Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior setter Kelly Murphy, a first-team All-American, led UF with 337 kills last season and must keep her teammates focused.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators leaning on Murphy for offense as season opens

By JOE MORGAN< | Aug. 25, 2011

Kelly Murphy is a rock for Florida.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The Mailbag: Defense, steaks and hostages

Aug. 25, 2011

Welcome to the first incarnation of the alligatorSports mailbag. It’s a working model, but we hope to answer any and all questions you have on Gators sports. And we’ll make it fun.

With a two-game road trip ahead, junior McKenzie Barney (pictured) said midfielder Annie Speese and the rest of the freshmen must forget about last week’s wins.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida searching for balance with Texas A&M match looming

By JOHN BOOTHE | Aug. 25, 2011

It wasn’t easy for Annie Speese to pull the trigger on her first open look at goal in a Gators uniform.

Sophomore safety Matt Elam is reportedly the leader of the defense and will be counted on to fill the void left by Ahmad Black.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Talented Elam leading secondary

Aug. 25, 2011

Will Muschamp has joked this offseason that he is only coaching certain safeties this year: the ones who play well.

Florida coach Will Muschamp said several starters may lose their jobs after he cut Wednesday’s scrimmage short because players were not focused.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Frustrated Muschamp cuts practice short

Aug. 24, 2011

Coach Will Muschamp ended practice about 30 minutes early Wednesday night, but it was far from a reward.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Koehne in mix to start after switch to guard

By MATT WATTS | Aug. 24, 2011

Offensive lineman Kyle Koehne may not be a household name for Florida fans. But the sophomore is a well-known commodity among his brothers in the trenches.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Brantley: Confidence on the rise or still a nervous wreck?

By TOM GREEN< | Aug. 24, 2011

With practices closed off to the media and the public — and limited bits of actual information coming from anyone associated with the Gators — reporters, fans and outside observers alike have had to take coach Will Muschamp and his players at their word.

Junior center back Kat Williamson, who took home Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors last week, is the only Gator to play 90 minutes in each of the team’s first two games.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Defense stifling early foes, still needs work

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Aug. 24, 2011

The Gators’ defense was stingy from the start last year, allowing just one goal through its first five games.

Florida junior Lerentee McCray (34) appears to have claimed the starting job at strong-side linebacker alongside Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins after playing a limited role at defensive end last season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McCray in line to claim vacant job at strong-side linebacker

By GREG LUCA | Aug. 24, 2011

When Lerentee McCray switched to defensive end in fall 2009, his days roaming the middle of the defense appeared to be behind him.

Although Florida coach Will Muschamp recently tried to dismiss it as a rumor, running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have reportedly been taking snaps in a version of the Wildcat formation in practice.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Muschamp limiting information released

By TOM GREEN | Aug. 23, 2011

Gators coach Will Muschamp is looking for any competitive edge he can get entering his first season.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson, who ran for 700 yards on 112 carries last season while splitting time with Mark Ingram, is expected to be one of the conference’s best backs in 2011.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Conference loaded with talent at running back

By GREG LUCA | Aug. 23, 2011

Coach Will Muschamp recently credited the Southeastern Conference’s dominance to the league’s defensive lines, but it’s the running back position that may be the most talented.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL