Why did the coaches for the college football poll put the Florida Gators as #1?
Florida Gators No. 1 in preseason college football coaches’ poll GAINESVILLE — Florida will open the season at No. 1 in the football coaches poll, sparking little reaction from coach Urban Meyer while his players acknowledged the proverbial bull’s-eye on their backs and said they believe they have the type of team that can handle it. The challenge is appreciating the ranking’s significance without getting caught up in it. “It’s an honor to be preseason No. 1, but we’re not really buying into it,” RB Brandon James said. “We worked hard all summer, and our main goal is just to get to Atlanta (for the SEC title game). We don’t worry about getting to the Rose Bowl (site of this season’s BCS title game) or undefeated season or anything like that. We just take it one practice at a time, one day at a time.” The Gators, who received 53 of 59 first-place votes, were followed by Texas, Oklahoma, USC and Alabama. Florida has been a preseason No. 1 twice before, in 1994 (Associated Press) and 2001
August 7, 2009, 5:23 PM ET Florida No. 1 in coaches’ poll Defending national champion Florida tops the USA Today preseason football coaches’ poll, receiving 53 of 59 first-place votes. Texas was second in the poll released Friday, followed by Oklahoma, USC, Alabama, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, LSU and Mississippi. Texas had four first-place votes, and Oklahoma and USC each had one. LSU, Virginia Tech and Mississippi are the new names in the coaches’ top 10, replacing Oregon and TCU from last season’s final poll. Virginia Tech finished last season at No. 14; Mississippi ended last season 15th; and LSU was not ranked. Oklahoma State was ranked 11th in the preseason poll, followed by California, Georgia, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Boise State, TCU, Utah, Florida State and North Carolina. Iowa, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Brigham Young and Oregon State rounded out the top 25. If the rankings hold steady, a number of clashes between teams in the top 10 loom ahead. The first could come early
