Just spent a week on vacation up in Michigan with my wife's family and plenty of Wolverine fans and grads amongst them. They are cautious about the game with the Gators because UM has to replace 16 starters while I am very concerned about UF's 0-3 record vs. Michigan. In any event it's fun to open the season with such a nice match-up.
Michigan has a lot of good young players, and a returning QB starter. I heard Harbaugh say that his young players got on the field last year so that was a positive. The Gators though have a vet defense and I heard one commentator said that this was McElwains best Gator squad IF the QB situation is finally fixed either with Zaire or Franks or a combination. So maybe the experienced Gators can handle Harbaugh's young team. With Malik Zaire on your squad I'll be rooting for him and your Gators.
I hope Zaire is every bit the 5 star Qb he was supposed to be..... Speaking of which... UF picked up a huge commit last week from 5 star Qb Matt Corral. Things are looking up for UF at Qb.
What's the deal with the Fla players getting caught using a stolen credit card or something like that?
http://bluehqmedia.com/gator-football-players-suspected-credit-card-fraud/ Unconfirmed reports are now indicating that Florida Gators’ quarterback Malik Zaire may not be associated with reported credit card fraud. More details are emerging that are helping clear up the initial rumors. The credit cards in question were reportedly student issues. The athletic scholarship included credit cards for student athletes that can be used to purchase necessities. Misuse of the cards is what appears to be the issue. Junior receiver Antonio Callaway is still named as one of the violators of credit card use. Callaway, and other student athletes, allegedly purchased items and proceeded to resell the items for profit. This is a violation of the scholarship-earned credit card usage. The amount in question was initially rumored to be over $150,000 dollars. Now, it appears three cards were used totaling roughly $1,500 dollars. No chargers are expected and it appears the University of Florida will seek compensation for lost funds. The players will not face disciplinary actions and consequences are reported to be handled in-house.
http://floridagators.com/news/2017/8/13/football-seven-players-suspended-for-2017-season-opener.aspx Seven Players Suspended for 2017 Season Opener Seven student-athletes will be suspended for Florida’s season opener against Michigan. Will Pantages Aug. 13, 2017 Football GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida football team will be without its full roster for its season opener against Michigan. Statement from Head Coach Jim McElwain "We have a small group of players that have made some choices that are extremely disappointing. Action has been taken – they have missed some practice and will miss the Michigan game. We will use this as a learning opportunity and we will have some players step up as we move forward." Suspension Information The following student-athletes have been suspended for Florida's season opener against Michigan. James Houston, Kadeem Telfort, Keivonnis Davis, Antonio Callaway, Jordan Smith, Richerd Desir-Jones, and Ventrell Miller.
0-4 vs. Michigan looks like a better probability. Line went from UM minus 2 1/2 to minus 4 1/2. How it affects the Gators: https://www.seccountry.com/florida/season-opening-suspensions-mean-florida-football
Callaway apparently is talented, but a kid always in trouble. Mich has a lot of 1st time starters and the Gators except for QB seemed like the veteran team and could pull it off. Not now with that many players gone. This harkens back to the day when athletes seemed to focus on using ath dept phone cards illegally. If Gators have figured out how to scam the system with these cards then other players around the country have to have figured it out as well.
Probably so.... and now McElwain's actions have sealed those player's suspensions when it happens one would think. UF going without Calloway is like Atlanta going without Julio Jones. Not good.
Was watching Florida in 60 on the SEC Network which was a 60 minute recap of the UF season last year and particularly in the key win against Georgia our WR Antonio Callaway was a dawg killer....he made some great plays. He will be missed against Michigan for sure. However.... the other guys just basically provided depth... and they will again this season as the game that depth is needed the least is probably the first one when most players are healthy.
Callaway seems like trouble, hasn't he been suspended multiple times for off the field problems. Too bad some of these kids (at every school) just don't get it, they have tremendous opportunity ahead of them if they can just stay out of trouble. I don't know if they are too stupid or just don't care and think because of being great players they just don't have the same rules as the rest of us.
Callaway has tiptoed on the brink since he has been at UF but hasn't really crossed the line of no return... yet. How can he not realize that he jeopardizes many millions upon millions of future earings if he doesn't straighten the **** up? Sometimes it is just a bad cast of friends that bring them down and they can't shake themselves free. I hope he get's his act together soon.
He would have made a fine addition to the 1980's Cane teams and I don't mean this as a compliment. So much talent, he needs to get over his deva wide receiver ways...
I see that the Gators are up to 10 suspended players, not a good way to start the season. What was Spurriers comment on liking to playi Georgia early in the season, because 2 or 3 of their best players were always suspended. I also see that Felipe Franks is going to start vs Michigan and that Del Rio will be his backup...unless thing go south badly it looks like Malik Zaire made a big mistake going to Fla. While I don't know where he was going to go that he could have been guaranteed being the starter, maybe going down to a MAC team might have been a better situation for him. Also I see that Michigan is bringing out the all Maize uniforms that they haven't worn since the 20's and that UF is also going to have special uniforms for the game as well.
Word is that Florida is taking three mini-vans to Dallas for the game instead of the team bus.... We can't beat those bastards with a full roster... 0-3 ... How the F.. are we supposed to win with so many suspended? The upside is that young players get experience losing while our star players won't get hurt losing in the first game....
Franks must have really made an impression in the offseason with McElwain. I hope he's that impressive.
Offensive woes continue for the Gators. No TDs I see Zaire came in and replaced Franks. but his stats were not that great. Michigan has reloaded apparently.