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Gators Must Find A Way To Slow Hart

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

Updated: 12/28/2007 11:14 pm

LAKE BUENA VISTA - Florida coach Urban Meyer said his defense must get Michigan RB Mike Hart on the ground when the Gators face the Wolverines on Tuesday in the Capital One Bowl. Meyer is worried because Hart reminds him of a player who shredded Florida earlier this season.

"We compare him to the kid from Georgia Knowshon Moreno," Meyer said Friday. "He's a guy that just keeps going and going and going."

Hart, who rushed for 1,232 yards and 12 touchdowns in an injury-plagued season, should be somewhat recovered from the high ankle sprain that limited him late in the regular season.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has been tight-lipped about the senior's health this week. Still, the Gators are preparing as if Hart will be at 100 percent. They don't want a repeat of Moreno's performance. Against Florida on Oct. 27, Moreno rushed 33 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns.

MALLETT QUIET: Michigan backup QB Ryan Mallett was supposed to be the Wolverines' quarterback of the future, but now he isn't sure he is staying in Ann Arbor with new coach Rich Rodriguez poised to implement a spread offense.

Mallett, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound pro-style passer, told The Detroit News on Thursday that he is not discussing what will happen after the game.

"I'm not concentrating on that right now," Mallett told the paper. "We're going to play a bowl game. I'm not going to talk about my future right now."

GATOR BITES: Former Florida DT Joe Cohen visited the Gators at practice Friday. Cohen plays for the San Francisco 49ers, but he is on injured reserve because of a knee injury. ... Bob Tebow, the father of Florida QB Tim Tebow, will give the keynote speech today at a breakfast in Jacksonville attended by players from Gator Bowl participants Texas Tech and Virginia.

Andy Staples

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