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Last season's Florida-Florida State game stands out for the Gators and their fans for one reason. It wasn't the loss, but rather a barrage of questionable officiating calls that went against the orange and blue.
Apparently, it is not just the fans that have had a difficult time letting go. During practice this week, the Florida coaching staff is making a point to stress the importance of remaining calm if an early call goes against the Gators.
"That is the thing that the coaches have been preaching this week. When things go bad, keep playing," linebacker Travis Harris said. "We can't control that. Nothing that we say to the officials or any of our actions are going to make anything change. All we can do is play and we need everybody to play. We don't need anybody getting kicked out of the game."
FLAG ON THE PLAY: As the foundation of an offense that boasts the Southeastern Conference's top rusher and passer, the Florida offensive line is garnering rave reviews, with one small catch.
The unit is also largely to blame for the Gators pacing the conference in penalties with a total of 85 for nearly 67 yards per game. A majority of the line's difficulties has been a nagging propensity to false start. However, a member of the Florida defensive line understands his counterpart's problem.
"I believe that they just get anxious," defensive tackle Ray McDonald said. "Our offensive line is pretty good, they just get real anxious. They want to fire off into people. The people that I see false start a lot are our most aggressive offensive linemen. They just can't wait to get off into the defender's chest."
McDonald's compassion could come from his own troubles waiting for the snap before getting started. He was plagued early in the season by offsides penalties, seemed to correct his mistakes by midseason, but had the problem resurface again with an infraction against South Carolina.
He insists that though it is all in his attempt to make a big play, a coach's scolding is not the worst part of jumping offsides.
"I try not to do it because I get really embarrassed when I jump offsides and I see that nobody else is moving," McDonald said.
INJURIES: Coach Ron Zook said that everyone who had been fighting through injuries is back at practice and returning to full health. Linebacker Channing Crowder (foot) is still "a little ginger," but running back DeShawn Wynn looked better on Wednesday.
"He made a cut during 9-on-7 that I was very impressed with," Zook said. "That is when I knew he was all right."
EXTRA MOTIVATION: Not that there is ever any doubt the game is taken seriously, but FSU coach Bobby Bowden expects the Gators to play for more than the usual bragging rights.
"This is their last season game with Coach Zook and I'm sure they will be emotionally wanting to play their best for him, and I don't blame them," Bowden said. "I hate to see what happened happen to him."
Chamberlain High graduate Brodrick Bunkley remembers an enthusiastic Zook showing up at his high school shortly after being hired.
"(Florida) went through that whole coaching change at the time, and before I even knew they had a new head coach I saw him at my school and I'm like, "Who are you?' And he said "I'm Zook, the head coach,' " said Bunkley, a junior nose guard. "He even talked with a lot of energy and I was like, man, I really do like this guy. I see how some of the players could like him as well."
Bowden said he only met Zook on the field and in passing at clinics and seminars, but the coaching profession hates to see one of its own lose a job.
"Coaches are very sentimental about that," Bowden said. "We are for the coaches. I am for the coach. All the coaches are very sympathetic of what's happened to him."
CASTILLO DOUBTFUL: Center David Castillo further aggravated his injured right hand in practice Tuesday and is "very doubtful," Bowden said. However, if there's one thing Bowden won't do, it is count Castillo out.
"Knowing him, he's the hardest guy to keep off the field we got," Bowden said. "He's played with more injuries than anybody I ever saw and it looked like he was going to get by with it (Tuesday), but evidently he hurt it once they started 11-on-11."
The Seminoles worked sophomore walk-on Cory Bookins and experienced sophomore John Frady behind Brian Ross with Castillo out of practice on Wednesday. It was the first practice for Frady since he dislocated his elbow in practice Sept. 29. He is counting on earning a medical redshirt and expects to play only in an emergency.
"The plan is for me to take the redshirt," said Frady, who played extensively while Castillo recovered from a shoulder injury to start the season. "I'm more out there for my experience on the field and just in case something were to happen to Ross.
"Cory Bookins would go in the game before I would."
Bowden said Castillo would play only if he proved himself able.
"If he couldn't do it, I wouldn't want him to be in there, because the snap is so important," Bowden said.
SNEAK PREVIEW: The three-story stained glass mural of Bowden, which will be formally dedicated Saturday, was on display for the first time Wednesday. Temporary spotlights were on the ground in front of the entrance of the Moore Athletic Center, highlighting the mural and the statue of Bowden unveiled earlier this season.