Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Taylor Unroe jumps to serve the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Georgia Southern on Friday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF volleyball falls to FSU in five sets

By IAN COHEN | Sep. 4, 2014

Florida would have relished a win last night against Florida State.

Savannah Jordan dribbles the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Miami on Aug. 22 at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer heads to Tallahassee to face Florida State

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Sep. 4, 2014

Of the women’s soccer matches this weekend, only Florida and Florida State will headline a match that contains two top-10 ranked opponents.

Stanford head coach David Shaw watches his team play UC Davis during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Stanford, Calif.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Picks Column: Eastern Michigan

Sep. 4, 2014

Mother Nature got the best of Florida football on Saturday.

Richard Donegan stands on the course during the Suntrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 15 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

UF men’s golf team begins season with tournament in Georgia

By Luis Torres | Sep. 4, 2014

After failing to make the NCAA Championships during its spring season, the Florida men’s golf team looks to redeem itself starting today as it tees off for its fall schedule at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic in Dalton, Ga.

Quinton Dunbar attempts to catch a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Florida’s 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Nov. 23, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dunbar leading UF wide receivers

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 4, 2014

It’s been a while since Quinton Dunbar left a game without a catch.

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota runs the football during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against South Dakota in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

College Football Preview: Week 2

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Sep. 4, 2014

It seems like just yesterday we were kicking off the 2014 college football season with the Texas A&M vs South Carolina Thursday night opener, but week two is already upon us. Outside of Florida’s game against Eastern Michigan this Saturday, let’s take a look at some of the best games of the weekend.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF volleyball set for road match against FSU

By EDEN OTERO | Sep. 3, 2014

With the first road trip looming, the Gators are looking to put the past behind them and focus on creating an impression with its largest roster since at least 1996.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Depth provides Florida soccer with opportunities to tire out opponents

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Sep. 3, 2014

For many teams, when the starting players begin to get tired or are not having their best game, coaches struggle with substituting and putting in a player off the bench.

Dante Fowler Jr. (6) rushes Vanderbilt quarterback Patton Robinette during the Gators 34-17 loss to the Commodores on Nov. 9 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Muschamp responds to critics regarding suspensions

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 3, 2014

Coach Will Muschamp has received criticism this week concerning his decision to lift the suspensions of wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (university sanction) and nose tackles Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick (violation of team rules) on Monday.

Fans wait out the weather delay during Florida's suspended game against Idaho at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday night. The game was announced a no contest on Wednesday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida-Idaho game declared no contest

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 3, 2014

Florida and Idaho will not face off again in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this season.

Freshman 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

SEC honors freshman middle blocker

By EDEN OTERO | Sep. 2, 2014

After an impressive start to her collegiate career, freshman Rhamat Alhassan ended the weekend on a high note as she was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.

Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper addresses the media during his introductory press conference on Jan. 13.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Roper’s first game cut short, offense fails to see field

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Sep. 2, 2014

Although Florida fans were expecting to get its first look at Kurt Roper’s new offense, they would have to wait another week to do so as the season opener versus Idaho was suspended last weekend due to unsafe weather in the area.

J.D. Tomlinson tees off on Day 2 of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 16 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

UF men’s golf brings seasoned roster into 2014

By Luis Torres | Sep. 2, 2014

For the first time in 27 years, the Florida men’s golf team will have a different leader, as J.C. Deacon is taking over as head coach for Buddy Alexander.

Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper scans the field during practice on Aug. 14 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Air Jordan: Offense debut worth the wait

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 2, 2014

Kurt Roper is a storyteller.

Jeff Driskel warms up in the rain before Florida's suspended game against Idaho on Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Roper looking for third-down efficiency

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Sep. 2, 2014

How fast is too fast for an offense? Texas A&M ran 99 plays in its season opener against South Carolina, and Baylor ran 97 in its debut against Southern Methodist.

Junior Mackenzie Dagostino sets the ball during Florida's 3-2 win against Oklahoma.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Dagostino receiving extensive playing time in early season action

By EDEN OTERO | Sep. 1, 2014

Last year, Florida relied on senior setter Taylor Brauneis.

Havana Solaun (19) moves past Tennessee midfielder Alison Clarke (11) at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer splits first road weekend

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Sep. 1, 2014

On what was their first of four consecutive weekend road trips this season, the Gators showed how quickly they can put a loss behind them and focus on what is more important: the next game.

Redshirt junior Valdez Showers returns the opening kickoff — the only play of the game — during Florida's season opener against Idaho on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Showers returned the kickoff 64 yards to Idaho's 14-yard line. Play was suspended shortly afterward.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Showers lights up kickoff before second weather delay, game suspension

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Sep. 1, 2014

At the start of Florida’s practice on Monday, the first since its season opener against Idaho was suspended, coach Will Muschamp said the team focused first on going through film from the game — all 10 seconds of it.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Harvin ready to compete for Seattle following injury-plagued 2013

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Sep. 1, 2014

The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will kick off regular season play against the Green Bay Packers at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. Former Gator Percy Harvin, who returned the second half opening kick for 87 yards to help secure Seattle’s first Super Bowl win, will be looking to compete this year after only playing one regular season game in 2013.

Florida huddles on the field prior to kickoff in its season opener against Idaho on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The game, which was initially delayed two hours and 48 minutes due to lightning, was suspended after field conditions were deemed unsafe to play. Details regarding rescheduling have yet to be finalized.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida Field swamped, opener suspended

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 1, 2014

It took all of 10 seconds for officials to decide that Florida Field was not capable of hosting a football game Saturday night.