Colleges

Prized freshman to play in opener

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 26, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Just like the Gators did with backup quarterback Josh Portis last season, freshman Tim Tebow will play in the Gators' first game against Southern Mississippi on Sept. 2.

Coach Urban Meyer called it the "Tebow plan" on Friday, but hadn't decided how much Tebow would play. The coaching staff will probably decide that on Sunday, Meyer said.

"We'd like to get him in the game as early as possible," Meyer said.

"We haven't set the exact time or the exact plays, but it won't be the whole gamut because, to be honest with you, he can't run the whole gamut."

CHAMPION SPEAKS: Former Gators basketball player Udonis Haslem, who won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat this past season, spoke to the football team and attended practice Friday.

Meyer said Haslem spoke to the team about battling through adversity, a very good message for his team.

One reporter jokingly asked if he could help the Gators out this year.

"I gave a phone call to (Heat coach Pat) Riley and asked if he could play for us, but he's not calling me back for some reason," Meyer joked.

ET CETERA: Meyer said he believes right guard Maurice Hurt (right knee) will be ready to go for Southern Miss. ... Tony Joiner will likely start at strong safety with Reggie Nelson at free safety, leaving Kyle Jackson out of the starting lineup, Meyer said. ... Nelson is the Gators' main punt returner, with Percy Harvin, Jemalle Cornelius and Andre Caldwell behind him, Meyer said. Harvin and Cornelius are the leading players to return kickoffs after freshman Brandon James went down with a knee injury.

USF: Leavitt looking for more intensity in practice

TAMPA - For only the second time in three weeks, inclement weather interrupted the Bulls' practice, cutting the morning session short.

"We need to get more focused," coach Jim Leavitt said after a one-hour workout Friday night.

"It wasn't a bad practice, but it wasn't as intense as I want it to be."

Leavitt has been impressed by the quick return of sophomore quarterback Grant Gregory, who separated his non-throwing shoulder Saturday and wasn't expected to practice this week.

"Grant threw, which shocked me," Leavitt said. "He wants to be back out there."

FOR THE FANS: The team's annual Fan Appreciation Day is this morning at 11 at the practice fields north of USF's athletic facility.

Fans can watch the two-minute drill at the end of practice, and players and coaches will be available afterward for pictures and autographs.

THIS AND THAT: Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, who played for defensive coordinator Wally Burnham at Florida State, is scheduled to speak to all of USF's athletes on Sunday night. ... Freshman receiver A.J. Love of Bradenton returned to practice after being cleared by the NCAA on Friday morning. Freshman running back Keeley Dorsey has yet to be cleared and has missed two days of practice, but the team is confident he'll be cleared early next week.

FSU: First a scholarship, then a captainship

TALLAHASSEE - It would be hard to top the phone call Cedric Kornegay received.

It was from his son, Florida State special teams standout Mikhal Kornegay, excited to make his first call after being named the special teams captain for the 2006 season.

"He said he was so proud," Mikhal said.

"I called my Dad, then my mom, and they were so excited. They were about as happy as I was."

Kornegay, who played his high school football just outside Tallahassee, was a running back at Tennessee Tech in 2002. He managed only 23 carries his freshman year and decided to walk on at FSU.

He found a role playing on multiple special teams units, and impressed enough as a senior this season to earn a scholarship just before fall practice began.

"There's some guys on one special team, some on two special teams ... Kornegay is on about all of them," coach Bobby Bowden said. "Out of all the kids on special teams, he's probably the most deserving."

Along with Kornegay, linebacker Buster Davis was named defensive captain and running back Lorenzo Booker was named offensive captain.

FSU held its final scrimmage of the fall, with the first and second teams having minimal tackling contact to help avoid injury.

Linebacker Toddrick Verdell intercepted a Drew Weatherford pass early in the scrimmage and returned it for a touchdown. It was Weatherford's first interception in any scrimmage this season.

Saftey Myron Rolle also recorded an interception, his off backup quarterback D'Vontrey Richardson.

Kicker Gary Cismesia missed an extra point during the scrimmage, but made a 26-yard field goal from the left hashmark, an area of concern during Thursday's 2-for-6 effort.

[Last modified August 26, 2006, 02:15:36]