Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Caeleb Dressel rests in the water during Florida’s 183-117 win against Tennessee on Jan. 28, 2017, at the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida swimming and diving team kicks off season at All-Florida Invitational

By River Wells | Sep. 22, 2017

The first day of the All-Florida Invitational took place on Friday at the O’Connell Center, with the UF swimming and diving team competing against Miami and FSU. This is the first meet of the season for the Gators, and the night was filled with ups and downs as both the men's and women's teams returned to competition.

Junior Alfredo Perez (left) was the lone Gator to win his singles match at the NCAA Individual Championships. Sophomore Johannes Ingildsen dropped his match, but will be back in action with Perez in doubles on Thursday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators find success on first day of season opening tournaments

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 22, 2017

Florida faced some tough competition in the first day of the Gator Ranked +1 and Ivy-Plus Invitational tournaments, but finished strong overall.

Eight Gators writers pick eight games from this weekend's college football slate.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks column Week 4: Streak week (UK edition)

Sep. 22, 2017

After Week 3 left us with more questions than answers (Was UF’s win vs. Tennessee a fluke? What really qualifies as a “Hail Mary?” Will freshman DB McArthur Burnett ever get tired of flipping off opposing fans?), the Gators leave behind palm trees for bluegrass as they take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington on Saturday. Kentucky hasn’t beaten Florida in 30 years, since Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and way before Nirvana. What would be more impressive than UK snapping the streak? One of our picks competitors going 8-for-8. But before we meet our pickers, let’s have alligatorSports writers Ian Cohen and Dylan Dixon give us an in-depth breakdown of one of the games we’ll be watching this weekend (if there are no other games on): Ball State @ Western Kentucky.

The last time Kentucky beat Florida was in 1986. UF players, however, say they don't care. “We treat every game as the most important game of the season,” safety Nick Washington said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators tuning out talk, locked in for matchup with Kentucky

By Ethan Bauer | Sep. 21, 2017

Florida’s football players know about streaks. Last year, they entered a game at Tennessee having won 11 straight over the Volunteers. Former Gators cornerback Quincy Wilson announced he had a message for UT ahead of that game when he asked whether a duck could pull a truck, the point being that ducks don’t pull trucks, and Tennessee doesn’t beat Florida. That’s just the way it is. Or at least the way it was.

UF coach Jim McElwain watches on during UF's Orange and Blue Debut on April 7, 2017, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: You won't hear any smack from McElwain before facing Wildcats

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 21, 2017

Jim McElwain may coach at one of the top public universities in the country, but he had to go to Texas to learn an important lesson: Save your trash talk for after the game.

Senior Chase Perez-Blanco and two of his teammates will be recognized for their contributions to the team before tonight's Senior Day matchup with Alabama.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis team ready to ‘rise and grind’ this weekend

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 21, 2017

Coming off a season in which the Gators were one match away from clinching the SEC Championship, UF’s men’s tennis players will look to push themselves one step further in 2016-17.

The Florida swimming and diving team celebrates in the pool following its meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF swimming team starts its season at home this weekend

By River Wells | Sep. 21, 2017

The All-Florida Invitational is back in Gainesville this year after being held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last fall due to renovation work at the O’Connell Center. While the scenery may be different, the Florida men’s swimming and diving team is ready to participate in the event it placed first in last year.

Lauren Perry runs during the 2016 Mountain Dew Gator Invitational on Sept. 24, 2016, at Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Gators cross country team ‘recharged’ and ready for season’s only home meet

By Alana Gomez | Sep. 21, 2017

The Florida men’s and women’s cross country teams will return to regular season action on Saturday at the Mountain Dew Invitational, hosted at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.

UF goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese allowed two goals against Texas A&M on Thursday, including the game-winning free-kick nearly 45 yards from the goal.

SPORTS | SOCCER

In physical matchup, Gators lose to Aggies in College Station

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 21, 2017

After earning a free kick nearly 45 yards from goal, Texas A&M junior defender Kendall Ritchie stood over the ball and surveyed the field.

Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson carries during the first half as South Carolina's Kobe Smith defends during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Kentucky’s dual-threat QB could be trouble for the Gators

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 20, 2017

Stephen Johnson didn’t need to touch the ball for the Wildcats to score their first two touchdowns this past Saturday.

Will Kadarius Toney be suspended for his offseason shenanigans?

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Toney needs to be contributing on special teams now, not later

By Dylan Dixon | Sep. 20, 2017

Remember when you were a kid at Christmas time and your parents used to put your presents under the tree a couple days early?

UF forward Deanne Rose runs with the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against Syracuse on Aug. 27, 2017, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Deanne Rose, Parker Roberts setting the tone for Florida’s offense

By Mark Stine | Sep. 20, 2017

Parker Roberts received the ball in space above the Iowa State box six minutes into extra time. After nearly getting the ball stuck under her feet, Roberts peeked upfield in time to pick out the streaking Deanne Rose. Roberts’ perfectly weighted diagonal pass found Rose’s left foot in the box. Rose dinked the ball over the Cyclone keeper and into the back of the net. Golden goal. Game over.

Elin Esborn finished in fifth place in the Ocean Course Invitational after shooting 2 under par in the tournament.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf team relying on underclassmen for production

By Tyler Nettuno | Sep. 20, 2017

After two rounds of play at the Ocean Course Invitational, the Gators found themselves in a disappointing sixth place. It was a rough and windy afternoon at the future site of the 2021 PGA Championship, and for Florida, it was not the start to the season that it had hoped for.

Gators running back Mark Thompson stiff arms a Kentucky Wildcats defender during Florida's 45-7 win against Kentucky on Sept. 10, 2016.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Despite three decades of dominance vs. Kentucky, Gators couldn't care less

By IAN COHEN | Sep. 19, 2017

Florida hasn’t lost to Kentucky in 30 years.

UF wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland runs with the ball after a catch during Florida's 26-10 win against Tennessee on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

With confidence from win, Gators receivers are ready to challenge Kentucky’s pass defense

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 19, 2017

Freddie Swain doesn’t want to rely on a last-second pass to beat Kentucky this weekend.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: How do you lose an argument about sports? By trying way too hard to win

By Ethan Bauer | Sep. 19, 2017

DALLAS — The room where athletic directors, coaches, administrators, former players and journalists from across the country meet to discuss the College Football Playoff is as regal as you’d expect.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Deonte Thompson (14) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Robert McClain (36), during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. The Bucs defeated the Bears 29-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Deonte Thompson, Mike Gillislee score TDs in Week 3 and other Gators in the NFL

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 19, 2017

In Week 2 of the NFL’s regular season, a few former Gators had big performances for their respective professional teams. Here’s a look at how some of those players did this weekend in this edition of Gators in the NFL:

UF midfielder Parker Roberts runs with the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against Syracuse on Aug. 27, 2017, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators ready to resume SEC play vs. Texas A&M

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 19, 2017

After interconference play took the Gators to Ames, Iowa, UF (7-1) once again finds itself traveling westward as it takes on Texas A&M (4-2-1) on Thursday.

UF middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan holds the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Florida A&M on Friday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida dominates in third set, sweeps FSU

By Justin Ahlum | Sep. 19, 2017

Carli Snyder stepped to the baseline on the right side of the court. From about five feet out, Snyder approached the line and sent a serve that knocked over a Florida State defender.

Florida football coach Jim McElwain paces the sideline during UF's 31-13 loss against Florida State on Nov. 26, 2016, in Tallahassee.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McElwain: ‘We didn’t tackle worth a hill of beans’ against Tennessee

By Dylan Dixon | Sep. 18, 2017

Jim McElwain has plenty of reason to celebrate following Florida’s home opener against Tennessee this past weekend.