RAINEY, BROWN SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN

Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Rainey left Saturday’s game with what is believed to have been a concussion. Nevertheless, Meyer believes he will be able to play Saturday at Tennessee. Rainey was held out of what was a light practice on Sunday for precautionary purposes but looks to be a full go the rest of the week.

Also leaving the game early was redshirt sophomore starting cornerback Jeremy Brown. Meyer said after the contest that Brown suffered a “full body cramp,” but Brown related Monday that he actually had a strained hamstring and should be fine for the weekend. Even so, he noted that freshman CB Cody Riggs, who got a lot of playing time in his stead, did well and even complimented his exceptional speed.

In other injury news, sophomore left tackle Xavier Nixon returned Saturday from a knee injury but played as a reserve. He will likely return to his starting role against Tennessee, moving the rest of the line back to their original positions.

WEEK TWO CHAMPIONS

Meyer announced that ten Gators graded out as Champions after the South Florida Bulls game. Junior running back Jeff Demps, senior center Mike Pouncey and senior strong safety Ahmad Black were all singled out as Players of the Week. Offensively, redshirt seniors offensive linemen Marcus Gilbert and Maurice Hurt and RB Emmanuel Moody were all honored. Four players on the defense – junior CB Janoris Jenkins, redshirt senior linebacker A.J. Jones and senior defensive ends Justin Trattou and Duke Lemmens – shined throughout the game.

Additionally, Demps and Pouncey were each honored by the Southeastern Conference, respectively, as the organization’s Special Teams Player of the Week and Offensive Lineman of the Week. Demps returned two kickoffs for 95 yards, and Pouncey had a 95 percent efficiency at center.

GAME BALLS FOR EVERYONE!

For the second time in three days, Meyer pointed to the home crowd at The Swamp for its amazing passion and support throughout what he believes is one of – if not the – hottest game played at the stadium in years. He even joked that he wished he could buy game balls for all 93,000+ fans as they severely impacted South Florida’s ability to move the ball in the second half.

A BUNCH OF COMEDIANS

Redshirt senior left guard Carl Johnson is apparently a jokester, aiming some one-liners on Monday at Tennessee players, fans, former head coach Lane Kiffin and those who insist on comparing redshirt junior starting quarterback John Brantley‘s leadership to that of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Johnson quipped that it was funny the players had problems bathing (staph infection issues) and said Kiffin left for USC because he would prefer probation for two years rather than the humiliation of being beat by Florida again. “I mean, let me ask you a question,” Johnson said. “What would you prefer…to lose to Florida or can’t go to a bowl game for two years? I think we already defeated him in our minds.”

Also cracking wise Monday was Pouncey, who related a story from a trip to McDonald’s on Sunday night. “I heard it all. I was going through the drive-thru last night at McDonald’s, and as I was leaving the guy told me, he said, ‘Don’t mess up the snaps,’ and I said, ‘Hey, don’t mess up my sandwiches no more.’”

Perhaps Black was right when he said early Monday, “I just may be on the funniest team in America,” because he’s one of them, noting later in the day that his last memory about visiting Tennessee was “a bunch of drunk old people.”

QUOTES (More coming soon…)

Meyer on his team’s first away game: “We’re going to have a bunch of new players get on that plane and head to Knoxville. So much of what we do around here is routine and that is a major concern. I’m trying to fight myself right now on how to get that done and not take away from preparation time. The worst thing that happens is someone’s late walking in, forgets their tie. Someone doesn’t show up. Someone forgets their ID on the plane and goes to the room when we’re not supposed to go to the room. That just messes everything up as far as routine and we take that real serious around here. We’ll have several meetings about it and try to get that ready.”

Meyer on Florida’s upcoming opponent, Tennessee: “It’s SEC personnel from top to bottom. [They have] some dynamic players, some young players. They’re dealing with some of the same issues we have as far as lack of experience, but make no mistake about it – they’re every bit as talented as most teams in the SEC. And obviously [Neyland Stadium] one of the most difficult environments to play in.”

Special thanks to the Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel for the player quotes above.

Less than a month later, USC athletic director Mike Garrett was forced to send letters to each school apologizing for the previous accusations and attempting to make amends for “any inconvenience or embarrassment” that was caused.

ESPN’s Shaun Assael has since uncovered a letter of admission from Baxter, who fessed up to misleading his university about what exactly happened in June.

“I misspoke when I said coaches had contacted me from other schools,” Baxter wrote in a letter to the school. “I am truly sorry for all of the chaos I have caused and it was not my intention to implicate other schools and their coaching staffs.”

Baxter began his letter by explaining that he spoke with friends at the implicated institutions, not coaches or administration officials. While he claims he did not understand the rules, many – including USC – appear to believe the whole situation was a hoax and that Baxter purposely misled them.

That is part of the reason that he has been suspended for the team’s opener against Hawaii on Sept. 2. “I’ve done a couple things, and things happen, and I made a mistake,” Baxter told reporters last week. “But I’m going to move on from here on out.”

USC head coach Lane Kiffin called Baxter’s one-game opening-season punishment “an extremely strong message and a very severe punishment for a player that may potentially be the most skilled player on our whole roster.”

» Former Florida Gators forward/center David Lee of the Golden State Warriors was the subject of a piece by Harvey Araton of The New York Times on Monday. Lee, who has spent his whole career with the New York Knicks after they drafted him coming out of college, has a special bond with the team and has been the face of the franchise over the last few years. Read about how he went out of his way to represent the team (even after being traded to Golden State) at a funeral for longtime NBA and Madison Square Garden security official Scott Jaffer and how he will always be remembered in New York for being such an upstanding person.

» Interviewed by the NFL Network about his throwing mechanics, San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers went through the motions with some of the studio analysts on Monday. Because of the subject matter, Rivers was asked about Denver Broncos rookie QB Tim Tebow’s motion, and the veteran offered advice and insight into what Tebow may and may not need to do going forward.

» Florida should be excited about 2011 five-star shooting guard commitment Brad Beal (St. Louis, MO) – he could be the best player the team has signed since guard Nick Calathes. Then again, with one of the top players in the country considering his future in a different sport, there is a slight cause for concern. With his father and two brothers all having played collegiate football, Beal tells USA Today that he is “still trying to decide” which sport to play. “My brothers, especially my younger brothers, want me to play football so we can be on the same team,” Beal said. “But my mom always tells me, ‘You don’t have the body for football, so you have to stick to basketball.’” Don’t get it twisted – his future is on the court – not the field. Having a former Gators star like Lee (who also graduated from Chaminade High School) in his ear certainly helps. “We don’t have that much in common because we play different positions,” Beal said. “He came back to visit the school, and I talk to him during lunch period. He gave me input on the game.”

» While Beal is deciding what sport to play, four-star cornerback Nick Waisome (Groveland, FL) is just trying to figure out what school to end. According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Chris Hays, Waisome now considers his final five to Florida, Florida State, LSU, Georgia and South Carolina; he plans to decide in August.

» Updating a previous item, four-star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade, FL) still considers the Gators to be the leader for his services, even after having Miami Hurricanes commitment four-star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (Miami, FL) in his ear during the Nike 7-on-7 Championship last Saturday. “Florida is still in the lead,” Benjamin told SoFLAfootball.com. “I like Florida and what they showed me, how they would use me. I like Miami too and Florida State, so all the Florida teams, they’re really up there. But I like Florida.”

Three more BITES on Meyer, Smith and Werner…after the break!

» Alabama blowhard columnist/radio personality Paul Finebaum interviewed Florida head football coach Urban Meyer last week. Skipping all of the backhanded compliments where he states Meyer surprised him with his “candor, attitude and outlook” (not like Finebaum gave him much of a chance by slandering him every opportunity he’s had over the last two years), the host does get an interesting quote out of him about whether or not he misses new USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin. “Oooh,” Meyer said. “I gotta not answer that or it’ll be on the front page of USA Today tomorrow. I have a lot of respect for the new guy at Tennessee. I never knew [Kiffin]. I don’t know much about him. But I have spoken to Coach [Derek] Dooley quite a bit, something I haven’t done with a Tennessee coach in a long while.”

» Former Gators running back Emmitt Smith, who happens be the NFL’s all-time leading rusher (among other accomplishments), told the Victoria Advocate that he believes his record will be challenged at some point. “I do believe it will be approached,” Smith said. “I would be naive to think that it could be not approached, because, hey, no one actually thought that Walter Payton’s record could be approached. […] I’m not going to sit here and tell you the record is not going to be approached or broken, but I do know this: It’s going to take an awful lot to get there, because I know what it took for me to get there. It’s not easy.”

» Bet you never thought you would see the name Dan Werner here again, did you? Wrong! According to the Asbury Park Press, Werner was back home in New Jersey playing in the Verison Fios Jersey Shore Basketball League when a reporter caught up with him. The former Florida forward explained that he is attempting to play basketball in Italy by receiving dual-citizenship, which will allow a club team to sign him without using up one of their slots reserved for Americans. “We’re still working on it,” Werner said. “We’re still trying to get a hold of one last document, my great-grandfather’s birth certificate. So, hopefully that works out and we can make it happen. There’s no offers on the table yet, but my agents are confident there will be.”

» Noted Canes fan and rap artist “Uncle Luke” Luther Campbell has some advice for Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh: “Do not wear a Florida Gators hat. With all do respect to your new teammates Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, you guys don’t want to be pulling a Tom Brady, who wore a Yankees cap in Boston. Sporting Gator gear in Miami will get you [bleeped] up by Hurricanes fans.”

Read what else Meyer and some of the other coaches had to say after the break!

Meyer on his 2010 team: “We have a bunch of good players still there, now. A little bit in [20]06, when we lost that whole group, we knew we were getting ready for a tough go. We have some really, really good players. They may not be the marquee name guys right now, but hopefully they will become that. You turn the page and keep going. Everything is in decent shape. Some guys have to step up and play, because we did lose some good players.”

Meyer on redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley: “Johnny Brantley has three years under his belt. That’s the way it should be. It’s a scary deal now when you take over without learning how to play.”

Meyer on losing to Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship: “We missed 24 tackles and had a couple of turnovers, so we didn’t play the way we took great pride in. That’s what happens when you play that way against great people. You get exposed.”

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier on Brantley replacing Tim Tebow: “Doug [Johnson] tried to replace Danny Wuerffel [in 1997]. Doug was out playing baseball and drinking beer all summer. Doug’s a bright young man, got a good job down there and [is] doing very well … but that was his summer prior to starting for the Gators.”

Spurrier criticizing QB Stephen Garcia: “Hopefully Stephen Garcia can come around and make a stronger commitment to play. If he’s going to be your quarterback, then everybody’s got to believe in him. We’re hoping Stephen will show just a little bit stronger commitment level and get himself better prepared to play each week and play better.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban on defending the title: “I think the biggest issue is not allowing people to be complacent, to be satisfied, making people aware you have to focus on the same set of processes the first time if they want to repeat and do it again. […] It can’t be about trying to prove something, because you’ve kind of already done that. It needs to be about: Do you want to be the best you can be? Are you driven to be the best player you can be? Are you driven to have the intensity, the sense of urgency, the intelligence. Are you going to work to do the things you need to do to be your absolute best? And that’s not normal. Everybody thinks it’s normal, but it’s not normal.”

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley on how he differs from Lane Kiffin: “I watch other coaches and how they handle themselves. You can learn a lot of what to do and what not to do. It wasn’t my style, but that’s Lane’s style. I’m not here to criticize his style. Everybody’s a little different. I don’t think it helps you win football games getting in verbal attacks with each other. […] At the end of the day, a good headline in February or March isn’t going to win you any football games.”

Georgia head coach Mark Richt on his job security: “My mindset has always been: Let’s do what I think we need to do to succeed and try not to be influenced by anything other than the people who are closest to the program. And quite frankly, my goal has always been to try to conduct myself in a way so that the university would be proud. So I’m trying to do things […] with a lot of integrity and a lot of character. And hopefully we’re winning games and we’re still educating young men. […] Of course you want to win. Absolutely. But also we still want these guys to get their degrees; we want these guys to be preparing for life after football. We think you can have it all.”

Special thanks to the SEC, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel, Palm Beach Post and Atlanta Journal-Constitution for some of the quoted material above.

“In an informal interview setting, Richardson mentioned how much he regrets spurning Urban Meyer and Florida,” Lieser writes. “He said the biggest reason he opted against Florida was the fact that former Pahokee teammate Janoris Jenkins was already there and Richardson felt he would be stuck in Jenkins’ shadow if he signed.

“However, he said if he had been a Gator, he never would have gotten in trouble. The reason? Jenkins. Richardson believes Jenkins would have watched over him closely and kept him away from problematic situations.”

One of the reasons for Richardson’s decommitment was a promise of immediate playing time by then-Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin. That never came to fruition and Richardson seemed to know it right away.

“Yeah, [playing time] definitely was [the main issue]. I felt like I was the best player at the time and I felt like [Kiffin] was just holding me back,” Richardson said. “This is something I do. I felt like, if I wanted to do this, I could’ve stayed at Florida.”

Check out what else Richardson had to say…after the jump!

Gators fans were quick to turn on Richardson when he became a member of the Volunteers’ 2010 class. A few even found some semblance of joy in his arrest.

“Richardson’s lack of character was obvious last January,” wrote one OGGOA reader. “Now [it is even] more obvious. Let’s see how many more recruits choose to follow these three crooks to Tennessee.”

Say what you will about Richardson’s decision-making, the former high school star is intently trying to turn his life around and start anew at Hampton this season.

“Right now, my head’s good. I’m in love with Hampton. I’m growing up now,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of things in life and it’s really opened my eyes. It’s bigger than just football right now.”

Read more about Richardson’s past and future including details about the attempted robbery and his penchant for smoking marijuana in this interview by Post.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Four-star safety recruit Demar Dorsey (Lauderdale Lakes, FL) has spurned the Florida Gators for the in-state rival Florida State Seminoles, according to three separate reports. Dorsey, who openly wavered with his commitment throughout the process, recently proclaimed that he was 90-95 percent solid to the Gators, the highest percentage he had given them over the last year.

He even went so far as to reaffirm his commitment to Florida and recruit other players for the Gators while participating in the Under Armour All-American Game three weeks ago.

“I’ve been to Florida several times on unofficial visits,” Dorsey told the Orlando Sentinel last week, “but I figured I’d take a couple of visits just to make sure Florida is where I want to go to school. [The Gators are] still on top, they’re still my No. 1. They aren’t going anywhere. I’d say right now they’re about 90-95 percent.” He visited the Michigan Wolverines two weeks ago, met with Gators co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Chuck Heater last Thursday, checked out the Seminoles last weeked and has plans to take a trip to see the USC Trojans this weekend.

Though reports state Dorsey has made this decision, a lot can change after he meets with new Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Dorsey was originally interested in the Tennessee Volunteers mostly because of the coaching staff, and the same coaches at a more prestigious program may be enough to send him out West for college. No matter what happens this weekend, coaches from all three schools will have an opportunity to speak with Dorsey before he signs his National Letter of Intent on National Signing Day.

Expect Florida to make an even stronger push to four-star athlete Jeremy Deering (Tampa, FL), who is said to be leaning toward Florida State but may be swayed into changing his mind if Dorsey does indeed sign there on Feb. 3.

Photo Credit: Rivals

2 » While most outlets (including OGGOA, Sports Illustrated, etc.) wrapped up their “All-Decade” lists and articles in December 2009, ESPN has spent the last week printing theirs about college football. Mark Schlabach concluded the series with his predictions for the next decade, most of which are positive for Gators fans. Among his 20 predictions, Schlabach believes the Southeastern Conference will win at least four more BCS National Championships; head coach Urban Meyer will win at least one more at Florida; another Gators quarterback, John Brantley, will lead the Gators to the SEC East title in 2010; and Brantley will win the Heisman Trophy as a senior in 2011.

Extra Bit » Five-star Florida defensive end commit Ronald Powell, the consensus No. 1-rated player in the country, told Justin Wells of Gator Country that his loyalty to the Gators is unchanged after being pursued heavily by Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron. “There isn’t anybody that going to change my mind,” Powell told Wells. “I’m a Florida Gator, and I’m going to be a Florida Gator. [Kiffin and Orgeron] came to my school and tried to talk to me there, and I told them, ‘I’m a Florida Gator,’ and that’s it. They’ve tried to call, but I’m done.”

It is important to note that the basketball poll was conducted after the Gators’ buzzer-beating win over the N.C. State Wolfpack and before the team’s back-to-back losses to the Vanderbilt Commodores and Kentucky Wildcats. I wonder if the NCAA Tournament projection that 85 percent of voters chosen would be the same today?

Do you like the George Edwards hire?
Yes (77%, 296 votes)
Undecided (20%, 78 votes)
No (3%, 13 votes)

That 77 percent of respondents answered “Yes” was quite surprising considering there was an “Undecided” option (20 percent). For Edwards’ vast experience and pedigree, he is not a known name that I would have expected fans to be overly excited about from the get-go. Then again, OGGOA did provide a pretty detailed story.

Which new Florida Gators commitment are you most excited to seeing in Orange & Blue?
Five-star DE Ronald Powell (65%, 397 votes)
Five-star DT Sharrif Floyd (28%, 171 votes)
Five-star S Matt Elam (7%, 43 votes)

Looks like the overwhelming excitement for Powell and Floyd over Elam came from Elam’s back-and-forth and the fact that Powell and Floyd dominated the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Game. Elam was a dynamic and exciting player at Dwyer High School and deservers to have a higher percentage of votes. Then again, it is tough to argue against being excited about the consensus No. 1-ranked high school player in the country.

What is the biggest college football coaching news story so far this offseason?
Lane Kiffin dumping UT for USC (64%, 450 votes)
Urban Meyer’s flip-flop (17%, 119 votes)
Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL (14%, 96 votes)
Mike Leach’s firing by TT (5%, 38 votes)
Brian Kelly’s departure to ND (<1%, 3 votes)

This poll was posted as the Kiffin news was breaking, so it should be no surprise that he garnered the majority of the vote. For as surprising and shocking Meyer’s and Carroll’s decisions were, Kiffin’s move predictably took the cake.

2 » Here is an interesting and quite comical story coming out of WBIR in Knoxville, TN. Drew McElroy, a local attorney and big Tennessee Volunteers fan, has filed paperwork with the city’s Public Properties and Facilities Naming Committee to rename Knoxville’s waste water treatment plant the “Lane Kiffin Sewage Center.” And why not? “It dawned on me–Lane Kiffin told us that he hoped the fans would understand,” McElroy said. “I thought, ‘Well, naming the wastewater plant for him would let him know, I think very clearly, we do understand.’” More on this from WBIR.

Extra Bit » A nice read from Sports Illustrated‘s Andy Stapes on the position of college football head coach being the most dangerous job in sports. “Nearly every Division I head coach puts in more than 100-hour weeks during the season and heavy recruiting periods,” Staples writes. “If anything, it’s amazing more coaches haven’t suffered heart attacks or more serious ailments as a result of stress and brutal work schedules.”

Read the many allegations and OGGOA’s questions after the jump!

- Kiffin crashed his University of Tennessee-provided Lexus into a tree while driving under the influence on Sept. 8. This accident occurred just outside his home in West Knoxville.

- An area sports bar stayed open late for Kiffin, a handful of the Volunteers’ boosters and several co-eds, a group of which (allegedly including Kiffin) “left the club to continue their fun at the downtown apartment.”

But here is where everything gets interesting. Both an employee of the Lexus dealership and a “high-ranking” school official have confirmed that Kiffin was indeed involved in the accident detailed in these articles; however, reports state that the incident occurred in August, not September. Kiffin, asked about the accident by Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton, said he had been working late at the football complex and fell asleep at the wheel while driving home. Making the story even more interesting is that no accident report was filed by Kiffin in 2009 according to the Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office, though the Lexus dealer claims that the authorities were informed of the accident and Kiffin’s insurance paid for the car’s damages.

These conflicting reports leave a variety of questions unanswered.

When did Kiffin’s accident actually occur? Did he crash his car while under the influence? Was there a cover-up by local law enforcement and/or the university? Did Kiffin flee the scene of an accident on foot? Is he guilty of some of the same things that got Larry Eustachy fired? Did Tomlin actually think he could learn something from watching Kiffin coach? Does this “rendezvous place” really exist? How involved were the team’s boosters in these events? Will Kiffin be held accountable by the USC Trojans if these allegations are proven true? What man in his right mind finds a need to cheat on a beautiful Florida Gators fan like this woman? Finally, why are all of these allegations coming out in January 2010 (after Kiffin has wronged the city and school) rather than three or four months ago when the events allegedly occurred?