Orange and Blue Hue » Thank God for Spring Practice

Thank God for Spring Practice

Spring Practice Fresh cut grass. Cool spring breezes. Sunny practice fields. And the sounds of pads popping.

We need this. Hell, I need this. Catharsis. Rebirth. From Revelations (Ch. 21, 1-6): “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

That’s almost correct. The sorrow and crying hasn’t totally concluded. The Gators play San Diego State in the NIT tonight as a 2-seed, and I’ll be tuning in to root them on. But the mere fact that our two-time defending national champions have been relegated to the Not In Tournament for the first time in nine years hurts my soul. I hope they win the tournament; but no matter what happens from this point on, this basketball season will be remembered as a huge disappointment.

I didn’t even watch Selection Sunday. First time in years.

So that’s why it’s refreshing to think of our football team out there getting the job done, working hard and with no pretense or illusion that they’re better than they really are. They’re hungry. They’re focused. They know they’ll enjoy a Top 10 if not Top 5 preseason ranking for the ‘08 season. And they want to put the pain of a 4-loss season behind them for good, and return to their championship ways.

I believe they will. I think 2008 may bring another championship run to Gator Nation. Why wouldn’t it? The offense, from top to bottom, is ridiculously loaded with talented, speedy playmakers. We have Emmanuel Moody competing for a starting job. (Anybody see the pictures of that boy recently? He is BUILT!) We have Little Timmy the signal caller, who was decent last year (wink). Offensive line looks to be loaded. I really like Aaron Hernandez at TE/FB/H-Back. Deonte Thompson, Chris Rainey, Mon Williams, and Riley Cooper stand to have breakout years, and of course we have guys like Carl Moore coming at WR who could make an impact right away. We have our leading 2008 Heisman Trophy candidate in Percy Harvin.

I’m equally excited about the defense. The quality of recruits that Urban Meyer and staff targeted is top of class, bar none. It is rare to pick up guys who will really compete to start at positions like defensive tackle and safety in their freshman years, but that’s what we have in players like Omar Hunter, Will Hill and Dee Finley. I expect the defense to rise to the level of “basic competence” or beyond in 2008, something we didn’t have in 2007. Frankly, with an offense that averages 40 points per game, that’s all we really need. I expect they’ll be an above average SEC defense this season and that should keep Florida in the win column. I can’t wait to see a defensive backfield that includes Major Wright as a sophomore along with Will “The Thrill” Hill. It could happen this season.

Both of these guys have a little Reggie Nelson in them. Which is sort of like saying a Top-Fuel dragster has a little “get up and go.”

Incoming kicker Caleb Sturgis was supposedly seen at practice kicking a field goal from the 45-yard line. Then he set the football back up, turned around, and kicked one the other way. Sturgis has been getting accolades like “biggest leg I’ve ever seen on a high school football player”. Hopefully he’ll be a great kicker for the Gators.

It’s a time of rebirth and renewal. Hope for the future instead of angst over the past. This year’s offense has every chance to break the record books and become the most prolific offense in the history of Florida football. Another crystal football in 2008? It’s possible!

31 Comments so far
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Heisman: right idea, wrong guy.

I think Moody could definitely do some damage in the votes next year. Remember my Harvin post.

Ahhhh….I like it.

Let’s not forget to give a shout out to another of my favorite Gator players - Brandon James. You have to like a guy who gives you a legitimate chance to jump out to a 6-0 lead on the kickoff.

Let’s hope someone steps up at linebacker. Otherwise our D will be like a wishmeat sandwich.

Let’s hope nobody really cares about the Heisman and instead everyone focuses on team goals.

Ski, I’m gonna have to disagree with you there…

The LB corps wasn’t the problem on defense…

DL injuries exposed the lack of depth across the front and lack of experience and development (Louis, Haden, Anderson, Wright) along with lack of talent by the only senior is what made the defense so bad last season…

I’m extremely interested in watching a few sessions and the O&B game over the next month and really see where this thing is heading…

Hopefully, the whole thing will tighten up adequately to have us in the SECCG…

I was hoping Spikes would be a little more of a beast last season, but he’ll be better as a junior, that’s when most LB really step up. I think Spikes, Doe and Stamper will all be better.

You are definitely right on the DL being a major issue with the injuries. That should actually help us this season because so many young guys got game experience last year that they otherwise wouldn’t have received.

I like Haden even though he was out of position some - expected from a freshman. I sure hope that we don’t have to use Rickerson this season though. That guy was ALWAYS out of position.

No defense=at least 3 losses…Michigan exposed you guys

Oh really, Dan…

So where did they expose us that Auburn, LSU and UGA hadn’t already?

Or that any of the teams we beat tried to expose us at but could not?

It wasn’t like they took anything new and added it to the mix…

They copied the blueprint that Auburn was successful with and had the athletes and experience to carry it out…

Not like it was a big secret…

Daniel,

I love your comments on here and do go to A sea of blue to check on you guys, however, stick to basketball. UK has NO voice in football. None.

All future references to Hernandez must reference his official interwebs nickname: Aaron “The Touchdown Schmernandez” Hernandez.

thank you,

What’s that you say, UIAG?

Kentucky has a football team still?

Wow…

I don’t remember hearin’ about that since, like…

Ummm…

Maybe 1986…

Doering has a Touchdown!

Remember, when Daniel comes over to hate on UF, it is due to inherent jealousy and that translates into respect. Back when we had Zook, our rivals thought he was a swell guy. The more hate, the better.

From an outsider’s perspective, I think you guys are seriously stacked and ready for another title run. Everyone is talking about UGA, but I think you guys have a better shot, although I might be wrong. Bringing in Moody and the defensive recruits should solve just about all of your problems (at least to some degree). I just hope you guys don’t put another beat down on my team!

GC Man-

I am not sure that all Gators are with me on this one, but I always cheer for the Evil Genious when not playing his alma mater.

You can ditto me on that one too, Ski…

There is but one day a year I’m not siding with the OBC…

I’m with you guys, the OBC is still just as great as he always was….at pissing off other teams and fans.

My feelings about the OBC are very conflicted.

I look forward to his retirement so that conflict can end.

Whipping his ‘Cocks badly this past season helped ease some of the tension. A few more years like that, then maybe he retires, and we can all go back to loving him unconditionally again.

Come on now. We won two bowl games…that counts for something doesn’t it? Please say yes…please.

Yes, if:

A: The program is looking to build its credentials as a legimate football school (Unlikely, but feasible for UK)

B: The bowl games have a solid reputation (I think yours this year was in the middle)

AND

C: They face a quality opponent (FSU deserves partial credit for playing with passion.)

It’s somewhat akin to the ‘Cats winning the NIT title (O.K. for repuation, but people expect more, like ummmm, #8.)

I think Kentucky could be a football state to. We’re hungry for any sports as we have no professional teams and NASCAR only comes here once a year.

I think Kentucky can be a pretty good SEC team under Rich Brooks. Recruiting will always be a challenge when you have Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and of course Florida to go up against.

Recruiting is the life-blood of a college football dynasty. It’s not an easy game to win for a challenged program.

I do root for Kentucky in most games they play in football. It was great to see the ‘Cats beat LSU in Lexington last season.

I think that helps explain why Louisville-UK is such a big rivalry within the state.

Without pro sports, those two colleges provide a sense of state pride bluegrass folks can call their own.

However, the Lexington Legends and Louisville Bats are minor league baseball teams in the state.

Can’t you guys send us the Bucs or something? We’ll event take the Marlins.

Since you’re a basketball state, take the Miami Heat. After all, their coach used to play for UK.

Florida football sucks! Go Seminoles!

Florida will lose its spring football game.

That’s so funny I forgot to laugh.

And didn’t you play the Seminoles in your last bowl game?

Yes, we did and we beat them. You all suck.

I would suspect jackboat is a semihole. He fits the bill perfectly.

Percy is hurt again…..now isn’t THAT a shocker?!

I don’t think Percy is really a strong Heisman candidate. He is an outstanding player, but you need to play every week to win that award. His body is just too frail. The Yahoo story did report that he hit the weights in the offseason and is much stronger now and up to 200 lbs.

If that comes without a loss in speed, all the better.

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