sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sarah Landauer and the author, Richard Johnson, after a Young Life event in 2010 at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Sports

Remembering a friend, a bet and the 2010 World Cup

By RICHARD JOHNSON | July 9, 2014

I was reminded of 2010 a few nights ago. My memory was thrown back there thanks to an article in The Atlantic about friends who have died, yet still live through Facebook. It is an interesting take on a phenomenon that is now all too real for our ultra plugged-in generation of millennials, including myself. The story prompted me to read back through wall posts and messages of a friend I’d lost, and that brings me to where this summer intersects with that one.

Sports

Shore earns yet another accolade after breakout season

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 9, 2014

Logan Shore earned plenty of hardware in his freshman season.

Quinton Dunbar attempts to catch a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter of Florida’s 26-20 loss to Georgia Southern on Nov. 23, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Sports

The worst will be first: Breaking down UF’s wide receivers

By MORGAN MORIARTY | July 7, 2014

Florida’s wide receiving corps was arguably the weakest position on the entire Gator football team last season.

Hannah Rogers pitches during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers was named the 2014 Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year and finished her senior season with a 30-8 record and a 1.60 ERA.

Sports

Hannah Rogers tabbed SEC Female Athlete of the Year

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 2, 2014

Hannah Rogers has proven time and time again her value to the Florida softball team.

Head coach Will Muschamp has three 2015 commits competing in The Opening football camp, which takes place Friday until July 10 in Beaverton, Ore.

Sports

UF commits attend The Opening

By MORGAN MORIARTY | July 2, 2014

The 2014 edition of The Opening football camp kicks off this Friday and runs until July 10 at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

United States’ goalkeeper Tim Howard leaps over Omar Gonzalez to tip the ball away during the U.S.’ 2-1 loss to Belgium on Tuesday.

Sports

Column: Embrace the bandwagoners

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | July 2, 2014

A week prior to the start of the World Cup, I may have been able to name three players on the U.S. men’s national soccer team. And one of them would have definitely been Landon Donovan (oops).

Sports

UF student helps US Special Olympics soccer team win second

By Aldo Araujo | July 2, 2014

They may not be playing in the FIFA World Cup, but the Special Olympics Unified soccer team came, saw and conquered at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.

Gators Ronald Powell and Dante Fowler, Jr. celebrate a 30-10 victory against Arkansas on Oct. 5, 2013, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The UAA set up the Fan Advisory Council to give UF fans more of a voice.

Sports

Fan Advisory Council finalized

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 30, 2014

With a football program that grows further out of touch with its fanbase as the days go by, the University Athletic Association announced on April 14 that it was going to employ an innovative way to respond to the qualms of supporters.

Sports

Women’s lacrosse moves to Big East Conference

By EDEN OTERO | June 30, 2014

With the dissolution of the American Lacrosse Conference, Florida is moving to the Big East.

Taylor Gushue runs toward first base during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Gushue, Turgeon forgo senior season

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 18, 2014

Since right-handed pitcher Justin Shafer signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on June 10, two more Gators have decided to go pro.

Washington Redskins helmets sit on the field during NFL football minicamp. The U.S. Patent Office ruled Wednesday that the Washington Redskins nickname is “disparaging of Native Americans.”

Sports

Patent office ruling a step in righting Washington’s wrong

By RICHARD JOHNSON | June 18, 2014

Appealing to Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s pathos was never going to work. You can make commercials and documentaries that tug on the heartstrings and you can even use surveys to get your point across that the nickname is offensive, but you weren’t going to get through to him.

Sports

Men’s golf team names J.C. Deacon as newest coach

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | June 16, 2014

Get ready to welcome a new coach to the University of Florida campus.

Chauncey Gardner does the Gator Chomp in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a photo from his Twitter account (StillDat_) on June 15.

Sports

Defensive back recruit flips commitment from Miami to UF

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 16, 2014

Florida flipped a 2016 recruit from in-state rival Miami over the weekend. 2016 defensive back Chauncey “CJ” Gardner (5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Cocoa Beach, Fla., Cocoa High) switched his commitment to UF on Saturday afternoon. Gardner attended Saturday’s session of Will Muschamp’s football camp and was offered a scholarship by coaches while he was still on campus.

Florida's Marquis Dendy reacts after competing in the long jump at the 2014 NCAA track and field championships on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon.

Sports

Florida men finish second, women fourth at NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 14, 2014

The men’s track and field team fell just short of earning its third straight national outdoor championship after finishing in second to Oregon.

Florida's Brittany Harrell competes in the heptathlon long jump at the NCAA track and field championships on Friday.

Sports

Schnulle, Harrell, Brewer take home top-three finishes on Day 3 of NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 13, 2014

In what could’ve ended in a day full of titles, only three were held high.

Marquis Dendy competes at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23, 2013, in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy won the long jump on Day 2 of the NCAA Outdoors Championships on Thursday in Eugene, Ore.

Sports

Dendy wins long jump on Day 2 of NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 12, 2014

After placing their first individual title from the field at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Day 1, the Gators continued to pile on the hardware.

"Chris Paul" by Keith Allison, used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Sports

Bleacher Creatures: Top five NBA point guards

By Matthew Kleckner | June 12, 2014

In the history of the NBA, no era has had as many great point guards as there are today. Some point guards stand above the rest and these rankings show exactly who is the best of the best.

Former Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips watches the Gators warm up before Florida’s 24-7 victorty against Kentucky on Sept. 28 in Lexington, Ky. Phillips resigned Wednesday after just one year as UF’s wide receivers coach.

Sports

Phillips resigns as wide receivers coach for personal reasons

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 11, 2014

One year, six months and eight days after he officially joined the Florida football staff, Joker Phillips is out as the Gators’ wide receivers coach after resigning Wednesday, according to the school’s website.

Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper addresses the media during his introductory press conference on Jan. 13. Four-star quarterback Sheriron Jones, who was recruited by Roper, committed to Florida on Sunday.

Sports

Four-star QB verbally commits after attending football camp

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 11, 2014

Florida has landed its quarterback of the future.

Mike Holloway looks on during the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1, 2013, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Sports

UF sprinters off to fast start at NCAA Outdoors

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 11, 2014

After the Gators’ subpar effort from the previous NCAA Indoors, the Florida track squads had another chance at redemption.