My Percy Harvin Blog

As great as the last 8 months of bragging about our national championship title have been, the time has finally come to move on. That's right Titletown, it is time to turn the page on the days of Chris Leak and Reggie Nelson and usher in a new era of Gator football. Don't despair Gator fans, there are still a few familiar faces from last year. Head coach Urban Meyer returns for his third year after posting a 22-4 record in his first two seasons leading the Gators, including an undefeated record in the Swamp. The ever-exciting Tim Tebow steps into the starting quarterback role determined to show that his arm can be as dangerous as his legs. The wide receiver corps also boasts a number of returning stars including Andre "Bubba" Caldwell, Percy Harvin, and Cornelius Ingram. The defense is a bit of a different story. The Gators return only 2 defensive starters from the 2006 squad.

So there will also be quite a bit of change. The many holes in the defense will be filled primarily by players from the last two recruiting classes (which were at or near the top of the national rankings by the way). Returning defensive end Derrick Harvey anchors the defensive line, but Meyer has said that as many as 6 freshman may compete for playing time there. The secondary is just as much of a concern after the departures of safety Reggie Nelson, and cornerbacks Ryan Smith and Reggie Lewis. Strong safety Tony Joiner returns for his senior year to lead the new group. Junior Markus Manson and sophomore Markihe Anderson are the leading candidates at cornerback and Kyle Jackson aims to fill the void left by Nelson.

Despite the many changes, expectations in Gainesville are still running pretty high. I've heard plenty of talk on campus of repeating as SEC champions, and even a little about Tebow and Harvin as potential Heisman candidates. Many sports commentators have said or written that these expectations are exaggerated and that this will be a rebuilding year for the Gators. They may be right, but aren't high hopes for your team what make the start of the season so exciting? I think so. Plus, nobody really knows what kind of season we are in store for. So how about giving the team a chance to show what they are made of before we judge them. If you need any help with that please talk to an Ohio State fan, as they were recently given a lesson in not underestimating the Gators. If that's not enough, here are 4 reasons why the Gators have the potential for another great year.

1. The Schedule

You have to like the Gators schedule this year. With the exception of the LSU game, all of our more difficult games are at home (Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida State). Again, the Gators are undefeated the last 2 years in the Swamp.

2. The offense

Playmakers abound with Tebow, Harvin, and Caldwell all returning. The offensive line is also fairly experienced.

3. The defense

Despite the changes on defense from last year, the Gators have plenty of talent and speed and if they can conquer their inexperience they have the potential to be good.

4. The coach

It is an undeniable fact that Urban Meyer is one of the premier head coaches in the country. He should be able to find a way to get the most out of the talented recruits he has brought in over the last 2 years.

- Tim aka T.laves

Author writes a weekly blog for the Gator's fan site at [http://www.Gatormaniacs.com]