Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Dante Fowler hypes up the crowd during Florida's 23-20 overtime loss to South Carolina at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Bowl game provides Gators opportunity to showcase skills

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 31, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Every practice is another opportunity to improve.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Andre Debose returns a punt for a touchdown during the first quarter of Florida's 30-27 loss to LSU at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Notebook: Debose, Cummings did not make bowl game trip

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 31, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two UF seniors saw their collegiate football careers come to an end one game early.

UF athletics director Jeremy Foley listens as Jim McElwain gives his press conference on Dec. 6, 2014, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Doug Nussmeier named Florida's next offensive coordinator

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 23, 2014

Florida coach Jim McElwain hired Michigan offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to the same position, UF announced Wednesday.

Florida defensive coordinator D. J. Durkin draws up a play for Buck linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. during Florida's win against Vanderbilt.

Sports

Notebook: Durkin, Gators preparing for Birmingham Bowl

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 18, 2014

The season of head coaching searches has given way to the transitional season around the Florida football program.

New head football coach Jim McElwain following his introductory press conference on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

McElwain hires Geoff Collins as defensive coordinator

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 16, 2014

New coach Jim McElwain has made his first hire. Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins has been picked for the same position at Florida, the school announced Wednesday and he will replace current defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin following Florida’s final game of the season in the Birmingham Bowl Jan. 3.

Will Muschamp signals during UF's 38-20 win against UGA on Nov. 1 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

Sports

Reports: Former Florida head coach Will Muschamp to become defensive coordinator at Auburn

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 12, 2014

Will Muschamp’s next stop in his coaching career will be right where it started.

Vernon Hargreaves III makes a tackle during Florida's 38-20 win against Georgia at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

Sports

Vernon Hargreaves only Gator to make All-SEC first team

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Dec. 8, 2014

For the second straight year, Vernon Hargreaves III was named to the Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team.

New York Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin, left, catches a 35-yard touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Minneapolis.

Sports

Gators in the NFL: Percy Harvin breaks slump, catches six passes for 124 yards

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 8, 2014

With Week 14 of NFL action in the books, here are some of the highlight performances from former Gators now playing in the big leagues.

In this Dec. 6, 2008, file photo, Florida coach Urban Meyer, left, and Alabama coach Nick Saban shake hands after Florida defeated Alabama 31-20 in the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Saban's top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) faces Meyer's fourth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) on New Year's Day, a semifinal matchup between two of the most storied programs in the game’s history. There’s history between the two, most notably at two classic SEC championship games.

Sports

Committee announces first ever College Playoff teams

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Dec. 8, 2014

The announcement every college football fan has been waiting for all season was released Sunday afternoon: the four teams that will make it into the first ever college football playoff. Here’s what the committee decided which teams will face off on New Year’s Day in the semifinal matchups.

Chris Walker attempts a layup during Florida's loss to No. 11 Kansas on Friday in Lawrence, Kansas.

Sports

Sophomore Chris Walker still working on intensity

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Dec. 7, 2014

Chris Walker proved to be one of Florida’s most dangerous offensive weapons in the first half against Kansas.

Florida players celebrate following the Gators' 34-10 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sports

Florida set to play in Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina

Dec. 7, 2014

After missing out on a bowl game last season for the first time since 1990, the Gators football team is going bowling once again.

New head football coach Jim McElwain speaks at his opening press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

McElwain ready to take command of Florida football program

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 6, 2014

Jim McElwain has the experience.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to throw towards the end zone during the first quarter against Stanford in an NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014.

Sports

Championship Saturday has CFB Playoff Implications

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Dec. 4, 2014

Championship Saturday is finally here, and there is a lot on the line. Most teams in action this weekend are fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while their opponents look to play the spoiler role to stop that from happening. Let’s break down who’s playing for what on Saturday, and which teams should be on upset alert.

Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain directs his team against Air Force in the fourth quarter of Air Force's 27-24 victory in an NCAA college football game at Air Force Academy, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014.

Sports

Jim McElwain hired as next Florida football head coach

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 4, 2014

One day after a deal for Colorado State coach Jim McElwain to become the head coach for the Florida football team stalled because of his hefty $7.5-million buyout, an agreement has been reached.

Florida AD Jeremy Foley smiles during coach Will Muschamp's press conference following UF's 38-20 win against UGA on Nov. 1 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

Sports

UAA planes blocked from Internet tracking

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 3, 2014

It’s plane tracking season on social media as journalists and fans hotly pursue the moves of UF athletics director Jeremy Foley.

Athletics director Jeremy Foley speaks to media Monday

Sports

Foley, McElwain have 'productive conversations,' no deal finalized

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 3, 2014

The day hasn’t come just yet.

UF running back Matt Jones carries the ball during Florida's 36-30 triple-overtime win against Kentucky on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Report: Matt Jones heading to NFL Draft

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 2, 2014

Add Matt Jones to the list of UF football players leaving Florida early for the NFL Draft.

Sports

UF AD Jeremy Foley travels to Colorado, meets with Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 2, 2014

For Florida football, love is in the air.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, in Cleveland.

Sports

Gators in the NFL: Haden continues to intercept passes, Bostic racks up tackles

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 1, 2014

With Week 13 of NFL action in the books, here are some of the highlight performances from former Gators now playing in the big leagues.

Sports

Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon leading Heisman race

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Dec. 1, 2014

With the 2014 Heisman Trophy ceremony less than two weeks away, several hardware hopefuls will make their final cases on Championship Saturday this weekend.