College football

Fans to get glimpse of Meyer's offense

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published April 9, 2005

GAINESVILLE - Urban Meyer insists that it's just another practice, the last in a 15-session spring season, no different from the rest.

Try telling that to Florida fans.

A record crowd is expected at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium today for the annual Orange and Blue intrasquad game, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. For many, it's the first opportunity to get a look at Meyer's unusual spread offense and whether quarterback Chris Leak and the Gators have mastered it.

"I look at it as a regular big game in the Swamp," junior running back Skyler Thornton said. "We've got fans coming out wanting to see what we got for next year, so I want to go out there and showcase my talent."

For Meyer and his staff, it's the last chance to see the players in action for the next four months.

"I'm excited for it," Meyer said. "I'm excited to see our guys go compete. We divided the teams up, we had a draft, so this will be a game. It's going to be fun for the crowd, the families and our players."

Meyer said the offense will be limited to a base run game and a couple of pass plays, while the defense will consist of "two blitzes and a basic four-man.

"We'll keep a couple of things out, but we'll let them play a little bit," Meyer said.

One thing's for sure: There will be winners and losers. That's the way it has been throughout the spring. It's Meyer's style, an attitude the players say has carried over into every aspect of the team.

"It goes in the weight room, it goes out on the field, everywhere," senior center Mike Degory said. "I think what he understands is we've got a lot of talent here and if we can get our talent to go full speed ... practice is hard, but games are going to be easy. We're going to already have 1,000 reps vs. the first-team defense (compared to) walking through stuff and not going full speed. When you put that winner or loser (tag), everybody wants to be a winner, and that drives people to go a little bit faster."

When the spring season opened, Meyer said his biggest concern was a reliable running back. Thornton, junior DeShawn Wynn and sophomore Markus Manson are vying for the starting job. Meyer said he expects all three to play this fall.

"I think he (Meyer) feels a little more comfortable with the running back position, with the ability we have and how we fit in the offense," Wynn said. "We've been working hard trying to prove him wrong, and I think he came out pretty impressed this spring with us. We've got to keep working hard."

As for the crowd, Meyer said he would not be surprised if the projected 60,000 is met.

"That's why I wanted to come here, it's different than most places," Meyer said. "My expectation level is that it is different, it's the best there is. So I can't wait. ... It's the culmination of a good spring."

HOLLIDAY STAYING: Safeties coach John "Doc" Holliday withdrew from consideration for the coaching job at Marshall.

Holliday, 47, is a West Virginia native who spent 17 seasons as an assistant at West Virginia. Marshall coach Bob Pruett resigned last month. Holliday interviewed with the Huntington, W. Va., school on Tuesday.

"It's very flattering to have had the chance to be considered for the head coaching position at Marshall," Holliday said in a statement. "Sometimes life is about timing. While I certainly hope to be a head coach someday and the opportunity at Marshall would have been a great fit for my family and me, I really believe in the vision that coach Meyer has for the University of Florida football program. I've made a commitment to be a part of that."

Meyer said: "Here's a guy that turned down an opportunity to be a head football coach, turned down a five-year contract, or it looked like it was headed in that direction, because he couldn't walk away from his players. That's powerful and it says a lot about the University of Florida."

WHAT: Florida's annual intrasquad scrimmage.

WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m.; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville.

RADIO: 620-AM.

TICKETS: General admission is $3. Students, Gator boosters and alumni are free with a valid ID. Ticket windows on the west and both north and south booths open at 9 a.m. Gate 13 on the east side and Gate 1 of the O'Connell Center open at 10. Gates to the stadium open at 11:30.

[Last modified April 9, 2005, 07:10:29]