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5 Things You Might Not Know About The Gators

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

ON THE SLATE

Saturday: Hawaii, 12:30 p.m. (WTTA, Ch. 38) - A new coach and new quarterback at Hawaii mean Warriors are not the same team that played in last season's Sugar Bowl. And 6:30 a.m. kickoff (Hula Time) can't be a good thing for the visitors.

Sept. 6: Miami: 8 p.m. (ESPN) - First regular-season meeting between the state rivals since 2003. Hurricanes want to make a statement and have lots to prove. Gators have The Swamp.

Sept. 20: At Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. (WTSP, Ch. 10) - Both teams have SEC title aspirations. Tennessee is so tired of losing to Florida but Gators will be favored. Just the same, this one makes Urban Meyer very nervous.

Sept. 27: Ole Miss, TBA - The Rebels have new look and fresh hopes with former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt in charge, but still a long way from being able to compete with SEC big boys.

Oct. 4: At Arkansas, TBA - No such thing as welcome road game in SEC, but Razorbacks, with new coach Bobby Petrino, are without talent level of recent seasons.

Oct. 11: LSU, TBA - The Swamp will be rockin' for this conference showdown. Tigers had Tim Tebow's number last year - and dialed it repeatedly, filling up his voice mail with naughty messages. Can you hear me now?

Oct. 25: Kentucky, TBA - Gators are happy to be getting Wildcats at home. UK no longer a break on anybody's schedule.

Nov. 1: Georgia, TBA - Yeah, baby. A lot of preseason predictions suggest both teams will be undefeated going into their annual get-together in Jacksonville. That would mean ... oh, it's too much to even imagine.

Nov. 8: At Vanderbilt, TBA - It's the ninth game of a long season and a week after Georgia. This meeting is going to concern Florida coaching staff far more than it will Gators fans.

Nov. 15: South Carolina, TBA - The Ol' Ball Coach is saying the Gamecocks finally have talent to compete against all SEC rivals. That remains debatable, but on any given weekend, you know the guy is scary.

Nov. 22: The Citadel, TBA - The Bulldogs can use the payday and Florida will welcome a break from its SEC schedule. Everybody wins, although the Gators should enjoy it a lot more.

Nov. 29: at Florida State, TBA - Florida will arrive with four-game win streak over Seminoles. Expect Gators to be favored to make it five - in Bobby Bowden's final game?

NUMBERS GAME

The Gators by class:

11-Seniors

14-Juniors

31 -Sophomores

9 -Redshirt freshmen

20-Freshmen

EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM ...

RB CHRIS RAINEY

CLASS: Freshman

HT., WT.: 5-9, 180

HOMETOWN: Lakeland

HIGH SCHOOL: Lakeland

WHY HE'S READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT: Florida coaches want running backs more involved in passing game by using dump-offs to create opportunities for them to make first defenders miss and then head for open spaces. Rainey's speed is unquestioned. Redshirt season last year provided maturity and a lot more muscle. If he proves to have reliable hands, will provide wow factor.

SOMETHING TO PROVE

Safety MAJOR WRIGHT

CLASS: Sophomore HT., WT.: 6-0, 200 HOMETOWN: Miramar HIGH SCHOOL: St. Thomas Aquinas

THE SKINNY: Wright's role needs to be more than simply repeating level of play during last year's freshman season when he appeared in all 13 games and earned spot on All-SEC freshman team. The Gators defense needs a vocal and emotional leader to join Brandon Spikes. Wright says he's ready but still has to prove it. Also, at a position where depth is paper-thin, he must be able to stay on the field.

POINT ...

The Gators will meet expectations if ...

•Tim Tebow finishes with fewer rushing attempts than last year's workhorse performance, meaning Florida establishes a real rushing game and their star quarterback has a better chance to stay healthy.

•The defensive front manufactures a consistent pass rush, taking pressure off a secondary that has good talent but limited experience and limited depth.

•Florida's special teams were the best in the SEC last year. A similar effort is expected and necessary.

... COUNTERPOINT

The Gators will fall short of expectations if ...

•The defense, last in SEC against the pass last year and with just 15 QB sacks, is not significantly improved.

•Star receiver/athlete Percy Harvin's recovery from spring foot surgery is not complete and he never gets to full strength.

•The safety positions do not remain injury-free.

•Tim Tebow leaves school after accepting Democratic/GOP vice-presidential nomination.

Posh Digs

•A new $28 million football office complex is open in the southwest corner of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Visitors arrive to a grand entranceway honoring past stars, and then step into a plush lobby where highlights from past seasons and the Gators' two national championship trophies can be viewed.

Graduation Success

•The Gators own highest graduation percentage of all BCS national championship teams since 1997.

Home Sweet Home

•Since 1990, The Swamp has been the second-most difficult stadium in Division I-A for visiting teams to win. The Gators are 100-12 at home for a winning percentage of .893. Only FSU has been better at home: 89-10-1and .895.

Early Success

•Urban Meyer is the only coach in Florida history to begin his career with three straight wins against Tennessee and Florida State.

Get In The Paint

•Junior Tim Tebow, already with 31, needs six scoring runs to replace Emmitt Smith as UF's career rushing touchdown leader.

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