Tampa subregional

War talk is on minds of Gators

GAINESVILLE -- With the threat of war in Iraq looming, talk inevitably centered on war and sports at the Florida basketball facility Tuesday.

Many players said they haven't closely followed the political aspect of the situation, but it remains in the backs of their minds as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA president Myles Brand said Tuesday that the games will go on as planned, which the players hoped would be the case. But opinions on the war vary.

"I think it's a really controversial subject, obviously with protests and diplomatic problems and all that kind of stuff," senior forward Matt Bonner said. "I support the government and whatever decision they make and we'll see whether it's right or wrong. I can't say right now."

Florida coach Billy Donovan planned to run practices this week as scheduled, even before the NCAA's final decision came down. He supports the government's decision.

"Obviously you've got a lot of different people who've got a lot of different views about whether we should go to war," he said. "I don't think all Americans are privy to what the Bush administration is privy to. I've always been a big believer that you support the person that's in charge."

Bonner and guard Anthony Roberson attend a class taught by a professor who has been inoculated for anthrax and is preparing for possible deployment, which has brought the war closer to home.

TOURNAMENT TRIBULATIONS: In between trying to prepare a game plan, Sam Houston State coach Bob Marlin has had to deal with the stress of making travel arrangements for the trip to Tampa, do interviews with Texas media and return dozens of phone calls from well-wishers and Florida media.

Marlin did take a couple of hours to take care of a personal matter -- taking his mother to the airport. She had been in Huntsville, Texas, for the Southland Conference tournament last week, and watched her son's team win it to earn the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. Monday, she returned home. And Marlin realized he may have lost a good luck charm.

"She's never seen us lose," he said. "I haven't lost a game with her there in 10 years. Maybe I shouldn't have let her get on the plane and brought her to Tampa."

WATCH THAT FOOT!: Bonner was again scheduled to practice with the team, despite the nagging foot injury that kept him out of practice for two weeks. Before practice, he came into the basketball practice facility and instead of taking the elevator to the second floor, he bounced up the stairs.

Wait, Bonner insisted. It's not what it looks like.

"My foot doesn't really hurt walking," he said. "It's sore, and I can deal with soreness. It's not like I'm making it more sore. That (hoofing it up the stairs) doesn't hurt. Cutting is what hurts."

Florida quotebook

Coach Billy Donovan on mid majors in the NCAA Tournament:

"'When you go into the final week of the season and see these kids and these coaches jumping around during Championship Week in the finals of their tournament, that is some unbelievable pressure. Those kids' seasons come down to two or three games. I think it's great for those kids to be able to experience something like that. I think that it's a good thing because it gives every team at the start of the season a chance and a hope to play in the greatest sporting event in sports: the NCAA Tournament. I think that it would be a terrible thing that teams in a smaller conference have no shot to make the tournament."

ETSU

Sam Houston State quoteboo

"How can you not root for Sam Houston State? Better them than Allan Houston State, right? Or Anjelica Huston State? Sam Houston State won the Southland Conference, which I believe is a wholly owned subsidiary of 7-Eleven. It's the first time in for Sam Houston, so Spicy Big Bites and Slurpees for everyone if the Bearkats get to the second round.

Dave Hackenberg of the Toledo Blade, in a mock interview with an NCAA selection committee member:

"We even considered disqualifying Sam Houston State for spelling Bearkats with a 'K,' but our legal counsel advised against it, saying that's how most of the University of Cincinnati's players think it's spelled in the first place."

"Bracket Boy" of the Newark Star-Ledger:

"G is for General, and while the only General usually in the NCAA Tournament is Bobby Knight, this year we have Sam Houston. He led the victory over Santa Anna in the Texas War of Independence, and now the school that bears his name is the 15th seed in the South Region. (And to beat Florida in the first round, the Bearkats might want to bring a few muskets.)"

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