-DE Derek Barnett: The All-SEC lineman had what Tennessee coach Butch Jones called “his most complete game of the year” against OH, recording five tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries.
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Both teams suffered key injuries last week in their games against OH and North Texas with Tennessee losing both Cam Sutton and Quarte Sapp and Florida losing their starting quarterback in Luke Del Rio.
It wasn’t until later that the Gators received the news that Del Rio will miss at least two weeks, possibly three.
Florida is now 1-0 in SEC play this season, but have one of their toughest games of the year on the road in Knoxville next week.
In a game that was more intense on the field than on the scoreboard, North Texas football fell to No. 23 Florida University 32-0 in the swamp. “We have our identity as an offense and it doesn’t really matter who’s behind center”.
“It’s not looking great”, Florida head coach Jim McElwain said of Del Rio’s injury.
“We go about every down the same”, Sharpe said. “I feel frightful for him, especially how it happened”. “The reason you come to Florida is to play in games like this”.
Yet Appleby has never experienced a rivalry like this. As a graduate transfer, he was eligible to play right away. He completed 55 percent of his passes with as many touchdown passes (19) as interceptions in 17 games (11 starts).
Appleby has played on the big stage before, starting 11 games in his three seasons at Purdue. “When Luke went down, obviously I was hurt”.
But Tennessee’s players also recognize that they have plenty of room for improvement going into the game against No. 16 (No. 19 Associated Press) Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC) on Saturday (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.) at Neyland Stadium. “I don’t know when it’s going to be”. He also has rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns after rushing for 390 yards and seven scores a year ago. “We’re definitely going in and giving it all we’ve got”. While Del Rio’s loss is a setback, not having Callaway as a safety net for Appleby could prove an even bigger factor.
Unfortunately for North Texas, the Gators kept on coming after intermission. McElwain, who clearly thought the play was dirty, screamed at the Mean Green sideline and had to be restrained by officials and then his players. He has been working his butt off to get back and (doing) rehab. “There was some bad blood there at the end”. It’s not something they coach. So they’ve been kind of slacking around most likely…
A few days after the suspension, Tabor posted video on social media of him buying a homeless man shoes and giving him $20.
“Lucky to be able to play for a coach and teammates that care for me so much!” Del Rio posted on Instagram. You know what? I think you ought to thank me.
Fans also shared what they would give up for the Vols to get the win over the Gators.
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■ Cam Newton was Tebow’s backup in 2007 and 2008 but was kicked out of school for theft and academic dishonesty and landed at Auburn, where he led the Tigers to the 2010 national championship and won the Heisman Trophy. He eventually left the team after 2014 and transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he threw for 4,033 yards and 27 touchdowns. What an environment to be making your first start in with a Tennessee team that needs to come in with a desperate need to win mentality.
