GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Fifth-ranked Florida may be without receiver Percy Harvin and middle linebacker Brandon Spikes for its Saturday opener against Hawaii.
Harvin, who is still battling a right heel injury that required offseason surgery, participated in portions of practice last Friday and Saturday, but the 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior has been unable to go full speed since the second day of fall practice on Aug. 5.
“He still has reaction where once he goes for a little bit he has to watch it because it gets sore on him,” coach Urban Meyer said.
The speedy Harvin rushed for 764 yards and six touchdowns and caught a team-high 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Meyer announced on Monday that Spikes injured his right foot during practice last week.
“He’s never had a good offseason. He’s never had the strength. He’s never had the complete commitment to the offseason like he’s had,” Meyer said. “I think he’s ready to take that next step.”
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior was a first-team All-SEC selection last season after finishing second in the league with 131 tackles.
Both players will be re-evaluated later in the week, Meyer said. The Gators are better equipped to handle Harvin’s absence. Meyer said senior Louis Murphy, redshirt freshman Deonte Thompson and junior college transfer Carl Moore have had outstanding camps. Junior running back Brandon James, one of the nation’s top punt and kick returners, has been working at receiver throughout preseason practice.
Redshirt junior Ryan Stamper (6-2, 232) likely would start in Spikes’ place. Stamper has 25 tackles in 15 games. He started at weakside linebacker against Georgia in 2007.
no chance hawaii gets 2 tds. do you remember the bowl game vs UGA last year. that was the best Hawaii team EVER and they only got 10 pts. this is in the swamp, a much more hostile evironment and UH is nowhere near as good as last year. My predition is a shutout. 56-0
no chance hawaii gets 2 tds. do you remember the bowl game vs UGA last year. that was the best Hawaii team EVER and they only got 10 pts. this is in the swamp, a much more hostile evironment and UH is nowhere near as good as last year. My predition is a shutout. 56-0
The 'Gators couldn't stop the pass at all last year (not a good thing when you're playing Hawaii) and since then they have lost multiple starters to graduation,injuries,transfers,and suspensions.The starting 11 on D in week 1 will be shakey at best.They will have several players starting at positions that they have never played before. 
I'm lovin Hawaii +35 
no chance hawaii gets 2 tds. do you remember the bowl game vs UGA last year. that was the best Hawaii team EVER and they only got 10 pts. this is in the swamp, a much more hostile evironment and UH is nowhere near as good as last year. My predition is a shutout. 56-0
UF is an offensive football team.
I agree with some that there could be a backdoor cover on this game, but UF will control the game when they choose.
The UF defense is not as good as UGA. You can't compare the UF defense to the UGA defense that shutdown Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.
UF is the better offensive team, but UGA has a better, more proven defense. I don't think that it really makes a difference in the Hawaii / UF game though, because UF has a DE that is supposed to be incredible and he could pull a Marcus howard on Hawaii.
UF can cover the spread, but I am not too certain they will cover a giant spread due to pulling starters and a late 4th quarter TD by Hawaii.
UF might be able to use thier 3rd string and win. This Hawaii team wil not be nearly as good as what UGA faced in the Sugar Bowl. They lost so much.
Besides the fact theat florida has had more injuries than any other team in the spring and fall to key players has more of an effect than just losing them on the field for the game. It also plays an important part in the mindset of coach meyer. Remember that Florida lost key games last year to georgia and their bowl game to michigan in large part due to Tebow being banged up. Tebow already has his heisman trophy so meyer should be more apt to keep him out of harms way. No Harvin or limited at best. So Florida should be running the ball quite a bit. The Florida secondary is destroyed right now. They have been trying several different WR at secondary positions. They also lose their best defender. Doesn't Meyers mindset have to be to get out of this game as healthy as possible ? There does not seem to be the incentive there to run this score up. They also have a rival in Miami florida on deck and should not be in any rush to reveal a lot in a situation where they are leading safely. Throw in the fact that there is a chance of some bad weather in that game and anyone who wants to lay 6 scores in a thunderstorm be my guest.
As far as the Georgia game last year , I think that game is getting way overblown. Don't get me wrong , Georgia dominated the game beyond what the statistics show but georgia only had 29 more yards of offense than hawaii that game. Hawaii threw for over 300 against a much better defense than florida. Hawaii was minus 5 in turnovers and had negative yards rushing. They lost by 31 in that game. Now, Hawaii is obviously down a notch or two this year and has a new coach and is throwing out a first time starter into the swamp but the Georgia game from last year is not nearly the destruction that some are making it out to be over the full four quarters.
Florida pass defense was not that good at all last year and they are banged up back there and now lose their best linebacker and defender as well.
Just cannot fathom laying 6 scores given the injuries , motivational and matchup angles.
good luck to whoever does but I prefer the points in this one and think the original opening number released by LVSC is far more closer to reality than the run-up we have seen in regards to this line.
Besides the fact theat florida has had more injuries than any other team in the spring and fall to key players has more of an effect than just losing them on the field for the game. It also plays an important part in the mindset of coach meyer. Remember that Florida lost key games last year to georgia and their bowl game to michigan in large part due to Tebow being banged up. Tebow already has his heisman trophy so meyer should be more apt to keep him out of harms way. No Harvin or limited at best. So Florida should be running the ball quite a bit. The Florida secondary is destroyed right now. They have been trying several different WR at secondary positions. They also lose their best defender. Doesn't Meyers mindset have to be to get out of this game as healthy as possible ? There does not seem to be the incentive there to run this score up. They also have a rival in Miami florida on deck and should not be in any rush to reveal a lot in a situation where they are leading safely. Throw in the fact that there is a chance of some bad weather in that game and anyone who wants to lay 6 scores in a thunderstorm be my guest.
As far as the Georgia game last year , I think that game is getting way overblown. Don't get me wrong , Georgia dominated the game beyond what the statistics show but georgia only had 29 more yards of offense than hawaii that game. Hawaii threw for over 300 against a much better defense than florida. Hawaii was minus 5 in turnovers and had negative yards rushing. They lost by 31 in that game. Now, Hawaii is obviously down a notch or two this year and has a new coach and is throwing out a first time starter into the swamp but the Georgia game from last year is not nearly the destruction that some are making it out to be over the full four quarters.
Florida pass defense was not that good at all last year and they are banged up back there and now lose their best linebacker and defender as well.
Just cannot fathom laying 6 scores given the injuries , motivational and matchup angles.
good luck to whoever does but I prefer the points in this one and think the original opening number released by LVSC is far more closer to reality than the run-up we have seen in regards to this line.
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
