Sports: Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

Miami quarterback Stephen Morris (17) passes for a first down during his team's 24-21 win against Wake Forest in Miami Gardens on Oct. 26.

Sports

Picks Column: Georgia

Oct. 31, 2013

Baseball season is officially over.

Florida coach Will Muschamp walks off the field following Florida’s 36-17 loss against Missouri on Oct. 19 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Muschamp is 0-2 against Georgia since taking over at Florida.

Sports

Muschamp needs first win against UGA

By JOE MORGAN< | Oct. 29, 2013

Saturday’s game against Georgia is a must-win for Will Muschamp and Florida.

Boston Red Sox first baseman David Ortiz celebrates Jonny Gomes’ three-run home run off Seth Maness during Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday in St. Louis.

Sports

Ortiz postseason magic special

By PHILLIP HEILMAN< | Oct. 28, 2013

With the score tied heading into the sixth inning and the Boston Red Sox trailing the St. Louis Cardinals two games to one in the World Series, David Ortiz decided he needed to do more than hit Sunday night.

Coach Will Muschamp watches players warm up prior to Florida’s 36-17 loss to Missouri on Oct. 19 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.

Sports

Gators need multiple lucky breaks to make it to Atlanta

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Oct. 27, 2013

Somehow, some way, Florida is still in the hunt for a trip to Atlanta.

Johnny Manziel scrambles during the third quarter of Texas A&M’s 52-31 victory against Rice on Aug. 31, 2013 in College Station, Texas.

Sports

Picks Column: Halloween Edition

Oct. 24, 2013

Boo!

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) walks off the field after his team's 52-7 win against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 12.

Sports

The Rally: Who will win the Gamecocks-Tigers matchup on Saturday?

By PHILLIP HEILMAN< | Oct. 24, 2013

Phillip: Adam, do you know why chickens live on farms? Because they wouldn’t survive in the zoo. Sure, the joke is corny, but the point is prescient — No. 5 Missouri will continue its improbable season and take care of business against No. 21 South Carolina on Saturday at home.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (right) walks away as Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (center) celebrates with Jacoby Ellsbury (left) and Dustin Pedroia after scoring during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday in Boston.

Sports

Columnist cannot stand sight of postseason without Braves

By JOE MORGAN< | Oct. 23, 2013

Last night, I watched a World Series game for the first time this century.

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) throws a pass during the second half of FSU's 48-34 win at Boston College on Sept. 28.

Sports

The Rally: Who deserves to win the Heisman Trophy?

By PHILLIP HEILMAN< | Oct. 22, 2013

Phillip: Now that we are midway through the season, there is one thing certain about the Heisman Trophy race — it will be dominated by quarterbacks.

Kelvin Taylor (21) runs the football during Florida’s 36-17 loss to Missouri on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Taylor, a freshman running back, gained 74 rushing yards and scored the first touchdown of his college career on 12 attempts against the unbeaten Tigers.

Sports

Taylor should be UF’s starter

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Oct. 21, 2013

After Florida defeated Toledo 24-6 on Mack Brown’s shoulders, the Alligator ran the headline: “What Can Brown Do For You?”

Florida coach Will Muschamp gazes at the Missouri crowd and reflects after the No. 22 Gators' 36-17 loss to the No. 14 Tigers on Oct. 19 in Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.

Sports

Florida not living up to lofty program standards

By ADAM PINCUS< | Oct. 20, 2013

There’s no denying it now. The Gators aren’t very good.

Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk looks for a receiver during the fourth quarter his team's 58-14 win against Murray State in Columbia, Mo., on Aug. 31.

Sports

Picks Column: Missouri

Oct. 17, 2013

So, we here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column heard that the government was back in business and that they celebrated by raising the debt ceiling. Hooray!

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd throws a pass during his team's 38-35 win against Georgia at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., on Aug. 31.

Sports

The Rally: Who will win the FSU-Clemson game?

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Oct. 16, 2013

Each week, two alligatorSports columnists will debate the biggest looming matchup in college football. Today, Adam Lichtenstein and Joe Morgan preview No. 5 Florida State’s showdown against No. 3 Clemson in Clemson, S.C., on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Tyler Murphy throws a pass during Florida’s 17-6 loss to LSU on Saturday at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. The Gators will be tested on Saturday when No. 22 Florida travels to face No. 14 Missouri.

Sports

Gators will face big test on Saturday

By ADAM PINCUS< | Oct. 15, 2013

A foul smell of stale beer and unfortunate nights fills the streets as lime-green hand grenades line the sidewalks next to call cards for the city’s classiest establishments.

UF coach Will Muschamp reflects after No. 17 Florida's 17-6 loss to No. 10 LSU on Saturday in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports

Muschamp’s leadership will help embattled UF fight on

By JOE MORGAN< | Oct. 14, 2013

I believe “To Kill a Mockingbird” is one of the few novels you’re forced to read in high school that you don’t actually hate. I’ve read Harper Lee’s lone novel several times since.

Texas running back Johnathan Gray celebrates after scoring on a 45-yard touchdown run in the first half of his team's 31-30 win against Iowa State on Oct. 3, 2013 in Ames, Iowa.

Sports

Picks Column: LSU

Oct. 10, 2013

Rapper Kanye West and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel reconciled on Wednesday’s edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and we here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column could not be more relieved. In fact, as the crew watched the pivotal, emotional exchange between West and Kimmel, there were some tears shed. But not a single one of us would Runaway. We considered this exchange a Good Life lesson. Even the most Heartless among us felt their love grow Stronger as we witnessed this spectacle of forgiveness and understanding.

Tyler Murphy runs the ball during Florida’s 31-17 victory against Tennessee on Sept. 21 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

The Rally: Who will win the UF-LSU game?

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Oct. 10, 2013

Each week, two alligatorSports columnists will debate the biggest looming matchup in college football. Today, Phillip Heilman and Adam Lichtenstein preview No. 17 Florida’s showdown against No. 10 LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.

Dominique Easley lies on the ground following a play during Florida’s 41-11 loss against LSU on Oct. 8, 2011 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. The Gators defeated the Tigers at home in 2012.

Sports

Loss to LSU spurred resurgence

By JOE MORGAN< | Oct. 8, 2013

Florida’s most recent trip to Tiger Stadium could have taken place in the Colosseum — yeah, the Roman one.

Dante Fowler Jr. (6) celebrates after a play during Florida’s 30-10 victory against Arkansas on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Fowler leads the Gators with three sacks and two forced fumbles in 2013.

Sports

Sophomore linebacker becoming most fun aspect of Gators

By PHILLIP HEILMAN< | Oct. 7, 2013

One minute he is a teddy bear. The next he becomes a grizzly bear.

Florida wide receiver Solomon Patton celebrates after a touchdown during the Gators' 30-10 win against the Razorbacks on Saturday night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

Florida should try Patton at slot receiver

By ADAM PINCUS< | Oct. 6, 2013

Will Muschamp lingered in the South End Zone meeting room as Solomon Patton strolled in just minutes removed from a stellar night in The Swamp.

Washington quarterback Keith Price passes in the rain during the first half of UW's 31-13 win against Arizona on Saturday in Seattle.

Sports

Picks Column: Arkansas

Oct. 3, 2013

The U.S. government may be shut down, but we here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column are still going strong. Unlike Congress, we don’t act like a bunch of petulant children when we disagree on issues — like picking college football games against the spread!