Chomping at the bit for Florida Athletics
The Florida Gators were named a top eight seed for the NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Monday.
Florida (14-6) will host South Alabama (12-3-2) at 6:00 PM at Dizney Stadium in first round action.
For Florida, this is the program’s 15th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 21st overall (in 23 seasons).
South Alabama earned the automatic bid by defeating Coastal Carolina 5-0 in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Sunday.
Even after an embarrassing loss to the #1 team in the country last weekend in Jacksonville, Florida fans could sense a bowl game was still an achievable goal.
Unfortunately, as we found out Saturday, Florida’s players (particularly on defense) have quit and show no desire to add any games to this ‘lost’ season.
In hindsight, we should have expected this. Sophomore CB/S Chauncey Gardner vented his frustration in a post game interview (after the LSU loss). Gardner told the media that he thought the defense did enough to win the game. And even though he didn’t say anything negative about the offense, he may as well have.
On Saturday the defense may as well have not shown up. Had Missouri QB Drew Lock not thrown a perfect pass to Florida DB CJ Henderson on their first drive, the result could have been even worse than the 45-16 final score appears.
The Gators gave up 228 yards passing on only 21 attempts while also giving up 4.9 yards per carry (on 46 carries) to a team that had failed to win a game in SEC play.
Florida defenders spent much of the game looking disinterested in the outcome and even the ESPN commentators seemed to believe that was the case.
Florida’s offense did look (somewhat) better with Malik Zaire at the helm. Zaire finished the game 13-19 for 158 yards. Zaire showed a fire and kept encouraging his teammates to play hard.
Interim head coach Randy Shannon has the tough task of trying to keep this team together, despite all the obvious distractions and injuries.
Florida is now 3-5 and must win at least two of the last three to become bowl eligible. Thanks to a high APR score, Florida will likely be eligible for a bowl game with a 5-6 record.
Florida will face South Carolina next week before returning home for two games (against UAB and Florida State) to complete the regular season.
Much like the players, fans can’t wait to see this season end.
Is it basketball season yet?
SEC EAST STANDINGS:
Florida defeated Jacksonville 88-47 at Swisher Gymnasium on Thursday. The dominating effort was overshadowed by the early exit of senior point guard Chris Chiozza.
On Friday, it was reported that Chiozza was diagnosed with a strained shoulder. Chiozza is expected to miss 7-10 days, but may be available in Florida’s season opener against Gardner-Webb on November 13.
Kevin Brockway of Gatorsports.com reported it first.
Florida pg Chris Chiozza diagnosed with left shoulder sprain. Out 7-10 days. Could be back time for opener v Gardner-Webb on Nov. 13.
— Kevin Brockway (@gatorhoops) November 3, 2017
The Florida Gators are currently playing the Jacksonville Dolphins in an exhibition at JU’s Swisher Gymnasium. The proceeds from the game will benefit Hurricane Irma relief efforts.
Senior point guard Chris Chiozza starter the game, but played very limited minutes and appeared to favor his left shoulder.
At halftime, Chris Harry, FloridaGators.com beat writer, updated Chiozza’s status for the rest of the contest.
Chiozza has a sprained left shoulder. Will not return. Coach White will address it after the game. #Gators
— Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) November 3, 2017
The Gators led the Dolphins 37-26 at halftime.
Florida has another exhibition against Tampa this Sunday before opening the regular season on November 13 at home against Gardner-Webb.
UPDATE: Florida won the game 88-47. Mike White updated the Chiozza injury after the game.
White on Chiozza — “I’m really concerned. He’s as valuable as anyone. Just a sprain. We;ll get him checked out Friday but hope he’ll be OK.
— Kevin Brockway (@gatorhoops) November 3, 2017
White — “Chris makes us go offensively and defensively, it was good to evaluate some things without him but I’d rather it not happen.”
— Kevin Brockway (@gatorhoops) November 3, 2017
The injury doesn’t appear to be significant, however Florida has very little depth and experience at the point guard position.
Florida interim head coach Randy Shannon announced on Thursday that graduate transfer Malik Zaire will start at quarterback for this week’s game against Missouri.
Shannon told the media on Monday that he was opening the quarterback competition during practice this week.
Zaire is 12-23 for 142 yards in limited action in two games this year after transferring from Notre Dame this summer.
Zaire replaces redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks who completed 59.7 percent of his 124 passes including three touchdowns and four interceptions.
Florida and Missouri will kick off at 12:00 PM on ESPN2.
On October 15th, Florida volleyball lost their only match of the season to Kentucky. It was a tough 3-1 result that put the Wildcats above the Gators in the SEC standings.
On Wednesday, Florida swept Kentucky in the rematch in Lexington forcing a tie atop the SEC standings. Florida has only six matches remaining (all are SEC matches) this season.
Senior Carli Snyder led the Gators’ offensive attack, accumulating 15 kills and no errors on 29 swings for a .517 efficiency rating. Senior Shainah Joseph had a .476 hitting efficiency on 12 kills and two errors in 21 swings.
All-American senior Rhamat Alhassan recorded nine kills and seven blocks. She finishes the match in a tie for the school record in total blocks with 601. Benavia Jenkins set the program mark between 2000-2003.
Florida (19-1, 11-1 SEC) will face Tennessee in Knoxville Sunday afternoon. The match is set to begin at 1:30 PM and will be streamed on SEC Network +.
SEC STANDINGS via SECsports.com:
Mike White’s Florida Gators men’s basketball team has some enormous expectations after a surprise run to the Elite Eight last year.
The Gators are ranked #8 in the preseason AP Poll released on Wednesday. Florida was voted #7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll two weeks ago.
2017 PRESEASON AP POLL:
- DUKE
- MICHIGAN STATE
- ARIZONA
- KANSAS
- KENTUCKY
- VILLANOVA
- WICHITA STATE
- FLORIDA
- NORTH CAROLINA
- SOUTHERN CAL
- WEST VIRGINIA
- CINCINNATI
- MIAMI
- NOTRE DAME
- MINNESOTA
- LOUISVILLE
- XAVIER
- GONZAGA
- NORTHWESTERN
- PURDUE
- UCLA
- ST. MARY’S
- SETON HALL
- BAYLOR
- TEXAS A&M
Florida is scheduled to play #5 Kentucky (twice), #12 Cincinnati, #24 Baylor, and #25 Texas A&M in the regular season this year. Florida also has possible matchups against #1 Duke and #18 Gonzaga in the Phil Knight 80 tournament.
The Florida Gators soccer program has advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament after a 1-0 defeat of the Auburn Tigers in the opening round match. This is the 20th time in the program’s 22 seasons that it has reached the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.
Florida’s goal came off a free kick (after a handball by the Tigers) from 22-yards out by junior Lais Araujo. The execution of the free kick was perfect as Gator players pulled Auburn defenders aside to create an opening that Araujo found.
Florida’s junior goalkeeper Kaykan Marckese recorded the 20th shutout of her career in the victory.
Florida (14-5, 7-3) will face #2 seed Texas A&M (15-2-1, 9-1) on Thursday in Orange Beach, AL. The Aggies defeated Missouri 7-1 on Tuesday and beat Florida 2-1 in College Station, Texas in September.
Also of note: #1 seed South Carolina was defeated by Arkansas 1-0.
It’s been a rather tumultuous week for the Florida Gators in the lead up to a rivalry game against Georgia in Jacksonville.
On Monday, Jim McElwain made the now infamous comments about his players and family members receiving death threats. Later, after talking with McElwain, the UAA released a statement that did anything but support the head coach’s claims.
Of course, this allowed many to speculate that McElwain must have either fabricated the story or at the very least, embellished it.
This led to numerous stories on the tenuous relationship between McElwain and the administration.
On gameday, a report came out stating that McElwain and his agent, Jimmy Sexton were working on a buyout between the two parties. UF athletic director Scott Stricklin released a statement just hours before kickoff claiming the report false.
During the third quarter of the game, ESPN’s Edward Aschoff dropped a bombshell report that the UF administration was discussing whether they could fire McElwain with cause (which would allow Florida to not be on the hook for a reported $12+ million buyout).
And, just hours after Florida’s embarrassing 42-7 loss, Barstool-Florida reports (via sources) that a decision has been made.
BREAKING: Sources close to the team have confirmed that the decision to fire Jim Mcelwain has been made. Announcement sometime this week.
— Barstool Florida (@UFBarstool) October 28, 2017
McElwain has led the Gators to a 22-12 record and two SEC East titles, but he hasn’t been able to improve an offense that is nothing short of anemic.
It appears that Jim McElwain’s time at Florida has come to an end. While much is to be discussed about the buyout and whether McElwain will be fired with cause or not, Florida will be searching for a new coach for the third time since 2010.
UPDATE:
Official statement from the UAA regarding the “mutual agreement” between McElwain and the school.
Jim McElwain and the University Athletic Association have mutually agreed to part ways, Athletic Director Scott Stricklinannounced Sunday.
Randy Shannon will serve as interim coach throughout the remainder of the season.
“We want to thank Coach McElwain for his efforts in leading the Gator football program,” said Stricklin. “We are confident Coach Shannon will provide the proper guidance to the players and rest of staff during this time and we will begin a national search for the next head coach.”
The two parties are currently negotiating terms of separation.
Jim McElwain finished 22-12 during his two-plus seasons as head coach and was hired as the 25th head coach in UF history on Dec. 4, 2014.
McElwain won 22 games and two Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles (2015, 2016) during his tenure at the University of Florida. Florida’s highest AP Poll ranking under McElwain was No. 8, a mark the Gators reached after their win over Missouri in 2015.
Florida is 3-4 in 2017.
Randy Shannon has been named the interim head coach of the Florida Football program following a three-year stint on McElwain’s staff as an Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Linebackers Coach.
Shannon has over 25 years of coaching experience, serving as the head coach for the University of Miami from 2007-10 (28-22).. During his career as a player and coach, Shannon has been a part of three national championship teams.
In his time at Florida, Shannon’s defenses have consistently ranked in the top-10 nationally. During his coaching career, he has tutored 59 players who have been selected in the NFL draft.
As if being a fourteen point underdog to the #3 team in the country wasn’t difficult enough, several of Florida’s players made sure to provide Georgia some extra motivation this week.
Although not the only player to taunt the Bulldogs ahead of the meeting in Jacksonville, Sophomore CB Chauncey Gardner provided this bit of bulletin board material when asked about the SEC’s leading passer, Jake Fromm, on Monday:
“You say they have a great quarterback, I get it. He’s throwing simple passes. I get it, anybody can throw a slant. I get it!” Gardner then added, “If you call him the best quarterback, so be it, but he has to play Saturday.”
Here’s the stat lines from the starting quarterbacks in Georgia’s 42-7 thrashing of Florida:
Fromm: 4-7, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Franks: 7-19, 30 yards, 1 INT
Yes, Fromm had the benefit of a great running game (292 yards), but guess what? Florida ran for 183 yards and an average of 4.5 yards per carry.
Franks missed open receivers, just as he has for much of the season, including his final play before being pulled for senior Malik Zaire. To be fair, Franks was the victim of several drops by open receivers.
Either way you look at it, Chauncey was right. The SEC’s best quarterback had to play, and he certainly outplayed Feleipe Franks on this afternoon.
Moral of the story: if you can’t walk the walk, you better not talk the talk.
ChompTalk.com 