Colleges
Harvin's Status A Big Concern
MICK ELLIOTT
Published: November 30, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Gators are holding their breath over the condition of playmaker Percy Harvin.Published: November 30, 2008
Harvin went down in the second quarter with a sprained ankle after a 5-yard run and never retuned after being helped off the field.
There was no report on his condition after the game.
"We'll find out more as we get going," Florida coach Urban Meyer said.
But what the Gators did find out made them angry. Harvin's injury and exit from the game were greeted by cheers from many Florida State fans.
Gators QB Tim Tebow was particularly bothered and responded with purpose.
"I think that was one of the first times I've ever seen the whole stadium cheer - when Percy got hurt," he said. "I was a little irritated by that. I don't think it showed very good sportsmanship. That kind of irritated me. I really told Coach to just give me the ball because I wanted to hit somebody extremely hard the next play.
"It's a rivalry, but we're still playing a game and having fun. When a guy gets hurt and you cheer, there's never anything right about that."
Tebow didn't get the ball on the next play. It was handed to Jeff Demps, who carried 4 yards to the FSU 4.
But Tebow got the next one, bulling in for a touchdown that make it 21-6.
RIVALRY GAMES
Do you think Meyer values his team's success in rivalry games? Consider this postgame exchange.
Q: "Coach, you are 11-1 in rival games. How much of a premium do you put on those games?"
A: "We're 12-1. We include Miami. But who's counting? Our players love them, our coaches love them. That's why you come to a place like Florida. You don't just play one rival a year and you have to win that game. We have a bunch."
FOR POUNCEY BROTHERS
The Gators all wore sweatbands carrying the initials "RW" in support of brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey.
The twins' stepfather, Rob Webster, was critically injured early in the week in Lakeland in a work-related accident involving a railcar that caused the amputation of a leg.
"The entire team had them," Meyer said of the sweatbands. "They made the decision to go play for their family. Everybody on the team has dealt with family issues, so we had a meeting about that before the game. Real emotional."
MEYER SWEEP
Never before has it happened.
No Florida coach had beaten FSU's Bobby Bowden four straight games - until Meyer did it Saturday with the Gators' fifth consecutive win against their state rivals.
"It humbles you, because I really admire Coach Bowden," Meyer said. "I told him that. I think what he has done for this profession will never be done again."
The longest win streak in the series belongs to Florida, a nine-year run from 1968-76.
Mick Elliott