1 » When out-of-conference opponents speak about the Southeastern Conference or the Florida Gators specifically, speed is usually one of the factors that noticeably separate them from the pack. Miami (OH) RedHawks head coach Michael Haywood has noticed it on video, calling the Gators’ speed “unbelievable” and a major factor on Saturday. “Most people look at it as skill positions,” Haywood said, “but when you watch their defensive front and you watch their defensive ends come off the ball, I mean they are exploding off the ball, dipping and ripping and turning that corner, and that poses a problem for you. You get less people out in the passing game because you have to [block] with backs, you have to leave the tight end in to help out.”

Miami sophomore quarterback Zac Dysert adds that even watching Florida on film is scary. “We don’t really get a chance to practice [against that kind of speed] out here,” he said. “You’ve just got to be ready for everything they’re doing. If you know everything they’re doing, you know where they’re going to be. Speed’s going to be a factor and you’ll have to make quick decisions. You can’t be late on anything.”

2 » Featured on the front page of ESPNU.com the No. 6 Gators volleyball (2-0) are set for three matches (Albany, Bowling Green and Colorado State) in two days this weekend after defeating two top-10 opponents (No. 9 Iowa State, No. 2 Nebraska) last week. “We’re encouraged by how hard the team played in that atmosphere,” head coach Mary Wise told ESPNU, “but we know we have a long way to go. The words ‘a work in progress’ were stated before the weekend and that hasn’t changed after the weekend.” Florida’s two victories were led by junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy, the AVCA Player of the Week and SEC Offensive Player of the Week, who shined even though the Gators playing in front of a large group of people. “We’ve had some great wins, but we’ve never played in front of a crowd like that before,” Murphy said. “It definitely gives us a lot of convidence. It reassured us that everything we’d been doing over the summer and everything we’ve been doing so far in preseason has been working.”

Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Tags: AVCA, Kelly Murphy, Mary Wise, Miami RedHawks, Michael Haywood, Player of the Week, SEC, volleyball, Zac Dysert

1 » Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer reached out to redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley’s father recently to let him know that his son has really impressed him. “I said, ‘Enjoy the ride. Your son has grown up to be a man,’” Meyer explained. “I hope I get that same text some day from someone. That’s really cool. It’s the truth. What he’s done here in the last year has been exactly what we needed to have happen, and that is he’s grown up. He’s the leader of this team, and he’s Johnny Brantley. That’s good enough for us.” John Brantley III, a former Florida quarterback himself, was certainly proud.

2 » Saturday’s game against the Miami (OH) RedHawks is big for a number of Gators but perhaps no one is relishing the moment more than redshirt sophomore cornerback Jeremy Brown. “Words can’t explain. It’s a very special moment for me and my family because two years ago, I ran out the tunnel and couldn’t play. I wasn’t officially a Gator. To be able to contribute is a special moment,” Brown said. “A lot of times I feel like some people take football and the opportunity to be at a prestigious program like Florida – they take it for granted. They take practice for granted. Workouts, things you get every day – they take stuff like that for granted. When you’re on the verge of not playing football gain, you learn to appreciate things a lot more. You learn to appreciate the uniform. I was close to losing everything.”

3 » Two Florida women were honored with Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for their respective sports. Volleyball’s junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy and soccer’s redshirt sophomore midfielder McKenzie Barney were each awarded Monday for their outstanding performances in their teams’ first week of 2010 action.

4 » Providing opportunities for kids to play organized sports, The C.I. Foundation (sponsored by Philadelphia Eagles tight end Cornelius Ingram) is attempting to raise money by giving way a fantastic seven-day, all-inclusive vacation (including airfare) to Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their newest campaign, called “$10.00 for C.h.I.l.dren,” allows for fans and generous individuals to donate as little as $10 for the opportunity to win this fantastic trip. A winner will be announced on Sept. 15. For more information on how you can donate and enter, you can click right here.

Tags: C.I. Foundation, Cornelius Ingram, Jeremy Brown, John Brantley, John Brantley III, Kelly Murphy, McKenzie Barney, Miami RedHawks, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Player of the Week, SEC, soccer, Urban Meyer, volleyball

With the Florida Gators’ 2010-11 football season about to begin, OGGOA wanted to do something very special for our female readers (or male readers looking for a fantastic gift for their girlfriends). It was with that intent that we decided to partner up with Tracy Zych New York, which has just recently come out with a brand new line of beautiful and trendy designer Team Spirit Handbags – perfect for game days!

Offered right now for only two teams – Florida and Florida State – these luxury handbags come in 11 and seven styles, respectively, and retail from $145-$355! Utilizing a special buttery soft leather surrounded by bold hardware and modern designs, these handbags are sure to capture the hearts of women in Gainesville, FL, in no time at all. Be the first to sport your handbag to a game (or receive one as a gift from your boyfriend) and make your friends jealous by winning OGGOA‘s latest contest!

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
We think it is important for you to show your Team Spirit, but we also want you to show your OGGOA Site Spirit, too. Between now and Sept. 12 (after the Gators’ second game of the season against South Florida), the reader who BEST and most UNIQUELY shows their OGGOA Site Spirit will win a Tracy Zych Team Spirit Handbag.

HOW DO I SHOW MY “SITE SPIRIT?”
That is up to you. Whether you want to paint a panel on the 34th Street wall, wear a custom-made OnlyGators.com t-shirt into The Swamp, cover the Turlington Plaza cork board with OGGOA flyers, hand out a flyer to everyone at your Gator Club watch party or do something else completely unique – as long as you are promoting OnlyGators.com and have proof (photos or videos) – you have a chance to win. [Keep it legal, folks.]

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY PROOF?
Make sure whatever you do contains “OnlyGators.com” and/or “OGGOA” (extra points for both) and send an e-mail to contest@onlygators.com with your pictures or video and a paragraph or two detailing exactly what you did. Whoever impresses us the most will win a Team Spirit Handbag shipped for free to your door – it is just that simple!

Should you not win the bag, Tracy Zych has provided OGGOA’s readers with a special 15%-off discount code – type in “onlygators” upon checking out online.

Tags: Team Spirit Handbags, Tracy Zych

1 » Moving up two spots after an opening week in which they went 2-0, No. 9 Florida Gators soccer (3-0) remained undefeated after taking down the Florida Atlantic Owls (0-2) 3-0 Friday night at James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Redshirt sophomore midfielder McKenzie Barney (4’), junior MF/forward Tahnai Annis (7’) and sophomore F/MF Natalia Torosian (14’) all scored for the Gators within the first 14 minutes, forcing the Owls to concentrate on defense the remainder of the match. Florida looks to continue their winning streak on Sunday against San Diego State at home.

2 » Former Gators quarterback Chris Leak will be making his first CFL start next Friday, filling in for Montreal Alouettes starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo. For the first time in his career, Leak will be able to practice as the team’s starter for a week rather than be thrown into the game in a back-up role. “It’s good. It gives the coaches a chance to tweak things to my strengths and see what things we can do offensively to help us win the game,” Leak said in a media availability. “It’s going to be a fun week and we’re going to work hard and get the game plan in and just go out there and execute.”

Tags: Anthony Calvillo, CFL, Chris Leak, Florida Atlantic Owls, Florida Gators, James G. Pressly Stadium, McKenzie Barney, Montreal Alouettes, Natalia Torosian, soccer, Tahnai Annis

1 » On the heels of FOX Sports’ piece about Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer on Tuesday comes another from the New York Times’ Pete Thamel, who notes that Meyer has a new perspective on his coaching career these days. In fact, it even led him to discard his Blackberry for a time being in place of an “older model with no Internet connection. He programmed seven numbers in it – for his four immediate family members, his two sisters and his father. No one else knew the number.” His wife, Shelley Meyer, is happy with his progress and health now. “As scary and hard as it was on the family and the team, so much good has come out of it,” she said. “The way he is now, he could go 10 more years.” Even strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti noticed something wrong with Meyer’s weight – by looking at his butt. “When he’d walk, his pants would sag halfway down,” Marotti said. “He looked like one of our players. He completely lost his entire rear end.”

2 » A university spokesperson announced Thursday that senior Florida basketball guard Hudson Fricke has decided to transfer to Milligan College. A walk-on who only played 22 minutes in three years, Fricke’s only points came on four free throws during the 2007-08 season. OGGOA wishes him the best of luck with his new team.

3 » Recapping what coaches learned during Oakland Raiders training camp this offseason, Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times notes that former Gators wide receiver Louis Murphy “is far and away the Raiders’ best and most dangerous receiver” even though he “still drops too many passes for a real level of comfort. Murphy, who caught 34 balls for 521 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, was the team’s best WR and second-leading pass catcher in 2009-10.

4 » Tough night for former Florida kick returner Brandon James on Thursday. While returning a punt for the Indianapolis Colts, James muffed the catch, allowing the Green Bay to recover the ball in the endzone for a touchdown. Additionally, rookie cornerback Ray Fisher returned a kickoff 58 yards for a TD. With Devin Moore likely to be the team’s primary returner, there is a chance James loses his opportunity with the Colts.

5 » No. 9 Gators soccer (2-0) looks to stay undefeated Friday night as they take on the Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1) at 6 p.m. at James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL.

6 » Conspicuous by their absences Thursday night were New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, neither of whom participated in the team’s third preseason game. Hernandez missed practice this week with an undisclosed injury, and Cunningham has yet to participate in a single NFL down this season. Both, however, are expected to see major playing time this year. Florida rookie LB Brandon Spikes, who did play, recorded seven tackles (five solo) and a quarterback hit.

Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon James, Brandon Spikes, Devin Moore, Florida Atlantic Owls, Green Bay Packers, Hudson Fricke, Indianapolis Colts, James G. Pressly Stadium, Jermaine Cunningham, Louis Murphy, Mickey Marotti, Milligan College, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Ray Fisher, Shelley Meyer, soccer, Urban Meyer

1 » It is no secret that Florida Gators junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins is already a top prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft – and he has not even played a down in the 2010 season yet. ESPN currently ranks him as the No. 10 overall draft prospect for next year, and Jenkins is aware that he could very well follow in Cleveland Browns rookie CB Joe Haden’s footsteps not only at Florida but also in the pros as well. Pahokee High School head coach Blaze Thompson told the Palm Beach Post Tuesday that Jenkins is “one of those guys that doesn’t accept the back seat and isn’t intimidated by many people. The NFL is his dream. If by the end of the year he’s slated as a first-round pick, I would say Florida’s losing a corner. It’s hard to pass that money up.” The Post’s Jason Lieser also points out something else interesting – that new Gators defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was dejected to learn that Jenkins was only a sophomore when he was evaluating defensive backs prior to the 2010 NFL Draft; he was looking at Haden, but Jenkins stood out to him on film.

2 » Though Florida’s coaching staff has changed drastically since last season, assistant head coach and defensive line coach Dan McCarney believes the current lineup is as good as ever. “I think they all come from phenomenal programs, good people, they are winners,” he said, according to Florida Today. “Most, if not all, have a great background with Urban Meyer, which makes it pretty unique. […] I’ve been on some great staffs. I think this one may be as good as any I’ve ever been around.”

Extra BIT » Remember when OGGOA told you that former Gators softball player and ESPN sideline reporter Jenn Brown had signed an endorsement deal with Icehouse? Yeah, that’s not going to happen. According to MillerCoors, which distributes Icehouse, ESPN decided to nix the deal even after they initially approved it when Brown’s agent broached the subject. Brown can now continue to enjoy her Coronas without having to worry about angering her sponsor.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement/US Presswire

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Dan McCarney, Draft, ESPN, Janoris Jenkins, Jenn Brown, Joe Haden, NFL, softball, Teryl Austin, Urban Meyer

Three-time Olympic gold medalist and former Florida Gators swimmer Ryan Lochte had a week for the record books, earning six gold medals and the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships over the last few days. The biggest international meet of the season saw the United States team bring home a total of 52 medals, 26 of which were gold and just under 25 percent of which were earned by Lochte.

His six golds came in the 200-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley, 200-meter backstroke, 400-meter free relay and 800-meter free relay. His final gold, the 200-meter individual medley won on Saturday, was completed in 1:54:43 – a meet record and the third-fastest time in the history of the sport.

Winning more golds than anyone else in Irvine, CA, last week, Lochte was named Swimmer of the Meet. He and Florida head swimming coach Gregg Troy, who also led America’s team at the Pan Pacific Championships, set the tone for the U.S. victory. With 489.5 points, America blew out Australia, the second-place finisher (311.5 points).

Photo Credit: USA Swimming

Tags: Gregg Troy, Pan Pacific Championships, Ryan Lochte, swimming, United States