2 » Facing a top-15 opponent for the third time in their first five matches of the 2010 season, No. 4/6 Florida volleyball (5-0) defeated the No. 13/15 Colorado State Rams (5-1) in four sets – 25-22, 25-19, 25-27, 25-21. The victory, which won the Gators the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational emanating from the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL, featured another brilliant performance from junior right-side/setter Kelly Murphy. She, along with senior middle blocker Lauren Bledsoe, recorded 13 of Florida’s 10 kills. One day prior, in matches that took place earlier in the invitational, volleyball swept the both the Bowling Green Falcons (25-12, 25-11, 25-16) and Albany Great Danes (25-8, 25-21, 25-14) in three sets.

The Gators will host another tournament, the Nike Big Four Classic, beginning Friday. The other three teams participating in the event are No. 1 Penn State, Texas and Stanford, and all game information is available via OGGOA’s Upcoming Schedule table at the top right of your screen.

3 » Also running through the competition this year is No. 7 Florida soccer (5-0), which had six different players score while shutting out the Jacksonville Dolphins (2-3) 6-0 on Friday at James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Junior forward Lindsay Thompson (27’), junior F/midfielder Tahnai Annis (30’), freshman F/MF Maggie Rodgers (45’), redshirt sophomore MF McKenzie Barney (50’), freshman defender Mary-Ann Krlin (80’) and sophomore F/MF Natalia Torosian (90’) all punched goals through. As a team, Florida had 30 shots on Jacksonville, 14 of which were on goal. UF is set to face Florida State next on the road Friday at 7 p.m.

4 » Though he missed most of training camp grieving two deaths and suffering from another severe bout of migraine headaches, former Gators wide receiver Percy Harvin says he is “ready to play ball” for the Minnesota Vikings beginning Thursday night in the NFL’s 2010-11 season opener against the New Orleans Saints (including former Florida defensive end Alex Brown and running back DeShawn Wynn). Harvin, who will be on of quarterback Brett Favre’s primary pass catchers along with the team’s kick returner, believes he is finally getting his migraines under control with the help of numerous doctors. “There’s no miracle solution for them,” he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “The people I talked to had them for 40-plus years. My mom had them for 35 years and is just now growing out of them. It’s just something you got to hope to maintain. [...] I think we have a great plan.”

GOOD NEWS

» As expected, all nine Gators selected in the 2010 NFL Draft made it through training camp and the preseason.

» Former Florida wide receiver David Nelson, who signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills after the draft, was told Saturday afternoon that he made the team. “Officially a Buffalo Bill,” Nelson wrote to his Twitter account. “Thanks to everyone for the support and prayers through this long but rewarding process!”

» Though it is not believed he was in complete danger of making the cut, former Gators safety Reggie Nelson got what he will likely consider his own form of good news Saturday, as the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to trade him to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals, in need of safety help after losing Gibril Wilson to a season-ending injury, decided to trade cornerback David Jones and a conditional draft pick to the Jaguars. Nelson will be reunited with wide receiver Andre Caldwell and defensive end Carlos Dunlap in Cincinnati.

BAD NEWS

» Tight end Cornelius Ingram has faced plenty of adversity since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during his senior season with Florida. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 153 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Ingram proceeded to tear the same ACL again as a rookie during training camp. Finally back at near full speed, he had been playing well for the Eagles this offseason until a baker’s cyst in his knee kept him out of action. Ingram was released by Philadelphia on Saturday but will be a candidate to land on the team’s practice squad should he go unclaimed.

» Even though he scored three touchdowns in the Indianapolis Colts‘ final preseason game, former Gators kick returner Brandon James did not make the cut with one of the top teams in the AFC. Instead, the team elected to sign Devin Moore for that job. James did muff a punt that was returned for the touchdown during the preseason and will likely be picked up as a practice squad player with either the Colts or another team.

» One of the team’s most valuable defensive players throughout the 2009 playoffs, former Gators defensive end Bobby McCray was cut by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, just over a month after the team brought him back (they originally let him go on June 21). In the offseason, the Saints signed fellow former Florida DE Alex Brown, who will be a starter for New Orleans this season.

When most college football fans think about the Florida Gators 1996 season, two names in particular come to mind: head coach Steve Spurrier and starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Winner of seven individual awards in 1996 including the Heisman Trophy (and another Davey O’Brien Award in 1995), Wuerffel led the Gators to their first National Championship in his final effort after a four-year career in which he threw for an astounding 10,875 yards and 114 touchdowns.

A first-team All-America selection in 1995 and 1996, many of Wuerffel’s numbers remain the best in Southeastern Conference history and the second-best in national history. In 1995, his efficiency of 178.4 set a single-season collegiate record, and in his Heisman year of 1996, his 3,625 yards (SEC record), 39 TDs (led nation, SEC record) and efficiency rating of 170.6 made him the first QB to ever post a rating of 170 or more in back-to-back years. Wuerffel led the Gators in passing in each of his four seasons (1993-96) and still holds Florida records for most career passing touchdowns and most passing touchdowns in a season (in which he also holds second place). In fact, one out of every 9.74 passes Wuerffel threw in his career would be scored for a touchdown.

Enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor in 2006 and set to be immortalized in a statue outside of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 2010, Wuerffel is now the executive director of Desire Street Ministries, which works to revitalize impoverished neighborhoods through spiritual and community development.

OGGOA spoke to Wuerffel on Tuesday and, even though our interview was feared lost by a technical difficulty, it was recovered at the end of the day. How lucky are we?

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: Coming out of Fort Walton Beach, was attending the University of Florida an easy choice for you – something you always knew you wanted to do?
DANNY WUERFFEL: “Actually, we were living close to Florida State and my sister was attending Florida State. By default, I was more of a Seminole fan in high school. I took three visits – one to Alabama, one to Florida State and one to Florida. At the end of the day, the two things that drew me to Florida were, firstly, the quality of the education with so many different directions – I wasn’t centered or decided on a major and Florida just had so many highly respected colleges and majors to choose from – I was really impressed with the school, and then secondly, the opportunity to play for coach [Steve] Spurrier – too much to pass up.”

AS: When deciding on Florida, did you know your high school coach wanted to eventually go back to the Gators, or did that happen afterward?
DW: “Coach [Jimmy Ray Stephens] – he played at Florida and had coached at Florida and he was always hoping to get back there – I think that was one of his goals. It was a year or so after I got signed, a year or so after that, coach Spurrier gave him the opportunity to come.”

AS: You played four years at Florida – which is not something a lot of quarterbacks really get the chance to do – but obviously broke out in your final two seasons in 1995 and 1996. Was there a particular switch that turned on for you, was it a measure of the talent around you – what was the difference?
DW: “Practically what happened – both my freshman and sophomore year I was splitting time with Terry Dean – so in terms of snaps and reps, [I] didn’t get as much. For both the 1995 and 1996 team[s], there were some really, really dynamic players and folks that came along and we had two really good teams those two years. And it just happened those were the two years I was in the driver’s seat. When you’re in the right place at the right time with the right coaches and the right players, a lot of cool things can happen, and those were definitely some good years.”

Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Danny Wuerffell…after the break!

AS: One thing we like to look at here is trends. In the Gators’ last two championship seasons – there was a definable moment or catalyst that seemed to turn everything around. In 2006 many point to Jarvis Moss’ blocked field goal against South Carolina; in 2008 it was Tim Tebow’s now famous “The Promise” speech after losing to Ole Miss. What was it for you guys in 1996?
DW: “I think a couple of things. One is, after we lost to Florida State, there was a serious [drop] in the morale. When you lose at the end of the year in college football, you are pretty much out of it. We were undefeated, ranked No. 1 and then we lost. To me, the following Monday [and] Tuesday, when there was that painful spirit of many of your dreams seemingly lost, there was a group of seniors – I think of James Bates, Lawrence Wright, myself and several others – that I really felt rallied the team back and said, ‘Hey, we need to get our head up. We have a chance to win the SEC.’ As that happened, and as the coaches helped [the team] believe that, we got the chance to go in. The other things that happened were things we couldn’t control – Texas beat Nebraska the same day that we won the SEC Championship, which no one thought could happen. And then the night before the Sugar Bowl, Ohio State beat Arizona State – so all the other undefeated teams got beaten which then gave us the opportunity to go out there and beat Florida State for the National Championship. So the quick answer would be the rallying after the Florida State loss, and then the opportunities that we just kind of fell into with the other teams losing.”

AS: Obviously you’re a very moral guy – I doubt you truly have or feel legitimate hatred for anybody…but do you hate Florida State?
DW: “[Laughing] No…um… [Laughing] I do, you know… At the time, I didn’t think about it that much, but looking at some of the hits now especially as football has evolved and how they’re protecting the quarterback more and more – if you watch an NFL game now, if they touch the quarterback at all after the ball is gone you’ve got flags and fines. If you compare what’s happening now in the NFL to what happened to me in 1996 against Florida State – it’s pretty amazing.”

AS: Throughout your Gators career, you won a bunch of championships, awards, trophies and titles, most of them in 1996, but what separates you from many other legendary college passers is the fact that you are the only player in history to win the Heisman Trophy and the Draddy Trophy in the same year [Tebow won the Heisman in 2007 and the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2009]. What did it feel like to be recognized as a scholar in addition to everything you accomplished on the playing field?
DW: “I feel very fortunate that I was able to do well not just in football but also to focus and do well in school. Looking back, sometimes you wonder how you can balance so many things going on at one time there. I think we had a great academic support system at Florida and a lot of folks that helped. [It was] just a great honor to have the opportunity to do well in both and be recognized for it.”

AS: Coming out of Florida as decorated as you were, were you surprised to be selected in the fourth round? Did you feel that your talents were discounted by scouts/coaches?
DW: “No, I think by the time the draft happened, I had heard enough from folks to not expect to be drafted higher than that. That’s so far out of your control. I was thankful that [head coach] Mike Ditka and the [New Orleans] Saints drafted me, and I had a chance to go there and play. I really wasn’t disappointed with that, I was thankful to get the chance. When I was in 9th grade, Adam, I remember writing down a goal sheet – things we wanted to accomplish. My goal was to get a college scholarship and, actually at the time, I thought it might be in basketball – I didn’t know. But it ended up being in football. Really, to me, the opportunity to play in college was just phenomenal. And then the NFL was just an extra bonus – living an extra dream that I didn’t count on or plan or expect but just got the opportunity, and it was a blessing.”

AS: After being drafted by the Saints and playing there for a few seasons, you spent a year in NFL Europe and won the World Bowl while capturing the MVP of the game award. You would come back for three more years, the last of which was spent with the Washington Redskins under your old coach Spurrier. What was that phone call like?
DW: “I was playing for the [Chicago] Bears, and the Bears put me on the supplemental draft list for the Houston Texans. I remember my agent called me and said, ‘Look, we don’t think there’s really any chance the Texans are going to draft you, so you should be fine.’ And then he called me back and said, ‘I think they may be drafting you.’ And then they drafted me. And then shortly after that, I got a cal from coach Spurrier saying, ‘Don’t get too comfortable, I think they’re trying to work out a trade with us.’ He was trying to get me, and I think Houston snatched me up because they figured they could trade me [to] Spurrier, which is what ended up happening.”

AS: You were coached by Spurrier for five years and have gotten to see a little bit of Urban Meyer now. First talk to me about the type of coach Spurrier is…but also how does he compare and contrast to Meyer.
DW: “I think coach Spurrier, to me, he’s a strange combination of a precise technician who everything – the passing routes, the timing of the passing game is so precise – it’s like he’s a mechanic or engineer, combined with your old fashioned gunslinger – a cowboy. ‘Well, you run down there and turn left and I’ll hit ya.’ He’s got these two unique combinations. Most people are either too by the hip or too by the book, and he can really bring those two things together. Coach Spurrier is fiercely competitive in all things. He has a really funny sense of humor and really likes to laugh. I think he’s just, in particular, an offensive genius. Thinking of coach Meyer, I think of coach Meyer as kind of like the general of the entire operation. I see him being just involved in all aspects of the game and leading the whole army – leading his troops. Very efficient; everything they do is impactful. I think he manages the games very well, and I think he’s just a complete wonderful head football coach.”

AS: Throughout your time at Florida, you stood out not only athletically and academically, but also morally – a lot of kids really looked up to you. One of them was obviously Tebow, who has followed in your footsteps in all three of those areas and is now a role model himself for kids. What has it been like for you to see him – someone who idolized you – follow such a similar path?
DW: “It is ironic how it goes full circle – my son now wears a Tim Tebow jersey and we can talk about what it means to be a fine young man. I think all of us – whether we know it or not, whether we won a Heisman Trophy or not – we’re impacting people everyday. And you just never know who you are going to impact and how their life is going to impact others. To have stayed an extra couple of minutes to sign an autograph for Tim, for that to impact him and then for him to grow up and think about his life as impacting other people, and to know I played a small part in that is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. I just hope that people don’t think you have to be a Heisman Trophy winner to have that kind of impact.”

AS: Another thing Tim and you will have in common is that you will be immortalized right outside The Swamp in two of three bronze statues going up this year. What did you think when you first found out about that?
DW: “It was a huge, huge honor to think that they would be interested in putting those up. And certainly to be next to those two guys even makes it even more special for me – my coach and a friend. Hopefully we’ll have room for many more in the next few years.”

AS: Speaking of that, let’s move on to this year. A lot of people are throwing some high praise on redshirt junior QB John Brantley and comparing him to guys from your era – pro-style drop back passers who can really move the ball down the field. What are your thoughts on him as a player and his potential with the program?
DW: “I’ve known Johnny for several years. He attended camp [that] me and Kerwin Bell and Shane Matthews used to [run]. You could tell, even when he was just a real young man, that he had some really special skills throwing the ball and really developed physically – he’s just really a good size and a good athlete. Additionally, the way that he develop[ed] his mind as a quarterback both in high school and college – having the years to develop, watching Tim play – I think he’s in a great, great position. I think he’s a very solid, very capable quarterback, and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he has a great year.”

AS: Since retiring you have been focusing much of your time and efforts on Desire Street Ministries. Talk to us a little about your main mission with the organization when you first started with it.
DW: “I actually got involved right after I got drafted by the Saints, so I’ve been working with Desire Street since 1997. Originally, the goal from 1990 – when it was started – was always to revitalize the Desire neighborhood, which was one of the worst neighborhoods in New Orleans. We would do that through a lot of different initiatives including we started a health clinic, started a church, started a school, started doing some housing renovations and job training and lots of youth development. At the same time, the secondary goal was to help other people in other cities develop similar types of community development ministries that would impact and change their own communities. We’re still working very diligently in New Orleans, and our vision for the next five years is to develop 12 thriving and sustainable urban ministries. We’re working in several cities in the Southeast now – raising awareness and funding and impacting inner cities and the lives of the kids. I look forward to doing that for years to come.”

AS: How has that focus shifted since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area?
DW: “The biggest difference was, prior to the hurricane, we were focused on just the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Post-Katrina, we’re still very much focused there, but at the same time we are working in several other communities and other cities as well.”

AS: What is going on right now with DSM and how can Florida fans get involved?
DW: “Right now, kicking off the fall, in all of the locations one of the main thrusts is the after school program. We take kids after school and, instead of being on the streets, they’ll come in and do a combination of reading, arithmetic, different bible studies. There will probably be about 500 or so kids in all the different neighborhoods where we work starting this fall. So we’re definitely looking for support so we can keep these kids off the streets. Funding for the after school program is a great need right now.”

AS: One of the things Tim became famous for on a game-to-game basis was writing Bible verses on his eyeblack. If you were still playing and were going to do that, what verse would you put on there?
DW: “[Laughing] It’s a good question. I think I might do a different one each week, but one of my favorite verses in Second Corinthians, Chapter 4, Verse 18 [2COR 4:18]: ‘So we fix our eyes not on just what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal.’ I think that sums up a lot of the way I live my life. We look at an inner city community and we see brokenness, but we also try to see something deeper, something broader, something more eternal and then try to see that come to fruition before our eyes.”

» OGGOA Interviews: ESPN’s Erin Andrews | DE Alex Brown | QB Tim Tebow | WR Percy Harvin | F/C Al Horford | TE Cornelius Ingram | DE Jermaine Cunningham | S Major Wright | LB Earl Everett | F/C Chris Richard

1 » Perhaps none of the former Florida Gators who are now rookies in the NFL are having more success than the trio drafted by the New Engalnd Patriots – defensive end/linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, LB Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez. Word out of Patriots camp is that all three are shining and will get on the field plenty. Cunningham and Spikes continue to work with the first-team defense and could be penciled in as starters when the season begins. “Jermaine has picked up things very well,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “I think each day you can definitely see him getting better, more confident, understanding things that happened the day before and being able to process that.” ESPNBoston.com‘s Mike Reiss broke down their progress:

Read more about the Patriots’ rookies and three additional BITS on Riley Cooper, Bobby McCray and Greg McGarity…after the break!

Cunningham: In the perfect Patriots world, the coaches would probably be grooming Cunningham behind the scenes, but he’s been thrust into the fire in the wake of Derrick Burgess’ unexpected decision not to report to camp. At the least, he should be rushing the passer in specific packages and looks like the team’s fastest outside linebacker.

Spikes: It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s in the starting lineup on opening day alongside Jerod Mayo. His size (6-2, 250), power and on-field maturity have been hard to miss over the past five days since he stepped in for Gary Guyton. Bill Belichick lauded him as an “interesting player to coach” who sees things that others might not.

Hernandez: There has been a lot to like from Hernandez, whose route-running, speed and sticky hands have had Tom Brady looking in his direction often. He should be part of a variety of packages, contributing from the get-go. On Thursday morning, Hernandez got an earful from Brady after not running downfield on a scramble play, which seemed to reflect the mistakes that sometimes come when relying on young players. “Aaron is an athletic guy; he’s fast, he’s got good quickness,” [director of player personnel Nick] Caserio said. “He gets into the defense quickly and catches the ball well.”

2 » Also experiencing his share of success is former Gators wide receiver Riley Cooper now of the Philadelphia Eagles. Though some mistakes have been made in camp, Cooper shined during the team’s Flight Night morning practice with a six-catch performance and terrific over-the-shoulder grab on a bomb from quarterback Kevin Kolb. He has been working with the first-team offense because starting receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are both injured. “He’s been down the field deep behind the defense a lot,” WR Jason Avant told The Morning Call. “I think he’s doing a great job. […] And he’s fast. […] I think he’s going to be a good player in this league and possibly great.”

3 » Cut by the New Orleans Saints in the offseason, former Florida defensive end Bobby McCray was brought back by the team just a few weeks ago and is making the most of his second chance. “If you let your emotions out, the majority of the time it can hurt you,” McCray told the Associated Press. “So if you got something [upsetting] going on, just try to keep it inside, don’t let everybody know.” McCray has been sharing first team left end snaps with fellow former Gators DE Alex Brown. “There’s nothing but great things going on at that left end position because of the competition that’s going on,” team defensive line coach Billy Johnson said. “Alex Brown’s done a good job. Bobby’s done a good job. And we’ve got about three weeks here to do a lot of evaluation and see how this thing comes out.” McCray also spoke about his relationship with Brown. “I’m very happy,” he said. “I got my teammate that I’ve had since 1999 with Florida. Me and him got some great things that we can do together.” Check out OGGOA‘s interview with Brown here.

4 » As expected, University of Florida executive senior associate athletic director Greg McGarity is one of 49 people who have put their name in the hat to be the next Georgia Bulldogs athletic director. McGarity, who is an alum of the school, has been with UF since 1992, most of the time as AD Jeremy Foley’s right-hand man. “I have been very fortunate to work alongside the very best in collegiate athletic at two outstanding institutions, the University of Georgia and the University of Florida, over the last three decades,” McGarity wrote in a letter to the Georgia’s associate vice president for human resources. “I know what it takes to lead and direct an athletic program at the highest level, and am ready to lead the University of Georgia Athletic Association into the future. I look forward to having the opportunity to compete for this position.” U.S. Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) wrote the school’s president to “enthusiastically recommend” McGarity. “He is ready to get back to his hometown and to serve his alma mater in this distinguished position,” Kingston wrote.

Photo Credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

McCray, who was the Saints’ third end but started a quarter of his games during his two-year run with New Orleans, made a number of impact plays as a starter during their playoff run last season.

The Saints acquired fellow former Gators defensive end Alex Brown via free agency in the offseason and expect him to start on the left side. McCray, who worked with the first team defense during mini camp, will still see plenty of playing time next season.

He was due a $1.25 million roster bonus and was probably released by New Orleans in order to avoid that payment. The team did not attempt to renegotiate as McCray’s 2010-11 base salary was set at $2 million. Should he hit all of incentives, the Saints will only save $0.75 million with his new contract.

McCray, who made headlines for during the season for his vicious hits on quarterbacks Kurt Warner (Arizona) and Brett Favre (Minnesota), complied 59 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three defended passes and a forced fumble in his previous two years in New Orleans.

Photo Credit: Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: Growing up in a small town, was it difficult to get noticed by the University of Florida and make an impression on head coach Steve Spurrier?
ALEX BROWN: “Yeah, it was. I just wanted to go and play football – that’s all I did. I was nervous because I didn’t know if people would see me. My dad was really good just staying on me about it. ‘If you go play, if you’re good enough, they’ll find you.’ That was his big thing. All I did was go play – and they found me.”

AS: What made you decide to attend Florida rather than going to Georgia or another school? Were you always a Gators fan?
AB: “I actually was not a Florida fan at all. I really wasn’t even going to take a visit to Florida. University of Miami – that year – my last visit I was going to take was going to be to the University of Miami. And I was going to choose between Miami, Florida State, North Carolina and Auburn. There was a kid that got killed at Miami – I want to say it was like on a Monday or Tuesday – and I was supposed to go on a visit that coming weekend. And my mom was like, ‘No way, you can’t go. You can’t do it.’ I was like, ‘Alright, I guess I will not take another visit.’ I talked to [Buffalo Bills linebacker] Andra Davis, who I’ve known since like fifth grade, and he had just taken his visit to Florida and that was the celebration of the National Championship – that was that week. He had a great time. So I talked to him and he said he was going to Florida. He’s like, ‘Just take your visit there, you’re not going to go to Miami, so take your visit to Florida.’ Early in the week, I called coach [Jimmy Ray] Stephens, he was the offensive line coach at the time and the guy that recruited me. He said, ‘OK.’ I was in Gainesville for a day. [Atlanta Falcons LB] Mike Peterson was my host and, by the time I left, they could have left me there. I was going for sure. As soon as I got back, I started calling all the other coaches and letting them know that this is what I want. It wasn’t too far from home but far enough away, I guess. And they were good. I played linebacker, and they had [former DE] Jevon Kearse, Mike Peterson and [former LB] Johnny Rutledge – and I thought I fit right in. It was a great match for me and took me all of a day-and-a-half to figure that out.

Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Alex Brown…after the break!

AS: You had a lot of outstanding games with the Gators, but I’m sure you remember sacking Tee Martin five times in 1999…did the offense just give up trying to stop you?
AB: “You know what, [Tennessee offensive tackle] Chad Clifton plays for the Green Bay Packers now, and I’ve been going against him twice a year for the last eight years. He still swears that I was offsides [on those plays]. He still says I was offsides – no way I can be that fast off the ball. I don’t know, I found a flaw and made sure it was working and staying true throughout the game. If you find an advantage, then use it. The crowd was unbelievable. As soon as they said go, I was rolling. That night I believed exactly what I saw. For some reason, I was rewarded.”

AS: Is that the game you remember the most, or is there another? Does any one play stand out to you that you made?
AB: “Well, the SEC Championship was my most memorable moment as far as happy times. My last game at Florida Field I’ll never forget. Losing at Tennessee – that game obviously was personal.”

AS: In 2001 you were a first-team All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Were you surprised that you were not drafted higher than the fourth round?
AB: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised. After the first day [of the draft], all I wanted to do was get picked up. I knew inside that I could play the game. When [owner Jerry] Angelos called me from the Bears and said they were going to get me if I was still there…the moment I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be…because I was so disappointed. Looking back at it, I was happy to be picked and just wanted to play football so I could prove him right. It was just one of those things – it gave me a chip that never left me. I could not believe [teams] believed there were 10 other defensive ends out there better than me. At this point in time in my career, there are only [Chicago's Julius] Peppers and [Indianapolis Colts'] Dwight Freeney left from that draft.”

AS: Since joining the NFL, you have put down a lot of quarterbacks in eight years. Has any one sack or play stood out to you?
AB: “In 2008, I blocked a field goal against Green Bay to send the game into overtime. We won [20-17] and it kept our playoff hopes alive. Obviously the 2006 year, making it into the Super Bowl was by far…winning the NFC Championship is the highest level for football after that. Being there Super Bowl Sunday and seeing all the flashbulbs go off on the kickoff and watching [wide receiver Devin] Hester run it back – unbelievable. 2006 was THE best year, football-wise for me, in my life. It was unbelievable. Individual plays….probably the Green Bay one, my first sack against [the New England Patriots'] Tom Brady – that feeling was like, ‘Wow, I got Tom Brady.’ Sacking [the Minnesota Vikings'] Brett Favre is pretty intense.”

AS: You also have a habit of doing the Gator Chomp every time you nail a QB or make a big play. How did you decide to do that in the first place, and do you wish more guys represented the school like that?
AB: “Oh yeah. Not if they don’t want to. We have guys that believe once college is over, college is over. I truly believe – and it holds true all the time – that NFL teams can change. Where you went to college will never change. Now I’m playing for the Saints; now I’m rooting for the Saints. I didn’t envision myself a couple of years ago saying ‘Who Dat?’ and things like that and being down in New Orleans and getting ready to play with [QB] Drew Brees rather than try to prepare to play against him. That happens. Teams change, teams move on, they go in a different direction. If you want, you go and play somewhere else where somebody wants you. That being said, the Florida Gators will never change for me. That page in my life has been told and stamped. So it will never change. My wife and I both went there. I want to show people that I love it, and I don’t care who gets mad. And now I’m down here in LSU country, and they’re gonna really really dislike it. But hey, sorry. It’s just me. If more guys would do it, great, yeah, I’d love it. It would be a cool thing to see all the Gators do it. I actually started doing it because [former safety] Mike Brown…there were times during the 2004-05 season, Mike Brown would come up as soon as I’d make a play and he’d be doing it. He’d be doing the Gator Chomp. And he’d be like, ‘Come on, you gotta do it!’ So from now on, I said I was just going to do it. Now I do it all the time.”

AS: You were one of the first guys to welcome Julius Peppers to the Bears after he was signed back in March…only to have Chicago dismiss you soon after. You’ve been there since 2002. What did it feel like having to leave?
AB: “It was tough. The first hour or so you’re like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this is happening.’ I’m over that now. I’m actually going to put on a different helmet – it’s kind of weird. You get over it. You understand that it happens. For the most part, it happens to just about everybody. There is a very, very small group that play their entire career…if you play 8, 9, 10+ years, you’re probably not going to play with the same team all those years. It’s just one of those things that happens. Once you get over that, it’s not that big of a deal.”

AS: Now you are starting a brand new two-year deal with the Saints. How did it feel to be sought after by the defending Super Bowl champions?
AB: “When you’re cut, a lot of teams go through your head. ‘Why don’t they want me? Do they not believe I can play? Can I start here, and contribute on this defense?’ Then you have a team like the Saints, who come off their Super Bowl year and everybody’s super exited. And this super bowl team believes that you can make them better. That just gives you a little bit of confidence, gives you that thought that you can make them better. That was great for me. I want to win. That is my goal. That is the top priority. I want to win. Coming out here and playing with a team that puts up 30 points a game, that gives you a lot of opportunities to rush the quarterback. Kind of reminds me back when coach Spurrier was calling the plays…now it’s coach [Sean] Payton. I’m really excited. Paying indoors – don’t have to worry about two degrees – it’s just a different environment, it’s going to be completely different. I’m going to embrace this opportunity.

AS: Do you feel that the team is still hungry?
AB: “Absolutely. It’s not just the team – the owners, the coaches. I’ll put it like this: When I was with the bears in 2006 and we came back the next year in 2007, we lost about 15-18 players from that 2006 team. This team here has lost I think three players – [LB] Scott Fujita, [DE] Charles Grant (who did not play in the playoffs), [right tackle] Jammal Brown (who did not play the entire season – so I don’t think we should count him), and Bobby McCray – who they just released who played a significant part in the run to the Super Bowl last year. And then they add a couple players. Myself, I believe I can help the team. [DE Jimmy] Wilkerson, [Clint] Ingram at linebacker, a couple guys in the draft – the rookie [cornerback Patrick Robinson] from Florida State, I think he’s gonna help, he’s a very, very good talent. And they have a bunch of young guys around here. I’m almost one of the old guys. I really am one of the old guys around here. Everybody’s young. Everybody believes that this is how it’s supposed to be. When you get that belief, and you not only hope but expect to win on Sundays, more than likely you’re going to come out on top. And that’s how it is around here. Everybody is focused on doing just that – repeating. Taking our window of opportunity and making the best out of it. I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to be on board.”

AS: Similar to the Peppers situation in Chicago, bringing you into the fold meant New Orleans had to make some changes…and unfortunately that meant Bobby McCray was out the door. What is your relationship like and how hard of a hit was that?
AB: “I don’t want to talk too much about that…I don’t want to say anything that’s going to offend Bobby. But it’s competition – that’s how it is, that’s how the league works. The New Orleans Saints believe that I give them the best opportunity to win. That’s as far as I’ll go with that. Bobby and I are good friends, but it’s just one of those things that is going to happen. It’s really weird actually when it’s a buddy of yours. Its one position and one of you probably is going to have to leave. We both understand this is a business. We both have families, and we want to take care of our families. All we can do is get on the field and play football. I know Bobby well – I know he is going to pick up somewhere and hopefully have a phenomenal year.”

[NOTE: One day after this interview, McCray re-signed with the Saints.]

AS: Were you two close during the overlapping years at Florida?
AB: “Bobby and I played a few years together at Florida. He comes over to the house. He is one of the guys, when I had my son on September 27 – days before we played Mississippi State and crushed them – he was one of the guys who was there. He came by and visited my wife now – girlfriend then – he’s one of the guys who came out. He’s a good, good friend of mine. And I’ve followed him throughout his career to Jacksonville and here with the Saints. Watching him go through the playoffs was amazing. Watching him go in and beat the team that we actually lost to in the Super Bowl was amazing. When you have a buddy who goes through that, and you know exactly what he’s going through, you get to a point where I haven’t been…and that’s on top. You want to sit down and kind of pick his brain and see how it was. I can only imagine it’s an amazing feeling.”

AS: One thing I forgot to ask you earlier…what goes on in the locker room and with other players when your college team is winning like the Gators have been recently? Do you brag a lot, wear a ton of Florida gear?
AB: “I never shut up. When we’re winning, when we’re not winning, it doesn’t even matter. I’m not going to stop talking. That 2006 season – we won basketball and football and then we went to the Super Bowl – I just didn’t stop. People got tired of me. I wore Gator stuff almost every day. Gator basketball then Gator football. We had five Gators in the Super Bowl – it was unbelievable. Just on our team. I’m always walking with a certain type of swagger, if you would, when it comes to the Gators. I really love my team. I’m very proud, and I’m not backing down. I think we’re better than anybody. That’s just me. I’ve heard plenty of times, ‘Why [are] you guys so passionate about your school?’ I have no idea – we just are. I’ve seen Ohio State fans like that – not all of them, not as many as Florida. You meet people, you’re from Florida, you sit there and talk to somebody just because you went to the same school. You’ll sit there and talk for 10 minutes. It’s just a big family, that’s what it is. When we’re winning, you are sure to hear about it throughout the locker room and throughout the entire facility. Everybody hears about it.

AS: While you have lived in Jasper, FL, Gainesville, FL, and Chicago, IL, New Orleans is your new home. Now that you have spent some time there…what is your favorite thing about the city so far?
AB: “There’s a lot of different food. But I guess my favorite thing is that they do sell grits wherever the breakfast places are! Because in Chicago, you didn’t get that. The grits came back! I can actually go and get grits somewhere, and it’s not Cream of Wheat or something like that. I’m pretty sure I’ll find other things that catch my eye and are really cool, but I haven’t been to any festivals yet. I’m pretty sure my wife and I will get to those over the next few years and have more stories to tell and things I like about the city. As for right now, just the reception of being invited into the Who Dat? Nation is great. The fans are unbelievable. You would be surprised how many people…I go to Wal-Mar tor Win-Dixie or something and people already know me and say they’re happy I’m here. Makes you feel good, makes you want to go work, you know?”

» OGGOA Interviews: QB Tim Tebow | WR Percy Harvin | TE Cornelius Ingram | DE Jermaine Cunningham | S Major Wright | LB Earl Everett

One of the main reasons the Trojans received such heavy sanctions, Bush has been accused of taking $300,000 in improper benefits from sports marketing agent Lloyd Lake, something that the team’s assistant football coach at the time, Todd McNair, allegedly knew but did nothing about.

In the NCAA’s report, one of the most notable contacts between the two parties occurred when Bush was set to host the nation’s top high school recruit following the Oct. 29, 2005, game between USC and Washington State.

McNair, who attempted to contact Bush throughout the night after he abandoned said recruit in his hotel room rather than taking him out, also called Lake’s phone to find out where Bush was and why he skipped out on the meeting.

Though he was not named in NCAA documents, former Florida Gators now Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has been identified as that very recruit, according to two independent sources who confirmed this to SPORTSbyBROOKS.

In the past 24 hours, a L.A. media source and NCAA source have independently confirmed to me that Percy Harvin was that recruit.

Harvin that year was the top high school football prospect in the country and McNair had been assigned by coach Pete Carroll as his primary recruiter for the Trojans.

Because McNair was charged with recruiting Harvin – and found out through Harvin that Bush was not with him but rather with a sports marketing agent – his knowledge of Bush’s association with Lake is proven, and his lie to the NCAA about not having such information was exposed.

It should be noted that Harvin did nothing wrong in this scenario as presented; he was simply a recruit on a visit waiting to be taken out by the team’s top player. However, it is a very interesting wrinkle considering: (a) how his being neglected ended up aiding the NCAA investigation and (b) he did not join the Trojans and ended up committing to the Gators less than two months later.

Interestingly enough, the Saints acquired fellow former Gators defensive end Alex Brown via free agency in the offseason. Brown is expected to start for New Orleans on the left side even after McCray worked with the first team defense during mini camp over the last few weeks; his signing projected starting job most likely led to McCray’s dismissal.

According to Pro Football Talk, McCray was due a $1.25 million roster bonus in just over a week and was likely cut to avoid that payment. The team did not attempt to renegotiate and will also save $2 million on his 2010-11 base salary.

McCray, who made headlines for during the season for his vicious hits on Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre, was arrested during the season for allegedly driving under the influence. He complied 59 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three defended passes and a forced fumble in his two years in New Orleans.

OGGOA RELATED: San Diego cuts former Florida DT Ian Scott

Coming off of a fantastic first season in which he captured the 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, former Florida Gators now Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin hopes to build on his team’s fortunes and lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl, something they were unable to attain last season. OGGOA had an opportunity to speak with Harvin over the weekend. We picked his brain about a number of subjects before he fulfilled his responsibilities for Palm Beach Autographs [site sponsor] including his rookie season, the speed of the NFL, his chronic migraine problems and how he is already being remembered in Florida football history.

ADAM SILVERSTEIN: With how you played last year, winning Rookie of the Year and compiling some fantastic statistics in the receiving and return games, do you feel like you proved a lot of people wrong who were criticizing you going into the 2009 NFL Draft?
PERCY HARVIN: “I didn’t go into it trying to prove anybody wrong. I knew the capabilities I had. So I just went out there and wanted to contribute to my team. First of all, in the special teams area. As Brett [Favre] got there, [he] taught me the game a little faster than I probably would have learned it with the other quarterbacks. He speeded up my process a whole lot. A lot of that just goes to him, learning from Sidney [Rice], Bernard Berrian and the other receivers.”

Read the rest of our interview with Percy Harvin…after the break!

AS: Obviously one of your best athletic traits is your speed. Did you find it tough to transition that to the NFL – perhaps now that some guys can come close to catching up with you? How does it compare to what you faced in the SEC?
PH: “Oh, it’s definitely faster. I’d say that’s probably the biggest adjustment going to the next level – the speed part of it. If you know the game, you can play the game 100 MPH, so I just went in knowing my assignment so when I went out to the field I could play 100 percent and not worry about messing up.”

AS: Are you still experiencing a lot of migraine headaches? Are they getting any better or have doctors come up with any new treatments for you?
PH: “It’s a work in progress. I had a few of them still over the break. It’s just something I’ll either have to grow out of or figure out something. I’ve been to numerous doctors and it’s a work in progress. It’s different things. It can be the weather, the pollen. It can be a lot of things that can trigger them. And that’s what we’re trying to figure out now – certain things to help me.”

AS: Growing up, I’m sure people always compared you to other players. What do you think about the fact that, when a young player has similar abilities to you, they now tell him, ‘Hey, you can be the next Percy Harvin.’ How does that make you feel?
PH: “It’s a great compliment. I’m tremendously honored by that. I remember coming in, it was Reggie Bush. And I kept going into Florida saying, ‘I don’t want to be Reggie Bush – I want to be my own name.’ So to actually leave and now to hear people say the ‘Percy Harvin position’ – it’s a tremendous honor and I’m really blessed.”

Other topics discussed:

On the Vikings offensive system and schemes: “It was a joy to play for. I was used to playing with Florida and a lot of the other playmakers out there, so you don’t feel a lot of pressure on you. You got a Hall of Fame quarterback so he pretty much does the work for us, we do the easy part.”

On Favre coming back to the NFL: “I think so. But at the same time, you never know. He’s played a lot of years. I just don’t know how his body feels – only he knows that. As of right now, I’d say 50/50.”

On playing in the backfield at some point next season: “We talked about it. [It is] just another opportunity to get the ball in my hands quicker. Of course, I love the idea. But, like I said, we’ll see when we get to training camp and some of the other camps to see how it goes. It’s just [a way to get] another playmaker on the field. We hope they can get me and Adrian Peterson both in the backfield at the same time. Kind of cause mismatches on the defensive side of the ball. Hopefully it will work out for us. I think it can be a powerful weapon for us.”

On when he first heard about Favre signing: “Well, I knew my job would be a whole lot easier. We all felt Brett coming in – he knew the system, he knows the game better than some of the coaches did. When he came in, we knew our offense was going to run a lot smoother and we were going to have a lot more opportunities being that he’s known for gun slinging.”

On passing the New Orleans Saints this year: “[We have to] not turn the ball over. That [NFC Championship] was a killer. They won the game, but we didn’t feel like they beat us. We beat ourselves up. We had numerous fumbles – I fumbled the ball, AP fumbled the ball, Bernard fumbled the ball. We just got to take care of the ball and we’ll be fine.”

On Rice’s breakout season: “Just having Brett, learning the game, it was his third year – another season to learn the game. We all complimented each other as far as the running game, passing game. I think we just had a nice balance. He exploded this year, so hopefully he has an even better year. He’s another year older, so hopefully he can match that year with this one.”

On if Urban Meyer can balance coaching with his life: “He’ll be fine. I think – just for him – he worries too much. He goes on vacation and he’s still texting players. We got to be like, ‘Coach, everything’s good.’ All the coaches be texting him, telling him just to relax and everything’s going good. He’s one of those coaches that loves the players, he wants to get involved in your life. He just gets too involved to the point where he can’t even relax with his own family. I don’t think he will [back off]. I talk to him every day.”

On if he has been talking to Favre: “Me and him text two-to-three times a week, every couple of weeks. We text. I don’t ask ‘that question’ – I know he gets that a lot. We just talk about random stuff. Brett, he’s real goofy, so we just clown maybe laughing at some TV show or something. He’s a great person to be around. It was a blessing that I was able to play with him. We don’t even talk about football. I know all the stuff he goes through and all the pressure, so I don’t want to be one of those guys who texts him and then asks the question and then he might feel like I’m trying to pressure him. He’ll make the decision that’s best for him.”

On quarterback Tim Tebow as a rookie: “I really don’t know the Denver team, the roster he has. But I know he’s a hard worker. He’s going to go in there and give that program everything he’s got. Whether he’ll play or not this year? I don’t know – I don’t know what the circumstances are. But I do know he’s going to give 110 percent at whatever he does. It’s just hard to tell the success he may or may not have. All I know is he’s one of the best players I’ve ever played [with]. One of the best college players ever. He’ll definitely have the opportunity, and I’m wishing the best for him and I’m rooting for him.”

On winning Rookie of the Year: “It was a tremendous honor. To not only know the team’s success we had but to know that people recognized the hard work and the playmaking that brought to the team. But I told everyone the same thing: I was happy with the award, it was a tremendous accomplishment, but we didn’t make it to the championship so the season was a failure. It was a good accomplishment but we still need to get better.”

On how he can take his game to the next level building off last year: “Everybody got step their game up. What we did last year doesn’t count anymore. Just have to live in the present and, whatever we do this year will be based on this year.”

» OGGOA Interview: LB Earl Everett: “I’m ready to get back out there”

» OGGOA Interview: Bears safety Major Wright set to “make my mark”

2 » Florida baseball’s left-handed starting pitcher and designated hitter Brian Johnson has been named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list, according to the University of Florida. He is on one only 25 players to be recognized on the list and could receive it on July 2. Johnson, in his short career, is already a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week who is 4-2 with a 3.74 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 53 innings. In the batters box, he is hitting at a .385 clip with 10 RBI and a grand slam.

Extra Bit » Former Gators defensive end Bobby McCray, who won Super Bowl XLIV as a member of the New Orleans Saints, sat down for a wide-ranging interview with SportingNews. McCray touched on winning the big game, playing for defensive coordinator Gary Williams and what he would like to do when his NFL career is over.

Extra Bit II » Check out this video of Larson from one of his local news stations: