Former UF coach joins Illinois staff

Former defensive backs and special teams coach Mike Woodford has been hired by Ron Zook at Illinois as a visiting coach for the 2007 season.

Woodford and Zook's relationship dates back to 1983 when the two were on the Kansas University staff. Woodford also served with Zook as a defensive assistant at the New Orleans Saints. Zook fired Woodford after one season in Gainesville.

"Mike is a perfect fit for Illinois," Zook said. "Having Mike join us this season allows us to have consistency in our plans for the year. He was with me at both Florida and with the New Orleans Saints, so he knows the defense very well. We are lucky that we have found someone who can come in here immediately and already knows how we do things. He will keep things running smoothly."

Gators Open Fall Practice Aug. 6

GAINESVILLE - Football season for the Gators officially kicks off Sunday afternoon.

Florida will open fall football practice on Sunday, beginning with its first practice from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the UF practice field. The Gators will also practice from 7:40 - 9:40 p.m. Sunday night.

Practices will be open to the public from Aug. 5-10, but fans are not permitted to bring video cameras.

Florida basketball comes to Tampa for second straight year

GAINESVILLE - Tampa will once again be a destination on Florida's basketball schdule.

Along with 16 games against teams that participated in postseason play last season, the Gators will play Vermont on Nov. 30 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Its the second consecutive year Florida will play a game in Tampa. The Gators played FAMU in front of a crowd of 15,000 last season.

Florida released its 2007-08 schedule today.

The two-time defending national champions open the season by hosting a four-game series  - the Blue Ribbon Challenge. - which includes North Dakota State (Nov. 9), Tennessee Tech (Nov. 11), UNC-Central and (Nov. 14) and Rutgers (Nov. 17).

Florida will play Florida State on Nov. 23, the eve of the annual football game, and will travel to Ohio State on Dec. 22.

2007-08 men's basketball schedule

2007-08 Florida Men's Basketball Schedule

Date          Opponent          Arena                          Time          TV
November         
1               Flagler (Exh.)     O'Connell  Center          TBA          TBA
5               Lynn (Exh.)        O'Connell Center           TBA          TBA
9               N Dakota State   O'Connell Center           TBA          TBA
11             Tenn Tech          O'Connell Center           TBA          TBA
14             UNC-Central        O'Connell Center          TBA          TBA
17             Rutgers              O'Connell Center           TBA          TBA
20             North Florida       O'Connell Center          TBA          TBA
23             Florida State       O’Connell Center          TBA          TBA
27             Stetson               O’Connell Center         TBA          TBA
30             Vermont              St. Pete Times Forum  TBA         TBA

December
3               Jacksonville        O’Connell Center          TBA         TBA
5               Florida A&M        O'Connell Center          TBA          TBA
15             Georgia Southern Jax Vets Mem. Col.     TBA          TBA
19             Charleston South  O'Connell Center         TBA          TBA
22             Ohio State           Value City Arena         3:45 p.m.  CBS         
29             Temple               BankAtlantic Center    TBA          TBA

January
2               High Point           O'Connell Center         TBA          TBA
8              Alabama               Coleman Coliseum      TBA          ESPN
12             Auburn                O’Connell Center         Noon        LF                                                       16             Ole Miss              Tad Smith Coliseum     8 p.m.     LF
19             Kentucky             O’Connell Center         TBA          ESPN
23             South Carolina     Colonial Center           8 p.m.       LF
27              Vanderbilt           O’Connell Center        1 p.m.       LF

February
2                Arkansas            Bud Walton Arena       3 p.m.       LF
5                Tennessee          Thompson-Boling Arena  TBA       ESPN
9                Georgia              O’Connell Center        3 p.m.       LF                                                     13              LSU                    O’Connell Center        8 p.m.       LF
16             Vanderbilt            Memorial Gymnasium 3 p.m.       LF
20              South Carolina    O’Connell Center        8 p.m.       LF
27              Georgia              Stegeman Coliseum    TBA          TBA

March
1               Mississippi State    O’Connell Center      2 p.m.      CBS
5               Tennessee             O’Connell Center      9 p.m.       LF
9              Kentucky                Rupp Arena               Noon        CBS
13-16         SEC Tournament     Georgia Dome          TBA         LF/CBS

Richt says he'd welcome change in venue of Florida-Georgia rivalry

HOOVER, Ala. - Georgia coach Mark Richt said Friday he wouldn't mind seeing the Florida-Georgia game played somewhere other than Jacksonville on an annual basis.

"I think there's a lot of possible scenarios,''  he said. "I'm not even sure then the contract ends, but when it does I'm sure there will be some conversation as to what to do with it.''

The contract expires in 2010 and Georgia athletic director Damon Evans has been on record as saying he'd like to try and alternate sites. Obviously, Florida wants to keep things status quo, particularly since they've won 15 of the last 17 in the rivalry.

Richt said whether the game stays in Jacksonville or is played somewhere else, the excitement will remain. But he'd like to try some other options.

"I think it would be exciting for our fans to go to Gainesville,'' he said. "I think it would be exciting for Florida fans to come to Athens. If you're going to do any kind of a rotation like that, I think we'd be more apt to rotate to each school, rotate to Jacksonville, then I would be in favor of rotating to a neutral site of Atlanta in the Dome. I think that would be a pretty good neutral site, too.''

Florida Picked To Win SEC East

HOOVER, Ala.  - Florida is the favorite to win the SEC East, according to the media members who cover the SEC.

The defending national champion Gators were predicted to win the East, followed by Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

LSU, which is widely considered the most talented team in the league this season, was the overwhelming favorite to win the West and the overall SEC championship. The Tigers received 54 first-place votes as the overall champion, follwed by Florida (7) and Arkansas (5).

Florida offensive lineman Phil Trautwein was the Gators' lone preseason All-SEC first team selection and tight end Cornelius Ingram and receiver Percy Harvin were second-team selections.

On defense, Derrick Harvey was a first-team choice for the Gators, while safety Tony Joiner was a second team selection. 

Meyer: Off The Field Troubles "Disturbing'

HOOVER, Ala. - Florida coach Urban Meyer called the Gators' offseason legal troubles "disturbing,'' but attributed them to youth.

"Every year you're dealing with something,'' Meyer said during Thursday's SEC Media Days. "That was maybe a few more than we'd like. The one common theme was they were all freshmen and sophomores, young players that need to grow up and grow up real fast. Just like most coaches, we deal with it. You educate, you correct.''

As he's often said, Meyer reiterated he doesn't always believe kicking a player off the team is the best punishment.

"Discipline is not dismissal, in our opinion,'' he said. "Discipline is education and correction, then do what you got to do. We're in the process of doing a lot of educating, a lot of correcting and putting a product on the field.''

Vandy's Johnson Expects Much Better Season

HOOVER, Ala. - After years in the cellar of the SEC East, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said he believes the team may have the best talent since he arrived in 2002.

"Well, it's my opinion, but I think we're much more talented than we have been early in my career at Vanderbilt,'' Johnson said. "I think our coaches have done a good job of identifying good players in high school and going out and convincing them to come to Vanderbilt and play in the SEC, get a top 20 rated university education.

"Yeah, I think we're more talented. We got some ways you want to look at it. Some guys played some games and started some games. We have 17, 18 starters returning. We've won some pretty big games in the last couple years. I think that in itself is probably more important than talent level or whatever, is our confidence level. I think our guys feel like they can compete in this league. Their work habits reflect that. They want to be good.  When you get that working for you you're going to have a chance. Our guys right now feel pretty good about what we're doing as a team and how we're doing it.''

Florida's Biggest Goal: Forget last season

HOOVER - Yeah, they're wearing championship rings as large as a newborn baby's head. And yes, everywhere they go there are national championship T-shirts, bumper stickers and hats.

But what the Florida players are trying their best to do is forget about last season altogether.

"it's hard having to forget that,'' senior receiver Andre Caldwell said. "But that is what coach Meyer told us to do. Last year was a special year, no doubt about that. He said that we can cherish it for a little while, but not it is time to forget that. We know that the target is on our backs and if we go into the season thinking that we are better than everybody because of the title, then someone is going to surprise us.''

Senior safety Tony Joiner said he realizes that human nature makes it hard to let go of the past, particularly if it's something good. He's spent a lot of time talking to close friend Joakim Noah about letting go and moving forward.

"He (Noah) just said everybody's going to be coming after us and we have to be ready,'' Joiner said. "That's why they call last year, "last.'' It's over.

And for the record, the Gators said they aren't trying to repeat what they did last season - they are trying to do something new with the same result.

"We don't really see it as going out to repeat, but to compete again,'' Joiner said."We want to get back to the SEC championship and that's realistic. We just have to have the right mindset and it's possible.''

Spurrier: NBA scandal a wakeup call for all sports

HOOVER, Ala. - He's not as quick with the tongue as he once was, but during Wednesday's SEC Media Days, Steve Spurrier showed he's still got his sense of humor, even addressing a serious subject.

Asked about the current referee scandal in the NBA and whether he was concerned it could happen in the SEC, Spurrier replied: "I've probably been accused of saying something like that a couple of times. But yeah, we'll all have to be careful now of not saying, "It appeared that guy had money on the game. YOu cna't say that anymore. I don't know if I've ever said that before. There were a few games, not many, but there's been a few lousily called games that deserved an investigation (smiling). I think because of what happened in the NBA, this will really heighten all the security and checking on guys' background all the time, what they're doing. Referees really need to be scrutinized more so than us coaches are scrutinized. Anyway, hopefully it will be a good scare that will help every sport.''

DANNY NUTT TO BE GREATLY MISSED

Former Arkansas running backs coach Danny Nutt, brother of Houston Nutt, is recovering from a brain injury, but his departure from the program has hit hard, Houston Nutt said.

"We knew this day was coming, but boy you didn't expect it to be this quick,'' Houston Nutt said. "We really wanted to get through this year because of the backfield he basically recruited, probably his best backfield maybe Arkansas has ever had. He has tremendous relationships with those guys.'

Nutt said because of his brother's name, he didn't get the credit he deserved.

"I don't know if ya'll realize, but we had very few backs transfer,'' he said. "That's unusual in today's world because everybody wants the ball. (Danny) did a great job of counseling and talking and encouraging. That's the one thing, I think because of his last name, I don't think he always got the credit he deserved. But, boy, it's just a tremendous loss for us.''

Danny Nutt had a brain scan and an MRI about two weeks ago and there was no fresh bleeding, Houston Nutt said.

"It was a very good report,'' he added. "He's done very well. Hopefully we can get his life back to normal. He has another MRI scheduled in a couple of weeks.''

Kentucky's Brooks Gets Last Laugh

HOOVER, Ala. - For the past several years, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks he's been coming to SEC Media Days and immediately hit with the question: "Are you worried about your job?''

So Wednesday, on the first day of SEC Media Days, Brooks couldn't help himself. He had to take a shot back at the media.

“I’m baaaaaccckkkk,'' he said during his opening remarks.

Brooks and Kentucky are coming off an 8-5 season and a Music City Bowl victory, which had Brooks feeling good - and secure about his job.

“As you’ll recall my goal the last two years was to be able to return to this function with you guys,’’ Brooks joked. “I finally got a little bit more solid footing and hopefully I won’t have to answer too many questions about job security this year.’’
 

In fact, he didn’t have to answer any at all.

AUBURN GATOR FANS?

Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox said Wednesday the team takes a little pride in the fact the Tigers were the only team to defeat Florida last season during their national championship run. And although it's strange to hold that distinction, the Tigers actually became Gator fans -temporarily.

"I was pulling for them,'' Cox said. "We were all pulling for them in the national championship game.''

SEC To Be More Vigilant With Officials

HOOVER, Ala. - SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday the league will most likely begin more background checks on its football and basketball officials to ensure that the gambling scandal facing the NBA doesn't become a problem in the SEC.

Currently, background checks for football officials are done on a random basis by the NCAA for those wanting to work bowl games. The NCAA does mandatory checks on any basketball official that is applying to work the NCAA Tournament.

Slive will meet with football officials Thursday night, and said he will ''have a long chat with them.''

"A lot of the focus in the NCAA has been on gambling and student athletes,'' Slive said. "I think we need to make sure we’ve got a parallel program that is as intense for our officials as it is for the student athletes.''

Gators Get Fan Poll Award

GAINESVILLE -  Urban Meyer was awarded the 2006 Fanspoll.com People's National Championship trophy during a dinner Tuesday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Fanspoll.com allows college football fans to sign on every week and make their picks for the top 25 teams in the nation. Those successful at forecasting winners and losers each week are elevated to an all-star selection committee that determines the annual People’s National Champion along with 19 other awards.

The Gators topped the final Fanspoll.com tally after capturing the 2006 BCS National Championship with a 41-14 victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Jan. 8, in Glendale, Ariz. Boise State took runner-up after its win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, followed by Ohio State and Wisconsin.

Auburn earned the poll’s inaugural selection after going undefeated in 2004, followed by Texas taking home the crown after the 2005 season.

Figueroa to start in Cape Cod League All-Star Game

GAINESVILLE - Cole Figueroa's play this summer in the Cape Cod League has been impressive enough to earn him a starting position in the All-Star game this weekend.

The Tallahassee native will start at second base for the East squad. Figueroa leads the Harwich Mariners with a .306 batting average, has 15 walks and is tied for third in RBI (11), runs scored (11) and doubles (five).  Figueroa was a member of the SEC All-Freshman team this past season.

The All-Star game will be held Saturday, July 28, at Spillane Field in Wareham, Mass.

Florida lands six on SEC Coaches Preseason Team

GAINESVILLE - It appears the SEC coaches aren't expecting much from the Gators this season.

Although Florida has six selections in the 2007 SEC Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team,  announced Thursday morning by the league office, only offensive lineman Drew Miller and defensive lineman Derrick Harvey were among the first-team choices.

Percy Harvin, the SEC Freshman of the Year last season, was a third-team selection along with senior Andre Caldwell. Joining the second team are offensive lineman Phil Trautwein and defensive back Tony Joiner.

LSU and Arkansas led all teams with a combined 12 selections. Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee also had six selections, while Auburn had eight. Georgia and Vanderbilt had five each while Mississippi State had four and Ole Miss had three selections.

Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden was the only unanimous choice for first-team pre-season All-SEC. Since coaches cannot vote for their own players, the Little Rock, Ark. native was listed on 11 of 12 ballots.

          

Munroe won't face charges

GAINESVILLE - The Alachua County State Attorney's office has dropped charges against safety Dorian Munroe for allegedly removing a parking boot from his car on the UF campus.

At the time he was charged, Monroe, a member of the team's leadership committee, said he didn't know it was against the law to remove the device, which is placed on cars for unpaid parking tickets.

Munroe, a redshirt sophomore whosaw action on special teams in all 14 games last season, still faces possible disciplinary action from the UF Student Judihcial Affairs.

Calvin Smith wins gold

GAINESVILLE - Calvin Smith, the rising sophomore from Lutz, clocked a personal-best 45.52 to win the 400 meters on Sunday at the NACAC Track and Field Championships.

Smith’s mark eclipsed the PR of 45.60 that he set when he won the SEC outdoor 400 meters title, and improved his hold on 10th place on the school's all-time list. The only American to start the final, he outdistanced the Dominican Republic’s Arismendy Peguero by .11 to capture the gold medal. The three-time All-American won his second gold medal of the meet hours later, when he ran the second leg of the United States’ winning 4x400m relay (3:02.78).

Former Gator Wambach on World Cup roster

GAINESVILLE - Former All-American Abby Wambach is among 18 players selected Wednesday for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup team.

It is Wambach's second Women's World Cup appearance; she was also a member of the 2003 team. She led the USA in scoring at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2004 Olympics. Her 74 current goalsin 92 USA appearances is the best strike rate in U.S. history.

A four-time member of the All-SEC first team and two-time SEC Player of the Year, Wambach is the Gators' career leader in goals (96), assists (50), and points (242), and is sixth on the NCAA career charts in goals and points.

Booster Donates $7 million to name new football facility

GAINESVILLE - Longtime athletic supporter James W. "Bill'' Heavener has pledged $7 million to name the new Florida football complex that will be completed prior to the start of the 2008 season.

Heavener is a member of the Gator Boosters, Inc. Board of Directors and a distinguished Bull Gator.

"We are grateful for Bill Heavener's donation," head coach Urban Meyer said. "His financial support is a key component in completing the premier football stadium in the nation. This recent construction project features a front door look to the stadium that will give fans and former players a chance to pay tribute to the champions of Florida football."

Since 1992, Heavener has served as Co-chairman/CEO of Full Sail Real World Education, a highly-regarded entertainment media college in America, with 5,000 students, located in Winter Park, Fla. He is a Director and Co-Chairman of the Los Angeles Film School and the Los Angeles Recording School, both located in Hollywood, Calif.

The renovation project at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will enhance the experience for Gator student-athletes, staff and visitors. This project will include the renovation and expansion of the football office
complex. An additional 6,815 square feet will be added to the existing square footage, creating a grand total of 12,436 square feet for all football office areas. All of the offices will be equipped with the
latest technology.

.

Savannah duo says they want to play for UF

GAINESVILLE - Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins defensive end Chaz Sutton and running back Franklin Green told Rivals on Wednesday they both plan to commit to Florida.

Green, who is rated the 52nd best player at his position, rushed for 1,920 yards last season. Sutton, 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, had 85 tackles and six sacks last season. Rivals.com rates him No. 46 nationally at stongs-side defensive end.

Sutton told Rivals he received a scholarship offer from the Florida staff after spending the week in Gainesville at Florida's camp.

Florida has two verbal commits in its 2008 class. Gainesville High defensive end Earl Okine, who finished with 87 tackles and 10 sacks last season, and Dee Finley, a safety from Auburn (Ala.). Finley is rated the second-best player at his position nationally. He finished with 50 tackles and eight interceptions last season.

Brantley to be honored in Los Angeles

Freshman quarterback John Brantley will be honored in a ceremony in Los Angeles on Wednesday as the Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year.

Brantley will also attend a pre-ESPY awards luncheon Wednesday. He will compete for the Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year Award against baseball player Rick Porcello of Seton Hall (N.J.) Prep, basketball player Kevin Love of Lake Oswego (Oregon), soccer player Brayan Martinez of West Orange (N.J.) High and track star Bryshon Nellum of Long Beach Poly High. Former winners Greg Oden, Vince Carter and Chris Paul will be on hand when the 2007 overall award is presented.

Brantley, a native of Ocala, is expected to attend the ESPY's ceremony Wednesday nigh.

MadTV star to headline Gator Growl

GAINESVILLE - Frank Caliendo, one of the nation's best impersonators, will headline this year's Gator Growl, the 84th annual event.

Billed as the "World's Largest Student Run Pep Rally,'' the event will be held Nov. 2 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, in conjunction with Homecoming.

Caliendo is best-known for his witty sketches referencing pop culture, and his realistic mimicry of a wide cast of politicians, actors, commentators and other comedians. He is most know for his John Madden and George W. Bush impersonations.

He has been a frequent guest on "Fox NFL Sunday" and "The Late Show with David Letterman" while starring on "MadTV" since 2001. This fall, Caliendo's own show will air on TBS, titled "The Frank Show."

General Admission tickets are available through Ticketmaster at (904) 353-3309 for $20 each.

Felony charges dropped against Brandon James, Powell

  GAINESVILLE – The Alachua County State Attorney’s office has dropped felony charges against football player Brandon James and former basketball player Brandon Powell stemming from their arrest on marijuana possession charges in June.
  When arrested, according to a police report, the two were in possession of eight grams of marijuana. Although possessing fewer than 20 grams is a misdemeanor, purchase of the controlled substance in the state of Florida is a felony.
  The decision to drop the charges stemmed from the small amount the two were caught with. Each still faces misdemeanor charges.   
  James has been suspended for the season opener and Powell transferred last week.
 
 

Football contribution requirements on the rise

University of Florida football boosters will be asked to contribute substantially more to maintain their club or luxury tickets beginning in 2008. For instance, fans in sections 8-11 who pay $400 per seat this year will need to pay $700 to maintain the seats in 2008 and $1,000 in 2010. For a complete list of prices, check gatorzone.com.

Ex-Gator Atkins found dead

Former Florida cornerback Avery Atkins, who had left the program, was found dead today in his car in Port Orange near Daytona Beach, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Atkins, 20, had been arrested Monday in Ormond Beach and charged with possession of crack cocaine. The former prep All-American at Mainland High had been arrested twice previously in the past three months. Police were awaiting an autopsy but told the Sentinel they didn't believe anyone else was involved.

Gator suspended for season

Offensive lineman Ronnie Wilson, facing two misdemeanor charges in connection with allegedly firing a semiautomatic rifle in the air during a dispute with another man, has been suspended for the upcoming football season, the Gainesville Sun reported.
Running back/kick returner Brandon James, arrested and charged with purchasing marijuana and possession of not more than 20 grams last month, will miss the Gators' opener against Western Kentucky, the paper reported. Neither coach Urban Meyer nor school officials are commenting.
Meanwhile, Gator basketball player Brandon Powell, arrested along with James, has decided to transfer. Said coach Billy Donovan in a statement: "After several discussions with Brandon, he has made a decision to start over and to pursue other opportunities academically and athletically. I respect Brandon's decision for a change and wish nothing but the best of luck for him in his future.''