GAINESVILLE, Fla. — No. 1 Florida kept six more players out of practice Tuesday because of flulike symptoms.
Gators coach Urban Meyer said starting linebacker A.J. Jones was among those feeling ill. No player has had a confirmed case of swine flu, but Meyer has expressed concern that the virus could ravage the defending national champions.
Receivers coach Billy Gonzales, who was sent home the day before because he had a fever, returned to practice Tuesday wearing gloves and a mask.
Also not at practice were defensive back Josh Evans, receiver Justin Williams, running back Mike Gillislee, defensive end Earl Okine and walk-on offensive lineman Shawn Schmieder.
“We’re all right,” Meyer said. “We’ve just got to get ready. We’re doing what we’ve got to do. What we can control, we control. Guys are wiping down everything. We’re doing everything we can. I think we’ll be all right.”
Meyer sounded as if he were coming down with something himself, but insisted he was just hoarse from “screaming too much” during practice.
Previously, running back Jeff Demps, tight end Aaron Hernandez and defensive end Jermaine Cunningham were isolated because of flulike symptoms.
“They’re still not 100 percent,” Meyer said. “We had six others come down today with it, so we’re battling a little bit right now.”
The Gators all had a round of flu shots Sunday, about a week after one school official predicted that as many as 40 percent of students could catch swine flu this season.
Team doctors and trainers responded by placing hand sanitizer and prevention checklists all around the facility.
When asked about the flu, linebacker Ryan Stamper jokingly coughed at reporters, then laughed.
“We’re doing a real good job with that, trying to keep guys from catching that,” Stamper said.
Also Tuesday, linebacker Brandon Spikes (Achilles’ tendon) and receiver Deonte Thompson (hamstring) did not practice. Meyer was optimistic Thompson would be able to play Saturday at Kentucky.
“They ran him again today and he’s feeling really good, but I’m just kind of cautious right now,” Meyer said. “We didn’t hit the mark last week, so I want to hit the mark this week.”
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Comments » 27
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
Excuses, excuses, excuses. I think it's all a bunch of BS personally. The Gators need to own up for actually peaking last year and admit that other teams are finally catching up. Gators suck and so does C.U.M.!
crimsonviper writes:
Is it ever going to stop KNS.VOL FANS DESERVE BETTER!
NoSirRee writes:
I agree, let's move along here
VOLorado writes:
new strategy for the Gators..... a preemptive strike of excuses
panties4tebow writes:
As someone else mentioned they all are coming down with the WINE-Y FLU!!!!!!!!!!
YADA YADA YADA YADA
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
give_him_6 writes:
Whatever
OrangeBlur writes:
Flurida.
yawns
crimsonviper writes:
That one sentence has more truth than all of the Florida stories that i have seen since Saturday....Outstanding Post!!
teampenny#658108 writes:
you would think from our posts we won the game. Moral victory is no victory! Just my opinion. This is the fifth year in a row they owned us. Playing better, but still losing.
bobbarbilly writes:
This is an URBal poultice. A flu treatment for the media with a meadow muffin base to disguise the fact that the mighty gators did not overpower the Vols defense.
BillsBrother writes:
Nothing to see here. Move along...
Voluvr writes:
What a cry baby. Interesting, Meyer is one that got embarrassed. He also can't take criticism. Now, he's not having fun this season because he know he got out coached. And every recruit he had in the stands knows it too.
reidtownriverrat writes:
Has anyone ever heard of the players at the top of the colum? Surely the sick walk-ons didnt keep Fl from pounding us.
GerryOP writes:
I'm with you bud! This Whine Flu thing is really getting out of hand.
I hope lil' Urbie has Timbow in total isolation. From what I saw last Saturday, without Timbow UF is probably no better than a directional city college. You know, a place like Charleston Southern or NW Central Eastern Troy State.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Why all the hate? Go look in the mirror.
After 6 months of UF dorky pukes like you coming on here and continually attacking and denigrating UT and the Vols, now you come to us looking for sympathy and understanding? Sounds to me like you are a victim of Whine Flu.
Do us all a favor. Drag your raggedy gata tail back to the swamp and stay there.
volpreacher writes:
You might want to check on Brandon James because we didn't hear his name any more after that hit. Maybe he had the whine flu after the hit. Just Knowshon had last year after Eric Berry smacked him in the mouth. Face it deltadawn, the Gators will lose at least two games this year. No NC for you.
CRFVols writes:
WHO CARES!?!?!? They're probably just sore from the physical game and feeling sorry for their royal selves.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Are you totally delusional, "Monte had no answer for Florida's running game?" Bwaahaahaa! Who was the leading rusher in the game? Now tell us again who had a problem containing whose running game?
Agreed, UT had no answer for Timbow, but Timbow is a great player and not many have been able to stop him on the ground. However, when it comes to passing Timbow ranks right up there with our boy Jon Crompton. He's the best QB/RB/FB you have and admit it, you would be dog food without him.
Aren't you the idiot that claimed that UF is 3 deep at every position and your 3rd string could handle most SEC teams? Yah, that was you! So, Saturday you had 3 guys with Whine Flu and you were "a little banged up at WR" and all you could accomplish is a 10 point beatdown! Where was all of that depth you bragged, fantasized, or lied about?
C'mon kid, which was it? Either the UT defense held Corrine Brown's vaunted Gatas to 23 points or UF was shaving points to protect the bookies. Pick one.
BTW, only a loser says "Wait until next year."
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Are you talking about the "upstart rookie 1-win coach" that set the pace for the game and the great lil' Urbie admitted to willingly following? Bwaaahaaaahaaaahaaaa!
Oh, and the "nut job writers?" Are these the same "nut job writers" that you have been referring to for the past few months that were heaping praise on lil' Urbie as the greatest coach in the universe? Yup, probably the same ones! Sounds to me like the children's fairy tale "The Emporer's New Clothes."
Here's is a piece of advice you might share with lil' Urbie ... "When you're in a hole, the best thing to do is stop digging."
Here's some more good advice ... Fear the Wildcats!
GaGATOR writes:
•Meyer gave a quick "no comment, no comment" when asked about a jab from Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin, who questioned the timing of Meyer releasing UF's flu problems after last week's win.
volingreensboro writes:
URBAN MUST BE CONCERNED, AND HE HAS OBVIOUSLY TAKEN PRECAUTIONS....I didn't see his player kissing on the cheek in Saturday's game...CM must have mentioned this when he issued the hand sanitizer.
InertGas writes:
Read this today: Can't spell flu without UF.
oldsmokey67 writes:
Janzen would be getting playingtime at florida so quit bashing the players.Florida fans are just mad because tennessee will not roll over for the gators anymore so just get over it.That game from here on out is going to be a fight to the finish.Go VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GaGATOR writes:
I was amused Sunday, that your poll consensus thought ya’ll would go 6 and 2 in the SEC, after your 13 to 23 win over the GATORS. Well, let’s get real. Enjoy you win against Ohio, because you have no chance against Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama.
Sorry to say it’s only a 50-50 chance you can beat South Carolina. Then comes
Mississippi, NO CHANCE. Then you finish up with Vandy and Kentucky, again only a 50-50 chance of winning these. If you run the table against the 50-50 teams you will only be 3 and 5, but most likely you will lose 1 of the 3, leaving you 2 and 6 in the SEC. Which ironically is just like beating the GATORS 13 to 23, I love the new math in Tennessee.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Maybe if they stopped sleeping together they could contain the "flu".
volboy81 writes:
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
volfaninutah writes:
If all them Gators would stop makin out with each other, they could stop the pandemic in the locker room!
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