TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – It was a challenging encore for Florida freshman Trey Burton.
Burton played five positions, including special teams, in last week’s 48-14 rout of Kentucky and scored a school-record six touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 222-pounder from Venice, Fla., had most of those scores at quarterback but got his first touch Saturday on a 2-yard catch from John Brantley that resulted in a first down.
That occurred on Florida’s opening drive, which got down to Alabama’s 1-yard line before Burton was stuffed for a 1-yard loss by defensive end Marcell Dareus. The Gators then had a fourth-and-goal from the 2 and went for it, but Burton’s jump pass intended for tight end Jordan Reed was intercepted by linebacker Nico Johnson.
The interception was the only pass by Burton, who had four receptions for 33 yards and four rushes for 5 yards in Florida’s 31-6 loss.
Jones gets loose
Alabama’s Julio Jones usually makes his mark as a receiver, but it was on a punt return where the 6-foot-4, 222-pound junior set a career best. Jones fielded a 54-yard punt by Chas Henry and went 41 yards to the Florida 42-yard line with 12:11 before halftime.
The Crimson Tide capitalized with an eight-play drive that culminated with Mark Ingram’s 1-yard touchdown run that made it 17-0.
Jones had a 33-yard punt return last season against South Carolina, but he entered Saturday with only 3 yards on four returns in 2010.
Henry’s next punt traveled 75 yards and pinned Alabama at its 2-yard line. The change in field position helped result in Henry making a 39-yard field goal in the final minute of the half to pull the Gators within 24-3.
Saban admits error
Alabama’s Nick Saban got his first head-coaching job at Toledo in 1990, and he admits now that he could have done a better job assembling a staff. Saban’s wife, Terry, fielded a call one night from an inquiring Urban Meyer, then a 26-year-old Illinois State quarterbacks and receivers coach.
“Terry really interviewed him,” Saban said. “She told me that night, ‘Boy, this really interesting guy called and really sounded like a top-notch, smart, articulate – you really need to talk to this guy.’ It was Urban.”
Saban never called Meyer, calling it “one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made.” Meyer wound up becoming the receivers coach at Colorado State, a position he held from 1990 to ’95.
Tide tidbits
Alabama’s game at South Carolina this will be on CBS at 3:30 p.m., while Florida’s game against visiting LSU will be on ESPN at 7:45. … Alabama’s 24-3 halftime lead was identical to the halftime score the Tide enjoyed during their 31-3 win over Florida in 2005. … Alabama is outscoring foes 59-16 in the first quarter and 65-20 in the second quarter.