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DT Brown Gets NCAA OK To Play

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2007

GAINESVILLE - DT John Brown's wait to receive academic clearance to play for Florida is over.
Florida coach Urban Meyer confirmed Saturday that the NCAA Clearinghouse had declared the former Lakeland High star qualified to play. Brown hasn't practiced with the Gators since Aug. 20 while awaiting a decision.

'It's great news,' Meyer said Saturday. 'The University of Florida and the NCAA did a great job of working together. There are places around the country that have guys with these issues. He did a phenomenal amount of work.'

Meyer said last week he'd gotten positive feedback from the clearinghouse regarding Brown's case. Brown is the final member of the Gators' 27-member recruiting class to qualify. Florida has qualified all of its recruits for the past two years.

INJURY UPDATE: Two key Florida players suffered injuries Saturday, and those injuries may affect their availability for this week's Southeastern Conference opener against Tennessee.

Meyer said WR Andre Caldwell injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Meyer said Florida's medical staff didn't believe Caldwell would miss next week's game, but Meyer said Caldwell would undergo an MRI to determine the exact extent of the damage.

Meyer also said RB Brandon James, the Gators' top kick returner, sprained his ankle on a punt return. James - who returned from a one-game suspension for being arrested during a marijuana sting in June - returned one punt for 32 yards and returned three kickoffs for 127 yards Saturday.

AAAHS AND OOPS: Like the Gators' offense, Florida's special teams began Saturday's win against Troy impressively and finished sloppily.

On the game's first possession, LB Roderick Blackett blocked a Troy punt. That allowed the Gators to start their first offensive possession with first-and-goal from the Troy 6-yard line.

Later in the first quarter, James returned a punt 32 yards to the Florida 45 to set up another scoring drive. Before the quarter ended, freshman DE Carlos Dunlap deflected another punt. That block gave Florida the ball at the Troy 47.

The second half wasn't so fruitful. In the third quarter, RB Chris Rainey returned a kickoff 39 yards to the Florida 40 before losing a fumble. Later in the third, FS Kyle Jackson tried to snatch a punt away from Troy's Leodis McKelvin and was flagged for kick catch interference.

YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST: Florida K Joey Ijjas kicked his first field goal as a Gator with a 32-yarder in Saturday's fourth quarter. The kick was the Clearwater Central Catholic graduate's first field-goal attempt of the season.

Last season, the Gators didn't make their first field goal until an Oct. 14 loss at Auburn.

HAPPY HOMECOMING: Troy QB Omar Haugabook, a native of Belle Glade, had an impressive showing, running for two TDs and throwing for two more.

Andy Staples

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