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James Hit With 2nd Suspension

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Florida RB Brandon James was suspended for Saturday's 59-20 win against Florida Atlantic for an undisclosed reason.

Gators coach Urban Meyer confirmed James' suspension after the game, but he declined to explain why James, the Gators' top kick returner, missed his second game of the season because of a disciplinary issue.

"There are certain things we expect on the field and off the field," Meyer said. "He didn't fulfill an obligation this week, so he didn't play."

James also was suspended for the season opener against Western Kentucky. That suspension followed James' arrest in June for buying a quarter-ounce of marijuana from a police informant.

HARVIN EXPECTED BACK: Meyer said he expects WR Percy Harvin to return to practice Monday for the first time in almost two weeks. Meyer said Harvin spent five days last week in UF's infirmary as doctors treated a sinus infection and migraine headaches.

Meyer said Harvin watched Saturday's win from the sidelines. The last time Harvin played, he gained 223 yards from scrimmage (110 receiving, 113 rushing) in a win against Vanderbilt.

INGRAM BREAKS OUT: WR/TE Cornelius Ingram stood before his teammates in the locker room Saturday afternoon and said the ankle sprain he suffered against Georgia on Oct. 27 was the first injury of his athletic career, and Ingram admitted he didn't know how to handle it. Ingram tried to play through the pain, but he caught just two passes for 16 yards in two games.

Saturday, Ingram declared himself healthy by catching four passes for 60 yards - including two leaping touchdown grabs.

"The injury was pretty big," Ingram said. "I'd never really been injured, so it was kind of tough. But I knew that once I got back, I was going to be OK."

BLOCK PARTY: Walk-on WR Joey Sorrentino has a theory about how he managed to sneak between a tackle and guard and block a first-quarter punt Saturday.

"They probably didn't see me," Sorrentino said, "because I'm so small."

Meyer said the 5-foot-7, 173-pound Sorrentino "looks like a sixth-grader," but Meyer also called Sorrentino one of his favorite players. Sorrentino arrived so quickly that punter Mickey Groody kicked the ball into Sorrentino's stomach. Sorrentino tried to pick up the ball, but it squirted away.

Markus Manson, the tailback-turned-cornerback-turned-tailback - who may go back to corner this week because of injuries, Meyer said - corralled the ball and ran it 19 yards for a TD. The score was Manson's first since 2005.

INCREASING ROLE: After TE Aaron Hernandez caught three passes for 58 yards and a TD Saturday, Meyer said he plans to continue expanding the freshman's role in the offense.

Hernandez, who caught one pass for 55 yards last week vs. South Carolina, scored a third-quarter TD when he ripped a Tim Tebow pass away from FAU LB Frantz Joseph.

Andy Staples

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