JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Georgia's slide happened in September. Florida's plunge came in October.
Now, they're out of the national championship picture, out of the polls and nearly out of chances to make the season special.
Thanks to the Southeastern Conference's topsy-turvy Eastern Division, though, both remain in the hunt for a spot in the league title game at least until Saturday.
When the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3 SEC) and Gators (4-3, 2-3) meet in Jacksonville for the 75th time in the last 78 years, it will essentially be an elimination game in the East. Sure, the loser still will be technically alive in the division race. But it would need plenty of help down the stretch to get to Atlanta.
Florida center Mike Pouncey says, "We really need this win."
Friday, October 29, 2010
Gator Injury update
Meyer said Demps is the healthiest he has been in five weeks but is taking no chances and will rest the junior on Friday.
"He went pretty good today," Meyer said. "I wouldn't say he's 100 percent yet, but I'm hoping he's going to be 100 percent at game time."
The news isn't as good on kicker Caleb Sturgis, who was hoping to make his return this week. The junior from St. Augustine experienced pain after kicking on Wednesday and won't play this week. He has missed the past three games with a stress fracture in his back.
"That's a pretty tough injury," Meyer said.
In addition, it looks like the Gators will not get much from defensive tackle Jaye Howard (ankle) and receiver Andre Debose (ankle).
"They're both going and I think Jaye Howard's going to be able to play but not a whole lot, and we're hoping we can get something out of both of them," Meyer said. "Not a lot, though."
Brown bothered by hamstring
The mystery of why running back Mack Brown has played very little this season was solved: He's battling a hamstring.
The freshman has just three carries this season and did not get on the field against MSU despite injuries to Demps, Moody and Gillislee. UF moved tight end Omarius Hines to the backfield to get carries.
"He's been having hamstring issues," Meyer said. "Matt's getting close, though."
"He went pretty good today," Meyer said. "I wouldn't say he's 100 percent yet, but I'm hoping he's going to be 100 percent at game time."
The news isn't as good on kicker Caleb Sturgis, who was hoping to make his return this week. The junior from St. Augustine experienced pain after kicking on Wednesday and won't play this week. He has missed the past three games with a stress fracture in his back.
"That's a pretty tough injury," Meyer said.
In addition, it looks like the Gators will not get much from defensive tackle Jaye Howard (ankle) and receiver Andre Debose (ankle).
"They're both going and I think Jaye Howard's going to be able to play but not a whole lot, and we're hoping we can get something out of both of them," Meyer said. "Not a lot, though."
Brown bothered by hamstring
The mystery of why running back Mack Brown has played very little this season was solved: He's battling a hamstring.
The freshman has just three carries this season and did not get on the field against MSU despite injuries to Demps, Moody and Gillislee. UF moved tight end Omarius Hines to the backfield to get carries.
"He's been having hamstring issues," Meyer said. "Matt's getting close, though."
Coach Urban Meyer: Chris Rainey 'really had a good week'
GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Urban Meyer is pleased with everything Chris Rainey has done in his return from a suspension and on Thursday said the redshirt junior from Lakeland will play against Georgia.
"[Rainey did everything Meyer asked] and beyond," Meyer said. "He really had a good week."
Rainey will get some snaps at running back as well, even though Jeff Demps (foot), Mike Gillislee (hamstring) and Emmanuel Moody (quad) are all expected to play.
Rainey was dismissed from the Florida football program after his Sept. 14 arrest for sending a threatening text message to a woman he has dated. He pled to a misdemeanor stalking charge on Sept. 27 and received deferred prosecution, and Meyer allowed Rainey to begin practicing with the team before the Mississippi State game.
The Gators (4-3, 2-3 SEC) certainly can use him against Georgia. Rainey, who caught six passes for 34 yards and one touchdown and returned three punts for 17 yards in UF's first two games, has rushed for 1,237 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons before being converted to a receiver. He has nine rushes or receptions of 30 or more yards in his career.
"[Rainey did everything Meyer asked] and beyond," Meyer said. "He really had a good week."
Rainey will get some snaps at running back as well, even though Jeff Demps (foot), Mike Gillislee (hamstring) and Emmanuel Moody (quad) are all expected to play.
Rainey was dismissed from the Florida football program after his Sept. 14 arrest for sending a threatening text message to a woman he has dated. He pled to a misdemeanor stalking charge on Sept. 27 and received deferred prosecution, and Meyer allowed Rainey to begin practicing with the team before the Mississippi State game.
The Gators (4-3, 2-3 SEC) certainly can use him against Georgia. Rainey, who caught six passes for 34 yards and one touchdown and returned three punts for 17 yards in UF's first two games, has rushed for 1,237 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons before being converted to a receiver. He has nine rushes or receptions of 30 or more yards in his career.
Men's Basketball Wins Exhibition Over Florida Tech, 92-58
The University of Florida men’s basketball team started its 2010-11 season on a 16-4 run and never looked back, picking up a 92-58 exhibition victory over Florida Tech Thursday night at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The victory in the schools’ first-ever meeting between each other marked the 19th-straight exhibition win for the Gators.
Seven Gators saw at least 15 minutes of action as a total of four Gators scored in double figures. Eleven of the 12 Gators that entered the game scored, with sophomore guard Kenny Boynton (Pompano Beach, Fla.) leading the way with a team-high 24 points (10-of-15 FG, 4-of-6 3FG) and five rebounds. Assisting in the Gators’ efforts was senior forward Chandler Parsons (Casselberry, Fla.), who had 15 points (6-of-11 FG), four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Senior forward Alex Tyus (St. Louis, Mo.) chipped in with 14 points (7-of-9 FG) and three rebounds in 10 minutes and junior Erving Walker (Brooklyn, N.Y.) dished out a team-high six assists.
Freshman swingman Casey Prather (Jackson, Tenn.) debuted for the Gators with the game’s only double-double, collecting a team-high 12 rebounds along with 10 points, while freshman forward Will Yeguete (Bourdeaux, France) tallied six points and eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Erik Murphy (South Kingstown, R.I.) also contributed, starting off his sophomore campaign with nine points and three rebounds in 12 minutes.
The Gators led by 19 at the half after shooting 60.0 percent from the floor (21-of-35 FG) in the first half, finishing the game at 50.0 percent shooting (37-of-54).
Florida out-rebounded the Panthers, 46-28 (18-6 offensive), limiting the Panthers’ offense to 41.2 percent shooting (21-of-51 FG), including just 26.7 percent (4-of-15 3FG) from beyond the arc. The Gator defense forced 30 turnovers by Florida Tech after forcing only 13.7 per game a year ago.
Justin Sedlak led Florida Tech in scoring with 14 points (5-of-13 FG) and eight rebounds.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Preseason play begins at O-Dome tonight
Call it the big curiosity.
Who: Florida Gators vs. Florida Tech Panthers
Fans know what to expect from Florida's five returning starters when the Gators play their first exhibition game tonight at the O'Connell Center against Florida Tech.
But questions will center around the bench and a new freshman class that includes wide-shouldered, 245-pound center Patric Young.
The 6-foot-9 Young is the 13th McDonald's All-American that Florida coach Billy Donovan has recruited to UF. Young's role is to rebound, block shots and take up space in the paint. Though Young is still developing offensively, he brings a physical element that the Gators have lacked since winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
“When he has a chance to finish,” Florida senior forward Chandler Parsons said, “he's gonna go right through the guy.”
Young, born and raised 80 miles up the road in Jacksonville, said he will have eight friends and family members attending the game. He doesn't anticipate any first-game jitters.
“It hasn't really hit me yet,” Young said. “I'm just trying to stay humble and just think of it as another basketball game that I've come prepared for and I'm just gonna give it all I got.”
Donovan tinkered with Young and center Vernon Macklin playing together on the same frontline during a quarter of a Sunday intra-squad scrimmage. The two big men had spacing issues on the floor, sometimes getting in each other's way.
But Donovan said he's committed to trying to play Young and Macklin together during some stretches. Young will stay at center the whole season, Donovan said, because he doesn't want the freshman to have to learn two positions. The 240-pound Macklin would slide down to power forward when Young enters the game.
In the scrimmage, Young played with UF's four returning starters (Parsons, Macklin, Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton).
“They already have a great team chemistry so when I come in I feel so much more comfortable playing with those guys because they know what they are doing,” Young said.
Donovan said he expects all of UF's freshmen to play in tonight's preseason opener. Freshman forward Cody Larson (flu) and sophomore forward Erik Murphy (sprained ankle) both missed practice time but are available tonight.
“It will be probably be a game where you are going to see all these guys from maybe 15 to 25 minutes,” Donovan said. “It will probably be in that range, depending on how the game goes. Our first priority is to win because we're competing.”
Donovan also experimented with a three-guard lineup in Sunday's scrimmage, with freshman point guard Scottie Wilbekin joining Boynton and Walker on the floor at the same time.
“I'd like to do some of that stuff where we can take a look at some different combinations and different lineups,” Donovan said.
When: Tonight, 7
Where: O'Connell Center
Gainesville-area TV: GatorVision (online)
Gainesville-area Radio: AM-850
FLORIDA PROBABLE STARTERS
G Kenny Boynton 6-2 So. 14.0 ppg, 2.7 apg
G Erving Walker 5-8 Jr. 12.6 ppg, 4.9 apg
F Chandler Parsons 6-9 Sr. 12.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
F Alex Tyus 6-8 Sr. 11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg
C Vernon Macklin 6-10 Sr. 10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg
FLORIDA TECH PROBABLE STARTERS
G DeMarco Robinson 6-0 Jr. 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
G Simon Cummings 6-1 Jr. 18.0 ppg, 4.0 apg
G Mark Caviness 6-5 Sr. 6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg
F Justin Sedlak 6-9 Sr. 20.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg
C Derek Hellermann 6-6 Jr. 9.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Notes: Florida is 57-13-1 all time in preseason play, and 32-2-1 in exhibition games under Billy Donovan. ... The Oct. 28 start is the earliest ever for Florida. ... Florida has won 18 straight exhibition games dating back to 2001. ... Florida returns all five of its starters from a 21-13 team that finished fourth in the SEC East and made the NCAA Tournament. ... The Gators return 89.7 percent of their scoring, 89.2 percent of its 3-point shooting and 74.2 percent of its rebounding. ... Florida Tech, an NAIA school based in Melbourne, finished 14-13 overall last season and 4-12 in the Sunshine State Conference.
Florida (4-3) vs. Georgia (4-4)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (67,164) -- Jacksonville, Florida. Television: CBS. Home Record: Florida 3-1, Georgia 3-1. Away Record: Florida 1-2, Georgia 1-3. Neutral Record: Florida 0-0, Georgia 0-0. Conference Record: Florida 2-3, Georgia 3-3. Series Record: Georgia leads, 47-39-2.
GAME NOTES: Two SEC teams headed in different directions will intersect in Jacksonville this weekend as the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators do battle.
It is hard to believe that Florida isn't ranked, especially considering the fact that the team opened this season with four consecutive double-digit wins. Unfortunately, the Gators have suffered three straight defeats, including a 10-7 setback to Mississippi State on October 16th. Florida is now 2-3 in SEC action and has had two weeks to prepare for this week's showdown.
Georgia has won its last three games, enabling the team to even its overall record at 4-4 and move to 3-3 in SEC action. Last weekend, the Bulldogs posted a 44-31 victory over Kentucky, the third straight game in which they topped the 40-point plateau. It should be pointed out that Georgia has yet to defeat one of the better teams in the conference, so there is still plenty of work to be done.
Although Georgia owns a 47-39-2 series advantage over Florida, the Gators have won the last two matchups.
Florida is generating 27.6 ppg and 329.0 total ypg this season, numbers that fall well shy of what has come to be expected from an Urban Meyer offense. The Gators have scored 22 offensive touchdowns to date, 16 of which have come via the ground attack. Jeff Demps paces Florida with 450 rushing yards, while Trey Burton has scored eight rushing touchdowns. As for the passing attack, John Brantley has completed 62 percent of his attempts for 1,266 yards and six touchdowns with only five interceptions, but he has done nothing to make fans of the program forget Tim Tebow. Deonte Thompson paces the receivers with 25 catches for 353 yards.
Against Mississippi State last time out, Florida finished with only seven points despite a respectable total of 361 total yards. The Gators turned the ball over twice and were 6-of-16 on third-down conversion attempts. Florida reached the red zone three times but came away with points only once. Brantley threw for 210 yards, but there was a glaring lack of big plays.
While the Florida offense has clearly struggled this season, especially in the last three games, the team's defense has been strong, limiting foes to 18.7 ppg and 297.9 total ypg. The Gators are permitting just 3.8 yards per rushing attempt, and they have yielded a rather low total of 14 touchdowns to opposing offenses through seven games. Florida has intercepted 13 passes, overshadowing a low total of three fumble recoveries. Ahmad Black has been the squad's top defender, as he has posted 60 total tackles while recording three interceptions.
The Gators managed to hold Mississippi State to 245 total yards, a stellar effort by the defense. After allowing 10 points to the Bulldogs in the first quarter, Florida blanked the Bulldogs the rest of the way, but Brantley and the offense failed to capitalize.
Georgia's game against Kentucky last weekend turned into the Washaun Ealey show, as he rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries and set a school record with five touchdowns on the ground. Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray wasn't asked to do much with his arm, but he did complete nine of the 12 passes he attempted for 113 yards with no interceptions. Star wideout A.J. Green recorded six catches for 86 yards, and Georgia lit up the scoreboard despite finishing with a modest total of 290 yards.
The Bulldogs are averaging 382.1 total ypg and 31.5 ppg, solid numbers for a talented team. Murray has been outstanding, especially considering his youth, as he has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Green, who has only played in four games, has made 22 catches for 365 yards and four touchdowns. As for Ealey, he has 526 rushing yards and seven touchdowns to his credit.
There are both positives and negatives to point out regarding Georgia's defensive effort against Kentucky last time out. The Bulldogs yielded 353 passing yards in that contest and four touchdowns through the air. On the other hard, they held the Wildcats to 70 rushing yards on 31 attempts and forced four turnovers, including three fumbles.
Opponents are generating 19.1 ppg and 306.8 total ypg against Georgia, which has been much better against the run than the pass. The Bulldogs are holding foes to 99.2 rushing ypg at a clip of only 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. Unfortunately, Georgia is yielding 14.7 yards per pass completion, and 12 passing scores have been permitted.
In what figures to be a close game from start to finish, give the edge to Georgia, which is playing with far more confidence than Florida at the moment. The lack of big plays on offense is killing the Gators.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Georgia 28, Florida 24
GAME NOTES: Two SEC teams headed in different directions will intersect in Jacksonville this weekend as the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators do battle.
It is hard to believe that Florida isn't ranked, especially considering the fact that the team opened this season with four consecutive double-digit wins. Unfortunately, the Gators have suffered three straight defeats, including a 10-7 setback to Mississippi State on October 16th. Florida is now 2-3 in SEC action and has had two weeks to prepare for this week's showdown.
Georgia has won its last three games, enabling the team to even its overall record at 4-4 and move to 3-3 in SEC action. Last weekend, the Bulldogs posted a 44-31 victory over Kentucky, the third straight game in which they topped the 40-point plateau. It should be pointed out that Georgia has yet to defeat one of the better teams in the conference, so there is still plenty of work to be done.
Although Georgia owns a 47-39-2 series advantage over Florida, the Gators have won the last two matchups.
Florida is generating 27.6 ppg and 329.0 total ypg this season, numbers that fall well shy of what has come to be expected from an Urban Meyer offense. The Gators have scored 22 offensive touchdowns to date, 16 of which have come via the ground attack. Jeff Demps paces Florida with 450 rushing yards, while Trey Burton has scored eight rushing touchdowns. As for the passing attack, John Brantley has completed 62 percent of his attempts for 1,266 yards and six touchdowns with only five interceptions, but he has done nothing to make fans of the program forget Tim Tebow. Deonte Thompson paces the receivers with 25 catches for 353 yards.
Against Mississippi State last time out, Florida finished with only seven points despite a respectable total of 361 total yards. The Gators turned the ball over twice and were 6-of-16 on third-down conversion attempts. Florida reached the red zone three times but came away with points only once. Brantley threw for 210 yards, but there was a glaring lack of big plays.
While the Florida offense has clearly struggled this season, especially in the last three games, the team's defense has been strong, limiting foes to 18.7 ppg and 297.9 total ypg. The Gators are permitting just 3.8 yards per rushing attempt, and they have yielded a rather low total of 14 touchdowns to opposing offenses through seven games. Florida has intercepted 13 passes, overshadowing a low total of three fumble recoveries. Ahmad Black has been the squad's top defender, as he has posted 60 total tackles while recording three interceptions.
The Gators managed to hold Mississippi State to 245 total yards, a stellar effort by the defense. After allowing 10 points to the Bulldogs in the first quarter, Florida blanked the Bulldogs the rest of the way, but Brantley and the offense failed to capitalize.
Georgia's game against Kentucky last weekend turned into the Washaun Ealey show, as he rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries and set a school record with five touchdowns on the ground. Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray wasn't asked to do much with his arm, but he did complete nine of the 12 passes he attempted for 113 yards with no interceptions. Star wideout A.J. Green recorded six catches for 86 yards, and Georgia lit up the scoreboard despite finishing with a modest total of 290 yards.
The Bulldogs are averaging 382.1 total ypg and 31.5 ppg, solid numbers for a talented team. Murray has been outstanding, especially considering his youth, as he has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,766 yards and 12 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Green, who has only played in four games, has made 22 catches for 365 yards and four touchdowns. As for Ealey, he has 526 rushing yards and seven touchdowns to his credit.
There are both positives and negatives to point out regarding Georgia's defensive effort against Kentucky last time out. The Bulldogs yielded 353 passing yards in that contest and four touchdowns through the air. On the other hard, they held the Wildcats to 70 rushing yards on 31 attempts and forced four turnovers, including three fumbles.
Opponents are generating 19.1 ppg and 306.8 total ypg against Georgia, which has been much better against the run than the pass. The Bulldogs are holding foes to 99.2 rushing ypg at a clip of only 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. Unfortunately, Georgia is yielding 14.7 yards per pass completion, and 12 passing scores have been permitted.
In what figures to be a close game from start to finish, give the edge to Georgia, which is playing with far more confidence than Florida at the moment. The lack of big plays on offense is killing the Gators.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Georgia 28, Florida 24
Florida Gators to focus on Georgia WR A.J. Green
GAINESVILLE -- After a slow start, Georgia's offense is firing on all cylinders, and there's little doubt who sparked the resurgence.
In those games, Green has 365 yards, 22 catches and four touchdowns. He also draws double-teams, opening up space for other receivers and running backs.
Georgia had no 100-yard rushers in four games without Green, but has three with him. UF defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Green is a similar player to NFL wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, whom Austin coached with the Arizona Cardinals.
``He's probably faster than both of those guys, but he's not as big,'' Austin said. ``In terms of route-running and catching the ball, he's very similar and very strong at the point of attack. You better be very physical when you attack the ball with him because if you're soft at the ball, he's got the mitts to grab it.''
Florida Gators' backs, aside from Emmanuel Moody, still banged up as they prepare for Georgia
The only running back on Florida's roster who sounds close to 100 percent healthy heading into Saturday's game against Georgia is Emmanuel Moody.
Jeff Demps, the team's No. 1 option, still is not practicing full speed due to a sprained left foot that has hampered him since the third game of the season, Gators coach Urban Meyer said.
Mike Gillislee has been limited in practice, too. Florida originally reported Gillislee's injury as a bruised right foot, but a spokesman said Wednesday it is actually a hamstring injury.
The remedy could be recently reinstated slot receiver Chris Rainey, who is expected to play this week after a five-game suspension following his Sept. 14 arrest for stalking. Over the previous two seasons, Rainey played running back and rushed for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns on 173 carries.
"Chris would be between a running back and receiver if he plays," Meyer said.
Meyer said Rainey will play as long as he does not violate his code of conduct between now and kickoff.
Demps had 237 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts (12.5 per carry) in the first two games against Miami (Ohio) and South Florida. Since then, he has 213 yards and no scores on 50 carries and missed the LSU game.
• Kicker Caleb Sturgis, who missed the last three games with a stress fracture in his back and was expected to miss the rest of the regular season, is "probable" for the Georgia game, Meyer said. Sturgis kicked in practice.
• The SEC announced a 12:21 p.m. kickoff for Florida's game at Vanderbilt next week. The game is Nov. 6 and will air on the SEC Network.
• It sounds like quarterback Trey Burton will be joined by his younger brother next year. Clay Burton, a defensive end from Venice, committed to the Gators on Monday.
• Florida also got a commitment from Bradenton-Manatee running back Mike Blakely on Tuesday. He is the 18th high school senior to commit to the Gators. All commitments are nonbinding until the player signs a national letter of intent or enrolls in January.
Jeff Demps, the team's No. 1 option, still is not practicing full speed due to a sprained left foot that has hampered him since the third game of the season, Gators coach Urban Meyer said.
Mike Gillislee has been limited in practice, too. Florida originally reported Gillislee's injury as a bruised right foot, but a spokesman said Wednesday it is actually a hamstring injury.
The remedy could be recently reinstated slot receiver Chris Rainey, who is expected to play this week after a five-game suspension following his Sept. 14 arrest for stalking. Over the previous two seasons, Rainey played running back and rushed for 1,227 yards and nine touchdowns on 173 carries.
"Chris would be between a running back and receiver if he plays," Meyer said.
Meyer said Rainey will play as long as he does not violate his code of conduct between now and kickoff.
Demps had 237 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts (12.5 per carry) in the first two games against Miami (Ohio) and South Florida. Since then, he has 213 yards and no scores on 50 carries and missed the LSU game.
• Kicker Caleb Sturgis, who missed the last three games with a stress fracture in his back and was expected to miss the rest of the regular season, is "probable" for the Georgia game, Meyer said. Sturgis kicked in practice.
• The SEC announced a 12:21 p.m. kickoff for Florida's game at Vanderbilt next week. The game is Nov. 6 and will air on the SEC Network.
• It sounds like quarterback Trey Burton will be joined by his younger brother next year. Clay Burton, a defensive end from Venice, committed to the Gators on Monday.
• Florida also got a commitment from Bradenton-Manatee running back Mike Blakely on Tuesday. He is the 18th high school senior to commit to the Gators. All commitments are nonbinding until the player signs a national letter of intent or enrolls in January.
Florida Gators' down year isn't scaring off potential recruits, experts, recruits say
Urban Meyer cruised across Dwyer's Palm Beach Gardens' campus last Friday afternoon in the passenger seat of a golf cart driven by Dwyer coach Jack Daniels, with Florida wide receivers coach Zach Azzani hanging on the back.
As players milled around outside the gymnasium, preparing for an away game that night, the cart slowed. Meyer saw Dwyer junior defensive tackle Patrick Miller, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder expected to be one of next year's top recruits, and, with a sunny smile, bumped fists with the player.
Moments like those no doubt leave an impression in the minds of top recruits. But the Gators are 4-3 and on a three-game losing streak, out of the national title hunt, and not in the Top 25 for the first time in the Meyer Era. Despite that, recruiting analysts and top area recruits say Florida shouldn't fall too far in the recruiting race.
Coming off consecutive SEC championships, the Gators signed the top recruiting class in the country last year, according to ESPN, Rivals.com and Scout.com. They did so despite concerns over Urban Meyer's health and his future in Gainesville.
This year, those three outlets have Florida's current stock of 18 commits ranked between No. 7 and 10 nationally. The Gators are behind Florida State, LSU and Alabama in all three rankings.
"It is going to affect us ... but we going to get back on track and have this program looking good again," Gators center Mike Pouncey said of recruiting.
With the Gators off last week, and preparing for Georgia Saturday, Florida coaches visited schools. And the time is ripe to secure commitments, as players who plan to enroll in time for spring practices likely need to decide on a school no later than mid-December.
As part of their trips, Florida coaches tried to mitigate some potential bad feelings about the losing streak. But ESPN college football recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said he doesn't think Florida will suffer much from an off-year.
"While they have struggled, especially on offense, I am sure Meyer and his staff will use that as a selling point to kids for early opportunity for playing time," Newberg said. "This is still Florida and a down year shouldn't hurt too much."
"Sure, a team's record matters, but it depends on what team you are talking about. In Florida's case, the bar is set high, so a 3-, 4- or 5-loss team and people want to know what the heck is wrong. It's just one of those years in Gainesville and I don't see it affecting UF recruiting that much. They should still have a good class and fill needs," Newberg said.
Dwyer senior defensive end Curt Maggitt and teammates Miller and senior tight end Nick O'Leary briefly spoke with Meyer last Friday afternoon. Maggitt said Florida's underwhelming start hasn't steered him away.
"I know they have good coaches," said Maggitt, who has scholarship offers from Florida, Alabama, LSU and several other BCS heavyweights. "I think they're having trouble finding chemistry. There's a lot of things different and new there. I think they just have to come together and I think they will eventually."
Of Rivals.com's top 100 prospects, 37 remain uncommitted. Florida is in contention for St. Augustine linebacker Tony Steward (No. 2), receiver George Farmer (No. 6) and linebacker Curtis Grant (No. 9).
Last week, UF added Bradenton running back Mike Blakely and Venice defensive end Clay Burton, younger brother of Trey, to their recruiting class.
Many recruits list playing time, comfort with coaches and campuses, and belief in the program's ability to make them NFL-ready as their top reasons for signing with a particular school.
Florida defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said while every teams go through ups and downs, the big picture is what's important.
"Where is the program at? Is it solid? Are you going to get what you need out of the program? Is it the right fit for you?"
"[Florida recruiting is] probably not as hot as it was a few weeks ago, but in another two weeks it could be great again. That's just how it is. It's a long-term thing. I think, really, it will even itself out here toward the end."
Like many high-profile recruits, Glades Central wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who has scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, looks at the Gators' losing streak from a different perspective.
"If I was on Florida right now, I don't think they'd be 4-3," he said.
As players milled around outside the gymnasium, preparing for an away game that night, the cart slowed. Meyer saw Dwyer junior defensive tackle Patrick Miller, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder expected to be one of next year's top recruits, and, with a sunny smile, bumped fists with the player.
Moments like those no doubt leave an impression in the minds of top recruits. But the Gators are 4-3 and on a three-game losing streak, out of the national title hunt, and not in the Top 25 for the first time in the Meyer Era. Despite that, recruiting analysts and top area recruits say Florida shouldn't fall too far in the recruiting race.
Coming off consecutive SEC championships, the Gators signed the top recruiting class in the country last year, according to ESPN, Rivals.com and Scout.com. They did so despite concerns over Urban Meyer's health and his future in Gainesville.
This year, those three outlets have Florida's current stock of 18 commits ranked between No. 7 and 10 nationally. The Gators are behind Florida State, LSU and Alabama in all three rankings.
"It is going to affect us ... but we going to get back on track and have this program looking good again," Gators center Mike Pouncey said of recruiting.
With the Gators off last week, and preparing for Georgia Saturday, Florida coaches visited schools. And the time is ripe to secure commitments, as players who plan to enroll in time for spring practices likely need to decide on a school no later than mid-December.
As part of their trips, Florida coaches tried to mitigate some potential bad feelings about the losing streak. But ESPN college football recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg said he doesn't think Florida will suffer much from an off-year.
"While they have struggled, especially on offense, I am sure Meyer and his staff will use that as a selling point to kids for early opportunity for playing time," Newberg said. "This is still Florida and a down year shouldn't hurt too much."
"Sure, a team's record matters, but it depends on what team you are talking about. In Florida's case, the bar is set high, so a 3-, 4- or 5-loss team and people want to know what the heck is wrong. It's just one of those years in Gainesville and I don't see it affecting UF recruiting that much. They should still have a good class and fill needs," Newberg said.
Dwyer senior defensive end Curt Maggitt and teammates Miller and senior tight end Nick O'Leary briefly spoke with Meyer last Friday afternoon. Maggitt said Florida's underwhelming start hasn't steered him away.
"I know they have good coaches," said Maggitt, who has scholarship offers from Florida, Alabama, LSU and several other BCS heavyweights. "I think they're having trouble finding chemistry. There's a lot of things different and new there. I think they just have to come together and I think they will eventually."
Of Rivals.com's top 100 prospects, 37 remain uncommitted. Florida is in contention for St. Augustine linebacker Tony Steward (No. 2), receiver George Farmer (No. 6) and linebacker Curtis Grant (No. 9).
Last week, UF added Bradenton running back Mike Blakely and Venice defensive end Clay Burton, younger brother of Trey, to their recruiting class.
Many recruits list playing time, comfort with coaches and campuses, and belief in the program's ability to make them NFL-ready as their top reasons for signing with a particular school.
Florida defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said while every teams go through ups and downs, the big picture is what's important.
"Where is the program at? Is it solid? Are you going to get what you need out of the program? Is it the right fit for you?"
"[Florida recruiting is] probably not as hot as it was a few weeks ago, but in another two weeks it could be great again. That's just how it is. It's a long-term thing. I think, really, it will even itself out here toward the end."
Like many high-profile recruits, Glades Central wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who has scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, looks at the Gators' losing streak from a different perspective.
"If I was on Florida right now, I don't think they'd be 4-3," he said.
Urban Meyer Wednesday SEC Teleconference
The bye week came at a perfect time for Urban Meyer and the Gators. The playmakers were depleted from injury and the offense was lost with the players it did have. The week off gave the coaches a chance to reevaluate the offense, and there will be changes to it as Florida takes on Georgia in Jacksonville.
Q: “Any decision on Chris Rainey?”
A: “As of now, he’s done everything he’s supposed to do. (Thursday) is the deadline I set for him.”
Q: “The lack of being able to flip field position, how much of an impact has that had?”
A: “It’s been a tremendous impact. That’s how we won games around here. We haven’t blocked a punt this year. We’re working real hard at it, but to win tight games, that’s always been the difference.”
Q: “Which running backs do you expect to have this week?”
A: “Demps has practiced, but he’s not quite full speed. (Gillislee) isn’t full speed. Moody is practicing pretty good. Rainey will be between running back and receiver if he plays.”
Q: “What’s Caleb Sturgis’ status?”
A: “He kicked Monday, and we’ll know more today. I’d say probable.”
Q: “Did reevaluating the offense bring much change in your plan for Georgia?”
A: “It’s going to result in some changes. It’s just eye-opening the areas that are breakdowns in the offense. Number one is to get guys back. Turnovers, big plays in the run game, pass efficiency and then red zone also. We’ve addressed those as hard as we can. Hopefully the changes are that we’ll have everybody healthy.”
Q: “What does the Rainey situation do to a program to have to deal with these things and then give more chances?”
A: “I think the initial sting is a lot of negativity brought towards the program. Then it’s an opportunity for a young man to clear his name and get himself right. We’re going to keep a tight reign on Chris Rainey. He’s never been an issue before and certainly better never be again.”
Q: “Do you think too much is put on the coach when these incidents happen?”
A: “I talked to our colleagues, and one thing Florida and Georgia share is they’re in a college town. Obviously, that doesn’t justify some of the stupid mistakes that people make. A lot of teams deal with the same stuff, it’s just not brought to that level.”
Q: “What sets this rivalry apart from your other ones?”
A: “The old Gators, this is the one they’re most concerned with. I found that out when I first got hired here. This is a rivalry I grew up watching, so I have a lot of respect for it. I think the success the two programs have had. Some of the great players… I used to watch this rivalry with Herschel Walker and Lindsay Scott, then Coach Spurrier’s teams. I think the whole country watches this. The other thing is the arena with 50-50 fans and tailgating going on.”
Q: “How much of an impact does this have on recruiting, and how often do you go up against Georgia in recruiting?”
A: “All the time. It’s nose-to-nose every year. This game has a lot to do with it, but I think that’s more the previous recruiting days. It’s now about opportunity to play.”
Q: “How does Justin Houston compare to pass rushers Georgia has had in the past?”
A: “Speed, athleticism and he gets there. Georgia has had some unbelievable defensive ends over the years, and he’s right there.”
Q: “Getting Rainey back for practice along with others, have you seen a difference in practice?”
A: “It looks faster when they’re going. It was very clear five years ago that I’ve always believed in speed and big plays. When you take that out of an offense, every offense struggles. The best offenses in the country are loaded with big hits.”
Q: “What do you remember from your first Florida-Georgia game?”
A: “I’m honored to be a part of it. It’s hard to believe it’s my sixth one. I tell our players all the time it’s great because there are two quality programs.”
Q: “In recent years, what are the characteristics that teams have who make it to the SEC Championship game?”
A: “The answer is obvious and it’s great football players. I’ve always said it would’ve been a different season if we lost our running backs. It would’ve been a different season if the offensive line was banged up. It’s a challenge, but one with great rewards.”
Q: “Is it a plus and minus that the SEC champion is held in such high regard that it’s almost an automatic bid for the national championship game?”
A: “A lot of coaches talk about that at coaches conventions. The SEC usually beats each other up. If you survive the gauntlet, it’s good for the last game. But it’s a constant pounding and it’s hard to recover. The opposite of that is you’re battle tested and ready for a big game.”
Q: “Any decision on Chris Rainey?”
A: “As of now, he’s done everything he’s supposed to do. (Thursday) is the deadline I set for him.”
Q: “The lack of being able to flip field position, how much of an impact has that had?”
A: “It’s been a tremendous impact. That’s how we won games around here. We haven’t blocked a punt this year. We’re working real hard at it, but to win tight games, that’s always been the difference.”
Q: “Which running backs do you expect to have this week?”
A: “Demps has practiced, but he’s not quite full speed. (Gillislee) isn’t full speed. Moody is practicing pretty good. Rainey will be between running back and receiver if he plays.”
Q: “What’s Caleb Sturgis’ status?”
A: “He kicked Monday, and we’ll know more today. I’d say probable.”
Q: “Did reevaluating the offense bring much change in your plan for Georgia?”
A: “It’s going to result in some changes. It’s just eye-opening the areas that are breakdowns in the offense. Number one is to get guys back. Turnovers, big plays in the run game, pass efficiency and then red zone also. We’ve addressed those as hard as we can. Hopefully the changes are that we’ll have everybody healthy.”
Q: “What does the Rainey situation do to a program to have to deal with these things and then give more chances?”
A: “I think the initial sting is a lot of negativity brought towards the program. Then it’s an opportunity for a young man to clear his name and get himself right. We’re going to keep a tight reign on Chris Rainey. He’s never been an issue before and certainly better never be again.”
Q: “Do you think too much is put on the coach when these incidents happen?”
A: “I talked to our colleagues, and one thing Florida and Georgia share is they’re in a college town. Obviously, that doesn’t justify some of the stupid mistakes that people make. A lot of teams deal with the same stuff, it’s just not brought to that level.”
Q: “What sets this rivalry apart from your other ones?”
A: “The old Gators, this is the one they’re most concerned with. I found that out when I first got hired here. This is a rivalry I grew up watching, so I have a lot of respect for it. I think the success the two programs have had. Some of the great players… I used to watch this rivalry with Herschel Walker and Lindsay Scott, then Coach Spurrier’s teams. I think the whole country watches this. The other thing is the arena with 50-50 fans and tailgating going on.”
Q: “How much of an impact does this have on recruiting, and how often do you go up against Georgia in recruiting?”
A: “All the time. It’s nose-to-nose every year. This game has a lot to do with it, but I think that’s more the previous recruiting days. It’s now about opportunity to play.”
Q: “How does Justin Houston compare to pass rushers Georgia has had in the past?”
A: “Speed, athleticism and he gets there. Georgia has had some unbelievable defensive ends over the years, and he’s right there.”
Q: “Getting Rainey back for practice along with others, have you seen a difference in practice?”
A: “It looks faster when they’re going. It was very clear five years ago that I’ve always believed in speed and big plays. When you take that out of an offense, every offense struggles. The best offenses in the country are loaded with big hits.”
Q: “What do you remember from your first Florida-Georgia game?”
A: “I’m honored to be a part of it. It’s hard to believe it’s my sixth one. I tell our players all the time it’s great because there are two quality programs.”
Q: “In recent years, what are the characteristics that teams have who make it to the SEC Championship game?”
A: “The answer is obvious and it’s great football players. I’ve always said it would’ve been a different season if we lost our running backs. It would’ve been a different season if the offensive line was banged up. It’s a challenge, but one with great rewards.”
Q: “Is it a plus and minus that the SEC champion is held in such high regard that it’s almost an automatic bid for the national championship game?”
A: “A lot of coaches talk about that at coaches conventions. The SEC usually beats each other up. If you survive the gauntlet, it’s good for the last game. But it’s a constant pounding and it’s hard to recover. The opposite of that is you’re battle tested and ready for a big game.”
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