GAME NOTES: The fifth-ranked Florida Gators open up their 2008 schedule this weekend, as they welcome the Hawaii Warriors to the mainland for a gridiron clash in Gainesville.

Urban Meyer has another loaded team following a 2007 campaign that saw the Gators win nine games and earn a spot in the Capital One Bowl. Although the postseason didn't have a successful result, a 41-35 loss to Michigan, Florida's young team showed a great deal of promise under the leadership of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

Tebow will attempt to get off to a fast start once again and it will be up to the Warriors to prevent that from happening. The 2007 season was a magical one for Hawaii, which was the only program in the country to finish the regular season with a perfect record. The flawless campaign came to end though in the postseason, as the Warriors were embarrassed in the Sugar Bowl, a 41-10 beating at the hands of Georgia.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between Florida and Hawaii.

Head coach June Jones left the South Pacific, and now Hawaii is under new management in Greg McMackin. Not only is Jones gone, but most of the playmakers that made Hawaii an offensive juggernaut the last few years, including gunslinger Colt Brennan.

The big question is who will be the one to fill the shoes of Brennan. It was thought to be senior Tyler Graunke, but Brennan's backup last year has not participated with the team yet due to academic reasons. That leaves the offense in the hands of juco transfer Brent Rausch. The 6-4 sophomore beat out returner Inoke Funaki and fellow juco transfer Greg Alexander.

"We evaluated the three quarterbacks during the first two weeks of camp and it was a touch decision but we decided on Brent Rausch," head coach Greg McMackin said. "He's been the most consistent and gets better with his decision making and throws each day."

Rausch will look to an unproven receiving corps with the departure of three 1,000-yard performers in Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Jason Rivers. The likely candidates to step up are seniors Michael Washington and Aaron Bain and junior Malcolm Lane.

The ground game has not been a priority in Hawaii and it remains to be seen just how much McMackin will utilize tailbacks Leon Wright-Jackson and Daniel Libre.

In 2007 the Hawaii defense stood tall, with a total of five players on the All-WAC teams. Cal Lee takes over as defensive coordinator now that McMackin has gotten promoted and the 2008 defense looks to be an attacking unit.

The real strength of the defense is the linebacking corps, which is rated among the best in the country. One of the most punishing of those hard-hitters is Adam Leonard (105 tackles, four INTs in 2007, with two returns for TDs). Joining Leonard in the middle of the field is Solomon Elimimian who, like Leonard, was also a WAC First-Team choice as a junior last season. Elimimian went from 83 stops as a freshman and 89 as a sophomore to a ridiculous 145 tackles to lead the team and rank 14th nationally.

The secondary loses both corners and a starting safety from a year ago, but this year's unit may be even better, with more physical cover men in Ryan Mouton and Oregon transfer Jameel Dowling. There is plenty of depth at safety with Keao Monteilh, Desmond Thomas, Erik Robinson and Oregon State transfer Man Silva all bidding for playing time.

Heading into the 2007 season, head coach Urban Meyer would have been disappointed if someone told him that his team would lose four games. Still, the campaign was certainly memorable, largely because of the accomplishments of the squad's star quarterback.

Tebow had one of the most remarkable seasons in college football history from a statistics standpoint, and the sophomore was rewarded with the Heisman Trophy. He threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for 895 yards and 23 scores.

"My biggest goal this year as far as football goes was becoming a better decision maker," says Tebow. "I mean, that's what separates Tom Brady and Peyton Manning from every other quarterback, is their decision making. They're not more blessed as far as athletic ability; they just make better decisions on the field."

Tebow is not the only one back on offense. Percy Harvin is one of the nation's most explosive athletes and will be Tebow's primary threat on the outside. He is more than capable of catching the ball (59 receptions, for 858 yards and four TDs last year), or line up as a tailback (764 yards, 9.2 ypc and six TDs). However, a nagging heel injury has Harvin listed as questionable for the opener.

Tebow's backfield cohorts are likely a pair of players that didn't suit up last year, in sophomores Emmanuel Moody, who transferred in from USC and Mon Williams, who redshirted last year after blowing out his knee in the spring.

The offensive line has more experience this year than the last two seasons, headlined by seniors Jim Tartt (6-3, 300) and Jason Watkins (6-6, 300).

Last season, Florida had a wealth of new faces on defense and will reap the rewards this season as eight starters are back in the fold.

Brandon Spikes is an outstanding linebacker who is the face of this defensive unit. Spikes made 131 tackles last season, en route to All-SEC First-Team honors. Dustin Doe is another playmaker, amassing 85 stops last season.

Up front, Jermaine Cunningham is back at defensive end after posting 6.5 sacks a year ago. Now that standout end Derrick Harvey is gone, Cunningham will draw plenty of attention from the opposition. The rest of the defensive front seems young and could see as many as three sophomores line up alongside Cunningham.

Junior Wondy Pierre-Louis should get significant playing time at one of the corner spots, and he is expected to take a major step forward as a junior. However, the secondary is another area where the team's youth will need to step up and produce.

The Warriors would have been overmatched in Gainesville even with Brennan and that terrific receiving trio in uniform. Without them, this one could get out of hand in a hurry. The debut for McMackin won't be pretty, but he can probably take some consolation in the fact that it won't get any harder after this game.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Florida 41, Hawaii 13