The resignation of Florida coach Urban Meyer on Wednesday came as a surprise to many, but not former Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeremy Fowler. Fowler covered the Gators for three years, including Meyer’s resignation last year that lasted 24 hours before he decided to return.

“You could tell that Urban was burned out last year,” Fowler said.

Meyer confronted Fowler last spring after Fowler used a quote from receiver Deonte Thompson that Meyer took exception to. Meyer apologized, and he and Fowler had a good working relationship before Fowler left the Sentinel in August.

“I understand where he’s coming from with the family angle,” said Fowler. “I think that aspect of his life was sincere.”

Urban Meyer’s sudden decision to leave the Florida football program stunned a lot of people butnone so as Gators punter Chas Henry.

Chas Henry

Henry, who was at Disney Wednesday as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show which the senior is up for the Ray Guy Award, talked to media about his coach and his thoughts on Meyer’s departure.

Henry: “It’s a family decision. I have complete understanding and respect for it. You have to take care of yourself and take care of your family.”

Henry: “This year he was a lot more relaxed a lot more like he was kind of getting back into it again. I was very shocked. I did not see this coming at all. Last year, I could kind of see it. He looks a little drained He doesn’t look like himself. Like the Urban Meyer who recruited me four years ago.”

Urban Meyer’s sudden decision to leave the Florida football program stunned a lot of people but none so as Gators punter Chas Henry.

Henry, who was at Disney Wednesday as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show which the senior is up for the Ray Guy Award, talked to media about his coach and his thoughts on Meyer’s departure.

Henry: “It’s a family decision. I have complete understanding and respect for it. You have to take care of yourself and take care of your family.”

Henry: “This year he was a lot more relaxed a lot more like he was kind of getting back into it again. I was very shocked. I did not see this coming at all. Last year, I could kind of see it. He looks a little drained He doesn’t look like himself. Like the Urban Meyer who recruited me four years ago.”

Urban Meyer stepped down as Florida head coach Wednesday after six years with the Gators. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

The UF release announcing Urban Meyer’s resignation:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Urban Meyer is stepping down as head coach of the University of Florida football team, Athletics Director Jeremy Foley announced Wednesday afternoon.

Meyer captured two National Championships in his six years at Florida
(2006 and 2008), two Southeastern Conference Championships (2006 and 2008), three SEC Eastern Division crowns (2006, 2008 and 2009) and led UF to six-straight January bowl games, including three BCS bowl games.
He was named Sporting News and Sports Illustrated “Coach of the Decade” in December of 2009.

“I have been a Division I football coach for the last 25 years and, during that time, my primary focus has been making a difference in the lives of the young men I have been so fortunate to have coached and building championship programs,” Meyer said.  “At this time in my life, however, I fully grasp the sacrifices my 24/7 profession has demanded of me, and I know it is time to put my focus on my family and life away from the field.  The decision to step down was a difficult one.  But, after spending more than two decades motivating and celebrating the young men I’ve been so proud to coach, I relish the opportunity to cheer for my three terrific kids as they compete in their own respective sports.  I know how fortunate I am to be in a position to make this choice and to have a family that is as loving and supportive as my amazing wife and children have always been. My family has shared both the commitment and the sacrifice required to coach at this level for so long and I would not have enjoyed the success I have had without their support.”

Meyer will coach his last game for UF in the Gators’ Outback Bowl matchup vs. Penn State on January 1st in Tampa, Fla.

Meyer continued, “I am enormously grateful to the University of Florida and our tremendous fans for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the Gator football program.  The support provided by school president Bernie Machen and athletics director Jeremy Foley has been an invaluable part of all that we have been able to accomplish over the last six years.”

“I have exceptional regard for my coaching staff who has always shared my passionate commitment to winning and to guiding the development of the young men of Florida football.  Most importantly, I will be forever grateful to the student-athletes I have had the honor to coach and from whom I have learned so much.  I will profoundly miss coming to campus every day to coach this team, but I will always be a Gator at heart, and I am confident that the program will continue to reflect the highest ideals of the University of Florida and collegiate sports.”

“It’s been an honor and privilege to have Urban Meyer be our football coach for six years,” said Foley. “The championships, the mentoring of young men and his commitment to the University of Florida have indeed been special. As good of a coach as he is, he’s a better person and a great friend. He has given everything he has to this institution and we are grateful for the experiences. It a chapter in our history that is closing, but I know Urban wants to remain involved with the University and the Gainesville community. He absolutely loves the Gators.”

“As I have said many times, Urban Meyer’s integrity and commitment to his players and the University of Florida are beyond reproach,” said Machen.  “He leaves an outstanding legacy, on the field and in the classroom.  I know that all Gators wish nothing but the best for Coach Meyer as we recognize his extraordinary achievements with a great sense of pride and appreciation.”

He became the first coach in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision to post consecutive 13-win seasons (2008 and 2009) and he is the only coach to post three 13-win seasons in a four-year span.

He was the first coach in the nation to win two Bowl Championship Series National Championships and is one of only two coaches in the history of the SEC to win two outright National Championships.

The three-time National Coach of the Year is currently the nation’s active winningest coach with 10 seasons or more, posting 103 victories against just 23 losses for a .817 winning percentage in his 10 seasons.
He reached 100 wins in just 118 games, the second-fastest number of games to reach the century mark since 1945. Overall, only five coaches reached the 100-win mark quicker than Meyer.

Meyer’s six-year record at Florida is 64-15 (.810), including a school-record stretch of 22-straight consecutive wins, the fourth-longest streak by an SEC team and the longest in the conference in 15 years. His teams also put together streak of 16-consecutive wins in SEC games, the second-longest streak in school history. Meyer was
17-2 (.895) against UF’s traditional rivals (Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and Miami). Among active coaches, Meyer has been the only head coach to put together three 13-win seasons.

Meyer, 46, holds a 36-12 (.750) mark in SEC play at Florida, which is the fourth-best SEC winning percentage among head coaches who spent five years or more in the conference.

Since the SEC’s inception in 1933, no coach had begun his SEC career faster than Meyer. With his 2009 win over Arkansas, Meyer collected his 50th win as an SEC head coach, reaching that mark in just 59 games. That tied Frank Thomas of Alabama for the fastest to achieve 50 wins as an SEC head coach.

In 2008, Meyer accomplished the unprecedented feat of knocking off the BCS No. 1-ranked team in consecutive games, downing Alabama in the SEC Championship Game before dispatching Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game. Add in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game victory over Ohio State, and Meyer is the only coach to have defeated three BCS No. 1-ranked teams in his career.

Meyer owns a 58-7 (.892) record at home in his career, including a 36-5
(.878) mark in The Swamp. Meyer was 11-4 (.733) against top-10 teams at UF and his Gator teams were ranked at one point in 89-consecutive polls, including 67 weeks in the top 10 and 16 weeks at No. 1.

There have been 26 Gators selected in the NFL Draft under Meyer, including a nation’s-best nine in 2007 and 2009. Seven Gators have been first-round draft picks under Meyer and UF has had at least one first-round pick in each of the last four years. A school-record tying three Gators were chosen in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Overall, Meyer has coached 81 players who have signed NFL contracts.

Eighty-six of his players have graduated at UF and another nine are scheduled to graduate on Saturday. Two of those 86 student-athletes were named among UF’s Outstanding Senior Leaders on campus (Chris Leak,
2006 and Tim Tebow, 2009). One hundred and thirty one of his student athletes were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll at Florida, including a league-record 37 in 2008. More than 37 percent of his scholarship players earned above a 3.0 GPA in the Spring of 2009 and Tebow won the William V. Campbell Trophy last year, also known as the Academic Heisman.

Meyer is one of two active coaches to win a pair of outright national championships (2006 and 2008), coach a Heisman Trophy winner (Tebow) and coach a first-overall draft pick in the NFL Draft (Alex Smith).

Meyer also connected with the fans, student body and The Gator Nation.
He initiated the Gator Walk, a pre-game tradition that had the players enter the stadium through a tunnel of enthusiastic and vibrant fans two hours before kickoff. He began the tradition of players signing the school fight song to the student section at the conclusion of home games. Meyer invited former players back with open arms and had Captains’ Legacy Weekend – inviting all former UF captains back for Homecoming weekend.

Meyer also spearheaded the plans for a $28-million expansion of the football facility which features an expanded weight room, new football offices and the Bill Heavener Football Complex. The state-of-the art building pays tribute to Florida’s proud tradition, championships and all-time great players.

In addition to his on the field accomplishments, Meyer has also championed efforts in community service in Gainesville.

Meyer recently spearheaded a local effort to feed needy families in the local community with St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. Meyer’s donation and 50-plus members of the football team bagged food and goods that would last a week during the Thanksgiving Holiday.

A new initiative beginning in 2009, UF football players performed more than 400 hours of community service each year, as each student-athlete attended at least two Goodwill Gator events per semester.

In the spring of 2009, the “Swamp Field Trip” was available to local middle schools as a reward for their students who achieved good grades, were involved in community service, had major improvements, etc.
The students had the opportunity to speak with a group of players and had a special tour of the football facility given by the players.

The UF football team held the inaugural Gator Charity Challenge in August of 2008 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in front of approximately 1,800 people. The fundraiser featured the 2008 Gators challenging each other in a series of strength competitions to raise funds and awareness for six charities that were selected by the football program and are affiliated with Shands, a University partner. The charities were the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Children’s Miracle Network, March of Dimes and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Gator Charity Challenge was held in association with Uplifting Athletes.

In the spring of 2008, Meyer initiated a mentor program for young at-risk males. Working with the African-American Accountability Alliance of Alachua County task force, the program BLAQUE (Bold Leaders, Achieving Quality, Unity and Excellence) was developed. The program partnered 15 area middle school children with a Gator football player and a community leader. The goal is to affect change in the lives of at-risk black youth.

In the spring of 2005 and 2006, Meyer worked closely with student-body leaders on campus on a community service initiative surrounding the annual Orange and Blue Spring Game. Student leaders sold Orange and Blue spirit bands prior to the Spring Game with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network. Fans that purchased the bands were then asked to assist members of the UF coaching staff and football team in the planning of more than 400 crape myrtle trees on Radio Road on campus.

Meyer’s goodwill efforts have extended beyond his football family.
Inspired by Tebow’s missionary work, Meyer and his family spent time in the Dominican Republic on a missionary trip in June of 2008.

Meyer has mentored 10 coaches who have gone on to become Division I head coaches. Six of the seven served as coordinators under Meyer. In 2003, Gregg Brandon succeeded Meyer as head coach at Bowling Green, while 2005 saw Kyle Whittingham take over for Meyer at Utah. Also in 2005, Mike Sanford took the reins at UNLV. Tim Beckman was named head coach at Toledo in December of 2008. This season was Dan Mullen’s second as head coach at Mississippi State following his time as offensive coordinator at UF. Former Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was hired as the head coach at the University of Louisville in December of 2009. John “Doc” Holliday, an assistant for UF in 2005 and 2006, was named head coach at Marshall last December and, most recently, former defensive line coach Dan McCarney was named the head coach at North Texas.

Meyer came to UF from Utah, where Meyer closed out his stint in Salt Lake City with 16 consecutive wins. He began his UF career with four-straight wins to extend his head coaching winning streak to 20 games. With its post-season bid to the Fiesta Bowl, Utah made history by becoming the first school from a non-Bowl Championship Series conference to earn a berth in a BCS Bowl. Utah finished as the outright 2004 Mountain West Conference champion to become the only back-to-back outright winners in the league’s history.

Meyer began his head coaching career at Bowling Green in 2001, where he engineered the top turnaround in NCAA Division I-A football, showing a six-win improvement from the previous season. The Falcons rebounded from a 2-9 record to post their first winning season since 1994 with an 8-3 finish.

Meyer’s 17-6 (.739) record at Bowling Green included a 5-0 mark against BCS teams and two wins over ranked opponents.

Meyer apprenticed at Ohio State (1986-87), Illinois State (1988-89), Colorado State (1990-95) and Notre Dame (1996-2000) before getting the head job at Bowling Green. The Ashtabula, Ohio, native learned the coaching trade from the likes of Sonny Lubick, Lou Holtz, Earle Bruce and Bob Davie.

Florida coach Urban Meyer agreed to a six-year, $24-million contract after winning a second national title. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

It should come as no surprise that when USA Today released its list of FBS coaches’ salaries, that Florida’s Urban Meyer was near the top. Only three coaches – Alabama’s Nick Saban, Texas’ Mack Brown and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops – make more than Meyer.

Florida released the details of Meyer’s contract, which he signed on Oct. 1, 2009, last week. Here’s where Meyer falls in the SEC.

The postseason honors keep coming for a few Gators. Already, SS Ahmad Black and P Chas Henry were first-team All-SEC picks by the AP and Phil Steele. CB Janoris Jenkins was a first teamer by the AP and second team by Phil Steele.

All three picked up All-SEC honors from the coaches on Tuesday. Black and Henry were named to the first time, and Jenkins was named to the second team.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. Here’s a look at the entire team:

2010 ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM
(*-Ties)

FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC — OFFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
TE           D.J. Williams       Arkansas              6-2          251         Sr.           Little Rock, Ark.
OL           Derek Sherrod  Mississippi State (T)        6-6          305         Sr.           Columbus, Miss.
OL           Lee Ziemba         Auburn                 6-8          319         Sr.           Rogers, Ark.
OL           DeMarcus Love Arkansas (T)       6-5          315         Sr.           Lancaster, Texas
*OL        James Carpenter              Alabama (T)        6-5          300         Sr.           Augusta, Ga.
*OL        Clint Boling          Georgia (T)         6-5          315         Sr.           Alpharetta, Ga.
C             Ryan Pugh           Auburn (C)          6-4          297         Sr.           Hoover, Ala.
WR         Alshon Jeffery   South Carolina   6-4          233         So.          St. Matthews, S.C.
WR         Julio Jones          Alabama              6-4          220         Jr.           Foley, Ala.
QB          Cam Newton     Auburn                 6-6          250         Jr.           College Park, Ga.
RB           Marcus Lattimore            South Carolina   6-0          218         Fr.           Duncan, S.C.
RB           Stevan Ridley     LSU        6-0          226         Jr.           Natchez, Miss.
AP          Randall Cobb      Kentucky             5-11       186         Jr.           Alcoa, Tenn.

SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC — OFFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
TE           Orson Charles    Georgia                6-3          240         So.          Tampa, Fla.
OL           Larry Warford    Kentucky (G)     6-3          329         So.          Richmond, Ky.
OL           Barrett Jones     Alabama (G)       6-4          301         So.          Memphis, Tenn.
OL           Garrett Chisolm                South Carolina (G)           6-6          303         Sr.           Charleston, S.C.
OL           Joseph Barksdale             LSU (T) 6-6          318         Sr.           Detroit, Mich.
C             William Vlachos Alabama (C)       6-1          289         Jr.           Birmingham, Ala.
WR         A.J. Green           Georgia                6-4          212         Jr.           Summerville, S.C.
WR         Randall Cobb      Kentucky             5-11       186         Jr.           Alcoa, Tenn.
QB          Ryan Mallett      Arkansas              6-6          238         Jr.           Texarkana, Ark.
RB           Knile Davis          Arkansas              6-0          220         So.          Missouri City, Texas
RB           Mark Ingram      Alabama              5-10       215         Jr.           Flint, Mich.
AP          Trent Richardson              Alabama              5-11       220         So.          Pensacola, Fla.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC – DEFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class      Hometown
DL           Drake Nevis        LSU        6-2          285         Sr.           Marrero, La.
DL           Marcell Dareus  Alabama              6-4          306         Jr.           Birmingham, Ala.
DL           Nick Fairley         Auburn                 6-5          298         Jr.           Mobile, Ala.
DL           Pernell McPhee                Mississippi State               6-4          285         Sr.           Pahokee, Fla.
LB           Danny Trevathan             Kentucky             6-1          223         Jr.           Leesburg, Fla.
LB           Kelvin Sheppard               LSU        6-3          240         Sr.           Stone Mountain, Ga.
LB           Justin Houston  Georgia                6-3          258         Jr.           Statesboro, Ga.
DB          Patrick Peterson               LSU (CB)               6-1          222         Jr.           Pompano Beach, Fla.
DB          Mark Barron       Alabama (S)        6-2          210         Jr.           Mobile, Ala.
DB          Ahmad Black      Florida (S)            5-9          190         Sr.           Lakeland, Fla.
DB          Stephon Gilmore             South Carolina (CB)         6-1          189         So.          Rock Hill, S.C.

SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC — DEFENSE
Pos.       Name    School   Ht.          Wt.         Class                      Hometown
DL           Jake Bequette   Arkansas              6-5          271         Jr.           Little Rock, Ark.
DL           Cliff Matthews  South Carolina   6-4          268         Sr.           Cheraw, S.C.
DL           Devin Taylor       South Carolina   6-7          249         So.          Beaufort, S.C.
DL           Jerrell Powe       Ole Miss               6-2          320         Sr.           Waynesboro, Miss.
LB           Dont’a Hightower            Alabama              6-4          260         So.          Lewisburg, Tenn.
LB           Chris White         Mississippi State               6-4          245         Sr.           Vancleave, Miss.
*LB         Chris Marve        Vanderbilt           6-0          235         Jr.           Memphis, Tenn.
*LB         Jerry Franklin     Arkansas              6-1          241         Jr.           Marion, Ark.
DB          Robert Lester    Alabama (S)        6-2          206         So.          Foley, Ala.
DB          Janoris Jenkins  Florida (CB)         5-11       184         Jr.           Pahokee, Fla.
DB          Casey Hayward Vanderbilt           5-11       188         Jr.           Perry, Ga.
*DB        Janzen Jackson Tennessee          6-0          187         So.          Lake Charles, La.
*DB        Dre Kirkpatrick  Alabama (CB)     6-3          190         So.          Gadsden, Ala.
*DB        Morris Claiborne              LSU (CB)               6-0          177         So.          Shreveport, La.

One of the perks of bowl games for players is the swag from the bowl committees, and this year is no different. Electronics and watches are the big gifts for most bowl games, although gift suites are gaining popularity according to this Sports Business Journal story.

So what do the Gators get. According to SBJ, here’s the list of gifts for both teams in the Outback Bowl:

– $150 Best Buy gift card

– Fossil watch

– Cap

– Jostens ring

– $25 Outback card

Not too shabby. You can check out all of the bowls – minus the three that didn’t disclose their gift packages – here.

Regardless of how Florida coach Urban Meyer voted in the final USA Today Coaches Poll, Auburn and Oregon were headed to the Tostitos BCS National Championship. That he was the only SEC coach to rank the Tigers second to the Ducks raised some questions.

Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino, Georgia’s Mark Richt and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier all placed Auburn first. All four lost to the Tigers. (You can see a full breakdown of all the ballots here.)

Florida did not play Auburn this season.

Asked about it Monday, Meyer downplayed any significance to ranking a fellow SEC team lower.

“It could have been 1a, 1b,” Meyer said. “I watched that SEC game. To see they’re not the best team in America would be incorrect. I have not watched Oregon as much. Earlier in the year I did. I’ve had Oregon ranked No. 1 for quite some time now. It’s just like when we were up in the rankings, unless you deserve to lose that ranking, that’s no disrespect to Auburn, obviously. It’s 1a, 1b in my mind. I just had Oregon No. 1 for a longer period of time.”

Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio has drawn much of the criticism for the offense's struggles. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

In his second season as offensive coordinator, Steve Addazio has taken a lot of the heat from fans for the Gators’ offensive struggles. But coach Urban Meyer said Monday that right now he anticipates Addazio staying in that position next season.

“I am expecting that to happen,” Meyer said. “I’ll have further updates as we get closer to the bowl game. Like I said, everybody’s out recruiting and doing their business.”

Florida ranks 79th in total offense. The best team in the country in pass efficiency a year ago, the Gators are 85th this season. And only four teams in the country rank lower than the Gators in red zone offense – Wyoming, Florida Atlantic, Washington State and Buffalo.

Meyer said he’s still in the evaluation process, but the Gators will have at least one position to fill with defensive line coach Dan McCarney’s departure for North Texas. GA Tony Weaver is filling in in the interim.

Florida QB/TE Jordan Reed has seven touchdowns in the Gators' past four games. (AP photo)

With about three weeks before the Florida’s Jan. 1 Outback Bowl game, the Gators have some time to get healthy. Here’s the latest injury update:

– QB/TE Jordan Reed has not practiced because of a concussion he suffered against Florida State in the final regular season game. Coach Urban Meyer said Reed “looks really good” and expected a light practice for him on Monday. “As I’ve been told, he should be fine in the bowl game,” Meyer said.

– RB Jeff Demps is still in a boot because of a stress reaction in his foot. He has not practiced but Meyer said he is hoping Demps can be available for the bowl game.

– Defensive tackle Terron Sanders will not be available after having surgery.

– DT Lawrence Marsh has a torn labrum in his hip, Meyer said.

PG Erving Walker leads the Gators with 13.3 points per game. (Photo by Maxwell Kruger, US Presswire)

A three-point loss to UCF on Wednesday pushed Florida further down the polls, and right out of the AP Poll.

The Gators started the year ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Poll, but a loss to Ohio State and close wins to lesser opponents dropped them to No. 18. Falling to the Knights dropped them out of the poll, and Florida is first on the list of teams receiving votes. So, technically, 26th.

They also slid in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, falling from 16th to 24th.

Florida (6-2, 0-0 SEC) faces Kent State in the O’Connell Center Thursday night before taking a nine days off for final exams.

SS Ahmad Black (35) and CB Janoris Jenkins (1) were named to the AP All-SEC First Team. (AP photo)

Three Gators were named to the AP All-SEC First Team, and Florida placed one on the second team when the list was released Monday.

Strong safety Ahmad Black, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and punter Chas Henry were named to the first team.

Last year as a junior, Black was an honorable mention pick by the AP. He was Florida’s best defensive player this season, leading the team with 102 tackles while also recording three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was also chosen as a first-team All-SEC pick by Phil Steele.

Jenkins, a projected first-round draft pick he should he choose to leave school early, has covered some of the best receivers in the SEC. He held Alabama’s Julio Jones, Georgia’s A.J. Green and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery – all first- or second-team selections by the AP – to a combined 114 yards.

Henry, a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, leads the nation in punting with a 46.41 average. He earned first-team honors a year after he was a second-team pick by the AP and third-team selection by Phil Steele.

Center Mike Pouncey was named to the second team. Last year, he was named first-team All-SEC by the AP and Phil Steele while playing at guard. He was on Phil Steele’s fourth team this year.

Here’s a look at the entire AP list. U indicates a unanimous selection.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cam Newton, Auburn
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nick Fairley, Auburn
COACH OF THE YEAR: Gene Chizik, Auburn
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR — Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, 6-4, 233, So.
WR — Julio Jones, Alabama, 6-4, 220, Jr.
L — u-Lee Ziemba, Auburn, 6-8, 319, Sr.
L — Derek Sherrod, Mississippi St., 6-6, 305, Sr.
L — Barrett Jones, Alabama, 6-4, 301, So.
L — DeMarcus Love, Arkansas, 6-5, 315, Sr.
C — Ryan Pugh, Auburn, 6-4, 297, Sr.
TE — u-D.J. Williams, Arkansas, 6-2, 251, Sr.
QB — u-Cam Newton, Auburn, 6-6, 250, Jr.
RB — u-Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina, 6-0, 218, Fr.
RB — Knile Davis, Arkansas, 6-0, 220, So.
K — u-Josh Jasper, LSU, 5-11, 171, Sr.
All-Purpose — Randall Cobb, Kentucky, 5-11, 186, Jr.

Defense
T — u-Nick Fairley, Auburn, 6-5, 298, Jr.
T — u-Drake Nevis, LSU, 6-2, 285, Sr.
E — Devin Taylor, South Carolina, 6-7, 249, So.
E/OLB — Justin Houston, Georgia, 6-3, 258, Jr.
LB — Kelvin Sheppard, LSU, 6-3, 240, Sr.
LB — Chris White, Mississippi St., 6-4, 245, Sr.
LB — Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, 6-1, 223, Jr.
CB — u-Patrick Peterson, LSU, 6-1, 222, Jr.
CB — Janoris Jenkins, Florida, 5-11, 184, Jr.
S — Ahmad Black, Florida, 5-9, 190, Sr.
S — Mark Barron, Alabama, 6-2, 210, Jr.
P — Chas Henry, Florida, 6-3, 215, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
Offense
WR — Randall Cobb, Kentucky, 5-11, 186, Jr.
WR — A.J. Green, Georgia, 6-4, 212, Jr.
L — Byron Isom, Auburn, 6-3, 302, Sr.
L — Larry Warford, Kentucky, 6-3, 329, So.
L — Joseph Barksdale, LSU, 6-6, 318, Sr.
L — Clint Boling, Georgia, 6-5, 315, Sr.
L — James Carpenter, Alabama, 6-5, 300, Sr.
L — Bradley Sowell, Mississippi, 6-7, 315, Jr.
C — Mike Pouncey, Florida, 6-4, 310, Sr.
TE — Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt, 6-5, 245, Jr.
QB — Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 6-6, 238, Jr.
RB — Stevan Ridley, LSU, 6-0, 226, Jr.
RB — Mark Ingram, Alabama, 5-10, 215, Jr.
K — Blair Walsh, Georgia, 5-10, 183, Jr.
All-Purpose — Patrick Peterson, LSU, 6-1, 222, Jr.

Defense
T — Marcell Dareus, Alabama, 6-4, 306, Jr.
T — Malik Jackson, Tennessee, 6-5, 265, Jr.
E — Jake Bequette, Arkansas, 6-5, 271, Jr.
E — Antoine Carter, Auburn, 6-4, 256, Sr.
LB — Josh Bynes, Auburn, 6-2, 235, Sr.
LB — Akeem Dent, Georgia, 6-2, 233, Sr.
LB — Dont’a Hightower, Alabama, 6-4, 260, So.
CB — Morris Claiborne, LSU, 6-0, 177, So.
CB — Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, 6-1, 189, So.
CB — Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt, 5-11, 188, Jr.
CB — Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee, 6-1, 181, So.
S — Robert Lester, Alabama, 6-2, 206, So.
S — Tramain Thomas, Arkansas, 6-0, 198, Jr.
P — Tyler Campbell, Mississippi, 6-2, 210, So.

HONORABLE MENTION
Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi St., 5-11, 215, Jr.; Brandon Bolden, RB, Mississippi, 5-11, 215, Jr.; Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama, 6-3, 225, Sr.; Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee, 5-11, 213, Jr.; William Vlachos, C, Alabama, 6-1, 289, Jr.; Jonathan Cornell, LB, Mississippi, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Zac Etheridge, S, Auburn, 6-0, 213, Sr.

For the past week or two, Florida had been projected to go to the Gator Bowl by yours truly and many other professional guessers (i.e. sportswriters). So how did the Gators wind up in the Outback Bowl? A few reasons:

1. South Carolina lost. Badly. Had the Gamecocks beaten Auburn in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, they and the Tigers would be in BCS bowls and would have bumped the other teams down. That would have put Florida in the Gator Bowl. But the Tigers routed South Carolina, making the Gamecocks a less attractive bowl pick to the Gator bowl.

2. Florida doesn’t often drop this low. The selection order for the SEC bowl contracts goes Sugar, Capital One, Cotton, Outback, Chick-Fil-A, Gator, Music City, Liberty and BBVA Compass. Those do not have to pick teams in order of finish. So, 9-4 South Carolina and 8-4 Mississippi State were bypassed so the Outback could take the Gators. The Gamecocks are headed to the Chick-Fil-A and the Bulldogs to the Gator. Quite simply, the Outback has few cracks at Florida. Since the Gators went in the 2005 season, Urban Meyer’s first year, Florida has played in the BCS National Championship in 2006 and 2008, the Capital One in 2007 and the Sugar last season.

3. The Gamecocks were just there. South Carolina played Iowa in the Outback Bowl in 2008. Getting the Gamecocks best in Tampa wasn’t the most attractive option to the selection committee.

“It really is a good thing to circulate the inventory when possible,” said Outback Bowl president Jim McVay.

4. Ticket sales and TV viewers are factors. Like it or not, the Outback Bowl is a business. It needs to sell tickets and get good ratings. With the national profile of both programs, even in a down year, the selection committee is banking on that.

“What are the components of making that team attractive?,” said McVay. “Coaches, team, excitement, enthusiasm, desire to be here.”

Translation: fans who will travel or watch on TV.

Yes, South Carolina (9-4) and Mississippi State (8-4) had better years – and beat Florida in The Swamp – but the committee considered more than just on-field success.

Is it fair? You tell me.

Was it fair for the Outback Bowl to pick Florida (7-5) over South Carolina (9-4) and Mississippi State (8-4)?Market Research

Headed to Tampa for the Outback Bowl? From UF, here’s how to get tickets to see the Gators play Penn State on New Year’s Day:

1.    Visit www.GatorZone.com/tickets and click on “Manage My Account.”
2.    Call 800-344-2867, ext. 6800 (Nationwide), Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and place an order with a Gator Ticket Office Specialist.
3.    Come to the Gator Ticket Office and place an order with a ticket office specialist. The ticket office is located on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline for ordering tickets is 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 10. Tickets are $70 for stadium seats and $150 for club seats. There is no limit on how many you can purchase, but if the ticket office oversells before the deadline, tickets may be reduced or refunded using the Gator Booster Priority Point system.

For students, you can order tickets on Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets are $70 each and are limited to one (1) per full-time, UF student. To purchase, students must visit GatorZone.com/tickets/students.

Despite its 7-5 record, offensive struggles and injuries, Florida is headed to the Outback Bowl. The Gators were chosen to face Penn State (7-5) out of the Big Ten, matching Urban Meyer up against coaching legend Joe Paterno.

It’s Florida’s first trip to the game since the 2005 season, when it beat Iowa 31-24.

The Gators, who had been projected to go to the Gator Bowl for the past couple weeks, were picked ahead of South Carolina (9-4) and Mississippi State (8-4), two teams that beat Florida in The Swamp this season.

The game is Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster.com or call (813)874-2695.

Auburn QB Cam Newton's long road from Florida ended with an MVP trophy and SEC title on Saturday. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton dominated the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, winning MVP honors on the way to the title. In the process, he broke or helped Auburn break several title game records.

Of course, the ones he broke belonged to Florida, the school he left in late 2008 after charges of possessing a stolen laptop as well as alleged academic cheating.

What does that have to do with Florida now? Apparently, now that Newton has had himself a Heisman season, Florida should openly admit regret for losing him, at least according to one columnist.

Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes:

“Maybe it was a good thing the Gators lost to (Steve) Spurrier and South Carolina in November in the game that decided the SEC East title. Otherwise, they would’ve had to watch Newton go wild in person Saturday and face the truth.

“They were a shadow of their championship selves without him this season. Anything that anyone connected to that program has said or will say about not missing him is a big, heaping pile of sour grapes.”

Florida coach Urban Meyer has said several times this season that he does not regret how the situation was handled and he wishes Newton well. Yes, he saw flashes of Newton’s potential when he was at Florida.

But what else should Florida say? Yeah, we should have benched Tim Tebow for his senior season so Newton could play? Oh, we could have looked past all of Newton’s issues if we knew he would be this good?

Come on.

Would Florida have been better on the field than its 7-5 season this year with Newton? Yeah. Could they have known he would be as dominant as he has been and accepted him despite his numerous problems? Probably not.

If the Gators had seen this coming in their crystal ball, would they have done things differently? Who knows, but don’t expect them to gripe about it now.

With the SEC Championship Game complete, the bowl picture should be clearer for Florida. It isn’t.

The buzz in Atlanta this week is that the Outback Bowl could reach for the Gators, passing up on South Carolina and Mississippi State – two teams that beat Florida in The Swamp this year and finished with better records. Quite simply, the Gators are a better draw that the Outback Bowl doesn’t get a chance to get.

President Jim McVay said Florida is still in consideration, and the Gamecocks 56-17 loss in the title game here in Atlanta certainly won’t endear them to the selection committee. The current projection of South Carolina vs. Iowa would be a rematch of the game two years ago, something else that the Outback might want to avoid.

With the Outback Bowl still in play, that leaves the Gators with two possible destinations. They will likely end up in the Gator Bowl should the Outback pass.

It’s unclear now if that will happen. Florida has only played in that game twice – in 2003 and 2004. A matchup with Penn State would be a big TV draw. Obviously, that changes things in the middle of the SEC bowl lineup and could affect bids for South Carolina, Mississippi State and Tennessee.

So, there are two scenarios laid out. The first is the original one that was expected after the loss to FSU to end the regular season. The second is the revised one.

BOWL GAME	WHERE AND WHEN	SCENARIO ONE	SCENARIO TWO
	Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m.at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.	Auburn vs. Oregon	Auburn vs. Oregon
	Jan. 4, 8 p.m. at Superdome in New Orleans	Arkansas vs. Ohio State	Arkansas vs. Ohio State
	Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando	Alabama vs. Michigan State	Alabama vs. Michigan State
	Jan. 7, 8 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas	LSU vs. Texas A&M	LSU vs. Texas A&M
	Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa	South Carolina vs. Iowa	Florida vs. Penn State
	Dec. 31, TBA, at Georgia Dome in Atlanta	Mississippi State vs. Florida State	South Carolina vs. Florida State
	Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m., at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium	Florida vs. Penn State	Tennessee vs. Michigan
	Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.	Tennessee vs. North Carolina	Mississippi State vs. North Carolina
	Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.	Georgia vs. UCF	Georgia vs. UCF
	Jan. 8, Noon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.	Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh	Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh

With the SEC Championship Game complete, the bowl picture should be clearer for Florida. It isn’t.

The buzz in Atlanta this week is that the Outback Bowl could reach for the Gators, passing up on South Carolina and Mississippi State – two teams that beat Florida in The Swamp this year and finished with better records. Quite simply, the Gators are a better draw that the Outback Bowl doesn’t get a chance to get.

President Jim McVay said Florida is still in consideration, and the Gamecocks 56-17 loss in the title game here in Atlanta certainly won’t endear them to the selection committee. The current projection of South Carolina vs. Iowa would be a rematch of the game two years ago, something else that the Outback might want to avoid.

With the Outback Bowl still in play, that leaves the Gators with two possible destinations. They will likely end up in the Gator Bowl should the Outback pass.

It’s unclear now if that will happen. Florida has only played in that game twice – in 2003 and 2004. A matchup with Penn State would be a big TV draw. Obviously, that changes things in the middle of the SEC bowl lineup and could affect bids for South Carolina, Mississippi State and Tennessee.

So, there are two scenarios laid out. The first is the original one that was expected after the loss to FSU to end the regular season. The second is the revised one.

BOWL GAME	WHERE AND WHEN	SCENARIO ONE	SCENARIO TWO
	Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m.at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.	Auburn vs. Oregon	Auburn vs. Oregon
	Jan. 4, 8 p.m. at Superdome in New Orleans	Arkansas vs. Ohio State	Arkansas vs. Ohio State
	Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando	Alabama vs. Michigan State	Alabama vs. Michigan State
	Jan. 7, 8 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas	LSU vs. Texas A&M	LSU vs. Texas A&M
	Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa	South Carolina vs. Iowa	Florida vs. Penn State
	Dec. 31, TBA, at Georgia Dome in Atlanta	Mississippi State vs. Florida State	South Carolina vs. Florida State
	Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m., at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium	Florida vs. Penn State	Tennessee vs. Michigan
	Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.	Tennessee vs. North Carolina	Mississippi State vs. North Carolina
	Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.	Georgia vs. UCF	Georgia vs. UCF
	Jan. 8, Noon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.	Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh	Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh

Kickoff for the SEC Championship Game is only minutes away here in Atlanta, and the matchup of No. 1 Auburn and No. 19 South Carolina will have implications on the Gators’ bowl future.

As I wrote in the projections last week, a Tigers win likely sends Florida to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. But, the buzz has been that the Outback Bowl could throw a wrench in things and try for a Florida vs. Penn State matchup, passing on two better teams – South Carolina and Mississippi State – because the Gators can offer more in terms of fans and TV ratings.

For now, it seems more likely that Florida will play in Jacksonville.

Should South Carolina win today, that changes the order of the bowls ahead of the Gator Bowl but likely wouldn’t change Florida’s destination. In that scenario,  South Carolina and Auburn would go to BCS bowls, sending Arkansas to the Capital One Bowl, LSU would likely stay in the Cotton Bowl and Alabama would drop to the Outback Bowl.

The Outback is the wild card, here. It could pick Florida if South Carolina loses. If the Gamecocks win, that would leave a 9-3 Alabama team  for the Outback Bowl, which it would not pass out on.

So an Auburn win means the possibility, however small, that the Gators to to Tampa. An Auburn loss and Florida is likely Jacksonville bound.

Former Gator Steve Spurrier coached South Carolina to its first SEC Championship Game berth by beating Florida in The Swamp last month. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

When Steve Spurrier took the job at South Carolina six years ago, many questioned what effect it would have on the legacy of the former Gator great. His success at Florida was followed by two miserable years with the Washington Redskins. What could, or did, Spurrier need to prove by taking a job with few resources, little history and little hope of success?

A challenge, it turns out.

It took him six years, but Spurrier has helped create history where there was none. The Gamecocks play in their first ever SEC Championship Game on Saturday, giving them a chance to compete for only the second conference title for the school.

The last was in 1969, an ACC title that came only three years after Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy at Florida.

This game is familiar to Spurrier, who has coached in it more than any other SEC coach. He won it five times and has another SEC title, from 1991, that predates the game.

That level of success is expected at Florida. At South Carolina, getting here is remarkable.

“He’s got a few things working in his favor this year, I will say that. I’m not taking anything away from what Steve’s done. It’s a tough job. They don’t have the kind of history that some of these other teams do. Florida’s down. Georgia had the unfortunate thing with their best player being suspended. Tennessee is down, but you still gotta take advantage of it, and he did,” said CBS analyst Gary Danielson, who will call the game. “

“There were a lot of people telling him not to take that job and he would only embarrass himself again. I give a guy like that credit. He could have rode off into the sunset and play golf the rest of his life.”

Instead, he slowly built the Gamecocks up. This year was the culmination of his work. With improved facilities, he was able to recruit some of the best in-state talent. He made his players believe.

This year, they beat top-ranked Alabama. They won at Florida. They made it to Atlanta.

Chicken curse?

If the Gamecocks can win Saturday, South Carolina fans can forget it and their history.

“Yes, it’s a challenge to try to do some things that have never done before. I do like that,” said Spurrier on Friday. “When I was coming back from that two-year NFL stint, I really want to go somewhere that maybe had not won very much and had a chance to.

“It’s just to try to do some things that have never been done before. So got an opportunity again tomorrow. See if we can make something happen.”

Which is more impressive – Steve Spurrier’s success at Florida or the Old Ball Coach getting South Carolina to the SEC Championship Game?online survey

Redshirt freshman Andre Debose returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this season. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Ten Gators were named to Phil Steele’s Postseason All-SEC teams on Friday, with strong safety Ahmad Black, punter Chas Henry and kick returner Andre Debose making the first team.

Black, a senior from Lakeland, led the team with 102 tackles this year. He also had three interceptions, forced three fumbles and recovered two.

Henry, a senior and finalist for the Ray Guy Award given to the nation’s top punter, leads the country with a 46.41 punt average.

And Debose returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this year – one from 88 yards against LSU and another from 99 yards against South Carolina.

Junior CB Janoris Jenkins, a projected first-round draft pick, made the second team.

On the third team were senior left guard Carl Johnson, senior left tackle Marcus Gilbert and senior defensive end Justin Trattou.

Florida placed two on the fourth team – senior center Mike Pouncey and redshirt freshman linebacker Jelani Jenkins.

Florida and Alabama have played each other in the SEC Championship Game seven times in the past 18 years. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

On Saturday, when the SEC Championship Game kicks off at the Georgia Dome, two teams that thought they’d be playing will be watching. With Alabama and Florida at home, is there a changing of the guard in the SEC?

Not quite, but No. 19 South Carolina makes its first appearance in the title game while No. 1 Auburn tries to win its second title. That both made it to Atlanta in a year when the Crimson Tide and Gators entered the year ranked in the top five shows an increased parity in the SEC.

“Remember the topic of the SEC media days in Birmingham was, ‘Is it good for the conference that Alabama and Florida have distanced themselves from the rest of the conference?’” said CBS analyst Gary Danielson, who will call the game with Verne Lundquist. “Boy, that seems like a long time ago. What I think is coming to fruition here is what I’ve been predicting for three years and it hasn’t come yet. We’re going to see more parity. These teams are better coached.”

For Florida and Alabama, that could be bad news. With eight losses between them this year, both programs are in rebuilding mode.

Florida coach Urban Meyer assured fans he would rebuild. After the Gators’ fifth loss of the season, he promised to spend this month before the bowl game improving for the immediate future and next season.

If this year’s title game is any indication, though, it’s going to be more difficult than ever to get back to Atlanta.

“It’s not going to be easy this year or in the future for Alabama or Florida to just roll their helmets out there and win,” Danielson said. “No one is intimidated by Florida or Alabama anymore.”

A LOOK AT THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 1992-2009

Walk-on defensive lineman Gary Beemer scored his first ever touchdown against Appalachian State on Senior Day last month. (AP photo)

Florida walk-on defensive lineman Gary Beemer had his Rudy moment. Now, the Gators’ senior has been nominated for the Rudy Award.

Each school can nominate a player, and 55 of the 120 FBS schools sent one in. The award honors student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment as members of their collegiate football teams.

Beemer provided one of the highlights of Senior Day in the Gators’ Nov. 20 win over Appalachian State. Late in the game, coach Urban Meyer put Beemer in to run the ball at the goal line. After three attempts, he was in for the first touchdown of his life.

“I grabbed the ball and I lowered my head and I ran and I closed my eyes,” he said after that win, “and when I opened them, I had scored a touchdown.”

Three players will be selected as finalists, and the two runners-up will receive an award and have an academic scholarship awarded to the university in their names.

The Rudy Award winner will be presented with the award by its namesake, Rudy Ruettiger,at the College Football Rudy Awards Ceremony on Jan. 11 in Dallas.

The winner will be chosen based on a fan vote and the choice of a selection committee. Voting is open until Dec. 13.

Florida walks off the court as UCF celebrates the Knights 57-54 victory over the Gators at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. Wednesday, December 1, 2010.  (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

To see more pictures from the game, click here.

Follow the Sentinel photo staff on Twitter @OSPhoto. Find us on Facebook:  Orlando Sentinel Photography.

Florida commit Jeff Driskel finished with more than 3,000 yards of offense and 38 touchdowns for Oviedo Hagerty this season. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Watch the highlight video and it seems Florida is getting itself a running quarterback. Oveido Hagerty quarterback Jeff Driskel has been making plays with his legs all season, including a 91-yard touchdown run against Lakeland in the Huskies’ playoff loss last month.

But it’s his arm that’s his strength, Driskel said Wednesday morning on The Morning Drive with Brady Ackerman.

“I worked a lot in throwing the ball this offseason,” said Hagerty. “A lot of people kind of forget that I have a strong arm and I’m accurate because I make a lot of plays with my feet.

“I think that will carry me farther than my legs will, in college.”

Driskel, the top-rated quarterback and 22nd-rated recruit in the 2011 class by Rivals.com, helped the Huskies to a 7-4 record this year with both. He completed 138 of 235 passes for 1,783 yards, 16 touchdowns and had three interceptions. He also rushed for 1,296 yards and 20 scores.

As for Internet rumors that he might not make it to Gainesville, Driskel said he’s 100 percent committed to the Gators. He will enroll in January and is undecided on a major, considering business or finance.

“A lot of kids waiver in the process, but I’m 100 percent to Florida,” he said, two days after DE Jeoffrey Pagan decommitted from the Gators. “I have been the whole way. That hasn’t changed.”

Donovan didn’t mince words when asked about his team’s performance Wednesday night. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

The Florida Gators’ issues are bigger than a poor showing against UCF, Billy Donovan says. The Gators fell to the Knights 57-54 at Amway Center as they struggled from the three-point range (2-of-13), the free-throw line (10-of-18), and protecting the ball (14 turnovers).

Donovan, in the most blunt he’s been about his team this season, said his seniors are being too selfish.

“Those older guys are, to me, less concerned about trying to do something great collectively as a group and are more wrapped up in what’s going to happen to me,” Donovan said. “All of our older guys are way, way too wrapped up in their offense.”

While center Vernon Macklin was nearly unstoppable on the low block — he scored 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting — the Gators’ guards failed to keep feeding the big man. Instead, Donovan said, perimeter guys Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton and Chandler Parsons were concerned with creating shots for themselves.

The trio combined to shoot 34.6 percent.

“Let’s get Vernon the ball,” Donovan said. “But we’re too wrapped up in I didn’t get a shot now or I missed my last one.”

Donovan continued: “They’re not playing together and they’re not utilizing each others’ individual talents. The disappointing part is these guys all played together last year.

“We have a bunch of guys on the floor that make nobody better.”

The players didn’t disagree.

“We have a lot of talent,” Parsons said. “But to be a great team, you have to be a team. You can’t have any selfishness.”

So where do the Gators go from here?

They have to get better, obviously. And they have to be less selfish.

But more consequently, Donovan didn’t rule out the possibility of shifting the rotation.

“We’ve got try to find a way to get it corrected, and I’m not saying make a bunch of changes right now,” he said. “I got to get some of these other guys more looks to play right now. We do have a deeper bench and we have been trying to utilize it.”

Zach McCann can be reached at zmccann@orlandosentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ZachMcCann.

Florida's Chandler Parsons returns to his hometown when the Gators play UCF in Orlando tonight. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Florida plays UCF in the new Amway Center tonight, but it will feel like home for one Gator.

Orlando-native Chandler Parsons returns home to find his own impressive cheering section. The senior forward said his grandparents purchased at least 70 tickets, meaning many family and friends will be in attendance – aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, high school coaches, teammates and teachers. Even his barber, who has cut Parsons hair since he was 13, is coming.

“I got a huge family. All of my family’s in Winter Park,” said Parsons, a Lake Howell graduate. “I got the whole city coming.”

Added to the excitement is playing in the Magic’s new arena. Parsons went to a preseason game this year, and his family has owned season tickets since the team’s creation in the late 1980s.

“It’s unreal,” he said of the new arena.

The game – which has the 16th-ranked Gators (5-1, 0-0 SEC) facing the unbeaten Knights (5-0, 0-0 Conference-USA) – also pits Parsons against friends. He said that he worked out with several of the players over the summer, and he knows Keith Clanton and Taylor Young from playing against each other in high school.

So with all the build-up for Parsons around this game, does he feel anymore pressure?

“I want to play well,” he said. “But I’m not going to force everything.”

Four-star DE Jeoffrey Pagan decommitted from Florida on Monday, changing his mind in part because of the departure of defensive line coach Dan McCarney for North Texas.

Danny Wilkins, Pagan’s high school coach at Asheville (N.C.) High, said, “I think he’s concerned about the distance from home a little bit more as time approaches, too, for signing.”

The Gators had honored their offer after Pagan tore his PCL and MCL earlier this month. He has since had surgery under the direction of Dr. James Andrews, one of the most renowned sports surgeons in the country.

“His knee’s doing much better,” said Wilkins. “It was not as severe as they thought. He’s in rehab and doing well. And they expect a full recovery.”

Pagan’s decommitment leaves Florida with 17 recruits in the 2011 class. They are:

His Florida career officially over, Dan McCarney was introduced as the new head coach at North Texas this afternoon.

The former Gators’ defensive line coach had been with the program for three years before his departure this week.

McCarney accepted the offer this weekend. He had spent the past four years as an assistant coach, and was head coach at Iowa State from 1995 to 2006.

“I’m happy for Coach McCarney and his family,” said Florida coach Urban Meyer in a statement. “He has a proven track record as a head coach and we were fortunate to have him on our staff for the last three years. He did a great job with our defensive line and I fully expect him to be successful at North Texas.”

With McCarney’s departure, the Gators have one open position. They will find out their bowl destination on Sunday, and could wait until after that game to hire another assistant.

McCarney’s departure has already contributed to one recruit decommitting from Florida. Asheville (N.C.) defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan decommitted on Monday. Danny Wilkins, Pagan’s high school coach, said McCarney’s hiring at North Texas was part of the reason the four-star recruit changed his mind.

According to his Twitter account, Florida DT Terron Sanders had surgery Monday morning to fix a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Sanders had not previously been listed on the Gators’ injury reports and did start at Florida State on Saturday.

A redshirt senior from Bradenton, Sanders has 18 tackles and one fumble recovery this season.

Sanders will have time to heal as the Gators are off until their bowl game at the end of the month.

Florida coach Billy Donovan wasn't sure his team deserved a top-15 ranking at the start of the season. (AP photo)

After a couple close wins, Florida again fell in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls.

The Gators beat Florida Atlantic 79-66 on Tuesday and won at Florida State, 55-51, on Sunday before dropping in both polls. Florida fell from 16th to 18th in the AP Poll and from 14th to 16th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

Florida (5-1, 0-0 SEC) was top-15 in the preseason polls. The AP Poll had the Gators ranked ninth and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll had Florida 11th.

The Gators’ lone loss came to then-No. 4 Ohio State in the second game in the season.

Chris Rainey's fumble was one of four turnovers by the Gators. (Photo by Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)

It didn’t take an embarrassing loss to Florida’s biggest rival to point out what has been obvious much of this season.

But with the regular season over, it gave coach Urban Meyer occassion to finally admit to his team’s failings.

Work ethic wouldn’t be one. Despite an unprecedented five losses during Meyer’s tenure, no one has questioned the players’ drive to improve.
Injuries seem to be a factor, but mostly sound like an excuse. Unfortunately key players were hurt throughout the year – see Jeff Demps, John Brantley, the entire offensive line at some point – but all that revealed was a lack of depth.

Even execution, the players’ and coaches’ popular explanation for the team’s shortcomings, didn’t get the blame on Saturday.

The Gators are not a good team, and Meyer will be spending this offseason figuring out why.

“It’s injuries. I’m not ready to comment on that. I have not have the reflective moment,” he said. “Usually I wait until after the recruiting season to do all so I’m gonna get real busy. Obviously we’re not going to play in a championship game.”

Before Florida’s bowl game and into the spring, Meyer and his staff will look at what went wrong. Some suggested places to start looking:

– Three-quarterback system. Throughout the preseason, Meyer talked about John Brantley finally getting his time and the Gators adjusting the offense to fit the skills of a dropback passer. They didn’t, and this remains arguably the biggest disappointment to the staff. Florida stuck with a Tim Tebow offense with a quarterback nothing like Tebow. To make up for that, they brought in two other players each with a narrow set of skills. It hasn’t worked.

– Attitude problems. The Gators have had several issues with highly touted freshmen who have five-star attitudes. Dominique Easley and Ronald Powell skipped practice in the preseason. They’ve since come around to contribute, but Jonathan Dowling was kicked off the team and Florida has had other problems. That redshirt freshman Andre Debose was dancing on the sideline late against FSU might show the maturity level of some of these young players.

– Assistant coaches. Meyer said he was “not going to get into” coaching changes after the game, but he might want to review it at some point. Yes, the Gators lost plenty of NFL talent last season. But Florida seemed ill-prepared to fill those holes. At an elite university with one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, why didn’t that talent develop? If it is there, why didn’t Florida use it?

– Head coach. With his track record, Meyer’s job is likely safe as long as he wants to be at Florida. But, he delegates responsbility to his assistants and clearly some have fallen short. With his well-publicized health issues a year ago, it’s probably not best for Meyer to take more on. But he does have to make sure the assistants he relies on can get the job done.

With only the SEC Championship Game remaining, the bowl picture is clearer for the SEC’s teams. For the Gators, a 31-7 loss at FSU on Saturday likely has them headed to the Gator Bowl.

Arkansas’ win over LSU likely helped the Razorbacks jump into a BCS game, thus reshuffling teams at the top.

The only thing that affects bowl bids now is the Auburn-South Carolina title game on Saturday. A Tigers win puts them in the national championship. Should they lose, they and South Carolina would still likely get BCS bids. These projections go on the assumption that Auburn wins that game.

Tostitos BCS National Championship (Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m.at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.): Auburn vs. BCS team

Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 4, 8 p.m. at Superdome in New Orleans): Arkansas vs. BCS team

Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando): Alabama vs. Big Ten team

AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 7, 8 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas): LSU vs. Big 12 team

Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa): South Carolina vs. Big Ten team

Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31, TBA, at Georgia Dome in Atlanta): Mississippi State vs. ACC team

Gator Bowl (Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m., at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium): Florida vs. Big Ten team

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.): Tennessee vs. ACC team

Autozone Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.): Georgia vs. Conference USA team

BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 8, Noon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.): Kentucky vs. a Big East team.

Injuries only added to the misery of Florida's loss to FSU on Saturday. (Photo by Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)

Adding injury to insult, Florida did not make it out of Tallahassee without more injuries. Here’s the latest on the hurt Gators after their 31-7 loss to the Seminoles:

– Backup quarterback Jordan Reed left in the third quarter with a concussion. On third-and-1, Reed dove over the pile for the conversion.

– DT Jaye Howard left the game on crutches and with a boot on his right leg. Coach Urban Meyer said he re-sprained the ankle he initially hurt against Mississippi State on Oct. 16.

– WR Omarius Hines left the game with a shoulder injury.

– Center Mike Pouncey left the game with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter. He returned without shoulder pads and said after the game that he had a chest injury. Pouncey added that he would get X-rays when the team returned to Gainesville.

There are no national championship bids on the line today when the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles kick off. Heck, there are barely conference championships in play. So is any of the luster lost in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries? We decided to walk around the tailgating scene and asked fans what they thought.

The Orlando Sentinel’s esteemed college beat writers, Florida’s Rachel George and Florida State’s Andrew Carter, take a look at today’s game.

The year started with high expectations but has been largely disappointing. A win over rival FSU might go a long way to make up for that. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

After Florida beat Appalachian State last week, center Mike Pouncey said a win this week at Florida State would still make the season a success. Not to be mistaken, the Gators fell short of their goal of returning to Atlanta for the SEC title game.

But, after all the Gators and their fans have been through this season – transitioning to life after Tim Tebow, Chris Rainey’s arrest, a rash of injuries that might be the worst in coach Urban Meyer’s career and three home losses – is Pouncey right?

It has been a difficult season in Gainesville, but at least Florida can end it on a high note by extending its six-game winning streak over the Seminoles.

What do you think? If Florida wins today’s game at Doak Campbell Field, does that save the season? Vote below, please.

Would a win over Florida State save the season for the Gators?online surveys

Florida QB John Brantley has been sacked 19 times this season, including twice against South Carolina. (AP photo)

Many problems have plagued the Florida offense this season. The Gators aren’t ranked 73rd in total offense because things are going well.

With today’s rivalry game against Florida State, though, the Gators MUST protect quarterback John Brantley. Yes, that much emphasis is needed. Here’s why:

Florida has allowed 21 sacks this year, tied for seventh in the SEC, with 19 of those on Brantley. The reasons are many, as Florida’s coaches are quick to point out. Yes, it’s the offensive line. But it’s also backs missing blocks and Brantley taking too long in the pocket.

“There’s so much involved in that, whether a guy getting open, a missed assignment, whether the offensive line or a running back who’s involved in protection, or the fullback,” coach Urban Meyer said this week. “If it was one issue, we would have corrected that issue.”

Florida has shown little signs that it has been corrected. The Gators gave up a total of three sacks in their first five games before allowing at least three in their next five. That the Gators gave up a season high four to Vanderbilt should tell you that it’s not just a problem dealing with good, blitzing defenses.

The problem for Florida against FSU is that the Seminoles are second in the country in sacks per game. They have 41 total.

Of the Gators’ three quarterbacks, this is the biggest issue for Brantley. Trey Burton runs. So does Jordan Reed, and he can throw.

Against a Florida secondary that ranks 87th in pass defense, Brantley should be able to exploit that. The Seminoles have 11 interceptions and allow 231.6 passing yards per game. The opportunity is there for Brantley to match his best passing game of the season – 248 yards vs. Kentucky – if only the Gators can keep him from getting hit.

On the field, at least, Frankie Hammond Jr. appears to be earning his scholarship back. The Gators’ redshirt sophomore had it revoked after a DUI arrest this summer, one that has since been settled in court.

At the time, coach Urban Meyer said Hammond would pay his way this season and possible for the entire year.

This week, Meyer said he still hasn’t determined Hammond’s scholarship status. By all accounts, though, Hammond has taken this as a lesson and is moving in the right direction.

“Do I have a timetable? No,” said Meyer. “But I’m evaluating everything he’s doing and that includes his unselfish contribution to this team, his academic reports and his off-the-field behavior and assisting us with a lot of off-the-field things. He’s doing very well.”

After missing the first two games, he has emerged as one of the Gators’ top receivers. He leads Florida with 16 receptions in the past five games, and is the team’s best blocking receiver.

For this week’s rivalry game between Florida and Florida State, Swamp Things turned to friend and Orlando Sentinel colleague Andrew Carter. Andrew covers the Seminoles for us and offered some insight to how FSU is approaching this game. Be sure to read his blog and follow him on Twitter for FSU news.

1. Quarterback Christian Ponder came into the season with a lot of hype, and although he’s done well, he’s not in contention for the Heisman. Why has he fallen short of expectations? What can he still do to lead FSU to a win over Florida?

A combination of factors have combined to make this a lot more difficult of a season for Ponder than a lot of people thought it would be. For one, Florida State’s offensive line never became the dominating unit it seemed like it could become. All five starters there returned for the third consecutive season, but injuries have hurt the continuity on the line. Plus, the pass protection simply hasn’t been that good.

More than that, Florida State has had major issues with its receiving corps. The Seminoles had already lost 2009 seniors Rod Owens and Richard Goodman from last season, and then they lost Jarmon Fortson – one of their leading returning receivers – just before this season when he was dismissed. There are some promising sophomore receivers in Rodney Smith and Willie Haulstead but overall this group hasn’t come along as quickly as Jimbo Fisher would have liked.

Lastly, Ponder has been battling injuries for most of the season. He hasn’t often been healthy. Suffered a deeply bruised triceps in his throwing arm at Oklahoma, and that lingered. And then he injured his right elbow not long after that and he has been dealing with that throughout the second half of the season. All that said, Ponder has been throwing with more confidence late in the season and he has remained a capable runner. Though the numbers don’t support it, Fisher is adamant that Ponder is playing as well as he ever has.

2. FSU ranks second nationally in sacks, and protecting the quarterback has been difficult for Florida lately. What will the Seminoles try to do to get to John Brantley, and how big of a role do you see that being in the game?

As always, it will be of paramount importance for Florida State to generate pressure on Brantley – and Florida’s other quarterbacks – on Saturday. The Seminoles have done an awful job of that in recent seasons against the Gators but Florida State’s defensive line has progressed nicely under a mostly new defensive coaching staff.

Florida State hasn’t done anything too out of the ordinary to generate pressure but a couple things have helped the Seminoles in this regard: For one, sophomore defensive end Brandon Jenkins, who leads the team with 11 sacks, has become a dominant defensive end – the kind this team lacked last season. For another, the Seminoles have done a decent job defending the pass (with the exception of the Oklahoma and North Carolina games) and that has led to some sacks and pressures because quarterbacks have had to hold onto the ball longer.

The Seminoles defensive turnaround has been impressive, but the defensive line isn’t playing as well now as it was earlier in the season. Fisher was really pleased for a while that the Seminoles could generate pressure with just their  front four – and without the aid of too many blitzes – but it seems like the defensive line is wearing down a bit down the stretch. The Seminoles are banged up there – especially on the interior of the line.

3. Where will FSU hold the greatest edge? What do the ‘Noles have to do right to win?

I don’t think Florida State has a huge edge anywhere. If anywhere, though, I’d say the Seminoles should have a significant advantage at quarterback. Even though Ponder hasn’t produced huge numbers, he has played well and this is his last home game and his last chance to deliver a long-awaited victory against Florida. I think on an intangible level, that counts for something. Plus, on the flipside, the Gators quarterback situation seems to be a bit of a mess – at least on the outside looking in.

It has become obvious that Brantley hasn’t been a great fit in Florida’s offense and the three-quarterback system the Gators have been using hasn’t seemed to work too well. Historically, there have been some great quarterbacks in this rivalry. Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke. Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow. Those are four Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks who have played in this series in the past 17 years. The team that has gotten the most from its quarterback is usually the one that’s in the best shape. If that trend holds true, you have to like Florida State with Ponder in his final home game.

As for what FSU needs to do to win, here’s what I think: Score touchdowns in the red zone (been a problem of late), establish the run (ditto) and limit the big play.

4. How much are FSU players and coaches talking about the streak of six losses to Florida?

Surprisingly, not all that much. But then again, the importance of breaking the losing streak is one of those things that has just become understood. Nobody needs to mention it to know what it would mean to break it. Florida State’s seniors – who have experienced so much adversity in their time in Tallahassee – desperately want to end their home careers with a victory against the Gators. Nothing would be sweeter for them after experiencing three blowout losses against Florida.

Still, it’s important to note that Fisher has attempted to drive into his players’ minds that the past is the past. He doesn’t want his guys focusing on ending a six-game losing streak, per se. He wants them focused on beating this particular Florida team.

5. How much of the evaluation of Jimbo Fisher’s first year will be based on the outcome of this game? If they lose, is 8-4 a failure? If they win, is 9-3 a success?

I don’t think anyone would consider 8-4 a failure. In fact, I think a lot of reasonable fans would have been happy with 8-4 at the start of the season – especially if that record came with obvious signs of improvement. And there have been those signs that indicate Florida State is headed in the right direction. The defense has significantly improved from where it was a season ago. Recruiting is going exceptionally well. The Seminoles lost two games in the final seconds, so their record could easily be two games better than it is.

But still, after a 6-1 start I think there would be some element of disappointment with an 8-4 finish. With that, the Seminoles would have lost three of their past five games – including another defeat against Florida.

If the Seminoles win on Saturday, 9-3 would be considered a tremendous success. It’d be Florida State’s first 9-win regular season since 2003, which is also the last time the Seminoles beat Florida. Nobody would be complaining about a 9-3 finish – especially given the Seminoles would have been so close to finishing 11-1. A victory against Florida would provide the perfect ending to Fisher’s first season.

Florida corner Janoris Jenkins is expected to return from a concussion this week vs. FSU. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Three days from the Florida-FSU game, here’s the latest on the Gators’ injuries from coach Urban Meyer:

– Cornerback Janoris Jenkins is expected to play after suffering a slight concussion last week.

– Cornerback Jeremy Brown shouldn’t be limited in practice today and is expected to play Saturday. He did not start vs. South Carolina because of a hamstring injury. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Tuesday that freshman Cody Riggs would be ready to replace Brown if he could not play.

– LB A.J. Jones (hamstring) should play, Meyer said.

– WR Andre Debose has regressed and is questionable with an ankle sprain. He initially hurt his ankle against Mississippi State on Oct. 16 and missed the Georgia game following the bye week. Debose played against Vanderbilt and South Carolina, returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against the Gamecocks. He did not dress for last week’s game vs. Appalachian State.

– Center Mike Pouncey left practice early Tuesday, walking back to the stadium shirtless. Meyer said he was lightheaded and that it was not from contact. He will play Saturday.

– OL Matt Patchan is out for the season after having a second surgery on the wrist he hurt in the preseason. Meyer had been hopeful that Patchan would return this year, but said surgery was needed after the injury “never improved.” He added that he hoped Patchan could be back to full contact by spring practice. It’s likely he will get a medical redshirt after missing the entire season.

Florida RB Emmanuel Moody has accepted a senior season that didn't go as well as he had hoped. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Little has gone the way the Gators wanted this season, something senior running back Emmanuel Moody has come to accept.

A highly touted running back out of Coppell, Texas, Moody spent his first season at USC. With a logjam of running backs in front of him, he transferred to Florida the next season.

Quarterback Tim Tebow led Florida’s rushing attack the past two seasons, and carries were harder to come by. Moody had 58 in each of the past two seasons.

John Brantley took over as quarterback this season, and his passing skills meant he would rely more on the Gators’ running backs to carry the ball. But with a foot injury that has  kept Jeff Demps out this season, and injuries slowing Moody and Mike Gillislee, the run game hasn’t developed as they had hoped.

Moody has 66 carries for 265 yards and no touchdowns this season.

“It’s my fifth year now. If I haven’t learned by now, then I won’t ever learn. Injuries is part of the game,” Moody said. “When we’re healthy, we just try to help the team out as much as we can. For the younger guys, it’s really hard on them. The freshmen, the sophomores, and sometimes the juniors, it’s hard on them because they haven’t understood yet and they have these personal goals coming into the season and when an injury takes you out for half the season, it’s real disappointing.”

For his part, Moody says he’s accepted that this season has “hurt” his chances at the NFL. He will graduate Dec. 18 with a degree in family, youth and community science. Moody, a devout Christian, said he still hopes to take football as far as he can before pursuing mission work.

“I don’t really care about statistics. My statistics this year aren’t great, so why really stress now?,” he said. “I’m just ready to finish this year as a team, and beat Florida State.”

Florida RB/WR Chris Rainey helped convince Lakeland teammates Ahmad Black and Mike and Maurkice Pouncey to become Gators rather than go to Florida State. (Orlando Sentinel photo)

Florida strong safety Ahmad Black grew up a Florida State fan. Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, Black’s teammates at Lakeland, verbally committed to the Seminoles.

So how did all three end up at rival Florida? Chris Rainey.

All four high school teammates at Lakeland, they – along with Steven Wilks – ultimately picked the Gators. As Florida prepares to face the Seminoles on Saturday, Black joked that Rainey “probably had stock in Gatorade” t0 want to come to Florida so badly.

“Chris Rainey was kind of the lead nut in the whole deal, the lead recruit,” said coach Urban Meyer. “He was a guy that I first met him at an FCA banquet down in Tampa, Outback Bowl deal, we developed a great relationships via phone and everything else from there. From then, the Pounceys jumped and Ahmad Black jumped and Steve Wilks jumped.”

Black’s joking aside, Rainey might have helped Meyer land some of the best recruits during his tenure at Florida. Maurkice Pouncey was the school’s first Rimington Trophy winner as the nation’s top center and was taken 18th in the NFL draft. Mike stayed in school to increase his draft stock, and recent projections have him going in the first round this year.

Despite his size, Black is the best strong safety in college football, his coaches argue. He leads the Gators with 96 tackles and has three interceptions this season. At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, he doesn’t fit the NFL mold, but defensive coordinator Teryl Austin – who spent six years coaching defensive backs in the NFL – says a team should take him.

“They offered me a scholarship,” Black said of Florida. “I was too small and too slow to go to Florida State.”

Wilks’ return from a back injury has helped paved the way for an improved running game, something Rainey has contributed to. He has been the team’s leading rusher since returning from suspension, gaining 211 rushing and 553 all-purpose yards in the past four games.

“I can remember Rainey got maybe three scholarship offers coming out of high school.,” Black said. “Everybody use to wonder why, and I was like well maybe because he told everybody he wanted to come to Florida. I can remember coach Meyer asked me did I want to come here,and I had Rainey right here standing in my ear saying, ‘Yes, yes!’

“Rainey played a big factor.”

Last year for Christmas, Florida punter Chas Henry got a Ray Guy rookie card as a gift from one of his mom’s co-workers.

Since then, the joke has been that if the Florida senior wins the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter, he’d have to get Guy to sign it.

Henry might have to get that card out of its frame in his family’s Dallas, Ga. home. He was named a finalist for the award for a second year in a row on Monday, putting him in the running with Georgia’s Drew Butler, who won it last year, and Iowa’s Ryan Donahue for the award.

“It means everything to him,” said Henry’s father, David, on Monday afternoon. “If you’re a punter, you don’t win the Heisman (Trophy). This the Heisman for punters.”

Henry leads the country with a 47.3-yard average on punts this year. That has helped the Gators (7-4, 4-4 SEC) rank first nationall in net punting with 42.24 yards per punt.

Florida has not had a Ray Guy Award winner since it was created in 2000.

“It’s a great honor, and it’s even a bigger honor, I guess, to be named twice,” David Henry said.

A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision coaches, sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners voted on the finalists and will cast a second round of ballots to decide the winner.

The award will be presented on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

About 40 players, including quarterback John Brantley and receiver Omarius Hines, helped pack bags of food for needy families on Monday.

Before Gators guard Carl Johnson spent Monday afternoon preparing for Florida State, he spent some time trying to decide which Jell-O – grape or cherry – a needy family should get.

Johnson was one of about 40 players who spent time Monday at St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center assembling packages of food that will be distributed to homeless and needy families during this Thanksgiving week.

It was an idea coach Urban Meyer and his wife, Shelley, had a few weeks ago to try to help in the community. The players and volunteers packed 600 bags to feed 300 families.

“I know we’re humbled as a family, and I want to make sure these guys are as well,” said Meyer, after helping haul dozens of bags into a truck. “I was talking to them as we were carrying those bags. I said, ‘Do you realize this can feed a family for a week? We’re going to feed 300 families for a whole week.’ And a lot of them are just so spoiled nowadays. They don’t get to realize that. It’s a great day for us.”

Father David J. Ruchinski, pastor at St. Augustine’s, said Meyer was the principal donor for the project, and that Nike and Pepsi were among the other donors that contributed. The bags were filled with nonperishable items, including oatmeal, black-eyed peas, canned goods, peanut butter Gator toothpaste and socks.

“I don’t know what it is to be a college football player, myself, but I think their lives become really kind of focused in on what they do,” said Ruchinski. “They’re students. They’re athletes. They put a lot of time and attention into a very narrow field of activity. And the idea here is to kind of broaden in out.

“Thanksgiving’s that time when it’s important to kind of go outside of yourself as an expression of your own thanks for what you’ve received.”

Florida coach Billy Donovan has questioned his team's top-15 ranking since the preseason. (AP photo)

Since the preseason, Florida coach Billy Donovan has questioned whether his Gators were worthy of their preseason top-15 ranking. With five returning starters and a highly touted freshman class coming in, Florida started the year at No. 9 in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

After a 3-1 start, the voters agree with him. Florida  dropped to No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 14 in the coaches poll after losing by 18 at home to then-No. 4 Ohio State and struggling with Morehead State this week.

With C Vernon Macklin struggling with a knee injury and F Alex Tyus coming off a short week of practice because of a concussion he suffered against Ohio State, the Gators nearly allowed Morehead State to comeback from a 17-point halftime deficit. Kenneth Faried had 20 points and 18 rebounds for the Eagles.

With one regular season game left, the bowl picture is becoming clearer for Florida and the rest of the SEC.

No. 2 Auburn is currently slated to go to the BCS title game, but the Tigers have loseable games this week in the Iron Bowl at Alabama and next week vs. South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game.

Should Auburn not make the title game, everyone on the list would get bumped down and/or shuffled. Safe to say, Florida is somewhere between the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. The Gators (7-4, 4-4 SEC) can help their case with a win at Florida State this weekend.

Tostitos BCS National Championship (Jan. 10, 8:30 p.m.at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.): Auburn vs. BCS team

Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 4, 8 p.m. at Superdome in New Orleans): LSU vs. BCS team

Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando): Alabama vs. Big Ten team

AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 7, 8 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas): Arkansas vs. Big 12 team

Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa): South Carolina vs. Big Ten team

Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31, TBA, at Georgia Dome in Atlanta): Florida vs. ACC team

Gator Bowl (Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m., at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium): Mississippi State vs. Big Ten team

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn.): Tennessee vs. ACC team

Autozone Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.): Georgia vs. Conference USA team

BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 8, Noon at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.): Kentucky vs. a Big East team.

Kickoff has been set for 3:30 p.m. for the Florida-Florida State game on Saturday. The game will be televised regionally on ABC and on ESPN outside of the region.

The Gators (7-4, 4-4 SEC) have won the past six meetings of the rivals and enter the game coming off a 48-10 win over Appalachian State.

The Seminoles (8-3, 6-2 ACC) won 30-16 at Maryland on Saturday night.

After weeks of being a decoy, QB John Brantley finally got the ball on this five-yard touchdown reception from Jordan Reed. (AP photo)

For weeks, Gators coaches have been asked when they’re going to call a pass to John Brantley. The Florida quarterback has been lining up in the slot a times to confuse defenses. Before the bye week, he and freshman Trey Burton would both come to the huddle and then line up hoping the defense didn’t have time to adjust.

Since the bye week, they have often lined up, switched after the QB gets the read and then snapped the ball before the defense can adjust to the change in quarterback.

When Brantley stays in the slot, it has given the defense a one-man advantage. If the Gators don’t throw to him, that’s one less guy opposing teams have to cover.

Saturday, they finally did.

Reed found Brantley alone in the right corner of the end zone after the Appalachian State corner left him open.Brantley caught the ball and got both feet in before falling out of bounds.

“We’ve had that for a while. I actually saw the corner just disregarding him, so we called it,” said coach Urban Meyer. “Might be his last one.”

The reaction, on Twitter at least, was that it was a waste to make that call vs. the Mountaineers. Why not do it against a better opponent?

Center Mike Pouncey said the Gators wanted to throw it to Brantley last week but couldn’t get the offense going vs. South Carolina.

Against an FCS opponent, was it a waste? No.

Florida’s three quarterbacks fit certain roles. Brantley is the passer, Burton the option guy and Reed the single-wing QB. Not surprisingly, that makes them somewhat predictable for defenses. The more things they can do to get away from their tendencies, the more successful they can be.

“Trey Burton, when he’s in, is going to have to throw the ball some,” ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge told me this week. “They’re going to have to throw (Brantley) the ball once or twice.”

The Gators face Florida State next, and it’s unlikely the Seminoles will be seriously worried about Brantley catching touchdowns. But, if they take any time in practice to prepare for that this week or if they cover the Gators differently with him in the slot, that touchdown pass – even against Appalachian State – was worth it.