Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF quarterback Treon Harris (3) passes during Florida's 41-7 loss to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2016, in Orlando.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Treon Harris to transfer from Florida

By IAN COHEN | July 25, 2016

After two years at Florida, Treon Harris is transferring, the school confirmed Monday.

Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino walks to the mound after the the Mariners defeated the Baltimore Orioles 12-6 in a baseball game Saturday, July 2, 2016, in Seattle.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators in MLB: Former UF catcher homers in comeback to majors

July 20, 2016

After a two-game stint with the Seattle Mariners earlier this month, former Florida standout Mike Zunino was called up from Triple-A Tacoma again on Wednesday.

Ronni Williams jumps during the tipoff of Florida's 85-79 win over Kentucky on Jan. 31, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Alligator Awards: Best Team of 2015-16

July 20, 2016

Alligator Awards: Best Team of 2015-16

UF coach Mike Holloway smiles as he talks with his team during the 2016 Florida Relays at the Percy Beard Track.

SPORTS

Alligator Awards: Who was Florida's 2015-16 coach of the year?

July 18, 2016

In this edition of the Alligator Awards, we debate which UF coach was the best of the 2015-16 season. Sports writers Ray Boone, Matt Brannon and Alejandro López join alligatorSports Editors Ian Cohen and Ethan Bauer in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

UF linebacker Jarrad Davis pursues FAU quarterback Jaquez Johnson during Florida's 20-14 overtime win against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 21, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Credit UF’s Davis for speaking candidly at SEC Media Days

By IAN COHEN | July 18, 2016

Among teenagers in college, among Greek life and dorm rooms and around campus living, sexual assault is inevitably present.

Florida's Caeleb Dressel reacts after winning the 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships Saturday, March 26, 2016, in Atlanta. The initials on his face are in honor of a former teacher. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Alligator Awards: Who was Florida's best male athlete?

July 13, 2016

In this edition of the Alligator Awards, we debate which male athlete was the best of the 2015-16 season. Sports writers Ray Boone, Matt Brannon and Alejandro López join alligatorSports Editors Ian Cohen and Ethan Bauer in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Predicting SEC East rankings

By Ethan Bauer | July 13, 2016

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Future UF sprinter makes impression at Olympic trials

By Ethan Bauer | July 11, 2016

Seven more Gators are headed to the Olympic Games in Rio, but their performances were largely overshadowed by that of a future Florida athlete who didn’t even make the cut.

UF coach Jim McElwain talks with his team following the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McElwain looking to replace lost talent in second year

By IAN COHEN | July 11, 2016

Jim McElwain walked onto the podium at Southeastern Conference Media Days, turned to the rows of reporters in front of him and began at the end.

UF's Carli Snyder (left) and Rhamat Alhassan celebrate during Florida's 3-0 win against New Hampshire Dec. 3, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Alligator Awards: Who was Florida's best female athlete of 2015-16?

July 11, 2016

In this edition of the Alligator Awards, we debate which female athlete was the best of the 2015-16 season. Sports writers Ray Boone, Matt Brannon and Alejandro López join alligatorSports Editors Ian Cohen and Ethan Bauer in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

Bridget Sloan performs her floor routine during the first session of the NCAA Championship Semifinals on April 15, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Sloan named SEC Female Athlete of the Year

By IAN COHEN | July 7, 2016

One of Florida gymnastics’ most celebrated athletes added another award to her collegiate career.

Cornerback Jalen Tabor high fives fans while walking out of the tunnel prior to the Orange & Blue Debut on April 8, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Award Roundup: Four football players named to watch lists

July 6, 2016

Linebacker Jarrad Davis and defensive backs Marcus Maye and Jalen Tabor were named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list, an honor awarded to the best collegiate defensive player of the year, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.

Marquis Dendy competes in the triple jump during the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships on March 14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Marquis Dendy qualifies for Olympics in men's long jump

By IAN COHEN | July 4, 2016

Marquis Dendy wasn’t at his best.

A.J. Puk pitches during Florida's 7-2 loss to Miami on Feb. 21, 2015, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators in MLB: Zunino dazzles in return to majors; Puk, others sign contracts

July 4, 2016

In his first game of the season, Mike Zunino homered twice.

Caeleb Dressel touches the wall at the end of his leg of the 400 meter freestyle relay during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida’s Caeleb Dressel qualifies for Rio Olympics

By Ethan Bauer | June 30, 2016

For Caeleb Dressel, 0.03 seconds was the difference between competing individually in the Olympics or watching from the bench.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and head coach Billy Donovan watch from the sideline against the Golden State Warriors second half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals in Oklahoma City, Sunday, May 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Three observations ahead of the NBA offseason

By IAN COHEN | June 29, 2016

The Summer-sports lull is here, but most importantly, the NBA season is over, leaving avid basketball fans grasping and clinging at whatever small sliver of sports gossip falls through the July news wires. With NBA teams officially allowed to begin wooing free agents at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, here’s a few observations ahead of the impending NBA offseason.

Aleshia Ocasio pitches in the first game of Florida's doubleheader against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Rally: Which Florida team had a more disappointing finish?

By IAN COHEN | June 29, 2016

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Dressel, Dwyer advance to freestyle finals

By Sean Doty | June 29, 2016

Two Florida swimmers and one incoming UF swimmer competed in the 100-meter freestyle on Wednesday for a chance to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Rio.

Dorian Finney-Smith dribbles the ball during Florida's 88-79 loss to Kentucky on March 1, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Undrafted Finney-Smith signs deal with Dallas Mavericks

By IAN COHEN | June 27, 2016

After not being one of the 60 players selected in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, former Florida basketball player Dorian Finney-Smith finally landed on a team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Track, gym recruits find success before Florida

By Ethan Bauer | June 27, 2016

Five future Florida athletes in two sports advanced to high-level competitions over the weekend.