ESPN Early Top 25

[GainesvillebornNraised]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=4901998




10. Florida Gators So what if half the Gators are leaving for the NFL draft and coach Urban Meyer is on a self-imposed leave of absence? With the country's No. 1 recruiting class on board, the Gators should again be the favorites in the SEC East.

Florida looks to be equipped to handle the heavy personnel losses, which included five juniors (defensive end Carlos Dunlap, cornerback Joe Haden, tight end Aaron Hernandez, center Maurkice Pouncey and safety Major Wright) leaving for the NFL draft. Throw in the losses of all-everything quarterback Tim Tebow and star linebacker Brandon Spikes, and it's no wonder Meyer needed a break. But quarterback John Brantley is a more polished passer than Tebow and might make the Gators more explosive.

Florida's coaches were really excited about freshman receiver Andre Debose this past fall until he tore his hamstring during preseason camp. Incoming freshman Mack Brown might be the tailback the Gators have sorely lacked during Meyer's tenure.

The Gators are still searching for a defensive coordinator, after Charlie Strong was hired as Louisville's coach. Meyer hired NFL assistant George Edwards, but he left shortly after he was hired to become defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

i dont agree with 2,4,or 9

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

or 3,5,6,7,and 8 ahahahaha

 

[Escambia94]

For now, that guess is reasonable. None of it really matters once the season starts.

 

[JvilleJohnny]

I agree with about half of those. Maybe less, but Escambia's right none of that matters once the season starts. I think the Gators will surprise a lot of people.

I thought they were doing away with the preseason polls??

 

[O-town Gator]

When Coach comes back from his LOA later this year, he'll be rested and better than ever.

Even-numbered years in the Meyer era have been lucky so far, and if that still holds true this team could indeed surprise a lot of people. Coach has said that if spring practice goes very well, then that bodes well for the rest of the season.

A lot will be riding on Johnny Brantley's shoulders, and it's his team now - but from what I've heard he's well-liked by his teammates, so I hope he can help keep everybody together and keep morale high.

And as long as everybody stays out of trouble, we'll be in good shape during the off-season.

 

[Escambia94]

I agree with about half of those. Maybe less, but Escambia's right none of that matters once the season starts. I think the Gators will surprise a lot of people.

I thought they were doing away with the preseason polls??

Taking away preseason polls would take away all the fun. I do agree with your prediction--the Gators will surprise a lot of people. Historically, the Gators do have a down year between good recruiting classes, so I have them performing a little better than the 2007 team this year and being back on top the next year.

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

it's not too bad for this early. but I would like to see Florida at least in the top 8.

 

[Leakfan12]

I disagree with 7 and 9 though it doesn't until the regular season and the Conference Championship games are done.

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

we r sleepers this year....


and i dont ever give any credit to cupcakes like boise tcu cincy etc, i dont think they ever deserve a top 10 undefeated or not cuz once they play somebody they get murdered....example sugar bowl

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

we r sleepers this year....


and i dont ever give any credit to cupcakes like boise tcu cincy etc, i dont think they ever deserve a top 10 undefeated or not cuz once they play somebody they get murdered....example sugar bowl

example - sugar bowl (Bama vs. Utah).

It can go both ways. I feel like some years an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference can play with the big boys, but in other cases they can't (UGA vs. Hawaii).

 

[O-town Gator]

example - sugar bowl (Bama vs. Utah).

It can go both ways. I feel like some years an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference can play with the big boys, but in other cases they can't (UGA vs. Hawaii).

UGA also beat the crap out of Boise State back in '05.

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

example - sugar bowl (Bama vs. Utah).

It can go both ways. I feel like some years an undefeated team from a non-BCS conference can play with the big boys, but in other cases they can't (UGA vs. Hawaii).

bamas sugarbowl doesnt count...they wanted the national champ...and after we crushed them in the come from behind victory they didnt even want to play that game

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

bamas sugarbowl doesnt count...they wanted the national champ...and after we crushed them in the come from behind victory they didnt even want to play that game

Not at all. Utah was the better team and they proved it. Don't try to tell me otherwise.

 

[ShortBus]

Not at all. Utah was the better team and they proved it. Don't try to tell me otherwise.

sorry dude bama just didn't want to play and that's all there is to it. Bama was in Atlanta when Florida was in Miami and they wanted nothing to do with it. They didn't care if they won or loss that game. They felt they had nothing to prove. Where as this year Florida felt like they had to avenge their loss to Alabama. Completely different scenerios

 

[Leakfan12]

Not at all. Utah was the better team and they proved it. Don't try to tell me otherwise.

Honestly I think their All American LT Andre Smith costed them the game by doing something like talking to an agent, Saban suspended him plus his replacement got hurt early in the game and Utah D attacked early and often.

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

My brother was on that Utah team. He knows those players, knows they are skilled, and knows they worked hard to win that game. I gurantee that if you ask anyone on that Bama team and they won't give some lame excuse like that. They had a month to recover from the loss and prepare for the game.

 

[Escambia94]

My brother was on that Utah team. He knows those players, knows they are skilled, and knows they worked hard to win that game. I gurantee that if you ask anyone on that Bama team and they won't give some lame excuse like that. They had a month to recover from the loss and prepare for the game.

I knew people on the Alabama team, but not necessarily my brother. Alabama was a far superior team that did not seem to care about that game. There was nothing to prepare for--the players get no money for beating Utah. Nick Saban did not prepare his team to win, but he had nothing to offer as motivation. Fast forward to 2009--there was plenty of motivation to beat Florida, and look what they did.

Teams need a reason to win. The only people who benefit from non-championship bowl games are the school officials, unless the coach finds some nugget for which to motivate his players.

 

[CaliZona_Gator]

Teams need a reason to win. The only people who benefit from non-championship bowl games are the school officials, unless the coach finds some nugget for which to motivate his players.

Because players don't receive nice Sugar Bowl rings. And it doesn't help establish their program. And it doesn't give them a higher preseason rank going into next season. And they don't ever play for the fans, family, and friends back home and back at school who want a win. And they don't want to perform well on a big stage to help improve their draft stock and popularity.

I'm sorry, but saying they didn't care is a sad excuse. Excuses come in football. Don't try to take away that game from Utah, Fiesta Bowl from Boise St., Fiesta Bowl from Utah.

 

[GainesvillebornNraised]

to say we had a reason to wanna beat cincy and bama didnt have one to beat utah seems weird to me


neither are championship games and their both against inferior conferences


give utah some credit their defense raped in that game and stop giving bama a pass they aint our friends lol