9/2: Florida Gators 2010 fall practice notes

By Adam Silverstein
September 2, 2010

Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer met with the media after practice on Thursday and divulged a few important notes about the team’s first game Saturday against the Miami (OH) RedHawks. OGGOA has compiled some of the key details.

HAMMOND OUT INDEFINITELY

Meyer announced that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond, Jr., who was arrested earlier in the summer for driving under the influence and possession of alcohol by a minor, would not be active for Saturday’s game. In OGGOA‘s opinion, there is a good chance he is also out next week against South Florida. Hammond was indefinitely suspended from the team upon his arrest and had his scholarship pulled by Meyer; he has earned his way back onto the team but will not be eligible for a scholarship until spring or summer (at the earliest).

“It’s week-to-week. I said that months ago,” Meyer said. “He’s being evaluated the same way on the scholarship. The reason why I let you know that is because it was a public deal and a very serious deal. The good news about Frankie is he’s doing everything we ask, which you’d imagine he would.”

ELAM, PATTON, ALLI AVAILABLE

Unlike Hammond, freshmen safety Matt Elam and WR Solomon Patton are not being held out for Saturday. Each player was arrested in July and August, respectively, for underage drinking. The matters were handled internally and they’ll be able to play.

Redshirt freshman WR Stephen Alli, who has been limited all fall with a groin injury, will be playing on special teams Saturday, according to Meyer. “We have to get him on the field,” Meyer said. “He’s a talented guy, but he’s been limited so much.” He was initially listed as probable and is hoping to earn a role in the pass catching rotation now that he is getting healthier. That could come sooner than later.

BOSTIC TO START IN THE MIDDLE…”PROBABLY”

At this point, everyone just wants Meyer to name a starting middle linebacker, and the closest he came to doing so was Thursday when he said that sophomore Jon Bostic would “probably” be the starter (at least for the first defensive snap of the game). Then, he qualified it: “I think [he’ll start]. … Don’t be shocked if he’s not.”

QUOTES

Meyer on the Nike Pro Combat uniforms: “I love Nike. I don’t like new uniforms, but I’m a team player so I understand the value of it.”

One Comment

  1. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Good. Elam and Patton should be allowed to play tomorrow.

    To bad Urban doesn’t like the new uni’s though. At least he understands the value of them. 🙂

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