High energy and a lot of spitting.
That's how sophomore wide receiver Jarred Fayson described offensive line coach Steve Addazio's speeches he delivers to the team before their pre-game meal. Vitamin Addazio, sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow called it.
Third-ranked Florida visits Ole Miss for an 11:30 a.m. local kickoff Saturday. It's the Gators' first road trip this season. They'll need a good night's sleep and maybe an extra dose of Addazio to fully wake them up Saturday morning.
"I stay kind of away from him because that dude's crazy," Fayson said. "He might hit you one day. He might push you. He might throw a Gatorade or something so you just have to try to stay out of the way of him. But it's a good speech that will get you going.
"He's always walking around the locker room screaming. Like when we're getting ready for practice, he's walking through there loud. You can always hear him. I wouldn't say afraid of him. I just don't want to mess with him."
Senior center Drew Miller is used to Addazio's outgoing personality. Miller sees it every day in the meeting room. Florida will walk around the team hotel to get prepared for the game but nothing gets the Gators going quite like Addazio's speeches.
"It's just exciting," Miller said. "He gets up and brings a lot of energy and juice for us, tries to get us motivated and he usually talks about good points we need to focus on during the game and just gets us excited and ready to play…He's always got spit flying."
Said Tebow: "We'll have our team walk…get guys awake and ready to go and right when we start coach (Urban) Meyer will talk to us. Coach Addazio will give us a little vitamin Addazio and that always gets you ready to go…Every Saturday morning before breakfast, coach Addazio gets up there and gives a speech. He's always fired up and he gives it to us, that's for sure."
Road games are always tough. Taking such an inexperienced team away from home in the SEC can spell trouble. Fayson remembers the first road game last season at Tennessee, a 21-20 Florida victory, and said it can get wild. It's something the veterans and coaching staff will focus on this week with the younger players.
"It was crazy," Fayson said. "We were in Knoxville, Tennessee, with all the crazy people up there. I didn't play but standing on the sidelines watching the Florida game, watching how crazy the game is, watching how big momentum shifts are in the SEC, it was pretty crazy."
Harvin becoming better player
Tebow has seen the progression. Sophomore wide receiver Percy Harvin has become a more polished player and that means Florida's offense is even more lethal.
In Florida' 59-20 drubbing of Tennessee Saturday at Florida Field, Harvin finished with four catches for a game-high 120 yards. He also rushed for 75 yards on nine carries and scored on a 19-yard end around that was highlight-reel material.
"He makes plays when there's really not a play to be made," Tebow said. "He finds a way to make it and that's just a sign of a special player…He spent a lot of time this off-season working on that, working on becoming a receiver, not just a football player. He got better in his route running, catching with his hands, catching the harder ball. He's improved immensely."
More Media Day Quotes
Tebow on playing early games: "I like them. I like getting up, getting going and playing the game. I'd rather play earlier than later. You're so excited to get out there and play and you don't have to wait all day."
Miller on Florida's defense: "They had so much athletic ability and can play this game. I was just worried about experience-wise in big games. They stepped up tremendously and hopefully this builds confidence for them but yet they also realize they have to prepare the same way (they did) for (Tennessee) each and every game."
Miller on Harvin's touchdown run: "I remember I was trying to chase and get a block for somebody. I couldn't catch up to anybody. He spun off him. I just ran over to (Harvin) and grabbed him in the end zone. I pretty much didn't do anything."
Miller on Phil Trautwein, who is out with a foot injury: "I'm sure he's disappointed he can't be out there with us. His senior season, we're still not sure what's going on with that. He comes in and tries to help out the young guys with film and different things but obviously it's hard on him…We talk a lot. Just try to give him words of encouragement. He seems fine whenever you're talking to him. Deep down it's hurting him."