LSU fans seemingly have Florida's number

[October 06, 2009]  GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Looks like LSU fans have Florida's number -- again.

Backup quarterback John Brantley said Monday night he has received "quite a few" taunting text messages from numbers he does not recognize.

Florida coach Urban Meyer, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and receiver Riley Cooper have also been getting extra calls and texts this week, apparently from LSU fans trying to get in their ears -- or heads -- before Saturday night's game between top-ranked Florida and No. 4 LSU.

"They haven't been bad," said Brantley, in line to start Saturday if Tim Tebow can't because of a concussion. "It's just a little annoying."

Quarterback Tim Tebow had similar issues two years ago before Florida's 28-24 loss in Baton Rouge. He received hundreds of messages leading up to the game. Tebow responded by pretending to dial a phone after a touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Tebow's number appears safe this time around.

Some of his teammates are hoping to stay clear, too.

"They didn't get me," cornerback Joe Haden said. "It's pretty bad, though. They had my boy Coop. They got him pretty good. I was chilling with Coop and he was just laughing about it."

Brantley said none of the messages he received included death threats. He has read or listened to most of them, then deleted them just in time for more to show up. It's gotten so bad that he might consider getting a new number.

How is he dealing with the calls and texts?

"I just ignore, put it down," he said.

So how are all the numbers getting out?

"I have no idea," Haden said.

[Associated Press; By MARK LONG]

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