Sports | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

Rhamat Alhassan (1) swings for a kill attempt during Florida's 3-0 win against Missouri on Oct. 24 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Who was the Best Freshman for the Florida Gators in 2014-15?

By IAN COHEN | July 23, 2015

The Alligator Awards continue this week, with the fourth award being for "Best Freshman." Editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and staff writer Ian Cohen join alligatorSports editors Graham Hall, Luis Torres and Graham Hack in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Brandon Powell looking to flourish following offseason position change

By Luis Torres | July 16, 2015

When the Florida Gators announced the three players who were going to attend Southeastern Conference Media Days, there were some people confused to as why Brandon Powell was chosen.

Freshman quarterback Treon Harris directs players during the fourth quarter of Florida's 10-9 victory against Tennessee on Oct. 4 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Alligator Awards: Best UF comeback in the 2014-15 season

By IAN COHEN | July 16, 2015

The Alligator Awards continue this week, with the second award being for "Best comeback Moment." Editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and staff writer Ian Cohen join alligatorSports editors Graham Hall, Luis Torres and Graham Hack in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

Florida's JJ Schwarz (22) runs toward first base during the Gators' 15-3 victory against Miami in the NCAA Men's College World Series on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

What Florida Gator had the Best Individual Moment of 2014-15?

By IAN COHEN | July 8, 2015

The Alligator Awards continue this week, with the second award being for "Best Individual Moment." Editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and staff writer Ian Cohen join alligatorSports editors Graham Hall, Luis Torres and Graham Hack in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

Austin Dillon (3) goes airborne as he was involved in a multi-car crash on the final lap of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Daytona crash highlights recent improvements in NASCAR safety regulations

By GRAHAM HACK | July 6, 2015

NASCAR will never be 100 percent safe.

The Florida gymnastics team celebrates wining the NCAA National Championship on Saturday, April 18, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Which Florida Gators team was the best in 2014-15: Softball or gymnastics?

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 1, 2015

With the start of the Summer B semester and the end of the 2014-2015 collegiate athletic season, it’s time for another installment of the annual Alligator Awards. This week, Alligator editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and alligatorSports assistant editor Luis Torres debate which of UF’s national championship winning teams — the softball team or the gymnastics team — deserves the title of "Best Team."

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, center right, celebrates with CC Sabathia after Rodriguez hit a home run — his 3,000th career hit — during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on June 19 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

A-Rod? More like A-Fraud: Rodriguez milestone is a Big Apple-sized fiasco

By Luis Torres | June 29, 2015

Alex Rodriguez’s baseball accomplishments shouldn’t be celebrated.

Florida's Buddy Reed runs toward first base during the Gators' 15-3 victory against Miami in the NCAA Men's College World Series on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Reed Speed: Outfielder crucial for UF

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 18, 2015

Buddy Reed has all the qualities a baseball coach looks for in a center fielder.

In this Dec. 5, 2009, file photo, former UF running back Chris Rainey warms up prior to Florida's 32-12 loss to Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

ESPN investigation embarrassing for Gators

By GRAHAM HALL | June 15, 2015

The University of Florida, along with nine other schools, has received criticism for the systems in place that seemingly indicate that athletes receive preferential treatment when accused of criminal activity.

UF's Bobby Poyner throws a slider during Florida's 14-3 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on April 11, 2015 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

UF baseball seniors seeking to close out collegiate careers with national title

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 10, 2015

Come Saturday, the final leg of the No. 4 national seed Florida baseball team’s quest for its first national title officially begins.

UF's JJ Schwarz runs past third base and heads to score during the first inning of Florida's 13-5 win against Florida State in the NCAA Super Regionals on June 5, 2015, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

JJ Schwarz, Gators peaking heading into College World Series

By IAN COHEN | June 8, 2015

If you were sitting in the stands of McKethan Stadium on April 7, watching closely as JJ Schwarz hit his fourth home run of the game, and then followed the freshman as he trotted around the bases and galloped back into his dugout, you might have thought this was the norm.

UF softball coach Tim Walton hugs senior shortstop Kathlyn Medina during the Gators' post-championship celebration on Thursday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

UF softball coach Tim Walton praises senior Kathlyn Medina at championship celebration

By Luis Torres | June 8, 2015

When the Florida softball team was celebrating its second national title in as many seasons in Gainesville last Thursday, three players addressed the fans and answered questions.

Aleshia Ocasio pitches during Florida's 4-1 win against Illinois State on Feb. 21 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Air Jordan: Five UF softball players to watch for heading into 2016

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 3, 2015

With the Florida softball team winning its second-consecutive national title following its 4-1 win over Michigan in Wednesday’s decisive third game of the championship series, the quest for a three-peat has officially begun. And while coach Tim Walton has a heavy task ahead of him in replacing his six-player senior class — highlighted by 2015 National Player of the Year Lauren Haeger — he has pieces in place to make another deep postseason run. And with that, here’s your way-too-early list of five players to watch out for in the 2016 season.

UF coach Tim Walton walks to the dugout during Florida's 1-0 win against Florida Atlantic in the 2015 NCAA Regionals on May 17, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Torres Tells It: Tim Walton joins elite company with back-to-back national championships

By Luis Torres | June 3, 2015

Tim Walton is building something special in Gainesville.

Federal agents carry out boxes of evidence taken from the headquarters of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF,) Wednesday, May 27, 2015, in Miami Beach, Fla. Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings into FIFA's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested Wednesday pending extradition to the U.S. in a separate probe of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

InstaGraham: FIFA corruption investigation alleges decades of crimes

By GRAHAM HALL | May 28, 2015

The longstanding rumors of corruption throughout FIFA appear to be true — but the president of soccer’s global governing body, Sepp Blatter, looks to have come out of Wednesday’s indictments unscathed.

Justine McLean bats during Florida’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

#Gators: A social media guide to following UF baseball and softball

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 18, 2015

With the top-ranked UF softball team already in the midst of the NCAA Tournament and the sixth-ranked UF baseball team beginning postseason play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday, the alligatorSports staff will be busy live-tweeting the events over the next month.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Johnson’s Journal comes to a close as staffer, columnist turns a new page

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Apr. 21, 2015

There is inherent power in the written word, and I’ve come to realize the impact. I need not look any further than the handmade card that sits on the desk in my room, written to me nearly two years ago. The cover reads: "congrats on quitting the Alligator," in bold letters. That’s how excited I was to leave this newspaper after Summer 2013. It was an occasion warranting celebration. It was before I understood the value of written words.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Staff writer thankful for co-workers, memories as college career comes to a close

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Apr. 21, 2015

As I write my byline one final time, I can’t help but get misty-eyed. I cannot believe my time at The Alligator is coming to a close.

Florida gymnastics head coach Rhonda Faehn celebrates winning the NCAA national championship during the 2015 NCAA gymnastics championships on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Air Jordan: UF gymnastics isn't done winning

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 19, 2015

Rhonda Faehn is building a dynasty.

Bridget Sloan celebrates after scoring a 10 on the uneven parallel bars during the Southeastern Conference Championships on March 21, 2015, in Duluth, Georgia.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Air Jordan: Florida gymnastics growing from early-season struggles, capable of three-peat

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 16, 2015

This is it.