Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Storyteller closes chapter at Alligator

By EDEN OTERO | Dec. 9, 2014

Saying goodbye is always hard.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

After four years and 297 bylines, Alligator lifer says farewell

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Dec. 9, 2014

I stand in the company of greatness. And it smells.

Chris Walker attempts a layup during Florida's loss to No. 11 Kansas on Friday in Lawrence, Kansas.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Underclassmen progressing for Florida men’s basketball

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Dec. 9, 2014

With seven dunks from four players, Florida played true to its identity against Yale.

Haley Lorenzen blocks a shot during Florida's win against Jacksonville.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Freshmen bring height, depth to short Gators roster

By GRAHAM HALL | Dec. 9, 2014

There aren’t many girls taller than 6-foot.

UF players celebrate during No. 8 seed Florida's 3-1 win against Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida volleyball heads to Iowa, faces Illinois in Sweet 16

By IAN COHEN | Dec. 9, 2014

Holly Pole knew her team could do it. They just needed to be reminded.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Freshman Brooke Austin off to fast start in collegiate career

By Mary Francis | Dec. 9, 2014

At the conclusion of the fall season, UF women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist struggled to find words to describe the success of freshman Brooke Austin.

Jacob Kurtz dribbles the ball during Florida’s 85-47 win against Yale in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Notebook: Kurtz has career night off the bench against Yale

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 9, 2014

With forward Dorian Finney-Smith returning to the starting lineup, Jacob Kurtz started the game from the bench.

Michael Frazier II attempts a layup during Florida's win against Yale on Monday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF blows out Yale, played full game

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Dec. 8, 2014

In Florida’s highest scoring game of the season, the Gators (4-4) defeated the Yale Bulldogs (8-3) 85-47 in the O’Connell Center on Monday night.

Vernon Hargreaves III makes a tackle during Florida's 38-20 win against Georgia at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Vernon Hargreaves only Gator to make All-SEC first team

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Dec. 8, 2014

For the second straight year, Vernon Hargreaves III was named to the Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference team.

Mackenzie Dagostino sets the ball during No. 8 seed Florida's 3-1 win against Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 6, 2014, in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida looking to play stronger in Sweet 16 round

By EDEN OTERO | Dec. 8, 2014

In a tournament where perfection means wins and losses, Florida was far from perfect on Saturday.

Cassie Peoples goes for a layup during Florida's season-opening win against Jacksonville.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

UF suffers from poor defense, turnovers

By GRAHAM HALL | Dec. 8, 2014

According to coach Amanda Butler, the Florida women’s basketball team doesn’t suffer from a lack of knowing, but rather a failure to implement its practiced gameplan efficiently.

New York Jets wide receiver Percy Harvin, left, catches a 35-yard touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Minneapolis.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Percy Harvin breaks slump, catches six passes for 124 yards

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Dec. 8, 2014

With Week 14 of NFL action in the books, here are some of the highlight performances from former Gators now playing in the big leagues.

In this Dec. 6, 2008, file photo, Florida coach Urban Meyer, left, and Alabama coach Nick Saban shake hands after Florida defeated Alabama 31-20 in the Southeastern Conference Championship NCAA college football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Saban's top-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) faces Meyer's fourth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) on New Year's Day, a semifinal matchup between two of the most storied programs in the game’s history. There’s history between the two, most notably at two classic SEC championship games.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Committee announces first ever College Playoff teams

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Dec. 8, 2014

The announcement every college football fan has been waiting for all season was released Sunday afternoon: the four teams that will make it into the first ever college football playoff. Here’s what the committee decided which teams will face off on New Year’s Day in the semifinal matchups.

January Miller drives the ball to the net during Florida’s 87-69 win against Auburn on Jan. 26 in the O’Connell Center. Miller scored only five points while turning the ball over three times in UF’s loss to UGA on Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators start slow, fall to Seminoles on the road

By GRAHAM HALL | Dec. 7, 2014

Coach Amanda Butler is tired of the slow starts that have plagued the Gators this season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Sophomore Chris Walker still working on intensity

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Dec. 7, 2014

Chris Walker proved to be one of Florida’s most dangerous offensive weapons in the first half against Kansas.

New head football coach Jim McElwain following his introductory press conference on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Florida loses two recruits, down to seven commitments

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Dec. 7, 2014

Jim McElwain will get on the recruiting trail today, and the new coach’s job on the trail just got a little bit more difficult.

Devin Robinson poses during the Florida men's basketball team's media day

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF prepares to take on Yale, eyes return to winning ways

By ERICA HERNANDEZ | Dec. 7, 2014

Florida freshman Devin Robinson said the Gators lost to the Kansas Jayhawks because they were afraid of losing.

Florida players celebrate following the Gators' 34-10 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida set to play in Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina

Dec. 7, 2014

After missing out on a bowl game last season for the first time since 1990, the Gators football team is going bowling once again.

Sophomore right-side hitter Alex Holston swings for a kill attempt during No. 8 seed Florida's 3-1 win against Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournaent on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Florida overcomes early struggles to defeat Miami in NCAA second-round matchup

By IAN COHEN | Dec. 6, 2014

During the first set of Florida’s match against Miami, the Gators looked uncharacteristically out of sync.

Carli Snyder awaits a play during Florida's 3-1 win against Miami in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Carli Snyder's block lifts Gators in NCAA victory against Hurricanes

By EDEN OTERO | Dec. 6, 2014

It was the block heard round the O’Connell Center.