On the day a “walk-on” is given a scholarship, there is an unbelievable array of emotions that pass through their mind and take over their bodies. It’s exhilarating and rewarding. How can it not be? Short of making it in the NFL, this athlete has reached a level of accomplishment few will ever achieve. One can’t help but think of the movie “Rudy”, to understand the entire myriad of euphoric emotions these young men must be experiencing. Just ask Coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators, a walk-on himself, who became a  safety for the Georgia Bulldogs, on how it felt to accomplish this amazing goal. “I know I’ll never forget the day that I was awarded a scholarship,” Muschamp said. “We did it in front of the team and it was an emotional time.”

Over the weekend, Muschamp awarded scholarships to David Lerner (punter), Scott Peek (linebacker), William Steinmann (tight end) and Tim Clark,(defensive back). It was a concrete way for Muschamp to help some of the scholarship players understand what the value of a scholarship really means. “I told our scholarship guys, sometimes you take things for granted as far as what you have to complain and moan about some things, and have these guys paying for what – they want to be in your shoes,” he said. “It was great for our football team.” Coach Muschamp went on to single out one of the new scholarship players. He thought it was important to recognize David Lerner’s remarkable accomplishment that even in the face of daunting heath issues he overcame all obstacles to become an important asset to this Gator team. Lerner recently found out on July 11 that he had Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory gastrointestinal disease that causes extreme pain throughout the digestive tract). In spite of numerous IV treatments to control the disease plus a weight loss of 15 pounds, David never missed a day of fall practice. He epitomizes what it means to be a Florida Gator. “He certainly is an inspiration to me and just watching him and how he’s handled himself.” said Muschamp. If the rest of the Gators play to the level of the skills they have been given, (just as the new scholarships), then we have an exciting season to look forward to.

Gator wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill has been supported by Gator head coach Will Muschamp. Muchamp told reporters Saturday “I’ve talked to Aubrey after the article came out,” Muschamp said following Saturday’s scrimmage. “I feel very comfortable with he and I’s conversation. I support Aubrey 100 percent. I’m glad he’s here at Florida and that’s all I’m really going to comment on. We released a statement on both Matt and Andre and obviously there was nothing there as far as that was concerned. So I’m going to leave it at that.” -Gainesville, FL

With big changes in Gainesville, the Gators are ranked #23 nationally in 1 of the major pre-season polls. Will Muschamp’s reign begins September 3^rd against Florida Atlantic at home in the Swamp. The first big test for the Gators in 2011 will come against Tennessee on September 17^th. Other notable matchups include Alabama on October 1^st, LSU on October 8^th, Auburn on October 15^th, the annual world’s largest cocktail party against Georgia on October 29^th, and Florida State the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

In 2010, the Gators ranked 88^th nationally in passing yards, averaging 184.3 a game. This year John Brantley looks to lead the gators into a new system, orchestrated by former Notre Dame coach, Charlie Weis. The system should be advantageous for Brantley who struggled under Urban Meyer. The Gators ranked 44^th nationally in rushing with 166.5 yards per game. With 29.8 points per game, UF was 43 in the country and 29^th with 21.3 points against per game.

As a transition year for the Gators, look for young talent to be developed on both sides of the ball.

As I was typing all the adjectives to describe what I saw from the Gators in today’s min-numbing loss, I had to delete most of it all partly because I did not need any phone calls from the FCC, so I thought more and finally this is what I felt; I am glad its over.  My TV is pissed at me for the obscenities I was hurling as turnover after turnover, 3rd down fumble after 3rd down sack.  I actually thought I was watching the Vandy offense before I realized I saw Jeff Demps was healthy enough to run for a 19-yard first down. (no not really, its the best offensive insult I can come up with right now). I realized that maybe we have overachieved this year – i’m just sayin’.

I am glad its over so I don’t have to hear coach speak. Coach speak you ask?  It sounds a lot like a politician campaigning for office, only it was football.  “We will get better,” “It’s a process,”  “We were out-coached today.”  We made a team that got shellacked by Oklahoma that – until today- was waiting for help from (wait for it….) H E L P from Maryland to reach its championship game in the All Cake Conference (formerly known as the ACC) .  We made FSU look like they were ready for the National Championship Game.

I was hoping that Urban would “will” the players today as he has done so many times before.  I read something somewhere that made me think about him recently.  It said ” Urban Meyer is not his fiery self since his self-imposed sabbatical and the Gators have not been the same since then either.”  Something to think about….. So goes the fiery coach so goes the Gators.

We started this game out fast – almost as if Urban HAD pumped them up just before the game, scoring on our first possession, but that’s it.  Over.  Everything I write from here on is fumble, fumble, interception, fumble, loss, 31-7. It’s mind-numbing to believe with all of this talent, that at the six minute mark in the 4th quarter, we had just finished rushing 10 consecutive plays for 59 yards and run 4:54 off the clock.  Florida had already lost, just not run out of time on the clock; there is a difference there.  I never thought I would see an Urban Meyer coached team quit. I believe I have now seen it three times this year. Unbelievable.

With 100 recruits watching this game, you would have thought we would have been fighting tooth and nail, 5 wide no backs, hair on fire offense.  Going for every 4th down and LOOKING like we were interested in winning.  We looked like Bear Bryant’s 1970′s  offense when he would grind the game down to a snails pace and win 7-3.  Well, only difference is The Bear had a defense at Bama that could stop someone.  We don’t.

Get ready for the Music City Meineke Car Care Head Light Blue Light Special Bowl Game against a WAC team that over achieved.  We may end up favored, but not sure we will score much.  Maybe it will be 7-3 and maybe we will win.  I am glad its over so my hopes don’t get kicked in the teeth anymore this year.  The good news is the VolleyBall team is #1.