Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

The Gators men's and women's swimming and diving teams begin SEC play against LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today. The meet was postponed due to Hurricane Michael.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida to open SEC play today against LSU

By Evan Lepak | Oct. 11, 2018

The UF swimming and diving teams will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this evening, competing against the LSU Tigers, starting at 5 p.m. The dual meet, which will take place at the LSU Natatorium, was originally scheduled for yesterday but was moved due to Hurricane Michael. This will be Florida’s first dual meet since both teams defeated FAU on Sept. 27.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Looking back at some “bold” predictions

By Jake Dreilinger and Jake's on a Plane | Oct. 11, 2018

My friend and colleague, online sports editor Mark Stine, wrote a column at the beginning of the football season with two bold predictions about the Gators football team.

Linebacker David Reese (33) and the Gators defense will have their hands full dealing with Vanderbilt running backs Khari Blasingame (23) and Ke'Shawn Vaughn this Saturday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida tries to avoid "trap game" against Vanderbilt

By Mark Stine | Oct. 11, 2018

The term “trap game” has been tossed around a lot this week leading up to No. 14 Florida’s road game with Vanderbilt.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

alligatorSports Picks: Week 7

Oct. 11, 2018

Good news for those of you who haven’t gotten over your intoxication of Florida’s win against LSU: Our weekly picks column is both sobering and unmistakably dry today.

Buchholz High School safety Trent Whittemore said he was shocked when former coach Jim McElwain — who recruited him to UF — was let go by the university. “If (coach Dan Mullen’s staff was) gonna honor my commitment, I was gonna stay with it,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators 2019 commit talks recruitment, coaching changes

By Kyle Wood | Oct. 10, 2018

Trent Whittemore has only ever had his sights set on one goal. He came of age just a few miles down the street from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He patiently waited for that call from the University of Florida.

Coach Mike White has recruited the current No. 4 class in the country for the UF basketball program in 2019.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

A closer look at three of coach Mike White's 2019 recruits

By Chris O'Brien | Oct. 10, 2018

Florida Gators basketball coach Mike White has been busy ahead of the opening tip-off on Oct. 30.

Cornerback C.J. McWilliams (right) earned the first start of his career Saturday against LSU. He gave up a pair of catches on the Tigers' first drive and was replaced by freshman Trey Dean later on.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The curious case of C.J. McWilliams

By Morgan McMullen and Morgan Meets the Eye | Oct. 10, 2018

You probably noticed LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was deadly accurate early last Saturday against the Gators defense. His only incompletion in the first quarter came on a fade route to the corner of the end zone that floated just out of the reach of receiver Justin Jefferson. His six completions went for 78 yards and set the Tigers up with the game’s opening score.

Tight end Moral Stephens (82) has six catches for 76 yards and three touchdowns this season. He spent last season as a backup to starter C'yontai Lewis and hadn't caught a touchdown pass until this year.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Stephens receiving chance to shine in his final season

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 10, 2018

Moral Stephens’ mom had always told him to be patient and wait for his time to come.

Sophomore Oliver Crawford has advanced to the quarterfinals of the USA F28 Futures tournament in Harlingen, Texas. He'll try and advance with a win during his 11 a.m. match today, while most of his UF teammates will see action at the ITA Regional Championships in Athens, Georgia.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida’s ITA All-American run comes to an end

By Kyle Wood | Oct. 7, 2018

Oliver Crawford and Andy Andrade were in position to move on to the finals of the men’s main doubles draw Sunday afternoon. The duo swept through their first three rounds at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, setting up a matchup with Alex Kobelt and Kyle Seelig of Ohio State.

Freshman Thayer Hall ended the win over Georgia with 11 kills and hit a shade under .180 for the match.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators remain undefeated in SEC play after second five-set weekend thriller

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 7, 2018

Freshman Thayer Hall stared intensely through the net at Georgia’s side of the court with her hands behind her back.

Becky Burleigh's announced her retirement as UF's head soccer coach after 26 years at the helm

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators shut out for ninth time in last 12 matches

By Sam Campisano | Oct. 7, 2018

Florida’s 2018 soccer season would look a lot like Sunday’s 1-0 loss at No. 12 South Carolina if it could be boiled down to one game.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks (13) was pressured by LSU defensive players on seven of his nine incompletions in the second half of the Gators’ 27-19 win Saturday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Under pressure: Franks needs more time

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 7, 2018

“Feleipe Franks isn’t as good of a quarterback as Joe Burrow.”

In his first season as UF head coach, Dan Mullen led the Gators (9-3) to the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl, where they will face Michigan.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

This was a different kind of win for Florida

By The Lost city of Alanis | Oct. 7, 2018

People make sports special.

Edge rusher Jachai Polite's Twitter handle is @RetireMoms. He wants to make sure his mother is financially secure for the rest of her life.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Polite, Joseph fuel Gators defense in win against LSU

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 6, 2018

Update Oct. 8, 1:30 a.m.:

Safety Brad Steward dived for the pylon after picking off LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. It was Burrow's first interception of the season and the game-sealing touchdown in Florida's 27-19 win over the Associated Press's No. 5-ranked team.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF pulls off upset in intense home environment

By Mark Stine | Oct. 6, 2018

Dan Mullen raised his arms, pumping up the crowd before his team burst out of the tunnel.

Redshirt sophomore Holly Carlton (right) was convinced by freshman Thayer Hall (middle) to transfer to the University of Florida.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators escape upset against Texas A&M

By Dylan Rudolph | Oct. 5, 2018

It was another long rally. A powerful hit by Texas A&M’s Hollann Hans was dug up by libero Allie Gregory.

Outside hitter Thayer Hall is the first freshman under Gators coach Mary Wise to record 20 kills in her collegiate debut.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Hall, Gators take undefeated conference record into Friday matchup

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 5, 2018

Arriving at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, last December was a special moment for Dorman High School coach Paula Kirkland and then-senior outside hitter Thayer Hall.

Florida had outshot Tennessee 7-4 in the first half of its 2-0 loss to the Volunteers on Thursday. Midfielder Sarah Troccoli came close to scoring in the 35th minute but was stopped by a UT save.

SPORTS | SOCCER

UF suffers eighth shutout of season in loss to Tennessee

By River Wells | Oct. 5, 2018

The Volunteers didn’t take long to make their mark.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Tiger Watch: Q&A with LSU’s student newspaper

By alligatorSports Staff Report | Oct. 5, 2018

We got with Kennedi Landry, the sports editor of LSU’s student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, to ask a few questions about Saturday’s game. Here’s what she had to say about the Tigers and their chances of winning against Florida.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

alligatorSports Picks: Week 6

By alligatorSports Staff Report | Oct. 5, 2018

We never thought we’d say this, but it’s good to be back in Gainesville.