After a week of disjointed practices because of the flu bug, No. 1 Florida plays its first road game of the season today at 6 p.m. EDT against unbeaten Kentucky at sold-out Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky. The Gators, 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC East after last Saturday’s 23-13 hard-fought victory over Tennessee, had several players miss practice and meeting time because of the illness, though none of the players (and assistant coaches) were diagnosed with Swine flu. It did force Florida head coach Urban Meyer and the medical team to take extraordinary precautions, including sending Tim Tebow, Joe Haden and Major Wright on a separate flight from Gainesville to keep them isolated from the rest of the squad. The game is to be televised on ESPN2.
GAME 4: FLORIDA GATORS AT KENTUCKY WILDCATS
WHEN: Today at 6 p.m. EDT.
WHERE: Commonwealth Stadium (67,942), Lexington, Ky. The game is a sellout.
WEATHER FORECAST: The forecast for Commonwealth Stadium at kickoff is mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Temperature of 70 degrees, humidity of 81 percent and winds from the SW at 5 miles per hour.
OVER THE AIRWAVES: ESPN2 has telecast; Gator Radio Network has broadcast (see below for more information).
RECORDS: Florida is 3-0 overall, 1-0 SEC East. Kentucky is 2-0 overall, 0-0 SEC East.
STREAKS: Florida has won a school-record 13 straight games, the longest winning streak in the nation. … The Gators have won seven straight games against their SEC East opponents and they have a five-game winning streak on the road in the SEC.
RANKINGS: Florida is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press media poll and No. 1 in the USA Today coaches poll. Kentucky is not ranked in either poll.
COACHES: Florida, Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, 1988) is 47-9 in his fifth season at Florida and 86-17 in his ninth season as a head coach (with previous stops at Bowling Green and Utah). Kentucky, Rich Brooks (Oregon State, 1963) is 34-41 in his seventh season at Kentucky and 125-150-4 in his 25th season as a head coach (with a previous college stop at Oregon).
SERIES: Florida leads the series 42-17.
Games at Lexington: Florida leads 16-10. Games at Gainesville: Florida leads 24-4. Games at neutral sites: Kentucky leads 3-2. Last 10 meetings: Florida 10-0. Current streak: Florida has won 22 straight games in the series, the second-longest active winning streak for a major Division I school against a major opponent in an uninterrupted series. The streak began with a 27-14 victory at Gainesville in 1987. Longest Florida winning streak: 22 (1987-present). Longest Kentucky winning streak: 4 (1948-51).
Results (number in parentheses following school was its ranking coming into the game):
1917 (at Lexington): Kentucky 52, Florida 0; 1926 (Jacksonville): Kentucky 18, Florida 13; 1927 (Jacksonville): Florida 27, Kentucky 6; 1931 (Jacksonville): Kentucky 7, Florida 2; 1935 (Lexington): Kentucky 15, Florida 6; 1936 (Lexington): Kentucky 7, Florida 0; 1937 (Gainesville): Florida 6, Kentucky 0; 1948 (Lexington): Kentucky 34, Florida 15; 1949 (Tampa): Kentucky (14) 35, Florida 0; 1950 (Lexington): Kentucky (5) 40, Florida (17) 6;
1951 (Gainesville): Kentucky (17) 14, Florida 6; 1952 (Gainesville): Florida (17) 27, Kentucky 0; 1953 (Lexington): Kentucky 26, Florida 13; 1954 (Gainesville): Florida 21, Kentucky 7; 1955 (Lexington): Kentucky 10, Florida 7; 1956 (Gainesville): Kentucky 17, Florida 8; 1957 (Lexington): Florida 14, Kentucky 7; 1967 (Gainesville): Florida 28, Kentucky 12; 1968 (Lexington): Florida 16, Kentucky 14; 1969 (Gainesville): Florida 31, Kentucky 6;
1970 (Tampa): Florida 24, Kentucky 13; 1971 (Gainesville): Florida 35, Kentucky 24; 1972 (Gainesville): Florida 40, Kentucky 0; 1973 (Gainesville): Florida 20, Kentucky 18; 1974 (Lexington): Kentucky 41, Florida (9) 24; 1975 (Gainesville): Florida (14) 48, Kentucky 7; 1976 (Lexington): Kentucky 28, Florida (15) 9; 1977 (Gainesville): Kentucky (7) 14, Florida 7; 1978 (Lexington): Florida 18, Kentucky 16; 1979 (Gainesville): Kentucky 31, Florida 3;
1980 (Lexington): Florida (20) 17, Kentucky 15; 1981 (Gainesville): Florida 31, Kentucky 12; 1982 (Lexington): Florida 39, Kentucky 13; 1983 (Gainesville): Florida (14) 24, Kentucky 7; 1984 (Lexington): Florida (5) 25, Kentucky 17; 1985 (Gainesville): Florida (11) 15, Kentucky 13; 1986 (Lexington): Kentucky 10, Florida 3; 1987 (Gainesville): Florida 27, Kentucky 14; 1988 (Lexington): Florida 24, Kentucky 19; 1989 (Gainesville): Florida 38, Kentucky 28;
1990 (Lexington): Florida (6) 47, Kentucky 15; 1991 (Gainesville): Florida (5) 35, Kentucky 26; 1992 (Gainesville): Florida (4) 35, Kentucky 19; 1993 (Lexington): Florida (7) 24, Kentucky 20; 1994 (Gainesville): Florida (2) 73, Kentucky 7; 1995 (Lexington): Florida (5) 42, Kentucky 7; 1996 (Gainesville): Florida (1) 65, Kentucky 0; 1997 (Lexington): Florida (1) 55, Kentucky 28; 1998 (Gainesville): Florida (8) 51, Kentucky (25) 35; 1999 (Lexington): Florida (3) 38, Kentucky 10;
2000 (Gainesville): Florida (3) 59, Kentucky 31; 2001 (Lexington): Florida (2) 44, Kentucky 10; 2002 (Gainesville): Florida (7) 41, Kentucky 34; 2003 (Lexington): Florida (25) 24, Kentucky 21; 2004 (Gainesville): Florida (16) 20, Kentucky 3; 2005 (Lexington): Florida (5) 49, Kentucky 28; 2006 (Gainesville): Florida (5) 26, Kentucky 7; 2007 (Lexington): Florida (14) 45, Kentucky (8) 37; 2008 (Gainesville): Florida (5) 63, Kentucky 5.
LAST TIME: On Homecoming Oct. 25, 2008 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Gators blocked two punts on Kentucky’s first two possessions and turned them into short touchdown runs by Tim Tebow and Brandon James on their way to a 28-0 first-quarter lead in an eventual 63-5 victory over Kentucky. Florida finished with three blocked kicks (a school record for a game) that led to 21 points against the Wildcats. Tebow was 11-of-15 for 180 yards and two touchdowns each passing and running, while Ahmad Black had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown to begin the second half that gave Florida a 49-3 lead.
SCHEDULES: The 2009 schedules with results:
Florida: Sept. 5 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (W, 62-3); Sept. 12 TROY (W, 56-6); Sept. 19 TENNESSEE (SEC) (W, 23-13); Today at Kentucky (SEC), 6 p.m. (ESPN2); Oct. 10 at Louisiana State (SEC), 8 p.m. (TBD); Oct. 17 ARKANSAS (SEC), TBA (TBD); Oct. 24 at Mississippi State (SEC), TBA (TBD); Oct. 31 Georgia (SEC) at Jacksonville, 3:30 p.m. (CBS); Nov. 7 VANDERBILT (SEC), TBA (TBD); Nov. 14 at South Carolina (SEC), TBA (TBD); Nov. 21 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL, TBA (TBD); Nov. 28 FLORIDA STATE, TBA (TBD).
Kentucky: Sept. 5 Miami, Ohio in Cincinnati (W, 42-0); Sept. 19 LOUISVILLE (W, 31-27); Today FLORIDA (SEC), 6 p.m.; Oct. 3 ALABAMA (SEC); Oct. 10 at South Carolina (SEC); Oct. 17 at Auburn (SEC); Oct. 24 LOUISIANA-MONROE; Oct. 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC); Nov. 7 EASTERN KENTUCKY; Nov. 14 at Vanderbilt (SEC); Nov. 21 at Georgia (SEC); Nov. 28 TENNESSEE (SEC).
STARTING LINEUPS: This is how the teams should match up offense versus defense.
Florida offense: WR 6 Deonte Thompson, WR 11 Riley Cooper, LT 57 Carl Johnson, LG 66 James Wilson, C 56 Maurkice Pouncey, RG 55 Mike Pouncey, 76 Marcus Gilbert, TE 81 Aaron Hernandez, QB 15 Tim Tebow, RB 2 Jeff Demps, WR 25 Brandon James, WR 83 David Nelson.
Kentucky defense: DE 96 Collins Ukwu, DT 53 Ricky Lumpkin, DT 91 Corey Peters, DE 55 DeQuin Evans, SLB 50 Sam Maxwell, MLB 4 Micah Johnson, WLB 22 Danny Trevathan, CB 32 Trevard Lindley, CB 34 Paul Warford, SS 33 Calvin Harrison, FS 21 Winston Guy.
Florida defense: DE 8 Carlos Dunlap, DT 99 Omar Hunter, DT 6 Jaye Howard, DE 49 Jermaine Cunningham, SLB 16 A.J. Jones, MLB 51 Brandon Spikes, WLB 41 Ryan Stamper, CB 1 Janoris Jenkins, CB 5 Joe Haden, SS 35 Ahmad Black or 10 Will Hill, FS 21 Major Wright.
Kentucky offense: TE 86 Ross Bogue, LT 72 Zipp Duncan, LG 78 Christian Johnson, C 61 Jorge Gonzalez, RG 70 Stuart Hines, RT 76 Justin Jeffries, WR 8 Chris Matthews, WR 18 Randall Cobb, QB 5 Mike Hartline, FB 38 John Conner, TB 29 Alfonso Smith.
Florida specialists: P 17 Chas Henry, PK 19 Caleb Sturgis, KO 19 Caleb Sturgis, LS (P) 53 Mike Williamson, LS (PK) 59 John Fairbanks, H 17 Chas Henry, PR 25 Brandon James, KR 25 Brandon James, 11 Riley Cooper.
Kentucky specialists: P 9 Ryan Tydlacka, PK 36 Lones Seiber, LS 65 J.J. Helton, H 18 Randall Cobb, KO 20 Derrick Locke and 21 Winston Guy, PR 18 Randall Cobb.
TEAM STATISTICS: How Florida and Kentucky compare in NCAA and SEC team statistics:
Point per game: Florida, 47.00 ppg (5th NCAA/2nd SEC); Kentucky 36.50 ppg (25/6). National leader: Houston 50.00 ppg. SEC leader: Mississippi 48.50 ppg.
Points per game allowed: Florida, 7.33 ppg (4/1); Kentucky 13.50 ppg (19/5). National leader: Oklahoma 4.67 ppg.
Total offense: Florida 536.67 ypg (4/2); Kentucky 417.00 ypg (41/6). National leader: Texas A&M 589.50 ypg. SEC leader: Arkansas 538.00 ypg.
Total defense: Florida 224.00 ypg (11/3); Kentucky 283.00 ypg (28/6). National leader: Arizona State 149.50 ypg. SEC leader: Alabama 185.33 ypg.
Rushing offense: Florida 289.33 ypg (2/1); Kentucky 206.50 ypg (25/6). National leader: Air Force 344.33 ypg.
Rushing defense: Florida 95.00 ypg (31/3); Kentucky 97.50 ypg (34/4). National leader: Oklahoma 40.67 ypg. SEC leader: Alabama 42.00 ypg.
Passing offense: Florida 247.33 ypg (33/3); Kentucky 210.50 ypg (71/7). National leader: Texas Tech 444.33 ypg. SEC leader: Arkansas 427.50 ypg.
Passing defense: Florida 129.00 ypg (11/3); Kentucky 185.50 ypg (45/8). National leader: Eastern Michigan 78.00 ypg. SEC leader: Tennessee 88.33 ypg.
Passing efficiency offense: Florida 175.27 rating points (6/2); Kentucky 141.13 rating points (41/8). National leader: Notre Dame 186.14 rating points. SEC leader: Arkansas 184.08 rating points.
Passing efficiency defense: Florida 77.74 rating points (5/1); Kentucky 94.82 rating points (20/6). National leader: Arizona State 64.46 rating points.
Net punting: Florida 41.50 ypk (8/2); Kentucky 33.29 ypk (94/9). National and SEC leader: Georgia 47.36 ypk.
Punt returns: Florida 3.40 ypr (97/8); Kentucky 7.60 ypr (68/4), National leader: Louisiana Tech 45.50 ypr. SEC leader: Alabama 20.55 ypr.
Kickoff returns: Florida 38.13 ypr (4/2); Kentucky 42.33 ypr (2/1). National leader: Arizona State 50.75 ypr.
Turnover margin: Florida 0.33 (51/9); Kentucky 0.50 (50/8). National leader: Arizona State 4.00. SEC leader: Auburn 2.33.
Sacks: Florida 1.33 (T76/10); Kentucky 2.00 (T48/6). National leader: Texas Christian 5.50. SEC leader: South Carolina 3.33.
Sacks allowed: Florida 1.67 (T55/8); Kentucky 0.00 (1/1). National leader: Louisiana-Lafayette and Kentucky 0.00. SEC leader: Kentucky 0.00.
Tackles for loss: Florida 6.00 (T51/6); Kentucky 6.00 (T51/6). National leader: Oklahoma 11.33. SEC leader: Tennessee 8.33.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: The top two players in each statistical category for Florida and Kentucky:
Rushing: Florida, Chris Rainey 22-225, 10.2 average, 2 TDs and Jeff Demps 16-207, 12.9 average, 4 TDs. Kentucky, Derrick Locke 23-133, 5.8 average, 2 TDs and Alfonso Smith 17-81, 4.8 average, 0 TDs.
Passing: Florida, Tim Tebow 39-58-1, 67.2 percent, 540 yards, 5 TDs, 180 yards per game and Johnny Brantley 18-24-0, 75.0 percent, 202 yards, 3 TDs and 101.0 yards per game. Kentucky, Mike Hartline 38-54-1, 70.4 percent, 400 yards, 3 TDs, 200.0 yards per game and Will Fidler 2-3-0, 66.7 percent, 21 yards, 0 TDs, 21.0 yards per game.
Receiving: Florida, Riley Cooper 13-212, 16.3 average 1 TD, 70.7 yards per game and Aaron Hernandez 12-144, 12.0 average, 1 TD, 48 yards per game. Kentucky, Randall Cobb 13-167, 12.8 average, 2 TDs, 83.5 yards per game and Chris Matthews 10-91, 9.1 average, 1 TD, 45.5 yards per game.
Punts: Florida, Chas Henry 6-249, 41.5 average, long of 55. Kentucky, Ryan Tydlacka 7-281, 40.1 average, long of 54.
Punt returns: Florida, Brandon James 7-18, 2.6 average, 0 TDs, long of 6 and Frankie Hammond Jr. 3-16, 5.3 average, 0 TDs, long of 16. Kentucky, Randall Cobbs 4-28, 7.0 average, 0 TDs, long of 18 and Gene McCaskill 1-10, 10.0 average, 0 TDs, long of 10.
Kickoff returns: Florida, Brandon James 6-236, 39.3 average, 1 TD, long of 85 and T.J. Lawrence 2-69, 34.5 average, 0 TDs, long of 46. Kentucky, Derrick Locke 4-191, 47.8 average, 1 TD, long of 100 and Alfonso Smith 1-35, 35.0, 0 TDs, long of 35.
Interceptions: Florida, Joe Haden 1-0, Major Wright 1-0, Ahmad Black 1-0 and Janoris Jenkins 1-0. Kentucky, Calvin Harrison 1-42, Trevard Lindley 1-25, Sam Maxwell 1-17.
Tackles: Florida, Joe Haden 18 (14 unassistted-4 assisted) and Ryan Stamper 18 (7-11). Kentucky, Wintson Guy 18 (7-11) and Micah Johnson 16 (4-12).
Tackles for loss: Florida, Ryan Stamper 3.0-5 and Jenoris Jenkins 2.0-16. Kentucky, DeQuin Evans 2.0-19 and Calvin Harrison 2.0-5.
Sacks: Florida, A.J. Jones 1.0-8, Carlos Dunlap 1.0-8, Markihe Anderson 1.0-5 and Ryan Stamper 1.0-2. Kentucky, DeQuin Evans 2.0-19.
Fumble recoveries: Florida, Justin Trattou 1-0 and Jermaine Cunningham 1-0. Kentucky, A.J. Nance 1-0.
WEATHER FORECAST: The forecast for Commonwealth Stadium at kickoff is mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Temperature of 70 degrees, humidity of 81 percent and winds from the SW at 5 miles per hour.
GATORCOUNTRY.COM: As usual, we will have game coverage starting after the final gun – stories, photos, interviews and statistics downloaded as they are produced. In addition, Gator Country is your source for news about the Gators on television, radio and in print. The Gator Country Television Show (GCTV) airs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 4 and 6:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. Saturdays on Cox Cable Channel 15 in Gainesville and Ocala. GCTV can be seen on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2 in the Gainesville and Ocala. Buddy Martin, Franz Beard, Brady Ackerman, Justin Wells and Laura McKeeman participate on the GCTV show. Franz Beard is the host for the Internet TV show “Franz and Friends” on Mondays at 8 p.m., while Wells and McKeeman are the hosts for Insider Recruiting Thursdays at 8 p.m. Martin and Co. also take part on “The Morning Drive with Brady Ackerman and Mark McLeod” from 7-9 a.m. Mondays through Fridays on ESPN Radio in Ocala (900 AM, 100.1 FM) and Gainesville (1230 AM). Finally, you will be able to purchase the newly designed and improved Gator Country Magazine on newsstands throughout the state (Publix, Books-A-Million, Barnes and Noble) beginning with our October issue with Urban Meyer on the cover. For more information how you can join GatorCountry.com and get your daily Orange and Blue fix, check out our website at https://www.gatorcountry.com.
TV: ESPN2 with Mark Jones (play-by-play) and Bob Davie (analyst).
TV REPLAYS: Sun Sports has a Sunday morning replay, “Breakfast with the Gators,” at 8:30 a.m. and a Tuesday evening replay at 11 p.m. The crew: David Steele (play-by-play), Nat Moore (analyst) and Steve Babik (sidelines).
RADIO: Florida broadcast (Mick Hubert, play-by-play; Lee McGriff, color; Steve Babik, sideline; Scot Brantley and Travis McGriff, pre-game) is from the Gator Radio Network. Pre-game show starts at 4 p.m.; post-game show concludes 60 minutes after game. WFXJ-AM 930 (Jacksonville) is flagship station; affiliates are WCNN-AM 680 (Atlanta, Ga.), WALR-AM 1340 (Atlanta, Ga.), WFOM-AM 1230 (Atlanta, Ga.), WWBF-AM 1130 (Bartow), WPHK-FM 102.7 (Blountstown), WWJB-AM 1450 (Brooksville), WMEL-AM 1300 (Cocoa), WXCV-FM 95.3 (Crystal River), WDCF-AM 1350 (Dade City), WWCN-AM 770 (Fort Myers), WRUF-FM 103.7 (Gainesville), WRUF-AM 850 (Gainesville), WKWF-AM 1600 (Key West), WUCR-FM 107.9 (Lake Butler), WNFB-FM 94.3 (Lake City), WDSR-AM 1340 (Lake City), WONN-AM 1230 (Lakeland), WINZ-AM 940 (Miami), WSBB-AM 1230 (New Smyrna Beach), WMOP-AM 900 (Ocala), WMOP-FM 100.1 (Ocala), WOKC-AM 1570 (Okeechobee), WOKC-FM 100.9 (Okeechobee), WFLF-AM 540 (Orlando), WIYD-AM 1260 (Palatka), WYYX-FM 97.7 (Panama City), WTKE-FM 98.1 (Pensacola), WPSL-AM 1590 (Port St. Lucie), WLSS-AM 930 (Sarasota), WSJZ-FM 99.5 (Sebastian), WWTK-AM 730 (Sebring), WAOC-AM 1420 (St. Augustine), WSTU-AM 1450 (Stuart), WQTL-FM 106.1 (Tallahassee), WDAE-AM 620 (Tampa-St. Petersburg), WJNO-AM 1290 (West Palm Beach). The game also is available (via the Gator Radio Network) on Sirius 214 and XM 199. Kentucky broadcast (Tim Leach, play-by-play; Jeff Piecoro, analyst; Dick Gabriel, sidelines) on the Big Blue Sports Network. The game is available (via the Big Blue Sports Network) on Sirius 215 and XM 241.
STATISTICS: Game play-by-play and statistics are delayed but refreshed continually during the game on GameTracker, http://www.gatorzone.com and http://www.espn.go.com.