SIX BITS: Injury update, crowd noise, practice, Nelson honored, no Miami, Watkins signed

By Adam Silverstein
November 25, 2009

Senior quarterback Tim Tebow on his final home game »

1 » While speaking with the media on Wednesday afternoon, Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer updated the statuses of some of his injured players. Redshirt junior linebacker A.J. Jones, who sprained his MCL Saturday against the Florida International Golden Panthers, is officially out for the Florida State Seminoles game and will also miss the SEC Championship in two weeks. Junior Brandon Hicks will start in his place. Redshirt junior transfer running back Emmanuel Moody (ankle) is questionable while senior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham (shoulder) and redshirt junior defensive tackle Terron Sanders (rib) are probable.

2 » In order to get ready for the extreme volumes produced by the crowd in The Swamp, FSU coaches piped noise into Doak Campell Stadium during practice on Tuesday. Redshirt freshman quarterback E.J. Manuel, who is starting in place of the injured Christian Ponder, benefited from the move, which should allow him to feel slightly more comfortable on Saturday. “It’s something you have to learn,” head coach Bobby Bowden said. “He’s had experience playing away from home at Wake Forest with about 40,000 people, and he’s played here in front of our crowd. Now he’s going to play down there, where it’s probably as loud a noise as he’s ever heard.”

3 » Due to inclement weather in the Gainesville, FL, area, the football team has had its practice schedule shifted around. This should not be much of an issue overall, though anything that could possibly take a team out of rhythm should be noted. However, with this veteran group, an issue like this should be minor.

Three more BITS on David Nelson, the ‘Canes and Jason Watkins after the jump…

4 » Redshirt senior wide receiver David Nelson was named to the 2009 SEC Football Community Service Team on Wednesday. The team highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to his or her community in superior service efforts. Nelson was the main spokesman for the 2009 Gator Charity Challenge as well as many other efforts throughout Gainesville.

5 » Miami Hurricanes athletic director Kirby Hocutt told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that Florida’s athletic director Jeremy Foley expressed “no interest” in signing on for another series after the two teams play down south in 2013. Though the article states that the Gators had previously expressed a “willingness to play twice every six years,” Foley’s decision “was based on a desire to play seven annual home games.”

6 » Former Florida offensive tackle Jason Watkins has been signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad. Watkins played this season for the New York Sentinels of the UFL and was previously a member of the Houston Texans after being signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason.

One Comment

  1. Matt Burris says:

    It’s probably going to take decades to let it sink in how amazing this senior class is, and how extraordinary Tim Tebow really is. It’s truly great to be a Florida Gator!

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