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Meyer chasing Spurrier

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A Tribune staff report

Published: November 12, 2009

GAINESVILLE - Urban Meyer has the Florida football program flying high theses days.

The Gators are 9-0, right in the thick of the national championship race and riding a 19-game winning streak.

But is he still chasing the ghost of Steve Spurrier?

"It's always going to be there," Meyer said. "Just walk out of the stadium and look on the wall at a bunch of great stuff coach has done. I think it's still there, and it should be."

Since his arrival in 2005, Meyer has been compared to the Florida great. But he said there has been too much made of the perceived rivalry between the two.

"I don't think it was probably as big as (people made it out to be). There was no animosity. I think people were trying to create something that's not there," Meyer said.

Spurrier led the Gators to their first national title in 1996, and his 1995 team nearly went undefeated before losing in the Fiesta Bowl to Nebraska.

SPURRIER STILL CHEERING FOR GATORS: Spurrier may be out to end Florida's hopes for a perfect season this weekend but the former UF quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner said that he still cheers for his alma mater.

"Yeah, I pull for the Gators, sure," Spurrier said. "Almost all their games are on TV. And we're usually a night team, we've played eight night games of our 10. So we get to see a half or so."

CONSERVATIVE APPROACH: Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has faced critics this season for the Gators' lack of offensive efficiency but Meyer said Wednesday he is playing to his team's defensive strengths.

"If you're not playing very good defense you have to try and score all the points you can," Meyer said. "If you're playing good defense it's (more about) possessions."

GAMECOCKS TO HONOR TROOPS: South Carolina will wear special camouflage cleats and black jerseys with camouflage on the shoulders Saturday against UF as part of the Wounded Warrior Project, which honors all those who have served or currently serve in the military.

There will be no names on the back of the jerseys. Instead, words like courage, loyalty and service will be written on the back of each one.

The project is sponsored by Under Armour, and Maryland will also wear similar uniforms against Virginia Tech this weekend.

"We're honored to be able to participate," said Spurrier. "I think Florida and us both realize this is a way of us honoring our servicemen and women all over the world."

UF TO WEAR LIGHTER UNIFORM: Florida is among the schools that will wear a special uniform being called Pro Combat and is supposed to be close to 40 percent lighter than a normal uniform.

UF confirmed the school has agreed to wear the new uniforms. They are expected to be worn in the Florida State game, the final regular-season contest Nov. 28.

"We have an agreement with Nike to wear an alternate uniform for one of our remaining home football games, but we have no additional details at this time," Florida spokesman Steve McClain said.

McClain said an official announcement and unveiling of the uniform to the public will be done at a later date.

The uniforms also have special cooling and padding. Players will also be given new gloves and shoes that are lightweight. Florida may also wear a helmet with a Gator head on it instead of the usual F. Florida State and Miami are among the 10 schools being given the special gear. UF has worn special uniforms at Nike's request in the past.

Mike DiFerdinando, David Jones

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