Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jalen tabor (31) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass during Florida's 45-7 win over Kentucky on Sept. 10, 2016, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida hoping to make statement

By Patrick Pinak | Oct. 12, 2016

Jalen Tabor remembers the homecoming embarrassment two years ago.

From left: Jonathan Haney, Eddy Pineiro, Johnny Townsend and Ryan Farr celebrate on the sidelines during Florida's 13-6 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 24, 2016, in Knoxville.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Townsend embraces both craft and competition

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 11, 2016

Everyone in the stadium hears the thump.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn fist bumps a coach after the Carolina Panthers were stopped during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hargreaves holds own on Monday night, Neal shines on Sunday

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 11, 2016

Two young defensive backs had impressive performances, a rookie lineman earned his first NFL sack and a former Florida running back scored a touchdown in the Week 5 edition of Gators in the NFL.

Jalen Tabor (31) claps before walking out of the tunnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during Florida's 33-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 17, 2016.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Good luck sorting this mess out, SEC

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 11, 2016

It was a relatively quiet week for Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor.

Taylor Tubbs races in the Southeastern Conference Championships on Nov. 1, 2013, on the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Florida cross country teams have reason for confidence

By Mark Stine | Oct. 10, 2016

The Florida cross country teams are approaching the halfway point of the season and only have one meet left before the Southeastern Conference Championship.

Caeleb Dressel touches the wall at the end of his leg of the 400 meter freestyle relay during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Swimming team back in full force as it prepares for FSU

By Drew Kozlin | Oct. 10, 2016

The Florida swimming team will take on FSU on Thursday in Tallahassee, but a rivalry meet isn’t the only thing UF has to be excited about.

UF goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese throws the ball back into play during the first half of Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

After early skid, Gators riding four-game SEC win streak

By Lauren Staff | Oct. 10, 2016

After being shut out 3-0 by Auburn at home on Sept. 22, the Gators had two ways they could respond.

Rachael Kramer (right) attempts a block during Florida's 3-0 win over Jacksonville on Sept. 16, 2016, in the Lemerand Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Physicality, defense defining Gators volleyball team

By Ray Boone | Oct. 10, 2016

During the second set of Sunday’s matchup between No. 9 Florida and South Carolina, Gamecocks middle blocker Alicia Starr went up high for a kill to dent the Gators’ 23-19 lead.

UF’s Justin Leon soars for a dunk during Florida’s 95-63 win against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida basketball forced to adjust to road-heavy schedule

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 10, 2016

If you ask Florida's players what they like about playing for the Gators, their answer will probably sound a lot like senior Justin Leon’s.

Coach Jim McElwain speaks during a press conference on Aug. 3.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF players, coaches face backlash from postponed football game

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 10, 2016

A few seconds earlier, there was a roof.

UF forward Savannah Jordan fights for possession during Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Led by Jordan and defense, Florida soccer blanks Ole Miss

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 9, 2016

Savannah Jordan jockeyed for position deep in the penalty box as she watched Samantha Chung blast the ball toward her from about 20 yards away.

Florida's Ronni Williams shoots the ball during UF's 92-69 loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament on March 4, 2016, in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Season-ending loss still fresh for Gators

By Alejandro López | Oct. 9, 2016

For a year that began with so much promise, the 2015-16 season ended on a sour note for the Florida Gators women’s basketball team.

UF's Carli Snyder (left) and Rhamat Alhassan celebrate during Florida's 3-0 win against New Hampshire Dec. 3, 2015, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida uses physical play to dismantle South Carolina

By Skyler Lebron | Oct. 9, 2016

With the No. 11 Florida volleyball team up 18-12 in the third set and holding a commanding 2-0 lead against Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina, all it needed was sound play to close out the rest of the match.

UF’s Devin Robinson drives down the court during Florida’s 95-63 win against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Filling the void: Who will take the reigns as UF's scorer?

By Ray Boone | Oct. 9, 2016

It was all over when the sound of the final buzzer rang out across the Charles E. Smith Center.

UF's Kasey Hill (0) looks to pass the ball around Ole Miss' Martavious Newby (1) during the Gators' win against the Rebels on Feb. 9, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

For senior Kasey Hill, now is the time to lead

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 9, 2016

Only one Gator remembers Florida’s trip to the 2014 Final Four first-hand.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Canceled game edition

Oct. 6, 2016

We all know the Florida football game this Saturday was postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.

Savannah Jordan dribbles the ball during Florida's 5-2 win over Iowa State on Aug. 19 at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Jordan jolts Florida to third-straight conference win

By Lauren Staff | Oct. 6, 2016

In the 67th minute, senior Brooke Sharp lofted a ball to senior Savannah Jordan in front of Georgia’s box.

Elliott Orkin returns a serve during Florida's 6-1 win over Troy on Jan. 17, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida tennis sees success at ITA All-American Championships

By Cassie Amundson | Oct. 6, 2016

When it comes to facing some of the top competition in college tennis, the Gators haven’t wavered from stepping up to the challenge.

Alex Anzalone (34) and CeCe Jefferson (96) motion to the crowd during Florida's 13-6 win over Vanderbilt on Oct. 1 in Nashville. "He doesn't hold anything back," linebacker Jarrad Davis said of Anzalone. "He lets everything go, and that's what we want from our teammates."

SPORTS | FEATURES

SOMETHING TO PROVE: Alex Anzalone making his time at UF count

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Oct. 6, 2016

Alex Anzalone stands at the 46-yard line during Florida’s season opener against Massachusetts, the first live game he’s played in almost a year.

Florida's Kasey Hill attempts a layup during UF's 95-63 win over Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Breaking down Florida basketball: backcourt edition

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 6, 2016

With Florida’s season opener less than a month away, sports writers Ray Boone and Matt Brannon break down the Florida team position-by-position in a two-part series. In part two, we take a look at UF’s backcourt.