sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida head coach Billy Napier greeting fans during Gator Walk Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

Sports

Napier’s connections to the Peach state

By Brandon Hernandez | Oct. 23, 2023

On any given Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in 1990s Chatsworth, Georgia, Kurt Napier and his family would gather around the TV to watch Southeastern Conference teams duke it out on CBS. To them, football was tradition. The SEC in some parts of their northern Georgia town was religious. No one would’ve imagined that on that same television, 30 years from those moments, someone in the family would have an impact on what they saw on Saturdays.

A Florida player slides into second base in the Gators' 13-11 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Sports

The history of Florida-Georgia baseball

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 23, 2023

The battle on the gridiron between Florida and Georgia draws the most attention among fans of the rivalry. However, there is a deep-rooted history on the diamond few fans consider when discussing the rivalry between the two schools.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks on during an NCAA college football practice at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019.

Sports

Kirby Smart created a monster and became Florida’s next great villain

By Topher Adams | Oct. 23, 2023

Florida-Georgia is a rivalry of era-defining coaches. Vince Dooley dominated the Gators in the 1980s, and Steve Spurrier flipped the series with an 11-1 record against the Dogs. Urban Meyer kept the dominance alive in the late 2000s with five wins against Georgia in six years.

Senior defender Josie Curtis dribbles the ball down the field in the Gators' 1-1 draw with the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.

Sports

Florida escapes with a draw after late-game heroics from freshman forwards

By Austin Stirling | Oct. 22, 2023

The Florida Gators (6-5-5, 2-4-3 SEC) drew with the Vanderbilt Commodores (8-4-5, 3-4-2 SEC) 3-3 Sunday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gators narrowly escaped with the draw after Hinnekamp’s late score in response to a Vanderbilt offensive push.

Florida Gators alternate white football helmet.

Sports

Gators land elite 5-star defensive lineman LJ McCray

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 21, 2023

The Florida Gators still managed a victory during their bye week with a big win on the recruiting trail after landing five-star defensive lineman LJ McCray Saturday.

The Florida volleyball team celebrates a point during their match against the #1 ranked Wisconsin Badgers on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.

Sports

No. 17 Gators sweep Texas A&M in a four-set victory

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Oct. 21, 2023

The No. 17 Florida Gators (13-4, 5-3 SEC) beat the Texas A&M Aggies (14-5, 6-3 SEC) 3-1 Friday on the road at College Station, Texas in Reed Arena.

Junior defender Madison Young passes the ball up the field in the Gators' 1-0 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Sports

Gators pick up second SEC victory of the season against Auburn

By Hailey Hurst | Oct. 19, 2023

The Florida Gators (6-5-4, 2-4-2 SEC) defeated the Auburn Tigers (6-6-4, 2-4-2 SEC) 1-0 Thursday evening at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The victory marked the team’s second SEC victory of the season.

Redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz sits in the pocket in the Gators' 41-39 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Sports

COLUMN: Graham Mertz finally shows what he’s made of

By Topher Adams | Oct. 17, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) escaped the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3 SEC) 41-39 in a high-flying conference clash. Mertz led two touchdown drives in the final nine minutes, and he threw the game-winning touchdown pass to senior receiver Ricky Pearsall with 47 seconds left in the game.

Florida redshirt freshman Matthew Kress swings his club during the Southeastern Conference Championships Thursday, April 20, 2023. / Photo by Leslie White

Sports

Gators men’s golf crowned champions at 2023 Georgetown Intercollegiate

By Max Tucker | Oct. 16, 2023

The Gators teed off Sunday at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. UF came out victorious in the 13-team tournament. Florida swept the Georgetown Intercollegiate as sophomore Matthew Kress led the way for the Gators as the individual champion. The victory marked the team’s first of the 2023-2024 season and the 22nd under head coach J.C. Deacon.

Senior Amro Al-Wir competes during the Gators' meet against the Virginia Cavaliers on Friday, October 13, 2023, at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium in Gainesville, Florida.

Sports

Florida men’s swim doubles Virginia’s score, Women’s team falls short

By Lacey Rogers | Oct. 16, 2023

Florida’s men’s and women’s swim and dive teams, ranked No. 3 and No. 7, respectively, matched up against the Virginia Cavaliers for the Gators’ first home meet of the season. Florida finished in the top-three in almost every event Friday.

Senior Anton Sviskrkyi dives during the SEC Championship on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

Sports

Anton Svirskyi hopes to represent Ukraine in Paris 2024 Olympics

By Krisha Sanghavi | Oct. 16, 2023

As a wide-eyed 5-year-old boy, Anton Svirskyi didn’t wish for mere toys or games when he blew out his birthday candles. Instead, he hoped for something extraordinary — a gleaming gold medal.

Redshirt freshman tight end Arlis Boardingham runs with the ball in the Gators’ 41-39 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, SC on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Sports

Florida’s quarterback guides comeback victory against South Carolina

By Luke Adragna | Oct. 16, 2023

The Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) came back down 10 and defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3 SEC) 41-39 Oct. 14 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. UF won its first road game of the season.

Adam Steinberg will be the eleventh UF men’s tennis head coach in program history.

Sports

Jeremy Jin leads charge for Gators at ITA Southeast Regionals

By Jack Meyer | Oct. 15, 2023

Jeremy Jin may only be a freshman, but he already solidified himself as an integral member of the Florida Gators men’s tennis team.

Senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall runs past a South Carolina defender in Florida's 41-39 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oc.t 14, 2023.

Sports

Mertz makes magic amidst chaos in the Cockpit against Gamecocks

By Jackson Reyes | Oct. 14, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3 SEC) 41--39 Saturday afternoon in Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gators totaled 494 total yards in the game.

Junior punter Jeremy Crawshaw practices punting the ball before the Gators' game against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Sports

Florida vs. South Carolina: Live Updates

By Topher Adams | Oct. 14, 2023

The Florida Gators (4-2, 2-1 SEC) look to get their first road win of the season against the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3, 1-2 SEC). UF is looking for its fifth win in its last six meetings against the Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m., follow along for live updates.

Outside hitters graduate student Anna Dixon and senior AC Fitzpatrick block the ball during the Gators' match against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Sports

Florida’s away-game winning streak snapped after loss to MSU

By Krisha Sanghavi | Oct. 13, 2023

The No. 14 Florida Gators (12-4, 4-3 SEC) fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 3-1 (9-8, 2-5 SEC) in Starkville, Mississippi, Friday evening. The loss ends the Gators’ five-game road winning streak.

Three Florida runners compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

Sports

Parker Valby leads Gators to top-5 finish in Wisconsin with course record

By Isabella Morales | Oct. 13, 2023

Brutal 19 mph winds and heavy rainfall – nowhere near ideal conditions for a cross country race. But a course record from redshirt junior Parker Valby and a top-5 finish for the Gators in the women’s 6k championship seems to dismiss such pessimistic thinking.

The Gators football team prepares to run out of the tunnel before their 22-7 win against the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Sports

Florida fighting to end road woes against South Carolina

By Topher Adams | Oct. 13, 2023

The Gators (4-2, 2-1 SEC) will face the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-3, 1-2 SEC) Saturday at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Florida will hope to break a five-game losing streak away from home.

Redshirt junior cornerback Jaydon Hill celebrates with his teammates in the Gators' 38-14 win against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

Sports

Gators look to make changes for upcoming South Carolina matchup

By Krisha Sanghavi | Oct. 13, 2023

UF's victory against Vanderbilt extends the Gators’ unbeaten run in the Swamp but does little to break their losing streak on the road. Head coach Billy Napier remains focused on implementing changes to snap the trend.

Senior defender Josie Curtis dribbles the ball up the field in the Gators' 1-0 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

Sports

Florida fails to upset Arkansas despite strong first half

By Austin Stirling | Oct. 12, 2023

The Florida Gators (5-5-4, 1-4-2 SEC) fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks (10-3-1, 6-1 SEC) Thursday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Gators failed to get anything going on the offensive end in the second half and played on their heels for most of the match.