Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | COLUMNS

‘A QB away’ might be happening this season, folks

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 28, 2018

Feleipe Franks makes mistakes.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

alligatorSports Picks Column: Week 5

Sep. 28, 2018

The Dan Mullen hot takes are among us. The alligatorSports staff travels to Starkvegas this weekend to see for ourselves the alleged anti-Mullen outrage. And among all of that clanga clanga, we’ll all bare witness to some of the maroon-faced hatred.

Midfielder Lais Araujo leads the Gators in goals (5) and points (13). She’s also tied for second on the team in assists (3).

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators face tough competition on the road against Bulldogs

By River Wells | Sep. 28, 2018

The Gators have scored 10 goals in their past two games after going on a six-game scoreless streak earlier in the year. Florida is riding the momentum for the moment, but a certain team from Starkville, Mississippi, may just be the test UF needs to entirely confirm that reports of the Gators’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Florida right tackle Jawaan Taylor (65) said the team is going to try to block out the infamous cowbells at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. "We just have to keep our head in the game," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dan Mullen returns to Starkville for Florida’s second straight road game

By Alanis Thames | Sep. 28, 2018

Bulldogs fans have been foaming at the mouth awaiting Dan Mullen’s return.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Open Letter to Mullen: Mississippi State will be your ultimate test

By Mark Stine | Sep. 27, 2018

Cowbells ring.

Redshirt sophomore Holly Carlton (right) was convinced by freshman Thayer Hall (middle) to transfer to the University of Florida.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators remain undefeated in SEC play

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 27, 2018

Right-side attacker Holly Carlton stood against the net as Florida waited on a serve from LSU tied 21-all in the first set.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida finishes fourth at Trinity Forest Invitational

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 26, 2018

The Gators weren’t satisfied. They came into the final day of the Trinity Forest Invitational trailing five other squads. But Florida’s performance Tuesday perhaps gave the team something to build off of as it climbed up the leaderboard to finish fourth.

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Hammons led both the Florida and South Carolina rosters in kills (13) and total attacks (34) on Friday.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

UF to play LSU in midweek match

By Dylan Rudolph | Sep. 26, 2018

The No. 11 Florida volleyball team travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to play LSU today at 8 p.m.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

It’s not unreasonable to think UF will become a basketball giant

By Chris O'Brien and O’B-Wan Kenobi | Sep. 26, 2018

This men's basketball team has the potential to be the best Florida Gators basketball team outside of the 2006-07 back-to-back title-winning teams. Seriously. It actually is realistic.

Junior Keith Stone scored 8.8 point per game in 2017-18 and grabbed 4.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward said he looks to improve defensively in the upcoming season.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

What we learned from UF Media Day

By Tyler Nettuno | Sep. 26, 2018

The Gators men’s basketball team began last season ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25. It had a solid run, finishing 21-13, but after a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament at the hands of Texas Tech, Florida may not grace the top 25 in this year’s preseason poll.

Coach Dan Mullen built up the Mississippi State football team for nine years before accepting the Florida job. "The people of Starkville were great to me and my family," he said. "The fans, unbelievable."

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Mullen’s return to Starkville not a concern for coaches, players

By Jake Dreilinger | Sep. 26, 2018

It has been roughly 10 months since Florida head coach Dan Mullen made the jump from Starkville, Mississippi, to Gainesville.

Guard Delicia Washington (00) is one of two returning Gators starters for the 2018-19 season.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators prepare for second year of Newbauer’s rebuild

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 26, 2018

Year 2 of the Cam Newbauer experience promises more of the same as far as the style of play for UF: fast pace, an active defense and, of course, attempting three-pointers at a clip that would make Steph Curry jealous.

Sophomore John Axelsen (-7) is in a three-way stalemate for first place at the Trinity Forest Invitational. The Gators sit in eighth overall.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Axelsen leads tournament, Gators in eighth after Day 1

By Brendan Farrell and Brendan Farrel | Sep. 24, 2018

The Gators knew one thing heading into the Trinity Forest Invitational after a disappointing 13th-place finish at the Carpet Capital Collegiate: they had to be better. They also knew that this was a tournament that last year’s team had won by 10 strokes.

Sophomore Oliver Crawford has advanced to the quarterfinals of the USA F28 Futures tournament in Harlingen, Texas. He'll try and advance with a win during his 11 a.m. match today, while most of his UF teammates will see action at the ITA Regional Championships in Athens, Georgia.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Newcomers shine as Gators claim four titles

By Kyle Wood | Sep. 24, 2018

Multiple players on Florida’s men’s tennis team made it clear that they believe this team has the makings of a national title contender. An opening weekend that saw the Gators take four titles certainly backed up those assertions.

Senior middle blocker Taelor Kellum registered 12 kills in Florida's three-set win over LSU Friday night.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators sweep Mississippi State

By Mari Faiello | Sep. 24, 2018

Middle blocker Taelor Kellum panicked after a bad set of plays Sunday afternoon during the Gators’ matchup against Mississippi State.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Kessler wins share of singles title to wrap up Miami Fall Invite

By Brendan Farrell | Sep. 24, 2018

McCartney Kessler had a lot riding on her shoulders. She was the only Florida player left in the Miami Fall Invite out of six singles players and three doubles teams for the Gators.

Defender Courtney Douglas (88) scored the first goal of her career Sunday afternoon in Florida’s 4-1 win over LSU.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Scoring drought a distant memory as Florida soccer wins again

By Sam Campisano | Sep. 23, 2018

Florida’s offense is making up for lost time.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

What we can and can't take away from UF's road victory

By Lost City of Alanis | Sep. 23, 2018

The crowd of 100,027 fans that had packed into Neyland Stadium on Saturday night dwindled down to a sparse few.

Tight end R.J. Raymond said he eschewed his usual quiet tendencies after Saturday's 38-17 loss to Missouri. "You gotta play for so much more," he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Sidebar: Preparation met opportunity for Gators in Knoxville

By Morgan McMullen | Sep. 23, 2018

Florida tight end R.J. Raymond was a man deep in his thoughts. He strolled silently onto the field at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, about half an hour before any other Gators — even the special-teamers — made their way out of the locker room to get some extra catches in before the game.

Lauren Evans sits with her father, Jerome, at UF Health Shands, where she was receiving cancer treatment. Currently cancer free, Evans attempted to break the selfie world record Sunday after the Florida soccer team's win over LSU in effort to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Lauren Evans brings extra meaning to LSU match with selfie record attempt

By River Wells | Sep. 23, 2018

What do the four goals Florida midfielder Lais Araujo scored in the Gators’ past two games have in common?