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

In the second quarter, Florida was able to really put some distance on Oklahoma as they wracked up 17 more points using their balanced offense. The first score came just 11 seconds into the quarter, as Tim Tebow stood in the pocket and hit David Nelson for a 22-yard score (highlight below). The Florida defense maintained it's pressure on Sam Bradford in the second, only surrenduring a field goal to the Oklahoma offense. Then, with under a minute remaining in the first half, Gators running back Jeff Demps scampered into the end zone for another touchdown. As Oklahoma was driving, a turnover helped Florida put another field goal on the board as time expired. At halftime, it was the Gators 27 and the Sooners 3.

David Nelson makes a nice diving catch for a Florida touchdown.

The second half was all about the defenses. The Florida defense continued to give no time to Sam Bradford, who was forced into pass mode to try to lead a comeback. There would be no coming back as turnovers and big stops by Florida kept Oklahoma to just three second half points. The Gators' defense was anchored by senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, who recorded seven tackles and one sack on the day. Jermaine Cunningham was the force inside for Florida, as he tallied three sacks this afternoon. The Florida offense went into conservative mode with such a large halftime lead. The Gators were content to chew clock and play smart to preserve their lead. This allowed the Oklahoma defense to clamp down, as they also only allowed three second half points.

The win moves Florida to 2-0, and will surely lock in their #1 ranking in the polls. The Gators return home next week to host rival Tennessee. Rumor has it that some of Florida's top recruits will be in on official visits, which makes it paramount that the Gators pull out a victory.

Here are the team stats for the game:

	Florida	Oklahoma
1st Downs	14	11
Total Offense	386	225
Rush-YD-TD	37-87-1	15-25-0
Comp-ATT-TD	12-18-2	17-29-0
Pass YD	299	200
3rd Conv.	9-14 (64%)	1-9 (11%)
TO	1	3
Fumbles Lost	0	2
INT	1	1
Punts	2	2
Penalties	2	1
T.O.P.	18:01	11:03

Individual Stats Leaders

Passing
Tim Tebow: 12-18, 299 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Sam Bradford: 17-29, 200 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT

Rushing
Jeff Demps: 26-86 yds, 3.3 AVG, 1 TD, Long of 15
Demarco Murray: 9-55 yds, 6.1 AVG, 0 TD, Long of 44

Receiving
Deonte Thompson: 4 rec, 147 yds, 36.7 AVG, 1 TD, Long of 75
Jermaine Gresham: 6 rec, 66 yds, 11.0 AVG, 0 TD, Long of 23

49-17 the final in Gainsville!




9/5/2009

GAINSVILLE, FL -- At the beginning of every season, every single team thinks they can win a championship. For a team of Florida's caliber, that would be the dream of another national championship. For a team of FAU's caliber, that would be the dream of a Sun Belt championship. The goals are different, but the same. When the two Florida teams stepped on the field to open the 2009 college football season, anything was possible.

Early on in the game Florida Atlantic showed that they had a solid gameplan in place and were looking to upset the #1 ranked Gators on their home field. The Owls did damage on a stout Florida defense through the air, converting on many third-and-long situations and a couple of great passes. The Owls took a 7-0 lead, and scored 14 points in the quarter and actually led Florida at the end of the first quarter by the score of 14 to 10.

While Florida Atlantic's offense showed promise, their defense did not. The Gators were able to move the ball at will all game, and were only forced to punt twice. The only other two stops came on Tim Tebow interceptions. The big star of the game for Florida was running back Jeff Demps, who amassed 258 yards rushing on 27 carries for the day. His lightning-fast speed and quick lateral movement kept Owls defenders grasping air rather than jersey all day. Tebow was solid despite the two interceptions, as he threw for four touchdowns and 258 yards. He was also effective on the ground, rushing for just under 60 yards on eight attempts. The combination of Tebow and Demps, along with a potent receiving corps, will keep opposing defenses on the ropes all season.

The second half of the game belonged to the Florida Gators defense. After what can be described as a fiery halftime speech by Coach Basil Faraday, the defensive unit came out on a mission. They held Florida Atlantic to under 50 yards of total offense in the second half, which allowed this game to get out of hand. In the end, it wasn't as big of a blowout as some expected, but the Gators locked down the all important first win of the season by the score of 49-17.

The big play of the day came in the second half with the Gators at the 50-yard line. Quarterback Tim Tebow took the snap and delivered a great play-action fake. Noticing that his deep receivers were covered, he checked down and found tight end Aaron Hernandez in the flats. Hernandez made one guy miss and was off to the races. As the pursuit neared around the 10-yard line, he had one thing in mind: to score. A FAU defender jumped on his back in an effort to strip the ball, and the beastly Hernandez carried him eight yards before he fell off and another Owls defender put a hit on the tight end. By then it was too late, and Hernandez fell just over the goal line for a touchdown! This score put the game out of reach, cementing the win.

Here are the team stats for the game:

	FAU	Florida
1st Downs	13	23
Total Offense	263	594
Rush-YD-TD	16-7-1	43-336-3
Comp-ATT-TD	23-42-1	15-22-4
Pass YD	256	258
3rd Conv.	5-15 (33%)	3-8 (37%)
TO	0	2
Fumbles Lost	0	0
INT	0	2
Punts	8	2
Penalties	0	8
T.O.P.	10:48	18:45

Florida Gators Stats Leaders

Passing
Tim Tebow: 15-22, 258 yds, 4 TD, 2 INT

Rushing
Jeff Demps: 27-258 yds, 9.5 AVG, 3 TD, Long of 70

Receiving
Aaron Hernandez: 4 rec, 100 yds, 25.0 AVG, 2 TD, Long of 54
David Nelson: 4 rec, 66 yds, 16.5 AVG, 0 TD, Long of 22

Coach Basil Faraday of the Florida Gators has announced how his team will plan to attack the recruiting trail for the 2009 season. With a new recruiting system in place in the OFFL, the Gators will have to be careful to abide by the rules and avoid any penalties for failing to do so. Here is a breakdown of how many players, and of what caliber, Florida can sign:

There are currently 68 players on the roster.
The senior class consists of 13 players.
Since no team can go over the limit of 70 total players, this gives the Gators 15 available in-season scholarship offers.

Based on the new recruiting system, they can sign one five-star recruit, seven four-star recruits, and seven three-star (or below) recruits. But wait -- there are BONUS recruits, too! Certain recruits in the database are known as "free game", and they will not count towards the star restrictions! This will give each recruiting class diversity and allows each team the opportunity to sign a good player for a needed position. The Gators currently have the following bonus recruits on their recruiting board:

• HB - Baker (five-star)
• CB - McBride (five-star)
• P - Coley (four-star)
• CB- Gaines (four-star)
• QB - Parker (four-star)
• T - Kirkpatrick (four-star)
• T - Jackson (four-star)

Florida has very few needs this season, so they will be looking to add depth to a good cast of current players. They MUST sign a quarterback, fullback, and a middle linebacker to meet EA Sports requirements. Follow along here at The Gator Swamp as the recruiting plot thickens this season.

The Florida Gators athletic department has finalized their 2009 football schedule:

2009 Florida Gators Football Schedule

Sep. 05 - vs. Florida Atlantic [W 49-17]
Sep. 12 - @ Oklahoma (Bruce80) [W 30-6]
Sep. 19 - vs. Tennessee
Sep. 26 - @ Kentucky
Oct. 10 - @ LSU (Geauxlden)
Oct. 17 - vs. Arkansas (HOMECOMING)
Oct. 24 - @ Mississippi State
Oct. 31 - vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville)
Nov. 07 - vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 14 - @ South Carolina
Nov. 22 - @ Florida International
Nov. 28 - vs. Florida State (AMP)

GAINSVILLE, Florida -- The Florida Gators' search for their new head coach ended today, as the university introduced Basil Faraday in a press conference earlier this morning. The announcement, and subsequent installation of Faraday, comes as sort of a surprise to the Gator faithful, who expected to hear that coach Steve Whitaker would be their next leader. The exact terms of Faraday's contract are unknown, but we have learned that it is a seven year deal worth "a lot" of money.

Here are parts of the press conference's transcript:

R: What kind of experience do you have to lead such a prominent college football team, a team that has won two of the last three national titles?
BF: At James Madison University, I was the mastermind behind a great rushing attack that established [JMU] as a force to be reckoned with. I have worked hard to better myself and to make those around me better. I am young and enthusiastic, and I know that there is always something to be learned from someone.

R: What assistants are you looking to retain from the previous Florida regime, and in what areas are you looking to bring your own people in?
BF: There will not be wholesale changes made to the current coaching staff. We have not yet discussed who fits into our plans and who doesn't, but there is a great staff installed right now. I will be the overseer of the offense primarily, so there might be some changes made there.

R: What kind of offense do you plan on installing?
BF: I am a firm believer that we need to run the football well to succeed. Having said that, I certainly know how great a runner Tim [Tebow] is, and what he brings to the table in that regard. I also know that he is a solid passer of the football. We really are going to look at the talent that we have and evaluate what kind of system we will run, but don't be surprised if we shift from a shotgun spread offense with option mixed in to a more balanced, under-center attack. Time will tell.

R: The Southeastern Conference has produced four of the past six national champions, with the Gators and the LSU Tigers winning two apiece. How do you think the Gators will fare this season, and moving forward, in the toughest conference in the land?
BF: The SEC is certainly stacked, and we have our work cut out for us. Every game is a big game, and no one will be taken lightly. Our biggest games this season are obviously Tennessee at home, LSU on the road, and Georgia in Jacksonville. All I can say is that we have the talent to win now, and our gameplanning will be put to the test.

R: Coach, where on your list of "dream jobs" does the Florida job rank?
BF: The Gators were definitely in my top 3 dream jobs. For each of the three that I REALLY considered dream jobs, I would have stopped whatever I was doing to come coach. When Florida called to interview me, I about fell out of my chair. I am so excited to be here in Gainsville, even though it is a little hot here in the summer [laughs]. I am going to bring a passion to this team and this university that will be unrelenting. To borrow a couple words from Tim [Tebow], God bless.

This week, the Florida Gators have announced that they are down to their final three candidates to fill the void at head coach, now that Urban Meyer has left the University for the NFL. Let us introduce you to the three prospective head coaches:

1. Steve Whitaker :: Texas Lutheran University

Coach Whitaker boasts one of the best records at the DIII level, and has a very proud history to boot. The University of Florida is interested in Coach Whitaker for his strong work ethic, his proven winning record, and his ties to the Texas area. These ties to Texas football could provide a great probe for the Gators into another huge recruiting state. If Florida were able to add Texas as a pipeline, that would give them a huge presence in the two biggest states for high school football recruits. It will be difficult for Florida to lure him away from his beloved Texas Lutheran University, but if the Gators are able to, the program will benefit: he is Florida's #1 choice.


2. Basil Faraday :: James Madison University

Coach Basil Faraday, currently a running backs coach at FCS powerhouse school James Madison University, is the Gators' number two candidate. Faraday has been pivotal in JMU's success in building up their program since he graduated from there in 2003. In 2004, they won the FCS National Championship. In 2005-2008, the Dukes made great playoff runs before being knocked off by the eventual champion every season. In those years, JMU led the FCS in rushing. Coach Faraday also brings a lot of enthusiasm to the sport, and due to his young age he can relate well to recruits trying to make it at the college level.


3. Marty Ingram :: Morgan State University

Coach Ingram knows his stuff! That's what his players tell us at least. His record has been pretty mediocre at a mediocre school, but he has begun to transform the Bears into more of a contender on a yearly basis. Florida's third candidate, like Coach Faraday, has a lot of enthusiasm for the sport, and he also is a good offensive-minded coach. Insiders with the University of Florida have told us that his interview went very well, which is why Coach Ingram, a relatively unknown coach, has made the final three. Ingram is also the best athlete of the three, having earned three varsity letters at North Carolina State University in football as a wide receiver.

The jury is still out on who the Gators will choose to lead them in the 2009 season and beyond, but each of the three candidates seems like a great fit for the position. We are told that the University will announce their new hire sometime within the next two weeks. This will give the new head coach ample time to do his meet-and-greet, let us know his plans for offense and defense, and to get to work with his players.

In a shocking development, the Florida Gators have learned that their current head coach, Urban Meyer, is leaving the University of Florida to bolt to the NFL. This leaves the University until mid-July at the latest to name their replacement head coach. There are several potential names out there, and as more news is leaked, you will be the first to know.

With the 2009 OFFL season quickly approaching, Florida will need to make a move soon!