Gators have fun with spring fling

It's a beautiful, breezy day at a half-full Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators are split into Orange vs. Blue squads in their annual spring scrimmage. The announced crowd is estimated by UF at 65,000, a spring record, but it seems closer to 50,000.

Tim Tebow leads the Orange team, while backup quarterback John Brantley directs the Blue team's offense. Essentially, the first-team offense faces UF's first-team defense, while the second teams square off in the opposite direction.

Big plays in the first quarter include a 37-yard scamper by tailback Chris Rainey on a screen pass from Tebow and a 47-yard reception by wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr., from Brantley.

Shortly after the first quarter the teams were tied 7-7 with Tebow connecting on a 2-yard touchdown to fullback T.J. Pridemore and Brantley finding fullback Rick Burgess on a short rollout pass.

Safety Dorian Munroe had an interception on a tipped pass in the second quarter. Later, the blue team opened up the playbook on back-to-back plays. First, Tebow pitched to receiver Carl Moore, who ran right a few steps and passed to Deonte Thompson. On the next play, Thompson ran an effective reverse.

Tebow accepted a large trophy at halftime for coaching the winning powder puff football team, and it was announced that the 2008 Gators will be at the White House on Thursday.

In the second half, Tebow sat while Brantley quarterbacked both sides. On the second play, Brantley connects over the middle with Hammond, who cuts and runs down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.

From there, the defenses tighten up with defensive linemen William Green and Earl Okine recording sacks.

Finally, in the fourth period, walk-on quarterback Ryan O'Quinn comes on as reserves take over.

After the game coach Urban Meyer says Florida accomplished its goals in the spring. He singled out players he said needed to step forward, such as receivers Hammond and T.J. Lawrence, defensive linemen Okine and Omar Hunter and true freshman early enrollee linebacker Jon Bostic.

The Gators now head into their summer strength and conditioning workouts and return to the field in August for fall practice.