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Thanks for all the support. I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Anyone with comments/questions/suggestions please email me at: bdfoxjr@chomptalk.com
  • Florida’s Alhassan breaks school record

    Florida’s Alhassan breaks school record

    On Friday night the Florida Gators defeated South Carolina 3-0 to move to 17-1 on the season.

    During the first set, senior MB Rhamat Alhassan set the program record for Block Assists. Alhassan surpassed Benavia Jenkins, who played at Florida from 2000-03.

    FLORIDA PROGRAM RECORD FOR BLOCK ASSISTS:

    1. Alhassan 503
    2. Jenkins 502
    3. Nicole McCray 440
    4. Julie Stanhope 385
    5. Heather Wright 384

    Florida is in second place in the SEC, behind only Kentucky (17-2, 8-0) and will face Mississippi State in Starkville on Sunday.

  • Florida to begin SEC Tournament as #3 seed

    Florida to begin SEC Tournament as #3 seed

    The Florida Gators soccer team will enter the SEC Tournament as the #3 seed this week.

    Florida finished with a 13-5 record including a 7-3 record in conference play.

    The Gators will face Auburn (7-5-5, 4-2-4 in the SEC) on Tuesday in Orange Beach, Alabama. The game is set for 3:30 PM and will air on SEC Network.

  • McElwain: Family, players were targets of death threats

    McElwain: Family, players were targets of death threats

    Jim McElwain’s Monday morning press conference was rolling like normal until about 15 minutes into it when the Florida head coach mentioned that his players and family had been targeted with death threats from the Florida fan base.

    “There’s a lot of hate in this world, and a lot of anger, and yet it’s freedom to show it. The hard part is obviously when the threats are against your own players, the death threats to your families, the ill will that’s brought upon out there.”

    -Jim McElwain on Monday

    When asked if he would expand on the threats by Orlando Sentinel writer Edgar Thompson, McElwain stated quickly, “nope”.

    Florida has a 3-3 record heading into Saturday’s contest against #3 Georgia in Jacksonville.

    There has been much debate among the fan base about McElwain’s job security, including by myself, but that doesn’t excuse the threats of violence and death to the staff or players.

  • Florida lands commitment of 4-star OL Richard Gouraige

    Florida lands commitment of 4-star OL Richard Gouraige

    The Florida Gators have landed the commitment of a top offensive lineman in the 2018 recruiting class.

    Richard Gouraige of Tampa announced his commitment via a video by SEC Country.

    Gouraige is a 6-5, 271 lb tackle at Cambridge Christian School. 247sports.com ranks Gouraige as the #130 overall player and #19 in the state of Florida in the 2018 recruiting cycle.

    Gouraige announced a final two of Florida and Clemson last week, and ultimately chose Florida over the defending National Champions.

    (Photo via Scout.com)

  • CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd: Jim McElwain could leave Florida for Oregon State

    CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd: Jim McElwain could leave Florida for Oregon State

    The Florida Gators are 3-3 and heading into a matchup with the nation’s third ranked team. Florida will face 7-0 Georgia in Jacksonville on October 28.

    Much of the Florida fan base is frustrated with the lack of offensive progression with head coach Jim McElwain at the helm. Florida ranks 97th in the country in scoring offense. The Gators are 101st in passing offense.

    Many people, myself included, want to hold McElwain accountable. This is McElwain’s third year with the Gators. Although he won the SEC East in his first two seasons, it felt like Florida backed into the SEC title game rather than earned the trip to Atlanta.

    Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports speculated during “The Wake Up Zone” on 104.5 The Zone that McElwain could leave Florida for Oregon State.

    “what about Jim McElwain, a guy from the west, maybe sneaks out and takes Oregon State.”
    -Dennis Dodd on 104.5 The Zone

    Dodd also talked about Feleipe Franks and his lack of progress, “I was talking to Les Miles of all people about the quarterback situation and he said ‘No, Feleipe Franks was the real deal. We were in on him. We wanted him. We think he’s good.’”

    What do you think Gator Nation? Could Jim McElwain look for greener pastures out west? If he were to leave who would you want to replace him?

  • Florida women picked to finish twelfth in SEC by media

    Florida women picked to finish twelfth in SEC by media

    The Florida women’s basketball team has a new head coach in Cameron Newbauer. However, the media doesn’t appear to have much faith in the Gators this year. Florida was voted to finish twelfth in the fourteen team SEC on Wednesday. Voting was done by a panel of national and SEC media members.

    Despite losing leading scorer, Ronni Williams to graduation, Florida will be led by senior F Haley Lorenzen and senior guard Simone Westbrook. Newbauer will also lean on 2017 SEC co-freshman of the year, Delicia Washington.

    Florida begins its season November 11 vs Georgia State.

    SEC MEDIA PRESEASON POLL:

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

    MY TAKE:

    I think that Florida will be much better than the SEC media seems to believe.

    A starting backcourt featuring Westbrook and Washington has a chance to be among the best Florida fans have seen in a while. Off the bench, Funda Nakkasoglu and Sydney Morang are more than capable. Nakkasoglu transferred to UF from Utah State where she averaged 19 points per game over her first two years. Morang saw a lot of action as a true freshman and poses a lethal three-point stroke.

    Florida has a loaded backcourt, but unfortunately have the opposite in the front court. Other than Lorenzen, the Gators are thin along the front line. It is entirely possible that Florida runs with four guards for much of the season.

    While I don’t think Florida can hang with South Carolina, Mississippi State, or even Missouri, I don’t see any reason that the Gators can’t finish in the top half of the league, and possibly (gulp) challenge for a spot in the NCAA Tournament or the NIT.

  • Florida #7 in preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

    Florida #7 in preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

    The University of Florida will enter the 2017-18 men’s basketball season as a top contender for a national title. Head coach Mike White led the Gators to the Elite Eight last year and returns a solid portion of the lineup this year.

    On Thursday, USA Today announced the preseason coaches poll and Florida is ranked #7 to begin the season.

    Florida is one of just three SEC teams to be ranked in the top-25.

    USA TODAY PRESEASON COACHES POLL TOP-25:

    1. DUKE
    2. MICHIGAN STATE
    3. KANSAS
    4. KENTUCKY
    5. ARIZONA
    6. VILLANOVA
    7. FLORIDA
    8. WICHITA STATE
    9. NORTH CAROLINA
    10. WEST VIRGINIA
    11. SOUTHERN CAL
    12. MIAMI
    13. CINCINNATI
    14. NOTRE DAME
    15. MINNESOTA
    16. LOUISVILLE
    17. XAVIER
    18. UCLA
    19. GONZAGA
    20. NORTHWESTERN
    21. PURDUE
    22. ST. MARY’S
    23. SETON HALL
    24. BAYLOR
    25. ALABAMA
  • KeVaughn Allen named to preseason All-SEC team by media

    KeVaughn Allen named to preseason All-SEC team by media

    SEC media days are in full force for the upcoming basketball season. Representatives from each of the 14 schools in the conference have converged on Nashville to partake in the festivities.

    On Wednesday the conference announced the media’s preseason awards.

    Florida junior guard KeVaughn Allen was represented on the All-SEC team and also received votes for Player of the Year.

    The SEC media picks were chosen by a panel of SEC and national media members, per the SEC release.

    Allen averaged 14 points per game last season and shot a healthy 88.3% from the free throw line.

    __________

    Florida was voted to finish second in the SEC standings behind Kentucky despite an Elite Eight run last year.

    SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL:

    1. KENTUCKY
    2. FLORIDA
    3. TEXAS A&M
    4. ALABAMA
    5. MISSOURI
    6. ARKANSAS
    7. VANDERBILT
    8. GEORGIA
    9. AUBURN
    10. MISSISSIPPI
    11. SOUTH CAROLINA
    12. MISSISSIPPI STATE
    13. TENNESSEE
    14. LSU
  • Florida-Kentucky soccer moved to Daytona Beach on Thursday

    Florida-Kentucky soccer moved to Daytona Beach on Thursday

    The Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats were supposed to meet in Gainesville on Thursday in an important match for both sides.

    That match will now be held at Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium at 5:00 PM on that day.

    The reason for the move is due to the visit of alt-right leader Richard Spencer. Spencer is scheduled to speak on the UF campus from 2:30-4:30 PM. With numerous protests planned for the visit Florida governor Rick Scott has declared a State of Emergency in Alachua County, allowing for the National Guard to be on alert.

    Florida (11-4, 5-2 in the SEC) will enter the match in fourth place in the SEC standings while Kentucky (7-10, 2-5 in the SEC) is ninth. Only ten teams attend the SEC tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama.

    Florida has lost its last two games and has dropped to #20 in the national rankings.

  • Gators fall to #4 after first loss

    Gators fall to #4 after first loss

    On Sunday the Florida Gators suffered their first loss of 2017. The match was a hard fought four set defeat at the hands of (previously) #8 Kentucky.

    On Monday, the Gators moved back three spots in the AVCA poll to #4 after several weeks in the top spot.

    Florida is 14-1 on the season and is #3 in the RPI rankings. The Gators did receive two first place votes this week, however.

    Penn State moves to the top spot with a 17-1 record while Stanford (15-2, 7th in RPI), and Texas (14-2, 4th in RPI) round out the top three.

    Kentucky (5th in RPI) has moved to sixth in the newest rankings.

    Florida will look to rebound at Alabama on Friday and then at Auburn on Sunday.