Ingram named to John Mackey Award Watch List

GAINESVILLE - Senior tight end Cornelius Ingram was named to the Mackey Award Watch List on Thursday, an award given annually to the nation's best tight end.

Ingram played in all 13 games and ranked fourth on the team with 34 receptions, averaging just under 15 yards per catch. He had 508 receiving yards, fourth on the team and had at least one reception in 12 of 13 games. A 2007 second team All-SEC selection, Ingram has 888 yards receiving with 64 catches since moving from quarterback to tight end in 2005.

Football season is official: practice kicks off Aug. 4

The moment diehard fans have been waiting for is here: The Florida football team begins practice on Monday, Aug. 4.

And if you're one of those people who likes to see for themselves what the Gators look like early in the preseason, you'll get one week to check them out. Beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday.

The Gators' first five practices will be open to the public at the Florida practice field on the UF campus.

Fans will not be allowed to bring video cameras to practice, although regular cameras are permissible. Fans may sit in the bleachers or on the grassy area on the right of the practice field entrance. Rosters will be available inside the practice area gate.

The following practices are open to the public. All practices after Aug. 8 are closed.

Monday, Aug. 4: 6-7:25 a.m. (freshmen only); 4:40-6:20 p.m. (non-freshmen).

Tuesday, Aug. 5: 6-7:25 a.m. (freshmen only); 4:40-6:20 p.m. (non-freshmen).

Wednesday, Aug. 6: 4:40-6:20 p.m. (full squad).

Thursday, Aug. 7: 6-8 p.m. (full squad).

Friday, Aug. 8: 6-8 p.m. (full squad).

Study: Florida No. 3 nationally in recruiting spending

Florida is among the nation's top schools when it comes to spending on recruiting its athletes, according to a story published Tuesday in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Reporter Libby Sander spent about two months working on the story in which she found Florida spends the third-most of Divsion I schools, behind Tennessee (more than $2 million) and Notre Dame ($1,758,300). The Gators spent $1,451,400, compared to $665,500 for recruiting a decade ago.

Four of the top eight schools in terms of combined dollars spent on
recruiting for all sports are in the SEC. Among other state schools' spending: South Florida ($468,813), FSU ($946,356), Miami ($772,950), Central Florida ($632,564) and Florida Atlantic ($256,903).

Of the 300 Division I programs for which the Chronicle was able to obtain data, 21 spent more than $1 million on recruiting athletes. The top 65 combined for more than $61 million in 2007.

Here is a look at the full story.

Gators get a No. 1 ranking, but not on the field

Urban Meyer may ultimately be in search of a No. 1 ranking in January, but Florida has already topped the polls in one area - apparently Gators know how to have a good time.

For 15 years the Gators are among the Top 20 schools on the Princeton Review list of top party schools. And this time they are No. 1.

Full details are here.

Lochte joins Phelps on magazine cover

Michael Phelps and former Gator Ryan Lochte aren't just swimming rivals.They're very close friends.

In the August issue of Men's Journal, which is on newsstands now, the magazine not only put them on the cover, but chronicled that friendship in an article about the two phenomenal athletes. You can read about the duo HERE. In the intro, the publication writes that "it's their intense rivalry that sets the stage for what promises to be the single greatest race at the Beijing games."

You can see a clip of Lochte in action below.

UF backup QB race still wide open

With so much talk about Tim Tebow, it's easy to forget about the guys vying for the No. 2 position.

Florida coach Urban Meyer said last week that while sophomore quarterback Cameron Newton may seem to be the heir apparent, the position hasn't been filled.

"It's wide open,'' Meyer said. "Cameron obviously has the upper hand because of health and because he's played. But John Brantley is a very talented guy who has had a very good summer. He's had two injuries. He hurt his shoulder and then he had a broken hand and missed the spring game. But when you talk to our players about throwing the football, there's no question who they think is just the best, pure, pocket passer and that's Johnny Brantley. So we'll know more (when camp opens). But it's wide open.''

And if you're wondering, don't expect a decision soon.

"We will not name a backup quarterback until we take the field against Hawaii,'' Meyer said.

ESPN's Titletown winner to be announced tonight

If you're one of those people who has been following ESPN's bid to find the best championship city, here's a reminder that the winner will be announced tonight at 6 p.m.

Gainesville is among the finalists, which also include: Green Bay, Wisc.; Lawrence, Kan.; Pittsburgh; Knoxville, Tenn.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Los Angeles; Palo Alto, Calif.; Louisville, Ky.; Chicago; Boston; New York; Valdosta, Ga.; Detroit; San Francisco; Williamsport, Pa.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; Parkersburg, W.Va.; and Massillon, Ohio.

The winner will be chosen based on online fan voting.

Stephen Garcia still a possibility for the Gamecocks

Former Jefferson standout Stephen Garcia may still have an opportunity to salvage his career at South Carolina, coach Steve Spurrier said Friday.

Garcia was one of Spurrier's most heralded recruits in 2007, but two arrests, including underage drinking and vandalism to a professor's car, and another run-in with the law (cited for underage drinking), have derailed his attempts to become the starting quarterback.

He was suspended from the university in March after being cited for underage drinking and having a fire extinguisher go off in his dorm room, but Spurrier said there's a chance he'll be allowed back this fall.

"Stephen could be back,'' he said. "The university is handling his situation. He had a bunch of requirements to do this summer. From what I understand, he's done just about all they've asked or everything. I'm not exactly sure, but the university, the Dean of Students, the provost or whatever, somebody will tell him when to come, if he's fulfilled those requirements.''

UF football to host charity strongman competition

The annual strongman competition between Florida football players is generally a private gathering, a signaling of the end of summer and the beginning of fall drills, which helps build chemistry.

Tonight, the Gators will open it up to the public.

Florida will host its inaugural Gator Charity Challenge tonight at 7 p.m., at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The fundraiser will feature the 2008 Gators challenging each other in a series of strength competitions to raise money for six charities: American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Children’s Miracle Network, March of Dimes and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The event is free and open to the public. Pledge cards will be available on the West Concourse for fans to have an opportunity to donate; cash and checks will not be accepted on site, only pledge form donations. Each person who fills out a pledge card will receive a raffle ticket and become eligible to receive an assortment of Florida Gator paraphernalia.

The Gator Charity Challenge is being held in association with Uplifting Athletes to help raise public awareness of rare diseases. For more information, go to upiftingathletes.org.

Spurrier vows to rise above "mediocrity''

HOOVER, Ala. - South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is closing out SEC Media Days Friday afternoon in his usual rare form, describing his team as "mediocre'' last season and vowing to make the Gamecocks better this year.

"Last year was a very disappointing ending,'' Spurrier said. "We had a chance at the end there. There's a huge difference between 9-4 and 6-6 (the latter being South Carolina's 2007 record after ending with a five game losing streak). But it was good for us in a way because as a head coach I had to look at myself and say "What can we do better?''

Spurrier said the offseason focus was on defense, including hiring a new defensive coordinator, Ellis Johnson.

"With Ellis and better players, we're going to be better on defense,'' Spurrier said. . . "We've got ball players. We absolutely have no excuses.''

SEC Media says Gators will be eventual SEC champs

The national media may be in love with the Georgia Bulldogs, but those that cover the SEC on a regular basis believe it's the Gators who will end the season as the SEC champions.

Florida was picked to win the East, while Auburn was the SEC West selection.

But take it with a grain of salt. More than 700 media members were attendance at this week's SEC Media Days, but only 70 voted on the preseason All-SEC team.

However, of the 70 who voted, Florida was named SEC Champion on 36 ballots, Georgia on 18, Auburn 13 and LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss one each.  In the Eastern Division, Florida had 45 first-place votes, Georgia (23) and Tennessee (2). 

The Gators, Bulldogs and Volunteers were selected 1-2-3 in the Eastern Division followed by South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

In the Western Division, Auburn was named first place on 48 ballots, while defending national and SEC champion LSU received 21 first place votes and Ole Miss 1. The predicted order of finish in the Western Division was Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Florida had the most first-team selections with five followed by LSU and Tennessee with four each. There were no unanimous selections, but UF receiver Percy Harvin was the leading vote-getter with 68 votes while Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes had 65 votes. Other Gators on the first team: QB Tim Tebow, TE Cornelius Ingram and return specialist Brandon James.

Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville opened his talk Friday by joking about the media's decision to make his team the favorite in the West.

"I was really excited until I got up this morning and saw ya'll had picked us to win the West,'' Tuberville said. "Ya'll are never right. I don't know what to tell my team, ya'll have put me in a bind. No, actually we'll use this. It's probably good for us. I'm not big on predictions, but we need something to get us going.''

Nutt already comfortable in Oxford

For some reason, first-year Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt was having a hard time on Thursday figuring out why he kept getting asked about Arkansas on Thursday. Remember, Nutt resigned from Arkansas at the end of the season, then took a job with Mississippi a few days later.

“I’ve had that question asked about three times already,’’ Nutt said when asked if it felt strange being at Media Days talking about Ole Miss rather than Arkansas. "You know, it feels like I've been here a long time. It's the way I feel right now. Again, I think because of the transition, it's been so smooth.  I realize we haven't played a game yet.  I understand that.  But this was a good move, I think, for our coaches' families. You feel that way.  You feel the players feel that way. So I just feel like I've been here a while.  I know we haven't played a game yet. But you just feel good about it.''

I seem to remember former coach Ed Orgeron saying something eerily similar when he took the podium as head coach for the first time after leaving his coordinator's job at USC.

That was in 2005.

Fulmer, former Tide booster battle continues

HOOVER, Ala. - The long-standing saga between Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer and former Alabama booster Wendell Smith continued on Thursday when Smith’s attorney claimed Fulmer had been served with a subpoena to testify about a lawsuit against the NCAA as he arrived at SEC Media Days.

“I have not seen a subpoena,’’ Fulmer said, adding that he was in town to talk about his football team and declining to comment further.

Four years ago, Fulmer refused to come to media days to avoid being served a subpoena in a case involving an NCAA  investigation against Alabama. He spoke to the media by phone, and was fined $10,000 by the SEC for his absence.

Smith was disassociated from Alabama as a booster after being accused of giving money to a high school recruit. He denied the allegation and implicated Fulmer as NCAA investigators’ source. He is now suing the NCAA for defamation.

Saban trying to keep expectations in check

HOOVER, Ala. - Alabama will open the season against ACC-favorite Clemson, a game which has been generating a lot of preseason buzz. But coach Nick Saban and the Tide players are taking a different approach from most teams this time of year: keep the expectations low. 

“You guys use that word "expectations" a lot, and I try to minimize it a lot because I think it's dangerous because we’re trying to focus on what we can do to make our team the best that it can be,’’ Saban said. “So that process is taking it every day on what you can do, how you can work to improve character, attitude, physical ability, ability to execute, team chemistry, work ethic, all these things that keep just continuing to help you improve so that you can become a good football team and play with consistency every week. ‘’

The players seem to be buying in.

“Coach Saban says don’t worry about SEC and national championships, if you have a team full of champions, championships will come,’’ Tide senior offensive lineman Antoine Caldwell said. “If you have a team that plays collectively, championships will come. And for the first time since I’ve been here, I feel we have a legitimate chance to win the (SEC) west. It reminds me of that 2005 team that went 10-2.''

Mark Richt's explanation and apology - one last time

HOOVER, Ala. - Georgia coach Mark Richt apologized, once again on Thursday, for the end zone celebration after scoring its first touchdown against the Gators in a 42-30 victory last season that drew the ire of fans and, even some coaches.

Richt said he didn't intend for the incident to be played out as it was, and reminded reporters at SEC Media Days that he called Meyer the next day and apologized.

Here's is the full transcript of Richt's explanation of the event:

"Yeah, I'm going to tell you what happened.  We played Tennessee.  We got no fire.  We got to have fire. I knew I needed to get better at that.  I'm not talking to the team or coaches or anything.  I'm deciding I'm going to get all exuberant, and maybe I can rally the troops against Vanderbilt. We're losing 10-0 at halftime.  I don't see a whole lot more emotion in that game.  We win by the skin of our teeth. We have an open date before Florida.  Then I announce to the team, Man, we are going to have to have more enthusiasm and energy or we're not gonna win.  I said, Even if we got to fake it, we're gonna have more energy. Then I said, As a matter of fact, after the first score against Florida, I want you guys to celebrate so hard that the referees throw the flag.

Now, I'm thinking in my mind, my little pea brain, 11 guys in the game, score a touchdown, 11 guys jump up and down and celebrate until the official throws the flag.  That's my intention of what I had said.  I actually did it a couple years when I was offensive coordinator at Florida State.  I never had the authority to have a whole team do something like that. I was just kind of going back to finding a way to get guys
jacked up. Well, anyway, we got two weeks before the game. We're preparing for that game. I got guys scoring a touchdown against a scout team, spiking the ball.  I got a guy scoring against the scout team and dunking it over the goalpost. I have a guy scoring against the scout team and pretending he's throwing the ball in the stands.  I'm watching this thing as it's going on thinking, That's not the way it's gonna happen.

Right before we left the hotel to go play Florida, I said, Man, I want a little housekeeping before this
game.  I says, Number one, I am going to stay true to my word and let you celebrate after the score.  But I don't   want some individual to do a little dance or throw the ball in the stands.  I said, The reality is the defense is  probably going to set that score up. I said, You're gonna have teammates probably blocking for you.  You have 50 guys back home on that scout team that prepared you to get in the end zone.  So it's not an individual celebration. I want it to be a team celebration.

Again, I'm still thinking 11 guys celebrating. Well, somebody in the crowd thought I meant everybody.  The other thing I said in that housekeeping thing, I said, First of all, if we don't score a touchdown in the first  half, we're not celebrating anything.  I said, I don't want to celebrate when we're down 31-7 or 31-6.

So, anyway, we go to the game.  Sure enough, defense gets a turnover. Offensive line blocks them down the field. We score the touchdown. Then, bang, guys start leaving the sideline. I was in shock as much as anybody else. My initial reaction is, Oh, heck, you know, what's going on (smiling)? Then I'll say this:  When I saw the exuberance, when I saw the energy, when I saw the passion and the fire get unleashed that had been dormant in this football team, I got excited.  I was fired up. Now, I didn't even think that it could probably have turned into a melee.  The other thing I didn't think about was that thing was under review.  If that thing wasn't a score, it would have been third and 30, you know? That would have been ugly. But, again, I had no intention for our team to clear the bench.

Now, I called Urban, I called Coach Meyer on Sunday.  I told him what I told you. I said, I was a coach
desperate to try to get some enthusiasm, and I was willing to take a 15 yard penalty. Now, in hindsight, I asked the team to do an unsportsmanlike act, because it's called unsportsmanlike conduct, excessive celebration. In hindsight, I shouldn't have done it. I won't do anything like that again.  It could have easily turned into a big stupid brawl and everything else.

That's as truthful as I can tell you what happened.

Florida still miffed over Georgia celebration

HOOVER, Ala. - Forget about Florida and Georgia not thinking about each other until late October, the smack-talking has already begun.

Apparently the bitterness over Georgia's end zone celebration after their first touchdown in last year's win over Florida is still lingering. Well, Florida's bitterness lingers.

Florida coach Urban Meyer was quoted on Thursday as saying he's still angry about the Bulldogs' rushing onto the field in a mass team celebration after scoring the first touchdown last season. He's also quoted in a new book as saying he'll handle it when the teams meet this season.

On Thursday, Georgia coach Mark Richt again tried to explain that what happened was not a planned celebration, and that the players misunderstood what he meant by a team celebration. He said it was not a deliberate shot at Florida, and that he called Urban Meyer the following day to explain and apologize.

But when told that Meyer was quoted in a book still fuming about the incident, and asked if the incident had intensified the rivalry, Richt fired back.

"I don't think there's any doubt it's intensified the rivarly, but what really intensified the rivalry is that we won, okay? I mean that's the reality. People want to talk about streaks in that game. The way I see it, we won last year. We won two out of the last four. And if you want to start going back to history, you might as well go back to the beginning of the history of the series and see where Georgia is there.'' (Georgia leads the overall series).

As for the Nov. 1 game, the Bulldogs expect Florida to have something up their sleeves. Their attitude? Bring it. "We know they are going to be gunning for us after the celebration last year, which we did not plan,'' senior Jeff Owens said. "It wasn't planned. But we know they are going to have something coming up for that game. But that's why you play 60 minute football.''

Florida-Georgia already at the forefront, but no looking ahead for Gators

HOOVER, Ala. - Georgia coach Mark Richt will kick off Day 2 of SEC Media Days today. And although the game won't be played until Nov. 1, the Florida-Georgia game is already generating a lot of buzz.

The two are expected to battle for the SEC East title, and last year's contentious game (remember the Georgia end zone celebration?) only added fuel to the rivalry.

It's such a topic that even Tim Tebow was asked about it on Wednesday. A reporter asked how the Gators would keep from looking past, say someone like LSU, looking ahead to the Georgia game.

If it’s one thing Florida fans know, there are too many big games during the course of the season to obsess over one rival (see: Miami, Tennessee, LSU). At least not until the week of the actual game. Thus, Tebow's response:

"Slip up to LSU?,'' Tebow asked. "How do we do that? LSU is the defending national champs, and Miami is unbelievable. I think 60 percent of Florida will be in Gainesville that night (Sept. 6). I don't think we'll look past those teams at all. We're definitely looking forward to Georgia, but I don't think w'ere going to blow off LSU or Miami. Those are pretty big games for us, too.''

Just so you know, coach Urban Meyer said if keeping his team focused from week to week is a problem, don't expect the Gators to be a very good team.

Slive nearly kept promise

HOOVER, Ala. - SEC Commissioner Mike Slive came close to keeping a promise he made when he took over the league. He vowed then that within five years, the oft-maligned, oft-penalized conference would be NCAA probation-free.

“Five years ago I told you that the SEC would not have any institution on probation as of today,’’ Slive said Wednesday. “We came close. Only the Arkansas track program is on probation as we speak. While I take some solace in the fact we are far better off than we were six years ago, there is disappointment when we were so darn close.’’

Considering many of the league's team were once considered rouge programs not too long ago, Slive should feel pretty fortunate.

Rainey, Demps vying for Gators' fastest man title

Jeff Demps may have been one race away from qualifying for the Olympics, but apparently redshirt freshman Chris Rainey isn't all that impressed.

According to Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow during their talk at today's SEC Media Days, Rainey actually beat Demps in a 40-yard race.

Yep, that's the official word.

And it's not like Demps is some slouch. He ran a 10.17 at the Pepsi Relays in Gainesville last spring and a 10.1 in the Olympic trials quarterfinals last month.

"Chris Rainey beat him in a race the other day,'' Meyer said. "Here are these two catting it. We don't condone that. We have to babysit them every second. Everyone was saying how fast he is so they said let's go in the back of the dorms, let's figure this thing out. They raced. I guess Chris nudged him out. So we've got some speed. I'd like to watch that. I wasn't there, but I would have liked to (be there).''

Florida fans overtake SEC Media Days

Call it the Tim Tebow factor.

Normally, the hotel lobby at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala. during SEC Media Days is reserved for an overflow of Alabama fans hoping to get a glimpse (and an autograph) of whomever happens to be the Tide coach.

This year, it's different. And it's all because of Tebow.

Florida kicks off Media Days in about 30 minutes, and the lobby is filled with Florida fans hoping to get an autograph from Tebow (and maybe coach Urban Meyer, but it doesn't appear he's the big draw). Tebow is making his first Media Days appearance.

Emma King, whose family used to live in Gainesville, but now lives in Birmingham, turned 7 years old today. She and her mom, Michele, are in the lobby with a huge sign that reads: "ALL I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY IS TO MEET TIM TEBOW.''  According to her mom, she has a huge Tebow poster on her wall.

She's not alone. Hotel staff are trying to clear a pathway for hotel guests because so many Florida fans are clogging the lobby waiting for Tebow. A quick survey seems to indicate they are all Gator fans who live in Alabama and don't have much chance, if any at all, to see Tebow in person.

Meyer is taking it all in stride. When asked what he thought about the crush of fans waiting on Tebow, Meyer replied: "They're here for Tim?''

Cunningham a Hendricks Award Preseason candidate

Junior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been named a pre-season candidate for the 2008 Ted
Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award by the Ted Hendricks Foundation.

The award is named in honor of Hendricks, college football’s first three-time first team All-American.

Cunningham has 66 tackles, 36 solo and 30 assisted, in his first two seasons as a defensive end with the Gators. He has also recorded 12 tackles for loss and six-and-a-half sacks, while owning three pass deflections and one interception. He had a team season-high 17 tackles against No. 1 LSU in 2007, the
most tackles by any SEC defensive lineman during the 2007 season.  His 17 tackles were also the most tackles in a single game by a Gator since the 2004 season.

The 2008 winner will be announced on Dec. 10.

Florida, Tebow opt out of Playboy nomination

Tim Tebow will not be among the players on the Playboy Preseason All-America team after Florida officials decided not to nominate the junior quarterback because of his religious convictions.

When the nomination requests came this past spring, Florida assistant sports information director Zack Higbee decided against nominating Tebow. He told Tebow of his decision months later, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner approved. Tebow is a Christian who is actively involved in missionary work.

The decision follows a similar one taken by former Gator and Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who also declined to be a part of the team in 1996, because of his religious convictions.

West Virginia's Pat White is the quarterback for the 2008 team. Playboy senior vice president and director of photography Gary Cole, said he was leaning toward White before Florida's decision, and there are no hard feelings.

"It was the decision of the University of Florida not to nominate him to the prestigious 52-year old Playboy All-America tradition.'' Cole told the Times. "I can only guess at their reasons but I know that Tim is a deeply religious young man and perhaps would be uncomfortable accepting an invitation from Playboy. I’m a fairly religious man myself, but I have no problem working and writing for Playboy. It becomes a matter of individual choice. In any case, Pat White from West Virginia was my early choice for the team at quarterback. Tim will be around a few more college seasons. We’ll have other chances to select him and he can make his decision then about whether or not to attend our weekend.''

Cole said one out of approximately every 50 athletes turns down an offer to be a part of the team.

Tebow has photo shoots scheduled this week with Sporting News and Sports Illustrated.

LSU, Florida lead preseason All-SEC selections

Ten Gators, including five first-team selections, are among the 2008 SEC Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team, announced this afternoon by the league office.

LSU may not be getting the preseason love Georgia is garnering from many of the preseason magazines, but the coaches still love the Tigers, who got a league-high 14 on the preseason first, second and third teams. Georgia had nine players, followed by Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina with eight and Tennessee with seven. Kentucky had five, Ole Miss and Mississippi State each with four, Arkansas with three and Vanderbilt with two.

Florida's first-team selections are: quarterback Tim Tebow, tight end Cornelius Ingram, receiver Percy Harvin, linebacker Brandon Spikes and return specialist Brandon James.

The league coaches apprently don't think the Gators have to offer after its starters, since no Gators made second team offense or defense.

Here are the rest of the Gators named:

Third-team offense: OL Jim Tartt, OL Phil Trautwein.

Third-team defense: DB Major Wright, DB Joe Haden, DBWondy Pierre-Louis.

Elite Gator camp draws big-name recruits

Urban Meyer hosted another edition of "Friday Night Lights'' this past weekend, the one-night camp that garners some of the nation's elite high school players.

The concept, begun by Meyer and his staff after his arrival at Florida, is one that other schools are now considering: invite some of the nation's best players to a one-day camp, under the lights to give them a feel of what it's like to play in a major college stadium. Meyer said while in Tampa last week he's proud that others are interested in what Florida has put together, adding the growing popularity of the camp has even surprised him.

For those of you who love recruiting, here's a glimpse of how some of the top prospects fared.

Riley Cooper excelling as dual-sports athlete

While many of the Gator players have spent the offseason in the weight room with strength and conditioning guru Mickey Marotti, receiver Riley Cooper has been getting his workouts via another sport.

Cooper is in New Market playing summer league baseball. Don't worry, the Clearwater native is expected to report back with the football team on Aug. 1.

If you're interested in how he's faring in his second sport, check it out here.

Speights shines in summer league; Donovan happy for him

Former Gator Marreese Speights continues to impress in the NBA summer league.

Speights is averaging 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds with the Philadelphia 76ers.

And remember how stamina and conditioning used to be his biggest weakness? In five games, he's averaging 33 minutes per game.

Florida coach Billy Donovan, believe it or not, says he's not as surprised by Speights' rise since he declared for the draft in early April.

"I think when the process first started, the initial response coming back from the NBA office before all the workouts started, was that he was probably anywhere from 20 to 35, 25 to 40, somewhere in that range.'' Donovan said this week. "I think Stu Jackson and the NBA office do a great job helping you at least get the amount of information that you can at that time, when he first put his name in. I was probably surprised, but as the process was going forward it was very clear that
Philadelphia picking at 16 was really, really interested in Marreese, and really liked Marreese. All it does, it takes one team for a guy to move up. So I think, when the processs started, I thought Marreese if he kept his name in would probably go anywhere from 19 to about 25.

"I think if Philly had passed on Marreese he could have fallen back into the 20s but I'm certainly happy for him and his family because I think he's going to a great organization and he's got a great chance,'' Donovan added. 

Mission trip part of Meyer's offseason

Urban Meyer's summer vacation included a family mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

Meyer, his wife and three children, were part of a mission trip organized by SCORE International (Sharing Christ Our Redeemer Enterprises), which runs mission trips to foreign countries, most often Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, for sports teams.

Meyer was part of a group that helped feed 100 families and visited an all-girls orphanage and a leper colony.

"It was a life-changing experience,'' Meyer said.

 

Tebow named to O'Brien Award Watch List

Tim Tebow on Thursday was among 31 players named to the Davey O'Brien Watch list, the award which honors the nation's best quarterback.

Tebow is the reigning O'Brien Award winner.

Semifinalists will be announced on Oct. 27, with finalists named on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced during the Dec. 11 Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Demps impresses Meyer

Incoming freshman Jeff Demps' national record-breaking time in the men's 100-meter dash quarterfinal at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials not only impressed the nation, but his future coach -- Urban Meyer. Demps, a running back/receiver, recorded a time of 10.01 seconds, a U.S. record for a high school athlete.

"How about that?" Meyer said. "Isn't that a neat story? I'm sitting there talking with a guy on the phone two hours before he's getting ready to compete for the Olympics. I've never done that before."

Meyer said, according to Florida players, Demps has been extremely impressive in offseason workouts. "He's doing great. He also has, from what they tell me, the ability to catch the ball a little. They say he's very fast . (With a time of 10.01) that's unique. So he's good. We're going to try to find a way to get all sub-10.2 100-meter guys on the field together."

See Demps in action below ...

Harvin on schedule for fall practice return

Percy Harvin is recovering better than expected from spring surgery on his heel, and will be ready for fall practice, coach Urban Meyer said Thursday.

""He's ahead of schedule,'' Meyer said. "He's tremendous. He's running full speed. What happens with skilled athletes and you see all the time - especially with the race-horse type guys - if they hurt a certain part of their body, another part of their body takes over and then you start having hip flexors, hamstring issues, quad issues. So we're being very cautious.''

Harvin, a junior running back/receiver, has been hampered much of his career by injuries, including hip and severe migraine headache problems last season. He opted to have the heel surgery, which caused him to miss spring practice and the Orange and Blue game, in an effort to open the season fully healthy. So far, it appears to have been a success.

"He's opened it up,'' Meyer said. "He's starting to run full speed. Attitude-wise, strength-wise. He's 199 or 200 pounds and he's as strong as he's ever been. It's been a very good summer for Percy.''

Meyer: Tebow wins top college ESPY

TAMPA -- Florida coach Urban Meyer is speaking with reporters as part of the Florida Sports Writers Association's College Football Media Days, and he's let out a spoiler as part of his opening comments: Tim Tebow was honored with an ESPY Award as the top college athlete Wednesday night.

The ESPYs won't air until Sunday night, but Meyer, who attended the taping in Los Angeles Wednesday and took an overnight flight home to Florida, said that Tebow earned the college honor. Meyer said he detests individual honors and hopes his Gators can earn a team honor at next year's ESPYs.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

LaPorta named to US Olympic Team

Former UF first baseman Matt LaPorta on Wednesday was among 23 players named to the 2008 United States Olympic baseball team.

LaPorta is currently playing in AA Akron in the Cleveland Indians organization. He was recently acquired by the Indians in a trade that sent 2007 American League Cy Young Award winnner CC Sabathia to Milawukee. Baseball America currently rankes LaPorta as the top prospect in Cleveland's farm system.

"It has been like a roller coaster, some good things and bad things that have gone on past couple of weeks,'' LaPorta said during a national teleconference this afternoon. "Overall, I'm very excited and thankful to have this opportunity to represent my country and play baseball for them.''

LaPorta is the first player in SEC history to receive the league's Player of the Year award twice, and was a consensus All-American. A finalist for the prestigious USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award and the Brooks Wallace Award, LaPorta completed his collegiate career third on
the SEC's all-time list with 74 home runs, a total which ranks among the top 10 in Division I history. His 206 RBI are second on UF's chart behind Wilkerson (214).

LaPorta is the second Gator to represent the US in baseball in the Olympics. Brad Wilkerson earned a gold medal in the Sydney Summer Games in 2000.

USA Baseball manager Davey Johnson said Wednesday he's unsure where LaPorta will play.

"Matt is an outfielder, but he played first base at Florida, so we'll see,'' Johnson said. "He looked awful good at first base in the futures game. Obviously we had heard a lot of good things about him. We have a number of scouts that get on conference calls and talk about players. Look at numbers and tell a guy knows the game, srike zone. He's an aggressive hitter, he's got a good idea of what he's doing when he's up there. He gives us a lot of flexibilty if we want to use him at first or in the outfield.''

Donovan concerned about Dupay

GAINESVILLE - Florida coach Billy Donovan said Wednesday he has been in contact with former star guard Teddy Dupay to express his concern after news broke of Dupay's June arrest on charges of felony rape, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping.

Dupay, 29, has been charged with rape and kidnapping in an incident with a woman at a ski resort in Utah. He was arraigned on Monday in Park City, Utah.

Donovan, who has gained a repuation for keeping in contact with former players, and sometimes helping those who have run into trouble, said he recently spoke with Dupay.

"I had the chance to talk to Teddy a little bit and not get into any
details,'' Donovan said, his first public comment on the incident. "I just touched base with him just to see how he's doing. And we talked. He feels there are some things that he's got to get taken care of that maybe are all not truthful, that's going on right now.''

A former Florida "Mr. Basketball'' out of Cape Coral Mariner High School in 1998, Dupay was part of the Gators' 2000 team that reached the
national title game for the first time in school history. Florida lost 89-76 to Michigan State in the final in Indianapolis.

He eventually left the program amidst scandal after accusations of sports betting prior to his senior season in 2001. He played pro basketball overseas after leaving Gainesville.

"I think any time one of our players goes through something like that, you always feel a sense of concern,'' Donovan said. "For any kid, I think it's a difficult situation. And certainly, I think, for the girl it's a difficult situation. You hate to see anything like that happen and where the truth lies, I don't know. I think it's an unfortunate situation for both parties.''

Florida enters lucrative multi-year deal with Sun Sports

GAINESVILLE - Florida and Sun Sports have agreed to a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal that will give Sun Sports comprehensive rights to the Gators’ marketing and media operations, including radio, television, corporate sponsorships and the internet site GatorZone.com, school and Sun Sports officials confirmed Monday.

Previously, Sun Sports held the local television rights, while Clear Channel had radio rights and the athletic department individually handled the marketing and corporate sponsorships in its stadiums and arenas. Now it will be a collective venture operated by Sun Sports.

The 10-year agreement is worth about $82 million.

 

Two Gators to miss season with knee injuries

Junior safety Dorian Munroe and redshirt senior defensive back John Curtis have suffered knee injuries that will cause them to miss the entire 2008 football season, Florida officials said Saturday.

Munroe, a 5-foot-11, 202-pounder from Miami who has appeared in 26 games, has a torn ACL in his right knee. Curtis has the same injury in his left knee. For Curtis, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound Rockledge native who has appeared in just 17 games, the injury is even more distressing because it is the third tear he has sustained in the left knee. He has undergone two prior surgeries, and may be facing the end of his career.

"Dorian and John were having tremendous off seasons," head coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. "I'm confident Dorian will battle through the rehabilitation process and come back a better football player. John has suffered through multiple knee injuries and the medical staff along with John and his family will need to evaluate his long-term future in football."

Munroe saw action in all 13 games, including two starts in 2007. He had 28 tackles and five pass break-ups last season, and led the Gators in special team tackles with 13.

Ex-Gator Dupay faces rape accusation

Former Florida star Ted Dupay was charged with rape and kidnapping by prosecutors in Deer Valley, Utah, according to the Park Record.

Dupay, who helped the Gators to the 2000 Final Four, is charged with three first-degree felonies for aggravated kidnapping, rape and aggravated sexual assault, the paper said.

Dupay, 29, was arrested and booked into the Summit County Jail June 19, the paper said, after the accusation by a 28-year-old woman with whom he had a two-year relationship.

According to the paper, "Mr. Dupay stated it got 'a little rough' but denied raping her," charging documents filed in 3rd District Court state. "He stated, 'how can you rape someone you love?'"

Dupay posted $40,000 bail and was released, the paper reported.

Germany-bound Capel to keep running

Brooksville native John Capel may have lost his bid for Beijing at the recent Olympic Trials, but not his self-assurance.

In fact, the ex-Florida Gator wideout/sprinter leaves Thursday for Germany. His  hopes: to compete in a full slate of international competition throughout Europe and try to pick up six figures' worth of prize money along the way.

"It's my job," said Capel, who entered the Trials following a two-year marijuana-related suspension and reached the 100- and 200-meter semifinals. "A lot of people think because you don't make an Olympic team, you can't go overseas and compete."

At the Trials, Capel finished 13th overall in the 100 semifinals (10.21 seconds) and 12th in the 200 semis (20.81). Both were well off his personal-best times, but Capel and his coach, U.S. Track Coaches Association Hall of Famer Brooks Johnson, seemed encouraged.

"His top-end speed was as fast as anybody," Johnson said Wednesday. "I think he lost patience and came up too early in the race and that hurt him.

"His world is not going to end with the Olympic Trials, that's for sure."

JOEY KNIGHT, Times staff writer

Gators place 66 on Freshman Academic Honor Roll

Sixty-six Florida athletes have been named to the 2007-08 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll, tying with South Carolina for a league-leading number honored.

The athletes were named Tuesday by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, based on grades from the 2007-08 academic year.

Two freshmen women's track and field athletes, Ali Crabb and Rebecca Lowe, earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages in their first year.

Tuesday's announcement gives Florida a total of 253 student-athletes
that were named to an SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2007-08. Florida placed 187 on the SEC Academic Honor Rolls (93 on the Spring list, 48/Winter, 46/Fall) and 66 on the Freshman Honor Roll. That total is second only to South Carolina's total of 266 honorees.

Among the athletes honored, here are the most recognizable names: FOOTBALL - Carlos Dunlap, Chas Henry, Brandon Hicks, Moses Jenkins, Duke Lemmens, Justin Trattou and Major Wright. MEN'S BASKETBALL: Adam Allen, Nick Calathes, Jai Lucas and Chandler Parsons.      

Spurrier's Gators rank among most hated programs

Found an interesting list posted today by the Web site Bleacher Report. It ranks college football's most hated programs during the past 25 years, and guess who made it? Yep, the mighty Gators.

Here are the qualifications used ...

"Love them or hate them, these are the 10 programs of the past quarter century that have inspired the most envy, dislike, and jealousy. We examine the specific eras during the coaching periods at the schools, not the entire time as head coach. The list is consistent regarding these two requirements, you must have multiple seasons of success and have won a national championship during the specific era examined."

The Gators of 1993-98, who went 65-10 and won a national title, came in seventh. Florida State was fourth and Miami first. You can find the entire list HERE.

ESPN visits Gators

ESPN's Erin Andrews will be in Gainesville Thursday to interview Tim Tebow and compile a report for the network's "Titletown USA" project. Gainesville is one of 20 finalists featured in the multimedia project. On TV, Gainesville will be the featured city during both the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. editions of SportsCenter on Monday, July 14.

Rivers' son pledges to Billy D.

Austin Rivers, the 15-year-old son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, has committed to the Florida Gator basketball team, the Orlando Sentinel reported today. Rivers, a 6-foot-3 rising sophomore guard at Winter Park High, averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists a game for a 28-2 team as a freshman. According to the Sentinel, he is the youngest player ever to commit to Florida coach Billy Donovan.

Austin Rivers' older sister (Callie) plays volleyball for the Gators.

Doc Rivers (shown left, photo by Associated Press) coached the Orlando Magic from 1999-2004. He departed for Boston in 2004, but his children have continued to call Central Florida home.

Austin Rivers is thought to be among the top-rated players in the Class of 2011.

"He really knows how to play," Rivals.com recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer told Gatorbait.net. "He's got a maturity level to his game that you don't see in a lot of college players. He's got the size and the skill to make all the plays and he's a true combo guard that excels at both the point and shooting guard positions. He's one of the best guards, if not the best guard, that I've seen in the 2011 class."

UF's Clark makes another Olympic squad

Former Gator Hazel Clark qualified for a third Olympics by winning the 800-meter run Monday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Clark ran a 1:59.82. She also qualified in 2000 and 2004.