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Fast start is needed Saturday

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 27, 2001

GAINESVILLE -- Generally speaking, Florida's football season begins Saturday.

The second-ranked Gators are 3-0 heading into the game against No. 21 Mississippi State, but even coach Steve Spurrier concedes those games were against less competitive opponents.

Those games also saw Florida's offense sputter in the first, and sometimes second quarter -- something that needs to be rectified Saturday.

"In the second half (Saturday at Kentucky) we played a lot better than we did in the first half, but we just can't have those little letdowns we had in the first half," offensive tackle Mike Pearson said. "That's not a knock against Kentucky, but against people like Tennessee, Mississippi State and South Carolina, you can't have those kind of letdowns in the first half and expect to be able to come back and turn it back on."

Defensive end Alex Brown said the Gators must establish themselves quickly to avoid a repeat of last season's 47-35 loss. Receiver Jabar Gaffney agreed.

"There's a little concern because we don't want to come out flat," he said. "The last couple of weeks we've been coming out slow and picking it up at the end. We feel like if we want to have the season that we want to have, we have to come out better than we have the past couple of weeks."

SECURITY IS STRICT: Security at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be tighter Saturday, part of the growing security measures at stadiums across the country.

Fans will be prohibited from taking these items into the stadium: food/drink containers, artificial noisemaking devices, large cameras, flags, umbrellas, backpacks, carry bags and video cameras and cases. Any other items deemed hazardous by game management will be restricted. Items are subject to inspection.

Florida officials said an increased number of law enforcement officials will be present and bomb searches will be increased and not restricted to game day. The stadium will be locked Thursday night before home games with access restricted to authorized personnel from Thursday until the end of the game.

Gates open 90 minutes before game time and fans are encouraged to arrive early. Gate 17 will be used as a service gate only.

NO WIN, NO PARTIES?: If Florida loses to Mississippi State, it might mar the birthday celebrations of several Florida coaches. Running backs coach Lawson Holland will spend part of his birthday on the field Saturday. Other birthdays: recruiting coordinator and outside linebackers coach Jim Collins on Sunday, assistant offensive coordinator Buddy Teevens on Monday and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens on Tuesday. A win might facilitate one big bash.

INTRASTATE RIVALRY: The Florida soccer team hosts Florida State at 8 p.m. Friday at Percy Beard Stadium. Florida (3-2-1) is ranked No. 20, and FSU (5-2) is tied for 12th in the latest NSCAA poll. Junior Danielle Murphy is expected to rejoin the team after missing Sunday's match against Virginia while playing in the English National team's women's World Cup qualifier match.

STOLT TO PLAY IN NEW LEAGUE: Former basketball player Greg Stolt was one of 16 allocated to the charter teams of the National Basketball Development League on Tuesday. Stolt, who played for the Gators from 1996-99, was chosen for his hometown team in Huntsville, Ala. He is Florida's all-time three-point shooter (243). The NBDL, sanctioned by the NBA, will play a 56-game regular-season schedule, beginning in mid November.

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

english@sptimes.com.

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