BATON ROUGE, La. - Just 11 days after arthroscopic surgery to repair ligaments in their right knees, Florida freshman linebacker Channing Crowder and junior defensive tackle Kenny Parker returned to the lineup. Both had surgery Oct. 1 and participated in limited workouts leading up to Saturday's game. Crowder said he felt ready to play, but Florida coach Ron Zook said he most likely wouldn't play until Saturday at Arkansas.
Crowder wouldn't take no for an answer.
"I told him I was ready, and he just laughed at first," Crowder said. "It feels good. I didn't feel it all game. I'm from Georgia. We heel a lot faster than regular guys."
The players were cleared by team doctor Pete Indelicato on Thursday, and Zook decided then he would take them on the trip. He said knowing the type of competitors Crowder and Parker are, he wasn't surprised at the quick returns.
"It's a tribute to them and the work they put in," Zook said. "Adrian (Melendez, team trainer) was with them 24-7, and it's a credit to them and how much they worked."
Crowder made four tackles and Parker two.
MISSING THE FUN: Florida offensive tackle Max Starks did not travel with the team because of illness, missing his first game since he was a backup in the 2000 season. Junior offensive tackle Jon Colon started for Starks.
Starks has an abscessed tooth and an upper respiratory infection and did not practice last week. The senior from Orlando had a 28-game streak as a starter end against Kentucky. He was nursing an injury and missed several practices that week but played in the game.
"He's been real sick. He looked like he was going to die this week. But I think he's going to be okay," Colon said. "I knew he was pretty bad, so I prepared all week to play."
COSTLY INJURY: With his 5-yard carry on LSU's first series of the second half, running back Joseph Addai injured his knee and did not return. The Tigers already were without their other starter, Shyrone Carey, who sprained his MCL against Mississippi State two weeks ago.
After Addai was injured, the Tigers ran the ball just six times the rest of the game.
MAKING IT COUNT: LSU sophomore receiver Skyler Green has returned just three punts in his career but has made the most of his opportunities.
Green returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown Saturday against Florida, his second one this season.
TOLD YA: For the past few weeks, Florida kicker Matt Leach has been telling reporters that if given a chance, he could nail a 50-yard field goal. Leach's career long at Sarasota Booker was 53, and he said he has hit from longer than 60 in practice.
Saturday, Leach got a chance to back up the big talk. He hit a careerlong 50-yarder with 5:49 left to give Florida a 13-7 lead. He also made a 29-yard FG in the first quarter, both on an injured foot.
"I slipped on the wet grass in the rain on Tuesday," Leach said. "It's not my kicking foot, but it's my plant foot. So it's still a pretty big deal."
For the record, Leach said the 50-yarder cleared by 5 yards.
