Noah.Dreams
09-26-2006, 07:24 AM
QB Leak booed by Florida fans
By Robbie Andreu
NYT Regional Newspapers
http://imgsrv.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TL&Date=20060926&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=609260357&Ref=AR&Profile=1011&MaxW=300&Q=90
Sitting in the stands with his wife Saturday night, Curtis Leak said he felt a little stunned and a little hurt when the fans at Florida Field booed his son.
“We heard it," Leak said. “People are saying the fans were booing the decision of the coach (Urban Meyer), but I’m not sure I believe that. Last season, when Chris (Leak) came in and took over for (backup quarterback) Josh Portis at the end of a drive, nobody would boo that decision.
“Either way, booing people is wrong. I think the majority of fans there really like Chris. When they announce the lineup before games, he always gets one of the loudest cheers. It’s a shame that some fans did what they did the other night. It really bothered the players."
Loud booing erupted early in the fourth quarter when Leak was sent onto the field to take over for true freshman quarterback Tim Tebow, who had just run six yards for a first down on the Kentucky 15-yard line. Leak finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Ingram.
In UF’s previous offensive possession, Tebow had started the drive and was relieved by Leak after Tebow had three consecutive rushes totaling 62 yards.
Chris Leak said he did not hear the boos.
“People have come to me and asked me some questions about it," Leak said Monday. “My main focus (is on the game). I’ve got headsets on, I’m on the sideline, I’m talking to the coaches about play calling, so I really don’t notice it.
“My main focus is on communication and my teammates and making sure we get all the play calls in right and all that stuff. I totally missed that, I guess."
Meyer said he thought the fans were booing him.
“My wife said, 'Hey, don’t worry about them booing Chris, they’re booing you,’ " Meyer said. “I can deal with that. They should boo; we didn’t score a touchdown. Chris is better than that. We’re better than that."
Some players said they didn’t hear the booing. Others said they heard it but were not disturbed by it.
“Not at all," junior defensive end Jarvis Moss said. “That’s for the fans and stuff like that. We know who our quarterback is and we’re only going to go as far as he goes, so we have full confidence in our quarterback."
Senior wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius said the fans have the right to boo if they want to.
“Of course we heard it," Cornelius said. “That’s the fans. They’re entitled to do whatever they feel like. It ain’t that big of a deal. Tebow drove us and I guess they wanted to see him run the ball more. That’s up to the coaches. The fans can do whatever they feel like doing once they’re in the stadium."
Many of the fans tried to drown out the boos with cheers. When Leak jogged the length of the field after doing a television interview after the game, he was cheered wildly by the several thousands fans remaining in the stadium. Leak acknowledged the fans by raising his helmet in the air.
Curtis Leak said it’s time for the booing to stop and for Florida fans to unite behind all the players and coaches heading into Saturday’s game against Alabama.
“The fans have to stop all this stuff and be the 12th man," Curtis Leak said. “Any time you boo your own team, it’s not good for the team, it’s not good for fan unity. (The fans) really need to come together like the Alabama fans did last year (in Tuscaloosa) and like the Tennessee fans did (two weeks ago in Knoxville).
“Those fans were unified regardless of what calls the coaches made or who was playing. If Florida fans unite and become that 12th man, we can get The Swamp back to being what it used to be."
By Robbie Andreu
NYT Regional Newspapers
http://imgsrv.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TL&Date=20060926&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=609260357&Ref=AR&Profile=1011&MaxW=300&Q=90
Sitting in the stands with his wife Saturday night, Curtis Leak said he felt a little stunned and a little hurt when the fans at Florida Field booed his son.
“We heard it," Leak said. “People are saying the fans were booing the decision of the coach (Urban Meyer), but I’m not sure I believe that. Last season, when Chris (Leak) came in and took over for (backup quarterback) Josh Portis at the end of a drive, nobody would boo that decision.
“Either way, booing people is wrong. I think the majority of fans there really like Chris. When they announce the lineup before games, he always gets one of the loudest cheers. It’s a shame that some fans did what they did the other night. It really bothered the players."
Loud booing erupted early in the fourth quarter when Leak was sent onto the field to take over for true freshman quarterback Tim Tebow, who had just run six yards for a first down on the Kentucky 15-yard line. Leak finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Ingram.
In UF’s previous offensive possession, Tebow had started the drive and was relieved by Leak after Tebow had three consecutive rushes totaling 62 yards.
Chris Leak said he did not hear the boos.
“People have come to me and asked me some questions about it," Leak said Monday. “My main focus (is on the game). I’ve got headsets on, I’m on the sideline, I’m talking to the coaches about play calling, so I really don’t notice it.
“My main focus is on communication and my teammates and making sure we get all the play calls in right and all that stuff. I totally missed that, I guess."
Meyer said he thought the fans were booing him.
“My wife said, 'Hey, don’t worry about them booing Chris, they’re booing you,’ " Meyer said. “I can deal with that. They should boo; we didn’t score a touchdown. Chris is better than that. We’re better than that."
Some players said they didn’t hear the booing. Others said they heard it but were not disturbed by it.
“Not at all," junior defensive end Jarvis Moss said. “That’s for the fans and stuff like that. We know who our quarterback is and we’re only going to go as far as he goes, so we have full confidence in our quarterback."
Senior wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius said the fans have the right to boo if they want to.
“Of course we heard it," Cornelius said. “That’s the fans. They’re entitled to do whatever they feel like. It ain’t that big of a deal. Tebow drove us and I guess they wanted to see him run the ball more. That’s up to the coaches. The fans can do whatever they feel like doing once they’re in the stadium."
Many of the fans tried to drown out the boos with cheers. When Leak jogged the length of the field after doing a television interview after the game, he was cheered wildly by the several thousands fans remaining in the stadium. Leak acknowledged the fans by raising his helmet in the air.
Curtis Leak said it’s time for the booing to stop and for Florida fans to unite behind all the players and coaches heading into Saturday’s game against Alabama.
“The fans have to stop all this stuff and be the 12th man," Curtis Leak said. “Any time you boo your own team, it’s not good for the team, it’s not good for fan unity. (The fans) really need to come together like the Alabama fans did last year (in Tuscaloosa) and like the Tennessee fans did (two weeks ago in Knoxville).
“Those fans were unified regardless of what calls the coaches made or who was playing. If Florida fans unite and become that 12th man, we can get The Swamp back to being what it used to be."