Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jeff Driskel runs the ball during Florida’s 21-16 loss to Miami on Sept. 7 in Sun Life Stadium. Driskel is the Gators’ starting quarterback heading into the season, but the backup remains unknown for now.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators defend Driskel after loss

By ADAM PINCUS< | Sep. 9, 2013

Jeff Driskel suffered a “slight sprain to the knee” against Miami, UF announced Monday. The injury was part of a forgettable, muggy Saturday in Sun Life Stadium. He is expected to return to face Tennessee on Sept. 21, aiming to build on the good — a career-high 291 passing yards — and improve on the bad — his three turnovers against the Hurricanes.

Gabby Mallette squats to bump the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. No. 5 Florida beat then-No. 2 Stanford on Saturday before losing to then-No. 1 Penn State on Sunday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Early loss prepares Florida for rigors of postseason play

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 9, 2013

In the finale of the Campus USA Invite last week, Florida rebounded to defeat Duke after showing some signs of weakness against LIU-Brooklyn the previous night.

Tim Tebow throws a pass during warm-ups before a preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 27. The New England Patriots released Tebow on Aug. 31.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Stop blindly linking Tebow to downtrodden Jaguars

By JOE MORGAN< | Sep. 9, 2013

The Jacksonville Jaguars do not want Tim Tebow. Get over it.

Annie Speese attempts a shot during Florida’s 2-0 win against Oklahoma State on Sunday at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Junior midfielders sparking UF

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Sep. 9, 2013

Midfielders Havana Solaun and Annie Speese’s chemistry bodes well for Florida’s offense.

Caleb Sturgis kicks a 45-yard field goal against the Cleveland Browns in the first quarter of Miami’s 23-10 victory on Sunday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida alumni start NFL season

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Sep. 9, 2013

Editor's note: Sharrif Floyd's name was originally misspelled. It has since been corrected.

Florida coach Roland Thornqvist (right) congratulates junior Sofie Oyen (left) and former Gator Allie Will (back) during a match against Duke on March 14, 2012.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

Freshmen critical to Gators’ success in ‘13

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Sep. 9, 2013

Coach Roland Thornqvist’s women’s tennis team brought in three freshmen during the offseason.

Junior Cory McGee, who redshirted during last year's cross country season, is set to debut at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational on October 19.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

McGee nearing return to Gators

By GORDON STREISAND< | Sep. 9, 2013

Cory McGee is trying to catch her breath.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

Florida in fifth place at Cougar Classic

By Logan McGuire | Sep. 9, 2013

The second round of the Cougar Classic at Yeamans Hall Club on Monday saw a shakeup on the leaderboard.

Sophomore Noami Santos-Lamb gets in position during Florida’s 3-0 victory against New Orleans on Aug. 30 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators drop weekend finale to Penn State

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 8, 2013

The Gators upset No. 2 Stanford on Saturday, but their luck came to an end against No. 1 Penn State on Sunday after they were swept 25–18, 25–17, 25–20.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida eighth on leaderboard after first round at Cougar Classic

By Logan McGuire | Sep. 8, 2013

Florida’s women’s golf team opened its season at the Cougar Classic hosted by College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. on Sunday.

Havana Solaun (19) fights for the ball during Florida’s 2-0 win against Oklahoma State on Sept. 6 at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Junior nets pair of goals to help Florida beat Oklahoma State

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Sep. 8, 2013

With freshman Savannah Jordan’s quick start to the season, Havana Solaun faded into the supporting cast of Florida’s offense.

Will Muschamp speaks at a postgame press conference following Florida’s 21-16 loss to Miami on Saturday in Sun Life Stadium. Florida dropped to No. 18 in the Associated Press Poll following the defeat, while Miami moved into the rankings at No. 15 with its first win against a top-10 team since 2009.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Blame loss on offense

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Sep. 7, 2013

MIAMI GARDENS — When coach Will Muschamp addressed the media following Florida’s 21-16 loss to Miami on Saturday, there was one group that he singled out — the defense.

Solomon Patton runs down the field after catching a pass during Florida’s 21-16 loss to Miami on Sept. 7 in Sun Life Stadium.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Patton enjoys breakout performance in defeat

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Sep. 7, 2013

MIAMI GARDENS — With the Gators trailing late in the fourth quarter against Miami on Saturday, Jeff Driskel found Solomon Patton in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.

Jeff Driskel lies on the ground after being sacked by a group of Miami defenders during the Gators’ 21-16 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday in Sun Life Stadium. Driskel had three turnovers in the game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

The Perfect Storm: Turnovers doom Florida in 21-16 loss at Miami

By JOE MORGAN< | Sep. 7, 2013

MIAMI GARDENS — Florida got away with living dangerously in 2012. Saturday did not prove as kind. The No. 12 Gators’ (1-1) stout defense could not make up for a mistake-prone offense in a 21-16 loss to the Hurricanes (2-0) in Sun Life Stadium.

Simone Antwi (16) receives a pass from Dana Backlund (2) during UF’s 3-0 win against Jacksonville on Sept. 7, 2012, in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Antwi, No. 8 Florida top No. 2 Stanford in Nike Big Four Classic

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Sep. 7, 2013

Spending the last two years under the tutelage of Chloe Mann and Betsy Smith, middle blocker Simone Antwi proved on Saturday that she has been a good student.

Freshman midfielder Pamela Begic (left) dribbles during Florida’s 3-0 loss to Florida State on Aug. 31 at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida drubs Oklahoma 3-0 in first ever match between both teams

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Sep. 6, 2013

The misty weather and an hour-long rain delay didn’t seem to faze Pamela Begic on the field in the Gators’ first ever meeting with the Sooners.

Quinton Dunbar runs past an opposing player during Florida’s 24-6 victory against Toledo on Aug. 31 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Dunbar caught two passes for 22 yards in the game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Junior receiver returning home for in-state game

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Sep. 5, 2013

For Quinton Dunbar, No. 12 Florida’s matchup with Miami on Saturday at noon in Sun Life Stadium is a homecoming — to a place he could not wait to escape.

Taylor Brauneis reaches for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 win against Duke on Aug. 31 in the O’Connell Center. Brauneis had 36 assists against UT-SA on Thursday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators drop anvil on Roadrunners

By RJ Schaffer | Sep. 5, 2013

The Gators continued their solid start to the 2013 season Thursday.

Sophomore linebacker Antonio Morrison reaches for Lamarcus Joyner during Florida’s 37-26 victory against Florida State on Nov. 24 in Doak Campbell Stadium. After sitting out the Gators’ season opener on Aug. 31 due to a suspension stemming from two offseason arrests, Morrison is listed as the backup at the Mike linebacker position for Saturday’s game against Miami.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Morrison to face ‘Canes following suspension

By ADAM PINCUS< | Sep. 5, 2013

Some players just have “it.”

UGA quarterback Aaron Murray and Georgia will host South Carolina on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column: Miami

Sep. 5, 2013

The alligatorSports crew embarks on its first road trip of the 2013 season this weekend, heading down the Florida Turnpike to Miami — the general home area of a few of our staff members. While down there, we plan to check out the farm that grows Adam Pincuses. We heard rumors of a radiation leak in the area during early 1992, so we’ll keep you posted. Either way, we expect a pretty exciting trek down to the Magic City. Last year’s inaugural road destination — College Station, Texas, — gave us the collegiate debut of Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as well as a pretty terrifying I-10 standoff with a pissed-off cattle-truck driver. If you’re traveling down along with us, stay cool, be safe and hit up your South Florida friends for a Sun Pass. This week, we have Joe Morgan and Phil Heilman debating the Georgia-South Carolina game.