Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Picks: Missouri

Nov. 1, 2012

We here at the alligatorSports Brand Picks Column usually make our picks each week without a second thought, exercising gusto, guts and a bit of bravado. However, we’ll all make picks come Tuesday that we’ve carefully considered, and we encourage you to do the same. That being said, the presidential race has featured plenty of mudslinging and with only 10 games separating first and last place in the Picks Standings, things are getting chippy amongst the pickers. We’re talking personal insults. Despite the bad blood boiling, we’re trying to run a clean race here. But hey, no promises!

Leon Orr walks off the field after a play in Florida’s 37-20 win against Tennessee on Sept. 15 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Orr will miss Saturday’s game with the flu.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Sophomore tackle biggest casualty of flu bug

By ADAM PINCUS | Nov. 1, 2012

Defensive tackle Leon Orr will be out Saturday after spending time in the hospital this week with the flu, coach Will Muschamp said.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators volleyball takes on Georgia without senior leader

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN | Nov. 1, 2012

The sight of Betsy Smith’s 6-foot-2 frame falling to the floor with a right ankle injury was not encouraging to coach Mary Wise. Smith, who injured her ankle during No. 13 Florida’s loss to No. 11 Florida State on Oct. 24, “some time away,” according to Wise.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Rosario to start, but small forward spot still up for grabs

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Nov. 1, 2012

Coach Billy Donovan said he doesn’t like to name starters, but he admitted Monday that four of the five spots are just about set by a process of elimination. The one role that isn’t defined yet? Small forward.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer survives early test

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Nov. 1, 2012

Florida opened its Southeastern Conference tournament schedule on Halloween, and Ole Miss gave the No. 1 seeded Gators a scare.

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel stands on the sidelines during the first half of against Kentucky on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Missouri’s dual-threat quarterback getting healthy, will start vs. Florida

By JOE MORGAN | Nov. 1, 2012

The Gators have multiple dual-threat quarterbacks on their schedule this season.

UF’s women’s basketball team poses at media day on Oct. 10. Some players are against UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s suggestion that the women’s rims be lowered.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators respond to esteemed coach’s idea to lower rims

Oct. 31, 2012

Finding consistent offense was problematic for Florida last season, but Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma has an answer for UF and the rest of women’s basketball: lower the rims.

Junior Solomon Patton is tackled by Georgia safety Shawn Williams during UF's 17-9 loss on Saturday at EverBank Field. Patton suffered a broken left arm on the play.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Jordan Reed still has team’s trust; Replacement for Solomon Patton

By JOE MORGAN | Oct. 30, 2012

As Jordan Reed neared the end zone, he left the ground, and the ball left his grasp.

Sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) loses possession of the ball while being sacked by Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones (29) during Florida’s 17-9 loss on Saturday at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Florida looking to correct ball security issues before Saturday

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Oct. 30, 2012

After Florida forced four fumbles and recovered three of them in its 44-11 win against South Carolina on Oct. 20, cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy explained the concept of “violators.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators outlast Crimson Tide to earn tournament victory

By CHARLES KINGSBURY | Oct. 30, 2012

Florida entered Tuesday's final round of the Betsy Rawls Invite tied for first place with Southeastern Conference foe Alabama.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Forget SEC East, Gators still factor in national title race

By JOE MORGAN | Oct. 29, 2012

The race for the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division is technically ongoing.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Hedberg leads the Gators' push for first at the Betsy Rawls Invitational

By CHARLES KINGSBURY | Oct. 29, 2012

Camilla Hedberg is on pace to exit the fall season the way she entered it — with an outright victory.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Florida soccer coach, players win SEC’s three biggest awards

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Oct. 29, 2012

Gators coach Becky Burleigh will have to make some more space on her already crowded mantel.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Tangerine Wiggs sets UF volleyball record

By KATIE AGOSTIN | Oct. 28, 2012

Redshirt senior Tangerine Wiggs has made the most of her three rotations this season by racking up 165 kills, but Friday night she outperformed herself when she set a new school record in Florida’s 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-11) win against Mississippi State.

Tight end Jordan Reed (11) fumbles on Georgia’s 5-yard line late in the fourth quarter during Florida’s 17-9 loss to UGA on Saturday at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The Gators’ six turnovers proved costly in the defeat.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Out of Their Hands: Florida falls to Georgia, loses control in SEC East race

By JOE MORGAN | Oct. 28, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — On Saturday, Florida finally broke.

Coach Will Muschamp speaks to the media after Florida’s 17-9 loss to Georgia on Saturday at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. UF dropped to No. 7 in the BCS standings on Sunday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Notebook: Florida drops to No. 7 in BCS standings after loss to Georgia

By ADAM PINCUS | Oct. 28, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — After knocking off the Gators for the second year in a row, Georgia leapfrogged Florida in the BCS standings.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Gators’ faults culminate in loss

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Oct. 28, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — A heavy coat of makeup can mask even the worst blemishes.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Picks: Georgia

Oct. 25, 2012

This season has been downright scary for the rest of the alligatorSports crew when Adam Pincus is at the wheel. Whether it’s agitating 18-wheeler drivers on our way to College Station, Texas, or almost driving off a hill in Knoxville, Tenn., something always seems to happen on Southeastern Conference road trips. With Halloween six days away, the gang is getting ready for another road trip — this time to Jacksonville for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. This de facto SEC East championship game will surely spur several intense Will Muschamp facial expressions. Those, my friends, are the scariest things of all.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray (11) attempts a pass during the first half against Kentucky on Oct. 20, 2012, in Lexington, Ky.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Georgia QB presents stiff test for UF

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Oct. 25, 2012

Mark Richt didn’t hesitate to categorize Aaron Murray as one of the best quarterbacks he has coached.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Florida will need hot start to slow Georgia’s pass rush

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Oct. 24, 2012

The Gators have been playing with fire all season. They just haven’t been burned.