Florida Football Prepares For Western Kentucky
Monday, August 27, 2007 | Football
University of Florida football head coach Urban Meyer and several players met with the media Monday to discuss their thoughts on this Saturday's game against Western Kentucky:
Head Coach Urban Meyer
On his expectations of Tim Tebow before Saturday's game
I bet we will have to calm him down. That is a concern. I think if the human element comes into play he will get it straightened out really fast. Ever since he was a little boy he wanted to be the starting quarterback at the University of Florida and now it is here and it is five days away. I think that he will be fine. The best thing about Tim is that if he has a bad play, he is strong enough mentally to jump right back in and it won't affect him the play after that.
On the younger players handling the game day experience
We went through our practice schedule and our kids have gone through many more game situations at practice as they had a year ago. You didn't need to teach Ray McDonald how to handle pre-game situations. We focused on pre-game much more than we ever have. We went through all of the little things so that they can focus on going four to six seconds. That is our whole theme this week as you can see throughout the facilities. Four to six seconds as hard as you can go and if they can do that then they will be fine.
Quarterback Tim Tebow
On remembering last season and starting a new year:
I think you always have it in the back of your head for motivation, you want to get to that point in the season of winning a national championship and getting bowl rings, but at the same time that was last season, you've got to put that behind you and worry about this season. Last season we were totally different, we had different guys and it was a different feel. This season you've got to do what you think is right for this season and worry about what is now. What I did with my rings, I gave one to my dad, one to one of my brothers and my other brother I gave him the SEC watch and I still have the national championship ring.
On the leadership of his teammates:
One of the main people on offense is Drew Miller, he's really stepped up with his leadership. I think Bubba Caldwell also stepped up with being a leader. Bubba's always been a leader too, but I think this year he's made it more vocal with helping everybody else out. Everyday he goes out there and is not only worried about how he runs his routes, how he catches the ball, he's worried about how Jarred Fayson is running his routes and how Justin Williams runs his routes. So I think he's done a great job with being a leader, being very unselfish with helping other guys out.
On game day:
The only thing I can control is going out there and giving 100 percent. I think guys on the team know that I'll go out there and do that. Not saying how many passes I'll complete or how many rushing yards I'll have, I don't know that. Everyone does know that I'll go out there and give it everything that I have.
