Florida opened their home conference slate Saturday against LSU with a thrilling back-and-forth battle before eventually defeating the Tigers 83-79.
The first half was very even as neither team lead by more than five points. The Tigers started fast, making their first three attempts from beyond the arc. The Gators, however, who came into this game shooting 38.9% from three on the young season, struggled early from beyond the arc, making only two of the first 10 attempts before ending the first half with an Anthony Duruji buzzer-beater that tied the game at 40 as each team went to the locker room.
The second half, for the second straight game, was the Colin Castleton show for Florida. After being forced to sit for a majority of the opening half due to a pair of early fouls, he responded by scoring the Gators first 15 second-half points on his way to a 21-point performance, all but two of which coming in the final 20 minutes. In two SEC games, Castleton has 44 points on just 23 shots. He grabbed sixrebounds on top of the scoring flurry. He lead the Gators out to leads as large as 11 in the second half, but the Tigers fought back in the final minutes to bring the game as close as two points before Florida free throws iced the game.
Castelon wasn’t the only one stuffing the stat sheet for the Gators on Saturday. A quartet of Gators reached double-digit points for the game, the fourth game of the young season that many players have reached that mark. Mann finished with 19 points and five rebounds and was one of the bright spots from long range, shooting 3-6 beyond the line. Duruji followed up his strong first half against Vanderbilt with 16 points and seven rebounds, including six on the offensive end.Scottie Lewis put the finishing touches on the game, making five of six free throws in the final two minutes on the way to finishing with 17 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals and blocks each.
LSU did some scoring of their own. Freshman sensation Cameron Thomas, who led the SEC in scoring (24.1 ppg) entering the game, continued his impressive pace with 28points and seemed to be willing to pull up from anywhere on the offensive side of the court, making quite a few deep and contested threes. Trendon Watford and Ja’Vonte Smart also shined with 21and 20 points, respectively, but no other Tigers scored more than four points.
The Gators, now 5-1 for the year and 2-0 in conference play, will take the court next on Tuesday against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Blown out. Stomped. Shellacked. Mollywhopped. Embarrassed. Any of these fits to describe what happened to Florida on a long Wednesday night in Texas. After a while, or maybe once victory was clearly not an option, it took on a scrimmage-like nature for Florida.
So let’s go ahead and evaluate an opportunity clearly taken by Dan Mullen to evaluate his own team.
Offense: D+
Florida’s offense didn’t play well from the jump. Each of its first three drives ended the same way: Kyle Trask throwing it to the other team. One of them went back for six points. Trask played his worst game of the year with three interceptions, no touchdowns and 158 yards on 16-for-28 passing. Then its next three drives ended like this: field goal, touchdown, field goal. And just like that they were back in the game. However, the offense did almost nothing points-wise the rest of the way. The drops hurt almost as much as the picks. Seemingly because of the sheer number. One of them even caused a pick coupled with an inaccurate throw by Trask. After seeing Florida’s receivers make so many spectacular plays all season, those left couldn’t seem to make one. Whether it was Kemore Gamble, Justin Shorter or Keon Zipperer. The Gators didn’t gain more than 25 yards on their trio of drives to start the second half. In terms of other numbers, it wasn’t good outside of total yards (521). Florida finished 4-for-13 on third down, posted 13 points on five redzone trips and didn’t score after hitting 13 points until three minutes were left in the game!
On the other hand, the Gator offense showcased some bright spots in the form of Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson. Jones and Richardson showed what they bring to the quarterback position: their legs. Jones might’ve been 8-for-16 for 86 yards but he threw in 60 yards on 10 rushes. Richardson ripped off 43 yards on three carries plus completing his only pass for a touchdown to Jordan Pouncey. With Jones or Richardson at the helm, it’ll likely result in a vastly different offensive scheme than what fans saw with Trask the last two years. One focusing on what Mullen likes to do: a balanced attack running the football with the QB.
Defense: F
I thought about this grade for a while because I really wanted to give the Gator D credit for forcing two turnovers in the first half. But I think the rest of the game overshadowed that. However, what else is there left to say here? Almost 700 yards allowed, the third time a team eclipsed 600 yards this season, a near-50 burger (48 points w/o the pick six) and over 400 yards rushing allowed alone. Wednesday marked the sixth time a team threw up 30+ on the defense. Oklahoma ran 19 fewer plays and outgained Florida by 160, especially on the ground. The Sooners had one more attempt than Florida but ran for 435 yards! Missed tackles, defensive backs out of position and seemingly gashed every time a running back took a handoff. I do get it though. The whole team was depleted and losing guys like Ventrell Miller and Kyree Campbell makes a defense go from bad to worse. Not having seemingly any bodies (let alone quality ones) can wear down any defense. But players like Mohamoud Diabate said it’s on to the players themselves to get it right, not just the defensive coordinator.
Although, a guy who caught a lot of people’s eye was sophomore Khris Bogle. The linebacker from Cardinal Gibbons made plays whether getting to the quarterback, forcing turnovers or even getting out to defend the pass. Number eight for Florida beat his man several times on pass rush and even stripped Spencer Rattler to get Florida the ball back late in the first quarter. Another positive fans could look at is a lot of young defensive players got reps like linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper, cornerback Jahari Rogers, lineman Princely Umanmielen, corner Kamari Wilcoxson and defensive back Mordecai McDaniel. Yes even those guys got beat badly. However, those are valuable reps for young players to see.
Special Teams: B+
A quiet night for the Gators special teamers. But still enough to grade. Evan McPherson made two out of his three field goal attempts. His lone miss came on a monstrous 58-yarder he just didn’t quite have the leg for. Punters Jacob Finn and Jeremy Crawshaw posted nearly identical stat lines. Both averaged about 49 yards on their two punts with at least one downed inside the 20 and a 50-yard punt each. Finn actually boomed his punt a whopping 59 yards. With either Finn or Crawshaw, punting will be just fine for Florida. However, Florida did have some lapses on kickoff. Shorter hesitated to take a ball out and got clocked on the return and the coverage team allowed a 40-yard Charleston Rambo return after a McPherson field goal cut the deficit to four.
In conclusion:
The Gators were outmanned and outclassed on national television. An embarrassing third straight loss to end the 2020 campaign. However, I find it interesting to judge. The 2020 Cotton Bowl was more akin to a glorified spring game for Florida than it was an actual competitive game. We saw a lot of young players and a sneak peek into the future of the Florida Gators offense in regards to scheme and personnel. Maybe Mullen saw the writing on the wall and it’s why he punted so quickly on the entire thing. Seems if he was going to get toasted in front of America with a shorthanded team he’d at least get his young guys quality reps and playing time. Florida obviously wanted to play this game because it showed up despite being under threshold. But maybe the Gators not being where they wanted to be (the Playoff) changed the attitude toward it for some. Still some good moments, you just really have to look for them. But the best thing fans can say about the game now is it’s over.
“It’s been everything to be a Gator,” Trask says to begin the announcement.
The signal-caller goes on to reminisce on his unlikely journey to playing for the orange and blue quickly and thank the fans for their support and before finally sharing his intentions of moving to the professional level.
“I’ve had dreams of playing in NFL ever since I was a kid so just to have this opportunity to play at the next level, it’s crazy,” Trask said.
The Heisman finalist will leave behind a short legacy but an excellent one nonetheless. In just 22 starts across two years, the Texas native won 16 games, including a pair of top-ten wins and an Orange Bowl victory. He threw for 7,386 yards (good enough for eight in school history) and 69 touchdowns (sixth all-time).
His 2020 campaign was one for the record books. He broke the program’s single-season passing yards (4,283) and touchdowns (43) in an abbreviated all-conference schedule. He led the Gators to a win over rival Georgia and a trip to the SEC Championship game, both for the first time in four years. He threw for 474 yards twice (vs. Georgia and LSU), second all-time for a single game and became the first Florida quarterback to throw six touchdowns twice in a season (vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas).
Trask was named second-team All-SEC for the 2020 season and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press.
In the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast, David Soderquist, Brian Fox, and Jake Hitt recap a disappointing effort from the Gators in the Cotton Bowl as they fell to Oklahoma 55-20 to complete the 2020 season.
The trio discuss Kyle Trask’s decision to play despite missing his favorite targets and how that choice backfired. They also describe the failures of the Florida defense and the lack of accountability from the Gators’ coaching staff.
Click play on the following audio player to listen to this episode:
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Photo by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Florida suffered one of its worst losses of the Dan Mullen era on Wednesday night. The Gators entered the game a shell of their former selves after many of their top playmakers chose to opt out of the game. With the absence of Kyle Pitts, Trevon Grimes, Kadarius Toney, and Jacob Copeland, Florida was missing the 2,778 yards of production and 34 receiving touchdowns that made the offense so prolific.
Full disclosure, I thought that the combination of Kyle Trask and Dan Mullen would be able to overcome this hurdle and, at least, be able to keep it close. However, as news continued to come in on Wednesday of new additions to the list of players that would not play, my optimism waned. By the time kickoff rolled around, the Gators were down 17 players, 9 of which were starters.
As expected, Oklahoma got off to a quick start, capping their opening drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims. That lead was doubled just two plays later when Kyle Trask threw a 45-yard pick six to Tre Norwood. Unfortunately for Florida, this was just the first of 3 interceptions that the Heisman finalist would throw in the first quarter.
The Gators’ first two red zone possessions ended in an interception and a field goal that followed a couple of very questionable designed runs by Kyle Trask. As a result, Florida trailed 17-3 at the end of the first quarter. The defense managed to slow the Oklahoma attack during the second quarter, allowing the offense to pull to within four.
If there is a bright side to the blowout loss, it is that many of next year’s players were able to gain live game experience. The only Gators’ touchdowns came from Emory Jones and true freshman quarterback, Anthony Richardson. Of course, that means that Kyle Trask went without a touchdown pass for the first time in his career.
After all that has been accomplished by Trask, it’s difficult to see such a performance in what is likely his final game as a Gator. So, how did we get here? Well, the obvious answer is that 17 players either opted out or were sick/injured. But a Heisman finalist should just roll with whoever he’s got, right? Not when they are only given three practices with a group of receivers that have had little (if any) live game reps.
In the end, Trask would finish 16 of 28 for 158 yards and 3 interceptions. Like the finish to the Gators season, Trask’s swan song was a disappointing climax to such a promising year. Trask finished with the Florida single-season records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and 400+ yard games.
Similarly, the Gators were playoff contenders until losing the final game of the regular season. Still they fought hard in a thriller against Alabama for the SEC championship. But alas, the core of this team decided to opt out for the NFL Draft when their season goals were no longer an option. As a result, Florida heads into the off-season with a 3-game losing streak and the most successful 8-4 season ever recorded.
Although the Sooners fans reveled in their first win against the Gators (and an SEC opponent) they didn’t truly face Florida. Perhaps the game would have played out similarly, but I doubt it. Regardless, it is up to the players on the field to not be embarrassed and the Gators weren’t able to prevent the blowout.
Spencer Rattler finished the night with a respectable stat line. The Oklahoma quarterback went 14 of 23 passing for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns. But it was the Sooners running game that really stole the show. Rhamondre Stevenson led all Oklahoma rushers with 186 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Marcus Major also eclipsed the 100-yard mark, recording 110 yards and a score on just 9 attempts.
All told, the Oklahoma ground attack accounted for 435 of the Sooners 684 yards of offense. Lincoln Riley’s squad outpaced the Gators by 163 yards and 35 points, despite running 19 fewer plays.
For Florida’s part, they managed to be pretty balanced offensively. The Gators ran 45 passing plays to 39 running plays and split yardage nearly identically, gaining 271 through the air and 250 on the ground. Emory Jones and Dameon Pierce led all Florida rushers with 60 yards a piece. Freshman quarterback Anthony Richardson added 42 yards on 3 carries.
The Gators’ receivers accounted for 25 receptions amongst 12 pass catchers. Rick Wells led the way with 6 catches for 43 yards. But it was Jordan Pouncey, the transfer from Texas that pulled in Florida’s lone touchdown reception, a 27-yard bullet from Anthony Richardson.
Dan Mullen will have to sit down with his staff and think long and hard about what works and what doesn’t. If that means making some administrative changes, so be it. The program has come so far so fast but there won’t be much patience for another wasted opportunity. Both sides of the ball will have to be held to the Gator Standard moving forward.
It has been a strange and emotional season. Florida simultaneously took major steps forward while having the worst win-loss record since Dan Mullen arrived on campus. It may be a hard pill to swallow, finishing the season in such a way and knowing what could have been, but there’s still a lot of talent in Gainesville. I know that it hurts, Gator Nation. But it’s still great to be a Florida Gator!
The Florida Gators played its first game without star Keyontae Johnson against Vanderbilt Wednesday. The team won its SEC opener handily by a score of 91-72.
The teams got off to a fairly even start, deadlocked at 14 apiece through the opening seven minutes, but then Florida clamped down hard defensively. Vanderbilt went nearly six minutes without a field goal as Florida went on a 12-1 run to open up a 16 point lead.
Florida lead 43-29 going to the locker room for halftime and appeared to be coasting to a third consecutive victory in Nashville, but the Commadores came out swinging to start the second half. Scottie Pippen Jr., the sophomore star who’d been held just two of seven shooting in the first half, began to heat up as Vanderbilt went on an 8-2 run to pull within eight.
However, the Gators caught fire from there and put the game away. Florida made nine of its first 11 shots in the second half and the Commodores never got closer than eight points on the way to a 19-point victory.
Colin Castleton had an impactful night, scoring a career-high 23 points on only 13 shots in one of the most efficient performances of the year that may not have included a shot from outside eight feet away. He tacked on five rebounds and two blocks for good measure as Vanderbilt appeared to have no answer for him in the paint defensively.
Junior forward Anthony Duruji got his first starting nod in Johnson’s absence and made the most of it, looking like the best player on the court and making his presence felt on both ends on his way to nine points, four rebounds and a pair of emphatic blocks in the first half. He had to sit a majority of the second half in foul trouble but still finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
Castleton and Duruji were two of five Gators with double-digit points on the night. Scottie Lewis impressed with 16 points, four assists, four rebounds and a trio of blocksof his own as well as several very impressive defensive plays in transition to stop easy baskets. Tre Mann almost had a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds and Tyree Appleby had 13 points and five rebounds.
Florida’s defense was the star of the night, forcing 16 turnovers and gathering 9 steals and blocks on the night. The Gators won the rebounding battle 36 to 28 and shot 61.8% from the floor (34-55). The team’s three-point shooting wasn’t as impressive after the hot start, making only four of their last 12 attempts from beyond the arc, but considering the team only had two days of practice leading into this game, the team has a lot to feel good about as conference play gets underway.
Florida is next in action Saturday against LSU in their home conference opener.
We’ve reached the conclusion of the 2020 season as Florida takes on the Oklahoma Sooners in Wednesday’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl. Surely, you remember the last time these two teams met, back in 2008?
The following are our staff’s predictions for the Cotton Bowl:
This is a game I could see going in many different ways. I guess I’ve decided on this one: I think Florida is too good offensively to be stopped. I say that with an assumption that Emory Jones will see significant playing time. I think the young receivers step up led by Justin Shorter and Xavier Henderson. I also think Kemore Gamble can make an impact in the red zone from his tight end position. Furthermore, I think this is the game the defense starts to put it all together. I think we see a satisfactory performance by the defensive line and slightly above mediocre effort from the secondary. Also, Dan Mullen has a way of getting his team up for these NY6 Bowls. I’ll take Florida, 38-20.
This one is tough for me. I think Oklahoma has the better talent. But I think Florida can force (QB) Spencer Rattler to make some first year mistakes on defensive line. I also think Trask being in the bowl game helps even a depleted receiving corp. I think we see a lot of Emory this game too. I’m worried about Oklahoma’s run game and Jaydon Hasslewood along with Mims on the offensive side of the ball. I think this game is close. Very close, I think Kyle Trask wants this win for the team and for Dan, but I have a bad feeling. But I also think Oklahoma could be fools gold considering the teams they have played. The blowout over Oklahoma State seems not as impressive after I just saw them struggle against a 2nd string QB for Miami. I’ve teetered between picking Oklahoma and Florida with this same score prediction. This one is tough, but since I’m Mr. Optimistic I’m going to pick a Florida victory here. Florida wins 36-30.
A tough, and interesting, matchup to end the Gators’ year. This isn’t a typical OU squad either. The Sooners still own a good offense, just not as explosive or prolific as when Mayfield, Murray or Hurts manned the helm. Much is said about their defensive improvement. OU hasn’t allowed greater than 28 points in its last six games and allowed 300+ yards through the air twice all season. Its offense is like Florida’s: pretty unbalanced. OU is 75th in rushing and 79th in rushing success. But the return of tailback Rhamondre Stevenson helped improve their ground game. That will be a problem for the maligned Gator D. I expect points, and lots of em. The OU defense hasn’t seen a guy like Trask even if you count Sam Ehlinger. But Lincoln Riley’s boys will probably pick apart Todd Grantham’s defense. Should be a regular shootout in Jerry World. However, I got the Gators on top. Florida 45-41.
If you had asked me, on Sunday, who I thought would win this game, I would have answered Florida without even thinking about it. However, the Gators are now entering this game without their 4 leading receivers. Kyle Pitts, Trevon Grimes, and Kadarius Toney all opted out, choosing to prepare for the NFL draft. Jacob Copeland had his decision made for him when he tested COVID-19 positive on Monday. As a result, I’m not really sure what the team that takes the field on Wednesday night will look like. With that said, Florida will still have Kyle Trask and Dan Mullen. One’s a Heisman finalist and the other is one of the best schemers I’ve ever seen. I’m putting my trust in them to make it happen. Gators win, 38-31.
To say the last 48 hours have changed the outlook on this game would be an understatement. Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney, Trevon Grimes, Jacob Copeland, all gone. Kyle Trask is still around and is still Kyle Trask, and he’ll still have some familiar receivers in the likes of Justin Shorter and Kemore Gamble, among others. However, the Sooners have been one of the best teams in college football the last eight weeks. Since their back-to-back losses early, the Sooners have more wins by 28+ points (three) than less than ten points (two) and quarterback Spencer Rattler has thrown 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions against a few defenses I would volunteer as better than the Gators. At full throttle, I have zero doubts Florida can hang with and dispatch this Oklahoma team, but without their major weapons? One team is on a two-game losing streak and one has won seven in a row. Don’t expect a defensive showdown. Sooners win, 44-35.
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Florida and Oklahoma kick off from AT&T Stadium in Dallas at 8:00 PM. The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPN.
Share your final score predictions in the comments here or throughout social media.
The University of Florida women’s basketball team is off to it’s best start since head coach Cameron Newbauer took over the program before the 2017-18 season. The 7-1 Gators face an enormous task in an attempt to improve that mark as they are now scheduled to face No. 5 ranked South Carolina in Columbia to open SEC play.
The Gators were originally scheduled to play at 4-1 Vanderbilt, who were projected to finish 13th in the league according to the conference’s coaches, but the Commodores are dealing with a Covid-19 situation within their program.
Florida was originally slated to play South Carolina on February 25, but the Gamecocks were in a similar position with their matchup with Ole Miss postponed. No make-up date has been announced for the Gators-Vanderbilt contest at this point.
Florida and South Carolina will tip off at 4:00 PM from Colonial Life Arena on Thursday.
For their 2020 season, the Gator gymnasts’ motto was #NOW, to remind them that nothing is promised and they would have to leave it all on the floor in order to win the championship titles they sought after a disappointing end to the 2019 season left them off the nationals roster. Sadly, the 2020 season would also come to an abrupt end thanks to COVID-19, but now that they’re back in the gym, Florida is not letting off the gas – these athletes still have that fire lit, perhaps burning even brighter than last year, and they are ready to go in just a few short weeks.
Junior Nya Reed even says it in practice – the Gators are on fire!
Just over a week ago, the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) released the results of its annual coaches’ poll to determine preseason rankings for the year. For the first time since 2015, the nation’s coaches voted Gator Gymnastics the No. 1 seed in the NCAA, perhaps signaling a change in the wind for the Gators’ title chances. They also have one of the most difficult schedules, as all eight schools in the SEC are ranked in the top 16, all of whom are operating on a conference-only schedule this season as a precaution against COVID-19 exposure.
Around the same time, the Gators had their annual Orange and Blue Intrasquad, though it was closed to the public this year due to COVID-19 protocols. Still, Florida rose to the occasion, elevating the energy level as though it were a spectated event, and had “one of the calmest intrasquads we’ve ever had,” in the words of junior Sydney Johnson-Scharpf. The full intrasquad was not broadcast anywhere and we don’t have all the hot button routines, but we do have a few videos to share from the team!
It’s not just the intrasquad or the coaches’ poll that will inform our predictions for the coming season, though. We’ve dug through social media training clips, interviews, and press releases to form the best, most complete picture possible for what’s to come. Let’s break it down event by event on who and what we expect to see from Gator Gymnastics in 2021!
Vault
We didn’t get any official videos on vault released from Orange and Blue, but social media is our friend when it comes to video evidence. As you can see in the first Twitter video above, Nya Reed is working on dialing in her vault landings to improve her Yurchenko 1.5 she’s sported since joining the Gators. She also seems to be doing air awareness/coordination drills – that would be the most likely explanation for the clip of jumping into the pit and catching foam blocks, and that will definitely help in her quest to stick that vault. Savannah Schoenherr and Trinity Thomas’s vaults are also looking good as well, both competing the Y1.5, although Schoenherr’s vault hasn’t appeared in videos of the two most recent intrasquads. Sophomore Payton Richards competed a Y1.5 as well last year, but in recent videos, she’s only showed the full-twisting Yurchenko. Hopefully this downgrade is only precautionary, as was the case with Thomas’s temporary downgrade last year around this time, but unfortunately, due to COVID, we weren’t there to ask the question.
The first vault in this video, which shows highlights of the Orange and Blue intrasquad, is Richards showing only the FTY instead of the killer Y1.5 she competed last year.
Seniors Megan Skaggs and Alyssa Baumann are also both looking good on vault, with Skaggs showing off both amplitude and toe point in her FTY and Baumann still working to get her Y1.5 consistent enough for competition, as it was definitely still a work in progress last year. Jazmyn Foberg is also back after not seeing much action last season and sitting out in 2018 due to elbow surgery. Vault was the only lineup she made last year, and that FTY is looking pretty good still. She’d be an early lineup option, but it definitely looks more comfortable both in block and landing than last year. Surprisingly, Sydney Johnson-Scharpf was training a Y1.5 earlier this preseason, but all recent videos have shown her sticking with the FTY she’s trained for several years now.
Johnson-Scharpf’s Y1.5 looked good, but we haven’t seen it since October.
As far as the freshmen go, there is footage of all four of them training vault, but videos of Ellie Lazzari and Alex Magee are scarce. Chloi Clark and Gabbie Gallentine have both shown FTYs on the team’s Instagram account in the last two months, however, based on how little we’ve seen of them, it’s my professional opinion that vault will likely not see freshmen in the top six. Lazzari was training a Y1.5 once upon a time, but she was spotted in a boot a few months ago and hasn’t really been seen on the leg events since then. She is still training, so it’s not cause for enormous concern, but it’s probably enough to require her to proceed with caution.
In the videos on Instagram of the team’s Christmas intrasquad, we saw Johnson-Scharpf, Richards, Baumann, Reed, and Thomas in that order. Schoenherr is the glaringly obvious missing piece there, so adding her in, I’d call that the top six, but I would also expect Skaggs to contend for the opening spot against Johnson-Scharpf. Foberg and Lazzari would be outside choices for me, but not impossibilities.
Any discussion of Gator bars has to begin with the 1-2-3 punch of Skaggs, Schoenherr, and Thomas, and really, their order is pretty interchangeable. They all have gorgeous form, great amplitude on their release skills, and can stick a dismount cold when they’re firing on all cylinders. None of them seem to have made any changes to their routine composition, so it should be same old, same old for these three rockstars. Also likely to return is Richards, who served as the leadoff performer in 2020. She handled that role beautifully as a freshman, so there’s no reason to think that she wouldn’t slide into that role again as a sophomore.
Thomas earned her first perfect 10.0 on bars last season – expect more scores like this for her in 2021.
A few long-awaited faces may enter the conversation for this lineup this year. Baumann has been training bars, trying to get into the all-around, for three seasons now. We thought it was going to happen in her sophomore season, but she was injured in pre-meet practice on bars just before the home opener against Missouri. Understandably, that set her back, but she hasn’t given up – her gains on bars have increased year by year, and this year, it may finally be time for her to step into the lineup. She’s retooled her routine some, now training a Jaeger and bail for her release skills and implementing a new double layout dismount. Get excited, Gator fans – all-around Alyssa is finally coming.
At 0:30 in this video, the first half of Baumann’s bar routine is shown.
She’s not the only one getting those gains on bars, though – Foberg and Leah Clapper have both been seen training bars quite a bit. Foberg was in and out of the lineup as a freshman but hasn’t made it back since then due to injury. If she can return to form, it would be a great asset to the Gators, as her high score on bars is a whopping 9.95. Clapper has also been improving, though her dismount may not be up to par in terms of difficulty requirements to start from a 10.0. We’ve also seen Reed training bars, which I’d classify as unusual activity. She hasn’t even shown bars at Orange and Blue in the past, which is when the team fields all of its depth as it attempts to create two full lineups from the one team. And it hasn’t just been drills or conditioning either – I spotted a Jaeger in late October from her, as though there’s a routine materializing out of thin air for her.
For freshmen potentially joining the lineup, again, all four are training the event, but some are definitely more likely than others. Lazzari seems the most likely choice, with a lovely Tkachev and pak set of releases and gorgeous handstands. Gallentine seems to be going the transition-only route, with a Maloney to pak combo similar to the routine the team loses from Hundley’s graduation, and bars is the most likely place that she would contribute based on pre-college performance. Magee could be a contender if she can up her difficulty a little bit, and Clark is working on a Gienger/bail set that looks vastly improved from her J.O. days.
At the Christmas intrasquad, we saw Baumann, Lazzari, Skaggs, Schoenherr, and Thomas, in that order. If we assume Richards will slide into the leadoff spot as she did last year, that’s the final six. I’d consider Gallentine, Foberg, and Clapper as possibilities, with Magee an outside pick if she can upgrade her dismount.
Returners on beam will be a little less obvious, perhaps, than bars. Thomas and Baumann are almost assuredly the anchor combination once again. Something interesting of note that I found in some training videos – both of them were training new series earlier in preseason, with Thomas doing a side aerial to layout stepout and Baumann a front aerial to side aerial that may or may not have gotten credit as a series if done in competition. However, these combos have not materialized in their competition routines, as both showed full routines at Orange and Blue that did not include those alternate series.
Baumann’s beam at Orange and Blue – the previously mentioned alternative series is nowhere to be found! Video courtesy of Mary Howard, UF Athletics
Aside from the two of them Skaggs, Johnson-Scharpf, Clapper, and Richards all have played a part in the Gators’ beam team before. Skaggs in particular looks like a strong choice for this year, looking confident and cool every routine we’ve seen. Head coach Jenny Rowland mentioned to us last season that Skaggs was dealing with some nagging injuries that were keeping her out of beam, and hinted that she was hoping to help save Skaggs for her senior year. If that’s still the case, well, it’s time to let her run with it! Johnson-Scharpf is also looking confident and secure, and Rowland’s confidence in her only grew throughout last season. Clapper and Richards are also looking good, both sporting triple series and being patient with themselves.
But here too, there are some interesting developments – Schoenherr, Reed, and Halley Taylor have all been seen training beam far more than I expected. Both Schoenherr and Reed learned new side somis to put into their routines, as though they’re trying to upgrade and compete for the lineup. My theory on this is that Rowland and the other coaches are preparing the team for the eventuality that someone, if not multiple people, on the team will not be able to compete at various points throughout the season. Whether anyone on the team actually contracts COVID-19 or not, many of them may have to quarantine for a time because of potential exposure from their lives outside the gym, so it would be wise to ensure the team has as much depth as humanly possible to keep from having to field too few routines in a meet. Better to count a fall or a routine that doesn’t start from 10.0 than a 0, after all.
This compilation of Gator beam moments features Taylor’s series at 0:14 and Schoenherr’s triple series at 0:20. (It also later shows those alternative series I mentioned from Baumann and Thomas!)
Of the freshmen, again, Lazzari seems the likeliest candidate to make the lineup. Her ankle doesn’t seem to be impeding her adjustment to collegiate gymnastics at all – she seems to be taking to it well and maintaining the confidence and poise she had throughout her J.O. and elite careers. Gallentine, too, looks to have a workable routine, though we’ve seen much less of it than Lazzari’s. Magee is also working on a beam routine, which hadn’t been on my radar until recently. However, she has a mount that the O-Dome will love – a split handstand mount which she then rotates to put one foot down, goes to a scale, and then stands up. Check out this highlight from her Instagram page – tap to the next-to-last clip to see her awesome mount!
In videos from the Christmas intrasquad, we saw Johnson-Scharpf, Skaggs, Thomas, Baumann, Richards, in that order. I don’t think that’ll be the order they compete in, but I would guess those five are in the lineup barring disaster or a miracle from an outside pick. For the sixth, my guess is either Clapper or Lazzari, and I think it will really come down to a game-time decision on Rowland’s part. I’ve watched the beam team warm up seven or eight gymnasts in pre-meet practice so that she can see who’s ready at that exact moment, and I foresee that phenomenon being pretty common in 2021. I think we could also see Schoenherr or Gallentine getting the call, particularly if Schoenherr keeps working on that gorgeous triple series in the above video.
Florida’s communications team has done a great job showing off what’s coming on floor this year through social media. This great highlight on their Instagram page will show you all the Gator Chomps coming to floor exercise in 2021, and there’s one for every single gymnast on the roster.
Thomas, Reed, Baumann, and Richards are almost sure locks again on floor this year. Thomas and Reed are both showstopping performers, with enormous double layouts and attitude to spare. Thomas has actually been training a full-twisting DLO, but my guess is that that’s meant for her elite repertoire for her run at Tokyo, not intended for the O-Dome. Baumann is still training a DLO, and though tumbling coach Adrian Burde is still spotting her nearly every time, it’s looking stronger this year than in the past.
But Richards is the real gem here – her routine seems like a continuation of Hundley’s classic rock routine last season, but with a distinctly Gainesville flavor. A large portion of her music is Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down,” and she even does the arm waving on the “He-ey baby” lyric that is a staple at UF football games. Reed even quipped in practice, “Are we at a football game or a gymnastics meet?!” Richards is sure to have the O-Dome singing along with her at top volume, no matter how few fans are allowed in. My only complaint about this routine is that the ending choreography feels a little anticlimactic; otherwise, it’s one for the Florida history books, in my opinion.
Richards’s full routine was part of the official video release from Orange and Blue! VIdeo courtesy of Mary Howard, UF Athletics.
The last two spots are going to be a bit of a toss-up. I favor Johnson-Scharpf for one of them, as she was really hitting her stride last season. She looks as sassy as ever, and her double arabian is in way better shape than last season. She’s also been spotted training a DLO, a piked double arabian, and all sorts of other fun tricks, but it appears she’s sticking with the double arabian for season, and she’s gotten it to the point where Burde is fist-pumping when she lands because it looks so solid.
Schoenherr is also a possibility, as she’s been in and out of the floor lineup the last two years. From the snippets we’ve seen, it appears she’s keeping her same routine from last season musically, but she may be toying with the tumbling passes. The front double full she attempted in preseason last year was giving her some trouble – it was part of why she wasn’t consistently in the floor lineup in 2020. This year, videos have seen her working both a triple full, a la Gator great Alex McMurtry, and a full in, which seemed to be the choice she was originally trying to get away from with the double full. If her tumbling isn’t locked in, it could keep her out of the lineup, at least in the early part of the season. Check out this Instagram highlight of hers to see the triple full and full in almost back to back – they’re in the third to last and last clip of the series.
Others that might be considered of the veterans include Clapper, Foberg, and Taylor. Clapper looks more and more like a performer every time I see her (though there’s definitely still room for growth), and her floor routine for this year is indicative of that. It’s a sassier departure for her, and it has lots of great moments for her musicality to shine through. Foberg is also tumbling again, including an unspotted DLO that I was very surprised to see looking so good. Taylor has served as a depth option for the last two years on floor, though competition is still very stiff for her, considering the level of difficulty her teammates are all reaching for and the heavy spot she’s still getting from Burde on her full-in.
Fast forward to 5:29 in this video to see snippets of the Gators’ floor rotation from the Christmas intrasquad with the correct audio!
As far as the freshmen go, I think it’s sadly unlikely we’ll see any of them crack the top six here. Lazzari would’ve made a great addition, with several different E passes and elegant dance in her repertoire, but whatever she did to her ankle seems to be keeping her from the leg events for the time being. Clark competed floor at Orange and Blue and the Christmas intrasquad, but she looks like some of her tumbling passes may still be a little new and unsteady under her feet.
Taking a look at the Christmas intrasquad, we saw Clapper, Richards, Johnson-Scharpf, Baumann, Reed, and Thomas, in that order, with Taylor and Clark both shown after. I’d say those first six are highly likely to be the final lineup, with Schoenherr fighting Clapper for that first spot. Foberg would be a great addition if she’s healthy enough, as would Lazzari, and Clark would be an outside choice for me.
Overall, the Gators’ outlook for 2021 is pretty bright. The team lost some major routines from 2020’s seniors, so it won’t be any small feat to recoup those scores, but I think this team has the depth and the new additions to do just that. Florida was on track for a historic season last year, and this year will likely be a continuation of that… provided season goes according to plan. Rowland and her team seem to be taking smart precautions in the gym in terms of COVID-19, but no one can plan for every possible point of exposure, and there’s only so much control a team has over how their opponents come into their space. Fans should be prepared for the possibility that this season may also be disrupted by the pandemic, so I’m not going to jinx it – I’m not counting our medals before they hatch. The Gators are poised for a spectacular season. And that’s where we’ll leave it.
Caroline Medley Freeman is our Gymnastics beat writer at Chomp Talk. She will be covering meets from home in Virginia this coming season, but plans to work with editor-in-chief Brian Fox, Jr. to make meet coverage as in depth and live as possible while following all COVID-19 guidelines. Thanks for your continued support of our coverage!
Photo by Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images This game was a bit more intriguing before Monday rolled around. The Gators were -3-point favorites over the Sooners, a spread that might have been even higher if star tight end, Kyle Pitts hadn’t already opted out. However, the Vegas bookmakers have now changed there minds, giving the edge to Oklahoma.
After the news that Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes were also opting out of Wednesday night’s game, the Sooners were named as the favorite by the slightest of margins. Once it was revealed that Jacob Copeland would also miss the Cotton Bowl due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests, the line grew a little more. By the time it was all said and done, the Gators had become 3-point underdogs.
With the core of Florida’s offensive production (31 of 45 receiving touchdowns) opting out, the Gators will need to rely on the younger and less experienced playmakers. Filling in for Trevon Grimes will likely be Justin Shorter. The 6’5″ 225-pound receiver hauled in 23 receptions this season, accounting for 246 yards and three touchdowns.
In addition to Shorter, Gators fans can expect to see a large dose of Xavier Henderson, Trent Whittemore, Ja’Markus Weston, and Ja’Quavion Fraziars this Wednesday night. For some, this will be their first time on the big stage. Others have had moments throughout the season to gain some valuable experience.
Replacing Pitts will be the duo of Kemore Gamble and Keon Zipperer. Gamble recorded his first touchdown almost immediately after Pitts left the Georgia game. In limited playing time, Gamble recorded 9 catches for 147 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Similarly, Zipperer found himself receiving an increased workload in the absence of Kyle Pitts. During that 3.5-game span, Zipperer pulled in 7 catches for 107 yards and a pair of scores against Arkansas.
The rest of that offensive production will have to be made up from the backfield. Although the Gators haven’t been great at running the football over the past two seasons, they have been very effective at using their running backs in the passing game (just ask Georgia). I would expect Dan Mullen to test the Oklahoma defense with multiple looks on a variety of wheel routes, screens, and check downs. The combination of Dameon Pierce, Malik Davis, and Nay’quan Wright have been capable playmakers in this aerial “running game.”
Wright has been a pleasant surprise for Gators fans, putting together 375 all-purpose yards and a pair of scores. Meanwhile, has been utilized as the every down back and has rushed for 443 yards on the season. While that’s not a mind-blowing output, he has earned those yards with a 4.7 yard per carry average. Like Pierce, Davis has averaged 4.7 yards per carry on his way to 279 yards rushing. However, he has also accounted for 358 yards receiving.
There’s no way around it. This Gators’ offense will look different on Wednesday night. But, with Kyle Trask behind center and Dan Mullen/Brian Johnson calling the plays, Florida should still move the ball effectively. Fortunately for the young Florida receivers, Oklahoma defensive back, Tre Brown has also opted out. However, the Gators’ offensive line could have their hands full with Ronnie Perkins, Isaiah Thomas, and Nik Bonitto applying plenty of defensive pressure.
Oklahoma’s defense has been greatly improved over the season. But they’ve yet to face an offense as potent as the Gators. Fortunately for them, they won’t be facing the same Gators offense that has lit up scoreboards all year. With that said, I still believe that the Gators will move the ball well and put up plenty of points. With an over/under of 70, Vegas agrees.
On the opposite side of the ball, Florida will be without veteran defensive back, Marco Wilson. Depending on who you’re asking, this may be a blessing for Gators fans. Still, this means that a rotation of younger and less experienced defensive backs will be filling in against an underrated Oklahoma offense.
The Sooners have topped 60 in two games this season and they’ve eclipsed 40 points in three others. Additionally, Oklahoma ranks 18th in yards per play and total offense, while coming in at No. 6 in offensive efficiency. Much like Florida, these numbers are largely due to a very good aerial attack.
When it comes to running the ball, the Sooners are apt enough to keep opposing defenses honest. In truth, they resemble the Gators in this regard, ranking 75th in rushing offense. This means that Florida needs to take the run away, forcing Spencer Rattler into winning the game on his own. Although he has put up respectable numbers (2,784 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions), he is a far cry from Baker Mayfield. This isn’t really a slight against him though, as most quarterbacks aren’t Heisman caliber. Florida will need to respect his abilities, shutting down the run and making at least a handful of plays in the passing game.
If you had asked me yesterday, who I thought would win this game, I would have said Florida and never given it a second thought. But after the news of the day, I am not as confident. Don’t get me wrong. There is absolutely a path to victory for the Gators. I still believe they can win this game, making Dan Mullen the first coach in the BCS/CFP era to win three-consecutive New Year’s Six Bowl games in their first three years with a program. But, in all honesty, I don’t really know much about the team that will take the field on Wednesday night.
Because I don’t know what this team looks like, I can’t pick this game with the same confidence that I had yesterday. So, I will have to rely on the components that I DO know. Fortunately, one of them is a Heisman finalist (the most deserving of the group) and the other is one of the most brilliant schemers I’ve ever watched. If I’m basing my pick on that alone, I will take Florida in a shootout. Gators win their third-straight NY6, 38-31.
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Coverage will begin at 8:00 EST.
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