Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

To the Class of 2024, with love

By Kendyl Lindaman | May 20, 2020

I knew something wasn’t right.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

What if: Will Grier never got suspended?

By Noah Ram | May 18, 2020

It felt like a renaissance, a return to glory for the Gators.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

What If: The gymnastics season wasn’t cancelled in 2020?

By River Wells | May 18, 2020

Perfection.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Observations from a sports writer from New Jersey

By Declan Walsh | May 17, 2020

Growing up in New Jersey, an April afternoon looks quite different than one around Gainesville. The temperature is probably going to peak at 50 degrees, the trees and the flora are bare for the most part, and a trip to watch a Rutgers baseball game leaves you in the company of maybe 100 people.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

What If: The Gators hired Mullen instead of McElwain?

By Brendan Farrell | May 17, 2020

The year is 2014. The Gators have just finished a 6-5 regular season where their defense was one of the best in the country and their offense was, well, it’s better left unsaid. In other words, it was a typical Will Muschamp team.

Leipzig's Angelino gestures before taking a corner during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, May 16, 2020. The German Bundesliga becomes the world's first major soccer league to resume after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Jan Woitas/dpa via AP)

SPORTS

Coronavirus roundup: Professional sports leagues making a slow return

By Noah Ram | May 16, 2020

Last weekend, for the first time in nearly two months, American sports fans witnessed a live sporting event in the U.S. with UFC 249 taking place in Jacksonville without fans.