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  • MBB: Gators rally past Ole Miss, 72-63

    MBB: Gators rally past Ole Miss, 72-63

    Photo by Mark Brown / Getty Images


    The Florida men’s basketball team played its fifth conference game Tuesday night, defeating the Ole Miss Rebels, 72-63, to improve to 3-2 in conference play in front of a relieved home crowd.

    Despite the absence of forward Scottie Lewis, who was unavailable for “healthy and safety protocols” according to the team, the Gators led 24-13 after 12 minutes behind seven early points from Colin Castleton and a hot start from the floor. However, the Rebels stormed back on an 11-1 run as Florida missed its next four looks. After trading some baskets the final few minutes, the Gators managed to maintain a slim 33-31 lead going to the locker room.

    Ole Miss guard Devontae Shuler was a driving force behind the Ole Miss offense, scoring 19 points and shooting 7/14 from the field including a circus three as the shot clock hit zero. After trailing by two at the break, the Rebels seized the lead on an 11-5 run to start the second half. They continued to outscore Florida on the strength of a great shooting night and opened their largest lead of the game, nine points, with 6:15 to play, giving them an 87.6% chance of winning according to ESPN BPI.

    However, when the Gators needed him most, Colin Castleton came alive. For a six-minute stretch in the second half, he was the only Gator to score any points, but he kept the team in reach before the rest of the roster caught up at the end. The Rebels only made one basket in those final six minutes and the Gators closed the game on a 20-2 run. Castleton finished with a monster stat line, a double-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks, the most by a Gator in almost sixteen years.

    Tre Mann and Noah Locke had big nights offensively in their own right, with 17 and 15 respectively. Mann went 8-8 from the free-throw line and pulled down seven rebounds. Locke made three of six threes, including a dagger to give the Gators the lead for good with 2:37 remaining.

    Florida dominated the rebounding battle in the second half, pulling down 39 boards to the Rebels’ 30, and grabbed two more steals (6-4) and blocked three times as many shots (9-3) as Ole Miss. Florida took 11 more trips to the penalty stripe as well, going 22-26 from the line as the Rebels also committed nine more fouls.

    Florida snapped a two-game losing skid and will travel to take on Mississippi State next on Saturday at 4 p.m.

  • WGYM: Florida Sets the Bar in Opener Win

    WGYM: Florida Sets the Bar in Opener Win

    Florida gymnastics set its highest score in an opening meet in program history last Friday at Auburn. Florida’s 197.5 will be an away score it’ll be happy to carry with them well into the season as RQS approaches, and it also maintains the No. 1 ranking in the nation for the Gators.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1347738929764519937?s=20

    Despite the strong score, the Gators still have significant room for improvement, particularly on bars and floor. So let’s break it down, event by event, so we can see how Florida did against Auburn and predict how the Gators will fare against Georgia this Friday.

    Bars
    The Gators started on bars, as it was an away meet, and it wasn’t exactly the start they would have hoped for. Unexpectedly, Megan Skaggs is serving as the lineup lead-off for the moment, and she had some uncharacteristic trouble in her routine, particularly on her dismount where she pinged off and came very close to hitting the bar. Freshman Gabbie Gallentine seemed to have her nerves get to her, which caused her to have to repeat some elements on the low bar in order to stay on and continue her routine.

    However, fellow freshman Ellie Lazzari was able to keep an even keel and hit the reset button, fighting through for a 9.725. Savannah Schoenherr and Trinity Thomas followed with pretty normal routines for them, getting things back on track for the Gators. And then in another surprising move, Leah Clapper closed out the lineup with a pretty solid routine. It won’t be the anchor routine forever, but based on prior conversations with the coaches, we know that Clapper prefers the six spot when she’s nervous, because it takes some of the pressure off of her and helps her not to get in her head. Though she did retain some pressure because the team needed to drop Gallentine’s 9.35, she hit a pretty solid routine for a 9.875 – a great debut score, especially considering her dismount isn’t up to the typical difficulty we see from the Gators.

    We saw a promising exhibition routine from freshman Chloi Clark as well. At meets that aren’t on a strict time schedule for TV broadcast, gymnasts are often given the opportunity to exhibit a routine outside of the lineup six. It was great to see her able to get out there and put up another solid option for the Gators, especially after all the work we know she’s put into her bars.

    We also need to talk about what we didn’t see, though. Payton Richards is still working back from a slower-paced preseason, so she is not yet ready to rejoin the bar lineup. Once she does, it’s very likely that she’ll retake her lead-off spot, moving Skaggs back to the back half of the lineup and bumping either Clapper or Gallentine out of the top six. Alyssa Baumann is also still trying to break into the lineup, and if she can, I think she’ll be part of the preferred six.

    Based on what we know about the rivalry between Baumann and her sister Rachel, who competes for Georgia, and the fact that Rachel is also trying to break into the all-around, I’m going to speculate and say that both Baumann sisters will attempt AA this coming Friday. If I’m correct, then the Florida bars lineup will shift, but if not, then I don’t expect any other changes, and it’ll look identical to the lineup at Auburn.

    Rivalry Night Bars Lineup: Skaggs, Gallentine, Lazzari, Baumann, Schoenherr, Thomas

    Vault
    Despite the rocky start on bars, the Gators showed up for vault, dialing in landings like we were at the end of regular season! Richards stuck to the Yurchenko full, as we discussed in preseason, and was joined by Skaggs and Lazzari in the super-clean Y-full club. All three scored 9.875 or better, with Skaggs dropping hers in like a dart for the first stuck landing of the rotation in the 3 spot. Schoenherr then kicked off the second half of the lineup with a Yurchenko 1.5, also scoring a 9.875, and Nya Reed followed up with a Y1.5 of her own that got the most distance I’ve ever seen from her for a 9.9.

    Thomas was absolutely the highlight though. We’ve talked in seasons past about how her Y1.5 would get a perfect 10.0 easily if she could only find the landing, and it’s been her “weakest” event thus far in NCAA competition because she hasn’t been able to stick. Well, Gator fans – her curse is over. She stuck that vault cold in Auburn Arena, showing that all her hard work can pay off, and that anyone planning to challenge her AA dominance this year had better up their game, because she’s making that weakness into a strength. The team’s 49.55 vault score was the program’s highest since 2017 – an indicator of good things to come for a team whose vault was its biggest weakness the last time it saw Nationals.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1347720513880133632?s=20

    We also saw clean Y-fulls in exhibition from Sydney Johnson-Scharpf and Baumann, which was a bit of a surprise, as we were only aware that Baumann was training the Y1.5. Both had landing adjustments, Baumann especially, but that’s likely due to how much she’s trained her harder vault and is therefore used to needing more power upon takeoff. As mentioned in the previous section, I am predicting Baumann’s first attempt at all-around in NCAA to come next week, so whether she does the full or the 1.5, I think she’ll be in the lineup. Otherwise, I don’t think there are any changes necessary – this lineup is already doing what it needs to do.

    Rivalry Night Vault Lineup: Skaggs, Lazzari, Baumann, Schoenherr, Reed, Thomas

    Floor
    After vault, the Gators went to floor, and despite some mishaps, debuted seven of its best floor routines to date. The entire coaching team echoed in our panel interview last week the opinion that volunteer assistant Jeremy James Miranda had once again outdone himself with this year’s routines, and now that we’ve seen them, we can safely say we agree. The lineup started with another surprise, as Clapper led off the rotation for a 9.7. Her routine isn’t the most difficult or explosive, but it was a steady start that Florida will be able to build on as the season goes. Richards followed with a classic rock routine that’s more likely to be the leadoff once all athletes are healthy, earning a 9.85 for her Tom Petty tribute and her powerful tumbling. Johnson-Scharpf stepped into the third slot with a routine that she mostly choreographed herself with her mom at home in quarantine this summer, showing off a much-improved double arabian for her first tumbling pass and choreorgaphy that’s sure to get Gator Nation involved when she performs at home.

    In an unusual turn of events, head coach Jenny Rowland set the lineup with Baumann in the fourth spot, when in the past she’s been set at the end of the rotation, whether in an effort to lift pressure off of her shoulders or to boost her score. Unfortunately, this change didn’t have the best result, as Baumann overcooked her last pass, a double pike, and ended up having to roll out of it and go out of bounds, an uncharacteristic mistake for her.

    Still, Reed and Thomas stepped up and covered for her, allowing the team to drop her score. And they did it with style, earning a 9.925 and 9.95 respectively. Both have fantastic new routines this year and are somehow showing even more power than in the past, with their opening double layouts looking even easier than any previous performance. We know Thomas has been training a full-twisting DLO, but Reed hasn’t trained anything more that we know of, so the fact that she looks to be in such great tumbling shape is very exciting for her chances at a perfect 10.0 this year. It also earned her a Co-Specialist of the Week honor in the SEC this week!

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1349069469604220929?s=20

    We also saw an exhibition from Halley Taylor, who has been bubbling under the top six since her freshman year. It was awesome to see her get out there and get some more competition experience, but I don’t expect that she’ll replace any of the six from this meet. The entrance fans should be awaiting is Lazzari, but the Achilles pain that assistant coach Adrian Burde referred to in our panel interview is still going to keep her out of that lineup for the time being. Schoenherr and Skaggs are also trying to break into this lineup, though not seeing them even exhibit does have some concerning implications. Unless one of them has a breakthrough in practice this week and is feeling up to it, the top six will stay the same this coming week.

    Rivalry Night Floor Lineup: Clapper, Richards, Johnson-Scharpf, Baumann, Reed, Thomas

    Beam
    Finally, the Gators went to beam to seal the deal, starting off with Richards, stepping into the lead-off slot as she was called to do on occasion last season. Her triple series and beaming presence earned her a 9.875 and set the tone for a fantastic night on beam for Florida. Johnson-Scharpf followed up, and despite a small foot miss at the end of her series, she didn’t have a single bobble and earned a 9.9. Lazzari, as in her other events, went third and absolutely knocked it out of the park! She earned a massive 9.95 for her beam debut, the best score for a beam debut in program history.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1347735797621874688?s=20

    Clapper had a significant break at the hips after her series but fought to stay on, scoring a 9.8 – perhaps a little generous, but it was one of the only real deductions in the routine, as the rest was quite clean. Baumann came back with a vengeance in the five spot, giving us a little bit of angry beam after her floor flub to earn a 9.925. And Thomas closed out the Gators’ meet with a whopping 9.95, with the only deduction I could see taken was a small foot adjustment on her dismount. Her final all-around score tallied up to a massive 39.75, placing her No. 1 overall in the nation in the all-around and earning her the latest in a round dozen Gymnast of the Week honors over the course of her career.

    https://twitter.com/GatorsGym/status/1349069473727172608?s=20

    We saw on broadcast a beam exhibition from Skaggs, which was expected, as she’s hoping to return to that lineup and it’s much easier on her nagging injuries than floor. Schoenherr also apparently performed an exhibition routine on beam, and I am upset that the SEC+ broadcast cut off before we got to see it. While I would love to see either of them in the lineup, I think this week’s squad did so well that I don’t think they’ll mess with a good thing.

    Rivalry Night Beam Lineup: Richards, Johnson-Scharpf, Lazzari, Clapper, Baumann, Thomas

    If you’ve gleaned anything from this recap and preview exercise, you should know that this team didn’t come to play, they came to win. The Gators will be out for revenge against Georgia after the Gymdogs eked out a win the last time these teams faced off in the O-Dome, and facing them in the home opener will heighten the drama even more. If you’re in Gainesville and get tickets, you’d better not miss this meet, and if not, you’d better be glued to your TV watching ESPN2 (or refreshing my liveblog here) at 7pm this Friday night, because Florida v. Georgia is not to be missed!

  • The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Recruiting and More

    The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Recruiting and More

    Check out the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast as David Soderquist and Brian Fox are joined by GatorsTerritory’s recruiting enthusiast, Conner Clarke.

    The three discuss all things Gators recruiting including:

    • The loss of defensive coaches Torrian Gray and Ron English
    • The addition of Wesley McGriff
    • Remaining targets in the 2021 cycle
    • Latest on Diwun Black
    • Latest on TE Arik Gilbert
    • And the 2022 class

    Also, we want you to have a voice! Call our voicemail line and leave a message with your thoughts, comments, or questions about the Florida Gators, 352-888-4687.

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to this week’s episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast:

    You can also follow The Gridiron Growl Podcast on the following platforms:

  • Recapping Florida’s Award Season

    Recapping Florida’s Award Season

    PitssGettyImages
    GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 28: Kyle PItts #84 of the Florida Gators celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)


    With the final FBS matchup of the year set for the 11th, the first week of 2021 saw a heaping helping of awards and recognitions doled out.

    Tuesday night was the Heisman presentation and on Thursday fans saw other national award winners plus the Walter Camp All-America Team announced. I did my best to aggregate all the end-of-the-year recognitions and honors Florida football players earned with their play this season.

    National Awards

    Kyle Pitts took home the only national honor for the 2020 season when he received the John Mackey Award Thursday night. He’s now the second in school history recognized as the nation’s top tight end.

    Not only that but Pitts also found himself as a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, for the nation’s most outstanding receiver. Unfortunately, he lost out to Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. Although, he’s the first player nominated for both the Mackey and Biletnikoff since Missouri’s Chase Coffman in 2008.

    While Pitts didn’t play a full season, it was evident when on the field why he’s garnered top-10 NFL Draft pick appeal. He was practically un-guardable. He tallied 770 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games including a seven-catch-129-yard farewell performance against Alabama.

    Kyle Trask was the only other Gator to finish as a finalist for national awards. The Texas native mystified fans and lit up almost every defense he faced in his second year as a starter. Trask set the school records for single-season passing touchdowns (43), yards (4,238) and completions (301) in 2020. More so, he became the first SEC quarterback with five consecutive games with four passing touchdowns and broke the record for most TDs through seven games by an SEC QB.

    That kind of season performance landed him in a finalist spot for the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award. However, he ended up fourth in Heisman voting and was beat out for the honor of nation’s best quarterback by Alabama’s Mac Jones. Although, Trask was the school’s first O’Brien and Heisman finalist since Tim Tebow in 2009.

    All-Americans

    There are about one million entities that name All-America teams. Let’s stick with the main group: the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.

    Pitts is the only first-team All-American from the 2020 Florida squad. This means he’ll get a nice brick outside the team complex. In fact, he earned unanimous first-team All-American honors. Meaning he earned first-team honors with all of the five selectors above. He is the eighth Gator, first since Joe Haden in 2009, to earn such an honor. Not only that, the freak from Philly is the first offensive player named unanimous first-team All-American since Jabar Gaffney in 2001.

    Despite his big year at the helm of the Florida offense, Trask didn’t receive any first team recognition. However, both the AP and Sporting News chose him as the second-team quarterback. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney joined Trask on the AP’s second team at the all-purpose position. Dangerous with the ball in his hands, Toney did damage at wideout (984 yards, 10 TDs), as a receiver out of the backfield, a runner, a punt returner and a kick returner.

    All-SEC

    Lastly, let’s look at all-conference recognitions. The AP and Coaches teams released three days after the SEC title game.

    Guess who landed on both first teams? Some guy named Kyle Pitts.

    Meanwhile, Toney joined Pitts on the first team as the all-purpose player plus a spot as a second-team wide receiver on both the AP and Coaches teams. Not to mention a designation for return specialist on the Coaches All-SEC first team. Trask, on the other hand, landed on the second-team for both selectors.

    Two defenders made these respective lists too. Cornerback Kaiir Elam made first team for the Coaches and second team for the AP. Unquestionably Florida’s best corner, the Riviera Beach native posted 39 total tackles (28 solos), one tackle-for-loss, two interceptions and 11 pass breakups in his sophomore campaign.

    https://twitter.com/lib_gator/status/1330246349196029953?s=20

    Transfer linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. earned a spot on the AP’s defensive second unit. Cox racked up 41 total tackles (21 solos) along with 9.5 tackles-for-loss including four sacks in his first year starting. Additionally, he led the team with 18 quarterback hurries.

    In summation:

    Much like the actual season itself, this year’s college football award season left some Gator fans disappointed. Likely that disappointment stemming from a lack of recognition or respect for Kyle Trask’s unbelievable year. Trask was never one for individual accolades anyway. He just wanted to win no matter how well he played. And, despite no yearly awards coming his way, fans won’t forget Trask’s contribution to Gator football.

    However, it still had bright spots. The Gators can add their first All-America brick since 2015 when Vernon Hargreaves III covered receivers at Florida thanks to Pitts. Plus, Pitts became the school’s first Mackey winner since Aaron Hernandez in 2009 and UF’s first Biletnikoff finalist since Jabar Gaffney. Even Toney’s breakout year didn’t go unnoticed either with his multiple All-American and All-SEC spots.

    Let this be evidence that, despite ending the year losing three straight games and missing out on any College Football Playoff consideration, the 2020 Florida Gators gave fans a lot to be proud of.

  • WGYM Liveblog: No. 1 Florida at No. 14 Auburn

    WGYM Liveblog: No. 1 Florida at No. 14 Auburn

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back! Welcome back, Gators and gym fans alike, to LIVE gymnastics coverage! We’re so excited to be able to bring this to you once again this year, albeit from a broadcast rather than the arena itself.

    Tonight, the Gators face off at Auburn in the first of a two-meet series this season, as the SEC is limiting its member teams to conference-only play to decrease potential exposure to COVID-19. The Tigers will come to Gainesville at the end of regular season, but for now, Florida is on their territory to kick off 2021.

    Auburn lost one of its biggest and most impactful classes as of late this year, with the losses of three-eventers Gracie Day and Skylar Sheppard and beam/floor mainstay Emma Slappey being felt the most of the five-member class of 2020. However, the team did have some solid depth last season, and it brings in a class of new freshmen featuring two former elites – Brooke Butler and Olivia Hollingsworth – that look to make a big splash in their debuts.

    But there’s a reason Florida is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Though they, too, graduated a large and important class in 2020, the Gators also bring in two solid former elites to their freshman class, adding to the already very competitive depth in last year’s team. It will be a fight to make lineups just as much this year as it was last, and these athletes are hungry for it. They have unfinished business they’re ready to put to rest, and this is where they set the tone for the season to come.

    7:56pm: Welcome back, y’all! This is the first time I’ll be liveblogging with my nails done, so bear with me if there are more typos or delays than usual – ha! I’ve got my SECN+ loaded up on the Roku here at the house, so count on me for all the updates you need tonight.

    8:00pm: Here we go! I can’t believe we’re watching actual gymnastics again after so long. I’m still super trepidatious about even having season, but I’m simultaneously so happy my sport is back!

    8:03pm: Olivia Hollingsworth, Aub VT: SO excited to see her NCAA debut! FTY, gorgeous and high, but hop on the landing. She’ll look to control that in the coming weeks.

    Skaggs, UB: floaty Tkachev to pak, not as aggressive as I’ve seen in the past, but still good. DLO dismount is weird, I think she pinged off early or held on too long? Big leg sep, stumbled back. An unusual start for her, but could’ve been much worse.

    8:04pm: P Smith, VT: FTY, not as much distance as Hollingsworth, but smaller hop on the landing.

    Gallentine, UB: Stoked to see her debut too! Ooh, she’s already having a little trouble, but when she finally gets the Maloney off, it’s good, and she swings back into the pak nicely. DLO, her knees buckle on the landing… this is not how the Gators want to start.

    8:06pm: Sabados, VT: Another FTY, another hop on the landing, but she’s definitely more interested in dialing in the landing than anyone else so far. A little piked in the slow mo.

    Lazzari, UB: Another freshman debut! Ahhh yay! First handstand a little shy, but Tkachev is good. Next handstand much better. Pak is good. Great last handstand! Full in dismount, a little slow on rotation and she has to step back to catch herself on the landing. Starting to go in the right direction though!

    8:08pm: Stevens, VT: Lovely and clean legs and feet in her FTY, but block was a little off, so had to pike it down a little at the end and hop back.

    Schoenherr, UB: Long wait before starting. Blind change to Jaeger is lovely. Bail straight on, gorgeous toes. Great last handstand. Little hop on the landing for her double front half out dismount, but this is more like it for the Gators.

    8:11pm: Watson, VT: Y1.5, comes in a little short and has to step back. She’s a little off kilter too. That’s a shame, her vault is normally great.

    Thomas, UB: Maloney to uprise, good. Pak is solid, doesn’t connect it directly to the van Leeuwen though, I think that was a mistake but she covered it super well. DLO dismount, knees a little soft and stepped forward. Still, a great outing.

    8:13pm: Gobourne, VT: Y1.5, again a little short, had to slide her feet back under her. Not her usual big distance either, but it’s still early season.

    Clapper, UB: This is an interesting strategy… I’ll talk about my thoughts later though. Good first handstand. Blind change to piked Jaeger, lovely legs. Bail, almost goes over the wrong way but kept it tight. Good last handstand, giant full to double tuck and she stuck it.

    8:15pm: Exhibitions for both teams!

    Oldham, VT: FTY, little close to the table.

    Clark, UB: Love that she’s getting this chance to compete! Gienger, leg sep but decent amplitude. Bail a little soft in the legs. DLO dismount, step forward. Good for her to get out there and try that.

    Brusch, VT: biiiig FTY, but big hop back. She’ll look to control that and get in that lineup soon, I’d imagine.

    AFTER ONE: AUB 49.1, UF 49.05

    It’s a surprisingly close meet so far, but it’s still early. I’m incredibly perplexed in terms of what the bars lineup order is and why… but unfortunately, I won’t have an opportunity to ask the coaches tonight. Maybe I’ll tweet Owen and ask tomorrow, haha. She did pull through with the only stuck landing though, soooo can’t be that mad.

    8:25pm: Richards, VT: Leading off since she’s just doing the FTY right now. Asst coach Adrian Burde said this is just a pacing thing, because of all the time off last year. She’ll be back to the Y1.5 soon.

    FTY is super clean, and looked stuck to me?? Adrian’s celebrating like it is!

    Sumner, UB: Tkachev looked good. Pak had a little leg sep but nothing egregious. Pirouette on low bar was off. Small step on that dismount, but a better start than the Gators had last rotation.

    8:27pm: Lazzari, VT: Great to see her on vault after being in a boot not long ago. Lovely extension through her FTY, just a small hop back. Great amplitude and body position, too. She gets a 9.9!!!

    P Smith, UB: Didn’t see what happened but she hopped off after a transition to low bar. I feel like she took way more time than she was supposed to, this might be another Alyona situation from last year. Maloney to pak was good. DLO dismount was mushy in the knees, big lunge forward.

    8:30pm: Skaggs, VT: FTY, STUCK! Let’s go Skaggsy! And gorgeous body position to boot. A queen. If Lazzari went 9.9, that should be 9.95 easy.

    Sabados, UB: Tkachev nice and high. Good handstands after. Bail a little shy of handstand, but final handstand is good. DLO, bounce back.

    8:33pm: Schoenherr, VT: Y1.5, went for the stick too hard and had to slide back a little. Nice in the air though, slight knee bend as she came in for the landing.

    Stevens, UB: Good first handstand. Flexed feet on the Tkachev. Bail looked fine. Last handstand a little shy? DLO, a shuffle or a bounce in place but very small foot movement. Yeah, slow mo showed her right foot moved slightly.

    8:35pm: Reed, VT: HUGE distance on her Y1.5 but low on amplitude, little itty bitty slide on the landing.

    Brusch, UB: Transition set is good. Great last handstand! DLO dismount, a little hop on the landing. I love that she’s getting so much lineup time.

    8:37pm: Thomas, VT: Y1.5, gorrrrgeous and it’s STUCK! WOW! She dialed that in. 9.975, guess they won’t throw the 10.0 the first meet out.

    Gobourne, UB: Hiiigh Tkachev, straight to pak, nice. Stuck her dismount! Answers right back, well done.

    8:39pm: Exhibition time!

    Johnson-Scharpf, VT: FTY, a little off to the side, small hop.

    McLaughlin, UB: Great first handstand, little leg sep going into the Maloney, and another in the pak. Good last handstand. Just a double tuck dismount, I’d guess that’s why she’s not in the lineup.

    Baumann, VT: FTY, big bounce. Maybe training just the full now to try and get into AA sooner? Hard to say.

    Sylvia, UB: Good to see her getting time on another event, normally she’s just a beamer. Good first handstand, Tkachev is low and she misses her hands, ends up sitting on the edge of the mat. Restarts, doesn’t reattempt the Tkachev. Bail is good, last handstand short. Toe on front tuck dismount, that’s a fun one. Little step from what I saw.

    AFTER TWO: UF 98.6, AUB 98.1

    I think my thoughts about this rotation are best summed up as follows….

    I’m not mad, though, just super unexpected. This vault lineup is what I fully expected based on our coaches’ panel earlier this week, although I had crossed my fingers for Baumann’s Y1.5. But we’ll see how the season goes.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1347721153805234178?s=20

    Thomas will earn the crown on vault with her 9.975, and Gobourne will take bars with her 9.9.

    8:52pm: Watson, BB: full turn, great to get that out of the way. Bhs loso, a little stutter after but doesn’t check her balance. Cat leap to side aerial, brings her leg down strange to try and keep herself from losing her balance. Switch leap to split quarter, don’t think that last one hit 180 completely. Roundoff 1.5, hop forward and off to the side. A good start though, she might be a good choice for leadoff if she’s got her nerves under control.

    8:54pm: Clapper, FX: Wow, cool to see her in this slot! Good for her. I love that she’s a little sassier this year. Double back to start, goes OOB just a bit. 1.5 to front lay, has to whip it around a little to get to the stag leap out. Leaps are good, good positions. Double pike to close, chest a little low maybe but the form was good, and it didn’t seem like she was out of steam. Good for her!

    8:56pm: Brusch, BB: Front aerial to split jump, great. Bhs loso, dead on. Switch leap to back pike, leap was a little shy of 180 and had a little check on the pike landing. Gainer full off the side, looked stuck to me!

    8:58pm: Richards, FX: And here comes the rock music! AC/DC to start, and the DLO! Gorgeous, controlled lunge back. 1.5 to front lay, great control there. Split positions looked good… hmm in slow mo, the second straddle doesn’t look fully 180. Tom Petty music now, Gator chomp on where the “won’t back down” lyric would go. Final pass a little short, probably just still building that stamina.

    9pm: Sylvia, BB: Love her beam work, this should be good. Lovely full turn, Front aerial to bhs bhs, straight on. Switch to sheep, sheep was typical NCAA, head not thrown back all the way. Korbut (bhs swingdown), and she falls?? That’s so strange, I’ve never seen her do that. Cartwheel gainer full, bounce in place I think.

    9:02pm: Johnson-Scharpf, FX: Double arabian to start, WAAAY better than last year. 1.5 to front lay, dances right out. Love the choreo in this segment. Switch to Shushunova is good. Rushing a little maybe in the Gator chomp dance sequence? Double back to finish, a little short and on her toes, shuffles forward. A solid first outing for her though.

    9:04pm: Gobourne, BB: Bhs loso, right down the beam, good. Full turn is okay. Cat leap to side aerial, breaks at the hips but stays on. Beat, switch side, smiles as she regains her confidence. Roundoff double full, looked like a little bounce in place to me. Slow mo shows she does move her left foot, yeah. Still, a good recovery.

    9:06pm: Baumann, FX: I love that she’s kept some of this opening choreo from last year, so good. Very open double tuck to start, you know she’s working that DLO to come soon. 1.5 to front full, good control. Choreo in this segment intended to get the crowd going, clearly will do that in the O-Dome. Gorgeous leaps as always. Double pike to finish, knees buckle underneath her! She falls and goes OOB. Slow mo looks like she hung on too long… she looks okay? I think. I hope.

    9:08pm: McLaughlin, BB: Was focused on Alyssa so I missed the beginning of this. Side aerial to split, gorgeous position in the air. Gainer pike, hop forward. A great routine from what I can tell!

    9:10pm: Reed, FX: A wait for her as they decide on Baumann’s score situation. She assumes that character immediately when she hits the floor, I love it. Here we go! Choreo is revving up as the music does. DLO, GREAT control on the landing and fab amplitude as always. Front lay to Rudi, she’s cleaned those legs up this year, nice. Good amplitude on her leaps. Sass and hair twirling in this sequence, love it. Double pike, NAILS it. She should absolutely get a 10 this year.

    9:12pm: Stevens, BB: Acro series is solid. Cat leap to switch ring… that ring is not a ring. That needs to go. Front toss to knee, bobbled a little bit but held it. Single wolf, good. Roundoff 1.5 to dismount, small hop. Beam not the strongest event for Auburn, but they made it through.

    9:14pm: Thomas, FX: Here we go, y’all. DLO to open, front foot stays planted, yes. Front full front lay to immediate split jump, looked like she almost lost control of that split but she didn’t go OOB. Great split positions. Not only does the oversplit in her choreo like she’s done for two years, but does a pushup in that position! Crazy flexible! Double pike, almost overcooks it a little, rotates it very quickly. but slides the front foot on the landing. Still will be an excellent score.

    9:16pm: Time for exhibitions!

    Oldham, BB: Bhs loso, bent knees and she falls. I missed something as she got back up… Cat leap to switch side, good. Rondoff 1.5 looked stuck to me! She’s a great depth option for them, hopefully this helps with her confidence.

    Taylor, FX: Yes! Love to see her getting the nod here. Double back to start, tons of power and she slides a little on the landing. 1.5 to front lay to stag, has to whip the front lay around like Clapper did. Switch side to Popa, good straddle positions. Double pike and she doesn’t make it, ends up on her knees just in front of the sting mat. Still working on stamina and run pattern, I’d guess.

    P Smith, BB: Beyonce for her beam music, love it. Bhs loso, tries to save it but falls. Gets right back up though and is still performing pretty confidently, good for her. Switch to switch half, definitely does not make 180 on the half. Needle scale, lovely. Bhs 1.5, little hop to the side.

    AFTER THREE: UF 147.9, AUB 147.075

    Some kinks to still work out on floor, but it’s the first meet of the year, so that shouldn’t faze anyone too much. Looking forward to Lazzari making that lineup once her Achilles feels up to it, and would love to see Skaggs or Schoenherr get a chance. But Clapper did a great job, and I’m not mad at her being leadoff. It seems to work for her so far, at least.

    https://twitter.com/samisadancer/status/1347730208489668608?s=20

    9:28pm: Richards, BB: Love that she’s leading off here! Full turn, good. Bhs loso loso, great triple series, and dead on. Switch to split, a little tight on those positions. Side aerial back full, little hop to the side.

    9:30pm: Hollingsworth, FX: Full in to start! A little low, but hard to tell how low from the angle they used. Split positions lovely. Choreo in the middle is… a little boring for me, especially after Florida. Punch front to double tuck, almost goes OOB but I think she stayed in. Yeah, slow mo confirms. Only a two pass routine, but a good start.

    9:32pm: Johnson-Scharpf, BB: Punch front to start, solid. Bhs loso, front foot comes up but she doesn’t bobble. Switch half to beat, lovely. Handstand to loso to back full, what a fun dismount series, I love her unique skillset in this routine.

    9:34pm: Watson, FX: Double pike to open, saving her E pass for later in the season. Leaps look great. Some drama here in this routine. 1.5 to front lay, good control and good rise on the second element. Ooh, some Eye of the Tiger remix in here, I like. Double tuck to close, chest low but masks well. Another solid routine.

    9:36pm: Lazzari, BB: A triple series for her as well, yes! Switch to split, lovely positions in the air. She looks super poised and confident up there… and just as I say that, she hesitates landing her front aerial. Keeps it small though. Full turn, good. Side aerial to back full stuck!! How’s that for a freshman debut? Good for her!

    9:38pm: Sabados, FX: Had to roll out of her first pass, underrotated. 1.5 to front lay, a little whippy. If there was a third pass I missed it? Sorry, husband came upstairs.

    9:40pm: Clapper, BB: Bhs loso loso, breaks at the hips but stays on. Switch to split, lovely positions and good toe point. Side aerial back full, stuck! Good for her for staying on.

    9:42pm: Stevens, FX: Punch layout to Rudi, a little flexed feet but gets it around fine. Switch ring is better here than on beam but still not great? Double tuck to finish, a little low chest and cowboyed it a little to pull it around, as the slow mo demonstrated.

    9:44pm: Baumann, BB: Good to see she’s up to this after the floor fall. Bhs loso, flicks those arms down defiantly. Switch to split, gorgeous as always. Front aerial, baby balance check but covers well. Switch half, easily the best tonight from either team. Roundoff 1.5, stuck! Great redemption for her, she should feel good about that.

    9:46pm: Brusch, FX: Opens with a big double tuck, clearly training something bigger. She’s the most entertaining dancer thus far in the Tigers’ lineup. Goes for her double salto pass, does the 1.5 and then runs out of it, holding her shoulder. Goes back into her choreo though, must not be serious. Double pike, short and lunges forward. She’ll get a major deduction for not having a two-salto pass though. Hope her shoulder’s okay!

    9:48pm: Thomas, BB: Split jump mount, gorgeous. She’s so focused, I love this. One handed bhs to loso, no doubt there. Front aerial to beat to korbut, right on. Side aerial back full, little foot adjustment it looked like, though the team is calling for a 10 briefly.

    9:50pm: Gobourne, FX: Was that a double tuck or full in to start? Terrible angle, but great landing either way, and she is bringing the fun! I love how she’s playing to the crowd here. Front full to front lay, good control. She hits so many little moments in this music, I’m obsessed. Double pike to close, great height and a solid landing. Walking off with the crown hands, yes.

    9:52pm: Skaggs, BB exhibition: She’s so cool and collected on beam, I want her back in this lineup so badly. Series was great. Front aerial good. Cat leap to switch side, solid. Side aerial back full, stuck?? I think so!

    Aaaaaaaand they stopped the broadcast, so we won’t get to see any further exhibitions if there are any.

    FINAL SCORE: UF 197.5, AUB 195.725

    Definitely some things for the Gators to work on in the coming weeks, but a strong start – the strongest, in fact, as this is the highest score for a season opener in program history!

    Thanks for joining me tonight! Stay tuned for a full recap later this weekend, but in the meantime, stay glued to SECN and watch all the meets – celebrate gymnastics being back!

  • MBB: Gators drop first SEC game to Alabama

    MBB: Gators drop first SEC game to Alabama

    Photo by Matthew Maxey / Getty Images


    The Florida Gators men’s basketball team traveled to Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide in a battle of the final two teams undefeated in conference play. However, the Gators were rebounded and shot into submission before leaving with their first SEC loss, 86-71.

    The Gators struggled in the opening half, especially on the defensive glass. The Tide outrebounded UF 25-17 in the first 20 minutes, including 11 offensive rebounds. Alabama got hot from the court near the end of the first half as well, finishing the opening frame connecting at a 45.5% clip from the court and 55.6% from three.

    The Gators made three of five three-pointers in the first half but the mid-range jump shots that had worked so well against LSU Saturday abandoned them as the team made just seven of 27 shots inside the arc. The Tide ended the first half on an 18-8 run to open up a 39-32 lead as both teams headed to the locker room.

    The second half got off to a promising start after Florida went on a 7-0 run to open and tie the game once more, but after that it was all Alabama. The Gators only made one shot in the following five minutes while the Tide went on a 20-4 run to blow the game wide open, leading by as much as 21 before the eventual 15-point win. The Tide had six more rebounds, one less turnover and seven more free throw attempts than the Gators over the course of the game.

    The Tide rolled offensively as they had a trio of players with 16 points and two others with at least 12. Alabama brought in 36 points off the bench, lead by guard Keon Ellis with 16 points and forward John Rojas with 15. Ellis and Rojas also contributed eight and five rebounds, respectively.

    Senior forward Herbert Jones might have been the best player on the floor, tallying 16 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals despite having to sit for a long stretch in foul trouble. He was the best defensive player on their squad Tuesday, drawing several offensive fouls and forcing turnovers.

    As for the Gators, reigning co-SEC Player of the Week Colin Castleton had his third straight game with double-digit points (13) and nearly reached a double-double with eight rebounds. Tyree Appleby was the Gators leading scorer, coming off the bench to add 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.

    Five players wearing orange and blue finished with eight or more points, but no others had more than three. Scottie Lewis was in foul trouble for a majority of the game, minimizing his impact to just two points and blocks each. The team shot 9-20 from three, a major improvement over the LSU game, but only 18-48 from the rest of the court and 8-14 from the free throw line.

    The Gators will fall to 5-2, 2-1 in conference, and will take the court again at home on Saturday at 5 p.m. against the Kentucky Wildcats.

  • The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Assessing the Mullen Rumors and Recapping the Heisman

    The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Assessing the Mullen Rumors and Recapping the Heisman

    On the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast, David Soderquist and Brian Fox are joined by GatorsTerritory’s Nick de la Torre to assess the rumors involving Florida head coach Dan Mullen.

    The trio then discuss the fourth place finish in Heisman Trophy voting for QB Kyle Trask.

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast:

    You can also follow The Gridiron Growl Podcast on the following platforms:

  • Why Dan Mullen would jump to the NFL

    Why Dan Mullen would jump to the NFL

    Photo by Ronaldo Martinez / Getty Images


    Dan Mullen is linked to the National Football League once again. It’s obvious coaching in a league like that is vastly different from Mullen’s current position. It comes with it’s own set of risks and rewards, benefits and drawbacks.

    While we still don’t know if anything will come of Sunday’s report it’s hard to ignore the positives for Mullen of taking an NFL job.

    1. It’s the NFL

    Coaching in this league is essentially the mountaintop of the profession. It’s similar to when Billy Donovan took the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder jobs. Albeit, Donovan returned to UF before ever coaching a regular season game in Orlando. But he knew how much of a step it was to just coach in the NBA. Even Nick Saban—one year removed from a national title at LSU—and Steve Spurrier tested themselves in the league as head coaches. Hard to think Mullen wouldn’t be interested if the right job came calling. Not to mention you’re working for a for-profit entity in an NFL team. No more fundraising to build facilities or hire coaches.

    2. No Recruiting

    No more in-home or official visits. No more actively seeking out and convincing every person on your roster to come play for you each year. Yes, there still is the occasional recruitment of a coveted free agent or contract negotiations but not to the level of what college recruiting is. A coach is no longer reliant on the decision-making of 18-year-old high school students. Plus, you can offer players money to come play for you and you’re not breaking any rules.

    3. Professional Athletes

    This ties in with the whole “no recruiting” thing. But the fact is professional football players are doing this for a living. They’re incentivized by their contracts and don’t have to worry about things like remaining academically eligible or receiving improper benefits. Plus, unsurprisingly, coaches are dealing with players at an average age of 24 to 26, maybe 27 versus players 18 to 21 or 22. This doesn’t mean it’s drama-free but it’s hard to imagine the road isn’t a bit smoother.

    4. Money

    This might be last but it’s certainly not least. Greenbacks make the world go round. And that’s no more evident than in the stupidly beautiful world of sports. It’s why teams sell merchandise and try to attract fans. It’s why NFL games are broadcast on your TV every week in the fall. As it stands, Dan Mullen is the 10th-highest-paid coach in college football at $6 million per year. Guess what the average NFL head coach’s salary is? Around that much. Saban received about $5 million with the Dolphins and the Panthers hired former Temple and Baylor coach Matt Rhule at a controversial (for owners) $8 million to $10 million. Mullen (or his agent Jimmy Sexton) could think either one of those figures is a realistic possibility. And if Mullen succeeds out of the gate then the numbers can only go up.

    These pros could apply to most college coaches looking to work at the NFL level. They’re not Mullen-specific. They’re just my perception of what can make the NFL a hard-to-ignore possibility if the situation ever arises.

    There’s no implication of what Mullen’s thinking or which way he’ll decide if Schefter is 100 percent right in his reporting. I mean how many coaches wouldn’t be “open to coaching” in the NFL?However, whatever happens, it’s hard to imagine at least one of those four aspects above wasn’t considered.

  • Why Dan Mullen should NOT want to leave for the NFL

    Why Dan Mullen should NOT want to leave for the NFL

    Photo by Courtney Culbreath / Getty Images


    Dan Mullen reportedly is open to coaching at the professional level, Adam Schefter reported Sunday.

    Mullen, who has been Florida’s head coach the past three years, has a 29-9 record helming the Gators to go with a pair of New Year’s Six bowl wins (2018 Peach Bowl, 2019 Orange Bowl). He won the SEC East for the first team in his career in 2020, earning his first trip to the SEC Championship before narrowly falling to top-ranked Alabama, 52-46.

    There is no reason to say or think Mullen does not deserve an NFL coaching job. He led one of the best offenses in college football last year and has had a hand in the success of quarterbacks such as Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott and Kyle Trask. But the larger question remains, is the NFL the right place for Mullen?

    Job Security

    The biggest advantage for Mullen staying in Gainesville rather than leaving for East Rutherford or Atlanta or any other option is how secure his job is. As of right now, Mullen has one of the most secure jobs in college football. He lead a top 10 offense in the FBS in total yards and yards per play, he has a pair of top-five wins including over rival Georgia and is under contract for three more years as one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in the NCAA.

    Mullen has earned a lot of good graces at UF, which can be protection from any potentially disappointing season on the horizon. He is guaranteed an esteemed, well-paid position for the foreseeable future if he stays in Gainesville. However, professional football is cutthroat, and it is rare a team has the patience and understanding to let a coach get comfortable. In most NFL buildings, without significant improvement within a year or two, head coaches can rarely avoid the guillotine. If Mullen can’t turn around a team and quickly, he may find himself in a worse spot for it.

    The Gators are Mullen’s team now

    In college football, it traditionally takes about two or three years for a program to truly belong to a new coach. Mullen has been successful so far in Florida but now a lot of his projected starters for next season are players he’s recruited himself. Emory Jones, Kaiir Elam, Khris Bogle, Keon Zipperer and Mohamoud Diabate, just to name a few, are all set to be key pieces on the 2021 team and all committed in the Mullen era. Once a coach’s first recruiting cycle matures to reach starting positions, Mullen is finally free to establish the style he wants with the players he’s pursued and selected himself. To leave now, despite the obviously enticing offer of the professional ranks, would be a curious decision.

    Unfinished Business

    This might be more of a heart argument than a logical or economic point, but Mullen hasn’t accomplished everything he likely hoped to accomplish at the helm of the Florida program. He has yet to win a conference title, with only a single appearance, and has only beaten rival Georgia once in three tries. The views may be loftier, but he hasn’t reached a college football playoff game yet either, something that he clearly wanted for his 2020 team and another box on the resume left unchecked. In leaving, Mullen could be essentially forfeiting the potential of adding that to his resume and achieving and surpassing the expectations he has set for himself.

    There are obvious reasons for Mullen to be at least interested in an NFL coaching position. The money, the competition and the prestige are nothing to turn one’s nose up at. However, Mullen still has boxes to check at Florida, a job he can safely, confidently and comfortably call his own for years to come.

  • Is Dan Mullen Going to the League?

    Is Dan Mullen Going to the League?

    Photo by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images


    In short, we don’t know. But let’s look at it, shall we?

    Adam Schefter gave Gator fans an unsettling bit of news on the final week of the NFL regular season. According to Schefter, Florida football’s Dan Mullen is reportedly open to heading to the National Football League.

    Now, before everyone freaks out, it’s just a report. We don’t really know what’s going to happen. College football is eight days away from ending so of course the rumor mill and coaching carousel are turning.

    https://twitter.com/MichaelWBratton/status/1345767446553251846
    Well, What Are His Options?

    As it stands right now there are three head coaching jobs available in the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. We might even see jobs like the Jaguars, Chargers or (definitely) the Jets come open once the season officially ends.

    The Texans already interviewed former NFL head coaches in Jim Caldwell and Marvin Lewis. Atlanta’s looked at current interim coach Raheem Morris and Detroit hasn’t talked to anyone. All present excellent quarterbacks to work with in Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford. Although some expect the Falcons to go quarterback in the draft this year and Mullen might love to develop a young guy. Another thing is Kansas City’s Eric Bieniemy might get a call for all of those jobs before Mullen. The Jags, Chargers and Jets also have young quarterbacks with all the talent in the world with Jacksonville’s coming in the form of presumptive Number 1 pick Trevor Lawrence.

    At any rate, it would be hard for Mullen not to listen if (and that’s still an if) he’s serious and they come calling with all their money.

    What Does This Mean for UF?

    Look, it isn’t the first time Mullen was linked to the NFL. Remember when the Cowboys reportedly wanted him?

    If Mullen does actually leave it’d be UF’s third coaching search in about six or seven years. It’d also be the third straight time since Urban Meyer left that a head coach didn’t last four full seasons at the school. That kind of turnover isn’t good for a program trying to re-enter the upper echelon of college football and recapture the magic it once grasped under Spurrier and Meyer.

    Nonetheless, there is a good number of eligible candidates for Scott Stricklin and Co. if Mullen makes the jump like Billy Napier, Tony Elliott, Mario Cristobal and so on.

    The other side of this is it’s possibly a negotiating tactic by Mullen and his agent Jimmy Sexton. There were rumblings of an extension for Mullen last March before the world went belly up. Plus there’s talk of looming changes to the defensive staff. Maybe there’s something Mullen wants (extension, more money to hire new assistants) that would make Sexton tell Schefter something like this to put pressure on the administration.

    Like previously stated, people don’t really know if this will materialize at all. Mullen could interview for these jobs and end up not getting them. He could end up with an extension or some other met demand and stay at Florida, a place he never realistically planned on leaving. Time will only tell. But, Stricklin better be ready.