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Gators Rising To The (Tuesday) Challenge

Tribune photo by COLIN HACKLEY

The work that Gators such as Brandon Spikes put in during the week helps them make it through games on Saturdays.

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: November 7, 2008

Updated: 11/07/2008 01:07 am

GAINESVILLE - Florida football games are played on Saturdays. By Coach Urban Meyer's thinking, they are won or lost on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Preparation is everything, and the Gators have turned it into a science.

Since the 31-30 upset loss to Mississippi, the Gators have beaten Arkansas, LSU, Kentucky and Georgia by a combined 201-43.

And interestingly, since that loss, Meyer, at the urging of players, altered his team's standard practice schedule. Instead of taking Sunday off, the Gators hold a late-evening workout and get Monday as their rest day.

Then comes, "Bloody Tuesday," which Meyer describes as "just awful."

The Logic

Tuesday is two hours of full contact in full pads. There is live tackling. The offensive line vs. the defensive line.

Fundamentals are stressed. Tackling is repeated and repeated, with linebackers going against running backs. Receivers try to run over defensive backs. "Not many teams do that," Meyer said.

Wednesdays are not quite as taxing. But almost. The Gators take their knee pads out. Big whoop.

The Challenge

"Tuesday practice definitely makes the games a lot easier," said junior linebacker Ryan Stamper. "I personally feel like I get more tired from a Tuesday practice than the games. Just because the whistle is constantly blowing and you are going from station to station. It's pretty difficult."

The Payoff

By Thursday, the heavy lifting is done. Dress is casual - shorts.

Players go through the game plan without contact.

"Tuesday, you try to make it as difficult as possible," Meyer said. "What you try to do with the team is get confidence as you go throughout the week. So on Tuesday you want to give them the hardest looks, the hardest checks."

The Results

Meyer hasn't been able to say enough about the affection he is developing for this team.

Looking back to last year, he called the Gators a "bunch of guys that got to third base but didn't hit the triple."

This year, he calls practices as competitive as games.

"The players are buying into it," he said. "They are going as hard as they can, because if they don't they will not play."

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