By ANTONYA ENGLISH, BRIAN SHAFFER
Published October 5, 2003
GAINESVILLE - This isn't the outcome Florida running back Ran Carthon envisioned after a career showing. When he fantasized about it, the Gators always won.
Saturday, the senior ran for a career-best 108 yards in the 20-17 loss. "I went through this in high school, where I had my best game (390 yards) and we lost," Carthon said. "This was my first (100-yard game), but it's like I have zero because we lost. No matter what I did (Saturday), I would much rather have had negative 100 yards and a win than to lose this game here. It's not about me. It's about this team."
Carthon said he called a team meeting for today, hoping to rally the Gators as they enter, arguably, the toughest part of their schedule (at LSU, at Arkansas and against Georgia in Jacksonville). "We've got to find ways to win, whatever it is," he said. "We've got to find a way to rally around each other."
Asked what he will say during the meeting, Carthon said, "It's time for us to rally together. No one is going to give us a chance this week. I wouldn't be surprised if we're 28-point underdogs. But you saw West Virginia scared Miami all the way to the end, and we have the playmakers to make those plays, to go into Louisiana (on Saturday) and come out with a victory.
"We've just got to pull together, find that one thing to rally around and go out there and click on all cylinders."
STREAK ENDS: Mississippi's Jonathan Nichols entered the game as the nation's leading field goal kicker. But his streak of 16 consecutive made field goals dating to last season ended. Nichols missed his first field goal in 14 attempts this season when his 52-yarder 2:10 into the second quarter sailed wide right.
He still leads the nation in field goals made per game with three. Nichols became the third Ole Miss kicker to score 200 points. He has 201, six shy of Brian Lee's school record for points by a kicker.
MOVING UP: With his 17 completions, the Rebels' Eli Manning passed Auburn's Stan White for 10th on the SEC's all-time list with 669. He also passed White for passing yards with 8,110.
After the game, the senior sought out Florida freshman quarterback Chris Leak to offer consoling words.
"He just told me great game and keeping playing and keep moving forward," Leak said. "To hear that from a guy like that, it's a big, big deal."
INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Channing Crowder and defensive tackle Kenny Parker had arthroscopic knee surgery last week and watched practice on crutches. Saturday, the two walked the sideline minus the crutches. Each had a protective sleeve, but neither had a noticeable limp.
Freshman defensive end Jarvis Moss sat out with a left hip injury. Reserve linebacker Richard Brown left the field just after the start of the third quarter with an injured right leg.
Linebacker Taurean Charles also sat. Coach Ron Zook said after the game that Charles had received 6-8 stitches to close a cut after Charles slipped on a step. THIS AND THAT: Matt Leach has made 31 consecutive extra points. ... With his first start, tackle Marcus Thomas became the seventh freshman to start for Florida this season.
