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According to multiple reports, the Southeastern Conference is prepared to announce that it’s 2020 football schedule will consist of only conference matchups.
AL.com reports that the conference will move the season’s start date to September 26 with the SEC Championship Game slated for December 19. The league is expected to move to ten conference games, but more clarity is expected after a 4:45 PM (EST) announcement from the league.
On Wednesday, the ACC announced a 10-game conference schedule with a plus-one model, that seemingly allowed in-state rivalries, such as Florida – Florida State, to be played. The SEC announcement is expected to squash those possibilities.
In addition to the Gators and Seminoles, the announcement will affect the following rivalries: Georgia – Georgia Tech, Kentucky – Louisville, South Carolina – Clemson.
UPDATE:
A new schedule will be released at a later date, the conference announced.
“After careful consideration of the public health indicators in our region and following advice of our medical advisors, we have determined that this is the best course of action to prepare for a safe and healthy return to competition for SEC student-athletes, coaches and others associated with our sports programs.”
The Florida Gators have landed their twenty-third commitment of the 2021 recruiting cycle. 3-star DT Desmond Watson announced his commitment to the program on Thursday via Twitter.
Watson is a 6’6, 350 lb prospect who held offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Miami, among others.
The Seffner, FL native attended the Gators’ Junior Day event, held March 7, just prior the NCAA mandated shutdown due to Covid-19.
Defensive line coach David Turner led the charge in the recruitment of Watson. As a junior at Armwood, Watson recorded 65 tackles, including 34 tackles for loss, and ten sacks.
Watson’s brother, Darrian McNeal is a wide receiver at the University of Oregon.
Watson’s commitment brings the Gators to 23 committed prospects. Florida currently has the No. 11 ranked class in the 2021 cycle, according to 247Sports.
The National Basketball Association is set to resumes it’s season on Thursday. After a twenty week delay, twenty-two teams are set to compete for the NBA title.
There are currently eight former Gators on restart rosters, including former head coach, Billy Donovan.
The following list is Gators currently in the NBA bubble in Orlando with their 2019-20 season statistics, years at UF in parentheses:
Brooklyn Nets (30-34, 7th East):
G Chris Chiozza (2014-18) – 21 G, 4.0 PPG, 2.3 APG, 1.7 RPG
Last fall, Florida defensive tackle, Elijah Conliffe suffered an injury to his right foot. Although it was never revealed exactly what type of injury was sustained, Conliffe was sidelined for the entirety of the 2019 football season. On Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the university announced that Conliffe would be taking a medical exemption. Although he will remain on scholarship at the University of Florida, the embattled defender will no longer count towards Florida’s remaining scholarships.
UF has confirmed that defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe has received a medical exemption and is no longer on the team. He’ll remain on scholarship but will not count against the Gators’ 85 limit.
The junior out of Hampton, Virginia amassed a grand total of 15 tackles in limited play during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Despite the sparsity of playing time in his career, Conliffe factored heavily into the future when it came to Florida’s class depth. The Gators boast a trifecta of returning seniors at the defensive tackle position but have no returning sophomores or juniors now that Conliffe is out of the mix.
The staff has made the defensive line a point of priority in the 2021 recruiting class. However, they have received just one commitment to date, a reality that they hope to change in August when Miami Palmetto five-star, Leonard Taylor announces his commitment.
Surely this hurts Florida’s depth—at least in terms of experience—but it is a heartwrenching realization for a young athlete who will never play another down. We, here at Chomp Talk, wish Elijah well in all of his pursuits moving forward.
Florida added to their 2021 class on Friday afternoon when Florida State commit Jake Slaughter announced that he’s “always known that [he] was a Gator.” The Trinity Catholic senior announced his de-commitment from FSU and his commitment to the Gators via Twitter.
With Slaughter, the Gators add further depth and size to their offensive line. The Center checks in at 6’4″ and weighs an even 300 pounds. Staying close to home was a big factor for the Ocala native and Florida offered the best combination of proximity, opportunity, and education.
Slaughter is rated as the 89th overall recruit in the state of Florida and holds a 247Sports composite score of 0.8654. Credited with pulling him away from the Seminoles are coaches, John Hevesy and Christian Robinson. In addition to offers from FSU and the Gators, Slaughter had received offers from twenty-one other programs, including Auburn and Arkansas.
As we get closer to fall, Florida seems to be picking up momentum on the trail. Another piece of the recruiting puzzle has been put into place and things are looking good for the Gators.
For all but four teams that played on Thursday, it is Opening Day for the MLB.
The University of Florida is well represented across Major League Baseball. Nineteen former Gators have made their way onto the 60-man rosters of MLB teams, which is the most of any collegiate program. In addition, eight are members of active (30-man) rosters.
Where can you watch your favorite former Gators play? Just check below (sorted by team):
– Position, Name, (Years at UF), Roster Staus
Atlanta Braves
RHP Darren O’Day (2003-06), Active Roster
Baltimore Orioles
RHP Eric Hanhold (2013-15), Player Pool
SS Richie Martin (2013-15), 45 Day IL
Boston Red Sox
LHP Brian Johnson (2010-12), Player Pool
Chicago White Sox
RHP Dane Dunning (2014-16), Player Pool
Cincinnati Reds
RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2009-11), 10 Day IL
3B Jonathan India (2016-18), Player Pool
C Mark Kolozsvary (2015-17), Player Pool
RHP Justin Shafer (2013-14), DFA
Cleveland Indians
LHP Scott Moss (2016), Player Pool
Detroit Tigers
RHP Alex Faedo (2015-17), Player Pool
Kansas City Royals
RHP Jackson Kowar (2016-18), Player Pool
*RHP Brady Singer (2016-18), Player Pool
New York Mets
1B Pete Alonso (2014-16), Active Roster
Oakland Athletics
LHP AJ Puk, (2014-16), 10 Day IL
OF Buddy Reed (2014-16), Player Pool
San Francisco Giants
RHP Shaun Anderson (2014-16), Active Roster
St. Louis Cardinals
OF Harrison Bader (2013-15), Active Roster
Tampa Bay Rays
C Mike Zunino (2010-12), Active Roster
*Brady Singer will be activated prior to Saturday’s game in Cleveland, where he is expected to start.
Let us know in the comments or on social media who you are most excited to watch this season.
When the official Florida Gators twitter account teased a Ring Of Honor (ROH) announcement back in mid July, the page was flooded with replies from fans and media members alike with anticipatory cheers and jeers for former head football coach Urban Meyer.
Some sent gifs of the only ROH-eligible Gator to show their excitement. But others, not so convinced that Meyer belonged in any group with the word “honor” in its title, tweeted their dismay and disgust with the idea altogether.
Fortunately for the latter, the announcement was not an inductee, but instead a ROH merchandise launch. According to Thursday’s release from the University Athletic Association, the collection will highlight two ROH members every year for the next three years, starting with class of 2006 inductees Jack Youngblood and Emmitt Smith.
Depending on which camp you fall into, Thursday was either a close call or a major letdown. The last time Florida Football inducted anyone into the ROH was 2018 when Tim Tebow’s name was unveiled at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Surely the program is due for an addition soon.
So, when the time comes, why not Urban Meyer?
Oh, I’ll tell you why.
A controversial figure, Meyer’s departure from Gainesville created a great chasm among Gator fans. While he claimed to step down for medical reasons and to escape the pressures of expectations that come with being the head football coach at a Power Five program, Meyer accepted a head coaching job with Ohio State University just 10 months after claiming it was time to hang up his whistle. That left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.
Yes, he brought about some of the program’s best days with two national championships, two SEC championships and one Heisman Trophy winner. Yes, he was an excellent recruiter and team builder, earning him Sports Illustrated’s “Coach of the Decade” distinction. On paper, I can think of no one more deserving of a spot on that legendary ROH roster.
The issue lies with that (to some) pesky little word “honor.” While Meyer brought a breadth of athletic accolades to UF during his time as head coach, the way he ran things off the field brought nothing but shame to the program and the school.
In 2013, The New York Times released a report revealing that a third of the players on Meyer’s 2008 national championship winning team were arrested while in college, shortly after college or both.
Let’s think about that stat for a second. Forty one out of 121 athletes. According to that same report, 31 players were arrested under Meyer’s tutelage between 2005 and 2011. Where’s the honor in that program?
Now, it’s fair to say that prominent sports figures and celebrities don’t have to be role models. Meyer was a great coach that knew how to get results out of his athletes on the field. I will also say that people are imperfect and capable of growth. So the disciplinary measures he took at Florida, or lack thereof, may not be indicative of his current character. I’ve heard that he does wonderful work with charities nowadays. I’ve even met him a couple of times at Tim Tebow’s celebrity golf tournament.
But solely based on his time in Gainesville, Meyer is not someone to be revered. Plain and simple. Winning at all costs– sacrificing morals and sweeping scandals under the rug– is not up to the “Gator Standard” the UAA and current head football coach Dan Mullen boast about.
Sorry Gator fans, but I vote we leave this guy out.
Former Florida Gators star Brady Singer has cracked the Kansas City Royals’ roster. Manager Mike Matheny confirmed that the rookie will start on Saturday in Cleveland.
Royals manager Mike Matheny announces RHP Brady Singer will start Saturday in Cleveland.
Singer was Kansas City’s top pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and rose quickly through the organization. The Leesburg, FL native started 26 games in 2019 and allowed only a 2.85 ERA across Single-A and Double-A ball.
The Royals open the season on Friday in Cleveland. Singer will make his debut in a 5:10 PM start on Saturday.
Known for his firey demeanor, the twenty-three year old righty pitched at The University of Florida from 2016-18 and led the Gators to their first national championship in 2017. Singer was selected with the No. 18 pick of the 2018 MLB Draft after being taken in the second round by Toronto out of high school.
Puk, who starred at Florida, was placed on the Injured List on Monday, the Athletics announced. Puk is dealing with a shoulder strain that Melvin admitted there is a level of concern for. Puk dealt with similar issues in February that would have forced him to open the season on the IL prior to the postponement of the MLB season.
Melvin says “the fact we have to put Puk on the DL indicates there is a level of concern.”
Puk missed the entire 2018 season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Last season he made his MLB debut as a September call-up and recorded 13 strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work.
The 6’7 southpaw attended The University of Florida from 2014-16 before being selected No. 6 overall by Oakland in the 2016 MLB Draft.
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