Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Friday Night Lights Teaser

July 22, 2011

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SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Radical change: Slive proposes big athletics reform

By MATT WATTS | July 20, 2011

HOOVER, Ala. — Addressing members of the media Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference Media Days, commissioner Mike Slive laid the foundation for monumental change.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

State champs foursome ready to shine at FNL camp

July 20, 2011

When the hip hop music blasts and UF coaches begin issuing orders at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Friday, four reigning 3A state champions will take the field for Florida’s seventh-annual Friday Night Lights camp.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Ex-Gators track star nets high profile attorney

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 20, 2011

Three weeks after his arrest on a sexual assault charge and subsequent dismissal from Florida, former track and field athlete Dumisane Hlaselo has employed an attorney familiar to most Gators football players embroiled in legal troubles.

At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Gators quarterback John Brantley said last year's adversity actually improved team chemistry this offseason.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Brantley confident, eager to return Florida to elite status

By MATT WATTS | July 20, 2011

HOOVER, Ala. — Defensive end William Green and wide receiver Deonte Thompson believe Florida quarterback John Brantley has found his long-lost mojo.

In his first year as UF's starting quarterback, redshirt senior John Brantley had a rough 2010 campaign but looks to improve in the Gators' new pro-style offense.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 1: Brantley - Is UF’s QB primed for rebound year?

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 18, 2011

After four years of futility in Urban Meyer’s offense, John Brantley may finally be comfortable at Florida.

On Monday, Melbourne Holy Trinity free safety Marcus Maye became Florida’s 15th oral commitment for its 2012 class.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Maye makes it official on visit

July 18, 2011

Marcus Maye has known for a while how he feels about Florida. On Monday, he decided to make his feelings public.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Recruiting notebook: Florida loses two from wish list

July 18, 2011

Last Friday, Georgia held its “Dawg Night” camp, a high school prospect event similar to Florida’s Friday Night Lights. In one night, the Bulldogs got five oral commitments — two from top recruits who the Gators had on their wish list.

United States' Abby Wambach controls the ball during the group C
match between Sweden and the United States at the Women’s Soccer
World Cup in Wolfsburg, Germany, Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AP
Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

SPORTS | SOCCER

Former Gator Wambach ignoring personal accolades, focusing on Final

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 17, 2011

When U.S. women's soccer coach Pia Sundhage first evaluated former-Gators star Abby Wambach in 2007, she demanded more out of the aggressive striker than just her usual aerial theatrics.

Florida faces a tough schedule in Will Muschamp’s first year at
the helm, beginning with the Vols in Week 3. UF plays reigning
national champion Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium, while hosting
‘Bama and FSU.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 2: Schedule - Can UF win despite daunting slate?

By MATT WATTS | July 13, 2011

The Gators have much to overcome in coach Will Muschamp’s first year, but one of the biggest obstacles out of their control is the schedule.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Gay it forward: It’s time for a sports superstar to come out

By JESSE SIMONTON | July 13, 2011

Caution: This column is not for the mentally weak or irrationally bigoted. This is not a religious debate or political plea; this is a call for open-mindedness and acceptance. Stop reading if you hate equality and don’t advocate change.

Yulee High halfback Derrick Henry hasn’t played a down as a junior, but he holds multiple verbal offers from top schools.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Dynamic back drawing attention, early offers

July 13, 2011

In an age where high school athletes can become Internet sensations overnight, teenage YouTube stars are no longer uncommon.

Florida needs sophomore safety Matt Elam to take the next step in his development and grab the leadership role in the secondary. Elam must fill the void vacated by Janoris Jenkins and Ahmad Black.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 3: Secondary - Who replaces Jenkins, Black?

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 11, 2011

Whether it’s Steve Spurrier screaming at his quarterbacks or Urban Meyer fawning over Florida’s punt coverage, nearly every college coach is remembered for the pet project they took on during their tenure.

Gators wide receiver commit Latroy Pittman ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at Nike’s “The Opening” combine but he scoffed at his time saying, “I was never a big fan of the testing stuff. You have to show you’re an athlete on the field.”

SPORTS | RECRUITING

UF commits on display at Nike’s “The Opening”

July 11, 2011

For 150 of high school football’s most elite athletes, last week was filled with copious amounts of free Nike swag, intense competition and tutelage from an array of NFL players.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

I’m gonna let you finish Wambach, but U.S. rides Solo

By MATT WATTS | July 11, 2011

If you weren’t in front of the television watching the United States play Brazil on Saturday, I feel sorry for you. The women wearing the red, white and blue showed incredible resolve in one of the most epic comebacks the sport has ever seen.

After a mediocre finish and a barrage of off-the-field issues, Florida coach Will Muschamp will try to balance promises of proper conduct with the expectations of winning immediately in his first year.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 4: Muschamp - Will Florida Way win?

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 6, 2011

It’s been seven months since Will Muschamp first stood at a lectern and promised his players would abide by a specific code of conduct.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Gators pull offer from top LB, cite space issues

July 6, 2011

While observers might consider linebacker a position of current weakness, Florida still repealed a scholarship offer to one of the nation’s standout high schoolers last month.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Q&A: Burleigh talks World Cup, recruiting and Tymrak

By JOHN BOOTHE< | July 6, 2011

What’s it like to turn on the TV and see former players like Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts playing in the World Cup?

Although Florida has an abundance of highly touted recruits, the offense lacks a consistent playmaker. Deonte Thompson (right) was UF’s leading receiver last season but lost his starting job in the spring.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

No. 5: Playmakers - Who will step up?

By MATT WATTS | July 4, 2011

Eds. Note — With practice set to get underway next month, we here at alligatorSports are going to preview five of the biggest issues facing the Gators and new coach Will Muschamp in 2011.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Welcome to the dead zone: America’s blackening hole

By JESSE SIMONTON | July 4, 2011

Like any good American this weekend, I drank Bud Light, shot bottle rockets at friends and saw “Transformers III.”