1 » Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer’s leave of absence is supposed to come to an end on March 17 when spring practice begins. While he has certainly taken an uncharacteristic amount of time away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Meyer has been far from “absent” over the last few months. “It’s not like he’s been here at 6 a.m., but he’s sat in on a couple of meetings,” assistant head coach Dan McCarney told the Orlando Sentinel. “His text messages to us are still going strong. But clearly he’s tried to get away by removing himself from the daily operations, and I’m sure (his wife) Shelley has had a lot to do with that.” Even so, McCartney said Meyer is “ready to start grinding” next week.

2 » So every Jacksonville Jaguars fan wants former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow wearing their team’s colors next season, right? Not so fast. In a poll of 800 Jaguars fans conducted during a telephone fan forum with team general manager Gene Smith Tuesday night, 55 percent of season ticket holder respondents voted against the team drafting Tebow. Needless to say, some were “stunned” by the response.

Tags: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Dan McCarney, Gene Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow was interviewed Monday morning on Lamm at Large on WJXL-AM in Jacksonville, FL. During his segment, Tebow discussed the health of head coach Urban Meyer, his level of desire to play for his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars and a few other topics.

On Meyer’s health: “He needs to keep resting and being with his family. He’s enjoying it. He’s had a little time to get away. And we’re still talking pretty much every day. He’s doing great and feeling better. He’s going to get back and have a great season and Florida is going to dominate. Their going to do great. I’m just happy that he’s feeling better and that he’s there for his family and that he’s been able to just relax and let his stress levels die down a little bit. He’ll absolutely be back and he’ll be involved. He’s going to be hands on working with the guys. He’ll be there for a lot of the stuff in the spring and in the summer. Florida should have a great year.”

On if he wants to play for the Jaguars: “I would. It’s here at home and I would enjoy that. I have been a Jaguar fan my whole life. I have enjoyed being here in my hometown and watching the Jaguars play and getting an opportunity to play for them would be a blessing for me and a privilege for me to be able to stay in my hometown and play here.”

Listen to Tebow’s interview here or read the remainder of the transcript courtesy of the folks over at SportsRadioInterviews.com.

h/t Ben Volin, Palm Beach Post
Photo Credit: John Raoux/Associated Press

Tags: Jacksonville Jaguars, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » Though he has told the media and his players that he plans to return to the Florida Gators on March 17 for the beginning of spring practice, head coach Urban Meyer will not be speaking at a Gator Gathering in Jacksonville, FL, on April 21. Instead, interim head coach and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will fill in. Over the last few years, Meyer made an exuberant number of Gator Gathering stops throughout the state of Florida during the offseason. Curtailing those appearances is a step in the right direction in limiting his travel and responsibilities. UPDATE: Addazio will also take Meyer’s place at the same event on April 30 in Atlanta, GA.

2 » In his latest Big Board, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. dropped former Gators cornerback Joe Haden seven spots from No. 5 to No. 12 overall. Kiper still lists Maurkice Pouncey, who he calls an “athletic, versatile interior lineman [who is] rising quickly,” at No. 18 – the top center/guard on his board.

Extra Bit » Reports have the Washington Redskins showing a strong level of interest in former Florida quarterback Rex Grossman. OGGOA will update.

Tags: Joe Haden, Maurkice Pouncey, NFL, Rex Grossman, Steve Addazio, Urban Meyer, Washington Redskins

1 » ESPN’s Bruce Feldman covered some of the most polarizing figures at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine in his most recent Insider blog. Topping the list, of course, is former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. “Tebow Talk will dominate the draft coverage right through late April,” Feldman writes. “Is he an every-down QB? How will he do at his Pro-Day on March 17 since he’s worked hard to shorten his previously slow and long delivery? Did his fast shuttle times and impressive vertical jump (38.5 inches, tied for best ever by a QB) actually give more juice to the camp that says he’s best suited to be an H-back or a fullback?”

2 » Covering another side of the controversy surrounding former Gators cornerback Joe Haden’s 4.57-second 40-yard dash time is Yahoo! Sports’ Dr. Saturday blog, which points out that Haden was listed as running a 4.33 during his time with Florida. Calling the board “fake” and ludicrous, writer Matt Hinton does make a good point: Haden’s listed time is faster than any single player actually ran in last year’s combine.

Two more Florida Gators football recruiting BITS are available after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Tebow; 40s; recruits Driskel, Gosha

Tags: baseball, combine, Draft, Jeff Driskel, Joe Haden, Kevin O’Sullivan, Lonnie Gosha, NFL, Scot Loeffler, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share with our readers. In those instances, we present a special post: Gator Bites. Enjoy.

» VIDEO: NFL Network pre-interview with Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow.

» VIDEO: NFL Network interview with Tebow on the set after his workout. (This video includes clips of all of the drills he participated in Sunday.)

• On the experience: “The last three days have been a time that I will always remember. […] Being here was special.”
• On how much football was discussed in interviews: “It was probably 50/50 with teams. Half the teams would really talk a lot of football – you would get on the board, draw up Xs and Os, talk defenses, talk philosophy, talk scheme.”
• On his comfort level coming out of Florida: “The best thing here at the combine was talking football, talking schemes, talking the love of the game and understanding defenses, protections.”
• On criticisms about the Gators not preparing him: “[The SEC] can just worry about trying to come back and beat Florida – that’s what they need to worry about. To defend coach Meyer and to defend Florida – he has taught his players over the last six-eight years the best of any coach in the country. You look at his players once they actually get on a team – they know football. We teach football. We teach schemes. We teach concepts that relate to the next level. […] He does a great job of teaching guys to learn football, learn concepts and be able to translate when they get to the next level.”
• On Florida Pro Day: “I’m excited about that. […] I’ll have some guys to throw to. […] Do whatever you want with me on that day. […] Put a receiver anywhere, tell me to do anything, and I’ll be willing to do whatever for them.”
• On if he ever wants to throw his accomplishments in his critics’ faces: “I’m a very self-motivated guy. I just look at all the criticism as another blessing, it will just add fuel to the fire and make me work that much harder.”

Much more on Tebow, Pouncey, Meyer and other Gators after the jump!
Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Feb. 28 – NFL Combine Edition II

Tags: combine, Major Wright, Maurkice Pouncey, NFL, Teryl Austin, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » Whether you call it sacrifice or making the right decision, former Florida Gators center Maurkice Pouncey’s decision to enter the 2010 NFL Draft had an impact on his brother. Now alone on the line for the first time without Maurkice, junior guard Mike Pouncey looks to move to his sibling’s old position next season – and it is for the best. “I think what really was impressive about [Maurkice] was when he was making his decision to come out, he wanted his brother to be able to play center,” Pouncey’s trainer Tom Shaw told FanHouse. “It was a big sacrifice because they’ve played everything together their whole life. That was one of their plans, he could come out and that will give Mike a chance to move up in the draft. It’s the ultimate sacrifice — he loves his brother and wants to spent time with him.”

2 » Junior defensive end Justin Trattou is ready for his captainship, and he realizes part of that comes with showing the youngsters the ropes. “It’s always [hard to adjust] when you come in as a freshman, especially when you come in midway in January,” Trattou said, according to The Gainesville Sun. “It’s always going to be tough because no matter what you did in high school, it’s not going to be the same intensity as it is here, between all the strength coaches and all the guys who have been here for a couple years.” Trattou’s toughness is not to be questioned, especially considering he played with a torn left bicep last season. “The one I had is ripped off,” Trattou said per the Orlando Sentinel. “Now it’s basically just scarred over. The key was giving it time to get stronger. […] Any time you can fight through injuries, it always gets respect from guys.”

Two more BITS on RB Jeff Demps and LB coach D.J. Durkin…after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Pouncey, Trattou, Demps, Durkin

Tags: Bowling Green Falcons, Charlie Strong, D.J. Durkin, Draft, field, Jeff Demps, Justin Trattou, Loren Seagrave, Louisville Cardinals, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, NFL, Tom Shaw, track, Urban Meyer, Velocity Sports Performance

Watching former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow while on the sidelines for three years, John Brantley was chomping at the bit to get some playing time. Hearing head coach Urban Meyer say he would be worked into the offense in 2009 was exciting for Brantley; unfortunately, Meyer’s statement never came to fruition.

Now, with Tebow at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine preparing for a career in professional football, Brantley has finally taken his place as the Gators’ primary signal-caller. And while he may not be as boisterous as Tebow, the redshirt sophomore plans to lead Florida to glory just like his predecessor.

“I’m not like that,” Brantley told Rivals. “I’ve learned to be a little bit more vocal. Not all the jumping around stuff, just be behind the scenes more of a leader and be more vocal.”

Read what Brantley and his father have to say about football and cancer…
Continue Reading » Brantley ready to take on QB job, father’s cancer

Tags: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gatorade National Player of the Year, John Brantley, John Brantley III, Ocala Trinity, Scot Brantley, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer