Gators squeak in as East favorites

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 28, 2000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Florida has not identified its go-to players for this season, but media covering the Southeastern Conference think they know where the Gators are going.

Back to the SEC title game.

Representatives at the league's football media days picked a rematch for the 2000 game, Dec. 2 in Atlanta, choosing Florida to win the Eastern Division and Alabama the West. The Tide beat the Gators 34-7 in last season's title game.

Georgia, which returns 19 starters from its 8-4 team, received more first-place votes in the East than Florida, 45-43. But the Gators, despite having question marks at quarterback and wide receiver, were picked ahead of the Bulldogs on fewer overall points, 139-144. Teams got one point for a first-place vote, two for second and so on.

Tennessee, which received one first-place vote, was third in the East with 252 points.

In the West, Alabama was the overwhelming favorite, receiving 85 of 89 first-place votes and 93 points. Ole Miss was second with three first-place votes and 187 points.

Individually, three Florida players were voted to the preseason All-SEC first team: junior offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker, junior defensive end Alex Brown and senior placekicker Jeff Chandler.

Four Gators were second-team selections: senior center Zac Zedalis; sophomore offensive tackle Mike Pearson, who suffered a fractured skull in an accident Tuesday; junior defensive tackle Gerard Warren; and junior safety Marquand Manuel.

BOLD PREDICTION: Mississippi State, which won its first eight games last season, still is seeking respect in the SEC and the nation. Criticized for their schedule, the Bulldogs upgraded this season with early games against nationally ranked teams: at Brigham Young on Sept. 14 and versus Florida on Sept. 30.

"I love our schedule," senior cornerback Fred Smoot said. "We heard too much last season that our schedule wasn't tough enough. We went 10-2 last season last year and didn't get respect, and I think we can go 10-2 again."

QUARTERBACKS OR FULLBACKS?: Kentucky freshman Jared Lorenzen and Mississippi State junior Wayne Madkins strode into the interview room looking more like bruisers than passers. Lorenzen is 6 feet 3, 275 pounds; Madkin 6-4, 225.

ODD UNDERDOGS: For the first time in years, SEC media left Tennessee out of the race in the East.

"I'd say plenty of people have that opinion of our team," UT coach Phil Fulmer said. "But it will all be settled on the field, not in the newspapers or the predictions."

The Vols must replace two-year starting quarterback Tee Martin and will be young in dangerous places: the offensive line and secondary.

"I see this team being in somewhat of a transition," Fulmer said. "Our kids know how to practice, how to win games, how to go and compete. You're just going to have to look up their numbers in the program because you're not going to know who they are."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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