Gators say they'll bring the whole plan to UT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida defensive players smirked when told Tennessee Coach Phil Fulmer expects them to bring "the kitchen sink" today.

It's as if they have a little secret -- or two, or three.

"I don't know about all that," middle linebacker Bam Hardmon said.

Oh, but he does.

Hardmon knows what Florida showed in its first three games is not at all what it plans to show in Knoxville. The Gators are through holding back.

"We've been very, very vanilla," first-year defensive coordinator John Thompson said. "This game could be a little different."

Thompson came to Florida from Arkansas with a reputation as a gambler, a coordinator who likes to move players around before every snap and blitz from every angle. Coaches across the country have copied his confusing schemes.

Even Tennessee borrowed from Thompson last season. Vols coaches used it to defeat Florida, then called him at Arkansas to say thanks.

"Hey, did you see what we did?" a Tennessee assistant asked Thompson.

"Yeah, it looked kind of familiar," Thompson replied.

But in the first three games -- for various reasons -- Florida hasn't done the things those Tennessee coaches liked. The Gators have had difficulty stopping the run, which means opposing offenses haven't faced many third-and-long situations.

The Gators are last in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing 209.3 rushing yards per game and eighth in total defense, allowing 310.7 yards per game.

San Jose State at Illinois: Ron Turner began his head coaching career at San Jose State and grew up an hour's drive from campus.

So it's no surprise he has a soft spot for the Spartans. But, for the Illinois coach who describes himself as "a California guy," it's one he will have to set aside, at least for a day, when he plays his old team today in Champaign.

"I obviously have very special feelings for them," said Turner, who coached at San Jose State in 1992. "They gave me an opportunity to be a head coach, something I had dreamed of doing. But as we get ready to play them, they're another team. A young, up-and-coming team that has played some excellent football at times."

-- From wire reports