UF wary of Troy; Trojans not intimidated

GAINESVILLE - Much of the talk in Florida's early-morning meetings Monday was centered around Troy, but it wasn't just X's and O'.

After Applachian State stunned the nation with its victory over then-No. 5 Michigan, every team in the country facing a so-called lesser oppponent is on high alert. UF coach Urban Meyer said his staff will make sure the Gators don't take Troy lightly.

"I think our coaches do a great job,'' he said.  I just sat in on the defensive meetings and there is no chance of saying ‘O.K. this team is not as good as us.’ We are just trying to get up and play as hard as we can. I worry about that with the older guys like Drew Miller or Carlton Medder, but they are such good kids and we are going to be on them so hard that I don’t see that being a problem.  I think whenever a college football fan, player or coach sees what happened with Appalachian State it initially shocks you.''

Meanwhile, Troy coach Larry Blakeney said Tuesday mornng his team won't be overconfident coming into Gainesville on Saturday- but they won't be frightened either.

"I don’t think our kids will be intimidated and hopefully we’ll be well prepared and have a way to scheme and compete with the Gators, the reigning national champion, the great crowd and the people that really feel very strongly about their football team,'' Blakeney said on ESPN's 1st Watch. "We’ll deal with that. I think our guys though will be excited to play and look forward to playing the Gators. They are an awfully good, well-personnel, well-coached football program.''

As for overlooking Troy in anticipation of Tennessee, Blakeney said there may have been a better chance of that if Michigan hadn't lost.

"Probably they’ll have their guard up a little more even now because of what happened this past week,'' he said.