mulligans after Thursday's doubleheader debacle.)

OK, let's be serious. Did anyone other than me scream "Down goes the champ!" when Blount -- the pride of Madison County, Fla. -- dropped that Boise State lineman? I didn't see it live but that was my first reaction the next morning. Should Blount have been suspended for an entire season? Probably. After all, he possibly could have gone to a Utah jail for longer if Don Flamenco would have pressed charges.

The Gators don't play until 7 p.m. I'm not really feeling a season opener against Charleston Southern, so here's a link to the game notes if you want to study up on the Buccaneers.

Here's a link to a couple of feature stories I wrote this week about the season opener, enjoy ... Maturity pays off for Brandon James... Florida Gators opener an opportunity to tinker with offense... Brandon Spikes is the Predator!

Since we're not doing an Ultimate Preview this week (will begin the often-imitaded-but-never-duplicated Ultimate Preview when UF actually plays a team from its own division) we'll throw up our college football picks for Week One of the college football season. (These are in today's paper but I don't think they made it online.)

Florida State 31, Miami 27: Evenly matched teams except for one noticeable difference: Florida State QB Christian Ponder is a veteran playing behind a talented offensive line while Canes QB Jacory Harris is making his first start at The Doak. Hey, Jacory, how’s your play-action fake coming along? We’ll find out on Monday. (Favorite: FSU by 6.)

 

Florida 63, Charleston Southern 0: The Gators should be ashamed of themselves. (Favorite: No line.)

 

Nebraska 45, Florida Atlantic 24: Owls QB Rusty Smith will have a fine senior season but he must first endure an FAU payday at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. Coach Howard Schnellenberger, who coached at Oklahoma in 1995, did FAU no favors by torching Nebraska’s logo during a team bonfire this week. (Favorite: Nebraska by 23.)

 

South Florida 42, Wofford 10: No contest here. This is the first of three tune-up games for the Bulls before they play at Florida State on Sept. 26. (Favorite: No line.)

 

Georgia 27, Oklahoma State 24: Upset special. The Bulldogs will win this game on the offensive and defensive lines. Expect a big day from Georgia receiver A.J. Green, who will be the best playmaker on the field. Sorry, Dez Bryant. (Favorite: Oklahoma State by 5.)

 

Notre Dame 30, Nevada 14: A statement game for the Fighting Irish. [Pause for contemplation.] Irish QB Jimmy Clausen has matured into a leader and was named a team captain this preseason. Behind a veteran line, Clausen will begin leading Notre Dame back to respectable this Saturday. (Favorite: Notre Dame by 14 ½).

 

Oklahoma 40, BYU 17: This is a bad match-up for Brigham Young, which should rebound after this week to contend for the Mountain West Conference championship. The Sooners, losers to Florida in last season’s title game, get back on track with the return of running back DeMarco Murray. (Favorite: Oklahoma by 22 ½.)

 

Alabama 20, Virginia Tech 13: The second straight season opener for Alabama at the Georgia Dome. This is basically a home game for the Crimson Tide, which has one of the best defenses in the nation. Virginia Tech is shaky at quarterback and thin at running back. (Favorite: Alabama by 6.)

-jo-

Florida Gators safety Will Hill to start ahead of Ahmad Black, according to source

GAINESVILLE -- Here's your unofficial depth chart for the Florida Gators' season opener on Saturday. According to a source, Will Hill is going to start at safety ahead of Ahmad Black. Does this mean Major Wright is finally going to move to his natural position, strong safety?

OFFENSE
WR 6 Deonte Thompson 85 Frankie Hammond, Jr.
WR 11 Riley Cooper 7 Justin Williams
LT 71 Matt Patchan 73 Xavier Nixon
LG 57 Carl Johnson OR 66 James Wilson 79 Corey Hobbs
C 56 Maurkice Pouncey 50 Sam Robey
RG 55 Mike Pouncey 74 Maurice Hurt
RT 76 Marcus Gilbert 78 David Young
TE 81 Aaron Hernandez
QB 15 Tim Tebow 12 John Brantley 16 Jordan Reed
RB 2 Jeff Demps OR 3 Chris Rainey OR 21 Emmanuel Moody
FB 45 T.J. Pridemore 48 Rick Burgess
WR 25 Brandon James 18 T.J. Lawrence 4 Andre Debose
WR 83 David Nelson 82 Omarius Hines

Note: Starters for 12 offensive positions listed. Opening formation determines which players will start.

DEFENSE
DE 8 Carlos Dunlap OR 94 Justin Trattou 44 Duke Lemmens
DT 90 Lawrence Marsh 99 Omar Hunter
DT 6 Jaye Howard OR 92 Terron Sanders 98 Troy Epps
DE 49 Jermaine Cunningham 96 William Green 34 Lerentee McCray
SLB 16 A.J. Jones OR 40 Brandon Hicks 26 Lorenzo Edwards
MLB 51 Brandon Spikes 54 Brendan Beal OR 52 Jonathan Bostic
WLB 41 Ryan Stamper 43 Jelani Jenkins
CB 1 Janoris Jenkins 4 Wondy Pierre-Louis 36 Moses Jenkins
CB 5 Joe Haden 14 Markihe Anderson 27 Adrian Bushell
SS 10 Will Hill OR 35 Ahmad Black 13 Dee Finley
FS 10 Will Hill OR 21 Major Wright 24 Josh Evans

SPECIALISTS
K 38 Jonathan Phillips OR 19 Caleb Sturgis
P 17 Chas Henry 40 David Lerner
LS (P) 53 Mike Williamson 58 Christopher Guido
LS (FG) 59 John Fairbanks 53 Mike Williamson
H 17 Chas Henry 22 Cade Holliday
KR 25 Brandon James 2 Jeff Demps 3 Chris Rainey
KR 11 Riley Cooper 5 Joe Haden 21 Emmanuel Moody
PR 25 Brandon James 5 Joe Haden 3 Chris Rainey

Florida Gators special section ... the outtakes

GAINESVILLE -- In case anyone hasn't checked the sports pages, The Miami Herald's football special sections hit the newsstands today. Go buy a copy!

If you're living outside of South Florida, then CLICK ME! for college football special sections.

The Florida Gators' coverboy this season was senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes. How could Tebow not be the cover, you ask? Well, that's how much The Miami Herald respects the Gators' defense this season. Here's the cover story, CLICK ME!

This year's theme for the special section: movies. I begged and I pleaded with my editors but my cinematically themed Tim Tebowisms were left on the cutting-room floor. Good thing I've got this blog. Here are the outtakes...

Tim Tebow hunts on the Predator planet (Predator/1987).

Tim Tebow doesn't need a bigger boat (Jaws/1975).

Freddy Krueger has nightmares of Tim Tebow (Nightmare on Elm Street/1984).

Tim Tebow loves the smell of napalm in the morning. He uses it to shave his face. (Apocalypse Now/1979).

Tony Montana, Kayser Soze and Marsellus Wallace are all Born-Again Christians thanks to Tim Tebow (Scarface/1983; The Usual Suspects/1995; Pulp Fiction/1994).

Tim Tebow taught Mr. Miyagi the crane kick and taught Lloyd Christmas how to read (Karate Kid/1984; Dumb & Dumber/1994).

A Jedi padiwan of Tim Tebow Yoda was (Star Wars/1977).

-jo-

Players vote on five captains for the Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE -- Your 2009 team captains: Tim Tebow, Ryan Stamper, Brandon Spikes, Brandon James and Joey Sorrentino.

Tebow, Spikes and Stamper are mainstays. They're three of only eight Gators to be named captain twice in their careers.

Here's a raise of the glass to Brandon James on his captaincy. I never thought I'd be writing those words. He has come a long way since his freshman year and has earned the respect of his players, coaches and fans. Way to go kid.

Joey Sorrentino, wow! From walk-on to captain! Sorrentino, the smallest player on the team, is one of Urban Meyer's special teams dynamos. The senior will participate in kickoff, kickoff return and punt block on Saturday.

"We voted last Friday, and coach called up the guys you'd already assume and then said there was one more," Sorrentino said. "He called me up, and I was just in shock."

-jo-

Questions linger about Florida Gators receiver Andre Debose

GAINESVILLE -- On Wednesday, Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer again pushed back the timetable on injured freshman receiver Andre Debose.

Meyer indicated on Monday that Debose's hamstring injury might require surgery but Meyer backed away from that statement on Wednesday after meeting with Debose' parents.

"We met [on Tuesday] with the family," Meyer said. "There are one or two other things we're going to look into. We're going to make some phone calls and then we'll know. I looked at the family and said, 'Are you OK with that?' and they said, "Yeah, that's great.'"

Debose did not practice on Wednesday and Meyer said the UF medical staff is "going to shut him down regardless."

Debose is one of two UF receivers who will miss Saturday's season opener. Senior receiver Carl Moore is recovering from a back injury and is also unavailable.

-jo-

Week One injury report for the Florida Gators is extensive

GAINESVILLE -- It's not all good news for the Florida Gators these days. The defending national champions will begin the season with several injured players at key positions. Here's the list as of Wednesday before practice...

PROBABLES
C Maurkice Pouncey (shoulder), RB Emmanuel Moody (ankle), Tim Tebow (lower back)

QUETIONABLES
LB Brendan Beal (neck), LB Brandon Hicks (ankle), LB Jelani Jenkins (ankle), LB Jon Bostic (ankle), DT Brandon Antwine (knee)

DOUBTFUL
WR Andre Debose (hamstring), WR Carl Moore (back), CB Jeremy Brown (back)

OUT
S Dorian Munroe (knee), LB Dustin Doe (suspended)

-jo-