Notebook: Spring game festivities

<p>With ESPN in town, UF’s Orange and Blue Debut looks to be one of the most exciting spring games in recent memory.</p><p> ESPN College GameDay will begin broadcasting from Section 20 of the Northwest corner of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 11 a.m. on ESPN2 Saturday. The spring game will then be aired on ESPN. Game time is set for 1:07 p.m.</p><p> Saturday won’t be just about the game. Coach Urban Meyer said UF is providing several fan-friendly events to make the day more entertaining. </p><p> “You’re going to see a lot,” Meyer said after Wednesday’s practice. “For example, we’re going to put the national championship trophy out. It’s kind of a fan appreciation day and we’re going to get them out here (with) the Heisman Trophy. It’s going to be much more than just a game.”</p><p> Along with photo opportunities with the championship trophy and Heisman Trophy there will be an autograph session with players, an unveiling of quarterback Tim Tebow’s Heisman Trophy stadium sign, a student skills competition, and the Fastest Gator on Campus contest.</p><p> The annual flag football game will be coached by assistants Kenny Carter (running backs) and Dan McCarney (defensive line).</p><p> As for the game, Meyer said he’s not much of a spring game fan, but likes the opportunity to see his younger players perform in front of an almost-full stadium. </p><p> “One thing we get is an opportunity for players (to) see how they react in front of a big crowd,” he said. “Other than that, we’ve had 13 excellent (practices). I’m just so cautious I think spring games are for players who haven’t done a whole lot, but I don’t want to disappoint the fans and now all of a sudden there’s millions of people watching on ESPN.</p><p>If Meyer had it his way, he would only play the inexperienced ones.</p><p>“I don’t want Maurkice Pouncey in there, but he’s going to have to play,” he said. “Brandon Spikes, how much more does he need right now? And there are other guys (like) our corners. Everyone of them needs a ton of football right now. Kestahn Moore’s not going to play a lot, but everyone one of our running backs other than him need to play a ton of football.”</p><p>The ESPN broadcast certainly won’t hurt Meyer in his recruiting efforts, but it’s the support of the fans that Meyer said is the real selling point of the spring game. </p><p>“The worst thing that would happen is all of a sudden we don’t have (a big crowd),” Meyer said. “I want to see 50,000 (fans) out there for recruiting. I want to see our recruits across the country watch and say, ‘Man, I want to be a part of that.’</p><p>“You got Gator Gal Erin Andrews, all the stuff going on and the band out there. You got the championship trophy, autographs – I’m going to put our players out there for autographs before the game – so we’re doing as much as we can.”</p><p><b>Harvin update</b></p><p> Sophomore receiver Percy Harvin’s surgery on his injured heel went as planned on Monday, but was one of the more gruesome procedures.</p><p> “They actually took bone out of his heel,” Meyer said. “Think about that for a minute. Then they drilled holes in it.”</p><p> Meyer expects Harvin’s rehab to go as scheduled and he should be ready for summer workouts.</p><p><b>Cunningham struggling</b></p><p> Sophomore defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been slowed this spring by a rapid heartbeat, Meyer said.</p><p> Outside of his health, Meyer said Cunningham has not performed up to his ability this spring and expects more this fall. </p><p> “Everybody talks about Jermaine and that position he played was where Jarvis Moss played and he changed the game,” Meyer said. “Jermaine hasn’t done that yet. He’s a good solid player that we expect much more out of.”</p><p><b>Youngblood at practice</b></p><p> Former Gator defensive end Jack Youngblood attended Wednesday’s practice and delivered a short speech to the players after practice.</p><p> Youngblood was named to the 1970 All-SEC Team of the Decade and was the No. 1 pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1971. Youngblood played in a Rams’ team-record 201 consecutive games and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.</p>