Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF coach Jim McElwain motions to the Gators defense during Florida's 28-27 win against Kentucky on Saturday at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Jim McElwain is the luckiest coach in recent Florida football history

By Ethan Bauer | Sep. 24, 2017

Jim McElwain had a smugness about him after Saturday’s comeback win against Kentucky. He looked like he was trying to avoid smiling, as if to send a message that winning close games is just what his team does. That there’s nothing special about it. It reminded me of something he said after last season’s goal-line stand, SEC East-clinching win at LSU.

Florida men's tennis player Alfredo Perez emigrated from his hometown of Artemisa, Cuba, to live in Miami when he was 10-years-old.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis team takes home three singles titles in season-opening tournaments

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 24, 2017

Florida finished strong on the last day of the Gator Ranked +1 and Ivy-Plus Invitational tournaments on Sunday.

UF head coach JC Deacon holds a scorecard during the 2017 Gator Invitational. Deacon and the Gators head to Scottsdale, Arizona, for the National Championship.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf team leads Texas tournament after Day 1

By Tyler Nettuno | Sep. 24, 2017

Coming into the Gators second fall tournament on Sunday, men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon expected more out of his team.

Taylor Tomlinson putts during the 2015 Suntrust Gator Invitational at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Tomlinson leads the way for the Gators after two rounds at the Schooner Fall Classic

By Tyler Nettuno | Sep. 24, 2017

Gators senior Taylor Tomlinson’s season didn’t begin the way that she wanted it to at the Ocean Course Invitational earlier this month. Tomlinson, the only upperclassman on the Gators’ roster, was outshined by two freshmen on her way to a disappointing 50th-place finish.

Swimmers on the UF women's swimming and diving team wait for the start of a race during Day 2 of the All-Florida Invitational on Saturday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF wins first tournament of the fall at All-Florida Invitational

By River Wells | Sep. 24, 2017

The Florida Gators came out on top for the eighth consecutive year in the All-Florida Invitational, with both the men’s and women’s team taking first place Sunday at the O’Connell Center.

Deanne Rose chases a Syracuse player with possession of the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against the Orange on Aug. 27 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Deanne Rose leads UF in 3-0 shutout over ‘Bama

By Mark Stine | Sep. 24, 2017

Mayra Pelayo squared up an Alabama defender on the right wing and darted toward the end line. She played a cross, trying to pick out one of multiple teammates in the box.

Carli Snyder attempts a kill during Florida's 3-0 win against Florida A&M on Sept. 15 at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators nab first SEC win in tight match at Arkansas

By Andrew Huang | Sep. 24, 2017

Up 14-13 with the match on the line, Allie Monserez set up Florida's kill leader, Carli Snyder, to put away a dogfight between the Gators and the Razorbacks in Arkansas.

Malik Davis carries the ball during Florida's 28-27 win against Kentucky on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

With RB Jordan Scarlett suspended, freshman Malik Davis breaks out as lead rusher

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 23, 2017

LEXINGTON, Ky. — It didn’t take long for Malik Davis to redeem himself.

Kadarius Toney carries the ball during Florida's 28-27 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 23, 2017, at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Toney makes plays with hands, legs and arm

By Ethan Bauer | Sep. 23, 2017

Kadarius Toney caught the ball and went backwards. Instead of cutting up field, he cut to his right and tried to use his speed to outrun Kentucky’s entire defense. “Man,” defensive end Jabari Zuniga thought on the sideline, “what’re you doing?”

Luke Del Rio throws a pass during Florida's 28-27 win over Kentucky on Saturday night at Kroger Field.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators shock Wildcats on the road, keep win streak alive

By Dylan Dixon | Sep. 23, 2017

When Luke Del Rio noticed Freddie Swain uncovered in Florida’s end zone and started to lob the ball toward his open receiver, only one thing ran through his mind.

Junior McClain Kessler clinched the Round of 16 match for Florida over Ole Miss on Friday night, sending the Gators to the NCAA Quarterfinals.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis take home doubles titles on Day 2 of Gator Ranked +1

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 23, 2017

Florida had a successful day in Day 2 of the Gator Ranked +1 and Ivy-Plus Invitational tournaments on Saturday.

UF head coach Gregg Troy (right) and associate head coach Jeff Poppell (left) celebrate during Florida's 183-117 win against Tennessee on Jan. 28, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida women's swimming and diving bounces back on Day 2 of All-Florida Invitational

By River Wells | Sep. 23, 2017

Both the Gators men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams put up a strong showing in Day 2 of the All-Florida Invitational. This was a strong performance especially for the women’s team after they were mostly dominated by ACC rival FSU on Friday.

Senior middle blocker Rhamat Alhassan swings for a kill during Florida's 3-0 win against Georgia Southern on Aug. 29 in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators travel to face hot hitting Arkansas in SEC opener

By Andrew Huang | Sep. 23, 2017

The No. 3 Gators (8-0) travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take on the Razorbacks (11-2) in their SEC opener on Sunday at 2 p.m. EST.

Junior Jessica Pascoe (middle) and senior Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell (right) compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Saturday at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in 2017 alongside former-Gator Lauren Perry.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Gators women’s cross country team finishes first at only home meet of the season

By Alana Gomez | Sep. 23, 2017

For the fourth-consecutive year, the Florida women’s cross country team finished in first place in their only home meet of the season at the Mountain Dew Invitational this Saturday. Three runners were able to finish in the top 15, while the men’s team placed third in the event overall.

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.