Florida Football Holds 2005 Media Day
Friday, August 12, 2005 | Football
Head Coach Urban Meyer
Opening Statement
“Thanks for coming today. Yesterday we did something unique in practice—we call it the Gator Experience. We started this because we felt like it is a tragedy if a player goes through a program like the University of Florida without knowing the tradition and power of the school. Yesterday we had [Former Florida football players] Darryl Perry—the fullback for Emmitt Smith—that's how he's known. He's also a very successful guy in Orlando. We had James Bates come to talk to our kids about some rivalries and we also had Jack Youngblood. That's how we finished up yesterday and I thought that was powerful. [Director of Video Services] Dave Houts did a wonderful job with the video of just some of the big rivalries associated with Florida Football. The other part of that is just getting on campus with some of the parking services and housing people. That's what we did yesterday along with practice. There's 22 days until we play and we are going to need every minute of those 22 days.”
On what Chris Leak needs to run the offense:
"You need a competitor; you can check that one off. You need intelligence, you can check that one off and you need someone who is committed to the University of Florida and he is. He is a great touch passer and has a much better delivery. The thing he has that we haven't had is a number of healthy wide outs. I've never had that many that can go as fast as we have."
Assistant Head Coach Charlie Strong
On whether expectations are higher this year than any of his previous season…
“I think that because of the new era and because of the success Coach [Urban] Meyer has had, the expectations are going to be higher. Then you start to look at our team and what we have coming back. You've got so many players that played when they were young and now they're back—that's why the expectations are so much higher. But this is the University of Florida. That's why we're here and that's why the program is the way it is.”
Cornerback Dee Webb
On “reclaiming” the Swamp…
“Getting the Swamp back is the first thing that we really need to do. We want to have an edge here at home. We want to regain that momentum and swagger. We want opposing teams to come to the Swamp knowing that they are going to get beat.”
Safety Jarvis Herring
On Urban Meyer:
"He's a real person. After going on for a while you know that he's not going to change. Everything that he does and says - that's who Coach Meyer is. He's just trying to make me as perfect as possible."
On being a captain:
"I've got a thing that I follow from my cousin, Andra Davis. Everything that he does, I try to do that or do better. It's kind of hard to be a better Florida Gator football player than him. I don't think I can do it in one season. But he was a captain, so I'm just trying to follow in his footsteps."
Quarterback Chris Leak
On leadership:
“I try to look at the positive end of it. There are many ways to lead. I just try to talk guys through things. All our teammates want the same thing, everyone wants to get better. If I can say something to have somebody improve that day, then I'm going to say something. You don't want to have to go back and say, 'I wish I would have said something.'”
On Coach Meyer's confidence in him:
“That's what you want as a quarterback. If you're a competitor playing in the SEC that's what you want. It gives you confidence - if the coach wants everything on you. I think it will help everybody. There are a lot of guys here that can make plays. When you get in the huddle and look at everybody's eyes they have to believe in you. That's the thing we're getting.”
On Coach Meyer:
“He's a really passionate guy about the game. He wants everyone to get better somehow that day. That's what you want from your coach; you want a coach that expects everyone to be great.”
