ChompTalk.com

Chomping at the bit for Florida Athletics

recent posts

about

  • Mt. Rushmore: Gators Swimming

    Mt. Rushmore: Gators Swimming

    Photo by Eric Francis / Getty Images

    Gators can swim. Who knew? Yes, obviously, Gators can swim. However, what many people don’t know is how successful Florida Gator swimmers really are. The University of Florida has produced many Olympians, but former Gator swimmers are some the most decorated athletes the school has to offer. Which ones stand out?

    Tracy Caulkins (Stockwell) – 1982-1984

    Though Tracy Caulkins (now Tracy Stockwell) isn’t a household name, you’ll think she deserves to be after hearing of her accomplishments. 

    Before ever stepping foot onto campus in Gainesville, Caulkins was the most decorated swimmer in the nation having qualified for five individual events for the 1980 Olympic games. However, Caulkins and the rest of Team USA wouldn’t compete after America boycotted the Soviet Union games. 

    As a freshman, Caulkins made history as she competed in the first ever Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. As the event progressed, Caulkins continued to win event after event until she had won every race she competed in; the 100-yard butterfly, the 200-yard butterfly, the 100-meter individual medley, the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter individual medley. 

    During her sophomore season, Caulkins did more the same as she repeated her Championship run in the 100-meter individual medley, 200-meter medley and 400-meter medley. 

    Can you guess what she did as a junior?

    You got it, she three-peated in the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter medley while also adding titles in the 200-yard butterfly, 100-yard breaststroke as well as being a member of the title winning 400 and 800-yard freestyle relay teams. 

    Caulkins represented Team USA in the 1984 Olympics where she won gold in all of her events; 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley and 400-meter individual medley relay. 

    After the 1984 Olympics, Caulkins decided she had accomplished all that she wanted to and gave up competitive swimming; foregoing her senior year as a Gator. 

    Dara Torres – 1986-1989

    Personally, Torres is one of my favorite Gators of all time – across all sports. During her time at Florida, Torres captured nine SEC individual titles; that’s over two a year! Torres won the SEC titles in the 50-yard freestyle (1987, 1988, 1989), the 100-yard freestyle (1987, 1988, 1989), the 200-yard freestyle (1987) and the 100-yard butterfly (1988, 1989). However, the SEC championships don’t stop there. Torres was also a part of 12 championship winning relay teams during her Florida tenure. 

    Moving into deeper water, Torres still found success at the NCAA Championship level. In 1988, Torres claimed the NCAA individual championship in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. Torres also claimed six more NCAA titles during her college career as part of relay teams.

    For Dara, the accolades stretch far and wide. She claimed the 1988 SEC Athlete of the Year award, the SEC Female Swimmer of the Year award in 1987 and 1989, and won the maximum number of All-American honors with 28 across her college career. 

    Once graduated, Torres went on to represent Team USA in the 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2008 olympic games. Torres has collected 12 olympic medals through her career; 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze. 

    Ryan Lochte – 2002-2006

    Perhaps the largest name in Florida Gator swimming, Ryan Lochte has certainly put on a show for swimming enthusiast around the globe. The Daytona Beach native stepped on campus in 2002 and instantly started a winning tradition that continues today. 

    As a freshman in 2002, Lochte won the SEC Male Swimmer of the Year award and SEC Freshman of the Year award. He was also a three time SEC Champion that year while tallying 22 first place finishes across the season. 

    During his sophomore season, Lochte picked up six all-American honors at the NCAA Championships and broke the American, U.S. Open and NCAA record for the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:04.52.

    As a junior, Lochte added seven more all-American honors at the NCAAs while taking top honors in the 200-meter individual medley, breaking the American, U.S. Open and NCAA record with a time of 1:41.71. Lochte also broke the NCAA meet record for the 200-yard back with 1:38.37. Lochte collected seven all-SEC honors and was named the SEC Male Swimmer of the Year.

    During his senior year, he capped off his college career with four stellar performances at the NCAA Championships; which included defending his 200-meter individual medley with an NCAA and American record time of 1:40.55. Once again, Lochte took home the SEC Male Swimmer of the Year award. 

    In summary, Lochte was a two time NCAA Swimmer of the Year, seven time NCAA Champion, seven time SEC Champion and 24 time all-American; all before collecting 12 Olympic medals (6 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) at the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic games. 

    Caeleb Dressel – 2014-2018

    How could we leave the recent face of Florida swimming out of the mix? 

    As a freshman, Dressel became the first Gator to ever win the 50-yard freestyle NCAA title. Dressel posted a time of 18.67 seconds, setting a school record and just one hundredth of a second shy of the American record. Dressel tallied seven all-American honors his freshman year as well as being named the SEC Freshman of the Year. 

    During year two at Florida, Dressel added two more individual titles to his list of accomplishments after swimming the 50-yard freestyle in 18.20 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 40.46 seconds; with both times being UF, U.S. Open, American and NCAA records. Capping off his sophomore year, Caeleb Dressel was the NCAA’s Co-Swimmer of the Year and the 2016 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year. 

    As if he needed to win anymore events, Dressel did just that during his junior year. In year three, the Gator brought home three NCAA titles; the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. Dressel swam a 40.00 flat on the 100-yard freestyle, breaking his own record from the year prior. In 2017, Dressel was once again named SEC Male Swimmer of the Year as well as the CSCAA Co-Swimmer of the Year. 

    In 2018, Dressel had saved the best for last. During the NCAA Championships, he put together four NCAA title performances in four days. Dressel surpassed Ryan Lochte for most NCAA titles with the capturing of the 2018 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly and 200-meter freestyle relay titles. Totaling 10 titles, compared to Lochte’s eight. His time of 17.63 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle made Dressel the first human to ever swim sub-18 in the event. Dressel accomplished this same feat during the 100-freesyle where he became the first human to ever swim a sub-40; he swam a 39.90. 

    While Dressel has already won two Olympic gold medals, considering the recent-graduate is still competing while out of college, we can expect to see him this time next year in Tokyo representing Team USA in the 2020 Olympics. 

  • WGYM: Thomas, Future Gators Shine in Summer Competition

    WGYM: Thomas, Future Gators Shine in Summer Competition

    Photo by Brian Fox / ChompTalk.com

    Women’s elite competition heated up this summer as current and future NCAA stars competed at the U.S. Classic, the Pan American Games and the U.S. National Championship. Many Gator Gymnastics commits made waves at these competitions, but current Gator Trinity Thomas achieved what only a handful of women have done before her. She competed at both Classic and Nationals as an elite and NCAA Championships as a student-athlete in the same calendar year, and she won’t defer any of her eligible seasons at Florida to do so, making her accomplishment all the more incredible.

    At Classic, Thomas proved she was serious about continuing to train elite, earning 14.2 and 14.0 on bars and beam, respectively. For those not familiar with the elite scoring system, there are two components to an elite score: the difficulty score and the execution score. The difficulty score is calculated by adding up the value of the eight most difficult unique skills competed, plus a flat addition of 2.0 provided the routine meets certain compositional requirements. The execution score, however, is out of a 10.0 like the collegiate scoring system, though deductions are taken with much closer scrutiny. Thomas achieved difficulty scores of 5.5 on bars and 5.6 on beam, numbers equal to or higher than that of many of her competitors, including those who represented the U.S. at the World Championships last year. Long story short, her scores are competitive. This was her announcement that she’s not just training elite for funsies. Trinity Thomas is for real.

    Though she only competed bars and beam at the U.S. Classic, Thomas qualified via a national team camp to compete in the all-around at Nationals. Undeterred by not making the Pan American Games team, she continued to upgrade and became only the second person in the history of the sport to perform the Biles on floor, a double layout with a half twist in the second flip. Named after Simone Biles, it’s one of the hardest tumbling passes in the elite code, with only six skills (including Biles’s newsworthy triple-double) valued higher than it. Watch Thomas make the Biles her own – while proudly sporting the Orange and Blue – in the first tumbling pass here.

    Thomas finished the two-day meet in ninth overall, higher than multiple Pan Am team members, and was named to the U.S. national team. She is expected to be invited to the Worlds Team Selection Camp next month to compete for five spots at the World Championships, held in Stuttgart, Germany in October. She would have to miss some of her preseason training in Gainesville, but with the support of head coach Jenny Rowland, it is expected Thomas will attend camp to vie for a Worlds berth.

    Thomas was not the only elite gymnast you should cheer for as a Florida fan, though. Seniors Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker, Shilese Jones and Sloane Blakely are all committed to UF, as are juniors Sophia Butler, Kayla DiCello and Olivia Greaves. All competed at Nationals this past weekend with various levels of achievement. Hurd, McCusker, Butler, DiCello and Greaves were all named to the national team (the latter three to the junior team), and Hurd, McCusker and Jones are all expected to attend Worlds Selection Camp. DiCello also competed at the inaugural Junior World Championships held in June, an honor only bestowed on three young gymnasts for each competing country.

    Below is a list of the achievements of both senior and junior Florida commits at all four summer competitions with select videos included.

    Morgan Hurd: U.S. Classic – 6th AA, 1st UB; Pan Ams – 1st team; U.S. Nationals – 4th AA, 2nd UB

    Riley McCusker: U.S. Classic – 2nd AA, T-3rd UB, 2nd BB; Pan Ams – 1st team, 2nd AA, 1st UB, 3rd BB; U.S. Nationals – WD

    Shilese Jones: U.S. Classic – 9th AA, 3rd VT; U.S. Nationals – 12th AA

    Sloane Blakely: U.S. Classic – 17th AA; U.S. Nationals – only competed 3 events

    Kayla DiCello: Junior Worlds – 3rd team, 1st UB, 3rd BB; U.S. Classic – 11th AA, T-3rd UB; U.S. Nationals – 1st AA, 1st VT, T-3rd UB, 1st FX

    Olivia Greaves: U.S. Classic – 3rd AA, 1st UB; U.S. Nationals – 3rd AA, 1st UB

    Sophia Butler: U.S. Classic – 6th AA, 3rd VT, 3rd FX; U.S. Nationals – 10th AA, 3rd VT

    Which of these Gators are you most excited to see in the O-Dome in years to come? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter!

  • SOC: Gators ranked No. 5 in Preseason SEC Coaches Poll

    SOC: Gators ranked No. 5 in Preseason SEC Coaches Poll

    Photo by Brian Fox / ChompTalk.com

    On Tuesday, the Southeastern Conference announced the preseason coaches poll for the upcoming soccer season. The University of Florida is ranked No. 5 by coaches.

    Texas A&M topped the poll and is followed by South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

    In 2018, the Gators went 7-10-4 and failed to qualify for postseason play.

    This is the twenty-fifth season of Florida soccer, a program that has been led by just one head coach, Becky Burleigh. Burleigh has accumulated 414 wins as the head coach at UF.

    2019 Preseason Coaches Poll:

    1. Texas A&M
    2. South Carolina
    3. Vanderbilt
    4. Tennessee
    5. Florida
    6. Arkansas
    7. Auburn
    8. Mississippi
    9. Alabama
    10. Missouri
    11. Mississippi State
    12. LSU
    13. Georgia
    14. Kentucky
  • Mount Rushmore: Gators Quarterbacks

    Mount Rushmore: Gators Quarterbacks

    Photo by The University of Florida via Getty Images

    Florida has a rich athletic history and a tradition of excellence across all sports and in the classroom. It would be easy to get swept up in a seemingly never-ending dialogue about their competitive accomplishments, but for the sake of time, I’m only going to focus on football. More specifically, this edition of Florida’s Mt. Rushmore series will look at the Gators quarterbacks.

    With so many stellar athletes to grace the Gators gridiron, I thought it would be best to do a series within the series, so to speak. We will be continuing with a segment on each position group and the greatest to ever do it, over the course of the 2019 season. So without further ado, let’s begin!

    1. Steve Spurrier

    Stephen Orr Spurrier is the only player on this list that could likely find himself on two different Mt. Rushmores. Long before becoming UF’s all-time winningest coach, Spurrier was winning games for the Gators as a quarterback. In thirty games, Spurrier amassed 4,848 yards and 36 touchdowns on his way to becoming the Gators first Heisman Trophy winner. His legacy is one that will withstand the test of time, as he is honored with having Steve Spurrier Field named after him and has a statue commemorating his time as a player, in front of the stadium.

    2. Danny Wuerffel

    Mr. Wuerffel saw a spectacular career in the orange and blue. Under the tutelage of the Ol’ Ball Coach, Wuerffel thrived in the fun ‘n’ gun offense. During his time in Gainesville, Wuerffel started in 46 games and totaled 10,875 yards with 114 passing touchdowns. With Danny at the helm, Florida had one of the most prolific offenses of the 90’s and played in two consecutive national championship games, winning one. Wuerffel came in third in the Heisman voting in 1995 before winning the coveted honor the very next year. With that season, Weurffel became the first national champion quarterback in Florida history and their second Heisman Trophy winner.

    3. Tim Tebow

    Tim Tebow is a guy you might have heard of once or twice regardless of which team you follow. While at the University of Florida, he became arguably the greatest collegiate quarterback of all-time. As a true freshman, Tebow was an integral part of the Gators spread attack, especially in short yardage situations. His powerful running style was nearly impossible for opposing defenses to contend with and he helped Florida win their second national championship while serving as Chris Leak’s backup. In his first year as the starting quarterback, Tebow put up unprecedented numbers and became the youngest player (at the time) to ever win the Heisman Trophy. During the span of Timmy’s career, he accumulated 9,285 yards passing, 88 passing touchdowns (to just 16 interceptions) while also rushing for 2,947 yards and another 57 scores. Although he only won the Heisman once, he finished in the top five of the voting every year that he was a starter. His intangibles elevated everyone on the team and he burnished his legend when he made good on the now famous “Tebow’s Promise,” leading Florida to their third national championship.

    4. Chris Leak

    I know, this one may seem off to some of you and I very nearly chose Rex Grossman for this final spot, but hear me out. Chris Leak won a national championship and he is the all-time leading passer at Florida. Think about that. With all of the incredible quarterbacks that have played at Florida, Leak has more passing yards than any of them! He had a rocky start with Gator Nation but he put in the work to get better and better, and like Tebow (albeit not in such a dramatic fashion), he made good on his own promise to deliver a national championship. Leak laid down a masterful performance against the heavily favored Ohio State Buckeyes to win Florida’s second championship in blowout fashion. Over the course of his career, Leak carved up defenses to the tune of 11,213 yards and 88 touchdowns. All of this is made even more impressive when you factor in that he did this while playing for two different head coaches (three if you count the single game stint of Charlie Strong between Zook’s departure and Meyer’s arrival) and three different offensive coordinators.

    As I close this opening segment of Florida’s Mt. Rushmore of football, I would like to acknowledge each of the stellar quarterbacks that have made it great to be a Florida Gator over the years. While I think that this is a pretty good list, I am sure that many of you will have a few differing ideas about who belongs on it. Please, leave a comment and join the discussion!

    Who is on your Mt. Rushmore? Let us know on the official ChompTalk.com Facebook page and on our Twitter accounts, @ChompTalk and @MikeyPfeffer!

  • Mount Rushmore: Gymnastics

    Mount Rushmore: Gymnastics

    Next in our Mount Rushmore series is Gator Gymnastics. Three NCAA titles, ten conference titles, four Honda Award winners (including two two-time winners), nine individual national titles, and 460 total All-America honors are just the top highlights of the many accolades this team has achieved over the years. Part of the recipe for this incredible success has been the recruiting: Florida has had 23 international elites in its 37-year history in the NCAA. Because of the incredible caliber of gymnast that Florida attracts, it’s also very difficult to decide who should be honored among the greatest of the great. But when comparing the Gators to Mount Rushmore and the reason each figure is honored there, the picture becomes clearer as to the different kinds of gymnasts that would stand out enough to be chosen for such a monument.

    See also:

    Mount Rushmore of Gators Volleyball

    Mount Rushmore of Gators Soccer

    Mount Rushmore of Gators Men’s Basketball

    Universally agreed upon by Gator fans and gymnastics die-hards alike, Bridget Sloan is like the George Washington of this monument. Sloan was the herald of the coming of Florida, signaling a new, prosperous era for the Gators ahead. Winning three national team titles, in addition to several individual medals, made a statement that Florida was a superpower here to stay, and completing the Gym Slam (earning a perfect 10.0 on every event) was no laughing matter either. Her two Honda Award wins bookended a storied career that would be difficult for any Gator, past or future, to rival. Here she is on floor in her freshman year, showing shades of intensity and attack that would serve her well throughout her career.

    To fill the role of Thomas Jefferson, the Founding Father memorialized for the foundations he laid to point our nation in the right direction, there are a few Gator greats we considered. Maria Anz was our ultimate choice, seeing in her the precursor to the style and energy that has made Florida such a formidable force in the sport. Starting as a walk-on as a freshman, Anz won the NCAA floor exercise title as a sophomore year – Florida’s very first NCAA gymnastics champion in any category. Here’s the routine that won her the title, an honor that many future Gators would follow in her footsteps to win.

    The Abraham Lincoln of Gator Gymnastics had to be a strong leader, someone charismatic and staunchly good that the team could rally behind, much the way the nation rallied behind Lincoln and his ideals during the Civil War. Marissa King fit this to a T, often looked to by her teammates for inspiration and affirmation to surge back and win important meets despite mistakes. Florida’s postseason depended on this leadership in 2013, as in both the SEC championship and the national championship meets, Florida had to rally from behind in order to win – and win they did, in both instances. After watching this incredible floor routine from her final night in the O-Dome, notice how emotional the whole team is as they come to congratulate her. She was clearly an inspiration to friends and teammates alike.

    Last but certainly not least, the Gator Gym Mount Rushmore needs its Teddy Roosevelt. Looking back from today’s perspective, we may not consider him to be one of the all-time greats, but at the time that Mount Rushmore was built, he was a recent example of the country’s ideals. This role is best filled by Alex McMurtry, who recently completed her NCAA career with a Gym Slam, a national all-around title and a Honda Award to boot. She fought through a back injury and severe training restrictions to compete all-around in three of her four seasons and didn’t water down to do so. She performed some of the highest difficulty the Gators have ever seen – a double-twisting Yurchenko on vault and a gravity-defying triple twist on floor – and pushed her own boundaries, learning a new single-bar release for her bar routine while in Gainesville. Add this to all her accolades and we think we can confidently say McMurtry will be the Gator great of the current era that will stand the test of time. Check out her first-ever Florida floor routine, showcasing her gutsy performance and competitive spirit despite her challenges.

    Of course, in any monument or Hall of Fame, there are those who come very close without making the cut. Gymnasts like Ann Woods, Kytra Hunter, Kennedy Baker, Elfi Schlegel and Trinity Thomas all have made their mark on Gator gymnastics (and some still are!) and deserve to be recognized as well. Who would you put on the Florida Gymnastics Mount Rushmore? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter!
    *Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.

  • Former 5-star LB Brenton Cox transfers to Florida

    Former 5-star LB Brenton Cox transfers to Florida

    Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images

    The speculation and rumors surrounding where five star outside linebacker Brenton Cox would end up, have come to an end. The former Georgia Bulldogs who entered the transfer portal in early August has declared Gainesville as his home for the remainder of his collegiate career.

    Fans first began to speculate as to whether or not the 6’4″, 245-pound Stockbridge native would end up at Florida after he began following Dan Mullen and Todd Grantham on his Twitter account. Pending NCAA approval of his eligibility waiver, the transfer brings an immediate boost to depth and talent to the Gators’ defense, as Cox was the twenty-third ranked recruit, nationally, in the class of 2018.

    Holding a 247Sports composite rating of 0.9867, Cox’s defection will most certainly add some more fuel to the already raging fire that is the Florida/Georgia rivalry. The two schools will meet up at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on November 2nd, in Jacksonville.

  • Mount Rushmore: Gators Men’s Basketball

    Mount Rushmore: Gators Men’s Basketball

    Photo by Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

    Florida Gators men’s basketball dates back to 1915, thus it’s no surprise to see that the program has had some amazing talent on the hardwood.

    Although most of the success didn’t come until the Billy Donovan era, Florida is one of the most storied programs in all of college basketball’s history. A program that boast two national championships, five Elite Eights, nine Sweet Sixteens, and 30 NBA players.

    While creating a Mt. Rushmore of Florida Gator hoopers, I figured we needed to set some boundaries. This list will not feature any one-and-done players, any one year Gators, furthermore this list is based solely on their time with the University of Florida. Professional career will not be taken into account.

    See also: UF Volleyball Mount Rushmore

    Neal Walk (1967-1969):

    Consider Neal Walk the first all-time great Gator hooper. Walk, a 6’10 center remains the only player in program history to have his jersey number (41) hanging in the rafters was legendary.

    In his junior season, Walk averaged an unbelievable 26.5 points a game to go with an unmatched 19.8 rebounds per contest. The following year, Walk averaged 24 points and 17.8 rebounds to lead Florida to its first ever postseason appearance.

    Walk graduated from UF as a two time AP All-American, and to this day is still the program’s all-time leading rebounder (1,181 rebounds). Walk was drafted second overall in the 1969 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns and enjoyed a seven year NBA career before playing a few years overseas. Neal Walk passed away in 2015 at the age of 67.

    Udonis Haslem (1998-2002):

    Despite being undersized and playing center, 6’8 Udonis Haslem never let that slow him down. He posted some of the greatest career numbers in Florida Gators history.

    As a sophomore, Haslem anchored the post for Billy Donovan’s National runner-up squad. Those Gators went 29-8 that season before losing to eventually NCAA champ Michigan State. That 2000 squad also featured the likes of Mike Miller, Matt Bonner, and Brett Nelson, all of which garnered considered for the Florida Gators Mount Rushmore.

    Haslem posted better career numbers than anyone else on that team, as he was rankes third all-time in scoring at the time of graduation. Plus, Udonis posted 120 career blocks and an impressive 831 rebounds. As a senior, Haslem put up 16 points and over eight boards a game as he earned his third All-SEC selection.

    After his time as a Gator, Haslem has enjoyed a 16-year NBA career, primarily with his hometown Miami Heat. He is a three time NBA Champion, and the Heat’s all-time leader in every rebounding category.

    See also: UF Soccer Mount Rushmore

    Vernon Maxwell (1984-1988):

    Gainesville’s own Vernon Maxwell led Florida to their first two NCAA tournament berths. Maxwell opted to stay home for school after earning Mr. Basketball honors while attending Buchholz High.

    Maxwell finished his collegiate career with 2,450 points in 130 games, most in program history.

    Mad Max posted career averages of 18.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and three assists, Maxwell completed his career as a three time All-SEC honoree and only the second Gator to ever post 20 points a game average twice in his career.

    Maxwell had a fairly dominant NBA career that spanned thirteen seasons. He was a two-time NBA Champion with the Houston Rockets.

    Editor’s note: Maxwell’s stats over the final two years of his career have been expunged by the University after it was revealed that he had received impermissible benefits. Despite this, his stats warrant inclusion in any non-UAA sanctioned Mount Rushmore.

    The ’04s (2004-2007):

    Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Tauren Green (and Jack Berry) make up, arguably, the greatest recruiting class in NCAA basketball history (despite being ranked #8 at the time).

    As Freshmen in 2005, the class of 2004 joined a talented Billy Donovan squad that would eventually see eight players make NBA rosters.

    As sophomores the four led UF to their first National Championship as the top four scorers. At the celebration in the O’Dome they announced their desires to return to school and attempt to repeat, which they did.

    It is impossible to just choose one of these guys since their stats weren’t really different in terms of scoring. Horford and Noah led the team in rebounding and Green ran the point. Brewer did a little bit of everything to help the team win. The 2004 recruiting class set the bar for Florida basketball, they are the standard, they are the model, they are the image of Florida basketball.

    Florida has a long tradition of great basketball, and I know I left so many great names off. I considered nearly 20 different Gator legends for this piece, but decided to choose these ones for various reasons. Whether it was for success, statistics, or for taking the program to unprecedented heights, these were my choices for the Mount Rushmore of Florida men’s basketball.

    Disagree with the list? Think we forgot someone? Let ChompTalk know what you thing and be apart of the Gators conversation!

    *Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.

  • Gators DB CJ McWilliams out for season

    Gators DB CJ McWilliams out for season

    Photo by David Rosenblum / Getty Images

    Florida received some disheartening news on Tuesday when head coach Dan Mullen announced that CJ McWilliams would miss the entirety of the 2019 season.

    “He is going to be out for the year with a torn Achilles. He ruptured his Achilles, so he’s going to be out for the year. That’s a tough one,”said Mullen. “Non-contact injury. That’s a shame… It was early in practice, planted and drove and felt the pop, it’s a shame.”

    McWilliams is the second Gators defender to be sidelined by an Achilles injury this season. It was earlier announced that sophomore linebacker David Reese suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and would be out for the season.

    The loss of McWilliams is a significant blow to a Gators secondary that needs depth. This is the second time that the young safety will miss a season due to injury. McWilliams sat out the 2016 season after tearing his ACL.

  • Leading The Charge: Previewing Florida’s Quarterbacks

    Leading The Charge: Previewing Florida’s Quarterbacks

    Photo by David Rosenblum / Getty Images

    Florida will begin the 2019 season in a position that they have not been in since Tim Tebow was behind center. For the first time in a decade, the Gators know exactly who their quarterback is as we head into their week zero opener against Miami.

    There hasn’t been a more polarizing figure in Florida football recently than Feleipe Franks. Following an abysmal redshirt freshman campaign under Jim McElwain, Franks showed dramatic improvement in his first year under Dan Mullen. Still, many fans appear to be divided on their faith in Franks.

    Regardless of where you find yourself on this spectrum, one thing remains clear. Franks has separated himself from the pack and is the unquestioned leader of this team.

    Although he had some ups and downs during his sophomore season, Franks showed growth and development. Following back-to-back losses in 2018, he finally found his next gear and silenced the crowd as he willed his team to victory versus South Carolina a year ago.

    Also see: Offensive line preview

    It was during this game that Feleipe finally understood what it takes to be the quarterback at a school like Florida. Over the final four games of year one under Dan Mullen, Franks played with poise, anger, and tenacity. Indeed, he played the best football of his career.

    Those final four games are still paying dividends as the team prepares for the opportunity to expand on last season’s success. Franks is building on where he left off, and has the confidence of everyone in the locker room. As a result, he is now comfortable in holding himself and his teammates accountable.

    So what should we expect from Franks in 2019?

    With a full compliment of highly skilled receivers and backs at his disposal, he has the opportunity to lead an even more potent offense than last year’s. The biggest question at this point revolves around his protection. Yet, with a full understanding of the offense and so many versatile weapons around him, he should be able to aid the young offensive line by making quick decisions.

    I expect even bigger numbers for Franks, in the coming season. As much as this has to do with his personal development, I believe it has even more to do with the overall confidence of this team. For the first time in a long time, the Gators have their signature swagger. It has been feigned in recent years, but this is the real deal. The good stuff.

    Also see: Wide Receiving corp preview

    Behind Franks, is a pair of talented and capable quarterbacks. Kyle Trask has been in the program for as long as Franks has, and has endured his own unique trials along the way.

    Trask was the backup to D’Eriq King in high school and flew under the radar in terms of recruitment. Still, he found himself receiving an offer from Florida after coaches saw him throwing at a camp. Trask has displayed poise and dignity through his quiet leadership, even if only in a backup role.

    With so many players searching for greener pastures via the transfer portal, Trask has shown himself to be a team player. He has the respect of his coaches and teammates and his patience and loyalty is about to be rewarded with a degree in sports management.

    Don’t be mistaken. Kyle Trask is not merely an academic. He has the skill set to start at a major collegiate program, but he is content with what his football career has afforded him. Still, he is ready and capable to step in if necessary.

    The other quarterback in waiting is Emory Jones. Jones was a big get for Mullen’s transitional class as he boasts the natural talent and skill set that Mullen typically desires in his quarterbacks. His commitment also showed that Mullen is able to win recruiting battles against the best in the business. Jones was committed to Urban Meyer and Ohio State when Mullen was hired as the head coach for Florida.

    Jones appeared in limited action last season, keeping with the four game limit of the NCAA’s redshirt rule. Although he showed promise, it was clear that his path would benefit greatly from slow and steady development. That development will likely continue in 2019 in the form of a series of packages designed just for the talented dual-threat athlete.

    While it has not been confirmed, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see a Franks/Jones combination that looks similar to the tandem of Leak and Tebow, back in 2006. Although, I believe Franks to be a much better runner than Leak was. The point remains, Jones is the future and it would be beneficial to get him used to live-action whenever possible.

    As we approach year two under Dan Mullen, it is apparent that the Gators are on an upward trajectory. Questions about the quarterback position, that had become an annual tradition, appear to be in the past. Mullen, an already proven quarterback whisperer, is sitting ready to show his best work yet.

    This concludes our positional preview series, but there is still plenty to cover in the coming weeks. Join in the conversation on our Chomp Talk facebook page and the official @ChompTalk and @MikeyPfeffer Twitter accounts.

  • Mount Rushmore: Gators Soccer

    Mount Rushmore: Gators Soccer

    Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images

    The 1998 class of seniors for the Florida soccer program (13 members) had the opportunity to build a program from infancy into a National Champion.

    Selecting a Florida soccer Mount Rushmore is incredibly difficult. This, however, is not due to a lack of stardom.

    Despite a couple obvious choices, there has been numerous stars to take the pitch at Pressly and Dizney Stadiums.

    So let’s start simple:

    Abby Wambach (1998-2001):

    Abby Wambach’s name is all over the Florida record books. She is the UF career leader with 96 goals and 50 assists.

    The nation’s top recruit surprised everyone when she opted to play for a program still in it’s foundation years. All she did was help lead the program to their first title in 1998 as a freshman, when she scored 19 goals and assisted on 12 more.

    The four-time All-American tallied a career high 31 goals in 2001, the third highest total of any Gators player in one season. Wambach was named the 2000 and 2001 SEC Player of the Year and earned All-SEC accolades each year she attended UF. She was named to the UF Atheltic Hall of Fame in 2012.

    Wambach was even more impressive on an international stage. She was named the US Soccer Athlete of the Year six times and recorded more goals than any American, man or woman, in international play.

    Danielle Fotopoulos (1996-1998):

    Danielle Fotopoulos opted to transfer to Florida prior to the 1996 season to be closer to her new husband who was coaching at USF. After putting up incredible numbers at Southern Methodist, she didn’t miss a beat and led Florida to the program’s first National Championship in 1998.

    In two years at UF (she redshirted after tearing her ACL in 1997), Fotopoulos recorded 66 goals in only 48 contests. Her 118 goals and 284 career points still rank first among in NCAA history. In 1998, she earned the National Player of the Year and the Honda Award.

    Despite playing only two years at UF, she ranks fourth in program history in goals and fifth in points. In 2008, Fotopoulos became the first Gators soccer player to be inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame.

    Check out our selections for the Mount Rushmore of Gators Volleyball

    Heather Mitts (1996-1999):

    Heather Mitts played a massive role on the defensive end of the field as the Gators won their first title in 1998.

    Mitts was an All-American in 1998 and 1999. She logged 7,547 minutes of game action in her 95 career appearances (94 starts).

    A three-time Olympic gold medal winner, Mitts represented the United States in 137 caps.

    Mitts retired in 2013 and was inducted into the UF Atheltic Hall of Fame the same year.

    Savannah Jordan (2013-2016):

    Savannah Jordan earned All-SEC honors each of her four years at Florida and was a four-time All-American. As a freshman, she recorded 22 goals and 47 point en route to being named the 2013 National Rookie of the Year.

    In 94 appearances in the orange and blue, Jordan compiled 81 goals and 189 points. Both marks are good for second in program history.

    On March 4, 2019 the Houston Dash announced that Jordan had retired from professional soccer.

    Honorable Mention:

    Erin Baxter (1995-98)

    • 3 time All-American
    • SEC Player of the Year (1997)
    • 26 goals, 71 points in 85 appearances

    Melanie Booth (2003-2007)

    • 3 time All-American defender
    • Missed 2006 due to Canadian National Team commitment

    *NOTE: I know choosing three players from the National Championship team isn’t preferred, but in this case it’s hard to argue the merits of those individuals. They excelled on the field and built the foundation of the Florida soccer program.

    Inspired by Steve Russell’s radio show, Sports Scene, we have opted to determine the Mount Rushmore of each UF program that we cover. Let us know if you agree or if there are any omissions.
    Also, we chose to omit coaches intentionally and will do a totally separate post on the top coaches at UF.