Considering he's now running a spread option offense, isn't it any surprise that Florida quarterback Chris Leak has a sprained throwing shoulder.

The very nature of an offense that calls for him to sometimes run the option means he's getting pounded more by defenses this year than ever before. He hurt the shoulder against Alabama on Oct. 1, missed practice all of last week and had to take pain-killers to get through last Saturday's victory against Mississippi State. He even left the game for six plays because the pain was so intense.

Florida coach Urban Meyer said he wasn't sure of Leak's status for Saturday's game at LSU, and said he probably wouldn't announce it anyway. Leak said he will practice this week and play against LSU.

"It's one of those things where it takes time to go away," Leak said. "When you're out there, you're not even thinking about it. Millions of guys play in pain in a lot of sports."

The 5-1 Gators can't afford to lose Leak. Even with him, Florida has started games slowly, managing just 22 yards and two first downs on its six opening drives.

Newton's Law

South Carolina first-year coach Steve Spurrier is so desperate to find an offensive playmaker that he apparently wants to clone Syvelle Newton.

On Sunday, Spurrier said that Newton, a former quarterback who has started at receiver so far this season, would get a lot of work at QB the rest of the season.

Then on Monday, Newton practiced at tailback.

The bottom line is that Spurrier wants the ball in Newton's hands as much as possible, especially after his performance in last Saturday's 44-16 victory over Kentucky.

As a wide receiver, Newton had five catches for 63 yards. Shifting to quarterback late in the game, he ran three times for 49 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown.

"He's got a lot of football sense, and the way he ran with the ball (against Kentucky), you can see he's a natural runner," Spurrier said. "He can make guys miss, and he has natural instincts on where to go."

Carolina desperately needs some balance to its offense. The Gamecocks are ranked 112th out of 117 Division 1-A schools in rushing at 78.5 yards a game.

It is So over

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks, 7-21 and in the third year of a five-year contract that pays him $750,000 annually, is discovering speculation about his job security is killing him in recruiting. Brooks said he can't control what people say about him, but he won't talk about the future. "I told you a couple of weeks ago I wasn't going to discuss those issues," Brooks said. "I'm just going to continue to coach this team to do what I think is right, and whatever else happens I can't control."... After beating Tennessee, 27-14, on Saturday in Knoxville, it looks like Georgia's season will come down to games against Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29 and at home against Auburn two weeks later. "Everybody is excited about the position we are in," coach Mark Richt said. "I hope they are mature enough to know there is a long way to go yet." ... Since Vanderbilt's nickname is the Commodores, Vandy players are being rewarded for big plays by getting helmet stickers that are tiny anchors. And if Vanderbilt wins, every player gets an anchor sticker. "An anchor is one of the most important tools on a ship," Vandy coach Bobby Johnson said. "It's a small instrument, but it does a big job. A small, little anchor can hold a huge ship. It's a symbol of strength. For us, it's a symbol of unity."