Florida spring football game

An announced record crowd of 61,000 participated in everything from a children's carnival in front of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to the ESPN College GameDay telecast and live broadcast of Saturday's Orange and Blue game. A snapshot of the game:

WHAT WE LEARNED: Tim Tebow has not lost a step

(13-for-21 for 200 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions), but backup quarterback Cam Newton has some work to do (6-for-18 for 53 yards). The kicking game is in good shape with Jonathan Phillips and freshman Caleb Sturgis and punter Chas Henry, who had a spring-record 64-yarder. The Gators have gone from having no real threat at tailback two years ago to potentially four: Kestahn Moore, Chris Rainey, Mon Williams and Emmanuel Moody. "We're going to have a lot of fun this summer trying to put together an offense to get those guys to touch the ball," coach Urban Meyer said.

BREAKOUT STAR: Last season, redshirt freshman Rainey weighed 21 pounds less than his current 177 and was constantly on Meyer's bad side for his immature behavior. Saturday, he had 11 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown, and caught a 65-yard touchdown. He also ran 40 yards in 4.27 and 4.24 seconds in the fastest man competition. "It made me feel good to prove to Coach Meyer what I can do so I can play in the game," Rainey said. "He said, 'If you do well in the spring, you will get the ball.' So I had to do what I can do."

COULD BE A STAR … However: Moody, the transfer from Southern California, had 14 carries for 111 yards but fumbled going into the end zone on a potential 19-yard score. "He's very talented, but he's not very good with ball security," Meyer said. "And he won't play tailback at Florida without ball security."

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT: The secondary, particularly corners Wondy Pierre-Louis and Joe Haden, looked much better. The Gators have seven players who will compete at the position. "It's a good situation," Meyer said.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Touted junior college receiver Carl Moore (sprained ankle) and backup quarterback John Brantley (dislocated nonthrowing shoulder) were unable to play Saturday.

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM: Friday night, Tim Tebow was running a fever of 102 degrees, throwing up and needed intravenous fluids. But with backup Brantley injured and the Gators in need of a quarterback for the Blue team, there was Tebow, in the 85-degree weather, playing. "Oh, no, come on," he said when asked if he thought about not playing. "It's the Orange and Blue game. You've got to play."

RECRUITING CENTRAL: About 25 highly sought recruits, including several of the nation's elite, were on campus. Among them: Plant quarterback Aaron Murray, Miami Killian running back Lamar Miller and Miami Palmetto running back Jamaal Berry.

TAMPA'S Celebrity: Tampa native Bolaji Agbebe finished fastest among the student contestants in the 40-yard dash. The former Brandon High student and current sophomore anthropology major ran a 4.53, not good enough to beat the speedster Rainey.

Antonya English,

Times staff writer