The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • C5

COLORSTRIP: Orlando Sentinel MONDAY, C5 SHOP UCF 03665960 1 HUGE Selection of UCF Knight Apparel Largest in the Country! Tshirts Hats Childrens Clothing Womens Polos Outerwear Sideline Gear Gifts Tailgating Supplies Books and much more! Order Today, Have It before 3 pm will be delivered the next day) Two Locations at UCF to Shop: Barnes and Noble UCF Located next to the UCF Arena and Stadium UCF Bookstore Located in the center of the UCF campus 407-882-0365 College football GAINESVILLE Looks like the cautionary stage is close to over for Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, who has moved from questionable to probable in the injury report for game against Miami in The Swamp. Linebacker Brandon Spikes also is probable after missing Game 1 with a right-toe injury, Coach Urban Meyer said. think Meyer said of Harvin during a Sunday teleconference. Harvin has had soreness from a right-heel injury all preseason and missed 56-10 win over Hawaii. Someone close to camp indicated to the Sentinel last week that the Heisman candidate might be out until the Tennessee game or even Ole Miss on Sept.

27 because of lingering effects from heel surgery in April. Heel pain has bothered Harvin, one of the most dynamic play- makers, since his high school days in Virginia Beach. Meyer assured last week that whenever Harvin does return, be let loose as a fully functional starter. the dog is ready to eat, Meyer said. Spikes, who suffered his injury during a practice two weeks ago, wore a protective boot on the sidelines Saturday.

The All-Southeastern Conference linebacker recorded 131 tackles last year. In other injury news, linebacker Ryan Stamper broke a thumb during the Hawaii game and had surgery on Sunday morning. Doctors made no incisions but placed pins in his thumb, which is now wrapped in a functional cast. Stamper started at middle linebacker against Hawaii in place of Spikes. Meyer lists Stamper as questionable for Saturday along with offensive guard Jim Tartt, been suffering from a shoulder injury all preseason.

Read Jeremy blog at orlandosentinel.com/swampthings or e-mail him at Gators football Harvin, Spikes By JEREMY FOWLER SENTINEL STAFF WRITER LOOK AHEAD: 8 p.m. game against Miami in The Swamp figures to test a defensive line unproven against the run. Despite last 5-7 record and inexperience at quarterback, the Hurricanes have one of the Atlantic Coast best running-back tandems in Javarris James and Graig Cooper Expect the Hurricanes to run, run, run on Florida to ease the nerves of expected starting QB Robert Marve a redshirt freshman who was suspended from opener. UF defeated Miami since 1985, losing six straight. REVIEW: UF had its share of botched snaps and miscommunications (13 penalties for 90 yards) in 56-10 win over Hawaii, but it helps when speedy offensive playmakers are six seconds away from game-changing touchdown runs.

The Gators will need more backfield size than sub-185-pound- ers Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps (a combined 134 yards on Saturday) against sizable defensive line. impressive secondary showed its ability to converge quickly on receivers for easy tackles while making big plays after a four-interception day. Despite four sacks on Saturday, defensive line gave up 82 yards off short passes and rushes up the middle during first two offensive series. INJURY UPDATE: WR Percy Harvin (heel) and LB Brandon Spikes (toe) are probable for Saturday, Coach Urban Meyer said. LB Ryan Stamper (broken thumb) and OG Jim Tartt (shoulder) are questionable.

FOWLER OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Gators at a glance Next Game GATORS vs. Miami Saturday, 8 p.m. ESPN Just 10 minutes after walking off the Florida Citrus Bowl field, a stunning 17-13 Challenge win over Jackson State still dancing through his head, victorious first- year Hampton Coach Jerry Holmes tried to hold back his smile as he sat down at the post-game news conference. That attempt was the first loss of his career. Coming off a disappointing 6-5 fourth-place finish in the MEAC in 2007, the former longtime assistant led the Pirates to their third straight win over the Tigers and fifth consecutive season-opening victory.

And after having a streak of three straight 10-win seasonssnapped last year, italso may have done something more important: Rekindled the hunger in a briefly stunted program. Holmes said. to get that first leading lady on the schedule as you try to forge some momentum for the season. a great Hampton trailed 7-3 at the half but used plays on both sides of the ball to take control. JSU got the opening kickoff in the second half and looked as if it was about to blow the game open after driving all the way to the 6- yard line.

But Rasoul Wilson picked off Tigers quarterback Tray Rutland in the end zone to end the threat. The Pirates punted on the ensuing possession but got the ball back after Rutland was hit hard by Hampton linebacker Brandon Peguese, causing a fumble that was scooped up by Pirates tackle Kendrick Ellis at the JSU 12. After a pass from quarterback Herbert Bynes to Jeremy Gilchrist got the ball to the goal line, Hampton went up 10-7 on a plunge by Jerry Cummings. The Pirates capitalized on another Tigers miscue just a series later when Demario Pippen mishandled a punt for his third turnover of the day. gotta live with freshman mistakes and I think that was one of biggest of the Jackson State Coach Rick Comegy said.

The Pirates mounted a 9-play, 49- yard drive and went up 17-7 on a 13- yard pass from Bynes to Gilchrist. The Tigers cut it to 17-13 on their next possession but, after getting the ball back on a Hampton fumble, watched a potential go-ahead scoring chance evaporate thanks to two penalties and a sack. Bynes, named the most outstanding player, lacked the yardage of Rutland (14-of-23, 198 yards, touchdown) but his 14-of-23, 151- yard, one touchdown day was more efficient because it have the interception. He had the late fumble, but he said all apart of his development process. me at the beginning of the game, I was a little bit shaky and a little Bynes said.

in the second half I came out and just stuck my foot in the ground and just delivered the ball to Kevin Teel, Jeremy Gilchrist and Justin Brown. Just give it to my playmakers and let them do what they do Comegy said that it was his own mistakes more than efficiency that has the Tigers 0-1 for the sixth time in the last seven years. think we gave them the he said. think we got some takeaways and could have gotten back the but we just opportunistic today in order to win. I think if you watch the game, I think were clearly beaten down.

I feel like if we played them five times, beat them four. Today was their one Kyle Hightower can be reached at Challenge: Hampton 17, Jackson State 13 Hampton capitalizes on JSU miscues By KYLE HIGHTOWER SENTINEL STAFF WRITER PASADENA, Calif. Tennessee had arocky stop in California last year. The Volunteers hope for a smoother visit this time. Humbled 45-31 by California in the 2007 opener at Berkeley, No.

18 Tennessee kicks off on the West Coast again, facing Coach Rick new- look UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl tonight. are always tough, but when you have a coaching switch as UCLA did, it makes it especially tough for Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said. will be a process of adjusting and learning throughout. Both teams will have to adjust as the game moves Vols defensive end Wes Brown likes the way the nationally televised game shapes up. going to be a heck of a lot of he said.

the national spotlight on Monday night football, two quality teams. It get much better than Neuheisel, the former UCLA quarterback who returned to Westwood last December to replace the fired Karl Dorrell, knows the Bruins face a big test against the Vols, last SEC East Division champions. The Bruins went 6-7. eager to find out where we Neuheisel said. Both teams have new offensive coordinators and new quarterbacks.

Dave Clawson joined Fulmer and Neuheisel brought in Norm Chow to oversee the offense. Jonathan Crompton has replaced Erik Ainge as the quarterback. In a disruptive change, third-stringer Kevin Craft became the starter because Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson both are injured. No. 18 Tennessee at UCLA: Tonight, 8 (ESPN) Neuheisel, new-look Bruins face spotlight, Vols By KEN PETERS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Product: OSBS PubDate: 09-01-2008 Zone: FLA Edition: ROP Page: User: mmurschel Time: Color: CMYK.