Even though the Gators are the BCS National champions from last season, that’s not going to let them breeze right past their opponents in 2009. And with the 11 starters returning on defense and Tim Tebow coming back for one last season, that’s really not what is important right now.

The Gators are in new hands this summer. Florida strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti will have full control of the team this summer and what coach Urban Meyer called it “the toughest offseason we’ve ever had.” Get ready to work boys.

“Do I worry about complacency? Sure I do,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “That’s why we’re going to have the toughest offseason we’ve ever had.” (Gathered by Antonya English)

Marotti is one of the best in the whole Nation and Florida is very lucky to have him aboard and that’s why the Gators have been capable of playing for the National Championship. Marotti will not let the Gators have it easy just because they won the last BCS title. That’s not going to cut it. Marotti has made the workouts five days a week, four days of lifting and three based on speed workouts. He makes everybody mentally strong. That’s why Florida was so good in 2008.

There is a huge difference from this years team and the team who beat Ohio State in 2007. Brandon Spikes had a remark to say to Jermaine Cunningham when he was lifting… ‘Come on! Come on!’ Spikes said, ‘I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it for you, Cunningham.’ That kind of gives me the chills, that’s what I’m glad to hear and it makes me more excited for this season to come. Another thing that I was real stoked about is when I read online where someone ran into Spikes at the Mall in Gainesville and said something about how he was still here for the summer and Spikes said we all agreed by sticking around and putting the work in. That’s exactly what I’d like to hear.

Meyer said that when he said we are going to have a harder workout, it’s not just going to be the lifting. It’s going to teach them to be much more disciplined and coach is 100% right. The players are facing more mental toughness than anything else.

So as long as the Gators follow and make it through Marotti’s summer workouts, then the chances of having another successful season are very high, but hard work will be needed.

(Quotes from Antonya English, Times Staff Write)