As much as I enjoy Deadspin, it's not exactly the Wall Street Journal, so I should not be surprised to find this story, even if it is at 10:30 at night. Deadspin is merely relaying this blog post, which uses the concept of Carlos Dunlap's punishment being determined by the University (instead of Urban Meyer) to make the case that Meyer is losing control to the University administration. The candid photos of recruits Lynden Trail, Gerald Christian and Leon Orr (seen on Deadspin, apparently from myspace pages) push along the attempted story line of Meyer only recruiting drunks, assholes, idiots and gang members., which would increase the likelihood of University intervention.

First, I'll address the falsehood implied here;

Urban Meyer said on Tuesday that he wasn't sure if suspended defensive lineman Carlos Dunlap would be allowed to play in the Gators' bowl game, adding that university president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley will be in on the decision. Sounds like Urban has had his disciplinary powers taken away...

As we addressed, Meyer does not have discipline powers when it comes to Dunlap because the University has a standard DUI punishment policy. I guess it is the writer's interpretation that Meyer only suspending Dunlap for the Alabama and Sugar Bowl games, and waiting for academic or legal punishment, is immoral. We could also accuse the writer of being a homer (Tennessee fan) who has lost track of reality as he believes the Tennessee Orange Pride investigation is a multilevel conspiracy that involves the New York Times, Urban Meyer, Pahokee High School and the 1998 Syracuse football team.

The thing that pisses me off is the implication the three recruits named are gangland thugs using the common formula; Black kid + (bandana+baseball hat) x (money+jewelry/guns) = SCARY BLACK GUY COMING TO GET YOU! It is easy using standard stereotypes and capitalizing on people's long held prejudices, especially in the South. Forget progress, let's keep the old hatred going.

Of course, it does not pass the libel or slander test, because these are high school seniors looking at big time schools. If they didn't want people talking bad about them, they should not have been good football players or posted pictures on a social networking site with terrible security features. If these kids didn't want to be accused of being thugs or criminals, they shouldn't wear bandanas, carry money or live in a state with guns. I'm not making the case that these kids are 4.0 GPA/1600 SAT, but it's just as irresponsible to make the case they are gangland junkies.

Maybe I'm being a homer, or maybe I'd rather write about the games than the mind of a high school senior. But calling people out as gang members is bull shit, especially when two of the three recruits were also targeted by your own school. This is an isolated case that I picked out because Deadspin picked it, but we've all see the poison that flows on message boards. People have every right to swim through the bull shit and smear anyone they can get their hands on. But remember that the stink will never wash off, especially when it comes to the teenagers who you beg and plead to play for your football team.

Both makes for a great drunk text. Observe from the great texts from last night;

(770): i cant wait for all this BS that is happening with Tiger to happen to Tebow

Of course, Tebow attacking the puss across the SEC would just endear him to more people. But, I think Tebow would also have enough sense to not hook up with porn stars and waitresses from reality shows.

We are going with three choices for wide receiver, since we are assuming a single-back formation for our All-Decade offense (five linemen, tight end, quarterback, running back, three wides). You will also notice that we included Percy Harvin, who will also be listed as a running back, but you can vote for him in both. Vote for your three top Gator wide receivers of this decade and check back tomorrow for All-Decade running back and quarterback.

Jabar Gaffney (2000-2001): 2000-01 First Team AP, Coaches All-SEC. 2001 First Team AP, Coaches, Walter Camp, Football Writers All-American. Despite playing only two seasons, Gaffney is second on UF's career yards list. 138 catches, 2375 yards, 27 touchdowns.

Taylor Jacobs (1999-2002): 2002 First Team AP, Coaches All-SEC. His 71 catches in 2002 are third in UF history. 133 catches, 2097 yards (2180 total yards), 16 touchdowns (17 total).

Chad Jackson (2003-2005): 2005 First Team AP All-SEC. Jackson holds the UF record with most catches in a season with 88. 120 catches, 1586 yards (1897 total yards), 16 touchdowns (18 total).

Dallas Baker (2003-06): 2006 First Team Coaches All-SEC. Led the Gators in receiving during the 2006 season, including 10 touchdowns. 151 catches, 2236 yards, 21 touchdowns.

Andre ‘Bubba' Caldwell (2003-07): Florida's all-time leader in receptions. 185 catches, 2349 yards (3429 total yards), 16 touchdowns (21 total).

Percy Harvin (2006-2008): 2006 Football Writers Freshman All-American. 2007 First Team AP All-SEC. 2008 Second Team AP, Coaches, Walter Camp All-American. 2008 First Team AP (as All Purpose), Coaches (as WR) All- SEC. 133 catches, 1929 yards (3781 total yards), 13 touchdowns (32 total).

Riley Cooper (2006-2009): 2009 Second Team AP All-SEC. Cooper choose to play a senior season after turning down a multi-million dollar baseball contract. 74 catches, 1315 yards (1329 yards), 17 touchdowns.

This position became a feature of the Gators offense this decade. Between the athleticism of Ben Troupe, the potential of Cornelius Ingram and the hands of Aaron Hernandez, Florida always had very good players at tight end. 

Ben Troupe (2000-2003): 2003 Second Team AP All-American. 2003 First Team AP, Coaches All-SEC. Beloved for his ability to hurdle tacklers. 64 catches, 958 yards, 7 touchdowns.

Cornelius Ingram (2005-2007): 2007 Second Team AP, Coaches All-SEC. Played only two seasons as tight end after moving from quarterback to start the 2006 season. 64 catches, 888 yards (896 total yards), 8 touchdowns.

Aaron Hernandez (2007-2009): 2009 First Team AP All-American. 2009 First Team AP, Coaches All-SEC. 2009 Mackey Award for best tight end; the first Gator to win the award. 102 catches, 1271 yards (1286 total yards), 11 touchdowns.

The Associated Press All-American teams announced today included Joe Haden as first team cornerback and Aaron Hernandez as first team tight end. Maurkice Pouncey gets shafted and sent to second team at center. Also on the second team was Mike Pouncey at guard and Brandon Spikes at linebacker. Tim Tebow was named second team, behind Colt McCoy, upsetting the fanboys that worship at the altar of golden boy Jimmy Clausen and new Pac-10 poster boy Jake Locker. They must be really upset that Kellen Moore, another quarterback of a BCS team, was the third team quarterback. I guess winning games means something to the AP. Your unanimous selections were Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart, Ndamukong Suh and Rolando McClain. 

A center needs two things; leadership ability and a flat butt for the quarterback's hands. These guys had those qualities, plus the ability to work out of the shotgun. Cast your vote for your All-Decade Center.

Mike Degory (2001-2005): 2005 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC, 2002 Sporting News and Football Writers All-Freshman Team. Started 50 consecutive games and spent three seasons as the Gators' only center.

Steve Rissler (2003-2006): 2006 First Team Coaches All-SEC, center of 2006 National Championship team.

Maurkice Pouncey (2007-2009): Started at center in 26 consecutive games. Won the 2009 Rimington Trophy for best center and is the first Gator to win the award. 2009 First Team Football Writers and Walter Camp All-American. 2009 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC. Started 11 games at right guard as a freshman.

The guards are the forgotten men of the line. But these are a few we won't forget. Cast your votes for your two All-Decade Offensive Guards. 

Shannon Snell (2000-2003): 2003 First Team Sporting News All-American, started 36 games at left guard over the course of three seasons.

Mo Mitchell (2001-2004): As a senior, started 10 games at right guard after playing the previous year as a defensive tackle. Was named 2004 First Team Coaches All-SEC and got a few cheap shots in the Ron Zook Field game.

Drew Miller (2004-2007): Started every game at right guard in 2006 before becoming full-time center in 2007. Was Second Team All-SEC in 2006 as a guard and Honorable Mention as center in 2007.

Jim Tartt (2004-2008): Started 26 of 27 games at left guard during sophomore and junior seasons, including the 2006 SEC and National Championship Games. Noted African policy expert and face kicker.

Mike Pouncey (2007-2009): 2009 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC. Started at right guard in every game of 2008. Played defensive tackle as a freshman.

We kick off the Alligator Army All-Decade Team with the men assigned to protect Rex Grossman, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. Today, you can vote for the best offensive tackles, guards and center of the last 10 years. We will also have the nominees for the offensive positions later this week. Starting Friday will be the defense, with the All-Decade Team presentation concluding next week. We are only taking into consideration performance at Florida and from 2000-2009. Now, the nominees for Alligator Army All-Decade Offensive Tackles (vote for two);

Kenyatta Walker (1998-2000): 2000 Second Team All-American, 2000 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC, 2000 Jacobs Award for best blocker in the SEC.

Mike Pearson (1998-2001): 2000 First Team Coaches All-SEC, 2001 First Team All-American, 2001 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC

Max Starks (2000-2003): 2003 First Team Coaches All-SEC. Had the misfortune of playing in two of the worst losses of the decade; 2001 against Tennessee (as right tackle for Grossman) and 2003 against FSU (as left tackle for Leak).

Phil Trautwein (2004-2008):  2008 First Team AP and Coaches All-SEC. Starting left tackle for the 2006 and 2008 National Championship Games.

Jason Watkins (2004-2008): Started at left tackle in 2007 following Trautwein's injury and moved to right tackle for the 2008 season. Started 27 consecutive games, 2007-08.

Awwwww, hell yeah boyeeeee! It's the 3rd Annual Alligator Army College Bowl Pick'em! Wooooo! Once again, we will have prizes for our first and second place finishers. To sign up to play, go to Yahoo College Bowl Pick'em join a private group, and enter group ID: 18183 and password: army . As was the case with last year's bowl pick'em, points are determined by confidence points attached to each pick. It does not matter if every one picks Florida in the Sugar Bowl; it does matter how confident you are in the Gators winning.

First price for the bowl pick'em is contributed by Turner Publishing's Historic Photos of University of Florida Football. 

Second prize is a Florida Gators car magnet contributed by Armagnets. This was the first prize of our Tournament Pick'em in March, but we know the person who won the magnet last time, and she wouldn't mind a new one.

Note: Tournament pick'em winner not pictured. Just a chick and the magnet.

You have this week to sign up as bowl games begin Saturday with the Beef O'Brady's Bowl (the winning coach will get dumped with Blue Cheese) and the New Mexico Bowl (which should be the UFO Bowl or Enchantment Bowl). As always, thanks to the companies who have contributed prizes and to everyone who plays.

Throw it down young man!