News Nuggets, 08.08.03
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...
Previous Day Nuggets...
Next Day Nuggets...
Compiled from staff reports
and electronic dispatches
Gators quarterback carousel starts without Dosh
PREVIOUS NUGGETS |
08.07.03: Tigers
football recruit gains release to pursue family ties at East
Carolina... .. Four of league's kickers on Groza Award watch
list... .. Trio from C-USA in contention for Wooden
All-America team... .. Bearcats' Kirkland sanctioned but still
on basketball team... ..
More... |
08.06.03: 'Voice'
tuned for TV, Outer Banks appearances... .. ESPN solves Friday
night game dilemma for BYU... .. Gamecocks-Razorbacks tussle
set for prime time... ..
More... |
08.05.03: New
Liberty Bowl radio pact has world-wide reach... .. UAB
official seated on key NCAA baseball committee... .. Case
closed on date, time for TCU vs. Cards... ..
More... |
08.04.03: Once
again, police blotter touches Bearcats basketball... .. Sugar
Bowl Classic pits UAB against LSU... .. USM vets and newcomers
report for duty en masse... ..
More... |
08.03.03: Jurich:
Big East move or not, Cardinals want in on BCS... .. West
Point Class of '07 includes N.C. players... ..
More... |
08.02.03: Hamrick
next up on UNLV's interview menu... .. East Carolina follows
neighbors, kicks off three-pack deal... ..
More... |
08.01.03: Late
2003 recruit becomes official; Early 2004 recruit commits...
.. World Wrestling Entertainment Unleashed! in Hattiesburg... ..
More... |
07.31.03: Rule
change on punt returns: Call fair catch or else... .. TCU and
Cincy sackmeisters pursue national honor... .. Bower extends
benefit of doubt to indicted recruit... ..
More... |
07.30.03: Pirate
football scores late recruiting find in Oklahoma... .. Carrier
Dome towers above road ahead for 49ers... .. Slive pooh-poohs
ACC raid speculation... ..
More... |
07.29.03: Studdard
lends UAB-USM opener 'American Idol' magnitude... .. Pool of
Rebels A.D. candidates shrinks... .. Court voids NCAA limits
on 'exempt' hoops tournaments... ..
More... |
07.28.03: Blazers
ink 'high-powered' radio deal... .. Tulane QB Losman riding
publicity wave... .. Quartet of C-USA quarterbacks on O'Brien
list... .. Billikens A.D. denies seeking UNLV job... ..
More... |
07.27.03: Realignment
pressures and NCAA heat spur changes at Fresno State... ..
Vegas Classic box office pits N.C. A&T grads against Southern
alums... .. Big Ten brushes off title game talk... ..
More... |
07.26.03: Hamrick
name resurfaces in connection with UNLV... .. Liberty Bowl
partner's football tickets moving briskly... .. Sun Belt
football league feeling its oats... .. Gamecocks end Turman
exile... ..
More... |
07.25.03: Repercussions
from 'ancient' Big East blunder still sting... .. Heir to
Ragone still subject to change... .. Blue Demons devise
creative ticket sales push... .. C-USA teams set for ESPN Plus
appearances... ..
More... |
|
It's a refrain as familiar in Gainesville
as the sound of a summertime thunderstorm: The Florida Gators head into
their first practice of the season unsure who their starting quarterback
will be.
It's true again in 2003, although this time it's second-year coach Ron Zook,
not Steve Spurrier, who will make the big decision.
"I don't think you have to be in a hurry to name a quarterback," Zook said.
"It's been done around here, where more than one quarterback has played and
we've been successful."
Never, however, has the pool had this
little experience. And that pool shrank after spring drills with freshman
Patrick Dosh's announcement that he would transfer to East Carolina.
Sophomore Ingle Martin, who saw more time at punter than quarterback last
season, enters Wednesday's first day of practice as the starter, but with no
guarantees.
The other candidates are redshirt freshman Gavin Dickey, freshman Justin
Midgett and another freshman, Chris Leak, who threw a record 185 TD passes
in high school and thought so highly of himself, he announced his decision
to play for Florida on ESPN.
In a way, Zook caught a break last year because he was able to persuade Rex
Grossman to stay even though Spurrier left. It was the first time since
1996, when Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy, that the Gators had
absolutely no questions about who would start the season at quarterback, and
who was the clear No. 1.
With that clarity, however, came problems.
First, Grossman's pocket-passing, down-the-field throwing style didn't fit
in too well with the new offense Zook and coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher were
trying to install. The Gators spent some time in practice working on some
plays for Grossman and others for the backups.
Then, there was Grossman's penchant for calling audibles to plays from
Spurrier's old offense. It became a key issue when Florida started
struggling at midseason, and it fueled the perception that Grossman was
running roughshod over his coaches. Zook wanted Grossman back for his senior
season, but told him it would have to be "on my terms and not your terms."
Grossman, of course, chose to go pro and is competing for the Chicago Bears'
starting job.
Zook now has the choice between four quarterbacks with remarkably similar
styles as the team prepares for its Aug. 30 opener against San Jose State.
All like to move the pocket around and can get the ball out quickly, which
is more suited toward the offense Zaunbrecher wants to run.
"We're going to be practicing the same plays for all of them," Zook said.
"To me, that's a plus."
The three freshmen are considered serious candidates for the job, which
leads to an interesting trivia tidbit _ no freshman has played considerable
time at quarterback for the Gators since Wayne Peace in 1980.
"Some people say you can't play a freshman or a freshman can't play at
quarterback," Zook said. "There's no rule in the rulebook like that."
The coach believes that even without Grossman, the Gators are "a much
improved football team right now. We're going to be a much better team."
News Nuggets are
compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member
schools, and from Associated Press and
other reports. Copyright 2003
Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|