UF Notebook: Spurrier will give Mr. Two Bits role a try
ROBBBIE ANDREU, The Gainesville Sun | Wed, 31 Aug 2016 09:12:17 EDT
Florida Ambassador and Consultant for Athletics Steve Spurrier, the former Gators star player and head coach, adds a new title Saturday - Honorary Mr. Two Bits.
Steve Spurrier's big night in The Swamp on Saturday has grown even bigger.
On the same night that the field will be renamed Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in his honor, one of the greatest Gators of all time also will lead the crowd as the honorary Mr. Two Bits just before UF takes the field against UMass.
Other past UF star players have led the traditional pregame cheer over the last several seasons, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Spurrier will be the first former head coach to do it.
The 50th anniversary of Spurrier winning the Heisman in 1966 also will be recognized Saturday.
Long, flowing locks
Speaking of being recognized, outside linebacker Alex Anzalone will be easy to pick out on a crowded field Saturday night. He'll be the player with his long golden hair spilling out of his helmet and onto his shoulder pads.
"I think it was two years ago before camp I decided to buzz my hair. Then I decided to grow it out,” he said. “At the time (defensive end) Jordan Sherit was growing his out, but he cut his, so I just kept mine going. It worked out well, I guess.
“There are nicknames you like for it, and nicknames you don't like for it. I mean I like it, I think it's cool. Yesterday I walked into Mi Apa and I guess I'm known as Thor to them. So, I guess I enjoy that. One of the girls working there thought I was the actor for Thor. So it's just something I like, I guess."
What Anzalone probably likes even more is the fact he's back healthy and ready to go after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.
Anzalone said he's full go now.
"I'm really looking forward to it,” he said. “I've been through a lot of adversity, but that's a part of the game and I'm really excited to be out there with my teammates and get going and make some plays. I'm just really excited.
"I feel real good. I did a lot of stuff before the season and before camp that I couldn't do before. It's what I expected. I felt ready to go. Really, I've had no limitations through camp and going into the season. I'm ready to go."
Anzalone seemed primed to have a breakout season in 2015, but it never materialized after he injured his shoulder in the second game and had to sit out the rest of the year.
"Going into last year, I think I was ready to make a big impact for the team and getting hurt the second game of the year was kind of disappointing,” he said. “It was hard, but just something I had to get through. I think I just kept myself around my teammates during workouts and I think that was the biggest help for me.
“Just staying around taking part in all of the meetings and take a step back and kind of take an outside look as far as seeing what works for the future. I knew I was going to come back and be a leader and help the team.”
If the shoe fits …
The special football shoes Nike designed for sophomore wide receiver Brandon Powell are so comfortable that he's even wearing them off the field.
“I actually have them on right now,” Powell said Monday. “They're comfortable. I can wear them on grass, on turf. They feel just like I have on slippers.That's the only difference about it. They just have more cushion so my feet are protected.”
Nike designed the show for Powell after he underwent foot surgery in the offseason.
“The trainers and the equipment staff, they worked that out,” he said. “They just told me I had a shoe that would fit perfectly and I wore it. It's been working this whole time.”
No catching Massey
Who's the fastest Gator? Wide receiver Dre Massey says he is.
“Nobody,” Massey said when asked if any of his teammates can beat him in a race. “We haven't raced yet. Yeah, we should do that.”
Massey said his toughest competition would come from sophomore wide receivers Brandon Powell and Antonio Callaway and true freshman defensive back Chauncy Gardner.
“II would say BP (Brandon Powell) and Chauncey, they're pretty fast,” he said. “Callaway is actually pretty fast, too, unexpectedly. Yeah, I'd take it.”
Powell said he'd be willing to take on Massey.
“Oh man, that would be a good race,” he said. “He's blazing. You all will probably see that this week. That kid is fast. I don't know. We maybe have to set that up one day.”
On the same night that the field will be renamed Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in his honor, one of the greatest Gators of all time also will lead the crowd as the honorary Mr. Two Bits just before UF takes the field against UMass.
Other past UF star players have led the traditional pregame cheer over the last several seasons, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel. Spurrier will be the first former head coach to do it.
The 50th anniversary of Spurrier winning the Heisman in 1966 also will be recognized Saturday.
Long, flowing locks
Speaking of being recognized, outside linebacker Alex Anzalone will be easy to pick out on a crowded field Saturday night. He'll be the player with his long golden hair spilling out of his helmet and onto his shoulder pads.
"I think it was two years ago before camp I decided to buzz my hair. Then I decided to grow it out,” he said. “At the time (defensive end) Jordan Sherit was growing his out, but he cut his, so I just kept mine going. It worked out well, I guess.
“There are nicknames you like for it, and nicknames you don't like for it. I mean I like it, I think it's cool. Yesterday I walked into Mi Apa and I guess I'm known as Thor to them. So, I guess I enjoy that. One of the girls working there thought I was the actor for Thor. So it's just something I like, I guess."
What Anzalone probably likes even more is the fact he's back healthy and ready to go after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.
Anzalone said he's full go now.
"I'm really looking forward to it,” he said. “I've been through a lot of adversity, but that's a part of the game and I'm really excited to be out there with my teammates and get going and make some plays. I'm just really excited.
"I feel real good. I did a lot of stuff before the season and before camp that I couldn't do before. It's what I expected. I felt ready to go. Really, I've had no limitations through camp and going into the season. I'm ready to go."
Anzalone seemed primed to have a breakout season in 2015, but it never materialized after he injured his shoulder in the second game and had to sit out the rest of the year.
"Going into last year, I think I was ready to make a big impact for the team and getting hurt the second game of the year was kind of disappointing,” he said. “It was hard, but just something I had to get through. I think I just kept myself around my teammates during workouts and I think that was the biggest help for me.
“Just staying around taking part in all of the meetings and take a step back and kind of take an outside look as far as seeing what works for the future. I knew I was going to come back and be a leader and help the team.”
If the shoe fits …
The special football shoes Nike designed for sophomore wide receiver Brandon Powell are so comfortable that he's even wearing them off the field.
“I actually have them on right now,” Powell said Monday. “They're comfortable. I can wear them on grass, on turf. They feel just like I have on slippers.That's the only difference about it. They just have more cushion so my feet are protected.”
Nike designed the show for Powell after he underwent foot surgery in the offseason.
“The trainers and the equipment staff, they worked that out,” he said. “They just told me I had a shoe that would fit perfectly and I wore it. It's been working this whole time.”
No catching Massey
Who's the fastest Gator? Wide receiver Dre Massey says he is.
“Nobody,” Massey said when asked if any of his teammates can beat him in a race. “We haven't raced yet. Yeah, we should do that.”
Massey said his toughest competition would come from sophomore wide receivers Brandon Powell and Antonio Callaway and true freshman defensive back Chauncy Gardner.
“II would say BP (Brandon Powell) and Chauncey, they're pretty fast,” he said. “Callaway is actually pretty fast, too, unexpectedly. Yeah, I'd take it.”
Powell said he'd be willing to take on Massey.
“Oh man, that would be a good race,” he said. “He's blazing. You all will probably see that this week. That kid is fast. I don't know. We maybe have to set that up one day.”