GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tony Joiner better watch what he says. Or he's going to get hugged.

It won't be premeditated. He will be talking away when some media-type will become so overwhelmed with gratitude that he can't resist hugging this bearer of colorful quotes.

Joiner, who has been one of the early-season stars on the Florida defense, was asked Monday about his team's recent difficulty on the road as it prepares for Saturday's game against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

The Gators' strong safety worked up an appetite just thinking about it.

"We really want to go in somebody else's house and take their cheese," he said. "Make a sandwich in the kitchen."

The media embraced the metaphor with savage quickness.

"So what kind of sandwich will you make?" asked one.

"I want ham and cheese, a little turkey, mustard and mayonnaise," Joiner said.

"They'll lock up the refrigerators, won't they?" asked another pen pusher.

"They'll have chain locks on the doors," Joiner said. "We've just got to get in there."

As frivolous as this might sound, keep in mind that the Florida football beat has become a veritable quote wasteland. On one of the most heavily covered college beats in the country, media access has been strangled to a trickle.

For example, four Florida players were available for interviews at media day Monday. By comparison, about 15 players usually show up every Tuesday for UT's media day.

If a Florida player says, "We'll just take one game at a time," Florida reporters write it down. That might be all they get.

And if a Florida player starts talking the least bit like the Gators of the mid-1990s, you want to hug him.

Colorful quotes once were taken for granted in these parts. You had coach Steve Spurrier needling opposing coaches. You had Florida players talking as big as they played.

Florida offensive tackle Mo Collins once told reporters that he didn't respect UT quarterback Peyton Manning as a player or a person.

Maybe some Gator thinks even less of UT quarterback Erik Ainge, but he won't likely broadcast it to the media.

The Gators speak more softly and less often these days. But the media got the most of their 10 minutes with Joiner, whom you might remember from last year's UT-Florida game.

Joiner helped turn that game Florida's way when he broke up punter Britton Colquitt's ill-advised fourth-down pass.

"What I remember about that play is I should have caught it," Joiner said. "But when I knocked it down, I knew it was fourth down and we would get the ball."

Joiner played mainly on special teams and as a backup in the secondary last season. He plays a more prominent role this year.

Joiner leads the Gators with 10 tackles. He also has two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup for a team that has allowed only one touchdown in two games while living up to its preseason hype.

"We're playing with unbelievable confidence right now," Joiner said. "We have a bunch of guys who are very, very talented, who can get their job done every time they step out on the field. We have a great scheme and great coaches. Every thing is in place."

Everything seemed in place on the front seven in preseason. Marcus Thomas anchored a stout front four, and Brandon Siler and Earl Everett gave the Gators two All-SEC-caliber linebackers. The secondary looked less secure, particularly after cornerback Avery Atkins was kicked off the team.

But Utah transfer Ryan Smith has settled in nicely at cornerback, and Joiner has done his part, teaming up with Reggie Lewis and Reggie Nelson in the secondary.

"We feel we really do have the best defense in the nation," Joiner said. "That's how we feel. And that's how we play.

"We look forward to shutting a team out."

Ah, more food for the media, one of whom asked: "Do you think you can shut down anybody?"

"Yes," Joiner said.

"Tennessee?"

"Yes."

You just wanted to hug him.