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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:20 a.m., Sunday, August 31, 2008

CFB: Florida begins smack-talking of Miami (Fla.)

By Joseph Goodman
McClatchy Newspapers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Attention, Miami Hurricanes: The Florida Gators beat Hawaii, 56-10, on Saturday, and two of their best players didn't play a snap.

Attention, Miami Hurricanes: Florida junior quarterback Tim Tebow is ready for this rivalry week to commence. He called out "The U" on Saturday shortly after the Gators' victory. Florida plays host to Miami in six days, and Tebow is ready for the Canes' six-game winning streak against the Gators to end.

"We're going to change that," Tebow said.

Attention, Miami Hurricanes: Florida senior receiver Louis Murphy has something to add.

"I don't refer to them as 'The U,' " Murphy said. "Because 'U" stands for university, and we're the real university."

And with that, the first week of the college football season is officially over, and the real season begins. Tebow is predicting a big crowd.

"We'll probably have 80 percent of the state of Florida here next week," he said. "ESPN's GameDay will probably be here. It will be hype. No matter how good Miami played teams last year or whoever they play the rest of the year, they'll play their best game next Saturday versus us."

BIG-PLAY DAY

No. 5 Florida (1-0) spoke with confidence Saturday after dispatching Hawaii (0-1) with one big play after another — despite not having its most electrifying player, junior receiver Percy Harvin. He is still recovering from offseason heel surgery but could see action next week.

Hawaii held Florida scoreless in the first quarter, but after that the Gators wowed a crowd of 90,575 with an array of highlight-reel plays. Six Florida touchdowns came on plays of at least 32 yards, including a 74-yard punt return by junior Brandon James in the second quarter.

Although UF coach Urban Meyer referred to James as the team's player of the game, the defense was the collective star. The unit played without its leader, middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (toe), but still looked better than it did in 2007. The Gators forced six turnovers, including four interceptions.

"It's great having those guys out their making big plays," Tebow said. "It's great to see."

Florida scored 28 points off turnovers. Safeties Major Wright (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) and Ahmad Black returned interceptions for scores. Wright's interception, a 32-yard return in the second quarter, gave Florida a 14-0 lead.

"It felt real good," Wright said. "That was my first time ever getting into the end zone on defense."

MAKING HIS CASE

Black, who started in place of Dorian Munroe (Miami Coral Reef), had two interceptions, returning the second for an 80-yard touchdown in the third quarter. It gave Florida a 56-0 lead and validated Black's role as a starter. A third-string cornerback in 2007, Black was elevated to starting strong safety when Munroe sustained a season-ending knee injury in July.

"We got a lot of pressure on the quarterback," Black said.

Although Hawaii's quarterbacks took a pounding, their counterpart, Heisman Trophy winner Tebow, breezed through Saturday's game barely breaking a sweat. His final statistics were nothing compared with the gaudy numbers he had on a weekly basis last season.

Tebow finished the game with 137 passing yards and one touchdown. He rushed for 37 yards on nine carries.

"I didn't take too much of a pounding," said Tebow, who saw his streak of 14 games with at least one rushing touchdown end Saturday. "I don't think I'm sore, so I can go condition now."

And get ready for Miami.