Notebook: Slive steps in to stop jabs from Kiffin, Meyer

Urban Meyer and Lane Kiffin's soap opera is over. For now.

Southeastern Conference spokesman Charles Bloom confirmed to USA Today's Kelly Whiteside on Wednesday that SEC commissioner Mike Slive called both coaches to tell them to stop bickering.

This is the second time Slive has gotten involved in the coaches' verbal jousts.

The first came shortly after Kiffin's false accusations that Meyer committed a violation in his recruitment of former Pahokee receiver — and current Volunteer — Nu'Keese Richardson.

Meyer said Sunday after Florida's 23-13 win over Tennessee that he didn't think the Vols were playing to win late in the game.

"When I saw them start handing the ball off, you didn't feel like they were going after the win," Meyer said. "I remember looking out there, there's 10 minutes left in the game, there's no no-huddle, they're down by 23-6, and no urgency."

Kiffin responded Monday, saying his conservative playcalling was what he thought was the best way for his team to win and then made it known how he felt about Meyer's comments.

"This offseason the commissioner made a big deal of renewing vows in terms of what we say about other teams, other coaches and other players," Kiffin said. "Obviously Urban feels he doesn't need to follow that. We won't say anything else."

Kiffin also took another jab at Meyer for saying a few players were battling illnesses during the game.

Said Kiffin: "I guess we'll wait and after we're not excited about a performance, we'll tell you everybody was sick."

Meyer refrained from any verbal retaliation Tuesday.

"No comment," he said. "No comment. ... We're moving on. We're playing Kentucky.

During the weekly SEC coaches conference call Wednesday, Meyer said he felt relieved that it was Kentucky week.

"The focus has been on our players, and I've never quite experienced anything like that in the past," Meyer said of the Tennessee game hype. "I'd rather stay away from that. I kind of like this, where it's two good teams going against each other. That's what college football is all about."

Linebacker health

Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said senior linebacker Brandon Spikes (Achilles tendinitis) and redshirt junior A.J. Jones (illness) practiced Wednesday.

Strong said Spikes has been battling with his injury since before the season, but that it's more of a pain issue than anything.

"He's just having an Achilles problem. He'll be fine," Strong said.

If Jones can't go Saturday when No. 1 Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC) travels to Kentucky (2-0, 0-0), Strong said junior Brandon Hicks would play.

In other health news, Strong said senior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham (illness) practiced as well.

Flu update

Meyer said he's unsure if the handful of players with flu-like symptoms will be 100 percent by Saturday. Meyer added that in the last week "10 to 12" players have shown some signs of illness.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said he's not worried about viruses and understands that they are sometimes inevitable.

"Those are things that happen," he said. "They happen pretty much every year. I know I haven't had a season here that I haven’t had a game impacted by a variety of players having the flu. This is a little more widespread because of the new virus, but I think that’s always a little bit of a problem when you have school start and all your guys together as much as they are."

Dunlap honored

Junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap was added to the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award’s watch list Wednesday. Dunlap joins teammate Jermaine Cunningham, who was named a candidate in the preseason.

Dunlap currently has six total tackles, including a sack and has one pass breakup this season.