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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 will face LSU for Homecoming at 3:30 PM

    Florida will face LSU for Homecoming at 3:30 PM

    The Florida Gators and LSU Tigers will be the premier matchup for the SEC in week six. CBS has decided that they will air the matchup over the rest of the SEC slate.

    The SEC has announced Florida and LSU will kick off at 3:30 PM.

    Florida is currently 2-1 and 1-0 in SEC play. LSU is 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.

    Florida will face Vanderbilt this week while LSU will play Troy.

    Last year these teams met in Baton Rouge after the original date (in Gainesville) was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Florida defeated the Tigers 16-10 on a last second goal line stand.

  • Florida names Luke Del Rio starting QB

    Florida names Luke Del Rio starting QB

    Florida is making a switch at the quarterback position. After redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks started the first three games of the year, Luke Del Rio will take over under center.

    Del Rio came on in relief of Franks in Florida’s come from behind victory at Kentucky. Del Rio entered the game with the Gators trailing 27-13, but led Florida on two scoring drives including throwing the winning score with just 53 seconds remaining.

    Del Rio finished 2016 with the following stat line: 114-201 for 1,358 yards while throwing eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Florida was 5-1 in his starts last season.

    Florida faces Vanderbilt at noon on Saturday.

    More to come from THE GATOR CHOMP BLOG.

  • Florida falls to #21 in latest AP Poll

    Florida falls to #21 in latest AP Poll

    After an exhilarating 28-27 victory at Kentucky on Saturday, the Florida Gators have actually fallen in the latest AP Top-25 Poll.

    Florida was ranked #20 after defeating Tennessee on a last second Hail Mary in last week’s poll.

    The Gators did move up to #20 (from #22) in the Amway Coaches Poll.

    Florida takes on Vanderbilt in the Swamp on Saturday. The Commodores were crushed by Alabama this week.

    SEC TEAMS IN THE AP TOP 25:

    • 1. ALABAMA
    • 7. GEORGIA
    • 13. AUBURN
    • 24. MISSISSIPPI STATE
    • 25. LSU
  • OPINION: Del Rio deserves start against Vanderbilt

    OPINION: Del Rio deserves start against Vanderbilt

    Much like last week’s Gators football game, this week’s wasn’t pretty and it sure wasn’t easy.

    The Gators extended the longest active winning streak (against one team) in the nation to thirty-one with a 28-27 last minute, come-from-behind defeat of Kentucky in Lexington.

    Florida trailed 24-14 midway through the third quarter when head coach Jim McElwain made the decision to go to redshirt junior Luke Del Rio at quarterback. Starter Feleipe Franks had two three-and-outs to open the second half before being pulled.

    Del Rio threw an interception on his third pass attempt, but after the defense forced the Wildcats three-and-out on the ensuing series, it started to click.

    Relying heavily on the run game, Del Rio managed the Gators to an improbable comeback. His knowledge of the playbook was obvious as he oozed with confidence not seen while Feleipe Franks was in the game.

    Del Rio was often seen calling audibles at the line and was given the opportunity to throw down the field moreso than Franks.

    Most importantly, when Del Rio was under center (or in shotgun), the other ten players on the field seemed to play better.

    Florida has a bona fide quarterback battle. But the easy choice here is to start Del Rio. If Jim McElwain truly wants a quarterback that gives his team the beat chance to win, Luke Del Rio is the answer.

    Florida faces Vanderbilt at noon inside the Swamp on Saturday.

  • #6 Gators drop first SEC game at Texas A&M

    #6 Gators drop first SEC game at Texas A&M

    FINAL: TEXAS A&M 2, FLORIDA 1

    1st 2nd OT FINAL
    FLORIDA 0 1 X 1
    TAMU 1 1 X 2

    COLLEGE STATION, TX- The Florida Gators soccer team fell to the Texas A&M Aggies 2-1 on Thursday night. The Gators were dominated physically by an Aggies team that lost their SEC opener and entered only 4-2-1.

    Florida had issues with on-ball defense throughout the game as they seemed to play away from the Aggies offensive players. This was especially evident on the first goal of the game when Cienna Arrieta scored from just outside the 18-yard box while defender Kristen Cardano was several feet in front of her. Arrieta’s goal was just out of the reach of Florida goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese’s outstretched arms.

    While Florida’s defense was suspect, the offense was even worse for a majority of the night. If Florida was able to possess the first touch, the second touch often resulted in a turnover.

    Florida did have a few nice chances, however. In the 29th minutes Mayra Pelayo took a shot from about 20-yards out that Texas A&M keeper Cosette Morche barely touched and watched it ping off the crossbar. Melanie Monteagudo had an opportunity with 7:50 remaining in the first, but Morche made an incredible save.

    The Gators finally capitalized early in the second half. Deanna Rose finally put Florida on the board as her shot deflected off a teammate and went into the air over Morche’s head and into the back of the net.

    The tie didn’t last too long, though. After a foul in the Texas A&M offensive zone, Kendall Ritchie caught Marckese attempting to set up the Florida defense and well out of her net. Ritchie’s shot went into the near side of the goal and ultimately was the game winner.

    The Gators failed to put up much of an offensive fight in the waning minutes, failing to sustain any pressure in a last-minute comeback bid.

    Florida falls to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. The Gators will continue their SEC slate on Sunday with a 6 PM kickoff against Alabama in Gainesville.

    TEAM STATS:

    FLORIDA TAMU
    SHOTS (ON GOAL) 12 (5) 15 (8)
    CORNERS 4 4
    FOULS 10 15

    Goal Scorers:

    • 33rd minute: TAMU ARRIETA
    • 49th minute: UF ROSE
    • 66th minute: TAMU RITCHEY

    Cautions/Ejections:

    • NONE

    What’s Next:

    Florida Gators vs Alabama

    6:00 PM / September 24, 2017

    SEC NETWORK +

  • REPORT: Suspended Gators players could face felony charges by end of week

    REPORT: Suspended Gators players could face felony charges by end of week

    Kadeem Telfort arrived on the University of Florida campus for the spring semester as an early enrollee in the 2017 recruiting class. Telfort was one of the gems of Florida’s ninth ranked class. He set lofty goals for his freshman year and expected to make an impact along the offensive line.

    Telfort is a 6-6 318 lb four-star prospect that was originally committed to Miami before attending camps at Florida. He was the #27 ranked offensive tackle in the recruiting cycle.

    Then came the news:

    All of a sudden seven players were suspended for what reports called “a misuse of financial aid.”

    Two more names would eventually be added to the initial seven just days before the team was to fly to Dallas to take on Michigan in the opener.

    Telfort was one of the players suspended in the first group.

    We have heard nothing from most of the players since the suspensions were announced. They haven’t attended practice and they haven’t really been seen.

    On Monday a report from Trey Wallace and Oliver Connolly of The Read Optional began circulating that several players could be facing felony criminal charges as early as this week per a lawyer for one of the accused. They also state that each player involved could be arrested.

    Telfort tweeted the following Monday afternoon:

    This tweet could be completely unrelated and head coach Jim McElwain has stated that he won’t just give up on anyone, however it’s timing runs almost identical to the story by The Read Optional.

    If this report is true, it seems very likely that several players will see their UF career end. Some of those players, like Telfort, possibly before they ever played a down in a Gators uniform.

  • Rhamat Alhassan named SEC Player of the Week

    Rhamat Alhassan named SEC Player of the Week

    On Monday the Southeastern Conference awarded the volleyball week four superlatives. Florida senior MB Rhamat Alhassan was named the SEC Player of the Week and the Defensive Player of the Week.

    Alhassan helped lead a Gators attack to dominant victories over Florida A&M, Northern Kentucky, and Lipscomb in the Gator Invitational.

    PER THE SEC RELEASE:

    Rhamat Alhassan • Florida
    Senior • MB • 6-4 • Glenarden, Md.

    Alhassan was named to the Gator Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 2.60 blocks per set last weekend. She posted 12 blocks in a win over Lipscomb, tying the third-highest single-match block total in program history for the rally-scoring era. Alhassan’s 26 blocks this past weekend moved her into third in school history in career blocks (530). She also moved into second in school history in career block assists (452) with 25 this weekend. On the week, Alhassan hit .404 with 28 kills and six digs.

    #3 Florida will face #19 Florida State in the Sunshine Showdown on Tuesday at 6:00 PM at Exactech Arena.

  • Florida-Vanderbilt to kick off at 12PM

    Florida-Vanderbilt to kick off at 12PM

    The Southeastern Conference has announced the kick-off times for the September 30th football slate.

    Florida will face Vanderbilt at 12:00 PM. The game will be televised on ESPN.

    Florida, which is ranked #20 in the latest AP poll with a 1-1 record, is heading into a road matchup against 3-0 Kentucky on Saturday.

    Vanderbilt, who is receiving points in the AP poll and has a 3-0 record, is playing #1 Alabama at home this weekend.

    Florida defeated the Commodores 13-6 in Nashville last year.

  • Florida moves to #22 in Coaches Poll

    Florida moves to #22 in Coaches Poll

    On Saturday a 63-yard heave by Feleipe Franks to Tyrie Cleveland earned Florida a 26-20 walk-off victory against #23 Tennessee. On Sunday the Amway Coaches Poll rewarded Florida by moving the Gators up two spots to #22.

    The Gators are now 1-1 and will travel to Lexington to face an undefeated Kentucky team that just beat South Carolina on the road.

    Other SEC Teams in the Amway Coaches Poll Top 25:

    • 1. ALABAMA
    • 12. GEORGIA
    • 16. AUBURN
    • 19. MISSISSIPPI STATE
    • 23. LSU

    Stay posted with The Gator Chomp Blog for the latest on Florida Gators athletics.

  • #24 Florida survives #23 Tennessee with miracle finish

    #24 Florida survives #23 Tennessee with miracle finish

    I had it all set. I had already arranged all of my thoughts in my head about how I would recap the Florida Gators overtime defeat at the hands of Tennessee.

    The play calling… the quarterback… the coaching… the turnovers… and an incredibly stupid penalty by a leader on the defense… There wasn’t going to be a whole lot of positive news in that recap.

    But then something crazy happened. When it seemed like the offense was at its worst (as far as clock management), Florida head coach Jim McElwain gave redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks a chance to win it. Franks eluded pressure from the Tennessee defensive front and delivered a 63 yard Hail Mary into the outstretched hands of sophomore WR Tyrie Cleveland.

    Ben Hill Griffin Stadium went into a frenzy. Florida wins and imporoves to 1-0 in the SEC.

    That doesn’t mean Florida didn’t make mistakes. That one pass didn’t change all the other issues with an otherwise inept offense.

    But for one night let’s stay positive. The Gators beat Tennessee again. Enjoy it, Gator Nation! We earned this!

    More to come from The Gator Chomp Blog.

    Watch the final nine seconds here: