From the Editor

There has been a noticeable lack of game summaries that have been posted. In the coming days, our faithful readers can expect a post with brief notes and the result of each game, from the Kentucky game all the way through the Vanderbilt game. After that, reports for the rest of the season will resume as they were for the first three games. We here at The Swamp apologize for losing some steam, and as the games piled up it kept getting more frustrating thinking about doing an article for each one. So, with this solution, expect a renewed sense of passion!

Thanks for reading, and GO GATORS!

GAINESVILLE, FL -- As the weeks of the 2009 college football are now waning, the recruiting trail is heating up. After some great signings over the past few weeks, the Florida Gators are pleased to announce the signing of two more four-star recruits during week nine.

- Peter Murphy (#6 Outside Linebacker, #145 Overall): Murphy is the Gators first, and potentially only outside linebacker recruit this season. Quite frankly, this kid has it ALL! Size (6'2" tall). Speed (4.48 40-yard dash). Strength (640lb. max squat). His raw athleticism has fans in Gainesville going crazy, and opposing running backs afraid to head to the outside.

- Mark Jackson (#6 Tackle, #120 Overall [Bonus]): Folks, this kid is from Canada where the air is cold, and the football is colder. Maybe that is why this promising tackle chose to head south to Florida to play his college ball? Either way, Jackson looks like he is a pretty good tackle. Perhaps also working in his favor is the fact that he can also play guard. And center. Versatile linemen like this are a hot commodity, and we are happy to have him here in Florida.

GAINESVILLE, FL -- Up until recently, there has certainly been a lull in recruiting news concerning the Florida Gators. However, between their win over Arkansas and their upcoming game with the University of Georgia, the Gators have gained the commitments of five outstanding high school football prospects. This brings the total number of commits up to 8 for Florida, which will allow them to focus more time on those that remain unsigned. Let's meet the five newest Gators:

- Paul Ford (#1 Athlete, #24 Overall): Ford was Coach Faraday's main five-star focus for this season, and to land him is huge. He is a very versatile athlete who has played running back, wide receiver, corner back, and free safety in high school. Where will he fit into the Florida scheme? We'll see down the road, but expect big things.

- Caleb Baker (#3 Guard, #51 Overall): Baker is an exciting Guard from the state of Alabama. He has great size (6'4", 271 lbs.) and good lateral movement for his pulling assignments. With the running game as the main offensive focus in Gainsville, adding another big body to the mix is vital.

- Donta Reid (#4 Quarterback, #84 Overall): This quarterback looks to be a Tim Tebow in the making. He has a cannon for an arm (B+ throw power), and will really look to develop more accuracy as he matures. His running ability is what really has Coach Faraday excited, as he runs a 4.68 40-yard dash and can also fake out defenders.

- Maurice Kirkpatrick (#5 Tackle, #90 Overall [Bonus]): Big. Tackles. That is the type of player that fits in at Florida, and that is what Mike is. Standing at 6'7" tall and weighing just under 300 pounds is enough to get your mouth watering if you are a football fan. Couple this size with a 640 pound max squat and a 5.0 second 40-yard dash, and the framework for a beast is there.

- Keith Wilson (#11 Defensive Tackle, #283 Overall): Keith was a guy that Florida wanted from day one on the recruiting trail. He has a great mix of size and quickness that will make him a versatile pass rusher and adequate run stopper. Wilson seemingly flew under the radar with the other collegiate coaches, but the Gators hope he turns into a household name.

GAINESVILLE, FL -- Coach Basil Faraday has wasted no time on the recruiting trail early this season. In between game planning and personal appearances, the coach has been busy on the phones. With many recruits in attendance for the Tennessee game, the Gators were hoping that they would gain a few hard commits. After a great win, the University of Florida is pleased to announce the signing of three fantastic young athletes:

- Will McBride (#1 Cornerback, #3 Overall): McBride can do it all. He is fast (4.40 second 40) and has good instincts at the position. Being such a young player will hurt him at first (D- awareness), but he should mature into everything Florida hopes that he will.

- Aaron Gaines (#10 Cornerback, #60 Overall): Gaines comes in with McBride, and both are similar players. Gaines is a little bit smaller than McBride (5'9", 166 lbs.) but is just as quick. He too will need to develop some football instincts on this level (D- awareness), but he should add good depth to such an important position.

- Ricky Brant (#6 Middle Linebacker, #108 Overall): Brant was a top middle linebacker recruit for the Gators, and here is why. He is strong as an ox (655 max squat), with some speed and quickness to boot (4.62 second 40). He also comes in with a good understanding of how to play the position (C awareness). Brant seems like a kid that will mature quickly and help solidify the Gators' linebacking core.

These three signings are Florida's first of the season. This was welcome news to the program's boosters and to the coaching staff as they prepare to head into Lexington, Kentucky, for a battle with the Wildcats.

David Nelson snags this pass in heavy traffic.

It wasn't all bad for Tennessee today. Their quarterback, Jonathan Crompton, was adequate on the day, throwing for over 250 yards and two touchdowns. The first of these came in the second quarter to cut the Florida lead back down to 21 points. Unfortunately, this came later in the quarter, after Crompton threw a red-zone interception that led to another Florida touchdown. Crompton's second interception of the quarter came on a Hail Mary attempt to end the half.

The third quarter was the action quarter of this game. Florida had a 28-7 halftime lead and things were looking good as they were set to get the ball to begin the second half. However, Tennessee held the Gators to a three-and-out, and drove the field to score on the ensuing possession. This touchdown cut the Gators lead to 15 with plenty of game left. However, their kicker missed the extra point, which could have been an omen for what was about to occur. As junior cornerback Joe Haden received the kick, something seemed odd: there was running room! It appeared that the Tennessee kicker that just blew the extra point kicked off to the wrong side of the field, and that his coverage was heading to his left. Haden took the kick, sliced to the right, and then was gone! Also gone was any momentum that the Vols had just picked up, as this stretched the score to 35-13 in Florida's favor.

Junior cornerback Joe Haden returns the Tennessee kickoff for a big touchdown.

Florida went on to add a touchdown and a field goal in the third, pushing their lead to 45-13. However, late in the quarter, a hush fell over the crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Jeff Demps, who was having a big day on the ground, was hit hard on the sideline. After the hit, which appeared to be in the rib area, Demps slammed into one of the poles that supports the 10-yard chains. The sophomore rolled around a bit, reaching for his back. As we found out later, the Gators leading rusher will miss 11 weeks with a strained back. He should be able to return later in the year, but this is a crushing blow for sure.

In the fourth quarter, Florida's aim was to control the clock, and control the clock they did. They featured a steady diet of rushing plays before adding a field goal. After this score, the final score of the game, Coach Faraday took out the offensive starters and chewed clock to lock up the important victory. "Our kids did a fantastic job today of keeping the pressure on Tennessee. The Vols clawed back into this game in the third quarter, but we kept plugging and made sure we didn't give this one away. It is always sweet to beat your rivals," said the Gators' coach after the game. When asked about Jeff Demps, Faraday had this to say: "It's a blow to the team. [Demps] is a great kid, and a great playmaker. It hurts. All we can do now is move on. We have some great backs behind him in Rainey and Moody that will both carry the load. When Jeff can return, he'll play."

Next week, the Gators will take their #1 ranking on the road as they travel to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats.

Here are the team stats for the game:

	Tennessee	Florida
1st Downs	12	17
Total Offense	303	424
Rush-YD-TD	22-49-0	40-245-3
Comp-ATT-TD	21-38-2	10-17-2
Pass YD	254	179
3rd Conv.	3-13 (23%)	5-11 (45%)
TO	3	1
Fumbles Lost	1	0
INT	2	1
Punts	7	3
Penalties	2	1
T.O.P.	11:36	17:43

Individual Stats Leaders

Passing
Tim Tebow: 10-16, 179 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Jonathan Crompton: 21-38, 254 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT

Rushing
Jeff Demps: 24-177 yds, 7.3 AVG, 2 TD, Long of 54
Montario Hardesty: 19-47 yds, 2.4 AVG, 0 TD, Long of 20

Receiving
David Nelson: 5 rec, 77 yds, 15.4 AVG, 1 TD, Long of 36
Gerald Jones: 4 rec, 58 yds, 14.5 AVG, 2 TD, Long of 24