Colleges

SEC okays replay; Meyer waffles

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published March 4, 2005

GAINESVILLE - Until Thursday, Florida coach Urban Meyer was straddling the fence on the issue of instant replay in college football, intrigued by how it might help the game but concerned over how it might hamper it. Now he'll get a chance to find out first-hand.

SEC presidents and chancellors voted to implement the use of instant replay on an experimental basis beginning this fall.

"Through every meeting and discussion with our coaches, athletics directors and presidents and chancellors, the use of instant replay received overwhelming support," commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "Our officials make every effort to get each call right. Instant replay will go a long way in helping them accomplish their goal."

Details will be worked out at the league's spring meetings May 31-June 3.

Meyer said Thursday that he has mixed feelings on the issue.

"I think the more human element involved, now we have another person that's going to delay the game, slow the game down," Meyer said. "But, on the other hand, if it rights a wrong and the outcome of the game is really what it should be, then I think it's a plus.

"So, if I had to choose a side, and it looks like I'm going to have to, I'd like to have it if I know it's not going to draw out the darned thing, because I can't stand TV timeouts and all that. So I'm in favor of it if it doesn't delay the game."

Florida begins spring practice March 16 and Meyer said he can hardly wait.

"I'm anxious to get going," he said. "I can say they (players) received a passing grade on the offseason; February is very hard. I think our strength staff and assistant coaches did a great job and our players bought in. Now we get to football. I feel like my son opening up a Christmas present; I can't wait to see what we've got."

YOU USE YOURS, WE'LL USE OURS: When Florida and Florida State meet in November in Gainesville, officials from the SEC will call the game, a change that is part of the new four-year contract recently signed by the two schools.

From now on, ACC officials will call the game when it's played in Tallahassee, and SEC officials will work the games in Gainesville. Previously, officials from the visiting team's conference officiated. But after several questionable calls marred the 2003 game, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said he wanted to look at using neutral officials. On Thursday, FSU athletic director Dave Hart said he recommended the agreed-upon change instead of opting for a neutral crew.

"I wasn't receptive to the neutral crew," Hart said. "I thought that presented too many logistical problems."

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The softball team is spending the weekend in Tampa.

The No. 15 Gators will play in the six-team USF Louisville Slugger Invitational, which begins today at the USF field. Jacksonville, Michigan, USF, Pittsburgh and Temple also will compete. It will be the second time in four days the Gators (13-5) have seen No. 8 Michigan. They lost a doubleheader to the Wolverines Tuesday night. UF opens play at 7 tonight against JU, and Florida third baseman Stacie Pestrak will play against twin sister Katie for the first time. The Gainesville natives played on the same team at Santa Fe Community College.

This weekend is the start of a 12-game road trip for the Gators. Over the past two weeks they have been to a tournament in Las Vegas, then returned home and traveled to Daytona for a game against Bethune-Cookman (a 5-0 loss). Florida has lost four of its last five games, but coach Karen Johns said the hectic schedule can be helpful in the long run.

"February is the only time that we get tournament action to prepare for the postseason, same thing with the midweek games," Johns said. "A lot of people say, hey, you went to Vegas, you came home, you went to Bethune (Cookman) on Tuesday, but for me a lot of that is mental preparation for the postseason and for the SEC. ... We try to use all these tournaments, with rainouts and rain delays, just like the College World Series would be. So this is it, we get two more weekends of that kind of preparation and then it's just regular games until the end of the season, so it is beneficial for us."

Times staff writer Antonya English covers Florida athletics. Reach her at 813 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com

Times staff writer Brian Landman contributed to this report.

[Last modified July 4, 2005, 08:37:58]