GAINESVILLE - The secrecy surrounding who would start at quarterback for the Gators turns out not to have been a mystery at all for the players.
Florida coach Ron Zook said Sunday freshman quarterback Chris Leak knew for about 11/2 weeks that Ingle Martin would start, and that he reacted well.
"He knew he wouldn't be starting, but he also knew he was going to be playing," Zook said. "Chris is a team guy, he's a winner, he wants to do what's best for this team and he's going to continue to compete and continue to get better."
Martin, a redshirt sophomore, started but Leak came in on the third series and played intermittently throughout three quarters of Saturday's 65-3 win over San Jose State. Zook said Martin most likely will start this weekend against Miami, but hasn't ruled out rotating quarterbacks again.
CALDWELL'S BIG CATCH: He had just one reception, a 31-yarder, but Tampa's Andre Caldwell won't forget his first college game.
Caldwell, the younger brother of former UF receiver Reche Caldwell, said the reality of playing college football far exceeded his expectations.
"You can never imagine the hype when you come running out that tunnel," he said. "You think you know, but you really don't until you actually get to do it. It was very exciting. Everything moved a little faster than high school but I was just happy to be out there. It was great."
HELLO, BROCK?: Florida fans shouldn't blame Zook for the fact that former Florida-turned-Miami quarterback Brock Berlin no longer is a Gator. When he was hired in January 2002, Zook said he attempted to contact Berlin, whom the Gators face Saturday, to try to talk him out of transferring, but to no avail.
"His mom would never let me talk to him," Zook said. "He was already back in Louisiana. I tried to get to him, but his mom wouldn't put him on the phone with me. I think he had made that decision, I believe if I'm not mistaken, before coach (Steve) Spurrier decided not to be here. I talked with his mom, I think I talked to her twice as a matter of fact, but she never would let me get on the phone with him.
"But it's something he felt like he needed to do and I think obviously it has worked out well for him."
HE SAID IT: "I really can't say anything bad about Brock because I know him personally and he's one of my friends. I wish Brock all the best of luck in the season, except on Saturday. If he can throw me one or two interceptions that would be good. But Brock is a good guy and I have nothing but the utmost respect for Brock."
