Meyer's speed challenge begins

When Urban Meyer threw down his speed challenge a few weeks ago, he probably never envisioned that one of the Florida students racing his fastest players might turn out to be a 37-year-old senior who also works as a full-time accountant for a Gainesville engineering firm.

But, then Gary Bryant didn't see this coming either.

"I wasn't going to come out," said Bryant, 37, an Eastside graduate who is one semester shy of receiving his UF degree in business all these years later. "My girlfriend and my friends pushed me to do this. I just came out here to give it a shot and see how it went."

It went well. Very well.

Bryant was timed in 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash, tying him for the second-lowest time among 75 students who participated in the first round of qualifying on the Florida football practice field.

If his time holds up through another round of qualifying next week and he runs a similar time in the finals, Bryant could be one of five students earning the right to race UF's fastest players — tailback Chris Rainey and wide receivers Louis Murphy and Deonte Thompson — before the April 12 Orange and Blue Debut in The Swamp.

"It would be great," he said. "I'm an old guy. I'm kind of glad to hear Percy (speedy wide receiver Percy Harvin) isn't feeling too well (and won't be running)."

Bryant said he was in the ROTC program at Eastside and never played any high school sports. He said he stays in shape now by playing intramural sports (he's a wide receiver and cornerback in football) and working out.

"I just decided to go ahead and come out and try this," Bryant said.

Bryant's time can't match the usual 40 times of Murphy, Thompson and Rainey (they probably dip into the 4.3 range), but it's competitive. And Bryant wasn't even the fastest student Thursday.

That honor went to Ryan Stallings, a junior finance major from Tampa who recorded a head-turning time of 4.49.

That time is pretty stunning alone. Add in the fact he showed up almost an hour late and wasn't feeling all that well after a late night of partying, and it was fairly amazing.

"I had a test that was due at 5 (p.m.). I just got here," Stallings said moments after he ran. "I'm really dehydrated. I went out last night and don't feel so good. I got in about 3 a.m."

Stallings was feeling good about his time — and the prospect of taking on some of UF's fastest players on Florida Field next month.

When asked if he could beat Rainey, he said, "I hope so. I'll give him a run for his money."

Unlike Bryant, Stallings was an athlete in high school, running track (the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay) and playing soccer for Tampa Jesuit. He's also had success running in UF's intramural track meet the past two years.

His fraternity brother, Chris Rodgers from Longwood, was timed at 4.55 Thursday. Rodgers won the 100 and 200 in last year's intramural track meet.

"We were really excited (when we heard about Meyer's challenge)," Stallings said. "We felt we could really do well here."

Thursday's low times (which include a 4.53 by sophomore Mike Dent, a former high school wide receiver from Delray Beach Atlantic) might come as a little surprise to Florida players.

Earlier this week, Thompson predicted, "We should beat them by five yards."

It could be closer than that. But then this whole thing is for fun, anyhow.

"What I'm most excited about it telling my friends to come watch me on Florida Field," Stallings said.

As expected, there were not many 40 times below 5.0 seconds.

One student, a landscape architecture major, plodded the 40 yards in 5.86 seconds, but said he got what he came for. "The free T-shirt," he said.

Only two female students participated.

"I just wanted to see my 40 time and get the free shirt," said Jessica Wooden, a material science engineering major who ran a respectable 5.1. "I thought there would be more females out here.

"It's cool to be out here. This is where our football team practices. It's pretty awesome."