Notebook: Gators 'D' hurting

Florida coach Urban Meyer expressed his concern Monday about "significant" injuries to his defense heading into Saturday's game with Florida State in The Swamp.

Cornerback Joe Haden is questionable with an ankle sprain, defensive tackle Mike Pouncey is probable with a hyperextended knee and defensive end Lawrence Marsh is questionable with a sprained toe. Florida is already playing without defensive tackle Javier Estopinan, who is lost for the season with a knee injury, while linebacker Brandon Spikes has been bothered by knee tendinitis of late.

"We are dealing with some significant injuries on defense," Meyer said.

Florida's biggest concern is its secondary. In addition to Haden's injury, fellow corner Markihe Anderson remains less than 100 percent with a knee injury.

If Haden and Anderson can't play Saturday, Florida is left with sophomore Wondy Pierre-Louis and freshmen Jaues Rickerson and Moses Jenkins at cornerback. That concerns Meyer, who must find a way to stop Florida State's tall, physical receivers which include 6-foot-3 senior De'Cody Fagg and 6-6 junior Greg Carr.

"That's as big a concern as we have," Meyer said. "We need to know what kind of personnel is available for that game. You're looking right now at Wondy Pierre-(Louis), Jaues Rickerson and Jenkins. We're just thinned out right now back there."

Florida's defense is coming off a suspect performance against Florida Atlantic in which the Owls rolled up 311 total yards of offense in the first half, including 247 through the air.

"That is about as bad as I have seen us play on defense," Meyer said.

Joiner could regain captaincy

There's a chance senior safety Tony Joiner could be reinstated as a team captain prior to Florida's final home game of the season Saturday, Meyer said.

Joiner was stripped of his captaincy following his Oct. 2 arrest on felony burglary charges. Charges against Joiner were dropped, and he played that week during Florida's 28-24 loss at LSU on Oct. 6.

Asked Monday if Joiner could be reinstated as team captain for Senior Day, Meyer said, "There's a chance."

Meyer said Joiner helped keep Florida together following back-to-back losses to Auburn and LSU.

"His best two games were the two after those losses," Meyer said.

Tebow award finalist

The Heisman Trophy isn't the only award Florida quarterback Tim Tebow has a chance to win.

Tebow, on Monday, was named as a finalist for the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards. Tebow will attend The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show broadcast live on ESPN Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

The other finalists for the Maxwell Award, given to college football's best all-around player, are Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.

The other finalists for the O'Brien award, given to the nation's top quarterback, are Dixon and Missouri's Chase Daniel.

The College Football Awards show will feature the live presentation of nine awards, along with the recipients of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA Contribution to College Football Award and selections to the Walter Camp All-America team.

Meyer not looking ahead to No. 300

Florida State's Bobby Bowden recorded his 300th career coaching victory as a Seminole last Saturday when FSU beat Maryland, 24-16, at Doak Campbell Stadium.

It's a feat that impressed Meyer. Not only does Meyer not expect to earn 300 coaching wins, he doesn't expect such a mark to be matched by anybody.

"I don't see that happening with me," he said. "I will say this about Coach Bowden, because I have become friends with him, I don't see that happening again in college football. I have become friends with Joe Paterno and Coach Bowden and we've talked about that. It has become a whole different animal right now than it was."

Bowden accomplished the feat in 32 years as a head coach in Tallahassee. Meyer, in his third season at UF, has totalled 30 wins, a mere 270 shy of Bowden's mark.

Tebow: UF had "opportunities"

Florida was eliminated from SEC title contention when Georgia defeated Kentucky, 24-13, Saturday. But the Gators have no one to blame but themselves, Tebow said.

"It is disappointing because we had our opportunities this year to make plays and win ball games," Tebow said. "We didn't make it happen. We have to get better than we have been."

The Gators lost two games in heartbreaking fashion. The first was a 20-17 setback at home to Auburn when the Tigers' Wes Byrum kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired. Florida then lost 28-24 at LSU after the Tigers converted two fourth downs on their game-winning touchdown drive.

Contact Brandon Zimmerman at 352-374-5051 or zimmerb@gvillesun.com.