Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen, Gators ready to adapt on the fly

By Brendan Farrell | June 16, 2020

There have been a lot of changes in Gainesville recently.

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, people wearing masks walk past the Olympic rings near the New National Stadium in Tokyo. It's been 2 1/2 months since the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So where do the games stand? So far, many ideas about how the Olympic can take place are being floated by the International Olympic Committee, Japanese officials and politicians, and in unsourced Japanese newspaper articles coming from local organizers and politicians. The focus is on soaring costs, fans, or no fans, possible quarantines for athletes, and cutting back to only “the essentials." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

SPORTS

What We’re Missing: The Olympic Games

By River Wells | June 16, 2020

In 1916, the Berlin Summer Olympics were canceled after the onset of World War I. In 1940, the Olympics to be held in Tokyo (and then Helsinki) were canceled as tensions in the Second Sino-Japanese War boiled, and the 1944 games to take place in London didn’t occur as World War II was coming to a climax.

SPORTS

What We're Missing: The Little League World Series

By Declan Walsh | June 15, 2020

For a 12-year-old baseball player, this is supposed to be a magical time.

SPORTS

What We're Missing

June 15, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the sports calendar into disarray. The month of June usually features the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final as well as the MLB's regular season and the U.S. Open. This summer was also supposed to have huge international events like the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and Euro 2020.

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 file photo, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) passes against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland. Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to kneel during the national anthem this upcoming season to support protests of social injustice, police brutality and racism, Saturday, June 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Which is better: College football or the NFL?

By Noah Ram | June 15, 2020

Why the big league NFL reigns supreme over college football

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

A look at the Gators' offense on 1st and 2nd down

By Brendan Farrell | June 13, 2020

Third down may be the “money down,” but what about the first two downs?

Tommy Mace strides towards home last season. The junior surrendered just two earned runs in seven innings in Game 1 against Florida A&M Friday night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

No Gators selected in 2020 MLB Draft

By Dylan O'Shea | June 12, 2020

Every year, college programs say goodbye to some of their best players on draft day.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

The alligatorSports Way-Too-Early SEC Poll

By Alligator Staff report | June 11, 2020

Assuming that the college football season begins as scheduled (which feels like a big assumption right now), we’re down to three months until the beginning of SEC play on Sept. 12. We decided to celebrate by surveying our staff on how it would rank all of the teams in the SEC heading into next season.

FILE - In this Dec. 31, 2006, file photo, New England Patriots wide receiver Reche Caldwell (87) catches a pass for a 62-yard touchdown ahead of Tennessee Titans cornerback Reynaldo Hill in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. Caldwell, the former University of Florida and NFL receiver, was fatally shot Saturday, June 6, 2020, in his hometown. Caldwell's mother, Deborah, did not return phone messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday, but confirmed her son's death to the Tampa Bay Times. (AP Photo/John Russell, File)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Former Gators and Patriots wide receiver Reche Caldwell killed in Tampa

By River Wells | June 8, 2020

Former UF wideout Donald “Reche” Caldwell was killed in his hometown of Tampa Saturday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Tyree Appleby blazed a path to Gainesville

By Brendan Farrell | June 7, 2020

Tyree Appleby was a standout high school basketball player whom seemingly nobody was interested in.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Former Florida gymnast speaks on racism during tenure

By River Wells | June 7, 2020

A former UF gymnast spoke out about her experiences with racism during her tenure on the UF gymnastics team on Friday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida’s 8 biggest plays of 2019 according to Expected Points Added

By Brendan Farrell | June 6, 2020

The second year of the Dan Mullen era was largely a success. Florida won double-digit games in the regular season for the first time since 2015, defeated its two in-state rivals in the same season for the first time since 2008 and won the Orange Bowl.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Life after football: From All-American offensive lineman to certified pitmaster

By Zachary Huber | May 31, 2020

Shannon Snell used to make pancakes on the gridiron, but now, he does a different kind of cooking: barbecuing.

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2019, file photo, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong (12) runs the bases in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Denver. Reporters from The Associated Press spoke to more than two dozen athletes from around the globe -- representing seven countries and 11 sports -- to get a sense of how concerned or confident they are about resuming competition. Some wondered whether they would agree to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if required by their sport eventually. “I think it would stop at some sort of vaccine to play,” St. Louis Cardinals All-Star shortstop Paul DeJong said. “There is a fine line between what (MLB) can do to protect us and some things they can do to kind of exert power over us.”(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

An open letter to MLB players and owners

By Noah Ram | May 31, 2020

“The one constant through all the years has been baseball.”

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

A look at 3rd and Grantham and more

By Brendan Farrell | May 30, 2020

Todd Grantham had a reputation when he was hired as Florida’s new defensive coordinator in 2018.

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2019 file photo Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker kicks an onside kick during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. The NFL is considering adding a “booth umpire” and a senior technology advisor to the referee to assist the officiating crew. The league also is looking at other rules changes, including an alternative to the onside kick. NFL clubs received a list of potential rules changes on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, file)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Should the NFL eliminate the kickoff?

By River Wells | May 27, 2020

The onside kick must stay as-is

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2019, file photo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a news conference at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. Something is finally clear in the uncertain NBA. Players believe they’re going to play games again this season. The obvious questions like how, where and when remain unanswered. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

SPORTS

Coronavirus roundup: NBA and NHL make big gains in efforts to return to play

By Noah Ram | May 25, 2020

Memorial Day weekend is a time that is revered by sports fans across the country.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

What if: Cam Newbauer stayed at Belmont?

By Bryan Matamoros | May 22, 2020

Let’s say I told you to roam the O’Connell Center and ask people to describe Cam Newbauer.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

What If: The 04s didn’t come back for the 2007 season?

By Payton Titus | May 21, 2020

It’s 2006. Facebook has recently been made open to the public. The first episode of “Hannah Montana” just aired on the Disney Channel. And the Gators men's basketball team brought home its first national championship title in program history.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

What if: UF never hired Bob Woodruff

By Declan Walsh | May 20, 2020

Bob Woodruff isn’t exactly the sexiest name in UF sports. He’s not talked about as one of the program’s great coaches, his legacy is only revered deep in the annals of Florida history, and he’s only the fourth result when you search for Bob Woodruff on Wikipedia.