FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer and his staff had their first junior day last weekend. Junior days are a one- day camp where coaches and prospects can meet and players can be weighed and measured. Penn State coach Joe Paterno has done it for years and Notre Dame conducted one last month. Florida coaches have taken full advantage of text messaging recruits. The NCAA could look into coaching staffs sending too many text messages to recruits. Coaches are limited on how many times they can call recruits, but not so with text messages. Last April, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association tried to limit the text messages, but it was defeated by half a vote. Text messaging has the same unlimited status as a letter or e-mails. UCF coach George O’Leary complained about other coaches text messaging recruits during the time they were visiting his campus.

The Gators open at home against Southern Miss before playing Central Florida. Other non-conference foes are Western Carolina at home and FSU on the road. The Gators have a difficult stretch of games starting at home against Alabama and LSU, at Auburn and Georgia in Jacksonville. Quarterback coach Dan Mullen is looking for a walk-on third string quarterback to run the scout team and to be an emergency quarterback. Former quarterback Cornelius Ingram is expected to remain at the tight end position. Incoming freshman Jarred Fayson could be a possibly. Last year’s scout team quarterback Matt Kynes has left for medical school.

SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecock 2006 schedule has been finalized. They will play two Thursday night games this season beginning with the opener at Mississippi State on August 31. They also host Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 28. South Carolina has non-conference games are against Wofford, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee State and Clemson. The Gamecocks host Tennessee and Arkansas before traveling to Florida. Steve Spurrier talked to former Alabama defensive coordinator Bill Oliver about a position on his staff replacing former co-defensive coordinator John Thompson. However, Spurrier said Thursday he is staying with Tyrone Nix to run the defense. Oliver, 66, has been retired and working as a consultant for various teams. He lives in Alexander City, Ala., near Lake Martin.

LSU: The Tigers have added Fresno State to their 2006 schedule for an Oct. 21 game at Tiger Stadium. That date became available when the Auburn game was moved to Sept. 16. LSU has non-conference games against Arizona, UL-Lafayette, Tulane and Fresno State, all at home. The only road games are at Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. In November, LSU travels to Tennessee before hosting Alabama. LSU and Arizona State has rescheduled their series for 2015-16. LSU hosts Arizona State in 2015 and travels to Tempe the following year. The schools were originally scheduled to play in Baton Rouge last season and Tempe in 2008. Last year’s game was moved to Tempe due to the Hurricane Katrina damage. Keiland Williams (6-0, 220), a five-star running back from Hargrave Military Academy, signed with LSU over Southern Cal the Friday after signing day. He was the first running back to ever rush for over 1,000 yards at Hargrave.

OLE MISS: Legendary Rebel coach Johnny Vaught died at the age of 96 last Friday. His funeral was Thursday. He coached the Rebels to six SEC titles and 18 bowl games in 25 years. Vaught was 190-61-12 during the coaching career. He stepped down in 1970 due to health reasons and came back for eight games in 1973 to lead the Rebels to a 5-3 record. From 1959-63, the Rebels lost only two SEC games. Former Millsaps head coach David Saunders has replaced Rebel assistant Shawn Slocum, who has moved to the NFL, as the linebacker coach at Ole Miss. Former Alabama coach Mike DuBose replaced Saunders at Millsaps. The Rebels open the 2006 season hosting Memphis before traveling to Missouri. They also host Wake Forest and Northwestern State. The Rebels toughest stretch is consecutive road games at Alabama and Arkansas before hosting Auburn.

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats open the season at Louisville before hosting Texas State. They also play Central Michigan and Louisiana-Monroe. Kentucky has a tough stretch of four games hosting South Carolina before traveling to LSU and Mississippi State and returning to host Georgia

AUBURN: Coach Tommy Tuberville has hired Will Muschamp, the former Miami Dolphin and LSU assistant coach, to replace David Gibbs who went to the NFL. Auburn released its schedule last week that features eight home games. The Tigers will play 12 straight weeks. The Tigers begin the season hosting Washington State. Other non-conference foes are Buffalo, Tulane, and Arkansas State. Assistant coach Joe Whitt has been moved to a fundraising position after 25 years. Temple assistant coach James Willis, who played at Auburn, has replaced him.

ALABAMA: Mike Shula has hired Vanderbilt defensive coordinator and defensive line coach David Turner to replace Paul Johnson. Shula said in a press conference last week that receiver Tyrone Prothro would not be available during spring practice. His status is unclear until at least June. Receiver D. J. Hall, defensive back Chris Keys and cornerback Simeon Castille are back with the team after being suspended for the bowl game. Keys broke an ankle after being involved in an altercation. No details have been given on the incident. He has had surgery and will need several months to recover. Offensive lineman Cody Davis had his shoulder scoped. He will miss spring practice, but will return for fall drills. Freshman defensive tackle Curtis Dawson is back on the team after being suspended last June for a violation of team rules. In 2006, Alabama plays Hawaii, Louisiana-Monroe, Duke and Florida International outside the conference. ‘Bama’s toughest stretches are consecutive road games at Arkansas and Florida in September and at LSU and home against Auburn in November.

ARKANSAS: The Hogs host Southern Cal and Utah State to start the season. They also play Southeast Missouri State and Louisiana-Monroe.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Arnil Stallworth (5-9, 190), a running back from Daphne, Ala., has signed with Bulldogs. He was the fifth running back in 6A Alabama history to rush for over 2,000 yards. State plays Tulane, UAB in Birmingham, West Virginia and Jacksonville State at home. The Bulldogs have three straight games at UAB and LSU before hosting West Virginia.

TENNESSEE: The Vols begin the year with home games against Cal, Air Force, Florida and Marshall before traveling to Memphis. Tennessee plays at Georgia, host Alabama, travel to South Carolina and host LSU before traveling to Arkansas.

VANDERBILT: The Commodores open the season at Michigan and Alabama. They also play Tennessee State and Kent State on consecutive weeks in Sept.

MIAMI: Receivers coach Curtis Johnson is leaving to go to the New Orleans Saints for the same position. Grad assistant Clint Hurtt and Wisconsin defensive assistant John Palermo, who played at FSU, will coach the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon may add the responsibility of coaching linebackers. Coach Larry Coker compared defensive line signee Josh Holmes to Warren Sapp. Former Miami running back Edgerrin James told Coker that his cousin running back signee Javarris James, is better than he was coming into his freshman year. Coker argues that the Canes have not lost their recruiting grip on South Florida. He said the Canes could still pretty much get whomever they want.

FLORIDA STATE: FSU coaches are excited about running back Matt Dunham, who signed with the Noles last year but didn’t qualify until later, change from tailback to fullback. The 250-pound Dunham can also block well and catch the ball out of the backfield. Mat drills have started at FSU and will conclude Feb. 28.

NORTH CAROLINA: Larry Edwards, a Tar Heel linebacker, was arrested last weekend in a nightclub fight. Edwards was tied for the team lead in tackles with 91 last season. Also, three other Duke players were arrested including their leading tackler Michael Shawn Brown, who had 92 stops last season. Hal Hunter, the Tar Heel offensive line coach for the past four years, has gone to the San Diego Chargers.

UAB: Former Southern Miss defensive line coach Ron McCrone, is the co-defensive coordinator at UAB. McCrone was a high school coach at Orange Park High.

MEMPHIS: Football coach Tommy West underwent triple-bypass surgery last Friday. He is recovering in a Memphis hospital.

UCLA: Todd Howard, an assistant defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been hired as a defensive line coach for the Bruins.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.