ChompTalk.com

Chomping at the bit for Florida Athletics

recent posts

about

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 defeats FGCU 3-0, moves on in NCAA tournament

    FINAL: FLORIDA 3, FLORIDA GULF COAST 0

    GAINESVILLE, FL-  The Florida Gators defeated the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 3-0 in the NCAA tournament’s first round of play Friday night at Dizney Stadium.
    The Gators finally took the lead in the 66th minute, after a scoreless first half, when Samantha Chung made a terrific pass to Meggie Dougherty Howard, whose shot scored to the far post.

    Florida added two more goals before the end of regulation.  Freshman Julia Lester scored in the 78th minute after a solid individual play to set herself up with a shot from ten yards out.  Senior Savannah Jordan scored in the 82nd minute after sophomore Mayra Pelayo played a ball to the far post for Jordan.

    Florida sophomore keeper Kaylan Marckese recorded her ninth clean sheet of the season needing only to record one save.  FGCU keeper Melissa Weck was able to make nine saves on the Gators 12 shots on goal.

    Florida outshot FGCU 22-2 and earned 11 corner kicks to the Eagles’ 1.

    Florida moves on to face Wisconsin in the second round on Friday (November 18 at 7PM).  Wisconsin defeated Marquette 1-0 in their first round match up.

     Game Summary:

      1st 2nd OT FINAL
    FGCU 0 0 X 0
    FLORIDA 0 3 X 3

     

    Goal Scorers:

    • 66th minute: DOUGHERTY HOWARD (7)
    • 78th minute: LESTER (3)
    • 82nd minute: JORDAN (16)

    Cautions/Ejections:

    • 72nd minute: YELLOW: FGCU- Young

    What’s Next:

    FLORIDA GATORS VS WISCONSIN BADGERS

    NOVEMBER 18, 2016 at 7:00 PM

    DIZNEY STADIUM

  • Florida victorious in Muschamp’s return

    FINAL: FLORIDA 20, SOUTH CAROLINA 7

    GAINESVILLE, FL-  Will Muschamp returned to the University of Florida on Saturday, while the Gators celebrated the senior class that he brought to the school.  The man that replaced Muschamp, Jim McElwain, made it a point to thank his predecessor after the game.  McElwain was left with a ton of talent on the defense.
    Austin Appleby threw for two touchdowns while Jordan Scarlett rushed for a career-high 134 yards as Florida beat South Carolina 20-7.

    Despite losing nine starters to injury Florida won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, rushing for 171 yards while allowing only 43.

    Eddy Pineiro made two field goals in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 20.

    After the game, Muschamp was seen sharing moments with 30-some of his former players.  Muschamp had a terrific defense while at Florida, but the offense never seemed to catch up, eventually resulting in his firing.

    Florida can secure an SEC East title with a win on Saturday at LSU.  The game is being played at LSU after Hurricane Matthew postponed the original meeting back in October.  LSU administration refused to lose a home game, and Florida accepted the opportunity to go to Baton Rouge, with a potential trip to Atlanta at stake.  Appleby told reporters: “We know what’s at stake, we want to go back to Atlanta, and this is the next step.”

    COMING THIS WEEK ON THE GATOR CHOMP BLOG:

    -We will discuss the decision to move the game to Baton Rouge, and what it means for both schools immediately and in the future.

    -We will continue to keep you updated on key injuries.

    -We will also take a closer look at the e-mails that were obtained regarding LSU AD Joe Alleva and UF AD Jeremy Foley and the decision to move the game to Baton Rouge.

     Game Summary:

    1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT FINAL
    S. Carolina 0 0 0 7 X 7
    FLORIDA 7 7 6 0 X 20

     

    SCORING:

    • 1st Quarter: A. Appleby pass to C. Lewis 6 yards (Pineiro kick)
    • 2nd Quarter: A. Appleby pass to A. Fulwood 18 yards (Pineiro kick)
    • 3rd Quarter: E. Pineiro 54 yard FG
    • 3rd Quarter: E. Pineiro 36 yard FG
    • 4th Quarter: D. Williams 1 yard run (Fry kick)

    PASSING LEADERS:

    SOUTH CAROLINA FLORIDA
    Bentley:  18/33 213 yards, INT Appleby: 17/21 201 yards, 2 TD, INT

     

    RUSHING LEADERS:

    SOUTH CAROLINA FLORIDA
    Williams:  7 carries, 20 yards, TD Scarlett: 20 carries, 134 yards
    Dowdle:   9 carries, 18 yards Appleby:  6 carries, 34 yards

     

    RECEIVING LEADERS:

    SOUTH CAROLINA FLORIDA
    Hurst:   3 receptions, 63 yards Fulwood:  2 receptions, 48 yards, TD
    Samuel:  4 receptions, 53 yards Callaway:  4 receptions, 48 yards
    Edwards:  2 receptions, 37 yards Lewis: 4 receptions, 38 yards, TD

     

    TEAM STATS:

      S. CAROLINA FLORIDA
    FIRST DOWNS 15 18
    TOTAL PLAYS 63 58
    TOTAL YARDS 256 372
    PASS YARDS 213 201
    RUSHING YARDS 43 171
    TURNOVERS 2 3
    PENALTIES 2-10 10-80
    TIME OF POSSESSION 28:55 31:05

     

    SEC EAST STANDINGS:

      CONFERENCE OVERALL
    FLORIDA 5-2 7-2
    TENNESSEE 3-3 7-3
    GEORGIA 4-4 6-4
    KENTUCKY 4-4 5-5
    SOUTH CAROLINA 3-5 5-5
    VANDERBILT 1-5 4-6
    MISSOURI 1-5 3-7

     

    WHAT’S NEXT:

    FLORIDA GATORS AT LSU TIGERS

    NOVEMBER 19, 2016 at 1:00 PM

    TIGER STADIUM

  • Late run sparks Florida men to victory against FGCU

    FINAL: FLORIDA 80, FLORIDA GULF COAST 59

    JACKSONVILLE, FL-  The Florida Gators men’s basketball team used a pressing defense to key a 15-0 second half run that allowed Florida to escape FGCU with a victory.
    Florida was led by junior Devin Robinson with 14 points, junior John Egbunu with 13 points, fifth-year senior Canyon Barry with 13 points, and senior Kasey Hill who added 11 points.  Egbunu added 8 rebounds, and Hill contributed four assists.

    Florida’s defense converted 19 turnovers into 24 points.

     

    Game Summary:

      1st 2nd OT FINAL
    FGCU 35 24 X 59
    FLORIDA 40 40 X 80

     

    Team Stats:

      FGCU FLORIDA
    FG % 39 45
    3-PT % 40 27
    FT % 46 77
    Offensive Rebounds 14 15
    Total Rebounds 38 41
    Assists 8 11
    Steals 1 13
    Blocks 2 9
    Turnovers 19 7

     

    What’s Next:

    FLORIDA GATOR VS MERCER BEARS

    NOVEMBER 13, 2016 at 8:00 PM

    JACKSONVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA

  • #20 Florida women open season with rout of South Alabama

    FINAL: FLORIDA 85, SOUTH ALABAMA 33

    JACKSONVILLE, FL- The Florida Gators women’s basketball team opened their season with a rout of South Alabama led by a balanced effort offensively.
    Senior Ronni Williams, junior Haley Lorenzon, and sophomore Eleanna Christinaki all scored 16 points to lead Florida.  Senior Tyshara Flemming chipped in 11.

    The Gators forced 32 turnovers, and outscored the Jaguars 56-4 in the paint.  Florida got out to a 19-4 lead in the first quarter and never let South Alabama back in the game.

    The 52-point margin ties the previous program high from 1983.

    Game Summary:

    1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT FINAL
    USA 4 11 9 9 X 33
    FLORIDA 19 18 25 33 X 85

     

    TEAM STATS:

      SOUTH ALABAMA FLORIDA
    FG % 20 54
    3-PT % 31 19
    FT % 75 75
    Offensive Rebounds 12 16
    Total Rebounds 31 47
    Assists 4 23
    Steals 9 20
    Blocks 3 6
    Turnovers 32 21

     

    WHAT’S NEXT:

    #20 FLORIDA @ CHATTANOOGA

    NOVEMBER 14 at 6:30

    MCKENZIE ARENA

  • Breaking: NCAA rules Florida C Gorjok Gak eligible immediately

    The NCAA has reversed course on a previous ruling that Florida freshman center Gorjok Gak was ineligible for the 2016-17 season. 

    Gak is a 6-11 205 lb athlete who will contribute for the Gators front court immediately. 

    Gak was ruled ineligible, but appears to have cleared any hurdles in his way toward becoming eligible. 

    Florida opens their season Friday against Florida Gulf Coast at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. 

    As this story is breaking we will have more information as soon as it becomes available. 

  • Florida to start Austin Appleby at QB vs South Carolina, Davis will not play 

    Florida football head coach Jim McElwain confirmed to a crowd at Piesano’s Pints and Pies that Austin Appleby will start at quarterback on Saturday against South Carolina.  Freshman Feleipe Franks will serve as the primary back up. 

    McElwain, alongside assistant defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, also provided an update on several injuries.  LB Jarrad Davis was ruled out along with fellow LB Alex Anzalone. 

    Shannon said that freshman David Reese would fill in for Davis at middle linebacker. He also mentioned redshirt freshman Kylan Johnson and freshman Vosean Joseph would have larger roles. 

    Florida plays South Carolina on Saturday. The game will mark Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp‘s first game in Gainesville since being fired as UF head coach on 2014. 

    Also, as it is now the last home game on the schedule, Florida’s seniors will be honored prior to the game. It will be interesting being that Muschamp was the guy to recruit many of those players to Gainesville. 

  • Tim Tebow hits walk-off single for win

    SCOTTSDALE, AZ-  Tim Tebow has struggled in his transition into baseball. The former Heisman Trophy winner has hit just .146 (6-41).  

    On Monday, Tebow enjoyed his first walk-off hit for his Scottsdale Scorpions, as he ripped a single down the left field line scoring a teammate for the win against the Mesa Solar Sox. 

    Tebow’s teammates met him at first base to congratulate him on the accomplishment. 

    Tebow was well known in the NFL for his comebacks while playing for the Denver Broncos.  

    Tebow announced in August that he would pursue professional baseball and after a late-August tryout, the New York Mets signed the former Gator. 

  • Opinion: Florida must start a freshman QB this weekend 

    On Saturday the Florida Gators were embarrassed while playing in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The final score was 31-10, but no Gators fan believes the game was even that close. 

    Florida lost a number of players on both defense and offense including starting quarterback Luke Del Rio.  The loss of Del Rio gives opportunity to the quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart. Florida has graduate transfer Austin Appleby and two young true freshmen, who were thought to be redshirting prior to the struggles of Del Rio. 

    Appleby is a serviceable back up quarterback in the SEC. But his biggest minus is that he is a senior. He will not be on this roster next season. 

    Florida needs to start a freshman quarterback this weekend against South Carolina and the reasons are simple. 

    Florida plays their final home game against South Carolina in what will be a spirited game with former Gators coach Will Muschamp on the opposite sideline for the first time. South Carolina has gone on a little bit of a roll since inserting freshman Jake Bentley in at QB. But they still are not a great team, and Florida should win easily. 

    I am not debating which freshman should start. I haven’t seen the practices. Latest rumors are that Feleipe Franks has passed Kyle Trask on the depth chart. Florida has to allow both freshman QBs to practice and award the starting role to whomever is the best. 

    What makes the most sense about starting a freshman to end the season, is the leg up it provides for Spring camp and Fall camp. Florida doesn’t start next season with Idaho or UMass. Florida will open next year with Michigan. Michigan, the team thay is currently ranked number two or three in all the polls and is a favorite to win the National Championship. 

    If Florida gets their QB now and gives him real experience against SEC defenses, the sky is the limit for next year. 

    Let’s face it: Florida isn’t winning anything this year. It is just as likely that Florida finishes 6-6 as it is that the Gators win the SEC Championsip. So, let Nussmeier and McElwain groom their choice starting now. 

    The future is now, McElwain has to acknowledge this.  Look at what freshmen QBs have done around the SEC. Jacob Eason, Jake Bentley, Brandon McIllwain, and Jalen Hurts have all enjoyed success and will be well ahead of the Florida quarterback come next season. 

    Florida’s defense will be taking a big step back next year with so many players leaving, therefore it’s going to be more important than ever that the offense helps lead the Gators to victory. The best way to ensure that is to give the keys to one of those freshmen early. Let the growing pains begin now. 

    I know it’s not optimal to have a true freshman go into Death Valley and into Doak, that’s why it has to be done now. Let the kid take snaps in front of his home crowd. Give Trask or Franks the opportunity to hear the crowd cheer for him.

    After the debacle of Treon Harris at quarterback, and the play of Del Rio the last few weeks, what do you have to lose?  The answer is easy… nothing. But what could be gained by giving one of these guys the start is incredible and could be the start of a great QB run at the University of Florida. 

  • Florida soccer earns #1 seed, will play FGCU on Friday

    It was selection Monday for many sports across the NCAA. One of the sports featured was women’s soccer. 

    Florida just won the SEC Tournament, including a victory over previously unbeaten South Carolina and were rewarded with a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. 

    Florida’s first match will be at home on Friday against Florida Gulf Coast. 

    FGCU went 14-4-1 on the season and the Lady Eagles just won the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. 

    The game will kick off at 7:00 PM at Dizney Stadium on the University of Florida campus. 

    Stay tuned for more coverage of the Florida Gators soccer team’s quest for another title on The Gator Chomp Blog.

  • Del Rio injured in second quarter vs Arkansas, out for “a while”

    In his Monday press conference Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain mentioned how banged up his team was and there was a big surprise thrown in there. 

    McElwain said that starting Florida QB Luke Del Rio will be out for “a while”, and that, “it’s bad, man.”  

    Del Rio apparently suffered a shoulder injury after being tackled by an Arkansas defender in the second quarter. 

    Del Rio is officially listed as “out indefinitely” opening up the quarterback battle. McElain told the media that Austin Appleby would get first team reps in practice. 

    Florida plays South Carolina on Saturday in what will be a huge matchup with SEC East title implications. Stay tuned with The Gator Chomp Blog for more insight regarding the state of the Gators.