Follow the breaking ball: Plant's Charles' bump broke BCS trophy

For about a minute, no one moved. Everyone was silent at the football offices at UF, as Gators coaches  and local recruits stared at the floor as a championship season shattered into hundreds of pieces of Waterford crystal.

That gem of a football that Chris Leak kissed in Jan. 2007 at University of Phoenix Stadium? Kiss it goodbye.

Plant tight end Orson Charles, in town participaing in a Nike football camp, was posing for photos with the Tim Tebow's Heisman Trophy and the 2006 BCS National Championship trophy. While posing with the Heisman, his hip bumped the table, and the $35,000 crystal football on top of the trophy crashed to the floor just outside coach Urban Meyer's office.

Jaws dropped. For once, Plant coach Robert Weiner, 3 feet  from the fall, didn't know the next play.

"We didn't know what to do, if we should have started picking up the pieces or what," Weiner said. "It was surreal, like everything happened in slow motion."

Weiner whispered to Charles (right): "They're either going to take your scholarship away or they're going to make you commit to them today."

Meyer came to survey the scene.

Plant assistant T.J. Lane broke the silence: "That's a replica right?"

UF assistant John Hevesy informed the Panthers it was the real thing that the Gators had hoisted after beating Ohio State in Arizona. After further review, all parties were relieved once they realized the crystal is insured. Another one is in the mail. Hevesy joked that Charles, who has offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami, better come to Gainesville now.

"It was 100 percent an accident," Weiner said. "If he ends up going to Florida, I can see the story about it years from now when he plays for a national title for another trophy -- about him overcoming 'Shattered Dreams.'"

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Comments

[Zook]

They should send the replacement to USC where it belonged in the first place.

[Urban]

If you ever want to touch a NC trophy again you better not sign with UF. That gimmick offense has seen its days in the SEC.

[Pat]

"shouldn't a clutz like this play for FSU?"

We'll take him at FSU, how about the two UF grads who stole the FSU trophies? Please!

All the Buckeye fans are having a good laugh!

[Juan "We can learn espanol!" McCain]

Who needs crystal since I am sure they could have made diamonds in his rear end after breaking that thing!!!

shouldn't a clutz like this play for FSU?

[Dale]

That is awesome. Good work, kid. Now sign with USF.