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Gators Fan Confidence Poll
Last tallied on 09/01.
Gators Football Schedule
| Miami (Ohio) | Sat 09/04 | 12:00 PM EDT |
| South Florida | Sat 09/11 | 12:21 PM EDT |
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Tennessee
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Sat 09/18 | 3:30 PM EDT |
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Kentucky
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Sat 09/25 | TBA |
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Alabama
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Sat 10/02 | TBA |
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LSU
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Sat 10/09 | TBA |
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Mississippi St.
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Sat 10/16 | TBA |
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Georgia
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Sat 10/30 | 3:30 PM EDT |
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Vanderbilt
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Sat 11/06 | TBA |
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South Carolina
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Sat 11/13 | TBA |
| Appalachian St. | Sat 11/20 | TBA |
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Florida St.
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Sat 11/27 | TBA |
Southeastern Conference Standings
(updated 1.8.2010 at 2:57 AM EST)
| East | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
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Florida Gators
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8 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
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Georgia Bulldogs
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4 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
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Tennessee Volunteers
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4 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
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Kentucky Wildcats
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3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
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South Carolina Gamecocks
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3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
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Vanderbilt Commodores
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0 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| West | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
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Alabama Crimson Tide
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8 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
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LSU Tigers
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5 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
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Mississippi Rebels
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4 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
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Arkansas Razorbacks
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3 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
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Auburn Tigers
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3 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
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Mississippi St. Bulldogs
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3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Gators Rebuilding 2010: Teryl Austin's Defense
by mlmintampa on Sep 2, 2010 2:03 PM EDT
in Football
7 comments
We continue our season preview, "Gators Rebuilding 2010." Until kickoff on Sept. 4 against Miami-Ohio, we will have a series of posts on players, positions and factors that will determine the Gators' success or failure this season. For all previous posts tagged as "Gators Rebuilding 2010" click here.
For the first time since 2001, Charlie Strong will not be coaching the Gators defense. Gone is a man who spent 16 years at UF, the last eight as coordinator. In his place is Teryl Austin, who might as well have come to UF off the side of a milk carton. He has never been a coordinator, but has coached defensive backs at major colleges and the NFL.
We don't know what to make of Austin yet. With Strong, his defenses were based on the talent he had. That's why UF was so good in 2006, 2008 and 2009 when they had older players, but nearly awful in 2005 and 2007 in rebuilding mode. Will Austin look at the talent around him, mostly in the secondary, and rely on their speed? Or will it be something else?
Austin hasn't committed to a 4-3, 3-4 or 3-3-5, which is exactly how Strong worked. At times, Florida's front seven rotation made it seem as if they were running a 3-4, when they were a 4-3 team. The 3-3-5 is a 3-4 with a monster back. I would think Austin would at least start the same way.
What will be interesting to see is how much reliance is placed on who ever wins the middle linebacker position. We remember the struggle Brandon Spikes had in 2007, but forget that he also had Ryan Stamper, who was seen as the Gators' smartest defensive player. With Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic, they will have elder statesmen on the outsides, but MLB is still the motor of the defense. How much will Austin protect his players by making as many calls from the sideline as possible?
The two remaining position battles at MLB and cornerback (Moses Jenkins and Jeremy Brown) will sort themselves out. But we will have to wait a few games to see if the personality and style of the defense has changed at all.
SEC Best and Worst Case Scenarios
by mlmintampa on Sep 2, 2010 11:18 AM EDT
in Football
5 comments
Just like last season, we are presenting our best and worst case scenarios for each SEC team. Since it is impossible to accurately predict what 12 teams will do, this is tongue-in-cheek. That should seem obvious, but I have to mention it in case Mississippi State fans freak out when I make a joke about Starkville.
Follow us after the jump.
Florida's Nike Pro Combat Uniforms; Good or Stupid?
by mlmintampa on Sep 1, 2010 11:55 AM EDT
in Football
27 comments
Once again, we channel our inner Paul Lukas and ask of the Gators' new Nike Pro Combat uniforms; is it good or is it stupid? Picture via here.
The helmet: While it is orange and has the Gators script, the striping is removed. Instead is an alligator scales pattern. Verdict? Stupid.
The jersey: The alligator scales continue to the numbers. Also, Albert's logo on the left chest is replaced by the basketball team's word mark in the center chest. The collar patch looks like the patch on the Gator basketball jersey. The sleeves have shoulder numbers and another set of Gator scales with random flourishes. Verdict? Stupid.
The pants: If these were solid blue pants, it would be ok. Instead, there is an orange stripe that begins as solid then becomes an alligator print, then fades out. Verdict? Stupid.
Florida will wear these uniforms against Georgia on October 30.
Obviously, I am a uniform traditionalist, so the only way I would have liked this is if it was a throwback. Instead, they want the football team to look like the basketball team.
What do you think?
Gators Rebuilding 2010: Front Four Roulette
by mlmintampa on Sep 1, 2010 11:09 AM EDT
in Football
7 comments
We continue our season preview, "Gators Rebuilding 2010." Until kickoff on Sept. 4 against Miami-Ohio, we will have a series of posts on players, positions and factors that will determine the Gators' success or failure this season. For all previous posts tagged as "Gators Rebuilding 2010" click here.
Florida's loss of Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap, combined with a stacked freshman class, was sure to create a lot of challenges on the defensive line. The challenge is one that a rebuilding team wants; finding playing time in the first two games to figure out a proper rotation.
Line coach Dan McCarney sees a 10-12 man rotation against Miami-Ohio on Saturday. If Florida flips between a 3-4, 4-3 and 3-3-5, a deep rotation will keep the team fresh for a 12pm kickoff and save some energy. Inside, Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard will be switched with Brandon Antwine, Sharrif Floyd and Lawrence Marsh. The key there is not for any of those linemen to be studs, but to hold their ground. We saw in the SEC Championship Game how Alabama ate up Florida's front, limiting the chances of UF's backers and secondary. Watching the next few games, look to see who is best at taking up a double team and holding the line. Getting in the backfield is a bonus.
The ends is where UF will be tested early. Justin Trattou and Duke Lemmens haven't shown the freakish ability that Cunningham and Dunlap had. That's not to say they won't. But I think most of us would agree that Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley would fit that mold. Plus, if UF goes to a 3-4, Powell and Easley become frighting outside linebackers. The Gators won't have their pass rush tested much this season (Alabama probably being the first good passing team), and part of this season is building to 2011.
The Gators may also try including Powell and Easley inside, as well as Jon Bostic and Neiron Ball as a stand-up nose. With this much youth, and a lack of knowing exactly who plays where, expect to see multiple looks and maybe a New York Jets-style defense that relies on confusion.
Gators Rebuilding 2010: Can Jeff Demps become a star?
by mlmintampa on Aug 31, 2010 5:03 PM EDT
in Football
3 comments
We continue our season preview, "Gators Rebuilding 2010." Until kickoff on Sept. 4 against Miami-Ohio, we will have a series of posts on players, positions and factors that will determine the Gators' success or failure this season. For all previous posts tagged as "Gators Rebuilding 2010" click here.
Urban Meyer has said repeatedly that the Gators will look more traditional, a movement which actually began last season. The Gators in the last two seasons have been a fast backfield and great offensive line. We may want to throw the ball downfield, but the Gators will have a lot easier time of moving the ball in 5-6 yard bursts from the backfield.
Jeff Demps might be the benefactor of the Gators' throwback style. While Florida is likely to spread it around with Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee, neither of them is the dynamic back that Demps is. Demps' world class speed can make him the difference maker for UF.
In his previous two seasons, Demps has averaged about 7.5 yards per carry. He has also moved from 78 to 99 carries (95 and 109 touches) from freshman to sophomore years. Here's the thing with Demps; at 5'8", 190 does he have the body for 125-150 touches? If Demps becomes the hot hand, will UF stick with him?
Aside from Percy Harvin and Aaron Hernandez, there has not be a UF player under Meyer that was seen as a hot hand. Those players, no matter the situation, were given a chance to make a play either by design or by Leak/Tebow. At running back, Meyer has rolled his players like a hockey line. Meyer will likely do that again. However, Demps has to be a focus.
If Demps becomes a star worthy of his talent, UF will win a lot of games. If the Gators get to the midway point as a running team, it will open up the offense and allow time for John Brantley and his receivers to develop. Florida will score in bunches and it will be from Demps becoming a star in Florida's offense.
Alligator Army College Football Pick'em Returns
by mlmintampa on Aug 31, 2010 11:13 AM EDT
in Football
1 comment
Once again, we will have an Alligator Army college football pick'em. To sign up, go to Yahoo college football pick'em private group and enter league ID: 20234 and password: army.
If you played last season, you should have received an invite for this season. Our prize for the pick'em champion is the "Gridiron Gators" DVD. One change from last season is that we are using the Yahoo default games (notable weekly games) and SEC games. This way, you will be picking every Florida game this season. Of course, we are picking with the spread.
Good luck!
SEC Power Poll 2010: The Uniforms
by mlmintampa on Aug 31, 2010 6:00 AM EDT
in Football
5 comments
The SEC Power Poll returns with a look at how stylish the SEC is. Rather than a poll based on who is the best team or which quarterback looks most like an idiot because of his Bama Bangs (sorry John Brantley), we're picking who will look the best on Saturday.
Unlike our normal power poll ballot, we're ranking the teams from 12-1. Follow us after the jump as we pull on our Frankfurt Galaxy-sleeved Gators jersey and channel our inner Paul Lukas.
Gators depth chart an incomplete answer
by mlmintampa on Aug 30, 2010 5:03 PM EDT
in Football
4 comments
Florida's depth chart (via the Miami Herald) for Saturday's game against Miami-Ohio answered some of our questions but not others.
At running back, Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody are listed as possible starters, with Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown following. Deonte Thompson, Chris Rainey and Carl Moore are the wides, with Andre Debose, Justin Williams and Robert Clark as the backups. Gerald Christian is listed as T.J. Pridemore's backup at fullback. Omarius Hines gets the nod at tight end.
The offensive line will definitely be UF's strength with a lineup of (from LT to RT) Marcus Gilbert, Carl Johnson, Mike Pouncey, James Wilson and Maurice Hurt.
On defense, MLB and right corner are still vague. Jon Bostic or Jelani Jenkins will start at MLB. Jeremy Brown or Moses Jenkins will start at right cornerback. None of UF's incoming freshman made the starting lineup, but Matt Elam will likely be the nickel back as the backup to Ahmad Black. Dominique Easley (DE), Sharrif Floyd (DT) and Ronald Powell (DE) are all backups on the defensive line. Your starting line is (DE to DE) Justin Trattou, Omar Hunter, Jaye Howard and Duke Lemmens
Demps, Rainey, Gillislee and Janoris Jenkins are all listed as possible return men.
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