By BRIAN SHAFFER and ZACHARY SPAIN
Published November 17, 2004
GAINESVILLE - The latest batch of Internet rumors regarding the Florida coaching vacancy turned out to be just that, rumors.
Reports surfaced Tuesday afternoon on a Florida fan Web site that the Gators administration and Utah coach Urban Meyer had reached an agreement on a contract and that a formal announcement was expected on or before Dec. 3.
But Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley quickly disputed the story through a statement: "To reiterate what we have said, we will not talk to current college coaches until their respective regular seasons are over. Any reports that indicate we have talked to or reached agreements with any current collegiate coaches are false."
QUARTERBACK CLUB: When Wyatt Sexton's Seminoles host Chris Leak's Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday, it could signal the start of a rivalry within the rivalry for the sophomore quarterbacks - the beginning of as many as three games between the two.
But Sexton, a third-year sophomore who will play the Gators for the first time, is not ready to contemplate joining the rivalry's lore.
"I definitely don't think about 10 years down the road right now," Sexton said. "I do see it as a great challenge because he is known as one of the best sophomore quarterbacks, so I think this would be a good game for me to show what I can do in comparison to him."
Sexton should get the chance. Coach Bobby Bowden said the Seminoles will have to be less conservative on offense than they were in a 17-10 win over North Carolina State last week. FSU had only 121 yards of offense in that game and took few risks after taking the lead in the third quarter.
"The opposite of last week. You can't play them (the Gators) like you did last week," Bowden said.
The Gators, however, aren't sure who to expect.
Coach Ron Zook expects Chris Rix to play - even it means coming off the bench for a series or two.
"I don't think there's any question we'll see him," Zook told the Associated Press. "He's a good quarterback.
The senior has completed 61 percent of his passes for 679 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in three years against the Gators, winning the past two games.
UF INJURY UPDATE: With its last game of the regular season approaching, Florida is finding out that the injury problem that it has dealt with during the past two weeks is suddenly improving.
Linebacker Travis Harris , who was dressed for the Gators game against South Carolina but never saw action due to lingering effects of a high ankle sprain, is back at practice and "looked fine," Zook said. Fellow linebackers Channing Crowder (foot) and Todd McCullough (ankle) are back at practice and approaching 100 percent.
Running back DeShawn Wynn, who sustained a groin strain against Georgia and has been out since, returned to full practice. Zook said the sophomore has no problem running forward but struggles in his cuts.
"It's amazing, we get to the end of the season - and everyone gets a little energy and we prepare to play a big game - and they get healthy," Zook said.
REID IN MIX: Willie Reid's strained hamstring will be well enough for him to return to the regular wide receiver rotation. He practiced Tuesday and said he expects to rotate with Chauncey Stovall at split end and Dominic Robinson in the slot, after going without a catch and playing sparingly in FSU's past three games.
"He has looked better in practice this week," Bowden said.
While hampered by the injury, Reid has been used almost exclusively as a punt returner, where he is averaging 14.5 yards, including a career-best 108 yards on six returns against N.C. State.
BOWL COACH: Many of Zook's players, who spoke out against Foley regarding their coach's dismissal, now take his side on favoring Zook to coach a bowl game.
"I totally expect him to (coach the bowl game)," Harris said. "I don't have any control over that, but I hope he does. I expect him to."
However, running back Ciatrick Fason said that while he wants Zook to coach the bowl game, he understands Zook has more to worry about.
"If he feels like he has to go out there and get another job, he has to do what's best for him," Fason said. "He has to take advantage of the opportunity. If somebody offers him a job, he has to go get it. He just can't sit around here."
