I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Abramson of Newsday yesterday, who asked me to break down Saturday night’s game between No. 1 Florida Gators and No. 4 LSU Tigers. Featured in Campus Confidential, I discussed the health of quarterback Tim Tebow, how the Gators offense would change with John Brantley behind center, what LSU needs to do in order to be victorious and how the game will play out.

Campus Confidential: What are you hearing about the status of Tim Tebow?
Adam Silverstein: Tebow practiced in full pads Tuesday for the first time since suffering his concussion on Sept. 26 in Lexington. Team doctors apparently felt he was healthy enough over the weekend to begin doing cardio and weight training work, so technically he was active before he stepped on the practice field Tuesday. He has been cleared to return in a limited capacity, basically meaning that doctors must give him approval every day before he can practice. With that being said, the doctors have been pleased with his testing, and Tebow is consistently achieving the benchmarks required in balance, equilibrium and memory. Head coach Urban Meyer stated that Tebow went through approximately 80% of practice on Tuesday, running set plays with the first team. Meyer had mentioned that he wanted to give Tebow light chest contact on Wednesday, but I have not been able to find out if that occurred or not during practice, though I do know Tebow split reps 50/50 with John Brantley. I would call him questionable for Saturday with his status truly being a game-time decision.

Read the rest: Florida-LSU Through the eyes of a Gator

Tags: Adam Silverstein, John Brantley, Newsday, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

While Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer will stick to his guns and wait until “the foot hits the ball” Saturday night in Tiger Stadium to make his decision, the sentiment from the team is that quarterback Tim Tebow will be medically cleared to play vs. the LSU Tigers.

Two sources told Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday that Tebow is “on track to be available to play against LSU.” Even if that is the case, it is not cut-and-dry that Tebow will start or play in the game.

Based on the latest reports coming out of Florida, Tebow continues to be asymptomatic without any lingering effects from the concussion he received Sept. 26 in Lexington, KY, against the Kentucky Wildcats.

[UPDATE:] Tebow and back-up John Brantley once again split snaps in practice Thursday. Meyer repeated to the press that Tebow playing on Saturday night will probably be a game-time decision.

Tags: LSU Tigers, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » New England Patriots running back Fred Taylor is set to undergo surgery on his injured right ankle according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Taylor, a former Florida Gators standout, is in his first season with the Patriots after spending his entire career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and leads the team with 45 carries and 201 yards.

2 » Louisiana weathermen are expecting thunderstorms and plenty of rain around game time when No. 1 Florida Gators face off against No. 4 LSU Tigers. Jo Goodman of the Miami Herald said the LSU-PD expect around 300,000 football fans and visitors in and around the campus on Saturday.

3 » Former Tennessee Volunteers defensive coordinator John Chavis could not beat the Florida Gators once head coach Urban Meyer took over. So he was fired. Now, Chavis has a shot at redemption after being hired by head coach Les Miles to helm the LSU Tigers‘ defense. And unfortunately for Gators fans, Chavis knows where to start when trying to defend Florida’s explosive offense. “If you can’t stop their run, they’ll mix it up on you with their speed and kill you,” Chavis said. “You’ve got to keep them from running the football.”

4 » The University of Florida‘s Stephen C. O’Connell Center has revamped its concession stands. Gators fans will now be able to choose from new menu items including pulled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, turkey legs, hamburgers, jambalaya and much more.

Tags: Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars, John Chavis, Les Miles, LSU Tigers, New England Patriots, NFL, O'Connell Center, Urban Meyer

ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive broke the news Tuesday morning that five-star Florida Gators commitment safety/athlete Matt Elam was solid in his decision to enroll in the University of Florida in the spring even though he had told reporters publicly that he was wavering and considering taking other visits. “A source close to Elam told OGGOA early Wednesday that his commitment to the Gators is solid,” the story read, “regardless of what he is telling reporters.”

Apparently the Palm Beach Post has followed up on this story, speaking with Elam directly this afternoon.

“I talked to my coach [Urban Meyer] a little,” Elam said. “We talked about the safety situation and our relationship. I committed for a reason. I’m not going to back down. It’s all Florida.”

According to the Post, Elam is now signing every text message with “#22 UF BOUND.”

Photo Credit: Jim Rassol, Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Matt Elam, Urban Meyer

Florida Gators left tackle Matt Patchan has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, according to head coach Urban Meyer. He tore his ACL during non-contract drills on Tuesday.

Patchan, who played in 11 games as a true freshman filling in at defensive tackle for the eventual National Champions, was sidelined for the final three games of the 2008 season with a leg injury. While rehabbing in the spring, Patchan hurt his knee in an unfortunate scooter accident. He finally bounced back and earned a job backing up starting LT Carl Johnson.

Meyer said Patchan would apply for a medical redshirt, allowing him to maintain three years of eligibility should it be approved. “That’s a tough deal, especially for Matt,” Meyer said. “He’s been coming into his own a little bit — playing, starting, getting a lot of action.”

Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio mentioned that either Mike or Maurkice Pouncey could replace Patchan backing up Johnson if necessary.

Tags: Carl Johnson, Matt Patchan, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Steve Addazio, Urban Meyer

On a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer divulged a little additional information about the status of quarterback Tim Tebow following his concussion.

Meyer stated he was aware of the “grade” of Tebow’s concussion but did not want to share that information publicly (nor should he). [Note: it is widely believed Tebow suffered a Grade II or III concussion.] Additionally, Meyer said he was told after Tuesday’s practice to game plan for Saturday night at No. 4 LSU Tigers “as if there’s a chance Tim could play,” but “there’s [also] a chance he won’t play.” Meyer added that is “going to be pretty much the response until the foot hits the ball.”

Meyer said Tuesday he is planning to give Tebow some chest contact during practice on Wednesday as long as he is cleared.

Former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson, who will be covering the game for CBS as an analyst, believes this is all for naught as he does not see Tebow playing on Saturday. “I just think he’s missed too much time. I think he’s too important long-term to the team.”

Tags: Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » Prior to the season, one of the biggest stories was the Florida Gators potentially using cornerback Joe Haden at quarterback in a Wildcat-like formation. While UF’s ability and lack of fear to use the Wildcat with wide receiver Percy Harvin last season was well documented, I held (and hold) the opinion that Haden plays extensively enough on defense and special teams – that using him on offense as well would be overkill.

While talk about Haden’s role in the formation seems to have died down, usage of the Wildcat as a whole has not. Head coach Urban Meyer said Monday that tight end Aaron Hernandez, running back Jeff Demps and wide receiver Brandon James could all get direct snaps against No. 4 LSU Tigers. While an occasional direct snap may be called, I see this as more of a diversionary tactic to get LSU thinking about more than just “Tim Tebow or John Brantley” but rather “Tebow, Brantley or the Wildcat.”

2 » In an effort to gain prestige within the state of Florida, the USF Bulls have marketed themselves as one of the “Big 4″ along with the Florida Gators, Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles. This new billboard, located at I-275 near I-4 has, to his credit, drawn the ire of Bulls head coach Jim Leavitt. “I had nothing to do with (the billboard), I don’t know how it got up, and I don’t know who put it up,” Leavitt said Tuesday. “We have not won national championships, and we have not won conference championships. What gives us the right to sit there all of a sudden like we’ve won all these championships and done all this stuff?” Looks like the USF marketing department should have checked with Leavitt first.

Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Will Wildcat be used? USF uses UF in ad. Tigers ready for QB. Recruiting update.

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Booker T. Washington, Brandon James, Chris Dunkley, Christian Green, Florida State Seminoles, Ivan McCartney, Jeff Demps, Jim Leavitt, Joe Haden, John Brantley, John Chavis, Les Miles, LSU Tigers, Lynden Trail, Miami Hurricanes, Percy Harvin, Quinton Dunbar, Solomon Patton, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, USF Bulls

From ESPN:

OGGOA will update this story as more information is released.

Tags: Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer