Colleges

Gators prove strength on D

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published September 19, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Case closed.

That's the sentiment expressed Monday by members of the Florida defense after its impressive showing at Tennessee on Saturday. They don't want to appear brash but believe they have put to rest nagging questions about whether the unit has what it takes to be among the SEC's best.

After being second-guessed about its toughness all week, from coach Urban Meyer to national analysts, the Gators are feeling vindicated after holding the Vols to minus-11 yards rushing. That total is the Vols' worst since 1958, when they had minus-49 yards in a 13-0 loss to Auburn.

Don't think the players didn't hear about it - or that they didn't care.

"I think we were being called out on national TV - a lot of the announcers were saying that we were soft," linebacker Brandon Siler said. "That's really disrespectful to us because we know we are very far away from that. And that's pretty much what we showed. Minus-11 yards, that talks for itself. A soft team doesn't hold Tennessee to minus-11 yards in their own stadium."

The players were upset by the talk, Siler said. When reminded that Meyer was among those questioning the team's toughness, Siler said he was justified.

"It's something that he probably wasn't sure about, just like the rest of the country wasn't sure about it because they were questioning us," he said. "But when we stepped in there and did what we did, that pretty much showed that we are tough."

GOT MONEY? If he's not careful, Meyer may be giving the SEC a few extra bucks soon.

On Saturday, and again Monday, Meyer criticized the officiating, saying officials blew several calls. He was upset about the false start call Jim Tartt that moved Florida from second and 10 at the Tennessee 22 back to the 27. The Gators missed a 52-yard field goal on that drive.

"The one penalty was not a penalty," he said. "I don't know if I can say that, but it was not a penalty. It was a guy jumped across the neutral zone. I was told he did not, but he did. So it was a critical, critical error made in that game, not by Jim Tartt but by the call."

And he was disturbed that no penalty was called when Vols punter Britton Colquitt tripped Brandon James on a return, likely preventing a touchdown.

"The punter tripped him," Meyer said, demonstrating with his foot. "I mean the punter tripped him. I'm not sure how they evaluate that, but the punter tripped him."

The league prohibits coaches from publicly criticizing officiating. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was fined last week after he took issue with some of the calls in the Gamecocks' game against Georgia.

DEFENDING THE SLIDE: There's been much discussion about quarterback Chris Leak's decision to slide down after he rushed for 4 yards on third and 5 at the Tennessee 32 with just less than five minutes to play and the Gators trailing 20-14. Freshman quarterback Tim Tebow came in on the ensuing play, picked up 3 yards and kept the drive alive. Leak intimated that he got a bad spot by the officials, but he defended his decision to slide.

"As a quarterback, you see it all the time in the pros, you get as many yards as you can, but you also try to protect yourself," he said. "The coach has told me that, and that's one of the things you try to do, make sure you're ready to go, stay on the field and keep your team on the field."

Meyer praised Leak's overall performance but not that play.

"The slide?" he said. "To be honest, my reaction was probably the same as everyone else's. ... I saw what you saw, and we'd expect him to get that first down."

INJURY TROUBLES: Freshman receiver Percy Harvin will have his left foot in a boot until at least Wednesday, Meyer said. Harvin suffered a high ankle sprain in the Tennessee game. Tailback DeShawn Wynn is in a boot for precautionary reasons, but Meyer said he will play this week. Kentucky fullback John Connor is out with turf toe; tailback Rafael Little's MRI was negative, but he has swelling and joint pain in his knee and is listed as questionable; center Matt McCutchan has a high ankle sprain.

Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 01:42:03]