GAINESVILLE - One of the Gators' most productive defensive tackles might be forced to miss the remainder of spring practice.
Sophomore Marcus Thomas is suspected to have suffered a hernia, but is having tests before an official diagnosis is released. He is not certain about his status for the rest of spring practice.
"He says he's out for the spring, but we're going to talk about that," coach Ron Zook said.
Thomas is set to team with fellow sophomore Ray McDonald to form the interior of the defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder from Jacksonville started two games in 2003 and ranked second on the team in tackles by a defensive lineman with 47.
MIAMI: The second day of spring practice ended with one prominent player absent from contact drills. Junior running back Frank Gore continues to rehabilitate the left knee he tore in the fifth game last season and is limited in his work. Gore, who ran for 468 yards and four touchdowns before the injury, is trying a second comeback from a knee injury after missing all the 2002 season with a torn right knee.
Men's swimming
Florida's men boast a strong group in the 81st NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships starting today at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Twelve Gators hit the pool on the 20th anniversary of Florida's second national title, in 1984.
This season the Gators have accumulated nearly 60 All-America honors, and the team includes one NCAA champion, Adam Sioui, the 2002 200-yard freestyle champ.
"I think this group is comparable to the other groups we've brought before, and it might be the best we've had," coach Gregg Troy said.
BASEBALL: Sound pitching and big runs early lifted Florida past Dartmouth College 11-6 at McKethan Stadium. The win wrapped up an 11-game homestand for the Gators, who improved to 19-3 at home. ... Bethune-Cookman held visiting Stetson to one hit as the Wildcats got a 4-1 win at at Daytona Beach.
SOFTBALL: South Florida won both games of a doubleheader against Elon at Tampa. USF scored a season-high number of runs in winning the first game 11-0, and in the second game the Bulls had eight hits and won 5-1. ... Florida beat Alabama 5-1 in Tuscaloosa, capitalizing on errors and using timely hitting. Florida had not won a series with Alabama since 1997.
WOMEN'S GOLF: No. 14 Florida finished second with 305 in an 18-hole competition at Mission Inn El Campeon Golf Course in Howey-in-the-Hills. Ohio State won with 298, led by junior Kristen White's 66. Auburn was third at 312, and South Florida was fourth at 320. Sophomore Aimee Cho led the Gators with 72 to be runner-up.
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.
