New website aimed at keeping Meyer at UF

GAINESVILLE - A Florida alumnus has started a website aimed at trying to keep Urban Meyer from bolting to the NFL.

Fred Marks, a member of the Class of 2004, has started the website www.KeepUrbanMeyer.com.

Marks said he fans should consider the following facts, which is part of his reason for starting the website:

1) Meyer has never been the head coach for more than two years at any school.
2) This is Urban Meyer’s third year at the University of Florida.
3) Urban Meyer is the hottest young college coach in America!
4) The NFL already claimed a Gator football coach in Steve Spurrier (2001) and the NBA hired away (then released) Gator basketball coach Billy Donovan (2007)
5) A logical person would conclude that Urban Meyer is the next Gator coach to be lured away!

He said he plans to keep the website in existence in the hope of "pressuring Urban Meyer to commit to fulfilling his contract with the University of Florida by remaining head football coach until at least 2013.''

Fans to be allowed a vote for O'Brien Award

GAINESVILLE - Think Tim Tebow is the best quarterback in the country?

Then you'll get an opportunity to cast your vote on that matter beginning this weekend.

Starting Sept. 2, fans will be allowed to cast their votes for the Davey O'Brien award, given out to the
nation’s best college quarterback of the year.

Fans will get the opportunity to cast their vote for the starting quarterback from any of the 119 Division I-A football programs across the country. The fan voting component leaves room for an athlete who was not placed on the original watch list to win the award.

The top three fan vote getters will be added to the semifinalist list which will then be narrowed to two finalists and an eventual overall winner. The fan vote will count for 5% of the total and the winner will
be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN on Dec. 6.

Fans may cast their vote for their favorite starting quarterback once daily on The O’Brien’s official website, www.DaveyOBrien.com.

The O’Brien Award becomes just the second award in college football that fans are able to vote for. Prior to this year fan’s were only able to vote for the winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Jesse Palmer joins ESPN

GAINESVILLE - Former quarterback Jesse Palmer has joined ESPN as a college football analyst.

He will primarily work on ESPN2's Saturday pre-game, halftime and post-game studio coverage as
well as ESPN's daily College Football Live show from Bristol, Conn. He will also call  select game telecasts as an analyst. 

"College football has always been a huge passion of mine, and I am extremely excited and honored to be working with ESPN in this chosen field," Palmer said.

Before joining ESPN, Palmer was an analyst and reporter for the MSG network in 2006, appearing on the network's MSG, NY program during the NFL season.  In 2005, he was a Super Bowl correspondent for Global Sportsnet in Toronto, Canada

Outside of Florida fans, he may best be known for his season on ther ABC reality show "The Bachelor'' - the first professional athlete to star in the show.

Palmer played in 27 games during his four-year career at Florida from 1998-2000.  He ranks among Florida's top quarterbacks in many categories, including fourth in passing efficiency (133.14), eighth in
passing (3,755 yards) and ninth in touchdown passes (31).

Palmer was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.  In 2005, he signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent for one season and signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 2006. 

Palmer is a native of Nepean, Ontario and his father, Bill, was a former Canadian Football League star with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

UF to host three All-American Football League games

GAINESVILLE - Florida has reached an agreement with the new All-American football League to host three of the five games which will be played by the league's Florida team.

The AAFL's Florida team will feature former players of the University of Florida who have earned their bachelor's degree, but are not playing in other professional leagues.

The games at Florida Field will be played on April 26th, May 17th and May 31st. Florida will collect about $1 million for the three games.

The League's Board is chaired by Dr. Cedric Dempsey, former President of the NCAA, and includes Dr. Charles Young, former President of the University of Florida, and Gene Corrigan, former Commissioner of the ACC. Former Gator Lee McGriff has been named Board Chairman of the AAFL's Florida team.

A press conference has been scheduled for Sept. 5 to announce the team and league schedule.

Trautwein to miss season opener

GAINESVILLE - Senior offensive lineman Phil Trautwein has a stress fracture in his right foot and will miss Saturday's season opener against Western Kentucky.

Florida coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday that the extent of Trautwein's injury is unclear and he doesn't know how long he'll be out.

Trautwein, an All-SEC selection last season and the Gators' most experience lineman, has been in a boot for more than a week, and Meyer said at first it was a precautionary measure. On Wednesday, he said it's too early to determine Trautwein's future, including a medical redshirt.

"We're nowhere near that now,'' Meyer said.

Meyer focused on game-day with inexperienced team

GAINESVILLE - With so much youth on his Gator football team, Urban Meyer is going to great lengths to try and make sure his players are ready for Saturday's season-opener against Western Kentucky.

Florida returns 10 scholarship seniors and 11 juniors on scholarship. No other school in the SEC has fewer than 28 combined juniors and seniors returning. The average number in the SEC is 34.

So Meyer has spent a lot of time the past two weeks trying to simulate game-day situations and giving the players as much of a feel as possible about what to expect.

"We went through our practice schedule and our kids have gone through many more game situations at practice as they had a year ago,'' he said. "You didn’t need to teach Ray McDonald how to handle pre-game situations. We focused on pre-game much more than we ever have.  We went through all
of the little things so that they can focus on going four to six seconds. That is our whole theme this week as you can see throughout the facilities.  Four to six seconds as hard as you can go and if they
can do that then they will be fine.''

Here is a breakdown of positions by the percentage of scholarship players that are underclassmen:

QB- 75.0

TE - 33.3

RB- 83.3

WR- 70.0

OL- 68.7

DL - 78.5

DB - 71.4

LB -100

K -50

Men's golf preseason No. 4

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida men’s golf team was picked No. 4 in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division I Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released on Wednesday. Junior two-time All-American Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) was selected as the second best men’s collegiate player to watch in 2007-08.

The Gators have 10 players returning in 2007-08 from last season’s squad that turned in four top-5 finishes and never finished worse than 10th all season. Florida took home team trophies from the PING/Golfweek Preview Invitational and the SunTrust Gator Invitational.

UF-Troy game on Pay-Per-View

GAINESVILLE - The Florida vs. Troy game on Sept. 8 will be televised live, at 6 p.m., on Pay-Per-View.

Per Southeastern Conference television contracts, when an SEC team does not have its game selected by CBS, ESPN or Lincoln Financial, it is permitted to televise that game live on a statewide basis only on
pay-per-view.  Therefore, Sun Sports cannot air these games live on the network, but can make them available to cable/satellite systems and commercial establishments to deliver via pay-per-view.

The University Athletic Association donates proceeds from the PPV telecasts to the UF Libraries.  Since 1992, the UAA has donated approximately $1 million to the UF Libraries and hurricane relief efforts through these telecasts.

The live PPV airing will be in addition to Sun Sports' taped presentation of the game airing during the network's Sunday morning edition of BREAKFAST WITH THE GATORS beginning at 8:30am and again
Tuesday night at 11:00pm. telecasts to the UF Libraries. 

USC's Moody to transfer to UF

Emmanuel Moody announced Monday that he plans to transfer to Florida and should be in school by the middle of the week.

UF coach Urban Meyer said at Monday's press conference for this week's game against Western Kentucky: "I can't comment. He's not here yet. Oops.''

Moody, was the second-leading rusher on the Trojans' team in 2006 and was featured on one of the regional covers of Sports Illustrated's college football edition for the upcoming season.

But he will be in Gainesville instead, saying during his announcement on Monday that he just felt more comfortable at UF than North Carolina _ the other school he considered.

Moody will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2007 season per NCAA rules. He was the second-leading rusher on USC's team last season but became disgruntled when he felt he wouldn't be featured enough this year.

Meyer: Youth is biggest concern

GAINESVILLE - Urban Meyer said his biggest concern as the Gators head into next weekend's season opener is the inexperience of many of his players.

With a team full of seniors last year, Meyer said there was a much greater comfort level.

"Last year we were a little more mature team so we were a little more confident with what was going to happen.'' he said. "This year, I’m happy because there was zero resistance on the team, there’s a bunch of young guys trying hard. But I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen when we tear that ribbon off the Christmas present next week.There’s a lot of young guys. I think we’ll be explosive, I just, as a coach you always just worry about minimizing mistakes. And mistakes on defense lead to touchdowns and mistakes on offense lead to lost yardage plays. That’s my biggest concern.''

Andre Caldwell selected a captain

GAINESVILLE - Tampa native Andre Caldwell is among five players chosen as captains of the 2007 football team.

Caldwell, the top vote-getter, joins senior offensive linemen Phil Trautwein and Drew Miller, safety Tony Joiner and junior defensive end Derrick Harvey.

Cameron Newton will back up Tebow

GAINESVILLE - Freshman Cameron Newton has won the job as Florida's backup quarterback, coach Urban Meyer said after Saturday's practice.

Newton, a College Park, Ga., native, was in a tough battle with freshman John Brantley, the Gatorade Player of the Year last season. Meyer said Newton's participation in spring drills (he was an early enrollee in January) helped Newton.

"He’s not as far advanced as Tim (Tebow) was last year,'' Meyer said. "Tim had that unique skill of being able to drop his pads and run over someone. I think he’s very similar to Tim.''

Meyer praised Brantley and said he will not redshirt him. At least not yet.

"The other quarterback, Johnny, is going to be fine,'' he said. "I think he’s going to  be a great player here. We are not redshirting Johnny Brantley. Now if he doesn’t play, I guess it’s a redshirt. But we’re preparing him to be a starting quarterback at Florida, we don’t just say you’re redshirted. I know some people might want to hear that, but he’s got to be ready to play as well. But the backup quarterback is Cam, and we won’t play Johnny in a mop-up role. We’re going to develop him to be the starting quarterback.''

Five hundred expected to attend annual banquet of former players

GAINESVILLE - At least 500 people, including current and former players and their families, are expected to attend the annual champion's barbecue Saturday afternoon.

Coach Urban Meyer began hosting the event when he arrived three years ago, hoping to build  relationships and foster mentoring between current and former players.

Meyer said it's obvious the event has made a huge impact on the players.

"No question,'' Meyer said. "That and the captains' breakfast, when those guys come back and talk we always have a great speaker. So there's no doubt our guys appreciate that. And when we build this facility (the new $27 million addition), that's going to be devoted to, No. 1 recruiting, and No. 2 the history of Florida football. And all those great players are going to be rewarded for that.''

Florida announces efforts to keep fans cool at 12:30 Western Kentucky game

GAINESVILLE - In an effort to keep fans safe from heat-related illnessess during the season opener against Western Kentuck, the University Athletic Association is implementing several new plans.

Florida will give away sunscreen, towels and misting fans as part of its initiative. Water i 12 ounce botles will be sold for $1 and free Gatorade will be given at Fanzone.

And for those who just can't handle the heat all game, the Stephen C. O'Connell Center will open for football fans during the second half to watch the game on the big screens and cool down. You
must have a football ticket for entrance.

For a full list of everything that will be offered during the game, go to www.gatorzone.com.

Donovan picks up oral commitment

GAINESVILLE - Allan Chaney, a 6-foot-8 forward from New London, Conn., orally committed to Florida on Thursday.
   

He's the fourth recruit coach Billy Donovan has picked up, joining 6-foot-10 Kenny Kadj, Ray
Shipman (6-5) and 5-foot-8 Erving Walker. All four have given oral commitments, but per NCAA rules cannot sign binding letters of intent until the early sign period in November.

Chaney began garnering attention during summer camps and is ranked in the Scout.com top 100 recruits. He averaged 28 points and 14 rebounds as a junior. He chose Florida over Michigan and Ohio State. Chaney is rated the 19th best power forward recruit in the nation by Scout.com, Kadj is ranked the fifth-best center while Shipman is listed as the No. 16 small forward among this year's class of prep seniors and Walker is 27th in the point guard ratings.

Florida in line for dismissed USC recruit?

Highly-touted Southern Cal receiver Jamere Holland, a member of the Trojan's No. 1 2006 recruiting class, has been dismissed from the team and is reportedly looking at Florida as one of the schools he may transfer to.

According to a story in the L.A. Times, Holland, a state 100 and 200-meter champion at Woodland Hills Taft, was coached in high school by Troy Starr who is now the director of football operations at Florida. USC coach Pete Carroll said representatives of some schools are potentially making illegal contact with USC's players.

Here is the full story by Gary Klein:

USC became the destination of choice for many top recruits during the last five years, but it recently has turned into a high-profile point of departure.

Running back Emmanuel Moody and receiver Jamere Holland, both members of the touted recruiting class of 2006, are no longer on the team.

Moody, the Trojans' second-leading rusher last season, decided last week to transfer in search of a more featured role. He said Monday that he would first visit North Carolina, then Florida, Texas and Oklahoma State. According to Moody and others, Holland also was considering transferring before Coach Pete Carroll dismissed him from the team on Sunday night.

Moody, who was on campus Monday, said of Holland: "He heard I transferred, and he came up to me and was like, 'I'm thinking about transferring.' I was surprised. I thought he was happy.

"He couldn't tell me why. I think it was something deep he couldn't really tell me."

Holland, who played at Woodland Hills Taft High, could not be reached for comment.

Carroll has not said why Holland was released. The coach said late Sunday night that Holland, who also competed for the track team last spring, was not dismissed because of a violation of team rules and that he would remain on scholarship.

"He didn't disagree, really he understood," Carroll said after practice Monday. "I'm not sure what he's going to do right now, but I know he's looking to find another place to go to school. We'll try to help him through that process."

Teammates and others close to the program said Holland had trouble grasping the commitment necessary to participate in a program as demanding as USC's.

Holland, the California state 100- and 200-meter champion in 2005, broke his collarbone during training camp last year and redshirted. Several times during the 2006 season, former receivers coach Lane Kiffin counseled Holland on the field after practice about punctuality and commitment to workouts and rehabilitation.

"I talked to him before, but he's going to do what he wants to do," junior receiver Patrick Turner said. "All I could do is tell him what I know and what was best. After that, you either have to run with it or do what you want to do."

Holland reinjured his collarbone during spring practice and was sidelined again last week after he suffered a concussion.

Teammates indicated that Holland seemed distracted from the start of camp.

"You could tell he just wasn't himself," sophomore receiver Vidal Hazelton said.

Carroll said attrition was a natural byproduct of any organization.

"What our guys undertake in this program is most challenging and most difficult," he said Monday morning. "It's an extremely competitive school environment and for sure it is on the football field. The expectations and standards we live by and such is not for everybody. We understand that."

Later, Carroll said representatives of other schools were contacting his players in "subtle and just kind of secondary fashion." Carroll added, "In a competitive sense, I understand why guys would eyeball our roster and look for guys here and there. We have a terrific football team, but the other side of it is it's illegal."

Troy Starr, Holland's high school coach at Taft, said he spoke to the receiver after his dismissal by Carroll.

Starr, now the director of football operations at Florida, said Holland lived in his home during high school, that he was very close to Holland's family and that he has remained in contact with the player and had encouraged him to remain at USC.

Asked if Holland was considering transferring to Florida, Starr said, "I think there are numerous schools he's going to look at."

Women's basketball to help Habitat for Humanity

GAINESVILLE - Members of the women's basketball team and coaching staff will participate in a home-building project for Habitat for Humanity this Saturday (Aug. 25).

The team will be volunteering on a project run throgh a branch of Habitat called "Women Build.'' The team will assist with the building of two houses in the Celebration Oaks subdivision.

Ground was broken for the house on August 11 and women throughout the Gainesville community have committed their Saturdays to work on the project.  Construction will continue on Saturdays through September, and possibly into October, until the house is complete.

“The city of Gainesville provides incredible support to the Florida Women’s Basketball team and we feel this is one way to give back,''  new head coach Amanda Butler said

Lou Holtz visits UF practice

GAINESVILLE - Former Notre Dame and now ESPN analyst Lou Holtz was at Florida's practice Monday morning,

Holtz, who hired Meyer as an assistant at Notre Dame, remains close friends with the UF coach. Meyer invited Holtz to practice on what he called "an emotional day'' - the final day of two-a-day practices.

"He hired me back in 1996 and obviously he's an Encyclpedia of college football and the greatest motivator I've ever been around,'' Meyer said.

Florida ranked No. 6 in AP poll

GAINESVILLE - Florida is ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press football poll, which was released Saturday afternoon.

The defending national champions are one of six SEC teams in the AP Top 25, the most for any conference in the nation.

Perennial power USC is ranked No. 1, followed by LSU and West Virginia. Texas is No. 4 and Michigan is ranked No. 5. It is the third time in four years the Trojans have begun the season at No. 1.

Donovan's message to football team: Trust is Key

GAINESVILLE - Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan spoke to the Florida football team Thursday night as part of the team's Champions Dinner ceremony. The two-time national champion coach told the players that the best way to succeed as a team this season is to have the utmost trust in each other. 

"It (his message) was about a team with trust, it’s tough to be stopped,'' quarterback Tim Tebow said. "He gave an example about a guy riding a bike on a tight rope. He said if everybody said “Oh, I believe you can do it, I believe you can do it. But when he picked someone, he said “Hey, you get on here. Do you believe? Do you trust me that I’ll take you back and forth?’’

"I thought that was a great message and I think our team got a lot out of it,'' Tebow said. "It's knowing the difference between believing and trusting in your teammates. It was a great talk. Coach Donovan, every time he talks, it’s a great talk and it’s very motivational. And it’s coming from somebody who knows what he’s talking about.''

Volleyball Preseason top 10

GAINESVILLE - The volleyball team is ranked No. 7 in preseason rankings by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. It is the 11th year in a row the Gators have been a preseason top-10 team, joining Nebraska and Stanford with that distinction.

The Gators have also been picked to win the SEC title, which would be their 17th consecutive championship.

Florida returns seven starters and more than 90 percent of its kills, assists, blocks and points from last season.

Wilber Marshall to be inducted into the ring of honor

GAINESVILLE - Wilber Marshall, a two-time concensus All-American linebacker, will be inducted into Florida's football ring of honor, the school announced Wednesday.

The 1983 Defensive Player of the Year will join inaugural members Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Jack Youngblood, who were inducted last season.

Marshall, who played linebacker for the Gators from 1980-83, will be honored prior to the Florida-Auburn game on Sept. 29. His name will be unveiled and displayed in the North Endzone of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on a display which will be approximately 18-feet wide and 5-feet high.

Marshall, originally from Titusville, Fla., was a consensus first-team All-American in 1982 and 1983 and also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in 1981. ABC Television selected him as the National
Defensive Player of the Year in 1983 and he was a finalist for the Lombardi Award in both his junior and senior seasons.

Marshall was a first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1984 and had a 12-year career in the NFL. He was a three-time All-Pro selection (1986, '87 and '92) and also earned a pair of Super Bowl rings
with Chicago and Washington.

Meyer: No eligibility issues with Cameron Newton

GAINESVILLE - Despite rumors that he may have academic trouble, Florida coach Urban Meyer said freshman quarterback Cameron Newton is eligible to play.

Newton missed the first four days of practice finishing up academic work, and furthered raised speculation when he declined to answer questions about his grades last week.

“He’s eligible,’’ Meyer said Tuesday.

As for Lakeland freshman John Brown, he continues to practice but is still awaiting official word that he’s been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. “They wouldn’t let him practice if it didn’t look good,’’ Meyer said.

Florida ranked No. 3 by Sports Illustrated

GAINESVILLE - The Gators are ranked No. 3 in the upcoming Sports Illustrated College Football Preview issue.

The Gators trail USC and LSU, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively.

The issue hits newstands on Wednesday.

Western Kentucky game time changed

GAINESVILLE - Florida's Sept. 1 season-opener against Western Kentucky, which was previously scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff, has been changed to 12:30 p.m.

The game will be televised on Lincoln Financial Sports.

“The Southeastern Conference asked us to move our season opener to 12:30 to accommodate our television partner, Lincoln Financial Sports,” UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said. “We were in a
similar scenario last year and the league had other options. This year, they had no other alternatives other than to ask us to move our game time and we are contractually obligated to do so.”

Lincoln Financial, a television partner of the SEC, selects league games after CBS and ESPN make their respective selections. By contract, each school is to appear a total of two times on Lincoln Financial Sports in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

ESPN2 will carry the Oklahoma State at Georgia game (5:45 p.m.) and ESPN will televise the Kansas State at Auburn game (7:45 p.m.).

CBS does not begin televising SEC games until the Florida-Tennessee game on September 15.

Meyer pleased with effort of running backs

GAINESVILLE - When he first arrived in Gainesville, Urban Meyer was hardpressed to find anything nice to say about the Gator running backs.

Now entering his third season, Meyer said Thursday he's unsure of how good the players are, but he's pleased with their effort.

"I probably shouldn't have done that, but I get so upset with effort,'' Meyer said, referring to his past rants about the running backs. "If you struggle as a player, but you give great effort, I'm okay with that. But if you struggle because you give lack of effort and you've got a bunch of people around you working real hard, that makes you kind of sick to your stomach. And I experienced that my first year at Florida. Since then, they work hard. I don't know how good we are, but they are working hard.''

"If we work real hard and we struggle, then that's the coaches fault,'' Meyer added. "If we don't work real hard, then it's the player's fault.''

Sun Sports to air SEC preview shows

GAINESVILLE - Sun Sports will televise a series of 30-minute college football preview shows spotlighting all 12 SEC schools, the network announced Thursday.

The shows were shot on-location at each school campus and will provide an in-depth review of the 2006 season, a look ahead to the 2007 schedule and exclusive interviews with each school’s head coach and select key players.

Sun Sports’ college football production team is producing the Florida football preview show, which is presented by SunTrust.  The program features host Jen Hildreth along with Sun Sports “Tailgate Overtime” studio panelist, Chris Doering, Sun Sports’ UF football announcers David Steele and Nat Moore, as well as the Gators’ radio play-by-play announcer, Mick Hubert.

Here is the network's schedule for airing the Florida preview show:

Aug. 22 -- 5:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 25 -- 9 p.m.

Aug. 27 -- 11 a.m.

Aug. 29 -- 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 -- 9:30 p.m. 

Football team concludes day four of practice

GAINESVILLE - With four days of fall practice concluded, coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday he's not counting those days as being in camp. At least not really.

“With Summer B still going on, it’s hard,’’ Meyer said. “We’re not officially in camp yet. There’s people taking tests and classes. Class officially starts Friday afternoon, classes are over then.''

For the second straight day, Meyer praised his defense, saying they play with more energy and enthusiasm than the offense on Wednesday.

MURPHY'S PROGRESS: Meyer said receiver and St. Petersburg native Louis Murphy struggled with soreness in his knee from tendonitis on Wednesday, but he the staff is still expecting big things from him this season.

"He's one of our main guys,'' Meyer said.

BATTLING THE HEAT: Several players were sidelined at different points during practice with heat-related illness, but none serious.

"There were three or four people we had to rest, but they are fine,'' Meyer said. "Our trainers do a heck of a job.''

Tebow named to Manning Watch List

GAINESVILLE - Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow on Wednesday was among 35 players named to the Manning Award Watch List, an award created to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning.

Tebow is among seven quarterbacks from the SEC who were selected to the list. The others are: Erik Ainge (Tennessee), Brandon Cox (Auburn), Matt Flynn (LSU), Blake Mitchell (South Carolina), Matthew Stafford (Georgia) and Andre Woodson (Kentucky).

The winner will be determined by a selected panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. Finalists for the award will be announced prior to the beginning of the
bowl season, and a winner will be chosen following the bowls.

USC’s Matt Leinart was the inaugural winner of the award in 2005, followed by Texas’ Vince Young in 2006 and LSU’s JaMarcus Russell last season. All three players went on to become first round draft picks
in the NFL.

Meyer: First day with entire squad was average

GAINESVILLE - On the first day he was able to see his entire squad practice together, coach Urban Meyer said it wasn't awful, but there's much room for improvement.

"It was very average,'' Meyer said. "It was the first day in pads and we looked like a young team. I'm pleased with the older guys, unfortunately on the other side of the ball (defense) there's not a whole bunch of them.''

Meyer said he likes what he's seen from sophomore linebackers Dustin Doe and Brandon Spikes, and that defensive end Derrick Harvey and defensive tackle Clint McMillan have also been impressive in practice.

KEEPING THEM SHARP: The coaching staff did a lot more chewing out of players on Tuesday than the first two days of practice, but Meyer said that comes with the territory.

"I think coaching is teaching guys steps, teaching guys hand placement, teaching guys how to block punts, teaching them pass plays. If you've been through this program as long as some of these guys have, if you have to teach them to run on and off the field and you have to teach them to finish the plays, then you start thinking they're not listening to you and that's when the coaches start getting after them. By now it shouldn't be like that.''

FAYSON PRACTICING AT RUNNING BACK: Sophomore receiver Jarred Fayson practiced quite a bit at running back Tuesday, a role Meyer has said he'll be in more this season. Fayson, a former quarterback at Hillsborough High sadi he's enjoying the new role.

Florida football fan day is Aug. 19

GAINESVILLE - Florida fans looking for an opportunity to hang out with their favorite players will get an oppportunity in two weeks when the Gators host Fan Day.

The event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 1-3 p.m. at the Florida Gym. The event, normally held at the O'Connell Center, has been moved because of resurfacing of the O'Dome floor.

Doors open at noon and the University Athletic Association will supply the 2007 Gator team posters for player autographs. Outside items may not be brought into the event due to NCAA compliance issues.

"Unfortunately when players have signed various autograph items such as helmets and footballs, they have on occasion been sold to the general public," Associate Athletics Director for Compliance Jamie McCloskey said. "This practice could put the eligibility of some of our student athletes into question. We want to be proactive in this area and are asking our fans to cooperate with our policy of requesting an autograph on our team poster only. The poster should be for personal use only and not intended for sale."

Welcome change

Coach Urban Meyer wasn't always in favor of the NCAA rules that changed the way coaches can practice in the fall, but in retrospect he said the changes are for the better.

"I used to complain about when they first busted down the five-day acclimation period and the no back-to-back double sessions and giving them a Sunday off, but I think it's all for the better. I like the way it's set up now. It's perfect right now for the health of the players, especially down here in the heat."

Waggener playing catch-up

Although he enrolled in January to get a jump on things, an injury may have cost quarterback Bryan Waggener a chance at playing this season.

"He's way behind," Coach Urban Meyer said. "He's a typical junior college guy, especially from a quality program like Citrus College (Calif.), he should be much further advanced. But today was his first day. So he's way behind."

Waggener threw for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., but broke his left foot in early spring practice.

Meyer said he'll probably redshirt one of the young quarterbacks, but said Ocala's John Brantley, the Gatorade Player of the Year may not be among them.

"I'm sure one will redshirt, but Johnny Brantley is above where we thought he would be," Meyer said. "He's doing very well."

Receiver Riley Cooper is improving, but still in pain

GAINESVILLE --Sophomore receiver Riley Cooper said Monday he's much improved, but remains in pain and is still dealing with the foot injury that has hampered him since the spring.

Cooper, a former Clearwater Central Catholic standout has been battling a foot injury he describes as being similar to "turf toe."

"My feet are still messed up," Cooper said after Monday's practice. They've gotten a lot better, but my left toe is still bothering me, so I've been getting shots and stuff like that. I have no idea (what happened). It's like turf toe, constant wear and tear, and it got gradually worse."

Cooper received a round of applause from fans attending Monday's practice with an impressive sideline catch, and Meyer said he appreciates the effort more because of the pain Copper is in.

"His foot is bothering him," coach Urban Meyer said. "He practiced and made a great catch on the sideline. He's doing everything he can. Your heart bleeds for him. It's like a darn toothache in his foot that I wish we could just fix, but it's a very unusual injury that's really taken a toll on him."

James Pleads No Contest

GAINESVILLE – Sophomore running back/kick returner Brandon James stood in an Alachua County courtroom Monday morning and pled no contest to misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana of not more than 20 grams.

James was sentenced to 10 hours of mandatory community service and ordered to pay court costs of $226 or 23 hours of community service, according to Alachua County court records.

James can opt out of the mandatory community service by paying $100 - $10 per hour.

Gator golfer selected to Walker Cup team

GAINESVILLE - Junior golfer Billy Horschel is among the first eight players picked for the 10-man
2007 U.S. Walker Cup team, the USGA announced Monday.

The Walker Cup is a team tournament between amateurs from the U.S. pitted against a squad from Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1922. It is held biennially, hosted at sites alternating between the two teams. The tournament consists of 16 singles and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The U.S. reclaimed the Cup in 2005 by one point after losing the three previous meetings in 1999, 2001 and 2003.

This year’s Walker Cup Match will be played Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland.

A two-time All-American, Horschel has been among the top-five finishers at many prestigious amateur tournaments. The 2007 SEC Player of the Year qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open and posted a USGA record 60 in the first round of stroke play at the 2006 U.S. Amateur.

Horschel will be joined by Dustin Johnson, Chris Kirk, Colt Knost, Trip Kuehne, Jamie Lovemark, Jonathan Moore and Webb Simpson, forming a team that consists of two collegiate champions, a USGA champion and three players who have qualified for a U.S. Open.

The remaining two alternate spots will be picked after the U.S. Amateur, which will be held Aug. 20-26 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The U.S. team leads the overall series, 32-7-1.

Freshman go through pre-dawn workouts

GAINESVILLE - The Florida newcomers took the field for the second day in the wee hours of Monday morning.

The Gators took the field at about 5:40 a.m. at the Sanders Practice Field. Freshman quarterback John Brantley had some nice throws - and a few that reminded you that he just got of high school. Redshirt freshman Bryan Thomas of Zephyrhills, who suffered a season-ending injury after showing promise in early drills last season, is once again looking like he might compete for playing time. Freshman Jerimy Fincy, a safety from Indianapolis who looks like a linebacker, also looked solid.

After competing in 7-on-7 drills, the Gators ended practice about 7:30 a.m.

Veterans will practice tonight from 4:15 - 6:15, then the entire squad will practice together for the first time Tuesday afternoon.

Cam Newton Misses First Day of Practice

GAINESVILLE - Freshman quarterback Cameron Newton did not practice Sunday, the Gators' first day of fall practice, due to academic issues.

Newton enrolled in school this past January to get an early jump on playing at the collegiate level and is considered the backup to sophomore Tim Tebow. He did not practice with the freshmen Sunday afternoon, but coach Urban Meyer said he expected Newton to practice with the veterans Sunday night.

But Newton was not at Sunday night's practice, and sports information director Steve McClain said Newton was "taking care of some academic issues'' and was expected to return to the team by the end of the week. As previously scheduled, Meyer spoke to the media following the first session, but did not talk after the evening session.

Newton is enrolled in Summer B classes.

Meyer: Freshman class could be as good as advertised

GAINESVILLE - In the midst of their excitement and battling through fatigue of their first official college football practice, Urban Meyer said he got a good indication in Sunday's first fall practice just which freshmen most likely will see playing time this season.

"There's some talent, you can tell right now the ones that are going to play; I can,'' Meyer said. "I'm not going to tell you, but I have a good indication of who's going to play already.''

Florida had the No. 1 recruiting class by several recruiting services, and Meyer said just having more numbers than when he arrived three years ago is a bonus.

"It's that middle level where two years ago our special teams we suffered at times because we didn't have enough bodies,'' Meyer said. "In my opinion, they are all going to play. Because of sheer numbers, they are going to play - 10 seniors, 10 juniors, you figure it out. But I think they are that talented, too.''

Co-Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said offensive lineman John Brown will be a little behind the curve of his other Lakeland teammates because he missed summer B. Brown began practice Sunday, but is still awaiting clearance from the NCAA Clearinghouse. In the meantime, Mattison is doing his best to get him quickly up to speed.

"He didn't get the six weeks that these other kids got,'' Mattison said. "As a coach you can be sensitive to that, but don't listen to it. I've got to have the trainers telling me the whole time, "you've got to slow down with him.' That's why they are the trainers. That's their job and I listen to them.''

Gators No. 3 in Coaches Poll

GAINESVILLE - The SEC is once again garnering respect from the nation's coaches.

Two of the top three team's in the USA Today Preseason Coaches poll released on Friday are from the SEC.

USC is the nation's No. 1 team, followed by LSU at No. 2 and defending national champion Florida at No. 3. Texas and Michigan rounded out the Top 5.

Florida is among the nation's favored teams, despite having lost a big part of its defense from last year's team.

Wilson Pleads No Contest

GAINESVILLE – Ronnie Wilson, the Florida offensive lineman who was arrested in March for allegedly firing a semi-automatic weapon after an altercation at a local club, received two years of court probation on Thursday.

Wilson, a sophomore from Pompany Beach, entered a plea of no contest to battery and discharging a firearm. Along with probation, he must also perform 100 hours of community service and agreed to give up his guns, which he legally had a permit for.

He has been suspended indefinitely from the team.