Staff Writers

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2010 Spring Debut: Orange vs Blue

Posted by Staff Writers on April 7th, 2010   No Comment

When: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TIme: 1:00 pm
Gates Open: 11:30 am
Live Radio: XM Ch 199, Sirius Ch 216

Tickets:
- $5 for general admission
- Free admission for UF students with Gator 1 Card, Alumni, Gator Boosters
- Purchase online at ticketmaster.com
- Purchase at Gator Ticket Office

Gator Fan Fest (sponsored by Verizon Wireless)

Before the game(10am-12:30pm), there will be a Verizon Wireless Gator FanFest outside of Gates 6-7. There you can check out the pre-game concerts and get autographs from the 2010 NCAA Champion Gator Women’s Swimming & Diving team during their autograph session (11:30am-12:30pm).

Concert Schedule:
- The Manor – 10:30 a.m.- 11:15 a.m.
- Eager Beaver – 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

More on Gameday Events:
- There will be a Gator Yard Sale beginning at 9am outside of the Gator SportShop, which is located at Gate 9.
- Prior to the game, former football letter-winners will team up with current UF students in a flag football game – the Gator Alumni Flag Football Game.

The spring game replay will be shown on Sun Sports at the following times:
- Sunday, April 11 – 9:00am
- Sunday, April 18 – 9:00am
- Wednesday, April 21 – 3:00pm
- Tuesday, April 27 – 11:00pm
- Sunday, May 2 – 9:00am

Spring Game

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Florida Relays: Day 1

Posted by Staff Writers on April 3rd, 2010   No Comment


Yesterday, April 2nd, was the kick-off of the annual Pepsi Florida Relays track and field event at the University of Florida’s James G. Pressly Stadium. The Gators won five events and broke a few records, including a world-leading time set in the 100-meter dash by sophomore sprinter Jeff Demps. Senior Julie Northrup also set a record in the steeplechase event.

In the 100-meter dash, Demps ran a 2010 world-leading time of 10.11. A couple years ago while in high school, he recorded a time of 10.01. Previously, Nesta Carter, of Jamaica, had the fastest time in the world this season at 10.15.  Jeremy Hall and Terrell Wilks also competed in the 100-meter dash event. Hall finished in fourth place with a time of 10.30, while Wilks came in 10th place with a time of 10.41.

Julie Northrup had a personal-best record time of 10:29.22 in the women’s steeplechase. Her time is now the third-fastest time in school history. Her previous personal-record time was 10:31.59, which she had earned at the SEC Outdoor Championships last season.

Sophomore Christian Taylor and senior sprinter Calvin Smith were very successful in the 400-meter dash. Taylor won the event, finishing with a time of 45.55. Smith came in second with a time of 45.62. Also placing in the event were Tony McQuay, who took fifth place in 46.43, and R.J. Anderson who finished sixth in 46.86. That gives the Gators four sprinters that finished among the top six in this race.

Other notes:
- Charlotte Browning, a senior distance runner, captured the women’s 800-meter event with a time of 2:06.42
- Senior long distance jumper Shara Proctor triumphed in the women’s long jump event with a leap of 6.63m
- In the women’s discus, Keely Medeiros finished in second place with a personal-record throw of 51.16m
- Justine Taylor, also a senior distance runner, placed fifth in the men’s 1,500m run
- Sophomore Gray Horn took third place in the men’s long jump
- Ugonna Ndu, a freshman hurdler, clocked a personal-best time of 58.79 in the women’s 400-meter hurdles race

Jeff Demps

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Florida Enters Field of 65

Posted by Staff Writers on March 14th, 2010   No Comment

With all the bubble talk leading up to tonight’s selection process for March Madness, Florida was one of those teams who was on the edge of being in the tournament. But the committee saw something in Florida, and despite a lot of the experts opinions, Florida has been placed into the field of 65. But where were they placed, and what rank were they given?

The Gators have been selected as a 10 seed in March Madness, which seems a bit high for a team that was “questionable” to make it. But clearly the experts were, even Joe Lunardi. The 10 seed means that Florida was “expected” to make the field by the committee, since most of the bubble teams received 11 and 12 seeds.

Now that Florida has that pressure off their back, they can now get focused on their first round matchup this Thursday. The Gators, coming out of the SEC conference which sent a total of four teams to the tournament, will face the seven seed, BYU Cougars.

The matchup is quite even, with both teams having solid offenses, and when each team is hot, they are one of the toughest teams to go up against. BYU, 29-5 on the season, is led by Jimmy Fredette, who is averaging over 20 points per game.

If Florida can win, they will most likely the #2 seed, Kansas State, unless the Wildcats are upset in their first round matchup.

GSN congratulates the Gators on their selection into the tournament, and we all wish them the best of luck, GO GATORS!

2010-march-madness-odds

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GSN Video Weekly Wrap-up

Posted by Staff Writers on March 4th, 2010   No Comment

The Weekly Wrap-up includes game score updates, breaking news, and a look into the future of Gator Sports. The GSN Video Weekly Wrap-up will air every Friday. The Weekly Wrap-up is the newest and most convenient way to obtain your Gator sports updates.

GSN Video Weekly Wrap-up

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Tebow’s Record Jump at Combine

Posted by Staff Writers on February 28th, 2010   No Comment

Tim Tebow won’t be throwing at this weekend’s combine, but he will show off his other talents. The scouts at Indianapolis who attended the Combine witnessed the athleticism that Gator Nation has seen for the past four years. Here’s a look at how Tebow performed in the drills.

Vertical Leap

If anyone doubted his leaping ability, well shame on you. Tebow tied the all-time record, formerly held by Josh McCown, with 38.5 inch vertical jump. Not even Michael Vick, who is undoubtedly one of the most athletic Quarterbacks’ in history jumped that high – Vick jumped 38 inches in 2001.

Broad Jump

With one record complete, Tebow decided to break another. In the broad jump, Tebow posted an outstanding nine feet, seven inch jump. In last year’s combine, the average jump for the Quarterbacks was eight feet, ten inches. That’s nearly a whole foot on last year’s crop of QB’s.

40-Yard Dash

With Tebow being one of the better rushing Quarterback’s in this year’s class, it was expected he would be in the top five when he took to the forty yard dash. On his first run, Tebow posted a 4.70 forty time, and then backed that up with a 4.72 on his second run. The 4.70 unofficial time is the third fastest among the Quarterbacks, just behind Dan LeFevour (4.64) and Zac Robinson (4.66).

If Quarterback doesn’t work out for Tebow, he certainly proved his athleticism with his showing at the combine. Even Tebow said it before, he’s not afraid to switch positions as long as it gives him playing time.

tebow

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Gators Looking to Put Down the Dawgs

Posted by Staff Writers on February 27th, 2010   No Comment

Last week, the Gators upset No. 17 ranked Vols by a score of 75-62. You could say that victory got the Gators’ foot in the door as selections for the NCAA tournament roll around in the next couple of weeks. Now, Chandler Parsons’ Gators are looking to defeat rival Georgia for the second straight victory versus the Dawgs this season.

With only three games this season until the SEC tournament, this win is crucial for the Gators to get into the Tournament as they were rejected the past two seasons. Well folks, that wont happen this year. The Gators are on a hot streak and nothing is stopping them.

If the Gators pull out of Athens tonight with a ‘W’, it will be the Gators’ first 10-win season in the SEC since 2007. A victory toady would also mark six SEC wins in true road games in one season since the 2005-06 season.

As Florida makes the long, six hour trip to Athens, Georgia has knocked off Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Illinois along with other schools. Georgia looks to possibly spoil a NCAA tourney opportunity for the Gators. Reported by Floridatoday.com, “They’ve had some phenomenal wins and have been an extremely good home team,” Donovan said. “They’re good and I think they’re a confident team at home.”

Georgia is an impressive 10-3 overall at home and have had a few close losses to some big teams this season. That could be a worry for the Gators. Five of Georgia’s nine SEC losses have been by four points or less. The Dawgs’ Thompkins leads his team in scoring with 17.8 PPG and in rebounds with 8.1 rebounds PG.

This win could lead to the break of a two-year slump as the Gators have not made the Tourney since their back-to-back NCAA tournament championships. You can listen the Gators face the Bulldawgs in Athens on Yahoo.com along with some local TV stations at 4pm today. Impact players for the game are going to be Chandler Parsons and Erving Walker. Both of the star players have had outstanding 2009-2010 seasons. This game will not be the one to miss. So, cancel your trip to the mall or to the grocery store because this game could be interesting as this game will have Tourney implications.

(Information collected from Gatorzone.com and Floridatoday.com)
By: Justin Rectenwald

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QB John Brantely’s Father Fighting Cancer

Posted by Staff Writers on February 26th, 2010   No Comment

Many prayers and thoughts from around the nation and the state of Florida are going out to the Trinity High School football coach and previous UF quarterback, John Brantley III. John Brantley III was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. He will undergo surgery on March 10th to remove his cancer.

Brantley, 53, will undergo his surgery this week as doctors reported that they are confident they can remove the cancer since it is in the early stages. After his cancer is removed, he plans to get involved with local cancer awareness programs.

Brantley III passed for over 1300 yards at Florida in 1978. At Trinity High School, he led his team to the 2008 2B title game. In his past two years with the Celtics, he has compiled an impressive record of 21-5. Brantley still plans to be the head coach at Trinity in 2010. His son, John Brantley IV will be the Gator starting quarterback come March in spring training.

GatorSports.com reported, “We sat down and talked about it, and John is going to be the football coach at Trinity Catholic going forward,” said Celtics athletic director and former UF pitcher Tommy Bond. “He’s a big part of the Trinity family and we just want to support him through all of this. We look forward to getting him healthy and back on the field.”

As Brantley III prepares for life saving surgery, his son is anticipating spring football starting on March 17th along with the comeback of Urban Meyer who is currently taking a leave of absence. GSN has Brantley and his family in prayers leading up to his surgery.

(Information collected from GatorSports.com)
By: Justin Rectenwald

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Gators Enter Latest Bracketology Board

Posted by Staff Writers on February 26th, 2010   No Comment

With March Madness looming on the horizon, and the Gators coming off a huge win over Tennessee, their stake in March Madness may have been cememented with their recent win. For the sixth straight season, the Gators have captured 20+ wins, the longest streak in the SEC. But there is still no guarantees that Florida will be dancing in March.

The latest Bracketology prediction, according to expert analysis Joe Lunardi of ESPN, has the Gators have entering the mix. As of February 26, the Gators are a projected 10 seed in the East bracket. The current matchup for Florida (if the tournament started today) would be against Wake Forest of the ACC. The other teams in the East bracket are Kentucky, Villanova, and Pittsburgh most notably.

Of course, there’s still remaining games in the regular season, and conference touraments left, but its nice to see that Florida may have landed a spot in March Madness.

For the complete Bracketology field, click here.

florida_gators_basketball

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