If the gymnastics team is only as good as the competition it's going to face this season, then there's certainly a chance to be the best at the end of the year.
MIAMI - He doesn't know. Even if he has an inkling, he won't tell you. Perhaps you'll get one of his school-boy chuckles and "yes sirs" or "yes ma'ams." It could be just a grin and an "I don't know."
While the Gators' tickets to the BCS National Championship Game were punched Dec. 6 with a win against Alabama, the journey began much earlier.
Forget about their record. Forget about what they've done over the past two months.
MIAMI - Joe Haden is a starting cornerback for UF - one of the nation's most well-known and respected teams - and he's about to play for the Gators in their second BCS Championship appearance in three seasons.
MIAMI - While the time between the Gators' last two games may have been tough on players mentally, it's a good thing they had those 33 days to recover from injuries.
MIAMI - You stumble in at around 5 in the morning. You're met headfirst with a view of your normal weight room, your sanctuary, warped into a Quentin Tarantino horror flick. You can't see anything besides the four walls, because the windows are blocked with panels - it feels like you're in jail.
In a sport where individual performances are usually key, the Gators have what senior Bradley Ally calls "united energy," a force that helps bind the Gators together and deliver some truly outstanding performances.
MIAMI - Oklahoma senior center Jon Cooper chuckles and agrees it's usually a good sign when the offensive linemen aren't in the spotlight. Cooper's content not to deal with "100 cameras" and is happy to take the occasional slap on the back or get a free dinner.
MIAMI - It appeared to be one of the misfortunes of sports, one of those bad things that happen to good people.
MIAMI - Practice not only ended for the season Tuesday afternoon, it also ended the practice career of UF's seniors.
MIAMI - If I had to list the reasons why I love sports, athletes talking trash would certainly rank near the top. It's as much a part of athletics as muscles, sweat and egos, but the art of smack talk seems to have fallen by the wayside lately.
Teresa Crippen and her sister, Claire, have always been close. Being only 16 months apart, the two never really had anything but love for one another.
MIAMI - Chris Brown was sitting at home watching his normal ESPN programming when he saw teammate DeMarco Murray, the man in front of him on the depth chart, and his own mug shot flash across the screen.
FORT LAUDERDALE - Brandon Spikes has stressed all week long that being in South Florida is a "business trip." Luckily for Spikes, he did get a slight reprieve with a great joke on Sunday.
MIAMI - UF's win against then-No. 1 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship was an unforgettable experience for most members of the UF football team.
MIAMI - The Gators' scout offense sure must be tired.
MIAMI - The Gators' scout offense sure must be tired.
As UF defensive backs Major Wright, Joe Haden and Ahmad Black left the Gators' team hotel on Saturday morning, safeties coach Chuck Heater stopped them.
If the Meet the Team event is a prelude for the rest of the season for the gymnastics team, then UF fans can look forward to the opportunity for more than one national championship.
Solutions by The State News
