Much work planned for The Swamp

If you are planning to attend Florida's spring football game this April, you likely won't be watching any replays.

But it will be worth it.

Florida is replacing its video boards with high-tech JumboTrons, and the construction is expected to begin in April before the April 18 spring game.

I don't think I realized how bad Florida's replay boards were until I watched two games at Dolphin Stadium. The ones at The Swamp were 11 years old.

UF is still negotiating the deal, but the money for the giant boards will come mostly from the new rights deal with Fox Sports.

The University Athletic Association also will spend about $35,000 to update the Gateway of Champions and to add banners in the bowels of the stadium. That's a good problem to have.

So is having to figure out what to do with all of those years on the south wall. The "2008" that was unveiled during the celebration was a makeshift sign that the UAA had built for the quick turnaround. Once the actual signage is finished, it won't go above the National Champions sign. That would block the view of front-row ticket holders.

UAA officials are discussing how they'll handle the crowded wall. Eventually, you could see the play clock moved to a different location and the three Heismans moved to a different wall.

But like I said, good problem to have.

Meanwhile, Dr. Football is here to answer the two most pressing questions bouncing around the Gator Nation.

1. Will Urban Meyer receive a raise and extension after winning the national title?

2. When will the Gators go to visit the White House?

First things first. Jeremy Foley hasn't had a chance to "have that conversation" with Meyer because Meyer's been recruiting his rear off. (In a way, Meyer already got a raise because he earned $375,000 in performance bonuses for winning the SEC and national titles).

Secondly, Florida is waiting to hear from the office of the new President. I heard he's had some other things to deal with lately.

So the answer to both questions is, "I don't know." Nice job, Dr. Football.

HERE'S THE PLAN: I've finally figured out how we can get a playoff for college football.

Stay with me here.

What we do is convince the college presidents that the BCS is a beautiful way to decide a champion. And because it's so perfect, let's apply it to other sports.

Think of the publicity college basketball would get if only two teams played it a month after the end of the season and the others played meaningless non-tournament games. Tennessee-Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Classic would really move the needle.

Yeah, I know. Stupid.

But if we convinced them it was smart, maybe they would see how bad their football system is.

PLUG AWAY: The UAA and Studio 601, Inc., have done it again. The DVD of Florida's national championship season will be out soon and it's really something special.

Expect chillbumps as the hour-long video takes you through the special season. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff — including a Tim Tebow speech at halftime of the national title game — and ground-level views of some of the biggest plays.

And you know what? Apparently, Tebow, who is Florida's quarterback, made this emotional promise after Florida lost to Ole Miss. Something about pushing the team and playing hard. Really. He did. I saw it on the DVD.

While I'm plugging, anyone interested in playing in the Chris Doering Scramble for Kids can call Jamie Beck at 338-9622 to reserve a spot. The tournament benefits the YMCA and entry fee is $100 per player or $350 for a foursome.

The tournament will be played at the UF course Feb. 21, and the night before a Vegas-style party will take place at the Hilton.

DECLARATION DAY: There's a lot of talk out there about the dates that college football and basketball players have to declare for the draft. And by "out there" I mean on Web sites I read.

College basketball players get a couple of months to decide, but the NCAA is considering legislation to move that date up to the day before the spring signing period. College football players who are participating in the last game of the season a week after the game.

What's ridiculous is that there is such disparity between the two sports. Sometimes I wonder why the NCAA can't treat all athletes equally. But then I remember it's the NCAA.

College basketball players need the time to work out in camps and learn more about their prospects. So why don't the college football players need that same input?

PAT-POURRI: A lot of people will be watching to see what sports Stanford will cut to deal with its budget crisis. The school's athletic programs have won the national All-Sports Trophy every year but one in part because they can drop the results from poorly performing sports (each school can count 10 men's and 10 women's sports). Maybe the Cardinal will have to start counting football. ... Stan Drayton, who was UF's running backs coach during Urban Meyer's first three seasons at UF, is now at Syracuse. ... For three years, I've told people to watch out for the Arizona Cardinals. But I didn't this year. Silly me. ... And, yes, you can stop giving me grief for picking Oklahoma to beat Florida. It's been two weeks, let it go. ... Be safe.