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  • Florida to name MSU’s Scott Stricklin new AD on Tuesday

    GAINESVILLE, FL-  Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Stricklin is expected to be named to the same position at the University of Florida at a Tuesday press conference. 

    It was widely reported last week that Stricklin was offered a deal that nearly tripled the value of his current deal with MSU. 

    Stricklin is from Starkville, MS and is a Mississippi State alum.  

    Stricklin is expected to take over immediately with long time Florida AD Jeremy Foley expected to retire October 1. 

    *More to come on this story and an opinion on whether this is a good hire for Florida shortly after the University announces the hire. 

  • SEC announces Florida-LSU start time

    The Southeastern Conference announced the start times for the games of October 8. 

    Florida will play LSU in Gainesville with a noon kick off. 

    In 2015 LSU defeated Florida 35-28 on a late fake field goal for touchdown. In that game Leonard Fournette rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns. 

    Both teams will look drastically different as both teams have different starting quarterbacks. Florida will be playing with either Purdue transfer Austin Appleby or redshirt sophomore Luke Del Rio. LSU has started Danny Etling (also a Purdue transfer) after Brandon Harris struggled in the first two games of this season. 

    On Sunday, LSU announced the firing of head coach Les Miles. Miles was known as “the mad batter” due to his propensity for trick plays like last years fake field goal. Ed Orgeron has taken over as the interim head coach. 

  • #6 Florida defeats Tennessee (in soccer)

    FINAL: FLORIDA 2, TENNESSEE 0
    GAINESVILLE, FL-  The Florida Gators used two second half goals to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers 2-0 on Sunday.  Tennessee had entered the game on a three game winning streak, having shut out each of their opponents.  Savannah Jordan ended that streak with a goal in the 69th minute that put the Gators ahead for good.  Florida is now 7-3 overall and 2-2 in SEC play.  Tennessee falls to 6-5 and 2-2.

    Game Summary:

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

     

    After a scoreless first half in which Florida completely dominated, Jordan lifted Florida with a strong physical play resulting in a goal after a one-touch pass from Samantha Chung.  Florida owned the first half and outshot Tennessee 12-2 in the first 45 minutes.  Florida finished the game with 24 shots including 15 on goal.  Tennessee goalkeeper Shae Yanez stopped 13 Gator shots.  Freshman Sammie Betters scored her first career goal in the 89th minute from 23 yards out on beautiful top shelf shot to give the Gators some insurance.

    Goal Scorers:

    • 69th minute- UF: Savannah Jordan (8) assisted by Samantha Chung
    • 89th minute- UF: Sammie Betters (1) assisted by Sarah Troccoli

    Cautions/Ejections:

    • 10th minute- YELLOW UT: Rylie O’Keefe
    • 54th minute- YELLOW UF: Briana Solis

    Starting Lineups:

    FLORIDA TENNESSEE
    31- Marckese-GK 30- Yanez-GK
    12- Betters 2-   Marcano
    19- Cardano 8-   Culhane
    51- Nelson 32- Neal
    20- Lester 21- Morrow
    28- Dougherty Howard 4-   O’Keefe
    0-   Solis 11- Baldwin
    15- Troccoli 12- Christy
    38- Seiler 6-   Kupritz
    2-  Chung 23- Bialczak
    7-   Jordan 17- Wilkinson

     

    What’s Next:

    FLORIDA GATORS AT LSU TIGERS

    SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 at 8:00 PM

    LSU SOCCER STADIUM

  • #6 Florida volleyball sweeps Alabama for 12th straight victory

    FINAL: FLORIDA 3, ALABAMA 0
    TUSCALOOSA, AL-  The Florida Gators improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in SEC play with a straight sets victory over Alabama.  The Crimson Tide has never beaten Florida in program history.  Florida holds a 42-0 all-time record against the Tide.

    Game Summary:

    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th FINAL
    FLORIDA 25 25 25 X X 3
    ALABAMA 22 14 19 X X 0

     

    The Florida Gators posted an impressive straight sets victory and dominated play throughout the match.  Allie Monserez posted a double-double to lead the Gators offense.  The Gators posted a .375 hitting percentage as three players hit for better than .400.

    Rachael Kramer led the Gators with a career high .727 hitting efficiency.  Alex Holston led the Gators with 14 kills, and Rhamat Alhassan contributed 11 kills and 4 blocks.  Florida had 11 blocks while Alabama only managed three.

    This was the eighth time that Florida had swept an opponent this season.  Florida has now won 12 straight matches after suffering a loss in their season opener to #1 ranked Nebraska.

    KILLS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA ALABAMA
    Holston               14 Rivers              17
    Alhassan             11 Lawrence        8

     

    BLOCKS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA ALABAMA
    Alhassan          4 Thomas             2
    Joseph              4 Lawrence          2

     

    DIGS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA ALABAMA
    Knop                11 Mikesky              10
    Monserez       10 Murison              9

     

     ASSISTS LEADERS 

    FLORIDA ALABAMA
    Monserez       43 Mikesky               27

     

    WHAT’S NEXT:

    KENTUCKY WILDCATS AT FLORIDA GATORS

    SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 at 8:00 PM

    LEMERAND ATHLETIC CENTER

  • A tale of two halves: Tennessee beats the streak

    FINAL: TENNESSEE 38, FLORIDA 28
    Knoxville, TN-  The Florida Gators entered Saturday’s SEC showdown with Tennessee with many questions.  Florida was starting a new quarterback after Luke Del Rio suffered a MCL sprain in his left knee against North Texas.  It was also worth watching to see if Florida’s young offensive line could hold up against a better defense.  Florida entered the game ranked number one in most defensive categories, and Florida defenders Jalen ‘Teez’ Tabor and Quincy Wilson engaged in trash talk about Tennessee’s eleven game losing streak to Florida during the summer and this in preparation this week.  Florida exited Knoxville with perhaps more questions than answers.

    Florida dominated the first half of play, entering halftime 21-3.  Tennessee came out in the second half and completely changed momentum.  Tennessee scored 38 consecutive points before allowing a late fourth quarter touchdown.

    Florida’s offense appeared to become comfortable with the lead, and the play calling indicated the Florida coaching staff believed the defense would be able to stop the Tennessee offense which struggled in the first half.

    Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, started at quarterback for Florida. Appleby showed off an accurate arm in downfield passes as he completed four throws of 20 yards or more in the first half.  In the second half, the offensive line broke down leading to a bevy of screen passes and incomplete attempts.  Appleby finished with 296 yards and 3 touchdowns.

    Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs struggled in the first half, but almost single-handedly dominated the second half.  Dobbs finished with 319 yards passing, 80 yards rushing, and five total touchdowns.

    Game Summary:

    1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT FINAL
    FLORIDA 7 14 0 7 X 28
    TENN 0 3 14 21 X 38

     

    Florida raced to a 21-0 lead.  Appleby completed touchdown passes to DeAndre Goolsby and Jordan Cronkrite, and Jordan Scarlett ran one yard into the endzone.  Goolsby and Scarlett’s touchdowns were preceded by deep passes to Antonio Callaway.  Tennessee’s Aaron Medley made a 28 yard field goal shortly before halftime.

    Tennessee scored 38 consecutive points between the end of the second and midway through the fourth quarters.  Tennessee scored on a 23 yard reception by Jalen Hurd to bring the core to 21-10.  Dobbs then found Ethan Wolf for 20 yards.  Florida led Tennessee 21-17 entering the fourth quarter.

    Dobbs then found Jauan Jennings for 67 yards after a busted coverage by the Florida defense and the Volunteers led 24-21.  Josh Malone followed with a 42 yard touchdown as Tabor slipped while in coverage.  Dobbs capped the Tennessee scoring with a 5 yard touchdown run.  Florida finally got on the board in the second half when Appleby found freshman receiver Freddie Swain for a ten yard TD.

    SCORING:

    • 1st Quarter (7-0 UF) Appleby pass to Goolsby 3 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 2nd Quarter (14-0 UF) Appleby pass to Cronkrite 15 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 2nd Quarter (21-0 UF) Scarlett 1 yard run TD, PAT GOOD
    • 2nd Quarter (21-3 UF) Medley 28 yard FG
    • 3rd Quarter (21-10 UF) Dobbs pass to Hurd 23 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 3rd Quarter (21-17 UF) Dobbs pass to Wolf 20 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 4th Quarter (24-21 UT) Dobbs pass to Jennings 67 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 4th Quarter (31-21 UT) Dobbs pass to Malone 42 yard TD, PAT GOOD
    • 4th Quarter (38-21 UT) Dobbs 5 yard run TD, PAT GOOD
    • 4th Quarter (38-28 UT) Appleby pass to Swain 10 yard TD, PAT GOOD

    PASSING LEADERS:

    FLORIDA TENNESSEE
    Appleby    23-39 296 yards, 3 TD, INT Dobbs          16-32 319 yards, 4 TD, 2INT

     

    RUSHING LEADERS:

    FLORIDA TENNESSEE
    Scarlett     10 carries, 44 yards, TD Hurd            26 carries, 95 yards
    Appleby    7 carries, 24 yards Dobbs         17 carries, 80 yards, TD

     

    RECEIVING LEADERS:

    FLORIDA TENNESSEE
    Callaway     4 receptions, 134 yards Jennings       3 reception, 111 yards, TD
    Cleveland   1 reception, 36 yards Malone         4 receptions, 91 yards, TD
    Swain          2 receptions, 27 yards, TD Byrd              3 receptions, 40 yards

     

     

    TEAM STATS:

      FLORIDA TENNESSEE
    FIRST DOWNS 17 22
    TOTAL PLAYS 70 79
    TOTAL YARDS 402 498
    PASS YARDS 296 319
    RUSHING YARDS 106 179
    TURNOVERS 2 2
    PENALTIES 9-75 5-40
    TIME OF POSSESSION 29:14 30:46

     

     

    WHAT’S NEXT:

    FLORIDA GATORS AT VANDERBILT COMMODORES

    SEPTEMBER 31, 2016 at 12:00 PM

    VANDERBILT STADIUM

  • #6 Florida volleyball cruises to victory at Ole Miss

    FINAL: FLORIDA 3, MISSISSIPPI 1
    Oxford, MS-  The #6 Florida Gators earned a win in their SEC opener at Ole Miss.  After dropping the first set to the Rebels, Florida was able to dominate play the rest of the way.  Florida is now 11-1 on the season, and Ole Miss falls to 11-3.

    Game Summary:

    1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th FINAL
    FLORIDA 24 25 25 25 X 3
    OLE MISS 26 12 15 16 X 1

     

    Florida fell in the first set 26-24.  Florida trailed by three at numerous points in the first set, but rallied to tie the match at 20 and take the lead with match point at 24-23, but the Rebels rallied for the final three consecutive points for the victory.  Florida was able to control the final three sets with no trouble.

    Junior Caroline Knop led the Gators defensively with 31 digs, while freshman Allie Gregory had 12 scoops, both were career highs.  Rachael Kramer also set a career high with 12 kills.  Carli Snyder had her fourth double-double this season with 16 kills, and 12 digs.

    KILLS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA OLE MISS
    Snyder               16 Cather             16
    Holston             15 Gibson            13

     

    BLOCKS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA OLE MISS
    Alhassan          7 Alexander          2
    Holston            6 Warnell              1

     DIGS LEADERS:

    FLORIDA OLE MISS
    Knop                31 Purcell                18
    Snyder             12 Gibson                10

     

     

    ASSISTS LEADERS 

    FLORIDA OLE MISS
    Monserez       54 Edie                     41

     WHAT’S NEXT:

    FLORIDA GATORS AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

    SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

    1:00 PM

  • #6 Florida soccer upset by #21 Auburn

    FINAL: AUBURN 3, FLORIDA 0
    Gainesville, FL-  The Florida Gators soccer team was upset by the Auburn Tigers on Thursday night at Pressly Stadium.  The Gators offense was sloppy with numerous offensive zone turnovers, and the defense looked even worse.  Auburn was led by Kristen Dodson who scored two goals off defensive, and goalkeeper miscues.  Florida outshot Auburn 16-13, but both teams had four shots on net.  Florida is now 6-3 overall and 1-2 in SEC play.  Auburn improves to 6-4 on the year with a 2-1 record in SEC play.

    Game Summary:

      FIRST HALF SECOND HALF OVERTIME FINAL
    AUBURN 1 2 X 3
    FLORIDA 0 0 X 0

     

    In the 18th minute Auburn was awarded a penalty kick, but Brooke Ramsier’s shot missed the net high.  Auburn did score in the 24th minute when Dodson converted an easy opportunity after Florida keeper Kaylan Marckese misplayed a pass to a Gator defender.  The game remained 1-0 until well after halftime.  Auburn scored in the 83rd minute when Courtney Schell scored on a header off a corner kick. Two minutes later Dodson added her fifth goal of the season as Marckese ran to almost midfield to clear the ball, but Dodson blocked the clear attempt and scored an easy goal into the empty net from near midfield.  The goal was the result of a poor touch by Gator midfielder/defender Gabby Seiler.

     

    Goal Scorers:

    • 24th minute- AU: Kristen Dodson (4)
    • 83rd minute- AU: Courtney Schell (3) assisted by Brooke Ramsier
    • 85th minute- AU: Kristen Dodson (5)

    Cautions/Ejections:

    • 85th minute- YELLOW UF: Kaylan Marckese

    Starting Lineups:

    FLORIDA UCF
    31- Marckese-GK 14- Le Beau
    12- Betters 3-   Clarke
    19- Cardano 4-   Folds
    51- Nelson 8-   Schell
    20- Lester 27-  Troutman
    28- Dougherty Howard 20-  Gutsche
    0-   Solis 23-  Ramsier
    15- Troccoli 24-  Ramsier
    38- Seiler 30-  Batson
    27- Pelayo 33-  Gerken
    7-   Jordan 35-  Dodson

     

    What’s Next:

    Tennessee at Florida

    Gainesville, FL

    September 25 at 5:00 PM

  • Tim Tebow has top two selling items on MLB.com store

    Port St. Lucie, FL-  Tim Tebow finally seems to be settling in as a baseball player. On his second day with the Mets Instructional League Tebow hit his first home run. 

    Tebow was met on Monday with a crowd of 577 and more than 50 credentialed media members, by far the most the Mets Instructional League team has ever hosted.  On Tuesday, only about 250 fans were on hand with about thirty media members. 

    Tebow hit mostly pop ups in his debut but on Tuesday, he hit many line drives and deep fly balls including his homer beyond the right field wall. 

    MLB announced Tuesday that the hottest selling items at the online store were Tebow’s Mets jersey (selling for  $119.99), and Tebow’s replica jersey tee-shirt (selling for $29.99).  It’s worth noting that Tebow’s items outsold the Chicago Cubs NL Central Division Champions tee-shirt. 

  • Report: Florida has offered Stricklin AD job

    Gainesville-  The Florida Gators have once again offered Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Stricklin it’s AD position according to The Clarion Ledger of Jackson, MS.

    Stricklin was previously offered the job, and according to reports declined, but Florida has increased it’s offer. 

    Stricklin has been the athletic director at Mississippi State for 16 years and is a Starkville resident and MSU alumn. 

    Stricklin has not commented on the offer, and has been in Dallas for the D-1 AD meetings. 

    In recent years Stricklin has led Mississippi State in an effort to improve facilities, having spent over $120 million. Stricklin has also introduced plans to improve the MSU baseball stadium, Dudy Noble Field with a $40 million renovation. Those renovations began last month. 

    Stricklin was named the Under Armour Atheltics Director of the Year in the NCAA in 2015-16 due to his facility upgrades. 

    Stay posted for more on the potential hire of Scott Stricklin as the Athletic Director for Florida. 

  • Gators soccer defeats UCF 3-2 on late goal by Samantha Chung

    FINAL: FLORIDA 3, UCF 2

    Gainesville, FL-  The Florida Gators soccer team defeated the University of Central Florida Knights 3-2 at James G. Pressly Stadium on Sunday night.  The Gators improved to 6-2 on the season while UCF fell to 5-4.  UCF entered on a four game winning streak, but Florida put that to rest.
    Game Summary:

      FIRST HALF SECOND HALF OVERTIME FINAL
    UCF 0 2 X 2
    FLORIDA 1 2 X 3

     

    The Gators dominated the first half of play managing to outshoot the Knights 7-4 and scoring the only goal of the first half.  Pamela Begic scored the first goal at the 32:59 mark.  Savannah Jordan scored the second goal of the game for Florida when she scored on a one touch shot off a pass from Mayra Pelayo.  The goal was Jordan’s 72nd of her career.  Jordan is now all alone in second place on Florida’s all-time scoring list.  UCF scored the next two goals as Morgan Ferrara scored her third goal of the season.  UCF tied the game up with a goal from Bridget Callahan off a corner kick.  The game winning goal came off the foot of Samantha Chung in the 88th minute.  Chung took a shot from the top of the box which deflected off the post and got in behind UCF keeper Vera Varis.

    Goal Scorers:

    • 33rd minute- UF: Pam Begic (1)
    • 53rd minute- UF: Savannah Jordan assisted by Mayra Pelayo
    • 58th minute- UCF: Morgan Ferrara assisted by Kayla Adamek
    • 74th minute- UCF: Bridget Callahan
    • 88th minute- UF: Samantha Chung assisted by Mayra Pelayo

    Cautions/Ejections:

    • 42nd minute- YELLOW UF: Sara Wilson
    • 72nd minute- YELLOW UCF: Bridget Callahan
    • 75th minute- YELLOW UF: Savannah Jordan

    Starting Lineups:

    FLORIDA UCF
    31- Marckese-GK 1-   Varis-GK
    81- Smith 14- Fredriksson
    19- Cardano 33- Bado
    51- Nelson 6-   Callahan
    20- Lester 15- Wilkin
    28- Dougherty Howard 12- Ferrara
    0-   Solis 28- Kuoksa
    15- Troccoli 19- Soree
    38- Seiler 9-   Adamek
    27- Pelayo 99- Rodrigues
    7-  Jordan 24- O’Connell

     

    What’s Next:

    Auburn at Florida

    Gainesville, FL

    September 22 at 6:00 PM