Believe It Or Not: Florida could face Kent State in Sugar Bowl

The University of Florida is obviously disappointed about not playing in the BCS National title game.

But that might pale to what the Gators will feel if they wind up playing Kent State in the Sugar Bowl.
Did we say Kent State and Sugar Bowl in the same breath?
Yes we did and it’s a possible scenario.

Florida is a virtual locked in to play in the Sugar Bowl. Two possible attractive opponents for the Gators are Oklahoma and Kansas State.

But if things fall a certain way the Kent State Flashes could be facing the Gators.

Now raise your hands. How many football players who signed to play with Florida consider Kent State a reward for a good season.

That’s what we thought. But be prepared. This could happen thanks the Mid-American Conference’s strength this season and the lowly Big East Conference, which is evaporating right before our eyes.

If no. 18 Kent State beats No. 19 Northern Illinois in the MAC championship game and moves into the top 16 of the BCS rankings and is ranked higher than the champion of at least one automatic qualifying conference they would have to receive an at-large BCS bid.

Well the Big East doesn’t even have a ranked team. Rutgers and Louisville play Friday for the conference title and don’t expect the winner to move ahead of Kent State if it wins the MAC.

If Kent State receives a BCS bid the Big 12 runner-up does not get a BCS Bowl bid. In that case scenario the Sugar Bowl would have to chose between Kent State and the Big East champion. Now 17^th ranked UCLA or Texas most likely have to lose to make this happen, but that is entirely possible.

Florida is slated to play the Big 12 runner-up if that conference gets that bid and right now that appears to be Oklahoma or could be Kansas State. But if that conference loses its runner-up spot then the Gators will play Kent State or Rutgers or Louisville, none of whom are a very appetizing opponent.

Well there is one good thing. There are a lot of watering holes on Bourbon Street in New Orleans where Gator fans can drown their sorrows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Brian Poole makes history with 4 year scholarship deal

Brian Poole made history in more ways than one when he signed a letter-of-intent to play football for the University of Florida.

The Southeast High defensive back received a four year scholarship and is believed to be the first athlete from Manatee County to sign a four year athletic scholarship.

NCAA athletic scholarships have always been for one year subject to renewal each year. Last October the NCAA passed a rule that allows four year athletic scholarships, leaving up to each conference and each individual school to offer four year scholarship packages.

The Southeastern Conference agreed and Florida offered all its 2012 football recruits four year scholarships. Southeast High head football coach and athletic director Paul Maechtle confirmed that Poole’s scholarship is for four years.

In his signing day press conference, Florida head coach Will Muschamp confirmed that all 23 players he signed for his top five recruiting class were given four year scholarships.

Muschamp was philosophical above the four year deal noting most college football programs renew scholarships anyway. But it has become an issue with some schools saying they prefer the one year renewals.

Ramogi Human, president of the National College Players Association, says every year he gets numerous complaints from athletes whose scholarships were not renewed, He says many thought their scholarships were for four years.

It was reported that Ohio State offered its football recruits four year deals as did most schools in the Big 10 and the SEC. Not all coaches support the four year deal. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has publicly said he doesn’t like it because he believes players should have to earn their scholarship each year through the renewal process.

Weis should do for Kansas QB what Florida did for Mike Blakely

The plight of University of Kansas quarterback Brock Berglund is a prime example of what is wrong with college athletics and how the NCAA tries to control an athlete’s life.

The Associated Press reported that the freshman from Denver was dismissed from the squad last week when he didn't attend a mandatory team meeting with the Jayhawks' new coaching staff.

He wants to transfer and feared that by attending the meeting he would be locked in for another semester, the AP report said.

Berglund told the AP in a phone interview that he sent a written request to school administrators in late December asking for permission to speak to other universities, but the request was denied.

The 19-year-old has a meeting scheduled for Friday in Lawrence, Kan., with the university's student-athlete appeals board, which will make a determination on whether the denial of Berglund's transfer request was fair.

This is another example of how college coaches can leave anytime without repercussions even if they break a contract, while athletes have no freedom of movement.

It’s particularly troublesome for Berglund and others in his situation because the coaches who recruited him are not longer there.

Berglund has hired a lawyer to help him get released from his scholarship so he can play for another school, according to the AP report.

A similar situation occurred last year with Manatee High running back Mike Blakely who was recruited by Urban Meyer at Florida. Meyer left Florida when Blakely got there at mid year and he wanted to leave.

Fortunately, for Blakely, Gators new coach Will Muschamp allowed him to leave to play for SEC foe Auburn. Manatee High legendary coach Joe Kinnan contacted Muschamp on behalf of Blakely.

"It's just very fortunate that Coach Muschamp, a class act, went ahead and released him to go to Auburn. He didn't think he would have an opportunity to go to Auburn, but it worked out,” Kinnan said at the time.

Ironically the new head coach for Kansas is former Florida offensive coordinator and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis.

One of the first things Weis did was bring in senior transfer quarterback Dayne Crist from Notre Dame. With only one year of eligibility it doesn't appear Crist came to play backup.

Weis announced this week that Berglund was no longer part of the Kansas football team, but no mention was given about his release to pursue other schools.

Poole visits Western Kentucky this weekend; says you never know

Brian Poole, the area's most heavily recruited player, will take an official visit to Western Kentucky this weekend.

The Southeast High defensive back has verbally committed to Florida and Gators head coach Will Muschamp has been telling Poole he can make an impact next season.

This is Poole's second official visit. He visited Notre Dame earlier this season and says he might take all five official visits allowed by the NCAA.

Poole has been speaking with with WKU head coach Ray Woodie, a former Palmetto High head football coach and standout player there, who has close ties to Manatee County players.

"I am still verbally committed to Florida, but you never know. I hope to take all of my visits," Poole said.

Poole is rated among the top cornerbacks in the country and one publication had him the top cornerback. He also played running back, but will play defense for the Gators, who have struggled with their secondary this season.

Muschamp says Florida lacks the physicality to be winning team in SEC

There are so many things you can find wrong with Florida in its 21-7 loss to FSU Saturday night. Gators head coach Will Muschamp focused on four, but cited his team's lack of physicality as a contributor to many problems.

In a nutshell he mentioned lack of a running game, lack of physical toughness and team that is still overall on the immature side.

He is what he said:

On lack of a running game:
"We have tried to run the ball inside and just haven't been very effective. We've tried different things__probably did too much at times to try and create a run game and help us vertically down the field. We haven't been able to do it consistently."

On lacking physical toughness:
"That's not first time they've heard it all season. It starts with me, falls on my shoulders and I'm the one who is responsible. At the end of the day you are what you are."

On Gators defense:
They got four turnovers and we only had one so it wasn't good enough."

On the team's youth:
"Some of our players are more mature than others. There's a lot of things. You just can't put your finger on one thing."

Poole remains solid Florda recruit despite media reports

Media reports that Brian Poole is opening up his recruitment because of last week's trip to Notre Dame are overblown and not realistic.

The Southeast High defensive back remains firmly committed to Florida and his mother said his heart has always been with the Gators.

Poole, rated the number one cornerback in the country by one recruiting website, said last summer that he planned to take all five recruiting trips allowed by the NCAA. His mother said Alabama could be his next visit.

He also has said every week that Florida is his first choice and that he regularly talks with Florida coaches, including head coach Will Muschamp.

Muschamp told Poole to be ready to make an impact next season. That is often seen as a recruting tool, but in this case it seems legitimate. The Gators have problems in the secondary and Poole already has the size and skills to work his way right into that secondary.

Some people might not like the idea that Poole is taking his visits though he has committed to Florida. But it's not his fault. If a school wants to pay his way to their campus because they still want a chance to "steal" him why shouldn't he go.

His mother said the trip she made to Notre Dame last weekend with his father was nice, but she didn't seem overly excited about it. Anything can happen, but it is highly unlikely Poole will not be wearing a Gators uniform next season.

Jacoby Brissett gets start over Jeff Driskel for Gators against Auburn

The Florida quarterback controversy has officially begun.

It was launched Friday morning when Gators head coach Will Muschamp announced Jacoby Brissett (left #17) would start Saturday at Auburn.

Jeff Driskel, the heir apparent to John Brantley and anyone else, is said to be healthy after sitting out last week’s loss to LSU with an ankle injury.

It’s still too early to anoint anyone a permanent starter and incumbent John Brantley could be back for the Georgia game on October 29^th after the Gators bye week.

Brissett completed 8 of 14 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown against LSU, which was considered impressive because he was for all and intents and purposes going to redshirt this season.

There were little details about why Brissett will start and there could be several reasons, including Driskel’s ankle not being one-hundred percent, thought the coaches said he was fine.

It gives credence to the argument that Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis really liked the 6-3, 239 Brissett and recruited him hard even though Driskel was committed and considered by many to be the front runner for the job in 2012 if not before.

Weis said Driskel was fine this week and shared snaps with Brissett. For the season, Driskel is 7 for 16 for 73 yards and has thrown two interceptions without a touchdown.

Brantley status uncertain after leg injury against Alabama

Florida head coach Will Muschamp said he was uncertain about the status of quarterback John Brantley who was knocked out of the game near the end of the first half against Alabama Saturday night.

Brantley did not return, but was not taken to the hospital and remained in the trainer's room getting treated for a leg injury, Muschamp said.

Brantley had a good night before the injury completing 11 of 19 passes for 190 yards against one of the best pass defenses in the country. He did make one mistake and it cost the Gators six points when one of his passes was intercepted and returned 45 yards for a touchdown.

Alabama rolled to a 38-10 victory holding Florida scoreless in the second half. The Gators have a another tough game next Saturday when they travel to LSU.

Jeff Driskel replaced Brantley in the second half and the true freshman was ineffective. He did have a 31 yard run, which made him the Gators leading rusher. Chris Rainey, who had been Florida's big offensive weapon during its first four games was held to 19 yards on 11 carries.

Muschamp credits Urban Meyer for Gators defensive speed

Florida's defense is looking a lot better than some people thought it would be before the season and Gators head coach ,Will Muschamp credits a lot of that to Urban Meyer.

"A lot of the credit (for our defensive team speed) goes to Urban and his staff," Muschamp said. "They did a great job of recruiting. These aren't Urban's players. They are Florida's players, but he did a great job of recruiting. The guy knows what he is doing. I credit Urban for this. We are going to continue to recruit those type of players."

Despite praising his defense, Muschamp says without hesitation that unit needs to improve, particularly with the rash of pass interference penalties it had against Tennessee.

"We are going to look at what we did was positive and then correct the things we need to get corrected," Muschamp said. "You got to constantly coach players, especially young players and first year scheme players. You got make sure you have great repetition in what you do because i have been through this a bunch."

Muschamp was happy with his young secondary, particularly how it played against Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, who is ranked fifth in the country in total passing yards and is tied for third in points responsible.

Kedric Johnson arrested, could face suspension from Gators

Former Palmetto High standout Kedric Johnson and his University of Florida teammate Chris Martin were arrested in January by Gainesville police for possession of marijuana, according to numerous media reports.

Johnson, a sophomore defensive end, and Martin, a linebacker/defensive end were cited for possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana in separate incidents. He did not participate in spring drills reportedly because of an injury.

Johnson was arrested on Jan. 9 after an officer pulled him over for speeding and smelled marijuana. He produced two grams of it from his glove compartment, a police report said.

Martin was arrested on Jan. 29 after officers detected the scent of the drug coming from a vehicle. Martin was in the car and revealed approximately two grams of cannabis when the police confronted him, the report said.

Both players agreed to deferred prosecution and the cases did not go to trial. However, they could face disciplinary action from Florida head coach Will Muschamp.

Their arrests follow the arrest of Gators cornerback Janoris Jenkins has been arrested twice this year for misdemeanor of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

Was Brissett the real winner in Florida Spring Game?

Jacoby Brissett might have come out Florida’s spring game in better shape than any of the quarterbacks and he didn’t even suit up. Actually he is still in high school, but that wouldn’t stop anyone from believing he had better day than true freshman Jeff Driskell.

Driskell, the anointed next Tim Tebow until Charlie Weiss arrived, completed two of six passes for 13 yards and missed some open receivers. You can contribute those numbers to lack of experience, but did anyone feel he is ready to step in and take control of the offense?

Tyler Murphy, the Gators redshirt freshman and other backup quarterback, seemed more poised completing 7 of 11 passes for 68 yards with a touchdown and got picked off once. He has speed and athleticism and showed his arm might be stronger than a lot of people think.

Gators head coach Will Muschamp made it clear that John Brantley is the starter going into next season, but his numbers were a dismal 4 of 14 for 45 yards in one half of work.

In fairness to the quarterbacks, the Gators offensive line was missing a lot of parts and more running backs were out than played. However, if you’re Brissett your 0 for 0 passing stats for 0 yards looks a lot better than any of the three quarterbacks you will be battling in fall practice.

Fan lockout in Gainesville

The University of Florida begins its spring football practice on Wednesday, but unfortunately there is a lockout and information is going to be hard to find.
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Gators spring practice off limits to fans and media

Steve Spurrier never did it and neither did Urban Meyer.

New Florida head football coach Will Muschamp announced Wednesday that Florida's spring football practice will be off limits and closed to the fans and media.

It is believed Muschamp's decision marks the first time in the history of Florida's storied football program that the entire spring practice is off limits.

Muschamp made the announcement Wednesday, saying he wanted to minimize distractions with a new staff.

The new staff includes offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, whose offense doesn't figure to be any different than the one he ran at Notre Dame before he was fired following the 2009 season.

But Muschamp said closed practices were in the best interest of helping the Gators football program be successful on Saturdays this fall.

Muschamp believes closed practices could give the Gators the element of surprise with new offensive and defensive schemes.

The Gators will continue to open their spring game to the public. It will be played April 9 at Florida Field.