My how quickly things can change in the SEC. I’m relaxing on a Saturday night and watching the 2006 Florida versus Tennessee game on CSS. Right now Tennessee under Lane Kiffin has yet to take on another football team but already so much has changed. No matter what SEC team logo you have on the front of your pickup. The SEC lost its Granddaddy when Phil Fulmer was fired for making a poor hiring of an offensive coordinator. Fulmer is so different from his young, arrogant, obnoxious replacement. Fulmer was an easy target for cheap ridicule. I think I’ve heard a few hundred Krispy Kreme jokes that have “Fat Phil” as the punch line. The one thing Fulmer always was though was a class act. A family man who recruited players by showing the family atmosphere that he instilled in Knoxville. Much in the same way Clemson’s Tommy Bowden did during his reign. SEC football is about day to day results. Past glories have no effect on how hot your seat can get or how fast. Granted there were reasons for Fulmer’s firing and the feeling in Rocky Top was the
sooner the better. I never thought I’d see a coach win the SEC East the year before and be fired the next. There is one easy way to test if you’re a true SEC fan. Go to Youtube, pull up Fulmer’s last press conference, and gauge your emotion.

You shou ld feel a little tug on your heart strings for a man who committed his life to a program that turned on him so cheaply in the end. Okay, what does this have to do with your title? Over the years the Florida Tennessee matchup every year was an early indicator of who would be in Atlanta. Peyton versus Danny, Fulmer versus Spurrier, Catch no catch, the route in the rain, Joey Kent biting a piece of his tongue off after being dismantled by Lawrence Wright. Florida easily dominated the series but Tennessee had there years. Florida missing a field goal in overtime in ’98, ultimately making the Ole Ball Coach leave after losing with what I think was Florida’s most talented team… ever. Class, Steve threw some jabs “You can’t spell Citrus without U T” but it was always fun. The closest I ever came to having a problem with a Tennessee fan was being splashed by a UT truck after the route in the rain walking back to my dad’s truck when I was a kid. I was at the last Fulmer Florida Tennessee game. I sat on the 20 yard line about thirty rows up in an old timer Tennessee section. People were nice and respectful…. Even in the games we lost under Zook. We had refs to blame for costing a win, Zook to question when Clausen completes a Hail Mary before halftime.

To summarize, the Florida Tennessee matchup took a hit for the worse. As Florida fans there is no one higher on the most wanted list than a man who doesn’t know when to shut up, a liar whose arrogance makes me nausea. No route will satisfy enough. As long as Kiffin is there Tennessee fans will be scared to come to Gainesville and vice versa. A heated but friendly rivalry I think has changed. I truly hope I’m wrong because I’m not sure I have enough energy to get up for two games like I get up for Florida Georgia.

Phil you will be missed but the fifth grader who replaced you will ultimately show what a great program you ran.

Early Call: Florida 41- Tennessee 9

By: C. Brian Suggs

A total number of 16 Florida Gator football players were chosen to be apart of the 2009 Southeastern Conference Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team last Thursday. That was the most in the whole SEC and leading behind Florida was LSU with 10 players.

The Gators did not just lead with the most players total, but also the most selected for the first-team. Players that were apart of the first team were quarterback Tim Tebow, both Pouncey twins, and then from the defensive side was star linebacker Brandon Spikes, defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap, and Joe Haden who plays at defensive back. And now for special teams. The man who took all of those punt and kick returns for TD’s, Brandon James and punter Chas Henry were chosen on the first-team for special teams.

Now for everybody who made the second-team. Offensive lineman Carl Johnson and Jeff Demps made the second-team for their offense ability, while defensive back Ahmad Black and kicker Jonathan Phillips joined them as well. So if you asked me, I am very pleased and I’m not yet done with telling you which other players made it.

There was also a handful of players who made third-team. Now don’t think third-team means that are sorry or anything because if you do your wrong. To be able to make first, second, or third team is incredible.

Aaron Hernandez and linebacker Ryan Stamper joined both defensive backs Major Wright and Janoris Jenkins. This is now the sixth year that the SEC Coaches Pre-Season All-SEC Football Team has been going on. I want to congratulate all of the 16 players who accomplished this. This upcoming season is already looking really good.

Price Litton, one of the top quarterbacks for the class of 2011 has a few schools showing a lot of interest in him. There has got to be something special about this kid because Florida, Clemson, Tennessee, Georgia, Notre Dame all have interest and they all know that he was a backup last season as a sophomore.

Litton attended these one-day camps at all of those schools above besides the University Of Florida and a visit could possibly come soon. There is a possibility that he could attend the Friday night lights later in July. You could already tell that Florida was real interested in Litton when he first started high school because they requested his highlight tape his first year on J.V.

“(Florida) asked for tape my freshman year,” Litton said. “That was the first school I ever got stuff from and that was pretty cool and they send me letters and I sent them my tape and I’ve gotten a couple letters since then and they’ve sent me some hand-written and some camp information in the last year.

Litton attended Weddington (NC) where he was served as the backup behind Duke commit Anthony Boone. As soon as his junior year starts, I guarantee there will be more and more scouts there watching and then by his senior year he will be loaded with offers from the top schools in the country.

“I really want to play college football but I really want to play it as a quarterback and I feel like I can play it at a high level and plus Providence Day is a private school and it’s ranked the No. 1 independent high school in the nation so that would better prepare me for college and the transition,” said Litton, one of the best quarterbacks at the U.S. Army National Combine.

Other schools who do indeed have interest in Litton are Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, UCLA, Iowa and Michigan State. As young as he is and already receiving major interest from these schools is incredible. This kid has a bright future ahead of him and if he does attend the Friday night lights, it can be a great opportunity for him.

(Quotes gathered by Adam Gorney from GatorBait.)

The sports gamers out there already know (and probably are playing right now) that NCAA 2010 came out for major consoles last Tuesday. It’s a huge break of monotony for me. July provides little in the way of college football. There’s just something about going into Gamestop and seeing that pile of games sitting on the back counter and feeling the excitement as you wait in line for college football glory. Imagined or not, there is no other arena where you can feel as close to the game anytime you please just by pushing a “on” button.

I reserved my copy, picked it up Tuesday during my lunch break and couldn’t wait to get home. The main reason… Erin Andrews is now a part of the game. Yes, the Gator Alum is featured and does sideline reports that actually make you feel bad for the imaginary player that just went down.

The Gator Review: The game has an intro that is very similar to the commercial you see on TV. The colors are crisper and the menu options are a little more detailed, although slower in response. I started a Dynasty, Florida, which for the first time in the game’s franchise is # 1 in the game.

The commentary is the same as it’s been in the last five years or so and in need of a serious update. You can only here Lee Corso say “He took that back like a bad Christmas present, I love that one” so many times. Before the game and during timeouts and halftime you can choose how your team will play. The options are aggressive, bigger plays but more penalties, balanced, or conservative. I found that all aggressive gets you is a bunch of facemask penalties and really is a waste of time.

The creepy thing about the game is that it seems to be pretty accurate to what I expect the season to be. Florida’s biggest weakest in the game is a big play receiver. While Deonte Thompson, Riley Cooper, and David Nelson are very good players in the game they lack the breakaway, get behind the last defender and score kind of separation. Jeff Demps is the starting running back over Chris Rainey but they’re both rated the same. Oh and Aaron Hernandez is unstoppable.

Florida’s biggest strength is obviously there defense. Florida has a run defense that would stop the Detroit Lions. Once the season was over the ticker on the bottom tells of the top five teams in different categories. Florida gave up on average eighty rushing yards a game. Hopefully real life can mimic the game.

Florida’s closest game is at Mississippi State. I simulated the game but Florida won by ten, having to score a late touchdown to make the game comfortable.

Florida played Ole Miss in Atlanta. The score was 35-13. Then it was onto the Rose Bowl where the y faced Penn State.

Taking away a few running up the score touchdowns, Florida wins 36-14 in a game that is never close.

Again, the creepy thing about all of this is I can see all of this happening. EA Sports does a great job in the R & D department and I give them a nod for having this year so close to what I think will be the out come.

By: C. Brian Suggs

Florida is in the same company as Auburn and Oklahoma now with the two new Daktronics HD-16 scoreboards. I don’t think many fans understand just how this will change there swamp experience. I think the biggest change will be felt at night. I don’t know about you, but there is nothing like a night game in the SEC when it comes to college sports. Nothing compares to it, period. I get to see about two of these a year from the start. I’m usually doing about eighty on Highway 301 headed back to Jacksonville trying to get back in time to see the promo before the game… it never happens. I always get home somewhere in the middle of the second quarter. I love the clarity, the lights, the passion, the noise that you can feel from a nice HDTV. Now imagine that same true color and sound at the Swamp.

Fast forward to the last game of the year, the only huge night game in the Swamp this year. It’s senior day, Tebows last game, and Florida is playing hated in state rival Florida State. You get in the stadium at roughly 7:30, watch the drills and get comfortable. The lights are bright on a cool night in Gainesville, its time. Eight minutes to kickoff, the stars and stripes fly as the national anthem is played. A rare flyover of F-15’s comes over and you’re ready. Coach Meyer shouldn’t worry about anyone getting hurt because with one motion to section twenty, row thirty you’ll be headed to the sideline to suit up. Florida State comes out of there tunnel to the gator bait chomp. Then you
hear it… dunnnn….da….. and now for the first time you truly see it. The new scoreboards have the gators swimming through the swamp in beautiful resolution. Heeeeeeeeerrrreee Come the Gators! Has never looked or sounded so good.

The $5.5 million paid for from the UAA and Sun Sports rights money seems worth every penny as you gaze up to either The South End Zone board that measures 30-by-130 feet or the North End Zone board that is 25-by-70 feet. Florida now has a state of the art sound and visual system to go with the loudest, most intimidating stadium in the country. I can’t wait!

By: Brian Suggs

Photo by gatorsports

A lot of schools make a big emphasis on being a (fill in the blank position) U. Tennessee was known most recently for being called “Wide Receiver U”. There is one school that probably doesn’t come to mind when talking about tight ends but it should, Florida. The last ten years at Florida have produced a steady stream of NFL talent. One that is hard to compare to any other school except maybe Miami. Florida’s tight end position is as overlooked now as the fullback, which is now more of a wing back. The perception is that in the spread or the fun n’ gun or the wide open offense Larry Fedora brought in with Ron Zook is that the tight end is an after thought, a blocker who is seldom used or highly recruited. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Let’s take a quick look at the players Florida has produced in the last ten years at tight end.

Erron Kinney (1995-1999) Third Round 2000 NFL Draft (68th)

Erron was a part of the 1996 first national championship team. Watching Erron in Spurrier’s offense, I don’t think many predicted a thirteen year run in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans where he snagged 178 receptions.

Aaron Walker (1998-2002) Fifth Round 2003 NFL Draft (161st)

Aaron was another=2 0player that usually got a ball or two a game as a tight end in Spurrier and Zook’s offense. He did have a memorable touchdown grab in the 2002 upset of the dawgs. He is now entering his seventh season in the league with the Cleveland Browns.

Ben Troupe (2000-2003) Second Round 2004 NFL Draft (40th)

Ben was always a stud at Florida. Though sometimes had difficulty gettingopen, once he did, you were waiting for him to hurdle someone. Ben to this day hasthe greatest play by a single offensive player I have ever seen at Florida against Ole Miss in 2003. Do yourself a favor go to youtube, type in Ben Troupe, and enjoy Mich Hubert going insane. Ben is going into his fourth year now with the Oakland Raiders.

Cornelius Ingram (2004-2008) Fifth Round 2009 NFL Draft (153rd)

C.I. started as a quarterback and was going to be a great story, Hawthorne’s biggest star starting quarterback for the Florida Gators. Life has a funny way of working out the toughest situations. After being moved to tight end upon Urban Meyer’s arrival, C.I. seriously contemplated quitting football. Luckily for us and Gator Nation he didn’t. He had huge catches in 2006 in both the Tennessee and National Championship game. 2007 saw him break out. A tough break in 2008, a torn ACL in spring sidelined him for the season. I think however C.I. will do just fine in the NFL with the Eagles.

I can not think of a better place to go if I was a high school tight end who wanted to play in the NFL. There seems to be a trend here. Aaron Hernandez might be a first round pick (knock on wood) with a big year this year and with Desmond Parks as a young apprentice, Florida’s tight end legacy looks to be enact for years to come.

By: C. Brian Suggs