Game Week: Florida - Wednesday News

Dave Reardon writes that the team is in Atlanta.

Just checked in at the airport Hilton in Atlanta. … No visual sign of the team, but they are here — likely all crashed out in their rooms since their flight arrived from LAX at 5 a.m. It’s now 10:30 a.m. here. … Practice at 6 p.m.

Jason Kaneshiro writes about the UH QB situation.

Now with Rausch working his way back, Alexander had a chance to prove himself in running the bulk of the plays in yesterday's practice.

"I've still got a ways to go, but watching the films I can see some progress coming," Alexander said of his growth in the run-and-shoot system.

"The more reps you're able to take, the more you can get into a rhythm and get a feel for things. It's like anything else, the more you do it, the better you're going to get at it."

Dave Reardon has a column about one way the QB situation may be helping UH, at least a little.

Brent Rausch's sore arm and the fact that Greg Alexander took the first-team reps yesterday mean the Gators need to prepare for two very different quarterbacks.

Three, if you count Tyler Graunke. Urban Meyer's a good coach, so he won't discount UH's most experienced QB until he sees a picture of Graunke waving aloha as the wheels of Warrior Air leave the tarmac.

Stephen Tsai writes about the QB situation and has some news and notes, including:

• Defensive right tackle Josh Leonard will get the start over Fale Laeli, though Laeli will play 20 to 30 snaps.
  


• Grad assistant Craig Stutzmann won't make the trip due to an illness.
  

Jason Kaneshiro highlights Malcolm Lane's and Khevin Peoples' Florida homecoming, and writes that backup QB Jake Santos made the travel roster.

"This isn't charity for him, he's a good player and he's coming up there to help us," quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich said.

"I look at Jake kind of like my (graduate assistant). He has a nice calming effect. He knows when to speak up and he's just such a good role model. The effort he puts in knowing he probably won't get a chance to play is a tribute to his character and he's going to be successful in life."

The Advertiser has a whole bunch of UH football articles, info, schedules, etc. in today's sports section to kickoff the season. Here are links to some of the articles:

• Stephen Tsai profiles Greg and Heather McMackin.
• Tsai writes about ʻohana.
• I guess someone at the Tizer predicts UH will be 7-6.
  
• Leila Wai profiles the Satele family.
  
• Wai also writes about players who are parents, juggling football, school and family.
  
• Ferd Lewis talks to AD Jim Donovan about UH's role in representing the state.
  
• Michael Tsai profiles the Flying Lee Brothers -- Ron, Cal and Tommy.
  

Here's a Florida Today article about how the Gators' success hinges on the defense.

Several Florida players have staph infections, with at least one of them possibly out for Saturday's game.

Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes, still nursing injuries, may or may not play this Saturday.

Florida coach Urban Meyer wants Gator fans to wear white on Saturday to raise awareness about cancer, and keep cool.

From the St. Petersburg Times, an analysis of the Gators.

The Sports Network has a UH vs UF game preview.

The AP has a game preview as well.

Gatorzone.com has a list of ways Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will help fans combat the heat.

HawaiiAthletics.com has some game info, which includes a link to a PDF press release for the game, and GatorZone.com has some broadcast info, which I used to update the Ways to Follow the Hawaii at Florida Game post.