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Gators Fighting Injuries

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2007

GAINESVILLE - But for a nagging pain in WR Percy Harvin's ankle, the University of Florida football team stayed relatively injury free en route to a national title. The Gators apparently won't be so lucky this season.

Senior OT Phil Trautwein suffered a preseason stress fracture that could cost him the season. And now, as Florida prepares to open its Southeastern Conference schedule against Tennessee on Saturday, the Gators must deal with injuries to a pair of key players.

WR Andre Caldwell had an MRI on Sunday to determine severity of the sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Sunday morning, Gators coach Urban Meyer said he had not received the results of the MRI and couldn't comment about whether the Jefferson High graduate would be ready to play the Volunteers. Caldwell's mother, Deborah, said early Sunday afternoon that her son was moving well after Saturday's 59-31 win against Troy.

Meanwhile, RB Brandon James, the Gators' top kick returner, has a sprained left ankle. Meyer said Sunday that he didn't know the severity of the sprain. He did say that if James can't play, Hillsborough High graduate Jarred Fayson would return kickoffs and punts. Freshman Chris Rainey appeared ready to back up James as a returner, but fumbled following a 39-yard kickoff return Saturday night.

'Chris has got to take care of the football,' Meyer said, 'before he'll touch the ball again.'

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The Gators clicked offensively against the Trojans, scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions. Caldwell scored off a direct snap, and WR Cornelius Ingram caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Expect to see plenty of Ingram against teams that try to take away the deep ball. Those who try to take away short and intermediate routes could get a healthy dose of deep passes aimed at Harvin and WR Riley Cooper.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Ahead 49-7 at the half, the Gators essentially shut down. QB Tim Tebow criticized his management of the offense in the second half, and the Gators' defensive front stopped pressuring Trojans QB Omar Haugabook the way it did in the first half. Florida will have to keep pressure on Tennessee QB Erik Ainge this week, or Ainge could pick apart the Gators' inexperienced defense.

MORE INJURY NEWS: CB Markihe Anderson (knee) played sparingly Saturday but should be ready to start against the Vols. Meyer said the ankle tendinitis that has bothered Harvin has creeped up to his knee. Fayson injured his ankle in Saturday's second half, but he returned to finish the game. S Bryan Thomas sprained his knee Saturday.

Andy Staples

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