Archive for February, 2009

Oh Mercy Percy

Posted by admin on February 27th, 2009   No Comment

By: Mark Stainton

There have been many players in the history of Florida football that were exciting. Through the years they have come from all different positions. It is fitting that the most exciting player in Florida football history didn’t really have one position. He had two. He was both wide receiver and running back. Harvin had 194 rushes at UF for 1851 yards and 19 touchdowns. He averaged a ridiculous 9.5 yards per carry. He also had 133 receptions for 1929 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns averaging 14.5 yards per catch. Harvin was great at two positions and if you had to describe him in one word, it would be electric.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that the junior declared for the NFL draft. His only negative was his knack for getting injured, but much of that was due to an ongoing heel problem he had coming out of high school. Harvin decided to only run the 40-yard dash and do the bench press at the NFL combine, saving all of his cutting and pass catching drills for the UF Pro Day on March 15th. Harvin ran an unofficial 20 time of 4.37 in the 40-yard dash and an official time of 4.41, the 6th fastest time for a receiver, faster than Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree (who did not run.) Harvin also pushed up 225 lbs. 19 times which was 5th most of any receiver at the combine. Harvin’s combination of strength and speed is very rare, and his open field moves should be downright illegal.

While measuring his speed and strength is a way to determine how good he can be, the true test for Harvin is the eye test. If you watch film on the guy, he is a playmaker. He goes from first gear to top speed relatively quickly, and he has a rare ability to make cuts while maintaining a very high velocity. The fact the he ran for 9.5 yards per carry for 3 seasons in the SEC should tell you all you need to
know about how prepared he is for the NFL. Harvin will likely go in the top 20 in the draft. Some mock drafts like Mel Kiper’s have Harvin going as high as 17th to the Jets.

Harvin could improve his draft stock by having a good Pro Day, prospects usually run a fast 40 time at their Pro Day, and his willingness to do the other drills has some NFL scouts salivating. Harvin is unlikely to crack the top 10 because of the questions regarding his durability, but whatever team gets him will be getting a very special player. It was a pleasure watching Harvin slice and dice
the SEC for the last=2 03 years.

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Gators Softball Shuts Out No. 6 Michigan

Posted by admin on February 26th, 2009   No Comment

The No. 2 Gators softball completely shut out No. 6 Michigan 4-0 on Wednesday night. Stacy Nelson collected her sixth win of the season and struck out nine batters. What a season the star pitcher is already having. The beginning of the year and gathering up a sixth win already? Pretty amazing isn’t it.

Florida (13-2, 0-0) hit real well against the Wolverine’s (12-4, 0-0), recording seven hits in the contest. They gave Michigan’s pitching real big fits I’ll tell you that.

The Gators jumped up on the board really early, scoring the first two runs in the start of the game. Aja Pacubla started things off by hitting a liner to right field, then advancing to second after Ali Gardiner was walked.

It seemed like nobody could hit off of Nelson. The whole night. She can be very dangerous on the mound, a deep threat to her opponents. The top of the 7th, Nelson struck out the whole side to end the game. With the major push from Stacy, she helped the Gators collect their 10th shutout on the season.

Florida will look to hold the Cox Invitational this weekend as they face off against Pacific at 4pm and USF at 615 pm on Friday February 27th. Good luck to the lady Gators.

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Gators Fall To No. 18 LSU

Posted by admin on February 26th, 2009   No Comment

Despite having a lead at halftime, the Gators (21-7, 8-5) lost a nail bitter to the No. 18 LSU Tigers (24-4, 12-1) 81-75 on Tuesday.

Florida was led in scoring by senior Walter Hodge with 16 points, and sinking a couple threes with just ticks left on the clock but it was not enough to manage the win. Florida had this game. I really do not know what else more there is to say. The Gators should of not lost this ball game. LSU is a decent team and yes Florida is young but it is still not the way they are capable of playing at. Some easy put backs and turnovers could have made a difference, but I guess they will just need to continue to learn as they go.

Florida had a 4 point lead going into halftime but they let the Tigers tear them up in the second half. The 14-2 LSU run killed Florida late in the game. I knew right then they were done, just by the way they continued to preform after the little run they put on. LSU’s Marcus Thornton was a killer behind the arc, sinking 6 out of the 11 attempted. It sure doesn’t help when your opponent is red hot either.

LSU shot terrific from the foul line to, shooting 18 for 21 is pretty good. That’s what close games come down to. Free throws. Florida did not rebound as well as they would of liked, while Calathes led with 7 boards. But right behind them were the big guys, Dan Werner and Alex Tyus with 6 boards each.

The Gators return home for a huge SEC match-up against Tennessee on Sunday March 1st starting at 2pm. The game will also be televised on CBS.

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Florida Baseball Sweeps NO. 8 Louisville

Posted by admin on February 23rd, 2009   No Comment

What a way to start off your season for the Gators. Florida faced No. 8 ranked Louisville (0-3) this weekend in a 3 game series and everything went the way they wanted.

The first game of the series Friday, Senior pitcher Patrick Keating threw seven innings with seven strikeouts. Junior Billy Bullock closed the game for Florida, not allowing a single run in 2 innings in the 6-3 win. Josh Adams finished the night going 2-for-4 with a scored run. What was also real neat was basketball coach Billy Donovan threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The second day of the three game series was also an successful one. Florida came out on top 10-4 in front of 3,483 fans that attended at McKethan Stadium. Freshman pitcher Alex Panteliodis threw real well, only allowing two runs. Florida football receiver Riley Cooper finished the day going 2-for-4. Matt Den Dekker’s RBI double got the Gator rally going late in the game. Anthony DeSclafani closed the game for the Gators.

The final game of the series was a close one, but the Gators still got the job done 3-2. I was really surprised when I saw the junior Mike Mooney hit the walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth, because that was the game winner right there. I was stoked. You can’t have a better opening series of the season than defeating rank No. 8 Louisville in three straight games. Florida (3-0) should have a very successful season this year. Look out for them to be riding the rankings.

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Gators Cruise Past Vanderbilt 82-68

Posted by admin on February 22nd, 2009   No Comment

Freshman Guard Erving Walker came off the bench scoring 17 points to help the Gators (21-6, 8-4) blow past the Vanderbilt Commodores (16-10, 5-7) which also placed them at the top of the SEC.

The Gators are still perfect from playing on their home floor. Florida earned their 17th win at home and they would like to extend it even more as the season dwindles down. Sophomore guard Nick Calathes added 14 points for the Gators while senior guard Walter Hodge put up 12.

Do you remember the last meeting between this two teams? When Florida made 15- 3 pointers and just tore the Commodores into pieces? Well this game was not that much of a difference. Florida got off to an amazing start and never led up one bit.

The Gators jumped ahead 19-4 early in the contest. They had a commanding 50-25 lead in the second half and never once let-up.

Sophomore Chandler Parsons tacked on 9 points and five rebounds and freshman center Kenny Kadji added 7 points and four blocks coming off the Gator bench.

The Commodores were led by A.j. Ogilvy with 18 points and six rebounds.

The Gators will head to Baton Rouge to take on LSU for another SEC match-up that will be televised on ESPN starting at 9pm on Tuesday night. Not to look past this game, but Florida will then head back to Gainesville to host Tennessee on Sunday at 2pm.

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The Toughest Decision

Posted by admin on February 21st, 2009   No Comment

By: Mark Stainton

Three juniors at the University of Florida had a decision to make after the Gators beat Oklahoma for the National Championship. One junior was a lifetime Gator fan, and loved the university too much to
seriously consider leaving early. It also helped that ‘experts’ didn’t think he would be drafted high. He stayed. The other junior was a sure first-rounder and a guy that is as explosive as you might ever see
in college football. He left. The third junior had the real decision. He was told he would be drafted somewhere in between the other two juniors. He probably wouldn’t go first round, but he wouldn’t drop past the third. He loved UF and playing for these fans and coaches and playing with this group of players, but he had some other concerns on his mind.

Brandon Spikes brother is in prison. Breyon Middlebrooks was sentenced to life without parole after being found guilty of murdering a man in a drug deal gone bad. Spike’s believes his brother is innocent and it would be proven if he could just get his brother some better lawyers. Enter the N.F.L. With the money he would be making as a professional, Spikes could no doubt get some better lawyers for his
brother. Brandon didn’t have the usual decision of making nothing while being a king in the college football world for one more year versus making millions while starting at the bottom of the totem pole as a pro. His decision was about family. His decision was tougher than just about any college junior had to make.

Spikes can improve his draft stock and be a sure first-rounder in the 2010 draft while also helping return one of the best Gator defenses in the history of their program. Once Brandon decided he would return for his senior year, he said he felt like it was the right choice to come back. It is widely rumored that Spikes and Tebow agreed to come to the same school during the recruiting process, so it is fitting they will end their careers together as seniors for the Gators. The two players have been two of the best leaders in the history of the program, and I have little doubt they have big things in store for their senior years. Spike’s brother will have to wait one more year for those lawyers, but help is coming soon. Brandon always looks out for his family, as well as his family of Gators. I am sure all of Gator Nation was excited to hear Spikes was returning, but not everyone realized the sacrifices he was making to do so.

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Anthony Roberson Traded To Bulls

Posted by admin on February 20th, 2009   No Comment

Former Gator guard Anthony Roberson was involved in a trade to the Chicago Bulls along with Tim Thomas and Jerome James for Larry Hughes.

Roberson averaged 4 points a game for the Knicks and was also teammates with former Gator David Lee who is having a very successful season this year. Roberson contributed 11 minutes a contest for the Knicks this year. Even though his playing time was not high, he still played with what all he had. Roberson will now be joining former Gator Joakim Noah in Chicago and can maybe talk about the old good Gator times.

Anthony should be an excellent collection to the Bulls roster in the guard spot, following behind Derrick Rose.

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Florida VS Vanderbilt Broadcast Information

Posted by admin on February 20th, 2009   No Comment

If you cannot attend the Florida vs Vanderbilt game on Saturday at 3pm, then why not watch it online or listen to the radio? Better than not listening to it at all right? Well if you would like to watch it online, please visit the following link at the end of this article. It will be shown on T.V on the raycom channel. But if you do not get raycom, then check upon your other options.

Radio:  Rock 104 – 103.7FM (Gainesville),  XM Radio Channel 200

Watch on internet: Watch online

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