One of the biggest points Florida coach Urban Meyer has stressed to his team since the spring is the need for more team chemistry.
Quarterback Tim Tebow certainly sees a difference.
"There's more chemistry and unselfishness this year than even two years ago when we won the national championship,"
Tebow said. "We might not be quite as talented or experienced as we were that year, but I think we'll be more unselfish and much more close than we were. That's what's going to bring us over the hump because we weren't that way last year."
The most noticeable change to the junior has been the lack of bickering among teammates.
"Getting in arguments or fights on the field, you just don't see that on this team anymore,"
Tebow said. "You used to hear, 'He's holding me, or I would've sacked him,' and all these arguments. Now it's just guys going out there and playing hard without all the talking or trash talk wanting to show people up."
Sophomore cornerback Joe Haden saw a determined effort by the coaching staff to make sure the players didn't become too divided into small groups.
"We've got people hanging out that you wouldn't really see hanging out with each other,"
Haden said. "When we went into the weight room (strength coach Mickey Marotti) would be like 'when was the last time you hung out with this guy?' "
Pleased. Thursday marked Florida's final practice before the season opener against Hawaii on Saturday, and Meyer is pleased with his team's preparation.
"As a coach you just always make sure every 'I' is dotted, every 'T' is crossed with special teams and all the new players going and warm-ups and guys showing up on time,"
Meyer said. "I know they're ready to go play a game. I would like another week to get ready, but we're ready to go."
Toss up. Meyer still hasn't named the backup quarterback for Saturday's game. The battle between sophomore Cameron Newton and redshirt freshman John Brantley is apparently too close to call.
"They're both fairly even, and hopefully we'll get them both in the game,"
Meyer said Thursday.
Etc. Terron Sanders or Matt Patchan will start Saturday alongside Lawrence Marsh at defensive tackle, Meyer said Thursday. . . . Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said his team piped in music during practice recently to prepare for the loud atmosphere inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday.
