TWO BITS: Mickey Marotti; Erin Andrews’ future

1 » As director of strength and conditioning for the Florida Gators, Mickey Marotti runs the program almost by default during the offseason. When speaking at the 2010 Southeastern Conference Meetings recently, head coach Urban Meyer praised Marotti’s efforts for making the Gators the best conditioned team – especially when it comes down to those fourth quarter road game efforts. ESPN’s SEC blogger Chris Low sat down with Marotti and covered a few topics, excerpts of which can be found below:

How about some of the players on this team who maybe haven’t been in the spotlight that are going to need to be this coming season? Who are some of those guys who’ve had big offseasons?
MM: One young player who’s really done a nice job is Jordan Reed, who’s going to play a couple of different positions and can hopefully step into Aaron Hernandez’s role as that pass-catching tight end. He’s really matured from when he first got here. Another guy is Jaye Howard on the defensive line. He’ll be a redshirt junior and has really changed the way he does things. We’ll find out about him. The other guy is Deonte Thompson at wide receiver. He has a ton of ability, but his work ethic and his demeanor and his leadership have really changed. Sometimes it takes guys longer to mature. I can’t wait to see him. I hope he has a great year, because he has really worked his butt off.

From your perspective, how much better and how much stronger has John Brantley gotten since the day he walked onto campus?
MM: It’s night and day. He’s what we call a grown-ass man right now physically and mentally. A lot of it is maturing, and I think a lot of it has to do with being around Tim [Tebow]. But Johnny has worked really hard and grown up.

What goes through your mind when you hear Meyer laud you, your staff and the whole strength program for the Gators’ success in the fourth quarter?
MM: I don’t think it’s just what we do in the weight room. I think it’s more about the whole coaching staff, from the athletic trainers, to the defensive coordinator and his staff, to the offensive coordinator and all his coaches. We are all so much on the same page, and I think that’s why we’ve been successful here. Everybody buys in, and everybody sells the same thing to our players.

Two more BITS on Erin Andrews and women’s basketball…after the break!

2 » Former Florida dazzler and current ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews has her contract with the Worldwide Leader in Sports coming up for renewal on July 1, and there is growing sentiment that she may have some significant monetary offers that might draw her away from the network and perhaps sports all-together. Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated takes a look at Andrews’ future and the options she might be presented with in just over a week. ESPN, which has many executives who value Andrews’ contributions, may see significant potential with her increasing popularity or balk at paying her a substantially increased salary.

Extra BIT » According to a release from the organization, the NCAA awarded 12 universities and two conferences grants on Wednesday in order “to increase awareness, exposure and attendance” for their women’s basketball programs. The University of Florida was one of these 12 schools – the only one in the Southeastern Conference – to receive this grant for 2010-11. The Gators hope to increase their home game attendance and program prominence, something 10 of the 18 recipients accomplished during the 2009-10 academic year.