Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Eight Gators beat writers pick eight college football games against the spread.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks Column Week 11: Injury Edition

Nov. 10, 2017

Here’s a statement that goes without saying: Football can be an extremely brutal sport to play.

Taven Bryan, a redshirt junior, was a freshman when Florida fired the current South Carolina head coach. Saturday at noon, Will Muschamp and his second-place Gamecocks will host a vulnerable Florida team still marred by the loss of its most recent sideline chief, Jim McElwain.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators’ battle to make a bowl game starts in South Carolina

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 10, 2017

Gators defensive tackle Taven Bryan smirked, realizing he still had Will Muschamp’s old playbook.

Florida players celebrate during UF's 2-1 win against Syracuse on Sunday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida’s soccer team has to watch out for a trap game tonight in first round of NCAA Tournament

By Mark Stine | Nov. 10, 2017

Becky Burleigh knows not to overlook South Alabama.

Nearly eight months after he was hired to replace ousted coach Amanda Butler, Cameron Newbauer is set to test his offensive game plan Saturday afternoon at 4 when the Gators women's basketball team takes on Georgia State at the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball team has questions to confront ahead of season-opener

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 10, 2017

Coach Cameron Newbauer runs practices in the same manner he wants to run his in-game offense: fast. Players are expected to hustle to and from every exercise. On fast-break drills, ball handlers make one quick pass to the outside and position themselves for a potential rebound.

In its first home match since Oct. 27, the Florida volleyball team will try to contain an Arkansas offense that had the Gators on their heels for much of their September SEC opener.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball team back in O’Dome, looking for season sweep of Arkansas

By Andrew Huang | Nov. 10, 2017

Two hours, seventeen minutes and a grueling five sets later, the Gators got the win.

Florida linebackers coach Randy Shannon watches a drill during a Spring practice on March 16, 2016, at the Sanders Practice Fields.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Randy Shannon is auditioning for his next job. And, like it or not, it’s affecting Franks’ development

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 8, 2017

About two weeks ago, during Randy Shannon’s first day as interim coach of the Florida Gators, he began to explain how he would — and would not — be approaching the remainder of UF’s season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Ja'Marr Chase, top-20 receiving recruit, decommits from the University of Florida

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 8, 2017

Ten days after the firing of former Florida coach Jim McElwian, the Gators have their first decommitment.

UF cross country runner Jack Rogers (right), his girlfriend, Madison Dixon (left), Jack's mother's dog, Mateo, pose for a photo after the 2015 USF invitational.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

Contending yet cuddly: Gators runner Jack Rogers balances competitive nature by connecting with animals

By Alana Gomez | Nov. 8, 2017

Jack Rogers is fast.

Rhamat Alhassan jumps up to block the ball during Florida's 3-0 win against Florida A&M on Sept. 15, 2017, at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators prepare for senior day, final stretch of regular season

By Andrew Huang | Nov. 8, 2017

She’s an athlete.

UF forward Haley Lorenzen attempts a jump shot during Florida's 57-53 win against Arkansas on Feb. 9, 2017, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Going into final season, Lorenzen ready to school opponents while attending grad school

By Justin Ahlum | Nov. 8, 2017

In her three seasons at UF, Haley Lorenzen has seen improvements in her scoring, developed a three-point shot and been accepted into graduate school, studying in the sports management program.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Bradley Beal’s brawl and more: An early-season report on Gators in the NBA

By Benjamin Brandt | Nov. 7, 2017

Former Florida Gator Bradley Beal’s biggest moment so far this season came with the clock stopped. On Oct. 27, whistles sounded as players and referees charged toward the action underneath the basket.

Samantha Chung will play in her third NCAA Tournament on Friday when the Gators take on South Alabama. But her journey to Florida wasn't without suffering.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Fueled by her family, UF midfielder Samantha Chung thrives

By Morgan McMullen | Nov. 7, 2017

Nobody who had ever seen a soccer match would mistake young Samantha Chung for a great player. She wasn’t even average.

Missouri head coach Barry Odom, right, talks with Florida head coach Randy Shannon, left, before the start of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Three things UF coach Randy Shannon wants to change before South Carolina game

By IAN COHEN | Nov. 7, 2017

As interim coach Randy Shannon ended Florida’s practice Tuesday and walked to the south end zone of UF’s indoor practice facility, he made one request.

New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee (35) runs into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL midseason update: Mike Gillislee, defensive rookies making an impact

By Sam Campisano | Nov. 7, 2017

Nine weeks into the NFL season, several former Gators are having success at the professional level:

Interim coach Randy Shannon announced on Monday that graduate transfer Malik Zaire will start under center for the Gators once again this Saturday when UF travels to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Zaire to start against Gamecocks on Saturday

By Dylan Dixon | Nov. 6, 2017

Randy Shannon may not have gotten the offensive output he wanted in his first game as Florida’s interim head coach, but that hasn’t affected his plan at quarterback heading into this weekend’s matchup with South Carolina.

There was no “we just didn’t execute,” from sophomore linebacker David Reese. Instead, as coach Randy Shannon pointed out on Monday, he called out his teammates. “It’s sometimes disappointing when everybody doesn’t want to come together and just play for each other,” Reese said.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: David Reese called out his teammates after a loss. The Gators could use more of that honesty and accountability.

By Ethan Bauer | Nov. 6, 2017

Something unusual happened on Saturday after Florida’s train-derailment of a loss in Missouri. For one of the first times I can recall this season, a Florida player looked at the atrocity that is this team right now and was — gasp — honest.

With just five days until their season opener, Florida’s new women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer said the Gators are focusing on putting themselves first and getting better each day.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball team heads into 2017-18 with a few new faces

By Justin Ahlum | Nov. 6, 2017

Cameron Newbauer sat courtside, decked out in Gators gear, as he watched his team warm up. With just five days until their season opener, Florida’s new women’s basketball coach said the Gators are focusing on putting themselves first and getting better each day.

The Gators are going up against Washington tonight at 11 p.m. and will face Portland at 9 p.m. on Sunday.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer secures No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament

By Mark Stine | Nov. 6, 2017

There was a small eruption inside the Lemerand Athletic Center on Monday afternoon, as Florida’s soccer team learned its fate for the NCAA Tournament.

Florida head coach Randy Shannon argues a call with a referee during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 45-16. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Collapse in Columbia: Gators continue four-game skid

By Matt Brannon | Nov. 5, 2017

One week after the firing of their coach and a demoralizing defeat against No. 1 Georgia, Florida fans waited to see how the Gators would respond. On Saturday against Missouri, UF’s response was so heinous that interim coach Randy Shannon condemned it like a school-wide scandal.

Central Florida head coach Scott Frost watches from the sideline against SMU during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: If Gators don't finish strong, they risk scaring off potential coaching candidates

By Skyler Lebron | Nov. 5, 2017

After Missouri’s 45-16 beatdown of the Gators, there’s a lot of blame to go around on both sides of the ball.