By UF…
GATOR STORYLINES
?Florida begins its 102nd year of football. Through
101 years, the Gators own a record of 628-372-
40 (.623).
?Urban Meyer begins his fourth season at Florida
with the Gators ranked in the preseason top 25
for the 18th-straight season.
?Coach Meyer enters the 2008 season as the
third-winningest active coach in college football,
with a 70-16 (.814) record, among individuals who
have been a head coach for at least five full seasons.
?Including bowl games, bye weeks, mid-week
games and season openers, Urban Meyer is 23-
3 (.885) all-time when having more than one week
to prepare for a game.
GAME SETUP
THE POLLS UF UH
Associated Press 5th ARV
USA Today Coaches’ 5th NR
THE RECORDS UF UH
Overall 0-0 0-0
Conference 0-0 0-0
TELEVISION
The game will be broadcast on Raycom Sports.
Dave Neal (play-by-play), Dave Archer (color) and
Dave Baker (sideline) call the action.
DELAYED TELEVISION
Sun Sports , with David Steele (play-by-play), Nat
Moore (color) and Steve Babik (sideline) will air
the game at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, on
Sun Sports “Breakfast with the Gators” and again
Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 11 p.m. (replays available in
SEC territory).
THE GATOR RADIO NETWORK
The Gator Radio Network team of Mick Hubert
(play-by-play), Lee McGriff (color) and Steve Babik
(sideline) will broadcast the contest. Scot Brantley
and Travis McGriff join Babik as co-hosts of pregame.
WFXJ radio (930-AM in Jacksonville) serves
as UF’s flagship station. The pre-game show begins
two hours before kickoff. There is also a 90-
minute show following the conclusion of the game.
SATELLITE RADIO
Florida football can be heard on XM Satellite Radio.
Fans can log on to each
week for information regarding specific channels.
FLORIDA FOOTBALL ENTERS 2008 SEASON
?The University of Florida football program opens its 102nd year on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 12:30 p.m.
vs. Hawaii. UF head coach Urban Meyer begins his fourth season with the Gators. Under Coach
Meyer, the Gators own a 31-8 (.795) overall record.
AN EARLY OPENER
?Today’s game marks the earliest opening to a season in school history. Including this year, UF has
started the year in the month of August five times since 1996 after opening in the month just once
(1986) in the previous 89 years of play (1906-95). The Gators have never lost a contest in the month,
as they have combined to outscore opponents 230-47 in the five previous contests.
OPENING THE SEASON
?UF enters the game looking for its 19th-consecutive season and home-opening victory. Florida has
won an SEC-best 18-straight season-opening games. UF’s last loss in a season opener was in 1989,
when it suffered a 24-19 setback to Ole Miss at Florida Field. UF’s last loss to a non-conference
opponent in a season opener came against Miami in 1987 (31-4). Florida is 77-24 in its previous 101
season openers, including a 60-6 mark in the 66 openers held in Gainesville. Furthermore, UF is 38-
1 in the last 39 season openers on its own turf, a mark that dates back to the start of the 1949 season.
?Coach Meyer has never lost a season opener as a head coach (7-0). His teams have averaged 36.7
points in the first game of the season and have limited opponents to 14.0 points per game:
Year Site Opponent Score
2001 Away Missouri 20-13
2002 Home Tennessee Tech 41-20
2003 Home Utah State 40-20
2004 Home Texas A&M 41-21
2005 Home Wyoming 32-14
2006 Home Southern Miss 34-7
2007 Home Western Kentucky 49-3
?Dating back to his first year in collegiate coaching (1986, Ohio State, Graduate Asst.), Coach Meyer
has a record of 17-5 in season openers, including 14-straight victories. His last loss in a season opener
came on Sept. 4, 1993, while he was the wide receivers coach at Colorado State. That season, the
Rams opened the year with a 23-9 loss to Oregon.
THE GATORS AT HOME
?Today’s game is the 21st for head coach Urban Meyer at home. Through 20 games, UF is 19-1
(.950). Florida’s record since Coach Meyer’s arrival is tied for the second-best nationally during the
span:
Teams Record Loss
Boise State 19-0 None
Florida 19-1 L, 23-20 to Auburn (9/29/07)
Wisconsin 19-1 L, 20-10 to Iowa (11/12/05)
USC 18-1 L, 24-23 to Stanford (10/6/07)
Oklahoma 18-1 L, 17-10 to TCU (9/3/05)
ALUMNI TUNNEL
?Again this season, the first game of the year will start with the alumni football players forming a tunnel
for the current players to run out of moments before kickoff. Coach Meyer initiated the event, which
took place for the first time prior to the Wyoming contest in 2005.
THE TEAM
?The team by class:
11 Seniors 12.9 pct.
14 Juniors 16.5 pct.
31 Sophomores 36.5 pct.
9 Redshirt Freshmen 10.6 pct.
20 True Freshmen 23.5 pct.
WHAT’S NEW WITH THE GATORS...
?Entering the 2008 season, UF’s leaders in each of the following departments return: Rushing,
Passing, Receiving, Scoring, Total Offense, All-Purpose Yards, Tackles, Interceptions, Pass Break
Ups, Punting, Punt Returns, Kick Returns, Fumble Recoveries, and Fumble Returns.
?The Gators return eight starters and lose three on both offense and defense. Florida returns a total
of 28 players who made at least one start in 2007: 13 on offense and 15 on defense.
?The returning rushers accounted for 17 of the 20 rushing plays of at least 20 yards in 2007. The
returning receivers accounted for 36 of the 47 receptions of at least 20 yards.
?The 2008 Gators return 11 seniors total. The following chart reflects how many senior starters the
Gators have had each year since 1995:
1995 - 16
1996 - 14
1997 - 9
1998 - 11
1999 - 6
2000 - 14
?Going into 2007, the Gators brought only three players back that started playing for UF in the fall
of 2003 (Andre Caldwell, Clint McMillan and Carlton Medder). This season, UF brings back six
players that started in the fall of 2004 (Tate Casey, Javier Estopinan, Cornelius Ingram, Jim Tartt,
Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins).
?Prior to the season, UF had five players with ACL injures: Cornelius Ingram (left); Jim Barrie
(right); Brendan Beal (left); Dorian Munroe (right); John Curtis (left). The injuries to Munroe and
Curtis happened prior to August practices, while the others occurred during preseason workouts.
Ingram was injured in a non-contact drill the second day of August practices.
CONNECTIONS WITH HAWAII
?Listed below are coaching connections between the Florida and Hawaii teams:
Individual ______The Connection
Chuck Heater (UF), Ikaika Malloe (UH) ___ On same staff at Washington from 1999-2001.
Tebow (UF), Wilson (UF), Taylor (UH) ____ Each attended Nease HS
THE OFFENSE
?The offense returns eight starters after returning six in 2007. Returning to the offense are WR
Percy Harvin, WR Louis Murphy, TE Cornelius Ingam, OL Jason Watkins, OL Jim Tartt, OL Maurkice
Pouncey, QB Tim Tebow, RB Kestahn Moore. Departing are WR Andre Caldwell, C Drew Miller,
RT Carlton Medder.
?The Florida offense returns its top passer (Tim Tebow), rusher (Tebow) and receiver (Percy
Harvin). Each of Florida’s top-five rushers return and all of the top-five receivers except Andre
Caldwell do so.
?Under head coach Urban Meyer, the Gators have outrushed 33 of 38 opponents (10-of-12 in 2005
and 12-of-13 in 2006, 11-of-13 in 2007).
?Florida is one of four teams in the nation (LSU, Tulsa and USC) to pass for 80-or-more and
rush for 80-or-more touchdowns since 2005.
?Florida is one of eight teams in the nation to score 100-or-more total touchdowns at home since
2005 (105, ranks fifth nationally and first in the SEC).
?Florida’s passer rating at home since 2005 (168.6) ranks second in the nation since 2005
(Louisville, 179.1).
?Florida and LSU are tied for sixth nationally and first in the SEC with 776 points at home each
since 2005.
?Only Urban Meyer-coached teams, Boise State and Toledo have had offenses that have
averaged more than 235 passing yards and 184 rushing yards per game over the last seven
seasons.
EASTERN DIVISION
Team SEC Pct. Overall
Florida 0-0 .000 0-0
Georgia 0-0 .000 0-0
Kentucky 0-0 .000 0-0
South Carolina 0-0 .000 0-0
Tennessee 0-0 .000 0-0
Vanderbilt 0-0 .000 0-0
WESTERN DIVISION
Team SEC Pct. Overall
Alabama 0-0 .000 0-0
Auburn 0-0 .000 0-0
Arkansas 0-0 .000 0-0
LSU 0-0 .000 0-0
Ole Miss 0-0 .000 0-0
Mississippi State 0-0 .000 0-0
AUG. 28
South Carolina vs. NC State
Vanderbilt at Miami (Ohio)
AUG. 30
Alabama vs. Clemson (Atlanta)
Arkansas vs. W. Illinois
Auburn vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Georgia vs. Georgia Southern
Ole Miss vs. Memphis
Mississippi State at La. Tech
LSU vs. Appalachian State
AUG. 31
Kentucky at Louisville
SEPT. 1
Tennessee at UCLA
all times Eastern
HAWAII (0-0) at Florida
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. Weber State
MIAMI (0-0) vs. Charleston-Southern (Aug. 28)
Last week: Idle
Next week: at Florida
at Tennessee (0-0) at UCLA (Sept. 1)
Last week: Idle
Next week: Idle
OLE MISS (0-0) at Memphis
Last week: Idle
Next week: at Wake Forest
at Arkansas (0-0) vs. Western Illinois
Last week: Idle
Next week: at Louisiana-Monroe
LSU (0-0) vs. Appalachian State
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. Troy
KENTUCKY(0-0) vs. Louisville (Aug. 31)
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. Norfolk State
vs. Georgia (0-0) vs. Georgia Southern
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. Central Michigan
at Vanderbilt (0-0) at Miami (Ohio) (Aug. 28)
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. South Carolina
SOUTH CAROLINA (0-0) vs. NC State (Aug. 28)
Last week: Idle
Next week: at Vanderbilt
THE CITADEL (0-0) vs. Webber International
Last week: Idle
Next week: at Clemson
at Florida State (0-0) Idle
Last week: Idle
Next week: vs. Western Carolina
TODAY’S MATCHUP...
UF PLAYERS IN SEASON OPENERS
FLORIDA (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
A30 ______HAWAII
S6 ______MIAMI (FL)
S20 ______at Tennessee
S27 ______OLE MISS
O4 ______at Arkansas
O11 ______LSU
O25 ______KENTUCKY (HC)
N1 ______vs. Georgia^
N8 ______at Vanderbilt
N15 ______SOUTH CAROLINA
N22 ______THE CITADEL
N29 ______at Florida State
D6 ______SEC Championship Game#
HC - Homecoming
^ - Jacksonville, Fla. (Jacksonville Municipal Stadium)
# - Atlanta, Ga. (Georgia Dome)
HAWAII (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
A30 ______at Florida
S6 ______WEBER STATE
S13 ______at Oregon State
S27 ______SAN JOSE STATE
O4 ______at Fresno State
O11 ______LOUISIANA TECH
O17 ______at Boise State
O25 ______NEVADA
N1 ______at Utah State
N8 ______at New Mexico State
N22 ______IDAHO
N29 ______WASHINGTON STATE
D6 ______CINCINNATI
Florida Category Opponents
257.0 Passing Offense 258.5
200.2 Rushing Offense 103.3
457.2 Total Offense 361.8
42.5 Scoring Offense 25.5
258.5 Passing Defense 257.0
103.3 Rushing Defense 200.2
361.8 Total Defense 457.2
25.5 Scoring Defense 42.5
305 1st Downs For 262
.534 3rd Down Conv. .412
.538 4th Down Conv. .583
29-207 Sacks By-Yards 13-78
107-805 Penalties-Yards 83-600
16-9 Fumbles-Lost 21-9
29:18 Avg. Time of Poss. 30:03
Hawaii Category Opponents
439.5 Passing Offense 214.0
72.6 Rushing Offense 133.8
512.1 Total Offense 347.8
43.4 Scoring Offense 25.5
214.0 Passing Defense 439.5
133.8 Rushing Defense 72.6
347.8 Total Defense 512.1
25.5 Scoring Defense 43.4
347 1st Downs For 262
.475 3rd Down Conv. .296
.450 4th Down Conv. .563
91-861 Penalties-Yards 85-727
29-12 Fumbles-Lost 26-9
28:00 Avg. Time of Poss. 32:07
2008 SCHEDULES/RESULTS
Rushing
Florida G Att. Net Avg. TD YPG
Tebow 13 210 895 4.3 23 68.8
Harvin 11 83 764 9.2 6 69.5
Hawaii G Att. Net Avg. TD YPG
Pilares 11 68 388 5.7 3 35.3
Wright-Jackson 10 33 219 6.6 2 21.9
Passing
Florida A-C-I Pct. Yds. TD YPG
Tebow 350-234-6 66.9 3,286 32 252.8
Newton 10-5-0 50.0 40 0 8.0
Hawaii A-C-I Pct. Yds. TD YPG
Brennan 510-359-17 70.4 4,343 38 361.9
Graunke 137-90-6 65.7 1,234 10 154.2
Receiving
Florida G Rec. Yds. Avg. TD YPG
Harvin 11 59 858 14.5 4 78.0
Caldwell 11 56 761 13.6 7 69.2
Hawaii G Rec. Yds. Avg. TD YPG
Bess 13 108 1,266 11.7 12 97.4
Grice-Mullen 13 106 1,372 12.9 13 105.5
Defense
Florida UT-AT-TT TFL S INT FF FR
Spikes 81-50-131 16.0 1.5 0 1 3
Doe 43-42-85 5.0 0 0 0 2
Hawaii UT-AT-TT TFL S INT FF FR
Elimimian 68-73-141 12.0 1.5 0 0 0
Leonard 53-52-105 11.5 2.0 4 1 1
TOP INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
SERIES HISTORY
THE COACHES
2007 UF 49 Western Kentucky 3
(Gainesville) UF scored touchdowns on its fi rst
four possessions and Tim Tebow connected on
13-of-17 passes in his starting debut for 300 yards
and three TD and rushed for another score.
2006 UF 34 Southern Miss 7
(Gainesville) The Gators kicked off their 100th
season in style as Chris Leak was 21-for-30 for
248 and fi red three TD passes, while Dallas Baker
had nine catches for 123 yards and one score.
2005 UF 32 Wyoming 14
(Gainesville) Urban Meyer made his Florida
head coaching debut and Chris Leak set a school
record with 17-straight completions on his way
to fi nishing the night 26-of-34 for 320 yards and
three touchdown passes, all to receiver Chad
Jackson (10 receptions for 138 yards).
2004 UF 49 Eastern Michigan 10
(Gainesville) Chris Leak tossed three touchdown
passes and the Gators converted all seven of their
opportunities inside the Red Zone. Led by two
touchdowns from running back Ciatrick Fason,
six different players scored for UF.
2003 UF 65 San Jose State 3
(Gainesville) Running back Ran Carthon and
wide receiver Kelvin Kight scored two touchdowns
apiece as UF opened the 2003 season in front
of a then-record crowd of 90,011 at the newlyrenovated
Ben Hill Griffi n Stadium.
LAST FIVE SEASON OPENERS
Urban Meyer
Record at Florida: 31-8 (.795)
Overall Record: 70-16 (.814)
Seasons at Florida/Overall: 4/8
Greg McMackin
Record at Hawaii: First Season
Overall Record: First Season
THE COACHES
This is the fi rst-ever meeting between the
Gators and Warriors.
Florida Leads: 5-0
Team ...... Record
Louisiana Tech ...... UF leads, 2-0
9/16/89 - Gators 34, Bulldogs 7 (Gainesville)
9/10/05 - Gators 41, Bulldogs 3 (Gainesville)
New Mexico State ...... UF leads, 1-0
9/3/94 - Gators 70, Aggies 21 (Gainesville)
San Jose State ...... UF leads, 2-0
9/7/91 - Gators 59, Spartans 21 (Gainesville)
8/30/03 - Gators 65, Spartans 3 (Gainesville)
?Florida has scored 30-or-more points in each of the last seven games. The streak is the longest
in the nation:
Team Streak (Games) Avg. Pts./Game During Streak W-L During Streak
Florida 7 44.9 5-2
Central Michigan 6 39.6 4-2
Navy 6 46.2 3-2
Air Force 5 38.6 3-2
Fresno State 5 36.6 4-1
?Since Coach Meyer’s first season in 2005, the Gators have led the SEC in several offensive
categories over the span:
Rushing Touchdowns
Florida 82
LSU 81
Arkansas 78
Auburn 72
Scrimmage Touchdowns
Florida 163
LSU 162
Arkansas 138
Kentucky 130
Third Down Conversions
Florida .448 (219-of-489)
LSU .447 (240-of-537)
Tennessee .419 (222-of-530)
Kentucky .414 (214-of-517)
?Since Coach Meyer’s first year as a head coach at Bowling Green in 2001, his teams have had
fewer offensive turnovers than any team in the nation:
1. Urban Meyer Coached Teams 122
2. Minnesota 123
3. Air Force 126
4. Virginia 127
Wake Forest 127
?In 2007, UF scored on 54.0 percent of its drives (81-of-150). The percentage was the secondhighest
by a league team since the SEC kept the record in 2000 (UF 54.9 in 2001). Florida’s
touchdown efficiency mark of 47.3 (71-of-140) was the highest total by an SEC team since the
league kept the record starting in 2001.
QUARTERBACKS (FOR TEBOW RECORDS SEE PAGE 15 OF THIS RELEASE)
?Florida returns Tim Tebow at quarterback who became the only player in college football history to
win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. Tebow is the fifth quarterback to return to school after
winning the award joining Roger Staubach, Ty Detmer, Jason White and Matt Leinart. Detmer, White
and Leinart all finished third in the Heisman voting during the season that followed their Heisman
winning campaign.
?In receiving the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 8, 2007, Tim Tebow enabled Florida to become:
-One of eight schools with at least three Heisman Trophy winners
-The first SEC school with three Heisman Trophy winners and all at quarterback
-One of two schools with three Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback
-One of two schools with multiple winners since 1996
-One of four programs to win the Heisman and have a first-team Academic All-American (Alan
Ameche, 1954, Wisconsin; Pete Dawkins, 1958, Army; Danny Wuerffel, 1996, Florida)
?Tim Tebow’s 31 career rushing touchdowns are tied for the fourth-highest total in school history
with Fred Taylor, 1994-97 (Emmitt Smith had a school record 36 from 1987-89).
?Tim Tebow has rushed for at least one touchdown and passed for at least one touchdown in 14-
straight games. The streak is the longest in NCAA history.
?Tim Tebow has not thrown an interception in his last two outings (matches his longest streak as
a starting quarterback). Tebow has not thrown an interception since the second quarter of the Florida Atlantic game in 2007. Since then he has had 81 attempts without an interception. The
streak is the longest of his career. His previous long was 80 over the course of the LSU, UK,
UGA and Vanderbilt games in 2007.
Consecutive Passes Without an Interception (UF)
1. 121, Danny Wuerffel, 1995-96
2. 118, Rex Grossman, 2002
3. 117, Chris Leak, 2005
117, Wayne Peace, 1981
5. 104, Steve Spurrier, 1966
?Tim Tebow is Florida’s active career leader in rushing yards with 1,364, which is a school
record for rushing yards by a quarterback. The previous career record for rushing yards by a
quarterback at UF was 786 by Larry Libetore (1960-62).
?Over the past three seasons, Tim Tebow has been a part of teams that have gone 35-7 overall. As
the starting quarterback at Nease High School as a senior in 2005, he helped lead the school to its
first-ever Class 4A state championship. As a freshman at UF in 2006, he played in all 14 games in
his role as the backup QB on the national championship squad. He was 9-4 as a starting QB in 2007.
?Active QBs Career Rushing Touchdowns vs. Top 25 Teams
Quarterback Total
1. Tim Tebow (Florida) 9
Pat White (West Virginia) 9
3. Jake Locker (Washington) 5
?Active QBs Rushing Touchdowns at Home
Quarterback Games Rush TD
1. Pat White (West Virginia) 18 20
2. Tim Tebow (Florida) 14 17
3. Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan) 10 14
RUNNING BACKS
?For only the second time in five seasons, the UF running backs return more than one upperclassmen
that carried the ball the previous year (Moore and James).
?In 2007, the Florida running backs carried the ball 136 times for 761 yards and six rushing
touchdowns. As a group, they averaged 5.6 yards per carry.
?Emmanuel Moody and Mon Williams look to see action after not playing in 2007. Moody, who was
the 2006 Pac-10 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, transferred to UF from USC. Williams redshirted
in 2007 after tearing the ACL in his left knee during spring practices of 2007.
WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS
?After returning one senior (Andre Caldwell) and two juniors (Louis Murphy and Cornelius Ingram),
the group returns two seniors (Murphy and Ingram who is out for the season with a torn ACL) as
well as three juniors (Cooper, Harvin, Nelson). In addition, Carl Moore came to UF from Sierra
Community College.
?For the first time since Jabar Gaffney (2000-01), the Gators are projected to return their top
receiver from the prior season as Percy Harvin led UF with 59 catches for 858 yards in 2007. In
records dating back to 1955, there have been 13 players to lead the team in receptions in back-toback
season.
?UF returns two of its top three wideouts from the 2007 season. Last year, Percy Harvin and Louis
Murphy hauled in 96 catches for a combined 1,406 yards and nine touchdowns. In all eight of the ten