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UF extra points

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 21, 2002

STAT ATTACK

Although Florida may not have been the offensive juggernaut Gators fans have become used to during the past decade, the Gators have kept an impressive streak alive.

Florida has gone a school-record 176 games without being shut out, dating to a 16-0 loss to Auburn in 1988. During that span, the Gator defense has posted nine shutouts.

OFFBEAT

Florida junior offensive tackle Max Starks was honored as the SEC Good Works Team Player of the Week.

Starks of Orlando is a member of the Goodwill Gators, the University Athletic Association's community service organization. Starks has spoken at local elementary schools, visited patients at Shands hospital and volunteered for the Gator Literacy Program.

A sociology major, Starks is the treasurer of Florida's Student-Athlete Advisory Council, a former student senator and associate justice on the school's Honor Court.

He has started every game this season at left tackle.

The SEC sponsors Good Works Teams for football, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's Olympic sports.

QUOTABLE

"I honestly wish Florida State was this weekend so I can go home because I don't really get a chance to go home and spend some time with my family for Thanksgiving. But honestly, it (one week off) may help us because it gives us another week off. We've got a lot of injuries, and we need to work out some of the things and get some more people some more experience and repetitions with the first team offense as far as backup wide receivers. Hopefully we can get Taylor (Jacobs) back by the Florida State game." -- Cornerback/receiver Keiwan Ratliff on his thoughts about the open week and preparing for Florida State on Nov. 30.

QUOTABLE, PART II:

"It was a great practice. We talked about what we wanted to do, what we wanted to get accomplished, and I was very impressed. In fact, we were about 22 minutes ahead of schedule, very upbeat. Even Rex (Grossman) said to me this is fun." -- Florida coach Ron Zook on the team's first practice of the open week and its excitement in getting ready for Florida State.

PLAYER PROFILE: Reid Fleming

A backup linebacker, Fleming has made his mark on the punt and kickoff coverage teams.

Named the most improved linebacker last spring, he briefly moved to fullback last season when injuries took a toll at that position.

The Panama City native has played in every game this season, except against Ole Miss.

This week, coach Ron Zook named Fleming special teams player of the week after he had a season-best four tackles on punt and kick coverage against South Carolina.

Fleming comes from a family filled with college players. His brother, Robert, played offensive guard at Duke and another brother, Ryan, was a linebacker at Georgia.

-- Compiled by Antonya English.

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