Column: Departing editor discovers true meaning of family at Alligator
By MATT WATTS | Apr. 24, 2012What is family?
What is family?
Florida played two nearly identical games on Tuesday when it faced off against LSU. However, while the first was highlighted by late-game heroics and drama, the second was stained with disappointment.
Austin Maddox had just thrown 61 pitches, the highest single-game total of his UF career.
For the first time since 2006, no Florida players are projected to be picked in the first 32 picks of Thursday’s NFL Draft.
The Gators’ postseason journey will only go as far as their timely hitting takes them.
For a brief time Sunday, Georgia looked like it might actually beat Florida.
Despite the Gators’ heartbreaking loss to Alabama at the Super Six, they found some redemption this weekend in Kytra Hunter.
It was an even more daunting task the second time around, but the Gators found a way again.
Florida had just fallen behind 3-2 and was in need of a big sixth inning. Daniel Pigott ripped an 0-1 fastball that sent Georgia right fielder Kevin Ruiz crashing into the outfield wall and landing with an empty glove.
Since January, when it really hit me that this was my last semester, I have stewed over what I wanted to say with my final column for the Alligator. Without a doubt, it has been the hardest assignment in five years of college.
After both the men’s and women’s golf teams entered the final day of their Southeastern Conference tournament in fourth place, only the men were able to improve their finish.
Florida played 16 innings on Friday night. Its offense played four innings on Saturday.
Four college athletes completed the men’s 110 meter hurdle on Saturday at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic, including sophomore Eddie Lovett. The rest were professionals.
With two big wins in the books already, the No. 3 Gators are one match away from a Southeastern Conference trifecta.
The Gators entered Saturday leading the country in goals.
Once the Gators completed floor exercise, all they could do was sit and wait after their final event.
It wasn’t the big bats of Lauren Haeger, Bailey Castro or Kelsey Horton that powered the Gators to a win. Instead, it was a surprise blast from the bat of Ensley Gammel that sparked a six-run surge in the sixth.
Nolan Fontana stepped into the batter’s box with Vickash Ramjit on third and two outs in the 16th inning.
The circumstances weren’t ideal and the conditions weren’t favorable, but the No. 2 Gators still got the job done.
While the Gators fell short of first place at the evening session of NCAA Semifinals on Friday night, they still took care of business — and set a milestone.