Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Caleb Brantley watches as linebacker Antonio Morrison is carted off the field during Florida's 28-20 win in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Legion Field.

Sports

Notebook: Antonio Morrison injures knee in Birmingham Bowl

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 5, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Antonio Morrison went down hard on Saturday.

D.J. Humphries holds up the Birmingham Bowl trophy following Florida's 28-20 win against East Carolina on Saturday at Legion Field.

Sports

Humphries declares for NFL Draft; Bullard to return to UF

Jan. 5, 2015

D.J. Humphries will not be returning for his senior season.

Adam Lane rushes for a touchdown during Florida's 28-20 win in the Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina on Jan. 3 at Legion Field.

Sports

Underclassmen show promise in Birmingham Bowl victory

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 5, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Heading into Florida’s meeting with East Carolina in Saturday’s Birmingham Bowl, the Gators’ mentality could have been questioned.

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

Sports

McElwain revamps football coaching staff, makes hires

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 5, 2015

Florida introduced Jim McElwain as its next head coach on Dec. 6 and has since wasted no time putting together his coaching staff.

Max Garcia snaps the ball during Florida's 28-20 win against East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday at Legion Field.

Sports

Max Garcia cherishes time at UF after transferring from Maryland

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 5, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In many ways, offensive lineman Max Garcia can be considered an exception to the rule.

Adam Lane rushes into the end zone for a touchdown during Florida's 28-20 win against East Carolina on Jan. 3 in the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field.

Sports

KEEP GOING: Florida tops East Carolina in Birmingham Bowl

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 3, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Heading into Saturday’s Birmingham Bowl matchup against East Carolina, there were questions whether Florida still had any fight left in them this season.

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

Sports

McElwain previews future of Florida football program before Birmingham Bowl

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 3, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — While Florida is putting the last nail in the coffin of the Will Muschamp era playing in the Birmingham Bowl, the Jim McElwain one is just getting underway.

UF interim head coach D.J. Durkin speaks during a press conference at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday.

Sports

Mike Taylor, Max Garcia express respect for interim coach Durkin

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Jan. 2, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Respect is not given, it is earned. If you listen to the players D.J. Durkin coaches, respect for their interim headman oozes from them. That’s the ultimate goal for a coach according to Durkin.

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.

Sports

McElwain ready to take command of Florida football program

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 6, 2014

Jim McElwain has the experience.