Tune into GC LIVE around 6pm

The Gator Country folks are now in Ocala at the Marion Gator Club Gathering where Buddy Martin and Gator luminaries are guest speakers and will host a panel discussion of the Gators. Gator Country will be covering it live via streaming video. Tune in at 6pm -- panel starts at 7pm.

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Great expectations: The running backs

The perception is that the Florida Gators don’t use their running backs. At least, that’s what the national media seems to think. In reality, Florida’s running game produced 200 yards per game last year and just because the Gators didn’t have a dominant tailback taking up the bulk of the carries doesn’t mean there wasn’t good production. Quarterback Tim Tebow did average 70 yards per game on the ground but Percy Harvin, Kestahn Moore and Brandon James made impact plays from the tailback position. Florida will have more speed and power available at the tailback position than ever before in 2008. You could almost say the Gators have an embarrassment of riches.

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Ingram Named to John Mackey Award Watch List

University of Florida tight end Cornelius Ingram (Hawthorne, Fla.) was named to the 2008 John Mackey Award watch list as announced by the Nassau County Sports Commission on Thursday. Ingram is among 31 players named to the preliminary list.

Written by Gatorzone Football Headlines on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Gators, Vols leaders for Frankie Telfort

It was bad enough that Frankie Telfort was cooped up in a car for a six-school tour that took him from Miami to Knoxville and points in between, but he couldn’t sleep either. Oh how he wishes he had remembered to bring his own pillow along.

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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FSN South and SportSouth Preview 2008 Florida Football Program

FSN South and SportSouth will televise a series of 30-minute college football preview shows spotlighting all 12 member institutions of the SEC. The 2008 Florida Gators College Football Preview will begin airing on Tuesday, Aug. 19th at 9:30 p.m. on SportSouth.

Written by Gatorzone Football Headlines on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Sun Sports, FSN South & SportSouth Preview 2008 Florida Football Program

Sun Sports, FSN South & SportSouth will televise a series of college football preview shows spotlighting all 12 member institutions of the SEC. The Florida Gators College Football Preview will begin airing on August 8th at 8 p.m. on Sun Sports.

Written by Gatorzone Football Headlines on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Comparison of Returning Offenses for 2008 Opponents

I am working on the second part of my blog entry that discusses why our defense will appear much improved this year, and in the process I have been compiling statistics for returning players on all of the offenses that we will be facing. The purpose will be to try to show that we will be going up against less experienced offenses this year than we did a year ago. I hope to have that up by this weekend.

In compiling the data, I started to realize how insane our offense will be this year compared to the opponents that we face. This analysis is purely based upon experienced production, or in other words proven players. I have not done any analysis of incoming players or players who did not contribute last year in a meaningful way. While this was not the purpose of my research, I was so blown away that I figured I may as well throw it up here as a separate discussion from my original intent. Have fun!

All percentages represent the percent of total production from last year attributed to players who will be playing this year.
This does not take into account suspensions or injuries for this year that I am unaware of.

Clearly, receiver is the one area that is the most balanced among the 3 categories among the top teams.
QB we win by a landslide. Same deal with overall rushing offense. We may not have a traditional rushing attack, but we certainly have no trouble moving the ball on the ground, and we easily return the most potent group of rushers.

From a pure scoring perspective, as measured by TD's only, we return players accountable for 60 TD's (includes only guys who crossed the goal line—not QB Passing TD's). The next closest is a tie between Tennessee and LSU with 39 each, and then Georgia with 33. Keep in mind that LSU and Tennessee also played an extra game.

I don't have time to dig into this right now and analyze it, but these numbers are pretty eye opening. A couple of quick points that I would look at in evaluating.
—This picture does not take into consideration key staff changes (HC or OC), new player additions, non-contributing players who grew up, and there is no OL data. If someone has a list of returning starters or projected starters on OL for each team that would be appreciated.
—I think it is fair to look at the OL percentages as a group and use it as a way to multiply or discount previous performances. That is also how I look at QB data.
—Before anyone points to new QB's having the potential to come in and play lights out, and using Tebow from last year as an example, please keep in mind that Tebow saw a lot of game action as a Freshman, and this helped greatly in his maturity. I think it is fair to say that Snead could be successful, although his returning skill players are awful, but I would think twice before jumping on the Marve bandwagon. He has never taken an official snap in college, Miami replaces the middle of their line, and their experienced skill players have not been as productive as advertised as a team.
—This data really highlights a teams performance over high profile individuals (Moreno and Stafford come to mind)

Written by GC Blogs Blip Page on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Coming: GC Fall Pre-Season Issue!

This is Buddy Martin's first GC magazine as Executive Editor and he made sure to make it a blockbuster out of the gate, with more pages, larger distribution, and more importantly -- tons of great reading for Florida Gator fans everywhere!

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Photo Gallery: Orlando Caravan

Winter Park -- More than 130 Gator fans packed into Friendly Confines Sports Restaurant for the eighth stop of the Gator Country Caravan on Wednesday evening.

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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Dunkley loves UF but will be patient

It was ever so tempting at Friday Night Lights. There was Chris Dunkley, a 5-10, 170-pound wide receiver from Royal Palm Beach under the bright lights of The Swamp with the music blaring and everywhere he looked there was competition. It was almost enough that Dunkley committed to the Florida Gators right on the spot.

Written by GatorCountry.com on July 31st, 2008 with no comments.
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