Archive for the ‘FOOTBALL’ Category

Gators beat OSU 24-17

Posted by admin on January 2nd, 2012   No Comment

On Monday the Florida Gators closed out their season with a 24 – 17 victory over the Ohio state Buckeyes in the Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, narrowly avoiding a losing record for the year. Special teams were the cornerstone of the Gator’s scoring effort and key to their win. Etching his name into Gator Bowl History, Andre Debose returned a kick-off 99 yards for a UF touchdown and breaking the Bowl Record. In later play Chris Rainey blocked an Ohio State Punt, (6th blocked kick of his college career), that was carried to the endzone for another Gator score. Even QB John Brantley came out on top in his final game as a Florida Gator completing 12 of 16 passes for 132 yards, a touchdown, and one interception. However, it is unquestionable that the Florida defense made the difference in the game, Ohio State’s QB Braxton was sacked a total of 6 times.
For Ohio State, this loss dropped them to 6-7, their first losing season since 1988. Perhaps bittersweet for some Gator fans, Urban Meyer’s new team did not only lose their bowl game to his old team, but due to the circumstances of Jim Tressel’s departure, Ohio State is prohibited from Bowl and Conference Championship play next season. Granted, it hasn’t been the greatest football season in UF history, at least this senior class came out on top in the end. Head Coach Will Muschamp, who admits that his team has a long way to go, even got to enjoy an icy-cold Gatorade shower at the end of the game. Now, only a few more months until another season of Gator football begins!

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Tebow – Critics, Skeptics, and Naysayers… Oh My!!

Posted by barnett on December 31st, 2011   No Comment

In the minds of many diehard Gator and Bronco fans, college football superstar gone pro, Tim Tebow, is not only living up to expectations, but also exceeding them. The 25th 1st round draft pick has passed for a total of 1,669 yards, just above the league average of 1,601. However, rushing has seemed to be the pinnacle of the Bronco’s Offense. Given that Tim was a regular QB battering ram in college, this shouldn’t’ surprise anyone. Perhaps what is most impressive, is the fact that before Tim took the reins in Denver, they were looking at what seemed to be a losing season.
What is even more intriguing, is the fact that during pre-season, Tim was located at the bottom of the Bronco’s depth chart, and the team seemed to have no desire to groom him into a starting quarterback. The current saga started when former Bronco Quarterback, Kyle Orton, started the season with a horrendous 1-4 record. This set into motion a series of events that not only put Tebow at the top of the Bronco’s QB roster, but has lead to what some many consider and exceptional season comeback. Denver finsihed the regular season 8-8 under Tebow, and in contention for the AFC Division West title, attaining a berth in the playoffs, despite a loss in the final regular season game.
Of course, there are skeptics and some over-the-top Tebow haters. SNL, Bill Maher, Bill Romanowski, Brian Urlacher, and even Hulk Hogan are among the naysayers. Tim is loved in Denver, much as he was at Florida, but unlike college, these fans don’t just expect performance, they DEMAND it. Given the uncanny nature of Tim’s playing style, there are probably close to as many skeptic Bronco fans as there are supporters. Tim has only been the team’s premiere starter since November, when the Bronco’s traded Orton to the Kansas City Chiefs. After 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles in the past 4 games, not only are the fans questioning Tim’s ability to hang onto the ball, but are worried about his overall confidence. Additionally, the Bronco’s had 2 key defensive starters that were injured prior to Tebow’s rise to 1st string QB, and returned during Tim’s 1st game as the starter.
Ironically, the Bronco’s played against the KC Chiefs, and former QB Orton in the final game of the regular season – ultimately losing, but still making the playoffs. To the Tebow skeptics, I’ll say this: Tim seems to thrive in the face of criticism, he did it at Florida, and he seems to be doing it again at Denver. Yes, Coach Fox did say that he was developing his offense around the young man. So what? If you have a talented player, why not use their skill set to win? Yes, the Bronco Defense and Special Teams seem to be firing on all cylinders. But in the NFL, it is a COMPLETE team that wins. Tim has proven again and again that he has charisma and a desire to win, probably like no one who has ever played the game before. The fact of the matter is, regardless of what some may attribute the victories to, the guy wins. In the game of football, that’s what truly matters.

Update: 1/8/2012: Tebow leads the Broncos to an Overtime Win against the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers! First play of OT, Tebow throw converts to an 80 yard touchdown! Next weekend, Tebow & Denver face New England & Tom Brady in New England. Go Gators! Go Tebow!

 

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Déjà vu: 2012 Gator Bowl Preview

Posted by barnett on December 15th, 2011   1 Comment

On January 2nd, 2012 in what is a seemingly strange twist of fate, the Florida Gators (6-6) have been scheduled to play the Ohio State Buckeyes (also 6-6) at Everbank Field in the 2012 Tax Slayer Gator Bowl, in a typical Big 10 vs. SEC Bowl matchup. A precipitous feeling of déjà vu is sweeping through the Gator Nation as we all remember the 2007, 41-14 victory over the Buckeyes to win Florida’s first National Championship since 1996. The memory of 2nd year coach Urban Meyer stomping the Buckeyes with senior QB Chris Leak and a young freshman phenom Tim Tebow in Arizona is still ever-present in Gainesville. Being a junior at UF at the time, I still have a branch from the tree that was torn down in front of campus… sweet memories.

Urban Meyer’s team will once again take the field in Jacksonville, Florida. This time, that team is the Ohio State Buckeyes. In the eyes of Gator fans, this brings the necessity of victory to a new level. Granted, Meyer himself has opted to not coach the bowl game, the principal of the matter is what counts in the minds of many diehard Gator fans… this is personal.

Not only did the Gators struggle offensively all year, but the departure of Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weiss will undoubtedly affect next year’s recruiting. If 1st year HC Muschamp is to have any chance at reconciling this year’s dismal season in the minds of fans and potential recruits, this game is where his Gator team needs to shine. Hopefully, this Gator team will take the field with a true desire to obtain victory. Seniors John Brantley, Chris Rainey, and Jeff Demps undoubtedly have something to prove and will be crucial to the Gator’s game effort.

Ohio State, has also endured an exceptionally difficult season; the firing of decade long coach Jim Tressel, and a regular season record of 6-6 is anything but the norm in Columbus. Honing in on gossip taking place on the Ohio State online message boards, fans vividly remember the staggering defeat of 2007 at the hands of the Gators. This sentiment is clearly exasperated by the Buckeyes securing Urban Meyer as their head coach. Victory would simply be bittersweet icing on the cake.

According the CBS.com, their panel of experts overwhelmingly feels that this game will result in a Buckeye victory. However, glancing at each team’s statistics, the match-up is relatively even. Ohio State has 124.1 yards in pass offense, 195.7 yards of rush offense, 186.2 yards of pass defense, and 142.4 yards in rush defense. Respectively, the Florida Gators have 190.2 yards of pass offense, 144 yards of rush offense, 167.3 yards of pass defense, and 132.3 yards of rush defense. Florida’s defense will most likely be the biggest challenge for the Buckeyes. Merely stopping the Buckeyes will not be enough, forcing turnovers is a must. However, if Florida is to emerge victorious, the Gator offense needs to get out of their current slump, and move the ball into the end zone.

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Charlie Weiss leaves UF for Kansas head coaching job

Posted by admin on December 9th, 2011   No Comment

In a surprising and disappointing twist to gator football news, Charlie Weis has opted out of his contract to take the head coaching job at Kansas University. The gators will continue to transition to Muschamp’s pro style offense- coaching up young players and now filling Weis’s OC & QB coach position. Hopefully Driskel & Brissett absorbed as much of Weis’s coaching as possible.

What do you think?

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Gator Football: 2012 Recruiting “Albert Wants You”

Posted by barnett on November 30th, 2011   3 Comments

After what most would call a disappointing season, HC Will Muschamp and friends have an opportunity for redemption with a stellar recruiting effort; they definitely have their work cut out for them though. The Gators finished the season unranked with some, need I say it, pretty pathetic performances … not the best way to get 5-star recruits lining up in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium & the 125% life sized Tebow statue. But remember Gator fans, Mr. Muschamp was thrown into a cauldron of political/sport’s mire that was so thick, even Michael Phelps would drown. Coach Urban Meyer’s decision to retire, then come back, and then retire again, would put any coach in a pretty awkward situation, especially in the realm of recruiting top athletes.

UF currently has 67 Scholarship holding football players, 10 of which are seniors leaving at the end of the season. This doesn’t include any of the players that will end up transferring or becoming ineligible for various reasons. The NCAA currently allows a maximum of 85 scholarship athletes on a team. Therefore, the new Gator football roster could potentially incorporate in excess of 28 freshmen recruits. Currently, the Gators are sitting at 17 verbal commits, just under Alabama who have 20 verbal commits so far, and just above FSU who have 15.

Size matters… if no one noticed; Florida’s team wasn’t very big this season, especially compared to LSU and Alabama. This was made resoundingly obvious when FSU’s defense was slicing through our line like a knife through a warm Krispy Kreme doughnut.  In summary, it was kind of like watching a big kid on the playground hold a little kid’s forehead while the little kid can’t land a punch. Gator fans can get fired up at the fact that some of our verbal commits definitely seem to have meat on their bones. Especially 5-Star recruit D.J. Humphries, 6’5, 265 lbs. and 4 – Star recruit Jessamen Dunker, 6’6”, 315 lbs, both are offensive linemen. Our running game seems to be getting a “bigger” boost. Verbal commits and 4-Star recruits Mike Davis, 5’10”, 200lbs. and Matt Jones, 6’2”, 200lbs. are both running backs.

Some 5-Star prospects that are up-for grabs are Offensive Tackle Kyle Murphy out of San Clemente, CA (He visited UF on Nov. 14th, hopefully good impressions were made.) and Offensive Tackle Andreas Peat, 6’7, 305 lbs. out of Tempe, AZ. Currently, UF seems to have made no attempt to secure Peat as a recruit. But having a 305 lb Tackle ready for grooming will certainly put some of the “size” issue at bay.

Securing some top young talent is precisely what the Gators need. Not only to ensure top performance in the coming years, and to show that UF’s new coaching regime is capable of doing so, but to show the Gator Nation that the University of Florida is still a destination for some of the country’s top athletic talent.

 

 

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Urban Meyer Named Head Coach at Ohio State

Posted by admin on November 28th, 2011   3 Comments

After beating Ohio State handedly in 2006, then retiring twice from UF, Urban Meyer has decided to coach at The Ohio State University after working as a college football commentator and analyst. Gator fans around the nation meet the news with mixed emotions- some happy for Urban who led UF to 2 national championships or those who remember that Urban left coaching because of the stress on his health, and oh yeah, not long after Tim Tebow left Gainesville.

What do you think?

 

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Gators season ends with a loss to FSU 21- 7

Posted by admin on November 27th, 2011   3 Comments

Well, that was a tough game to watch. On Saturday night, the Florida Gators took on the Florida State Seminoles in what was supposed to be a heated rivalry and a dogfight of a game. It turned into a pathetic display of offense, on both sides, and a insanely boring evening filled with expletives. Throughout the evening all I could do is think about how far the Florida teams have fallen. Miami is disgraceful and disgraced. FSU was ranked in the top ten coming into the season and finished un- ranked. And the Gators, we all no how there season turned out, just disappointing. FSU FANS, don’t get to carried away because you beat Florida and Miami in the same year. Remember, no one picked either Miami or the Gators to go anywhere this year. On the other hand, the Seminoles were picked to dominate the NCAA and maybe even make a run at the National Title. You know what I call how there season turned out…EPIC FAIL.

The Gators fell to the Seminoles 21 – 7 at home for the first time since 2003 on Saturday night. The worst part about this game was how John Brantley played and how his career in college football ended.  Saturday night was Senior Night for the Gators. They had all of their loved ones in attendance and everyone was ready to go. Or at least everyone except Brantley. Before Brantley was smashed by two FSU players, which made him leave the game for good, he had thrown for three interceptions in just 1 and a half quarters of play. Two of the interceptions gave FSU prime field position. That is how FSU went up 14 – 0 in the first half. The saddest thing about the entire night is that our defense played very well. Ronald Powell and Jaye Howard created issues for the Florida State front line throughout the entire night. The Seminoles managed only 30 rushing yards and 65 passing yards. Basically they were crushed all night, and if it weren’t for Brantley’s turnovers, this would have been a closer game.  After going down 21 – 0 in the second half, the Gators finally put together a score off of a Jaye Howard fumble recovery on the FSU 21 yard line. Freshman quarterback, Jacoby Brissett hit Quinton Dunbar for the only points for the Gators with 4:16 remaining in the game.

Ok…Deep Breath…the 2011 season is in the books. Although the last game of the season was a debacle, most Gator fans shouldn’t be too upset with how the year went. It was always labeled a rebuilding year. With a slew of new coaches and a brand new offensive scheme, the Gator Faithful shouldn’t have expected too much greatness. Unfortunately, we believed that there would be some greatness, however starting the season going 4 – 0 and ending up 6-6 is just brutal. Hopefully Muschamp and Weis set the recruiting trail a blaze, because it is very clear that the Gators need some help, and hopefully they are focusing on offense. God knows we need it.

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UF vs. FSU Pregame “Sunshine Show-Down”

Posted by barnett on November 24th, 2011   No Comment

Well Gator fans, the big day is almost here! I am sure it has been an arduous 365 day journey for most Gator fans, especially Florida residents, who have been tomahawk chopped and speared nearly to death since last year’s loss to bitter rivals Florida State.This Saturday the Florida Gators (6-5) will finally get a chance not only to redeem themselves from what many fans are calling a horrible first season for new Head Coach Will Muschamp, but retribution for last year’s embarrassing 31 -7 loss to their bitter rival, the Florida State Seminoles (7-4). Interestingly enough, this is the first time these rivals, Florida and Florida State, have ever met on the field unranked, thus enhancing the importance of victory in the eyes of both the Gators and the Seminoles. The Florida Gator’s lead the overall rivalry with record standing at 33-20-2, the question is… which team wants victory the most?

​Florida secured bowl eligibility last week with a victory over the Furman Paladins that was, needless to say, exceptionally hard fought. However, all of UF’s play makers and potential play makers are healthy and ready to feast upon some ‘Nole meat. This is the first time that the Gators are finishing below .500 in conference play since 1986; needless to say, the pressure is on. Expect some big things out of Senior QB John Brantley, and Senior RB Chris Rainey, both will be playing in their final home game at Florida Field. Eyes will certainly be on the Gator defense to keep UF relevant throughout the game, they certainly have something to prove after last week’s sub-par performance when they allowed the Paladins 233 yards total and 5.3 average rushing.

​The Seminoles (7-4 and 5-3 ACC) are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Virginia, which obviously raises the stakes for the Seminole Nation. Coach Jimbo Fischer has no intention of losing to his old coaching buddy Will Muschamp (Both coached under Nick Saban at LSU. They even shared a beach house on the Florida Panhandle).  For the Seminoles to secure victory, pass blocking will be crucial. Linebacker Nigel Bradham will be the player to watch on the Seminole Defense, proving himself a savvy play maker all season long. On offense, Seminole QB E.J. Manual has worked his mojo this year with 2352 yards passing, and 16 TD’s for the Tribe; he will be looking to put a tomahawk in the Gator’s hopes for redemption.

​ Will Chief Osceola have tears streaming down his cheeks at the end of Saturday’s game? Or will the Tribe in Tallahassee be frying up some Gator Tail for dinner. What it all boils down to is who wants this victory more… Winner gets bragging rights; loser gets 365 days of shame.

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