Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Quarterback Kyle Trask at last season's Homecoming game against Auburn. Trask is entering the 2020 campaign with a year of collegiate play under his belt and more confidence in his leadership position.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

“Next level” Trask ready for 2020 season

By Payton Titus | Sep. 2, 2020

A lighter, improved Kyle Trask returned to campus for fall camp this season.

Sophomore guard Scottie Lewis at the Black Lives Matter protest in Gainesville on Aug. 28, which also had members of Florida's football and volleyball teams in attendance.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

The fight for change: Scottie Lewis on the front lines

By Graham Marsh | Sep. 2, 2020

When the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles gave Florida guard Scottie Lewis his driver’s license in high school, his mother and grandmother gave him a list. On that piece of paper were different places they warned the then-16-year-old not to drive around.

Senior Duarte Vale at day four of the ITA Tournament in Gainesville last year. He and junior Sam Raffice were names team captains Tuesday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Riffice and Vale announced as captains for 2020-21 season

By Ryan Haley | Sep. 1, 2020

The University of Florida men’s tennis team announced through social media Tuesday that Sam Riffice and Duarte Vale had been named team captains for the upcoming season.

Junior Addie Baggarly kneels down to contemplate a putt. She shot an even par on Monday, currently sitting 39th in the Moon Golf Invitational heading into the final day

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Fuller Finishes Second in Amatuer Women’s Championship

By Michael Hull | Sep. 1, 2020

Gator freshman Annabell Fuller came in second at the 117th Amateur Women’s Championship at West Lancashire Golf Club in Liverpool, England, this past weekend.

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on the sideline during the Orange Bowl last year. During Monday's presser, Grantham shared his two-pronged defensive philosophy.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators defense starting to take form

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 31, 2020

Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said that his defense is built on two things: stopping the run and making the quarterback play badly.

In the last week, there were 209 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Gainesville.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Does this really have to be said?

By Christian Ortega | Aug. 30, 2020

This was going to be a breezy editorial leaning on the camaraderie of Gators across Alachua County doing their part to suppress the spread for the sake of sports. Instead, it’s a desperate call to action from a sports writer that wants to survive this fall semester.

Quarterback Kyle Trask drops back in front of a packed crowd against Tennessee last season. This year, most SEC schools will cap their stadium capacities at about 20 to 25 percent.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Silent Saturdays: A town without football

By Payton Titus | Aug. 30, 2020

“When the football team’s doing well, the entire town just kind of explodes,” Chandler Small, a Gainesville resident, said on The Ringer’s Cam Chronicles podcast in July.

NCAA athletes will be able to opt out of competition this fall citing medical reasons amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Opting out from the high-risk perspective

By Payton Titus | Aug. 30, 2020

Wide shot. Pan left to a young girl in a Gators beanie on the pediatric oncology floor of her local children’s hospital.

Former Gators wide receiver Josh Hammond versus Tennessee. At Saturday's media availability, coach Dan Mullen talked about the team's first scrimmage.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen talks team preparedness as season draws closer

By River Wells | Aug. 29, 2020

It’s been a long time since the Gators hit the gridiron.

Head coach Dan Mullen on the sidelines at Florida-Georgia last year. In today's presser, Mullen stressed the importance of self-education.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen expresses importance of education in the wake of Jacob Blake’s shooting

By Christian Ortega | Aug. 27, 2020

Education.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Seats from McKethan Stadium find a new home

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 24, 2020

Jim White was eager to talk about the newest addition to his fire pit. This wasn’t exactly something you would find on HGTV.

Kyle Trask drops back to pass and scans the field during the Gators' 24-13 win over Auburn last season. Florida's 10-game, conference-only schedule begins on Sept. 26 against Ole Miss.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

State of Gators sports in the fall

By Noah Ram | Aug. 23, 2020

It has been 163 days since a Florida Gators sports team has competed.

SPORTS | SOCCER

How Gators soccer has faced an analytical revolution

By Declan Walsh | Aug. 23, 2020

There has been a revolution in the beautiful game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen emphasizing versatility as Gators continue to prep

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 20, 2020

Linebacker Brenton Cox had the honor of sporting a jersey with the venerable No. 1 on the front and back.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators challenged by new normal

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 17, 2020

The scene was familiar, with Florida coach Dan Mullen at the podium, answering questions from the media. But, between the Gators gaiter Mullen wore, questions fed through a Zoom chat and Mullen closing the press conference by reminding journalists to wear masks, there were plenty of reminders of the “new normal” of college football during a pandemic.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Where the Gators have gone wrong in losses during the Mullen era

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 15, 2020

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm dropped back to pass and floated the ball off his back foot to the right. It found the hands of tight end Eli Wolf for 22 yards and a first down.

Kennedy Baker performs her floor exercise during Florida's 197.60-196.950 win against Georgia on Friday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Former UF gymnast Kennedy Baker comes forward with racial abuse allegations

By River Wells | Aug. 11, 2020

Kennedy Baker, a former Florida gymnast who helped lead UF to a national championship in 2015, has spoken out on social media about her experiences with racism while competing for the Gators.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators speak about importance of voting

By Zachary Huber | Aug. 10, 2020

Sports polls are not the only kind of ballot student-athletes find important.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida nets first 2021 five-star recruit

By River Wells | Aug. 10, 2020

The 2020 college football season may be in jeopardy, but the Florida Gators won’t be caught lacking in firepower when 2021 rolls around.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

How does Kyle Trask rank among returning quarterbacks?

By Brendan Farrell | Aug. 8, 2020

Saying that Kyle Trask is the Gators’ most important player in 2020 is obvious.