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Preview: 2008 Florida Gators

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2008

The Florida Gators are going to score points - The Florida Gators are going to score points - lots and lots of points. With playmakers such as quarterback Tim Tebow and receiver/runner Percy Harvin, the options can be scary good. On defense, though, things looked downright scary - period - last season. With defensive improvement, the Gators should be a factor in the national-championship race.

Here's a closer look at UF football, heading into the 2008 season:

Q&A WITH FLORIDA COACH URBAN MEYER

How can the Gators get back in the championship hunt?

First thing is to get back the hunger. I didn't see that last season. That's the coach's fault. Our team two years ago, that was a hungry team. It was the last chance it had for Atlanta SEC Championship Game and it had great hunger. That's what we need again.

How good is the SEC?

You go to the SEC meetings, walk into the room and look around. Bobby Petrino is in there now. Four or five coaches who have won a national championship. The others who didn't easily could have won a national title. It's not like that in other conferences. It's just not. We have to be ready.

What's encouraging about the defense?

I like Brandon Spikes' attitude at middle linebacker and it all starts there. That old baseball adage about being strong up the middle? I think it applies in football, too. Two years ago, we had Brandon Siler and Reggie Nelson at safety. Can you do any better than that? We replaced them with a sophomore and true freshman Major Wright. We have more experience now, but we need to play much better.

FLORIDA SCHEDULE

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

•COCKTAIL PARTY: On Nov. 1, we visualize a matchup of top-five teams - Georgia rolling into Jacksonville at 8-0, meeting Florida at 7-0. So with last season's hard feelings still simmering - Georgia's staged on-field celebration - we could have (ta-da!) the greatest Florida-Georgia game ever contested. Can't wait.

•TEBOW-PALOOZA: Gators junior QB Tim Tebow can become the first player since Ohio State RB Archie Griffin (1974-75) to capture two Heisman Trophies. But even if he doesn't again have 20-20 vision (20 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns), Tebow could have a better season because of an improved supporting cast.

•THE HYBRID: UF might have another Heisman candidate - junior Percy Harvin, who had 1,622 yards rushing and receiving despite missing two games because of migraines. Harvin's health is a major priority, especially considering that three of UF's top five receivers have ZERO college receptions.

•RUNNING MEN: The Gators could use a dominant force in the running game. Top candidates include redshirt freshman Chris Rainey, sophomore Emmanuel Moody (the USC transfer) and holdover senior Kestahn Moore.

•WHAT'S UP FRONT: The offensive line, with four returning starters, might be UF's strongest unit. But the defensive line, coached by former USF assistant Dan McCarney, is filled with question marks, academic issues and relative inexperience.

KEY NUMBER

131

Points allowed by Florida's defense in the Gators' four losses last season.

SPRING HIGHLIGHT

The spring-game headliners were sophomore DE Carlos Dunlap, who had four sacks, and RB Chris Rainey, who rushed for 75 yards and caught a 65-yard touchdown pass.

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