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He won't pass on this shot

It's not as if he's constantly consumed by it, but Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram admits it's something he thinks about quite often.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 8, 2007

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

It's not as if he's constantly consumed by it, but Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram admits it's something he thinks about quite often.

Like every time one of his teammates brings it up. It just so happens that during the past three weeks, somebody brings it up nearly every day.

Ingram came to Florida as a two-sport athlete and played basketball for coach Billy Donovan his freshman season, seeing action in 19 games. But when football coach Ron Zook was fired and Urban Meyer came in last season, Ingram decided to leave the basketball team.

"It was a pretty hard decision for me to make, but I knew I wanted to concentrate on football, so I had to do it," Ingram said. "And right after that happened he left, they ended up winning the national championship. And even now, a lot of the guys are still saying it. Most of the receivers tease me the most."

The most common line? "I know you wish you would have kept playing basketball, you probably would have been one of the first guys to have a national championship ring in football and basketball," Ingram said, laughing as he relays the stories. "I kind of laugh about it now, but I still think about it a lot, too."

A native of Hawthorne, a small town about 20 miles outside of Gainesville, Ingram was recruited as a quarterback but moved to receiver to get more playing time. But he became increasingly frustrated with a lack of playing time and, bolstered by comments from friends and family about how he wasn't being given a fair chance, he decided to transfer.

Former UF players Vernell Brown and Jarvis Herring, both area guys, intervened. Brown's advice: make sure you make the decision for you and not anybody else.

Ingram, 21, stayed and the Gators have benefited.

The redshirt sophomore has played in every game this season, starting once. At 6 feet 4, 230 pounds, he has both size and great hands. His 26 receptions are fourth on the team, and he has 322 yards and one touchdown. Meyer has praised Ingram for improving weekly, pointing out that he's still learning the position. His breakout game came in the SEC championship against Arkansas - six receptions for 71 yards - both career bests.

Now the guy who missed out on a chance to win a basketball national championship stands poised to win a football title.

And his former basketball teammates couldn't be more thrilled.

"I'm real happy for him," UF senior forward/center Chris Richard said. "We've known each other for a long time. We played AAU basketball together, so I just want to see him go out and win the whole thing, if possible."

Ingram said this week that playing for the national championship is the biggest accomplishment of his life. He expects the tight ends to be an integral part of tonight's plan against Ohio State.

"I think with the package we have in, the tight ends will have an impact on the game," he said. "It's all about who's making plays, and the coaches are definitely giving everybody an opportunity to do that.

"Being on the big-time national stage and having the opportunity to contribute is definitely a blessing."

And if by chance he gets that ring?

"I'll probably go find Chris Richard first," Ingram said. "Then I'll track down those receivers that won't leave me alone."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

 

 

[Last modified January 8, 2007, 05:56:21]

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