Posts by J:

No. 19 Florida wins on the road at South Carolina

Posted by admin on January 15th, 2012   No Comment

The Gators (14-4, 2-1 SEC) finally got a much-needed win on the road against the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-9, 0-3 SEC). Florida put on an offensive clinic defeating the Gamecocks 79 – 65. The Gators shot 53% from the field going 25 of 47 and completing 12 of 24 from behind the arc. All five starters finished with double figures in scoring. Kenny Boynton led the team with 15 points, with 12 of those points coming off of 4 -7 shooting for three. Bradley Beal and Will Yeguette both had 14 points and Erving Walker and Erik Murphy chipped in 11 each. Erving Walker went 3-4 from behind the arc. Next up for the Gators are the LSU Tigers, which they will be facing on Saturday, January 21, at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville.

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Recruit Mike Davis Backs Out of Commitment

Posted by admin on January 14th, 2012   No Comment

Recruit Mike Davis has decided to take his talents to Columbia, South Carolina and has opted to become a Gamecock and play for Steve Spurrier. Hopefully Muschamp and new coordinator Brent Pease will be able to lure another top RB recruit with the opening of Davis’s spot.

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Gators hire new Offensive Coordinator Brent Pease

Posted by admin on January 13th, 2012   No Comment

Every year we see the same thing. Boise State has a ridiculously potent offense and puts up absurd amounts of points on almost every opponent they play. If it wasn’t for their offense, no one would even know about a blue football field. The good news for Gator fans is that part of that offense is coming to Gainesville. Will Muschamp was able to pull off his best recruiting of the year in luring away from the claws of Satan, I mean Saban (Alabama), Boise States Offensive Coordinator Brent Pease. For the last five years Pease has served as wide receivers coach and in 2011 served as the Broncos Offensive Coordinator. Last Year Boise State ranked 11th nationally in passing (309.38) and fourth in passing efficiency (171.56). Overall, Boise State averaged 481.31 yards per a game and tied for 10th nationally in total offense. Thank god for a breath of fresh year. This past season our offense was downright offensive. Weis was terrible (I can’t believe he is going to be a head coach, Good Luck Kansas) and I credit the Gators 6 losses this year all to Charlie Weis. In 2011 the Gators offense ranked 105th nationally in total offense (328.69) and 71st in scoring (25.46). I think Steve Spurrier even had nightmares about those statistics. Nonetheless, the monkey, or in Weis’s stature, the Gorilla, is finally off our back. Looking forward to a new offense and new spark, hopefully it sets a trail a blaze and doesn’t burn down a house.

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Tebow Time: Bronco’s Vs. Patriots: NFL Playoff Preview

Posted by admin on January 13th, 2012   No Comment

This Saturday the Denver Broncos (8-8) get to continue their Cinderella story in the AFC playoffs against a familiar foe… the New England Patriots (13-3). Tim Tebow led the Broncos to an unprecedented upset of the Pittsburg Steelers last Saturday. Tim threw for over 316 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a quasi-miraculous overtime, 80-yard game winning pass. Being a wildcard team and having an (8-8) record has certainly earned the Broncos the spot of top underdog. Some are claiming divine intervention; some are claiming that Tim Tebow is indeed nothing less than superhuman. But the fact of the matter is, Denver is an exceptionally well balanced football team. The Broncos have an unbelievable rushing attack, not surprising for a team lead by Tim Tebow. Additionally, the Bronco’s defense could be considered one of the best in the league. Injuries and turnovers have been the bane of the Broncos season.  However, anyone who has watched the Broncos since Tebow has taken the reins knows that he’s definitely not a one man show; their regular season and playoff success can be attributed to a team effort.

In order for Denver to emerge victorious from this squabble on Saturday, they must, and I repeat, must prevent turnovers. In fact, the Denver is 0-5 in games where they have committed more than three turnovers. On the contrast, the team is actually 5-1 when committing 1 or less. Not committing turnovers seems like a no-brainer.  But during the December 15th meeting of these two teams during the regular season, Denver turnovers resulted in 13 Patriot points and a 41-23 loss. The end result was a 3-game slide that nearly cost the Broncos a berth in the playoffs. In a stunning twist of fate, an Oakland Raider loss allowed the Broncos to march onward, and now we have a rematch.

 

If Tom Brady and New England want to win this Saturday night scuffle they may just have their work cut out for them. The Patriots last victory came from beating Buffalo 49-21. Having lost in their last 3 playoff attempts, just like Denver, the Patriots are out to prove something. Tom Brady’s pass-attack is the cornerstone of the Patriots offense and its success is certainly enhanced by the assistance of former Gator turned New England tight-end, Aaron Hernandez. Noticeably, the Patriots seem to fare better when they at least attempt to mix in the run. The teams rush attack has been so effective that in games where they rushed at least 27 times, their record is 7-0. Perhaps the team’s biggest weakness is the Patriots defense, which has been relatively inconsistent throughout the year. Pass defense, especially long pass defense seems to be their most overwhelming issue. In regard to the Broncos, as stated previously, it’s not a one man show; simply eliminating Tim Tebow’s effectiveness will not guarantee victory. But, considering Tebow, his unpredictable playing style, and his versatility are very difficult to prepare for, not to mention his innate leadership ability and absolute desire to win. Strangely enough… Vegas has the Broncos as a 13.5 point favorite, should be interesting.

 

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Jeff Demps to focus on 2012 Olympics, not NFL Draft

Posted by admin on January 12th, 2012   No Comment

Jeff Demps will not play in any college football all star games or draft activities including the NFL combine. Obviously, the NFL is a more lucrative path than track & field, unless your Usain Bolt. Demps is too small to be an every down back in the NFL. He would be better utilized on special teams with a focus on returning punts and kickoffs, although that is no sure way to get drafted. All I can say as a Gator fan is sincerely, Good Luck Jeff and we appreciate your contributions to Gator football! Will be rooting for you in London.

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Battle of Florida – Boca Raton Jan 21, 2012

Posted by admin on January 11th, 2012   2 Comments

What is the Battle of Florida?
The Battle of Florida is more than a game. It’s an attitude. It’s finally taking the incredible talent and dominance of Florida football and putting it on show for the whole nation to see. It’s a week of events in Boca Raton with celebrities and NFL athletes. Florida is football, and The Battle of Florida is about giving the people what they want.

The game itself is on January 21, 2012. It’s an all-star football matchup for NFL draft-eligible collegiate players with ties to the state of Florida. It pits coaches Bobby Bowden vs Howard Schnellenberger.

What other events does The Battle of Florida put on?
The Battle of Florida will host a slew of events and entertainment in the week leading up to the game, beginning on January 15. Think Celebrity BBQ, a cheerleading competition, NFL Beach Football, The Taste of Florida, and so much more. For a complete list of events and information, click here.

What is the date and time for this year’s The Battle of Florida?
The Battle of Florida will take place on January 21, 2012. Kickoff is at 8:00pm EST.

What network will televise The Battle of Florida?
The game will be broadcast nationwide by Fox College Sports

Who plays in The Battle of Florida?
Players must be NFL draft eligible and have either been born in Florida or have played high school or college football in Florida. Florida is the greatest football state in the country, and it’s high time that these men be let loose to battle it out for the title.

Who coaches The Battle of Florida?
The two head coaches for the game will be Bobby Bowden coaching the North team and Howard Shnellenberger coaching the South. Click here to read more about these two legendary coaches.

Assistant coaches will be made up of NFL coaches, former NFL players, and collegiate coaches.

How can I purchase tickets?
Tickets can be purchased now on The Battle of Florida’s Ticketmaster page. Beginning in November, tickets will be available for purchase at the FAU ticket office in Boca Raton as well as at selected local outlets.

When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale October 10, 2011

Where can I get souvenirs?
Souvenirs will be available online, at the BOF office, and at the game.

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Gators stomp Bulldogs, 70-48

Posted by admin on January 11th, 2012   No Comment

No. 19 Florida Gators (13-4, 1-1 SEC) defeated the Georgia Bulldogs (9-7, 0-2 SEC) in Gainesville. This was the Gators second SEC matchup of the season and it turned out to be one of the best defensive performances that the Gators put out this season. They held the Bulldogs to 36 percent from the field and forced Georgia to miss eight of their first nine shots. This defensive performance was not a fluke. After the Gators lost to the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday 67-56, head coach Billy Donovan had seen enough and did what all great coaches do, forced his players to get back to their roots and focus. It just so happens that defense is what wins championships and that is exactly what Donovan conveyed to them. He made the Gators go through two hard practices on Sunday which revolved around boxing out, rebounding and defense. He was so set on getting back to the basics that he placed two plastic covers over each rim so that no one could attempt a shot. It apparently worked. The Gators D was so stifling that the announcers on ESPN kept comparing it to Alabama’s fresh romp over LSU (BCS is such a joke).

Nonetheless, you still have to win by scoring, and the Gators had some help from freshmen Bradley Beal who scored 17 points, had a double double and went 4-6 from behind the arc. Beal finally broke out is four game slump (shot 30 percent and was 2-16 from 3 point range) where he was often benched at times due to poor performance. The Gators Kenny Boynton finished with 17 points. This is the 15th consecutive home win for the Gators.

The Gators next matchup will be against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, January 14.

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No 14. Florida beats UAB 79 – 61

Posted by admin on January 4th, 2012   No Comment

Florida Gators defeated UAB on a night were the opponent dared the Gators to shoot the ball from behind the arc. All night Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker were connecting on three after three. The Gators shot a season high, 15 3 pointers. This pretty much put the game out of reach. Boynton went 6 – 10 from beyond the arc and Walker was 7 – 9. This was the final game for the Gators before they start the main part of their schedule, which is a 15 game run through the Southeastern Conference. the Gators next game is against the Tennessee Volunteers, on Saturday, January 7th at 11:00am.

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