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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 10, 2002
GAINESVILLE -- It's Midnight Madness time again.
The Florida men's and women's basketball teams kick off the season Friday night at the annual Midnight Madness in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
Florida expects more than 10,000 to attend the event that includes a volleyball game between No. 3 Florida and Mississippi State at 9 p.m.
The men's and women's basketball players will sign autographs from 10-11:30, and the teams make their debuts after midnight.
The pre-madness show includes highlight videos from last season, a 3-on-3 mascot game, a layup contest, a 3-point shootout and a chance for a fan to win a Dodge truck in a 3-point competition.
The men's team returns three starters -- Justin Hamilton, Brett Nelson and Matt Bonner -- and six top newcomers, including McDonald's All-American Anthony Roberson and Danish League star Christian Drejer.
"We've had about five weeks preseason conditioning, individual workouts and weightlifting, and I've been very, very pleased with their attitudes and how hard they've worked," men's coach Billy Donovan said. "One of the things that creates that type of environment is the level of depth we have and competitiveness that we have right now. Our guys are pushing each other. I'm just looking forward to getting started on Saturday. I think they are too."
Friday marks the debut of Carolyn Peck as the women's coach. Carol Ross resigned last spring after 12 seasons.
In other events Friday: the swimming and diving team hosts LSU in the O'Connell Center Natatorium in a dual meet at 2 p.m, and the soccer team hosts LSU at 7 p.m. at the Percy Beard Stadium.
DON'T MESS WITH REX: Quarterback Rex Grossman may have had one of the worst games of his career against Ole Miss on Saturday, but his coaches and teammates aren't happy about the criticism he has taken.
"I don't know what the big concern is about Rex Grossman," coach Ron Zook said. "I'm going to tell you something: If every one of you had a team, you'd take him. Every one of you."
Grossman struggled last week against a defense among the bottom statistically in the SEC, but he needs just 291 yards to move into No. 10 on the SEC career passing chart. Florida players said they expect big things from Grossman this week.
"From my experience with Rex, I feel that Rex will have a big game," cornerback Keiwan Ratliffe said. "Everybody is down on him. Everybody is counting him out. But Rex is still Rex. In my opinion he's still the best quarterback in the country, and I feel that he'll come back and play like that."
A TRIBUTE: Florida officials will honor former Palm Bay High School player James McGriff at the Nov. 16 homecoming game against South Carolina.
McGriff signed with Florida but never made it to campus. He drowned April 17, 1998 swimming with friends at Melbourne Beach. He was buried in his Florida uniform with the No. 20.
McGriff was part of a signing class with tight end Aaron Walker and defensive end Marcus Oquendo-Johnson, all friends. McGriff was rated the fourth-best "athlete" recruit in the nation in '98 by National Recruiting Advisor, and National Bluechips Recruiting Service named him one of the top three strong safety prospects in the nation.
If he had survived, the South Carolina game likely would have been his last at home, which is why Florida decided he should be honored then.
-- Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com.