When Urban Meyer jumped into the offensive huddle at a critical moment of a big game, he was usually nose-to-facemask with the Pouncey Twins. It was like looking under the hood of two 500-horsepower engines and then turning the key and setting loose the road graders to pave the way for Tim Tebow and friends. That’s how the Gators jump-started many a fourth-quarter drive.
Now Urban is down to one road grader – at least with the Pouncey brand.
The twins sort of helped Urban Meyer and Steve Addazio invent “Bloody Tuesday,” those grueling practices when work ethic combined with love of football set the tone for the team.
It wasn’t until Maurkice and Mike Pouncey arrived that the real head-knocking offensive line was unleashed by Addazio.
“We can tell,” Mike Pouncey recently said, “how we’re going to play on Saturday by how we practice on Tuesday. And we just go after it. And we see that in the game.”
Addazio marvels at how hard Pouncey practices and says so do the other players whose tongues are wagging.
“Sometimes on those hard days, guys are looking around, and he’s going harder than everybody,” said Addazio. “So that leadership on the field is critical, by example, by his work ethic, his experience is critical.”
Mike has some unfinished business. Pouncey’s energy and heavy duty, industrial strength will and passion help power the 2010 offensive unit.
It’s the Pouncey bounce, and it has been part of the chemistry for success in winning championships.
Like those other great Gator families – the McGriffs, the Jacksons, the Gaffneys, the Brantleys – the Pouncey family is leaving behind a strong legacy.
Now it’s time for Mike to finish what he and his brother started.
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There are a few good reasons four All-American offensive linemen have come along at Florida in the last 25 years. And here are two:
1) The Gator football program has never been known for great running games;
2) Offensive linemen – great ones – are rare gems.
Imagine two in one family, both at the same school, playing side by side.
For the first time in four years, Urban Meyer can take the “s” off the name Pouncey. And Mike Pouncey can remove the “Mi” on his jersey.
There is only one now.
But a half set of twins, in this case, is certainly more than adequate.
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Mike Pouncey is on his own, a man with his own identity.
Even though some people still slip up and call him “Maurkice.” And even though he is taking over his brother’s old position at center, as well as filling the leadership void he left behind when Maurkice signed with Steelers as their No. 18 pick.
And he seems to be enjoying it, although he misses his brother. (They talk via cell phone every day.) Meanwhile, he has become comfortable in blazing the trails.
“I knew when I decided to come back to school that I was going to have to take on that role,” Pouncey said. “I just accepted it and I’m taking it on with a full head of steam.”
“Who wouldn’t? Leader of the team, everybody follows me and I’m going to lead this team to victory,” he said.
It’s the leadership, the love of the game and his mental and physical toughness that set Mike apart, which is why he was named one of the captains – and why he hopes to drafted “higher than my brother” after this season.
Nobody loves wearing the uniform more than Mike who, if he had a blood transfusion, would ask for Type O, in orange and blue, and says he was in no hurry to take off that uniform. Admittedly, he also felt he could improve his stock as a pro player by staying.
He was born one minute ahead of Maurkice and at one point was considered a better college prospect, but Mike watched his brother step into the job as center and never look back.
So for the first time the Pounceys are not playing together.
Mike misses not having anybody around to bounce things off of because they were not just teammates and twins, but very close friends.
How much has he changed without Maurkice?
“A lot,” said Mike. “Because before I did stuff, I used to ask him. Now I just make my own decision. So it’s on me. I don’t have anybody to tell me, ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do that.’ It’s on me.”
Now he’s the one dispensing the advice to youngsters. And Addazio feels like they listen to Mike because of who he is and how hard he plays.
“You’re talking about a guy who has the respect of the whole team and the coaching staff,” Addazio said of his starting center, who is also working some at right tackle. “You’re talking about a guy who approaches every day like it’s the SEC Championship. You’re talking about a guy who knows how to practice. Is fundamentally sound. Loves football. Wants to be great.
“You put that in front of an office, in front of a football team, and it’s hard not to follow that.”
Meyer, in fact, did put that “in front” of the football team by making Mike a captain.
“You can’t be a better leader than Mike Pouncey,” Urban said.
Mike Pouncey can carry the load. Just turn the keys, fire up that 500-horsepower engine and get out of the way.
“I’m a vocal leader,” Pouncey admitted. “I talk all the time in practice whether it’s good or bad.”
He can talk it, he can walk it, or he can road grade it.