NCAA Football- Florida Gators: On the Road Towards Another National Title

The Florida Gators opened up fall practice on Thursday set on winning their third title in four years; they are all working hard with the hope of ending this season completely unbeaten and winning the title. Tim Tebow, the Gators’ All-Star quarterback, has already won the Heisman trophy and collected 4 championship rings; this year, he has even higher expectations for the NCAA football season. After all that he and the team have accomplished already, he stated that he and his team want more than what they have already achieved in this last past three years. “It’s something that we want,” Tebow said of going undefeated for the season. “That’s not our goal. We’re not writing that anywhere. We’re not posting that. But obviously when we step on the field, we’re going to want to win. That would be special, being the first time in Florida history for that. Obviously that is a goal and it’s something that I hope comes true.” The Gators started the practice on Thursday at 5:45am with around 200 spectators waiting for them to start. Since the Gators are favorites again this year, coach Urban Meyer schedule the toughest training practice in five years, including 2 practices per day. The Florida team is almost the same team that played last season, with a majority of the roster returning. The players have been active even in the offseason, during which they scheduled several workouts. With Tebow and Brandon Spikes in their lineup, Florida promises to give a great performance this year, as they did last year – the team might do even better. Tebow and Spikes entered to the Gators lineup back in 2006; they won a second championship ring last year and both of them considered turning pro but in the end they decided to go back to college and finish what they began last year. Florida had a difficult time last year reaching the title; with an early loss in the season against Mississippi, the Gators had to win 10 games in a row to compete for the title. They don’t want to face that kind of pressure this year; thus, the team is making an early effort, starting early and training hard. Receiver Riley Cooper is also excited with the beginning of the season. He received permission to play with the Gators during his senior year from the Texas Rangers, to whom he had signed a contract to play baseball. Cooper said this week that he considers the Gators a great team, “something special,” and that he is pleased to be able to return this year and help the team reach its third national title.