The Football Insider: August 29, 2008

Steve Addazio knows when he’s got a good thing going and this year he’s got a good thing going. He’s got an offensive line that is talented, deep and led by three outstanding seniors who are been there, done that types. Good chemistry starts with good senior leadership and that’s why Addazio is so confident that his linemen can get the job done in 2008.

“Best chemistry I’ve had … ever,” said Addazio, Florida’s offensive line coach. “We have a bunch of guys that love football. They love to have fun. They work hard. They know when to go and when to have fun. They have a good feel for it. There is tremendous chemistry in there right now.”

It starts with seniors Jim Tartt, Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins. They’re all five-year guys and each one has endured his fair share of struggles to get to this point. Tartt is the tough guy at guard while Trautwein and Watkins are the bookend 6-6, 310-pound tackles.

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Franz Beard
Back in January of 1969, the late, great Jack Hairston, then the sports editor of the Jacksonville Journal, called me on the phone one night and asked me if I wanted to work for him. I said yes. The entire interview took 30 seconds. It's my experience that whenever the interview lasts 30 seconds or less, I get the job. In the 48 years that I've been writing and getting paid for it, I've covered Super Bowls, World Series, NCAA basketball championships, BCS championship games, heavyweight title fights and what seems like thousands of college football, baseball and basketball games. I'm a columnist and special assignments editor for Gator Country once again, writing about the only team that ever mattered to me, the Florida Gators.