SEC Teams with a Chance at the SEC Championship Game...

Team	Alabama	Arkansas	Auburn	LSU	South Carolina	Florida
Overall	5-1	4-1	6-0	6-0	4-1	4-2
Oct 16	Mississippi	at Auburn	Arkansas	McNeese St	at Kentucky	Miss State
Oct 23	Tennessee	Ole Miss	LSU	at Auburn	at Vanderbilt	open
Oct 30	open	open	at Ole Miss	open	Tennessee	Georgia
Nov 6	at LSU	at S Carolina	Chattanoo	Alabama	Arkansas	at Vandy
Nov 13	Miss State	UTEP	Georgia	Louisiana-Mo	at Florida	S Carolina
Nov 20	Ga State	at Miss State	open	Ole Miss	Troy	Appalachian
Nov 27	Auburn	LSU	at Alabama	at Arkansas	at Clemson	at FSU

Morgan Died Today...

September 24th, 2010

My sweet Morgan died this afternoon, one of the very best dogs ever, I won't ever have another Morgan. I still have her daughter a pain in the ass, but I love her too. If I get another dog it will be a Lab.

I thank the Lord for having six wonderful years with this animal, she was given to me when she was four and a half. When she wanted to be petted some she'd use her nose like a dolphin and flip my arm up in the air, the mischievous look on her face, she'd jump in bed and snuggle right up getting her head close to mine with that sneaky happy look in her eye, but when you quit petting her she'd get up and go sleep on the floor except for the few times she was mad at her daughter. Gabby sleeps with me all the time.

I put Gabby back in the bedroom when I took her mother outside to bury her. It took me quite a while, several times just to get her out there am still filling in. Anyway dog tired I came back in and she was wanting to get out. I let her out and didn't think, but she ran through the house looking for her mother. Gabby was the only pup that Morgan had that survived. Her mom is the only other dog that she knew. I let her out back, she went all over looking for her, it was really sad. Poor Gabbs...

Thank God for dogs...

Junior Seasons For Gator Quarterbacks...

Where does John Brantley stand as a junior against other Gators starters in their junior year. Guys like Wayne Peace, Kerwin Bell, Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel, Rex Grossman, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow...

If it wasn't for Tim Tebow charting Gator QBs would be easy for the above group where rushing wasn't a factor. Tebow had 3037 yards rushing in his career to go with 9,285 yards passing. He had 88 TD passes to go with 49 rushing for a grand total of 137.

Since Brantley is expected to throw the ball and run it far less than Tebow the stats below will concentrate on that area.

The chart below has the combined Fr/So - Freshman and Sophomore years C/A completion and attempts, % completion percentage and TDs/INTs. The next four slots are the junior years of the quarterbacks below including Swampie's prediction for John Brantley...

Player	Fr/So C/A	%	Yds	Td/Int	Jr C/A	%	Yds	Td/Int
John Brantley	54/76	71.1	645	10/1	245/365	67.0	3200	26-6
Tim Tebow	256/383	66.8	3490	37-7	192/298	64.4	2746	21-5
Chris Leak	428/719	59.5	5632	45-12	235/374	62.8	2639	20-6
Rex Grossman	390/607	64.5	5762	55-19	287/503	57.1	3402	22-17
Danny Wuerffel	291/485	60.0	3984	40-19	210/325	64.6	3266	35-10
Shane Matthews	447/739	60.5	6082	51-30	275/463	59.4	3205	23-16
Kerwin Bell	278/472	58.9	4301	37-15	131/242	54.1	1515	10-10
Wayne Peace	250/453	55.2	3074	16-20	174/246	70.7	2053	8-10

What jumps out at this man besides the amount of experience all the other guys had by the time they were juniors, is how Urban Meyer football has drastically changed the TD to INT ratios. It is interesting to note Brantley's lone INT was on a tipped pass.

Rex Grossman had a horrible season after finishing third in the Heisman voting his sophomore year. A new staff and losing a couple of receivers to the NFL really hurt. Grossman was hard headed, actually got a caustic email from his dad requesting I lay off of his son.

I had written he was erratic, throwing a great pass then seemingly losing concentration and chunking up an INT. That was after his freshman season, I laid off thinking maybe I was too hard on him, but he went on with his career at Florida and onto the NFL and proved Swampie right. Always liked Grossman but consistency wasn't his trademark.

It seems it isn't too much to expect Brantley to complete 67% of his passes this fall other real quarterback before him threw for darn near that percentage (66.8%) as a freshman and sophomore.

Florida is a run first football team, Tebow was good enough to sling it around a lot more than they did in his career. Doubt Brantley throws it 45% of the time, would think he goes around 3,100 yards, 3,400 for the season at most. He will throw around 25 TDs and keep it down to 6 or 7 INTs depending on the amount of mistakes his receivers make.

Every QB who's started for any amount of time at Florida has won big at the high school level...

John Brantley - Owned a 27-1 record as a starter, won a state championship his junior year and was runner up his senior year. Broke the state record for career touchdown passes with 99, topping the total of 98 shared by UF quarterback Tim Tebow and Florida State signal-caller Xavier Lee…Threw for 2,766 yards and 41 touchdowns in his final prep season…Established a Trinity Catholic career passing record with 6,802 yards…Was an all-state selection in Class 2B…A Scout.com five-star passer who was named the Most Valuable Player of the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp…
Tim Tebow - Lead Nease to their 1st ever state championship, threw for 9,940 yards and 98 TDs.
Chris Leak - 46-0, lead team to three straight state championships 2000, 2001, 2002, 185 TD passes
Rex Grossman - Won 5A title in Indiana, 7,518 yards and 97 TDs in his career, Parade AA
Danny Wuerffel - 14-0 State title at Ft. Walton Beach and #2 national ranking
Shane Matthews - Led Pascagoula to 14-0 record and state championship in Mississippi 1988
Kerwin Bell - nickname in high school the throwin' Mayoan couldn't find record his team did play very well for Mayo and beat some people.
Wayne Peace - 11-2 Lakeland team lost in the state semifinals to physically dominant Pine Forest 26-14
John Reaves - As a senior in 1967, he led Tampa Robinson Class 2A football semifinal game before losing to the Coral Gables, who won the state championship and were ranked as the national champions afterward. Reaves was lauded as the State Player of the Year. He also played basketball and baseball and ran track for the Knights, and once scored fifty-two points in a high school basketball game.

Gator QBs Signed Since 1979

It takes a lot of quarterbacks in a program like Florida. Many will play other positions, as you'll see below there aren't that many starters and the ones that do play for a while.

Note - Kerwin Bell wasn't signed, he was a walkon so he didn't show up on the recruiting list in the media guide although he was a 4-year starter. Terry Dean and Danny Wuerffell actually split two years. By 2004 just used recruiting services data base to finish this list.

You have to recruit a whole bunch of quarterbacks.

Name	Ht	Wt	Town	Pos	Starter
79 - Johnell Brown	6-1	180	Gainesville	Qb/Wb
79 - Ivory Curry	6-0	175	Miami	Qb
79 - Larry Keefe	6-3	200	Ft. Walton Beach	Qb
79 - Mike Mularkey	6-4	220	Richmond, VA	Qb
80 - Dale Dorminey	6-1	188	Hialeah	Qb
80 - Mark Massey	6-1	180	Pensacola	Qb
80 - Wayne Peace	6-2	203	Lakeland	Qb	4- year
80 - Roger Sibbald	6-0	190	Dunnellon	Qb
82 - Vernell Brown	5-11	175	Gainesville	Qb/Wr
82 - Ray Criswell	6-0	175	Orange Park	Qb/K
82 - Donnie Whiting	5-11	175	Titusville	Qb
83 - Derrick Crudup	6-1	190	Boca Raton	Qb
83 - Pat Pinner	6-4	200	Lakeland	Qb
83 - Scott Rismiller	6-4	215	St. Petersburg	Qb/TE
84 - Rodney Brewer	6-2	205	Apopka	Qb
84 - Brian Massingill	6-0	190	Tifton, GA	Qb
84 - Clifton Reynolds	6-4	200	Palatka	Qb
87 - Billy Deeds	5-10	170	Auburndale	Qb
87 - Kyle Morris	6-3	205	Clinton, MS	Qb	2- year
87 - Johnny Nichols	6-0	185	Pensacola	Qb
87 - Herbert Perry	6-1	190	Perry	Qb
88 - Jerry Dunn	6-1	185	Denver, CO	Qb
88 - Scott Hoffman	6-3	205	Elgin, IL	Qb
88 - Shane Matthews	6-3	175	Pascagoula, MS	Qb	3- year
88 - Lex Smith	6-2	202	Dade City	Qb
89 - Donald Dogulas	6-2	181	Liberty, TX	Qb
90 - Jay Austin	6-3	195	St. Petersburg	Qb
90 - Terry Dean	6-3	195	Naples	Qb	2- year
91 - Luke Bencie	6-3	197	Sarasota	Qb
91 - Antwan Chiles	6-2	236	Lauderdale Lakes	Qb
92 - Danny Wuerffel	6-2	193	Ft. Walton Beach	Qb	4- year
95 - Bobby Sabelhaus	6-5	225	Owings Mills, MD	Qb
96 - Doug Johnson	6-2	195	Gainesville	Qb	3- year
97 - Tim Olmstead	6-2	196	Binghamton, NY	Qb
97 - Jesse Palmer	6-2	220	Nepean, Ont.	Qb	2- year
99 - Rex Grossman	6-1	205	Bloomington, Ind	Qb	3- year
99 - Chris Stephens	6-3	205	Gainesville	Qb
00 - Brock Berlin	6-1	204	Shreveport, LA	Qb
01 - Ingle Martin	6-3	210	Nashville, TN	Qb
02 - Gavin Dickey	6-0	190	Tallahassee	Qb
02 - Patrick Dosh	6-3	205	Glen Allen, VA	Qb
03 - Chris Leak	6-1	205	Charlotte, N.C.	Qb	4-year
03 - Justin Midgett	6-3	180	Punta Gorda	Qb
05 - Josh Portis	6-3	183	Woodland Hills, CA	Qb
06 - Tim Tebow	6-3	217	Ponte Vedra, FL	Qb	3- year
07 - John Brantley	6-2	190	Ocala	Qb
07 - Cameron Newton	6-4	232	Atlanta, GA	Qb
07 - Bryan Waggener	6-4	230	Glendora, CA	Qb
09 - Jordan Reed	6-3	235	New London, CT	Qb
10 - Tre Burton	6-3	203	Venice	Qb

Opening Day Stats for Gator QBs

Name	Year	team played score	at/cm	yds	td/int	PR
Steve Spurrier	1964	Alabama L 17-14	9/14	140	1 - 1	157.57
John Reaves	1969	Houston W 59-35	18/30	342	5 - 1	204.09
Kerwin Bell	1984	Miami L 32-20	15/30	159	1-1	98.85
Shane Matthews	1990	Ok St W 50-7	20/29	322	1-0	176.51
Terry Dean	1993	Hogs W 44-6	16/22	237	2-1	184.12
Danny Wuerffel	1993	Vols W 41-34	19/38	231	3-1	121.85
Eric Kresser	1995	N. Ill W 58-20	26/42	458	6-1	195.84
Doug Johnson	1997	Srn Miss W 31-6	17/34	231	2-3	108.83
Rex Grossman	2000	LSU W 41-9	18/28	276	3-0	182.44
Chris Leak	2003	UK W 24-21	20/35	268	2-2	128.89
Tim Tebow	2007	Wrn Ky W 49-3	13/17	300	3-0	282.94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiwR6A32gfw

Contract In, Swamp 24-7 Launching Tonight

OK, Very excited to join the staff of 247 Sports, the Florida site named "Swamp 24-7" launches tonight. Franz Beard, Justin Wells and yours truly. Several other well known Gator internet guys are coming to pitch in, we will be well monitored on the boards...

When I get a web address I'll post it.......

Won't be able to do anymore work on my story for a good while, football season is about to begin...

Tebow Had Strong Showing vs Bengals

Tim Tebow played in his first NFL game, be it a preseason, none the less for a first outing his play was remarkable.

He entered the game in the third quarter, the #2 guy for now Brady Quinn went 6 for 16 for 68 yards and 1 INT. Quinn also ran the ball twice for 1 yard and fumbled once but the Bronco's maintained possession.

Tebow was 8 of 13 for 105 yards, a 7 yard TD pass on the next to the last play of the game was dropped, it was perfectly thrown. He also launched a 35 yard pass down field that was dropped.

Tebow completed passes for 33, 21 and 17 yards. Believe it or not Tebow was second in rushing for the Bronco's with two carries for 10 yards.

On the seven yard drop, there was only 3 seconds left. The Bronco's called time out and asked for a review. The ruling on the field was confirmed by replay. On the last play of the game the Bronco's spread the field, Tebow moved to the right just out of the pocket and saw a clear field. He decided to run it in meeting two Bengals at the one. Those two just weren't enough to stop Tebow and one of them was real slow getting up.

With time out they let the Bronco's kick the PAT, ending game 33-24 for the Cats.

The Denver Post praised Tebow's play and wrote that Quinn needs a good showing to hold onto #2.

On the last drive Tebow's big play a pass to Davis for 33 yards was vintage Tebow. Flushed out of the pocket Tebow ran to his right then spotted Davis down field. He launched a perfect spiral with his new compact release well down field right on the money.

The pass was crisp and thrown with velocity, the Bengal crew in the booth were really impressed, it's hard to run in the opposite direction of your throwing arm and drop the ball in that well, Tebow made it look easy.

Tiger Woods

I like Tiger Woods and wanted him to win the PGA today even though it was out of his reach. I always want Tiger to win.

You can count this man as one who's upset with all the talk of Tiger no longer being what he used to be. Actually dislike golf these days, some no-name young guy just goes postal and shoots lights out.

I like rooting for the old fool that I know and love. I like Tiger, I like Phil.

Of the four major championships - US Open, Masters, British Open and the PGA - the top two aggregate golfers were Phil Mickelson at -18 and Tiger Woods at -11. No one else was close.

Figured out what's wrong with Tiger having been a decent golfer once I had a five handicap. It's just simple, Tiger's game stinks right now.

There you go, you heard it here first.

Today I was rooting for him to have a big day and post a score. He had four birdies on the front nine, but after he boggied the ninth hole, his third boggy on the front, this man had enough.

Discouraged I felt it was more fun to watch Richard Burton torture John Hurt in the move 1984 than continue watching the Tiger.

I mean Hurt met the girl, sank a few birdies, then boggied his way in on the movie. In the end he finished at seven over par and failed to qualify for the human race.

Believe it or not Tiger is still on shaky ground emotionally. Whenever you make a major pattern of living change it has a dramatic affect on your central nervous system.

Be it giving up gambling, drinking, drugs, smoking, or a divorce, a death of someone very close when you quit or lose something you depended on you're not going to be right for a while, the bigger the attachment good or bad the greater the time it takes for your system to get somewhat back to normal.

It usually takes a year believe it or not.

I would like to see Tiger hit more fairways, and my goodness he used to just destroy the par fives, now he just butchers them. On a difficult course like this I wonder why can't he use his three wood more off the tee like he used too.

And I question pros who try and manufacture so many shots that they end up swinging like a duffer.

Whatever, as ugly as it is I'm going to continue to watch the Tiger. He was on the leader board the final day in the Masters and British Opens this year, you aren't there unless you're a hell of a golfer.

Tiger isn't done, don't stick that fork in him yet, he's just recovering. I mean my goodness he's only 35 years old, you aren't washed up in golf at the age of 35.

24-7, James Wilder, Meyer vs Agents, Why GaTech left SEC

Swamp 24-7 will open up on 247 Sports. I still haven't got a contract they have so much to do whether I join or not is still up in the air. When I get that contract as they assure me I will I'll post it here.

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James Wilder will commit to FSU

The Noles did a job on him but he can't sign till Feb-of-2011, even if he is an early enrollee his commitment could change as late as Christmas. A lot of crap can be sold to an eighteen year old young man who's feeling on top of the world.

It angers me when I keep reading this complete crap about how Wilder is better suited to be a linebacker. I look at him and see a young man who could become a bigger more powerful Mark Ingram. He is a very special running back guys that size are very rare, 6-2 linebackers who run 4.5 are just about a dime a dozen. A 6-2 running back with 4.5 speed, tremendous power, balance and incredible natural instincts are extremely rare.

I am sorry but this is what made me want to write about sports in the first place. There are times journalists or bloggers or the recruiting guys don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. Far too often they just can't think for themselves.


But the bull will hit the road this fall.

1 - Where will Wilder get the biggest platform to display his talents?
- a - FSU will not win more than 9 games this season if that many! FSU is a LONG ways from being at the level of a Texas, Florida, Alabama or Ohio State. They simply have not recruited well at all positions, their team is undersized at several positions, they are in for another rough season, there are no quick fixes for what they are facing.

This will become apparent this fall, there is much hope for Jimbo Fisher but he just doesn't have the horses. Last year the Seminoles were 94th in the country in scoring defense allowing 30 points per game. They were 104th in rush defense allowing 204.6 yards per game.

- b - Florida should have a great season, that could cause Wilder rethink his decision. Florida has recruited exceptionally well on the offensive line, they look to be very strong there for years to come, they are a running team. Urban Meyer has never had a big back before.

2. Negative Recruiting - For some insane reason this is used against Meyer others say Wilder won't get the carries at Florida or they will make a fullback position for him.
(Note - how stupid do some people think you are, you think if Florida wanted Wilder that they would tell him we're going to design a fullback position just for you when the kid wants to be a tailback, My God how do these people write this crap and the worst part about it is a lot of people will actually believe it.)


3. If Wilder wants to play three years and go to the NFL he can go to FSU. If he wants to play three years and try and win a National Championship then he better go to Florida.

FSU will play Oklahoma, BYU, Miami, Boston College, North Carolina, Clemson and Florida. They can easily lose six games this season. If that happens it will be hard to hold onto guys like Wilder because they'll see the hand writing on the wall.

Guys like Wilder want to be the man, but they darn sure don't want to be the ONLY MAN.

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Urban Meyer has come a LONG WAY!

The amazing rise of Urban Meyer. He's going into just his tenth season as a head coach in college football yet Meyer, Nick Saban, Jim Tressel, Mack Brown and Bob Stoops were in on a conference call last week with NFL commisioner Roger Goodall along with others to discuss what to do about the agent problem in college football.

Seven years ago he was headed into his first season at Utah.

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Why did Georgia Tech Leave the SEC?

From Wikipedia -

Bobby Dodd's tenure included Georgia Tech's withdrawal from the Southeastern Conference. The initial spark for Dodd's withdrawal was a historic feud with Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Bear Bryant. The feud began when Tech was visiting the Tide at Denny Stadium in 1961. After a Tech punt, Alabama fair-caught the ball. Chick Granning of Tech was playing coverage and relaxed after the signal for the fair catch. Darwin Holt of Alabama continued play and smashed his elbow into Granning's face causing severe fracturing in his face, a broken nose, and blood-filled sinuses. Granning was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe concussion, the result of which left him unable to play football ever again. Dodd sent Bryant a letter asking Bryant to suspend Holt after game film indicated Holt had intentionally injured Granning. Bryant never suspended Holt. The lack of discipline infuriated Dodd and sparked Dodd's interest in withdrawing from the SEC.

Another issue of concern for Dodd was Alabama's and other SEC schools' over-recruitment of players. Universities would recruit more players than they had roster space for. During the summer practice sessions, the teams in question would cut the players well after signing day thus preventing the cut players from finding new colleges to play for. Dodd appealed the SEC administration to punish the "tryout camps" of his fellow SEC members but the SEC did not. Finally, Dodd withdrew Georgia Tech from the SEC in 1963. Tech would remain an independent like Notre Dame and Penn State (at the time) during the final four years of Dodd's coaching tenure. In 1967, Dodd passed the head coach position to his favorite coordinator, Bud Carson. Dodd simply retained his athletic director position, which he had acquired in 1950. He would not retire from athletic directing until 1976.

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Not sure when the NCAA got any teeth, does anyone know where you can see a complete list of NCAA sanctions? Saw one link but it didn't work.

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Rumor Alert

Why would a coach show up at 11:10 for a 11:30 meeting with the press, leave at 11:18? Maybe the press wasn't getting there on time? The late comers missed the boat that day...

Reason's for FSU's and the ACC's Downfall

Discussion on Bobby Bowden and the state of FSU

M&M Nole - Michael wrote:
"i think it was way past time that he (Bobby Bowden) left. remember the football program was and is about building the character of the young men on the team, and the team itself - not about Him, and some sort of media-constructed competition with Joe Paterno, or building his "legacy". he started phoning things in years ago, and the real beginning of the end was when he was grooming his son to replace (against all the rules about nepotism), and appointed him as "offensive coordinator". well, the whole thing was certainly offensive. i still like the man, but not what he became as a coach. as the song says "you got to know when to fold 'em" - he didn't."
..................................................................

Bottom line M&M, had Bowden continued to win all that other stuff is not a factor.

What really hurt FSU was recruiting. It's what built their program and it's what destroyed it. They got the recruiting boost when Florida went on probation in 1984, that lead to the tremendous 14 year run of top-5 finishes from 1987-2000.

What hurt their recruiting was joining the ACC it took a while but it finally caught up with them.

Florida State Seminoles (Independent) (1976–1991)
1976	Florida State	5–6
1977	Florida State	10–2			W Tangerine	11	14
1978	Florida State	8–3
1979	Florida State	11–1			L Orange	8	6
1980	Florida State	10–2			L Orange	5	5
1981	Florida State	6–5
1982	Florida State	9–3			W Gator	10	13
1983	Florida State	8–4 (7-5) ‡			W Peach
1984	Florida State	7–3–2			T Citrus	19	17
1985	Florida State	9–3			W Gator	13	15
1986	Florida State	7–4–1			W All-American	20
1987	Florida State	11–1			W Fiesta	2	2
1988	Florida State	11–1			W Sugar	3	3
1989	Florida State	10–2			W Fiesta	2	3
1990	Florida State	10–2			W Blockbuster	4	4
1991	Florida State	11–2			W Cotton	4	4
Florida State (1976-91):		143-44-3
Florida State Seminoles (ACC) (1992–2009)
1992	Florida State	11–1	8–0	1st	W Orange	2	2
1993	Florida State	12–1	8–0	1st	W Orange	1	1
1994	Florida State	10–1–1	8–0	1st	W Sugar	5	4
1995	Florida State	10–2	7–1	T-1st	W Orange	5	4
1996	Florida State	11–1	8–0	1st	L Sugar	3	3
1997	Florida State	11–1	8–0	1st	W Sugar	3	3
1998	Florida State	11–2	7–1	T-1st	L Fiesta †	3	3
1999	Florida State	12–0	8–0	1st	W Sugar †	1	1
2000	Florida State	11–2	8–0	1st	L Orange †	4	5
2001	Florida State	8–4	6–2	2nd	W Gator	15	15
2002	Florida State	9–5	7–1	1st	L Sugar †	23	21
2003	Florida State	10–3	7–1	1st	L Orange †	10	11
2004	Florida State	9–3	6–2	2nd	W Gator	14	15
2005	Florida State	8–5	5–3	1st (Atlantic)	L Orange †	23	22
2006	Florida State	2–6 (7–6) ‡	1–5 (3–5) ‡	5th (Atlantic)	V Emerald
2007	Florida State	0–6 (7–6) ‡	0–4 (4–4) ‡	3rd (Atlantic)	L Music City
2008	Florida State	9–4	5–3	T-1st (Atlantic)	W Champs Sports	23	21
2009	Florida State	7–6	4–4	3rd (Atlantic)	W Gator
Florida State (1992-2009):		161-53	111–27
Total:		377–129–4
National Championship Conference Title Conference Division Title
†Indicates BCS bowl game. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.

Look at the national champions from the SEC since 1996 (hey why not start there???)

SEC
1996 - Florida
1998 - Tennessee
2003 - LSU
2006 - Florida
2007 - LSU
2008 - Florida
2009 - Alabama

ACC
1999 - FSU
2001 - Miami

Miiami was still with the Big East in 2001.

The SEC is just more appealing to the top recruits they just want to play there that statement has been proven by success in the draft to recruiting rankings. It is very difficult for many teams in the Southeastern region to compete with the SEC appeal. The best want to play against the best.

When all that conference realignment was being talked about FSU was and is extremely interested in joining the SEC. It was like holding some liver to a dog's nose, sure they'd get the crap kicked out of them at first but over time the recruiting boost they'd get from it would be tremendous.

FSU had that 14 year run of excellence. They reloaded the QB position with fourth year juniors and had the best LBs three deep. They had great rush ends, perhaps the best production there in that time period.

They began their decline with the QB position and at DE, then WR wasn't what it used to be, the last decade starting in 2001 it's been a mess. (Sharrif Floyd Gator DT recruit to right)

Now perhaps Bowden had a part in the school opting for the ACC over the SEC, it worked for a while but then that decision caught up with them.

Jimbo Fisher can recruit his heart out, the bottom line is last year two 7-5 SEC teams, Georgia and South Carolina, beat Georgia Tech and Clemson the two teams who played in the ACC conference championship game.

To put that into perspective four teams in the SEC had better records than Georgia who finished with an 8-5 season, and there were two other teams Arkansas and Auburn who had 8-5 records. South Carolina finished with a 7-6 record. There were only two teams in the SEC who had worse than a 7-6 record, Tennessee and Kentucky each ended with the 7-6 mark.

You are literally saying two middle of the pack teams in the SEC beat the two best teams in the ACC. Kids see that stuff and it kills recruiting.

After 44 Years Bobby Bowden will not be on the Sidelines...

Bobby Bowden was the coach at FSU for 34 years, his first 16 seasons FSU was an independent. After joining the ACC FSU went on to win the conference 11 of the first 12 seasons.

What is the most amazing feat is FSU finished in the top 5 in national rankings for 14 years, from 1987 to 2000. In that span FSU was ranked 4th and 5th by one service or the other three times. This mean that someone had FSU ranked 4th or higher in the country for those 14 consecutive seasons that included two concensus national championships in 1993 and 1999.

Below....
Wrote 'Bowden Should Quit' after the Florida - FSU game last season. Some strong points were made especially toward the end on the ACC vs SEC. This was prior to Bobby Bowden's announcement that he was standing down as FSU's football coach.

Right below is a comment I added to the post after seeing the FSU replay show the next day...

- - I watched the Sun Sports replay of the game this morning, Bobby Bowden was interviewed after the game and I swear it looked like he had been crying. His eyes were red, maybe that was it for him, he said he'd have to do some soul searching. Next season can't be appealing for him. - -


Bowden Should Quit.....


Swampie's Rumor Mill
August 29th, 2009

It shouldn't have come to this but the best thing Bobby Bowden can do is quit his job as the head coach of FSU. He wants to leave on his terms if he stays another year he will lose that opportunity.

FSU will push him out the door and all that he built will crumble. His run at Florida State will never crumble but the Seminole program has and will continue to do so.

Jimbo Fisher the famous coach in waiting hasn't done that much with FSU. He's developed a decent offense this season but everything the Seminoles did in this process has been wrong.

FSU has often been a trend setter like the Deion Rule or play to the Echo once again creates a first in college football. Although they didn't start the coach in waiting thing they dam sure finished it, no one can possibly think that's desirable now.

Gone for Fisher is that recruiting boom that usually comes with the hire of a new coach. Right now its same old same old which can't be very appealing. About all FSU has on defense is a linebacker who can run like hell and make tackles forty yards down field, something every sorry defensive team needs.

Who will coach Bowden be fooling next season, he won't have any input into what's going on, hell he may as well move a nice comfortable bed into his office and snooze most of the day away if he doesn't do that already. The man is 80, he looks good, he's had a wonderful career, he doesn't need this.

And FSU has proved they no longer deserve him.

He will think it over. He saw how far his football team was behind Florida yesterday. No amount of optimism can cause him to realistically think that can be made up in one season. FSU has some athletes but lack the horses.

Florida will be awesome again next season even if the Gators lose a small herd of juniors.

In the SEC this season there were only two top teams Alabama and Florida, then LSU, Ole Miss and six 7-5 teams. Yesterday two of those 7-5 teams South Carolina and Georgia beat the two teams headed for the ACC Championship game, Clemson and Georgia Tech.

FSU finished the 7th best team in the ACC at 6-6, 4-4 in the conference. Would a 9-to-10 win season next fall leave the program where Bowden can walk away in peace, especially if he had nothing what so ever to do with anything?

He can walk away now and hold his head high. Florida State betrayed him, he doesn't need to stick around like Ceasar and let the idiots up there spear him to death after next season. Et tu FSU!

Gators and Public Property

Fans can go before and after practice and see the team walking to and from the practice facility, until the day the UAA connects an underground walk way to the practice field.

Any sidewalk at the University of Florida is public property you, me, anyone has the right to be there. The people Urban Meyer's wants to beef up security for the autograph seekers, security will tell them to get out.

Something was mentioned about scumbags and internet people were tossed in that mix. I'm an internet person who has for many years followed the UAA's guidelines while others haven't so this man resents being lumped in that category.

Perhaps it was a misunderstanding so this man asked. Certainly they weren't going to ask someone on public property to leave.

(Please note the email concerning this and one other topic will not be posted, they other topic is inappropriate especially at this time of the season.)

From Steve McClain
Sports Information Director
Athletic Department
University of Florida

Richard:

Thanks for your note and your concerns.

What you have seen in various reports is a simple case of the media embellishing some quotes by Coach Meyer and not putting them in the proper perspective.

Rest assured, we are very aware that the players walk to practice on public property before they get to the private practice facility.

If you have encountered any of the football players walking to practice this year, you probably would say things are not much different until you get to the
entrance of the facility. There, you will see some protective gates to funnel the players into one entrance point and limit crowding by the gate. The main intent was to limit the number of autograph seekers who were bothering our student athletes daily and then turning around and selling various autographed items on the internet. I think we would all agree that practice had gotten out of hand.

Thanks again for sharing your concerns and please feel free to call or e-mail if you have any more questions or would like some additional information.

Go Gators!

.......................................................

Could an underground path to the practice facility be in Florida's future?

As far as this man knows nothing like that is in the works at this time but an underground walkway to the practice field can be done. Just connect the stadium to the O-Dome then you can go out the back of it a shorter open distance thus easier to secure.

Now I don't know if it's already connected or not. But it could be used for many other purposes.

A couple of names for it? They do you could call it the Florida Chunnel, or the Gator Chunnel.

Of the Gator

Gators #3 in Coaches Poll...

This shouldn't surprise you. Urban Meyer says he thinks this team can be really good and everyone else is beginning to believe too.

Las Vegas odds came out for the national champion in 2010, Alabama is 4 1/2 to 1, Ohio State is 5 to 1 and the Florida Gators are 8 to 1. Big difference is Florida isn't returning a starting QB, young John Brantley is getting a lot of preseason respect and love.

Rightfully so. The Gators are Loaded, this man picks them to go 13-1 and win a third national championship under Coach Meyer.

....................................................

Urban Meyer closes fall practices. I predicted five years ago Meyer was going to close fall practices and if he had his way he'd close spring practices. He's a me and my guys kind of guy.

I don't have any issues with it, but don't try and say it's for other reasons, come on.

Anyway called the UAA and they said they didn't have any history on fall practices open to the public under Urban Meyer, so I asked Franz Beard and this is what we came up with.

2005 - 5 days, think it was longer and they cut back to five
2006 - 5 days
2007 - 3 days
2008 - 3 days
2009 - 2 days
2010 - 0 days

And this is much like a Black Hole, zero being the event horizon where there is no turning back. People used to plan their vacations around fall practices a wonderful way to get revved up for the season.

Now if incoming freshmen don't get much opportunity to play their first fall you'll have to wait to see them in the spring, as long as Meyer allows that.

What was the line in that old commercial? 'Didn't your momma teach you how to share?'

For some reason that comes to mind when I'm thinking of Meyer closing practices.

....................................................

One of the BEST LINES by a Gator this fall Reported in the Gainesville, SUN...

Senior running back Emmanuel Moody said frosh Sharrif Floyd looks "chiseled" and "mean," making him one of the most intimidating youngsters of the group.

"Sharrif looked like he just came straight out of prison," Moody said.

....................................................

I've talked to some people, read a lot of comments and I've seen a lot of video. This team's mindset for this fall is about as good as this man has ever heard. They have a chip on their shoulders, they are close, they have great leadership in Mike Pouncey the Gators' Maximum Supreme Leader. Pouncey leads by Tebowian Methodology.

....................................................

Deonte Thompson has gained weight up to 205 and got faster running his fastest 40 time ever, a 4.22.

....................................................

This year it's Accountability and Development.

A reporter asked Meyer about this being a year with no Super-Stars on the team.

Meyer responded, "Oh there better be. Or we won't be very good. I just don't know who they are yet."

247 Sports

247 Sports is a new network beginning this fall with over 40 college football sites. It's unsure at this point whether Swampie will be joining 247 Sports, thought I was but haven't heard from them for a couple of weeks.

Florida's site named Gators 24/7 will open August 15th.

Franz Beard, and Justin Wells will burn the candle at both ends to bring you the latest news, we'll beat the bushes on the recruiting front and Swampie will ponder the furthest reaches of Gator football and the meaning of the Gator spirit along with any other duties Franz and Justin may pass this man's way.

It's a great crew with a professional organization, hope you join the team...

Chris Dunkley to the above arrived at Florida tipping the scales at 190 and nicely bulked up in the upper body. Word on the streets is he's wowing defensive backs and coaches with his ability to run crisp routes very quickly without losing any speed on the cuts. Photo from facebook...

The Forgotten Gator Class of 2008

Meyer talks about the 2008 recruiting class in the YouTube video below. Several of those recruits will be counted on heavily this fall, as many as eight could end up being starters.



(* - stars ranking in recruiting/ Exp - S - games started, P - games played in/ '10 - ? means player could become starter/ Production and Remarks - Ts - tackles, yds - yards, ypc yards per carry)

Name	*	Exp	'10	Production / Remarks
Will Hill	5	5S 27P	Starter	90 Ts, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks
Omar Hunter	5	11S 17P	?	17 Ts, 2 for loss - should become a co-starter with Lawrence Marsh
Matt Patchan	5	15P	?	11g on defense, knee recovered will compete for spot on OL
Carol Moore	5	14P	Starter	184 yds 14 receptions 1 TD, took a redshirt 2009 has looked strong
Jeff Demps	4	17S 20P	Starter	1,359 yds 177 carries, 7.6 ypc, 14 TD, ran '10 fastest 100m in 9.96
Janoris Jenkins	4	25S 27P	Starter	77 Ts, 5 INTs, 17 pass breakups, started as a true freshman, boundary corner
William Green	4	1S 27P	Starter	19 Ts, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 1 blocked punt, looks up to 270 pounds, really bulked up
Lerentee McCray	4	11P	backup	10 Ts, moved LB to DE in '09, Meyer mentioned him as a possible contributor this fall
Omarius Hines	4	13P	2nd tm	172 yds, 14 receptions, still waiting to have break through season
Dee Finley	4	10P	backup	10 Ts, special teams, moved S to LB, looking for a position to get on field 222 lbs
TJ Lawrence	4	-	backup	special teams, good athlete who's rarely mentioned in WR talk
Earl Okine	4	5P	-	2 Ts, not sure where he ends up, a beast who seems to lake football talent
Jeremy Brown	4	-	?	hurt 2 yrs with chronic back issues, will compete with Moses Jenkins for field corner
Frankie Hammond	4	11P	-	57 yds, 4 catches, 1 TD, lost scholarship over DUI can work his way back
Adrian Bushell	4	-	-	In Junior College, unclear here if he's going to try to make it back or gone for good
Brendan Beal	4	-	-	Transferred, his playing time looked bleak he had lots of fans pulling for him
Sam Robey	3	13P	2nd Tm	not in the mix this year lots of seniors, in 2011 he's the starting center
TJ Pridemore	3	15P	FB	spot player getting on the field, getting playing time at fullback
David Young	3	14P	backup	3.23 GPA Parks and Recreation, working on it
Troy Epps	3	-	-	JuCo who just didn't contribute
Caleb Sturgis	2	-	Starter	22-30 FG, 44-47 PAT, 56 yd FG vs UGa was longest in the SEC last season
Byran Jones	2	-	-	Not on 2010 Roster, left team?

This could be a forgotten class with no quarterback and plenty still trying to complete for playing time. But this class gave the Gators
Starter-Janoris Jenkins a two-year starter at corner...
Starter-Will Hill the starter this fall at safety...
Starter-Jeff Demps has over 1,350 yards in rushing and 14 TDs...
Starter-William Green at 270 is expected to fill a huge role for the Gators this fall.
Starter-Carl Moore redshirted in 2009 will be relied on heavily at receiver.
Starter-Caleb Sturgis is a big time kicker with a very strong leg
Co-Starter-Omar Hunter needed a year to make the transition.
Could Start-Jeremy Brown, if he gets over his back issues he could start, saw film on Moses Jenkins up against Jenoris Jenkins in an agility race, looked like a dead heat, had no idea Moses was that quick, it was eye opening...
Could Start-One of the fan's favorite Matt Patchan who's had injuries to slow his career as a Gator, he will be competing for a starting spot on the OL this fall, perhaps at guard.

Rotation - Frankie Hammond was pushing for lots of playing time this fall till his DUI
Starter 2011-Sam Robey is the center in waiting for 2011.

Lots of talent yet to make their mark like Dee Finley who moved to LB from safety, Omarius Hines and TJ Lawrence two receivers who are getting to that now or never point in their careers.

It's a Great Day...

Want to See the 2010 Gators Sneak Preview

Just click on video...

Colt McCoy's Wedding Song

This is great, Tim Tebow's name is mentioned at the 1:50 mark and everyone goes crazy, it's really funny. Looks like they had a lot of fun, good luck to the McCoys... The video isn't very good.

Gator DE Johnie Church's Great Freshman Season

It can be done. Sure it's a lot to ask of a guy like Ronald Powell or Lynden Trail to come in as true freshmen and have a big season at defensive end in the SEC, but it has been done at Florida so who's to say those guys can't do it this year!

Once upon a time there was one defensive end at Florida. He was in his first year as a Gator and had a great season. Consider that he had 55 or his 61 total tackles over the last eight games of the season which happened to be the games he started. In those starts he averaged 6.9 tackles per game you figure that over 13 games played that season it was a horrid pace that would have totaled 90 tackles, that's all-American stuff.

Johnie Church played around 235 his freshman season, 1992, with the Gators, he was 6-3.

FRESHMAN STATS - 32 solo tackles, 29 assists, 61 total... 4 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 8 total tackles for loss, 1 pass deflection, 6 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. Had 55 tackles in his eight starts, average of 6.9 per game. First career start against Auburn he had 10 tackles. Had 9 tackles, 1.5 quarterback sacks, and a forced hurry against South Carolina.

(RS - redshirted freshman year, TT - total tackles, freshman season total to senior season total from left to right.)

Name	RS	Years played	TT	TT	TT	TT
Johnie Church	-	1992, 93, 94, 95	61	29	20	30
Tim Newton*	-	1981, 82, 83, 84	46	54	79	77
Huey Richardson	-	1987, 88, 89, 90	26	68	79	58
Brad Culpepper	RS	1988, 89, 90, 91	25	60	64	82
Ellis Johnson	-	1991, 92, 93, 94	16	32	55	62
Kevin Carter	-	1981, 82, 83, 84	14	64	59	66
Reggie McGrew	RS	1996, 97, 98	39	26	41	-
Gerard Warren	RS	1998, 99, 00	27	52	76	-
Marcus Thomas	-	2003, 04, 05, 06	47	39	45	-
Ray McDonald	RS	2003, 04, 05, 06	54	39	8	36
Lawrence Marsh	RS	2007, 08, 09	5	28	8	-
Wilbur Marshall	-	1980, 81, 82, 83	0	121	123	95
David Little	-	1977, 78,79, 80	67	138	109	161

Johnie Church - College: Played at the University of Florida from 1992 to 1995... Was part of a distinguished senior class that won four consecutive Southeastern Conference Eastern Division championships, three straight SEC titles, and played in the school's first "national championship" game, the 1996 Fiesta Bowl against eventual national champion Nebraska...Started eight games as a true freshman in 1992...In that first season, he posted 61 tackles and was named a first-team Freshman All-American by USA Today and the Associated Press...Had a rough season in 1993; he was hampered by numerous injuries and notched just 29 tackles...Returned to health in 1994, playing in all 12 games as the Gators marched to the Sugar Bowl...Posted five tackles for losses and six quarterback hurries...Started in 10 out of 12 games as a senior, including the penultimate Fiesta Bowl encounter...Finished second on the team with nine quarterback hurries... Made 30 tackles...Had his biggest game of the season against Vanderbilt, posting a season-high 2.5 sacks and six tackles...

What to Expect - Florida's 2010 Defense

If you want to compare great defenses that's fine but it would be unfair to these 2010 Gators. Two of Florida's best defenses have recently been fielded the 2006 National Championship team and the 2009 team with the same record, 2008 wasn't shabby either with their amazing turnover margin of +1.57.

But how have the Gators responded the year after a great defense when they lose a boat load of starters. A look back at 2007 might give a clue as to what to expect in 2010. Now that team didn't have the advantage of the recruiting depth Urban Meyer has so tirelessly worked to develop at Florida so this man certainly expects more. But that will be gotten into shortly...

Those defenses.... note - 2010 stats are projected...

(Rec - record W-L... Tot - total defense rank... YPG - yards per game allowed... ScR - scoring ranking... PPG - points allowed per game... TOR - turnover ranking... TOM - turnover margin)

Team	Rec	Tot	YPG	ScR	PPG	TOR	TOM
2010 UM*	13-1	13	303	12	14.8	21	.64
2009 UM	13-1	4	252	4	12.4	24	.50
2008 UM	13-1	9	285	4	12.9	2	1.57
2007 UM	9-4	41	364	46	25.5	32	.38
2006 UM	13-1	6	255	6	13.5	37	.36
2005 UM	9-3	9	299	18	18.8	3	1.50
2004 RZ	7-5	42	345	31	21.1	40	.33
2003 RZ	8-5	51	367	28	20.8	25	.54
2002 RZ	8-5	25	325	31	21.5	91	-.69
2001 SS	11-2	9	290	4	14.1	79	-.36
2000 SS	10-2	42	346	29	19.7	3	1.58

You can look back at these stats and they tell the stories. In 2001 Steve Spurrier's last season the -.36 in turnover margin cost Florida the Auburn game five turnovers to two, the Gators lost the game in the forth quarter allowing Auburn to score 13 points to come back and win it 23-20. They won the turnover battle against Tennessee three to one but the Gators were routed on the ground for 242 yards on 31 carries. A win in either game puts the '01 Gators in the National Championship game.

Still looking back the 2000 team under Spurrier wasn't as talented as 2001 yet managed to ball hawk their way to a 10-2 and SEC Championship season with an outstanding turnover margin of + 1.58 per game. It wasn't a strong defense allowing 346 yards per game but it was one of those opportunistic defenses people love to talk about, they made plays.

The Ron Zook years were nothing but consistent. The minus turnover margin in 2002 of -.36 helped set the stage to sour his coaching debut. That can be attributed to Rex Grossman's horrible season where he chunked up 22 TDs and 17 INTs.

Florida suffered their two worst home losses in 20 years losing the second game of the season to Miami 41-16 and the seventh 36-7 to LSU. LSU Grossman pitched up four INTs, againts Miami the Gators actually won the turnover battle three INTs to two. To be fair Miami still had a lot of talent.

As it was Coach Zooks teams over his three seasons at Florida averaged +.06 turnovers per game. That isn't Gator football where you have half your season against teams you completely outclass athletically. His teams allowed an average of 21.1 points per game.

Without pointing fingers everyone would agree that Urban Meyer brought a lot of discipline and toughness to Florida. During his tenure at Florida his teams have enjoyed an average of +.86 per game turnover margin. That's amazing football, and it's not just a defensive stat, that's a team stat of taking care of the football.

Meyer's defenses have been stout they have allowed an average of 16.6 points per game over his five years at UF. Meyer has recruited extremely well the fruits of that labor is what's in question for 2010, will Florida reload on defense or will they have a toothing OJT season.

Florida only returned two starters in 2007 - SS Tony Joiner and DE Derrick Harvey. The defense was gutted with four juniors leaving early for the NFL draft - Reggie Nelson, Ryan Smith, Brandon Siler and Jarvis Moss along with seniors Earl Everett, Reggie Lewis, DL Ray McDonald and Joe Cohen.

The 2007 defense was gutted in much the say way the 2009 defense was but it just wasn't as deep - Carlos Dunlap, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper, Joe Haden and Major Wright.

Again the 2007 recruiting class was heavy with athletes who were a major part of the success in 2009. Ahmad Black, Carlos Dunlap, Lorenzo Edwards, Chaz Henry, Brandon Hicks, Duke Lemmens, Justin Trattou, and Major Wright. Top guys who didn't work out were Torrey Davis, John Brown and Jerimy Finch - unfortunately that's normal attrition.

Urban Meyer has a super/huge 2010 class - Chris Martin must redshirt, Darrin Kitchens, Michael Taylor, Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, Matt Elam, Dominique Easley, Cody Riggs, Joshua Shaw, Lynden Trail, Neiron Ball, Jordan Haden, Jaylen Watkins, Gideon Ajabe, Jonathan Dowling.

This season you have a team coming off of two 13-1 seasons, three in the past four years and two National Championships. In 2007 they had the one excellent season after four unremarkable years. Much will need to be passed onto this new band of Gators, tradition - pride - expecting to win should already be there.

First of all you have to look at the over all strength of the team. Offensively Florida is going to be very good. A lot will be told in the first few games how much the coaches will open it up this season, that depends on so much but this team looks to have the ability to score a lot of points in 2010. Special teams should be solid, a lot of team speed and athleticism to go along with two proven kickers in Chaz Henry and Caleb Sturgis, Chris Rainey should be awesome as a return man as long as he remains healthy.

DEFENSIVE LINE - In 2010 Florida will be far superior to the defensive line in '07. Derrick Harvey and a sophomore Jermaine Cunningham were the starters. Cunningham was still working on his weight, the back up DE was Lawrence Marsh. Dunlap was a freshman and made some things happen, seven tackles, one sack, one pass deflection, two tackles for a loss. Cunningham had a great season he had 64 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. The DTs were journeyman types at best, Javier Estopinan was good but couldn't stay healthy, Brandon Antwine was listed as 5-11, 265, with seniors Clint McMillan and Lutrell Alford.

This season the Gators are superior on the inside, no need listing the players Florida is very deep. Justin Trattou is absolutely solid and the word is William Green has put on more weight and is becoming a monster. Florida has a veteran backup in Duck Lemmens with a lot of very talented depth along with the big time freshmen on campus. Florida should be as good at DE but could be better, add in the interior and it all heavily favors the '10s.

LINEBACKER - Florida basically had four sophomore LBs for '07 - Spikes, Stamper, AJ Jones and Dustin Doe. This crew was young and they were playing behind a middle of the road defensive line for the SEC. In '10 you're looking at a much more veteran crew with seniors Brandon Hicks and AJ Jones, the highly talented Jelani Jenkins a redshirt freshman and Jon Bostic a sophomore. Florida will call on some freshmen to step up and provide depth but this crew if healthy will certainly be ahead of the '07s. First off their job will be easier playing behind a stronger DL and because of their experience level.

DEFENSIVE BACK - At corner the Gators were all over the place in '07 Markihe Anderson got in there Wondy Pierre-Louis ended up playing a lot. Joe Haden came to the rescue he just took over one corner. Tony Joiner returned at strong safety freshman Major Wright like Haden came to the rescue to play free safety. Now Wright had some growing pains that first season this secondary was not one of Florida's best, this was a transition group behind a so so defensive front and a group of very young linebackers. But they responded in 2008 to win a National Championship.

There is no comparison for the Gator secondary returning veterans in Black, Will Hill and Janoris Jenkins. They only have to find one corner from a large talented group. They've already found a backup safety in Matt Elam, he is who they thought he was.

There is no doubt the 2010 Gators will have so much more speed than 2007 it won't be funny. The depth this fall is higher and more talented than ever and it's on both sides of the ball.

One last thing before the final prediction. Compared to Florida this man doesn't respect a lot of football teams on the schedule. It's not that this man doesn't care for or root for many of the schools it is simply because they don't come near to the Gators talent level for this season.

At best it's a four game schedule...

game on....
Alabama - even, very good team with a great offense. rebuilding defense like the Gators will they just reload or will Bama be more like our 2007s?
LSU - very talented team weak at QB position, if they get that fixed they have to play in Gainesville.

highly unlikely....
Georgia - New QB, not a forth year junior like Florida is fielding, but their offensive is a veteran group, not sure about their defense.
FSU - OK I don't think they have a snowballs chance in hell of beating Florida this season, they just don't have the defense.

no way....
South Carolina - Their offensive line is horrible. QB is so so...
Tennessee - huge dip in talent level, no way they beat the Gators...
USF - Florida has the superior talent level
Kentucky - see above

With the offense and defense this man is projecting a 13-1 season. The Gators will win another National Championship in 2010, they will lose at Alabama then win the rematch in the SEC Championship game.

This is what the defense will need to do to achieve that goal. They won't need to be in the top ten in total defense but the top 15 would be an achievable goal, that would allow just over 300 yards per game. With the schedule they could improve on it depending on what they allow late in those gimme games. This is a good mark although you can be sure they're team goal is much higher.

The points per game is perhaps what's most important. Anything around 12 is a championship type season, think that's a bit much to hope for. Something just below 15 puts them in the hunt, each point is two TDs allowed over a 14 game season.

Team	Rec	Tot	YPG	ScR	PPG	TOR	TOM
2010 UM	13-1	13	303	12	14.8	21	.64

As far as a turnover margin, if you have a strong offense it would seem less likely it would come into play unless you let it get out of control on one or two games to kill a season. A reason for a coach like Urban Meyer to put so much emphasis on management of the football each and every game.

A strong season is anything greater than a +1. They've won big with +.38 or so. A +.64 would be an awesome mark to shoot for, that would be nine more takeaways for the season than their opponents. It's not overly optimistic, just a bit below Meyer's average so far.

Turnover margin is so important, a team stat that relies as much on the offense and special teams as it does the defensive. A guy like Reggie Nelson really helps, that's why Ahmad Black, Will Hill, and Matt Elam should add up to give Gator National a lot of warm fuzzies this season.

Don't Expect the Spread to Slow Down at Florida

In 2010 don't expect the Spread to be Dead at Florida.

Many say expect 2010 to be more like 2006 for the Florida Gators. If Florida's QB for 2010 John Brantley has stats similar to Chris Leak's 2006 stats it could be a disappointing season.

In 2006 the Gators had a great defense, ball control is a cornerstone of Urban Meyer football but that year it was the Commandment of the season.

In 2006 Leak had his best season with a QB rating of 145, in comparison Tim Tebow had ratings of 172, 172 and 164 in 2009. Leak in '06 had his best completion percentage 63.6% he had 23 TDs and 13 INTs. In his career Tebow averaged 66.3%, he had 88 TD passes and 16 INTs.

In no season did Tebow have more than six INTs.

Leak carried the ball a lot in Urban Meyer's first two seasons at Florida, certainly a lot more than he cared too. He rushed the ball 105 times in 2005 and 77 times in 2006. He only had 89 yards and 8 TDs in 2005 then 30 yards and 3 TDs in 2006. There weren't that many designed runs and sack yardage makes it difficult to judge Leak's production in this area.

Leak was aided by the freshman Tebow back in 2006. Tebow had 89 carries for 469 yards and 8 TDs.

In 2006 the Gators had a great freshman in Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell was a junior, Dallas Baker and Jemalle Cornelius were seniors, Cornelius Ingram had a good year, Billy Latsko and DeShawn Wynn filled out the backfield. Drew Miller and Phil Trautwein were the top offensive linemen that season.

Florida certainly had the weapons back in 2006 but they relied on the defense - Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey at ends, Ray McDonald, Steven Harris and Joe Cohen inside, Earl Everett, Brandon Siler, Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper and Brain Crum at linebacker, Reggie Lews and Ryan Smith at corner, Tony Joiner and Reggie Lewis back at safety.

It was a great defense that only allowed 86 first half points in 14 games. They averaged 29.8 points a game against 13.5 allowed a victory margin of over two TDs, there was no need to push the offense.

But that need might be there for 2010.

Enter John Brantley a fourth year junior who according to Gator football strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti is a grown-ass man. Young John certainly wasn't when he arrived at Florida a thin 6-3, 192 pounds, he's put on 20 pounds of Marotti.

Brantley could be complemented by a gifted freshman in Trey Burton, at 6-2, 219 he's an excellent runner with rapidly improving passing skills over the spring. Burton could come in and do what Tebow did in certain situations and throws the ball well enough for the coaching staff to give him the go within his package.

But don't expect a repeat of Chris Leak in 2006 that simply won't be acceptable for 2010.

Leak was sacked 23 times in 2006, Tebow was sacked 15 times in '08 but doubled that to 29 in '09. With Florida's teething but very talented defense 13 INTs and 25 sacks will be a disaster to Meyer's overall game plan for a successful season in 2010.

It's doubtful that Meyer will hold back the offense with Brantley's passing skills and as talented a group of young receivers the Gators have had.

Throw in as good an offensive line Florida's seen in many years. Three players made the 2010 SEC Media Days Preseason All-SEC Football Team - 1St Team - Mike Pouncey OC, 2nd Team - Carl Johnson OG and Marcus Gilbert OT. All seniors, not mentioned is Xavier Nixon the returning starter at LT, a true sophomore.

Florida has at least four talented players with loads of experience for that fifth spot, Meyer mentioned in SEC media days that Matt Patchan could end up there along with James Wilson or Maruice Hurt, he also mentioned Jon Halipanio as young guy coming on strong and being in the mix.

This line on paper appears much stronger than the 2006 group.

With fine experience and depth at running back it makes sense for the Gators to be an attacking team this fall with the expected high level special teams play look for Florida's defense to be put into good positions the majority of the season.

What will help Brantley is one thing the Gators haven't had since Urban Meyer has been the coach. They will have two slot receivers with tremendous skill levels. Chris Rainey is a head scratcher, the question is why wasn't he moved to this Percy Harvin position in 2009? He's a baller with elusive open field skills off the charts.

Oh well Rainey's there now and Andre Debose the guy recruited to take Harvin's spot is now healthy. Debose was the gem of the 2009 recruiting class but ended up redshirting due to hamstring issues. Back in 2009 both Rivals and Scout gave Florida three 5-star recruits in Debose, Jelani Jenkins and Gary Brown. Debose was by far the elite play maker the Gators were looking for.

Having two dangerous slot receivers is something that Florida's never had before. When both are on the field what side do you look for?

Have to love Auburn's offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, he says coaches will run one reverse gain 18 yards and never run it again that game. This is something that has puzzled this man for more than 20 years.

Malzahn says he'll run a reverse five or six more times until the other team stops it. FSU used to run several a game, can you imagine things like a reverse or double reverse with Rainey and Debose? Find what works and take a page from Malzahn's book to keep doing it till they find a way to stop it.

Or imagine having Brantley option to the left, flanked left Deonte Thompson runs a flag, Rainey in the slot runs a post, Jeff Demps the pitch, and Jordan Reed the trail 'H' back. Brantley could throw to Thompson or pitch it in or out or stop and hit Rainey if he breaks open. All that speed is seriously nasty.

Brantley has the quick release, the ability to read defenses, pinpoint accuracy and to top all of that off he throws a very catchable ball. Brantley's ability to locate the open receiver and get rid of the ball quickly should lover the sack total and INT totals.

Lowered negative plays and being in Meyer's system patiently waiting for his turn you have to think that Meyer is going to reward him as the season unfolds.

Look for Brantley to complete 66% of his passes, he'll throw it close to 370 times and complete close to 247, he'll have over 3,000 yards, 33 TDs with no more than 8 INTs. and believe it or not he end up with around six carries a game, most of them won't be planned. Brantley will be sacked around 15 times and end up with a 162.24 QB rating.

( 8.4 X 3100 Yds + 330 X 33 TDs + 100 X 247 Comp - 200 X 8 INT ) / 370 Att

26040 + 10890 + 24700 - 1600 / 370 = 162.24 quarterback rating...

A 162.24 quarterback rating is not too much to expect from Brantley. Tim Tebow as a true sophomore and junior had ratings just over 172. Now he did pose more difficult issues for the defense but he also wasn't efficient at getting the ball out on time, he worked on that his entire career at Florida. Brantley won't have to work on that.

This man expects Brantley to hit 162, in fact it's highly likely that he will surpass it. If he has that kind of season Florida will be in very good shape and his receivers will love him.

Look for Thompson to have close to 60 catches, Rainey 51, Moore 41, Debose 40, Reed 34, Demps 23, Williams 23, Dunkley 20....

Brantley won't be a Tim Tebow, he doesn't have to be. But he will spread the ball all over the field, Meyer's offense is to find those creases in the defense then get the ball to athletes who can exploit them. With Brantley's knack to get the ball out quickly and to the receiver on time look for the Spread to be alive and well this fall.

It should be a nasty season offensively speaking. We will spread it and they will dread it...