Catching Up with Gator Great Ciatrick Fason

by | Jun 20, 2014 | Blog, Gator Football, General College Football, IAKOW Gator Greats, Interview, Player Interviews, Uncategorized

You should never judge a man based solely on the “good times” in his life. If you never knew his downs, never knew his struggles — you’d never know what really made him the man he has become.

That’s what I took from my interview with Ciatrick Fason, who experienced a football career full of ups and downs; from shattering Northeast Florida High School rushing records and being labeled the #1 running back in the nation by Rivals, to the frustrations in the early parts of his career at Florida which almost caused him to transfer.

Fason’s story is insightful and inspiring. Within a calendar year, he went from being an undependable member of a underachieving team, to one of the last Gators to reach the coveted 1,000 rushing mark. The growth and maturity of Fason, or “C-4” as many Gator fans came to know him, is probably the most impressive thing I took from our open and straightforward conversation. His maturation was recognized by his teammates and coaches in 2004, when they unanimously voted Fason as the recipient of Florida’s Forest K. Ferguson Award — an award typically reserved for the senior player who displays outstanding leadership, character, and courage. Fason was only a junior.

And even though his career in the NFL was never fully realized, as far as longevity and statistics go, Fason told me in the most candid and relaxed way that he has “zero regrets” about his journey.

Happily married with four children, Fason has focused his attention towards more important things in life — lucky for me, I was able to share his attention for a couple hours last week. So, here’s my conversation with Gator-great, Ciatrick Fason.

 On Growing Up and Discovering Football

Q: Ciatrick, tell me about your earliest days and memories of football:

A: I’ve always loved football growing up. My great uncle’s kids, Rahim and Khalid Abdullah (who both played in the NFL), were older than me and I would always go to their Pop Warner practices and watch them. I was only six, so I’d just run around and do my own thing on the sidelines. Watching them made me fall in love with the sport.

I stayed up on Jax Beach at the time, known as “The Hill,” and this was kind of a bad area and a bad time in Jax Beach…a lot of drugs going around, things like that. I even had a cousin get killed — he was someone who actually helped raise me growing up.

Q: Did you always hope football would be a big part of your future after that?

A: After [his cousin’s death] it was like…I wanna get out; get away from this. So when I watched Rahim and Khalid make it through college and onto the NFL, it just motivated me to make it far.

Q: Just out of curiosity, did you grow up a Gator fan?

A: Nope, I actually grew up a Seminole — I wanted to be a Seminole, and my sophomore year at Fletcher, we played Tallahassee Leon. I rushed for seven touchdowns and FSU would later on offer me a scholarship. The next year, we played them over at Leon and I scored six touchdowns…but I also played a little defense; played some safety. I had a couple really big hits that day and had a great day defensively. After the game they told me I’d make a great safety and Florida State decided to change their offer from running back to safety.

Q: Had you ever played any other positions?

A: It’s crazy, one of my best friends who played quarterback all through Pop Warner and High School, his uncle was our football coach growing up. My first year, he put me at guard…which, you know, is where all the first year players go even though I was the fastest kid on the team.

Q: Ciatrick Fason, the offensive guard? (We shared a nice laugh)

A: Yep. So I went to guard and we had lost every game. So before the last game, I kept saying I wanna play running back! Coach looked at me and said alright…here’s your shot. Well, my first ever carry turned out to be a touchdown. He left me at running back after that. We didn’t lose any games my second, third, and fourth year of Pop Warner. After that, I realized I could really run the ball.

On His Playing Days at Fletcher High in Neptune Beach, FL

At Fletcher, Fason developed into the nation’s most sought-after running back. He rushed for over 7,400 yards in his career, and eclipsed 2,000 single season rushing yards twice.

Q: Do you remember your first game at Fletcher?

A: My first regular season game we played First Coast, and they had a middle linebacker — big middle linebacker, fast too — who ended up at Rutgers. I was just a freshman so I was a little scared. So first play of the game we call a sweep, and I catch it and take off. I ran 80 yards for a touchdown…so really, the first time I touched the ball in Pop Warner, at Fletcher, at Florida, and even in the NFL, I scored a touchdown.

Q: Speaking of Florida, when did they enter the mix?

A: No SEC schools had recruited me really until my junior year. It’s crazy because two weeks after the Leon game Coach Spurrier called up Coach Reynolds (Fletcher’s head coach). He was recruiting one of our linemen who ended up at LSU, but while Coach Spurrier watched film, he asked coach Reynolds, “Now who’s this running back y’all have? I don’t care about your lineman, I’m not even looking at him anymore.”

Q: So was that how your path to Gainesville began?

A: The next day, I took a field trip to UF. They took me around campus, I met the players, they showed me everything there was. When Coach Spurrier offered me — you know, he’s one of those honest coaches…he’s not going to tell you things without believing it. He told me, look, Earnest Graham might go pro. If he does, there’s no doubt in my mind you have the ability to start here if you work. You could be the man here.

Q: Did you fall in love with UF after your visit?

A: Well, I committed that day, and ever since then, I knew I’d be a Gator. My senior year I went to five Florida games, and just being in The Swamp…that atmosphere the entire [2001] season was electric. You know, I heard everyone yelling “Lito, Lito,” every time Lito Sheppard was back to take a punt and I just knew I’m a Gator. Even when Spurrier resigned and Zook took over, my attitude was “so what?” I knew I was already a Gator and I said I’m going here.

QDid it shock you that Spurrier left so abrubtly?

A: Well no, I wasn’t so much shocked because he was a hot commodity at the time but I was a little surprised about it. But we were all just like, dang, who are we gonna get? And then we started hearing about Mike Shanahan. That got me excited. And then we heard about Coach Stoops, who recruited me at Oklahoma, I knew him. So I was like, OK maybe…and then when they turned it down and panic mode set in…we hear about Coach Zook.

Q: What’d you think about the hire?

A: I was like…who? But his first day here was one of my visit days, and he didn’t know anybody and we didn’t know him. It was just crazy. But you know what, he was really a great coach.

On Facing Adversity and Getting His Chance

After a record-breaking career in High School, Fason was expected to contribute early on at Florida. With the departure of Steve Spurrier, however, who left shoes behind that “nobody could fill,” said Fason, the Gators found themselves in a period of transition. 10+ win seasons, SEC Championships, Bowl victories were about to be things of the past. It was during this time that Fason says he learned a lot about himself, and about the importance of becoming a leader.

Q: Did you play early on in your career?

A: Yeah, me and Randy Hand (an offensive lineman) were the only two players to see the field in every game that year. I actually scored on my first carry of my first game against UAB.

During Fason’s sophomore season, he expected to become a major contributor to the Gator backfield. Things didn’t go how he expected. Florida’s backfield consisted of senior Ran Carthon and freshman DeShawn Wynn, both of whom carried the load for the early parts of the season. Fason wasn’t sure why and suspected that his coaches were possibly playing favorites.

Q: What was going on during your sophomore year when you weren’t playing?

A: I played in our first game against FAMU and I rushed for like 72 yards on seven carries. All the backs played but I had the most yards out of everyone. After that game, I didn’t play the next few games. The first time I got back on the field was the Kentucky game…they had us on the ropes until Jared Lorenzen threw that dumb interception. So the coaches tried to put me in the last two minutes — Coach Zook tells me to go in. I’m looking up at the clock thinking, I’ve been sitting on the sideline all game. I’m tight, it’s cold. I’m not going in!

Q: I remember there were rumors about you transferring. Can you describe what was going on at that time?

A: After the Kentucky game I decided I wasn’t going to practice anymore. I’m transferring. All the players were telling me, no way, you love it here, you won’t leave. So I said, exactly, if I love it here this much and I’m telling you I’m tranferring…I’m serious. That’s bad. So I didn’t go to practice that Monday, I didn’t lift weights. I went to class, walked by my teammates and they’d ask if I was going to lift. I told them, nope, I’m going to my dorm. I have nothing to do with University of Florida football.

Q: Which coaches reached out to you?

A: Our strength and conditioning coach called me and asked why I wasn’t showing up, so I let him know I was transferring. Coach Zook finally called me later in the week and we sat down in his office. So I go talk to him. He’s asking me what’s going on and I just let him know I was transferring and I made up my mind. He asked me why…

Coach, I put it all together. You don’t even want me here. DeShawn Wynn is from your home town, you love Ran [Carthon], and you even told me I was your best back just weeks ago. You said I’m the best running back on the team, but you don’t like how I play. I feel offended by that. That’s stupid if I’m the best and I’m not playing.

So I laid out a list of teams that wanted me…Georgia Tech and North Carolina were dying to get me. Coach Zook made a deal with me — he said, I tell you what, since you haven’t practiced the past two days I’ll suspend you for the Ole Miss game and we’ll take it from there. But you have to come back…So the next week we play Ole Miss, and I hate to say it, but that was a time when I wasn’t playing and I almost felt like I hoped we’d lose. Because I knew all I needed was a shot to prove what I could do on the field.

Q: What happened next?

A: Well first of all, looking back on it, that whole situation taught me a lot about life. That one incident when I wanted to leave — it taught me to be patient, no matter what you do in life. Working in the real world is the same thing, you’ve gotta be patient and your opportunity will come.

Me wanting to transfer, the fans actually picked up on it.. I had a tradition before every game after we’d run out of the tunnel; I’d run all the way to the other end zone and jump in the stands and just Gator chomp with the fans and I didn’t do it that game. I came out last of the tunnel and went straight to the sidelines.

2003: The LSU Game and Coming Out Party for Fason — C-4

(There’s actually a great highlight reel of this game provided by the university athletic department’s youtube channel. Here’s the link: Flashback: 2003 Florida @ LSU … Warning, get ready for a full serving of “Oh My’s,” as the video includes Mick Hubert’s play-by-play.)

Q: I’ll never forget the LSU game that season. That was your break out game, tell me about it.

A: Well I still wasn’t getting reps in practice so I was still down, but it’s crazy…Reynoldo Hill, our corner, was a real motivator…always getting us hyped. He said, this is your week, and I told him yeah whatever. And he just kept saying how he felt it, and this was going to be it. So, start of the game, the LSU guys are talkin’ trash at us during warmups — me, Ran, and DeShawn — and I think it shook Ran up a little bit. Early in the game he started talking about how he pulled his hamstring. And now DeShawn Wynn, we knew he had a bad back problem at the time. He got hit, and he was out. So they put me in.

Q: What do you remember most about the game?

A: Soon as I get in, we’re in the middle of a drive and we keep driving. One play, we’re in the shotgun and I tell Chris [Leak], Chris, they’re coming with that all out blitz with their linebackers. They’re gonna stick an end on me, he’s gonna try and guard me. I’m gonna go across the middle, just hit me. So Chris said, alright man, go. So the play happens and I just take off down the seam and Chris put it on the money and I went about 45 yards for a touchdown. And from there, it was on.

Q: So did that pretty much change everything from that point on?

A: Well the next game we were at Arkansas, and they were a top 10 team. Our defense wanted me to start but the coaches went with DeShawn…Ran couldn’t go and DeShawn got banged up in the first half. It’s funny, Arkansas had Cedrick Cobb, who was also #4…Our safety Guss Scott used to always say “home-team” to me because we’re both from Jacksonville. And he said, “Home-team, you’re getting out done by Cobb. I guess he’s the real C-4, right? I guess we’ll call Cobb C-4 now!” He was just trying to get me lit, so our first play of the third quarter we audible to a run, I told Chris to audible to an outside run. And I was ready…took it 75 yards for a touchdown…it was actually a dumb audible because it left two linebackers unblocked, but it worked.

Q: Where does the the nickname C-4 come from? Did you make it up?

A: Well, my senior year of High School they came out with this thing where you could customize your own cleats. So I came up with it, and I made my cleats have C-4 on the strap. And we had a game where it was so muddy and wet that my cleats got ruined, I mean they didn’t dry for weeks…so I stopped wearing them. So I let the name go for a while. Then I got to Florida my freshman year, and our senior running back Earnest Graham was bunked with me during two-a-days. And he kept raving about me, and talking me up. He’d say, man this kid runs explosive. You’re gonna be alright — as of today, I’m gonna start calling you C-4. So I told him, alright man. Well, we get to practice, and there’s Earnest — and he just keeps going, C-4! C-4! Everyone’s looking around like, huh? But it caught on in like two weeks. So eventually the coaches started calling me it, and Mick Hubert started calling me it too. Later on, Earnest was doing an interview that went in the paper, and they asked him about me. And he was saying, this boy’s explosive, I’m telling you! So they said who? And he told them, C-4! Watch for him, he’s explosive!

Q: That’s awesome.

A: I gotta tell you it’s funny because even today, most people don’t even know my name. They’ll see me and they’ll say, damn, you look like a running back? So I’ll just be like, oh, do I? And I’ll tell them I played at Florida, my name’s Ciatrick. They’ll say, no that’s not it, that’s not you. And I’ll ask them if they know about C-4, and their eyes will just open up and they’ll be like, yeah! C-4! You’re C-4!…my wife will just be standing there dying laughing the whole time…I mean she stays laughing.

Fason on the Game He Remembers Most as a Gator

Fason scores on an eight yard touchdown run to seal Florida’s 20-13 win over FSU. Fason’s vision of doing the Gator chomp in the FSU end zone had come true

Fason scores on an eight yard touchdown run to seal Florida’s 20-13 win over FSU. Fason’s vision of doing the Gator chomp in the FSU end zone had come true

Q: Ok, so Ciatrick, I think I know the answer to this one, but what game would you say you’re most proud of during your career at UF?

A: I’d have to go with beating Florida State at Doak my junior year.
Q: The year before was in infamous “Swindle in the Swamp.” (Ciatrick stepped in: Oh you mean the fluke fumble game? Yup.) Did the result of that game have any affect whatsoever on the 2004 game at Doak?

A: Honestly, that game affected the fans more than it did the players. We were upset to lose and to lose like that, but we don’t need extra motivation when it’s Florida-Florida State. No need to dwell on the year before, even though it did start a riot after the game.

Q: So what’s the team’s mindset before the FSU game in 2004? Zook had already been fired, they were naming the field after Bobby Bowden, we were 6-4 coming into the game. How did you approach it?

A: Well, since I grew up a Seminole fan, I always promised myself I’d do the Gator chomp in the end zone if I ever scored against them…and we actually didn’t even know they were naming the field after Bobby Bowden until that day. We go into the locker room after warm ups, and they told us we have to wait and all this stuff. And we’re like, what? Are they trying us? And they had this defensive end named Travis Johnson who was talking all before the game. He kind of stirred the game up — Channing Crowder (Florida’s starting middle linebacker) sucks. And who’s that running back? What do y’all call him? Ciatrick? C-4? C-What? I don’t even know his name!. So, yeah, he was doing a lot of talking and at this point…in my mind, it’s like…OK. Time to turn up. It’s time to turn up now. And on top of that, Zook’s already fired. I’ll never play for another head coach again most likely, so this is pretty much a big game for me personally on many levels. I knew the NFL scouts would be there, and I knew Florida State had this long streak of never giving up a 100 yard rusher. So that was big to me, it motivated me. And it was also a Florida-Florida State game.

Q: What about the fact that Florida hadn’t won at Doak since 1986? Was that something you guys were aware of?

A: Oh yeah, and just growing up a Seminole and playing at Florida made it that much better. We knew we hadn’t won there in about 20 years, so I’m glad I was able to help end it and score the game winning touchdown.

Q: Describe that moment of your game winning TD.

A: It was third & goal from the 8, so we called two plays in the huddle. And I kept telling Zook to give me the rock…he was kind of unsure about it and I just kept promising him I’d score. He was hesitant, but I told him to trust me and that FSU wouldn’t anticipate it. I just kept believing they couldn’t stop me. So we line up, and I see their linebacker Ernie Sims and he looks at me. I’m thinking, OK, I’ve got this. I get the ball and hit the hole, the offensive line just opened it right up, and one of their players, Jerome Carter, I noticed he didn’t want to hit me. So I scored and did the chomp, it felt so good.

On Urban Meyer

Q: Did you have your mind made up after your junior year, as far as leaving for the NFL? And did Urban Meyer put any effort towards keeping you?

A: I knew it was my time. I had two kids in high school so I had to make the best decision…And then when Urban Meyer came, he really kind of pushed me out the door. He was trying to keep me, but the things he was telling me also made me not want to stay. The first time I met Urban was at 2:30 in the morning at the stadium; he had pretty much just been hired. So Urban asked me to meet him at the stadium and I did.

So he said, I heard you were thinking about leaving? Well after watching you I don’t want you to leave — you’re the biggest recruit for me right now. No high schooler’s can do what you do. I don’t care about any other player on this team but you. My job is to coach. My job is to win championships, and I need you. I could care less about what the players do, I’m here to win championships and to look after my family.

So I’m just thinking about what he’s saying, and yeah, I understood it…but at the same time what am I supposed to do when he just gets telling me he doesn’t care about anyone else on the team?

(Maybe that speaks volumes on what we didn’t know about Meyer during that time.)

On Winning the Ferguson Award

Former Florida running back Ciatrick Fason. Fason finished 4th all time for most total yards in a single season in 2004.

Former Florida running back Ciatrick Fason. Fason finished 4th all time for most total yards in a single season in 2004.

A: Winning that and being a captain are things I’m very proud of because they are based off coaches and players voting for it. Coming up, I never thought I’d be a captain…from being immature at the beginning of my career, wanting to transfer…I’m so glad that all the hard work paid off. And winning the award as a junior, that was a big honor. But being a captain at Florida, and when you look back at the history of all the great ones, it’s an honor to make that list. And I’ve got to thank my teammates, they’re the ones who helped me back when I was having my tough times as a sophomore. And once Zook came up and gave me the opportunity, he spoke to me like a man. He told me he made a mistake when he didn’t play me earlier. But even when I did good, he always motivated me.

Life After Florida, Life After Football

Fason was taken in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, leading the team in rushing touchdowns, but fell victim to what he called the “politics” of the NFL. After going 9-7 in 2005, head coach Mike Tice was fired. With a new coach wanting his own players, Fason’s stay in Minnesota was just two seasons. Fason told me that after the Vikings hired Jack Childress, it was clear that Childress didn’t want any of the players from the previous draft class.

“I went from back-up, to starter, to reserve, to only dressing out if someone got injured. Then when Adrian Peterson was drafted, I was like, OK, I’ve been here before.”

Fason’s next chance came when he tried out for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. He was signed to the team, but cut less than a week later. “After I worked out for the Jaguars,” Fason said, “Coach Del Rio told me why he had to release me.” Del Rio’s decision came between Fason and Chauncy Washington, a running back out of Southern Cal. Although Fason told me that Del Rio acknowledged him as the better player, he couldn’t cut Washington because Del Rio, too, was a USC alum.

“It didn’t bother me.”

Politics. Fason knew it, and he says it actually did more good than it did bad.

Fason says the politics of the league shed light on the things that really mattered to him in life. “I love football, but it was just a hobby. Just something I was good at that I did for fun. I never did it because of the money. I tell people all the time that if I could go back and play in college, I would play for another 10 years. That’s when it was fun, I got to play in The Swamp!”

“I was able to walk away from the NFL with no regrets…I’d rather focus my career on my family, and helping other kids grow and get to college.”

That’s something to admire.

 

 

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Game day: Florida Gators vs. Florida Atlantic Owls Preview

Game day: Florida Gators vs. Florida Atlantic Owls Preview

Alas, we have reached game day for the Florida Gators. It is finally here! Enough of the talk. Enough of the pre-season predictions. For the first time since last December, we have a game to talk about today. Tonight at 7:30 PM, the Swamp will have 80,000+ for the...

It’s Emory Jones’ turn. His time. And his team.

It’s Emory Jones’ turn. His time. And his team.

Photo credit: USA Today Flash back to almost four years ago, December 20, 2017. It's the day that Emory Jones signed with the Florida Gators, which planted a seed for a career that has, for the most part, remained dormant- until now. Not too long before a letter of...

Florida’s Andrew Chatfield enters transfer portal

Florida’s Andrew Chatfield enters transfer portal

Photo credit: Evan Lepak, UAA Communications Florida linebacker/defensive end Andrew Chatfield has decided to enter the transfer portal. In doing so, he becomes the third Gators defender who has logged reps at linebacker to do so this offseason after James Houston IV...

Snapshot: 2021 Florida-FSU chart

Snapshot: 2021 Florida-FSU chart

Happy Chart Day! Yep, it's that time of year again. The annual In All Kinds Of Weather tradition of "The Florida FSU chart" is back in 2021. For those who are not familiar with "The Chart," every year since 2014, I have been laying out all the dizzying array of ways...

OT David Conner commits to Florida

OT David Conner commits to Florida

Photo via David Conner Florida’s offensive line play has been suspect at best these past few years, and the Gators’ 2022 recruiting class has been somewhat stuck in reverse so far. Both of those things got a nice boost today with the commitment of offensive tackle...

LB EJ Lightsey commits to Florida

LB EJ Lightsey commits to Florida

Photo credit: Keith Niebuhr, 247Sports Linebacker EJ Lightsey (Fitzgerald, GA/Fitzgerald) has just become the newest member of the Gators' 2022 recruiting class. He announced the decision on twitter this morning. Though Florida's fan base does have a propensity to...

Florida CB Jaydon Hill tears ACL, will miss 2021 season

Florida CB Jaydon Hill tears ACL, will miss 2021 season

Photo credit: John Raoux, AP A big part of the small amount of depth the Florida Gators had in its secondary is now gone for the season, as cornerback Jaydon Hill has torn his ACL. Hill suffered the injury in practice on Sunday. Rumblings that Hill would miss the...

Florida Gators 2021 Summer Position Preview: Defensive line

Florida Gators 2021 Summer Position Preview: Defensive line

Photo credit: Brad McClenny, USA Today Having completed the position by position preview of the Florida Gators' offense last month, it's time to turn our attention to the other side of the ball: the defense. It was, for lack of a nicer possible way to put it, awful in...

Four star RB Terrance Gibbs commits to Florida

Four star RB Terrance Gibbs commits to Florida

Photo via Terrance Gibbs The Gators have finally landed a top running back out of high school as opposed to the portal, as Terrance Gibbs (Winter Park, FL/Winter Park HS) has committed to Florida. Though Gibbs is only rated as a four star by both Rivals and 247Sports,...

2023 TE Mac Markway commits to Florida

2023 TE Mac Markway commits to Florida

Photo via Mac Markway Tim Brewster has landed another one for the Florida Gators, raiding the Show Me State for a Mac Markway, tight end that schools across the country wanted. Markway, a consensus four star target from St. Louis, chose Florida over Ohio State and...

Report: Florida, UCF close in on two-for-one football series

Report: Florida, UCF close in on two-for-one football series

Photo credit: Phil Sandlin, AP UPDATE: the social media teams of Florida and Central Florida have officially announced the three game series, confirming details of reports listed below. The original story begins below. UCF Knights fans' dreams of playing the Florida...

Florida Gators 2021 Pre-Summer position analysis: tight ends

Florida Gators 2021 Pre-Summer position analysis: tight ends

Photo credit: Courtney Culbreath, University of Florida After a bit of a hiatus, our position by position breakdown of the Florida Gators football roster resumes today with a look at Tim Brewster's tight end room. (Apologies for the delay. Long story. But we're back...

ATH Jamarrien Burt commits to Florida

ATH Jamarrien Burt commits to Florida

After laying dormant for quite some time, the Gators' 2022 recruiting class is picking up some steam at last. A mere four days after Florida added a pair of commitments from linebacker Shemar James and wide receiver Chandler Smith, athlete Jamarrien Burt has joined...

Athletic four star LB Shemar James commits to Florida

Athletic four star LB Shemar James commits to Florida

Photo credit: Scott Donaldson, preps@al.com Florida's 2022 recruiting class just gained perhaps its most highly touted piece yet, as consensus four star linebacker Shemar James announced his commitment this afternoon. James- out of Mobile, AL/Faith Academy- was...

Four star DB Julian Humphrey commits to Florida

Four star DB Julian Humphrey commits to Florida

Photo via TexAgs Not even three months after poaching QB Nick Evers from the Lone Star State, Dan Mullen and the Florida Gators rode west to Texas once again and pulled out another stud in Julian Humphrey, a consensus four star prospect from the Houston metropolitan...

Underrated three star WR Isaiah Bond commits to Florida

Underrated three star WR Isaiah Bond commits to Florida

Photo via Isaiah Bond After a lull the past couple months, the Gators are making moves with their 2022 recruiting class again, this time adding wide receiver Isaiah Bond. https://twitter.com/isaiahbond_/status/1391513186566819845?s=20 247Sports credits Billy Gonzales...

Florida Gators 2021 NFL Draft primer

Florida Gators 2021 NFL Draft primer

Photo credit: Kim Klement, USA Today Happy NFL Draft Day, Florida Gators fans! Today is the day where 32 former college football stars take the first step towards making their lifelong dreams of playing in the NFL a reality. That, of course, will include former Gators...

(Unofficial) results from Florida’s NFL Pro Day

(Unofficial) results from Florida’s NFL Pro Day

Photo credit: Florida Gators Due to the cancellation of the Gators' spring football game, the Florida Gators Pro Day was the closest thing to live football we're going to get this offseason. Luckily for the fans- and much more importantly, themselves- several...

Who should replace Mike White at Florida? (2021 version)

Who should replace Mike White at Florida? (2021 version)

Photo credit: John E. Moore, Getty Images A year ago, after Mike White's coaching malpractice pushed me over the edge for good, I wrote about all the laundry list of candidates I would love to see Florida replace Mike White with. After his horrifying late game...

TE CJ Hawkins commits to Florida

TE CJ Hawkins commits to Florida

Image via 247Sports The Gators got off to a slow start with their 2022 recruiting class. But with the addition of CJ Hawkins, it's officially picking up steam. Hawkins, a tight end out of Tampa, FL/Berkeley Prep, committed to Florida over South Carolina. The Gators...

Athletic OT Tony Livingston commits to Florida

Athletic OT Tony Livingston commits to Florida

Image via BuckeyePlanet.com Florida picked up a major boost for its 2022 recruiting class with the addition of Tony Livingston. Livingston, a consensus four star offensive tackle from Tampa, FL/Carrolwood Day announced his decision on twitter this evening. He also had...

2022 QB Nick Evers commits to Florida

2022 QB Nick Evers commits to Florida

Image via TexAgs.com Coaches will tell you that in every recruiting class, signing a quarterback is a need. For the Gators' 2022 class, Dan Mullen just filled that need in the name of Nick Evers, who just committed with an announcement on twitter. Evers is a consensus...

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 3/2 practice

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 3/2 practice

Photo credit: Florida Gators/@GatorsFB The Gators held Day 6 of spring practice today, and as has been the case for several of the prior practices, the program decided to open it up (virtually) to the public, and streamed most of the reps live on the team's Instagram...

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 2/26 practice

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 2/26 practice

Day five of full pads. (Image via Florida Gators.) For the third time this week, the Florida Gators football team held a virtual open practice, streaming most of the day's work on Instagram live for all to see. Here are all the videos I managed to capture from Friday...

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 2/24 practice

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 2/24 practice

Jason Marshall vs. Xzavier Henderson: something we'll be seeing a lot of in practice for a very, very long time. (Photo credit: Florida Gators) For the second time this week, the Gator football program virtually opened its practice to the public on its Instagram page,...

Videos: highlights from Gator football’s 2/22 practice

Screenshot from Florida's practice today (via Florida Gators) Dan Mullen and the Florida Gator football team hit the field for practice today as usual. One thing that made today's practice different from a lot of the Gators' other practices, though, was that today's...

Kicker Adam Mihalek commits to Florida

Kicker Adam Mihalek commits to Florida

Image via Adam Mihalek The Florida Gators snuck in one last addition to their 2021 recruiting class at the last second: kicker Adam Mihalek. Mihalek, a local from Tampa, has announced his intentions to stay close to home and attend the University of Florida as a...

Four star 2022 DE Francois Nolton commits to Florida

Four star 2022 DE Francois Nolton commits to Florida

With the Gators' 2021 recruiting class all wrapped up, Dan Mullen and his staff have gone to work setting up their 2022 class. https://twitter.com/99_nolton/status/1357739221822418945?s=20 Francois Nolton, a 6'4, 225 lb. four star defensive end from Miami, has...

COVID forces Gator basketball game vs. LSU to be postponed

COVID forces Gator basketball game vs. LSU to be postponed

After an embarrassing home loss to South Carolina two nights ago, the Gator basketball program will have to wait a little longer to get back on the court. Per an SEC press release, Mike White's team is experiencing another COVID outbreak: The Florida at LSU men's...

Gators land former LSU five star TE Arik Gilbert

Gators land former LSU five star TE Arik Gilbert

Dan Mullen remains undefeated in the NCAA transfer portal with the addition of Arik Gilbert. And now, a year after Florida lost unanimous All-American tight end Kyle Pitts to the NFL, the Gators may not miss a beat at that position. Gilbert, a former five star tight...

Way too early 2021 Gator football game-by-game projections

Way too early 2021 Gator football game-by-game projections

With the Florida Gators' 2021 schedule released yesterday, I thought it would be worth taking my first shot at what's become fans' favorite offseason ritual: projecting Florida's record. And in order to have a final record projection, you have to go game by game in...

Florida Gators’ 2021 football schedule revealed

Florida Gators’ 2021 football schedule revealed

When the SEC first pieced together a twelve year football schedule rotation in 2014 that dictated which teams would play who from the other division, the Florida Gators knew that they'd be hosting Alabama as their cross-division opponent in 2021. But now, following...

Gators complete coaching staff with Jules Montinar

Gators complete coaching staff with Jules Montinar

UPDATE: Florida has officially announced Jules Montinar as the newest member of the Gator football staff. https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1353802427313618945?s=20 (Initial story begins below.) With linebackers coach Christian Robinson presumably staying at...

Auburn DL Daquan Newkirk transfers to Florida

Auburn DL Daquan Newkirk transfers to Florida

DaQuan Newkirk is coming home. Daquan Newkirk has decided to return home (or close to it) for his final year of eligibility. And thus, Florida's shaky offseason took a step in the right direction. https://twitter.com/holdthat_2/status/1349757297782829056?s=20 Once a...

Florida LB James Houston to enter transfer portal

Florida LB James Houston to enter transfer portal

Best of luck to James Houston as he searches for a new home. James Houston IV, a junior linebacker from Fort Lauderdale, has told me that he will be entering the transfer portal. Houston was known for making a few of the bigger defensive plays of the last couple of...

Keyontae Johnson placed into medically induced coma

Keyontae Johnson placed into medically induced coma

Keyontae Johnson has been placed into a medically induced coma, according to the USA Today, who spoke with Johnson's grandfather. His grandfather, Larry DeJarnett said in a phone interview that his grandson was transported to Gainesville earlier today after receiving...

Florida vs Tennessee: Film Review – Defense

Florida’s 2020 season has overall been a successful one by most measures. The Gators are 8-1, ranked in the top ten in every major poll and are four wins away from securing the program’s fourth national title. But in order to obtain that national title, there’s a lot...

Several Gators listed as national award semifinalists

Florida's efforts on the field have been rewarded in the sense that the Gators now control their own destiny to SEC and national championships. But for several players, their efforts are being rewarded in more individual manners, too. Four Gators have been listed as...

Rocky Slop: Florida takes down Tennessee to clinch SEC East

The day Dan Mullen was introduced as the Gators’ new head coach, he talked at length about giving relentless effort in all he did to restore the program to a championship level. Last night on Rocky Top, his Gators took a major step toward doing so. Heisman front...

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 31-19 win over Tennessee

Florida didn't play especially well, but did more than enough to beat Tennessee and wrap up the SEC East for the first time since 2016. What were the major takeaways from the game? Florida simply does not have a running game Tennessee came into the game with a five...

Photo Gallery from Florida’s 34-10 win over Kentucky

As we anticipate tomorrow's road matchup with Tennessee,  let’s take one more look back at last week’s game against Kentucky. Our podcast host, Dustin Smith, happens to also be a fantastic photographer. He was at the game last Saturday, and got some great photos of...

Florida RB Iverson Clement will transfer

Florida's deep stable of running backs has just gotten a little thinner. Iverson Clement, a junior tailback from Mount Holly, NJ, has decided to transfer. He departs from Florida having carried the ball twelve times for 94 yards. He nearly scored a touchdown against...

Gators make belated Thanksgiving feast out of Wildcats

Florida was missing key pieces on both sides of the ball a week ago in a sluggish 38-17 win over Vanderbilt. The Gators got them both back today, and the result was fairly similar: Florida struggled for a half against a historically inferior divisional opponent,...

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 34-10 win over Kentucky

It took awhile for Florida to get itself going, but they eventually did do exactly that and rolled away from Kentucky. What stood out in the victory? A tale of two halves Florida's offense was stuck in reverse for most of the first half, mustering a grand total of...

No. 6 Gators overcome sluggish start to run past Vandy

Florida arrived at Vanderbilt’s small stadium a mere hour and two minutes before kickoff, determined to avoid the cramped quarters in the visitors’ locker room at all costs and intent on spending as little time on the premises as they had to. Then the Gators took the...

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 38-17 win over Vanderbilt

It wasn’t pretty, but Florida fought off a tough challenge from Vanderbilt and got out of Nashville with a 38-17 win. What stuck out in the victory? The defense is still a problem. Yes, Florida played better on defense after a miserable first quarter, and sure,...

Photo Gallery from Florida’s 63-35 win over Arkansas

Before we look ahead to Vanderbilt tomorrow, let's take one more look back at last week's game against Arkansas. Our podcast host, Dustin Smith, happens to also be a fantastic photographer. He was at the game last Saturday night, and got some great photos of various...

Trask, Gators run Hogwild in blowout of Arkansas

Trask, Gators run Hogwild in blowout of Arkansas

Feleipe Franks’ dramatic return to the Swamp was the story of the day when his Arkansas Razorbacks faced off against #6 Florida in the Swamp. But it was his long-time understudy, Kyle Trask, who dominated the night. Trask continued his push for a Heisman Trophy by...

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 63-35 win over Arkansas

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 63-35 win over Arkansas

Florida earned its most lopsided win of the season over Arkansas, and former quarterback Feleipe Franks, 63-35. What stood out most along the way? Kyle Trask is now the Heisman frontrunner After several years of hyping up various quarterbacks as Heisman Trophy...

A Tribute to Feleipe Franks: I Will Remember You

A Tribute to Feleipe Franks: I Will Remember You

Hello again, Feleipe Franks. It's been about fourteen months since your Gator career ended in a particularly gruesome fashion. Tomorrow, we meet again. Only this time, your job will be to ruin Florida's season, not enhance it, and our job will be to make you...

Florida 44, Georgia 28: Helmet Stickers and Plays of the Game

Florida 44, Georgia 28: Helmet Stickers and Plays of the Game

Florida's euphoric win over Georgia is still sinking in, but it's time to go through the film and look at this game from an academic standpoint. You can rewatch the game here. First order of business: a blanket helmet sticker is awarded to every member of the team for...

Gators kick Georgia out of Cocktail Party

Gators kick Georgia out of Cocktail Party

Throughout Dan Mullen’s short tenure at Florida, Kirby Smart has had Mullen’s number.  And three minutes into their third meeting in Jacksonville, it looked like that would continue. But then Florida flipped the script and turned the game— and the rivalry— on its...

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 44-28 win over Georgia

Five Takeaways from Florida’s 44-28 win over Georgia

WE DID IT!!! Yes, at long last, Florida has gotten the Georgia monkey off its back and toppled the Bulldogs to take control of the SEC East. What did we learn along the way? Kyle Trask is officially a Heisman Trophy frontrunner He may not win the award, but he has to...

2021 OL Yousef Mugharbil commits to Florida

2021 OL Yousef Mugharbil commits to Florida

A day before the Gators take on Georgia in the Cocktail Party, Yousef Mugharbil kicked off their weekend the right way. Mugharbil, a consensus four star offensive lineman from Murphy, NC/Murphy HS, has committed to Florida. He also had offers from Penn State, Virginia...

Five takeaways from Florida’s 41-17 win over Missouri

Five takeaways from Florida’s 41-17 win over Missouri

Florida bounced back from a rough loss to Texas A&M three weeks ago with a statement win against Missouri. What stood out in the process? The defense isn't great, but it's getting better. Even without three starters in the secondary (and without Zachary Carter in...

Gators down three starters in the secondary against Missouri

Gators down three starters in the secondary against Missouri

Florida's defensive backfield- already shaky at full strength- is now going to be decimated tonight against Missouri. Starting cornerback Marco Wilson, as well as safeties Shawn Davis and Donovan Stiner, are all out tonight, according to various reports. The reasons...

For Gators, a new season begins against Missouri

For Gators, a new season begins against Missouri

Three weeks ago, Florida completed its preseason portion of the 2020 schedule with a good deal of promise, but well aware of what it had to work on. One ugly COVID outbreak and three weeks later, and the Gators begin the meat of their schedule- a seven game stretch...

2022 Safety Sam McCall commits to Florida

2022 Safety Sam McCall commits to Florida

Just as things are getting back into full swing for the Gator football team, things are heating up on the recruiting trail, too. Florida has nabbed a commitment from 2022 athlete Sam McCall, a consensus five star recruit from Lakeland, FL/Lake Gibson HS. He chose...

2021 Edge rusher Jeremiah Williams commits to Florida

2021 Edge rusher Jeremiah Williams commits to Florida

Defensive end Jeremiah Williams, a consensus four star prospect out of Birmingham, AL/Ramsay HS, has committed to Florida, giving the Gators yet another dynamic piece for their 2021 recruiting class. Signs were pointing towards Gainesville for the highly touted edge...

Florida-Missouri game postponed to October 31

Florida-Missouri game postponed to October 31

According to multiple sources close to the team, the Florida-Missouri game scheduled to take place on October 24th will now be pushed back one week, to Halloween on October 31st. In All Kinds of Weather first reported yesterday that the game was extremely likely to be...

Florida-LSU game postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak

Florida-LSU game postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak

Multiple sources have confirmed that the Florida-LSU game scheduled for this Saturday is going to be postponed. An announcement could come as early as Wednesday afternoon. The news comes less than 24 hours after an outbreak of COVID-19 within the Gators' football...

COVID-19 outbreak places Florida-LSU game in jeopardy

After just three games, the novel coronavirus that has wreaked havoc on pretty much everything in 2020 appears to have found its way into the Gator football program. And predictably, the COVID-19 outbreak has thrown up a blockade in front of the season. A few days...

Texas A&M forces Florida to address defensive issues

Texas A&M forces Florida to address defensive issues

Throughout the game on Saturday in College Station, Florida seemed to be one step ahead of Texas A&M. Until they weren't. And then it was too late to do anything about it as the Florida program trudged off the field following a familiar fate- a loss to Jimbo...

Five takeaways from Florida’s 41-38 loss to Texas A&M

Five takeaways from Florida’s 41-38 loss to Texas A&M

Florida suffered its first loss of the season against Texas A&M today, an ugly 41-38 setback that’s far more irritating than damaging— but one that exposed a great deal of Gator shortcomings. What stood out in particular? (Spoiler alert: a lot of them are...

Imperfect Gators outlast South Carolina to start 2-0

Imperfect Gators outlast South Carolina to start 2-0

The various struggles the Florida Gators have endured on defense didn’t matter too much in their first two games against Mississippi and South Carolina. They might in their next game. And they almost certainly will later in the season. Kyle Trask tossed four touchdown...

Clemson RB Demarkcus Bowman to transfer to Florida

Clemson RB Demarkcus Bowman to transfer to Florida

The Lakeland-to-Gainesville pipeline has continued, albeit via a detour. Demarkcus Bowman has chosen to transfer to Florida. Mere days after announcing his decision to enter the transfer portal, Bowman told Gators Territory of his decision. Bowman, a former five star...

Trask’s career day propels Florida past Mississippi

Trask’s career day propels Florida past Mississippi

Dan Mullen returned to the place he once called “The School Up North” in his new set of colors for the first time. And he provided that school up north with a first class education in just how lethal his new offense is. Kyle Trask went wild, completing 30 of his 42...

Five takeaways from Florida’s 51-35 win at Ole Miss

Five takeaways from Florida’s 51-35 win at Ole Miss

The Gators opened their 2020 season with a somewhat convincing 51-35 victory over Ole Miss in Oxford. In doing so, Florida knotted the all time series score against the Rebels at twelve wins apiece. Here are my five initial takeaways from the game: Kyle Trask is...

2020 Gator football position preview: secondary

2020 Gator football position preview: secondary

Our position previews of the 2020 Gator football team conclude today with a look at the defensive backfield. Can the unit colloquially known as "DBU" move forward without CJ Henderson? Previously previewing: quarterbacks | running backs | wide receivers | tight ends |...

2020 Gator football position previews: linebackers

2020 Gator football position previews: linebackers

The penultimate piece of our position preview segment takes us to the Florida linebackers- a unit that was very good in 2019, but will look a bit different in 2020. Let's get right into it. Previously previewing: quarterbacks | running backs | wide receivers | tight...

2020 Gator football position preview: defensive line

2020 Gator football position preview: defensive line

Having completed our offensive position previews, today we move to the defensive side of the ball. And as is the case everywhere in the SEC, it starts up front. Previously previewing: quarterbacks | running backs | wide receivers | tight ends | offensive line The...

2020 Gator football position preview: offensive line

2020 Gator football position preview: offensive line

Fresh off our preview of Florida's tight ends, our 2020 Gator football position preview rolls on with a look at perhaps the key to the entire team: the offensive line. Last year, was so-so a year ago in pass protection, but really let the team down in the ground game....

2020 Gator football position preview: tight ends

2020 Gator football position preview: tight ends

With kickoff just around the corner, our position by position previews of the 2020 Gator football team are about to start hitting the presses rapid-fire. Having already published our previews on Florida's quarterback, running back and wide receiver rooms, the first of...

2020 Gator football position preview: wide receivers

2020 Gator football position preview: wide receivers

Having previously broken down Florida's quarterbacks and running backs, our position preview segment moves along today with a look at Florida's receivers. It's a unit that lost four of its top playmakers from 2019 (Van Jefferson, Freddie Swain, Josh Hammond and Tyrie...

2020 Gator football position preview: running backs

2020 Gator football position preview: running backs

After a bit longer of a gap between position breakdowns than I intended, the series rolls on today with a look at Florida's running backs. What do the Gators have in stock in their RB room this year? The leader: Dameon Pierce The leading returning rusher from 2019 has...

Snapshot: the 2020 Florida-FSU chart

Snapshot: the 2020 Florida-FSU chart

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor and privilege to present to you, the 2020 Florida-FSU chart. Many of you already know what I'm referring too. For those who don't, "The Chart" is an annual In All Kinds Of Weather tradition that compares the Florida Gators...

2020 Gator football position preview: quarterbacks

2020 Gator football position preview: quarterbacks

With kickoff at long last in sight, it's time to break down the 2020 Gator football roster, position by position. Who's back, who's going to start, how good are they, and so on. Man, it's great to finally be talking about that again. So with that said, let's start...

Gators learn four of ten kickoff times for 2020 season

Gators learn four of ten kickoff times for 2020 season

Three of Florida's first four games of the 2020 season carry the potential to be broilers. The Gators' season opener against Mississippi in Oxford on September 26th will kick off at noon, and air on ESPN. The following week, Florida will return home and again play in...

#GreatestGatorEver Sweet 16 bracket breakdown

#GreatestGatorEver Sweet 16 bracket breakdown

Having announced the tentative plans for the schedule of the remainder of the #GreatestGatorEver fan voting tournament (update; the tournament resumes tomorrow on twitter and Instagram stories), it's time to refresh our memories regarding the final sixteen contestants...

#GreatestGatorEver tournament schedule update

#GreatestGatorEver tournament schedule update

For those who have been keeping track of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament, the excitement level has reached yet another all time high, as it does with the completion of each round. For those who haven't, it's not too late to be introduced to the event. Here's (a very...

Gators’ 2020 football schedule unveiled

Gators’ 2020 football schedule unveiled

At long last, the Florida Gators 2020 football schedule has been released. Here it is, in full. Florida Gators 2020 football schedule Week Date Opponent 1 9/26 @ Mississippi 2 10/3 S CAROLINA 3 10/10 @ Texas A&M 4 10/17 LSU 5 10/24 MISSOURI 6 --- BYE 7 11/7...

Four key Gators sit out first fall practice

Four key Gators sit out first fall practice

For the time being, it looks as though the SEC is going to give its college football season a go in 2020. But at least for today's inaugural practice, the Florida Gators football team launched its fall season down four critical pieces. As first reported by Sports...

Florida Gators 2021 Recruiting Big Board update: mid-August

Florida Gators 2021 Recruiting Big Board update: mid-August

The Gators' recruiting recent endeavors can be summed up with a synopsis not unlike a bunch of little kids swinging away at a dangling piñata. After much time and effort hacking at it to no avail, one well-placed swing and the fruits of their labor suddenly began...

DT Desmond Watson commits to Florida

DT Desmond Watson commits to Florida

Florida had been suffering through a bit of a lull on the recruiting trail earlier this month, a period that was low lighted by Clinton Burton flipping his commitment from Florida to Boston College. But if the past couple of weeks didn't vault Florida out of that rut,...

Gators flip OL recruit Jake Slaughter from FSU

After a bit of a lull on the recruiting trail, Florida has suddenly picked it up over the course of the last week. Last Saturday, safety Donovan McMillon committed; less than 48 hours later, receiver Marcus Burke followed suit to rev the engine a little bit on a 2021...

Top Jacksonville WR Marcus Burke commits to Florida

Top Jacksonville WR Marcus Burke commits to Florida

The Gators' 2021 recruiting class got a boost Saturday with the addition of Donovan McMillon. Today, Dan Mullen & Co. built on that momentum with the addition of receiver Marcus Burke. https://twitter.com/CERTIFIED_MB4/status/1285296008747003904?s=20 Burke, a...

Safety Donovan McMillon commits to Florida

Safety Donovan McMillon commits to Florida

Clinton Burton out, Donovan McMillon in. McMillon, a borderline three/four star safety from McMurray, PA/Peters Township High School, has committed to the Gators. The move provides Florida fans with a bit of relief following the decommitment of fellow defensive back...

#GreatestGatorEver tournament set to heat up

#GreatestGatorEver tournament set to heat up

Welcome to the part of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament where things really start to get interesting. For those who are just catching wind of the tournament, a quick explanation of how it works. Created with the goal of deciding the greatest Florida Gator athlete of...

Gators announce six new positive COVID tests within football program

UF confirms 11 positive COVID-19 cases since April

The University of Florida has acknowledged that eleven different positive tests for COVID-19 have taken place since April. The news comes a week and a half after the announcement that no returning Gator football player had tested positive. From Florida senior...

2021 CB Jordan Young commits to Florida

2021 CB Jordan Young commits to Florida

It may be one of the slowest times for sports in recent memory, but the inverse has been the case in the world of Gator football recruiting. 2021 cornerback Jordan Young (Tampa, FL/Gaither) has committed to Florida. A consensus three star prospect with offers from...

Kamar Wilcoxson re-commits to Florida for a third time

Kamar Wilcoxson re-commits to Florida for a third time

Kamar Wilcoxson is back on the Gators' commitment list- and he says this time, it's for good. https://twitter.com/KamarWilcoxson4/status/1274100941369806850?s=20 I think at this point, most Gator fans are familiar with who he is, and if you're not, I'll explain why I...

Safety Dakota Mitchell commits to Florida

Safety Dakota Mitchell commits to Florida

It probably got lost in the news of yesterday’s news that the Florida band will stop cueing up the “Gator bait” chant due to the term’s racist history, but while Florida football lost a ritual, it gained a commit. Safety Dakota Mitchell (Winter Park, FL/Winter Park)...

Gator football gets the green light to proceed with practice

Gator football gets the green light to proceed with practice

One thing that COVID-19 has proven is that it possesses an uncanny ability to screw up all different types of plans, and there's no concrete evidence that it's finished doing so. That's something that has to be kept in mind for the duration of this article, as well as...

Gator baseball pitcher Tommy Mace to return in 2021

Gator baseball pitcher Tommy Mace to return in 2021

Tommy Mace has just pulled perhaps the biggest offseason surprise in the world of Florida Gator athletics. Mace, the ace of the Gator baseball pitching staff, has decided to return to Gainesville for another season after going undrafted in the MLB Draft. Per...

Former Florida WR Reche Caldwell murdered outside his house

Former Florida WR Reche Caldwell murdered outside his house

Photo credit: Sports Illustrated Ex-Florida wide receiver Reche Caldwell has died from injuries sustained in a shooting right outside his home in Tampa, according to multiple different reports. The story was first broken by TMZ, and confirmed by ESPN's Adam Schefter....

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 15 Regional

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 15 Regional

The sixteenth and final Regional of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament gets underway later tonight. Thus, our Regional previews conclude with a look at the 15 Regional: The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.) (1)...

Lorenzo Lingard granted immediate eligibility for Florida

Lorenzo Lingard granted immediate eligibility for Florida

Happy birthday, Lorenzo Lingard. Florida's newest running back addition has announced on twitter that his waiver to be able to play in 2020 has been granted: https://twitter.com/d1champ99/status/1266464118950723584?s=20 Florida's running back room wasn't bad to begin...

#GreatestGatorEver tournament set to heat up

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 2

The penultimate Regional of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament is just about set to get underway. As is customary by now, let's acquaint ourselves with the sixteen player field a little more first. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 10 Regional

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 10 Regional

Round one of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament is drawing to a close. Today, we take a look at the third-to-last of the sixteen Regional brackets to be played: the 10 Regional. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.)...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 7 Regional

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: 7 Regional

We are officially three quarters of the way through of the first round of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament. Tomorrow morning, we begin the first round of the fourth quarter of the bracket- the 7 Regional. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order...

Class of 2021 RB/WR Charles Montgomery commits to Florida

Class of 2021 RB/WR Charles Montgomery commits to Florida

Charles Montgomery will be suiting up in orange and blue on Saturdays. On an instagram live feed, Montgomery announced that he was choosing Florida over Maryland. A consensus four star prospect out of Seffner, FL/Armwood, Montgomery also had offers from Alabama,...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 14

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 14

Time to complete the upper right hand corner of the #GreatestGatorEver bracket with the 14 Regional. Y'all know the drill by now; let's get to it. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.) (1) Kelly Barnhill (softball,...

Florida unveils plan to bring athletes back to campus

Florida unveils plan to bring athletes back to campus

Photo credit: University of Florida COVID-19 has pretty much shut down college athletics since it made its way over to the United States a couple of months ago. Now, the first steps are being taken to see their resumption. Earlier today, SEC school presidents have...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 3

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 3

Up next in our #GreatestGatorEver tournament is the 3 Regional. Before voting gets underway, let's take a closer look at the field. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.) (1) Al Horford (basketball, C/F-...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 11

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 11

Eight Regionals down, one underway, and seven more to go in Round One of our #GreatestGatorEver tournament. Next up is the 11 Regional. The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.) (1) Jack Youngblood (football, DE/DT/K-...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 6

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 6

We're halfway through the opening round of our summer long #GreatestGatorEver tournament. Now, we shift to the right side of the bracket, and start at the top with the 6 Regional, which gets underway tomorrow morning. The bracket Regional participants (Players are...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 12

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 12

The eighth and final Regional on the left half of the 256 player #GreatestGatorEver tournament is set to get started tonight. Another way of putting that: after tonight's 12 Regional voting, we will officially be halfway done with the opening round of this summer long...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 5

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 5

Our #GreatestGatorEver tournament rolls on today with Round one of the 5 Regional. As was the case for the previous Regionals and will be for all ensuing Regionals, let's take this opportunity to refresh our memories regarding what, exactly, the sixteen players in...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 13

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 13

With the 4 Regional of the #GreatestGatorEver tournament currently winding down, it's time to preview the Regional it's paired with in the Sweet 16: Regional #13. The 13 Regional bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.)...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 4

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 4

Our #GreatestGatorEver bracket is set to continue tomorrow with the opening round of the 4 Regional. Let's get to know that 4 Regional: The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they appear on the bracket.) (1) Emmitt Smith (football, RB-...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 9

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 9

Our #GreatestGatorEver bracket is set to continue later today with the opening round of the 9 Regional. With voting in the 8 Regional closing soon, let's familiarize ourselves with said 9 Regional: The bracket Regional participants (Players are listed in order they...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 8

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 8

Our #GreatestGatorEver tournament is off and running. Voting for the opening round of the 1 Regional has been completed; the 16 Regional is underway and will wrap up this afternoon. Shortly after its conclusion, the 8 Regional will get underway. So, let's get to know...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 16

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 16

Yesterday, voting began in our #GreatestGatorEver bracket in the 1 Regional. Today, voting will continue with the 16 Regional, but before the polls open, let's preview the field and refresh our memories on the players' accomplishments. The bracket Regional...

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 1

#GreatestGatorEver bracket breakdown: Regional 1

Voting for the #GreatestGatorEver bracket begins this afternoon. In the name of eliminating potential recentism in the voting, I thought I'd set the stage by previewing each Regional before the voting gets underway. Today, we'll take a look at Regional 1, which of...

2021 guard Kowacie Reeves commits to Florida

2021 guard Kowacie Reeves commits to Florida

Mike White's 2021 recruiting class is off to a great start. Kowacie Reeves (Macon, GA) has committed to Florida. Reeves, a highly sought after four star, also earned offers from North Carolina, Texas, Auburn, Georgia and Seton Hall, among others. This commitment might...

Introducing the Greatest Gator Ever bracket

Introducing the Greatest Gator Ever bracket

Part of what has helped fans make it through a long, frustrating quarantine is the abundance of fan polls on social media. In particular, 64-team, March Madness themed brackets that allow fans to vote on the winner of each matchup in each round have captured a lot of...

Michigan F Colin Castleton transferring to Florida

Michigan F Colin Castleton transferring to Florida

Colin Castleton is coming home, and Florida is adding some more frontcourt depth for the future- potentially even next season. Castleton, who spent the last two seasons at Michigan, will be transferring closer to home and joining Mike White's Gator basketball squad....

Recapping the Gators’ weekend in the 2020 NFL Draft

Recapping the Gators’ weekend in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft has just concluded, and once again, the Florida Gators were very well represented. Below is a list of all the selections from Florida. Click on the player names for further analysis on what they bring to their new teams. Florida Gators in the 2020...

How Dan Mullen fixed a broken Gator football program

How Dan Mullen fixed a broken Gator football program

What was a fractured program less than 30 months ago needed a hero to put it back together. In Dan Mullen, Florida found that hero. This is the story of the toxic culture he walked into, how he went to work taking it apart, and how he's replaced that toxic culture...

Tebow, Spikes, James inducted into UF Hall of Fame

Tebow, Spikes, James inducted into UF Hall of Fame

Three members of the Florida Gators' 2008 football team- universally regarded as one of the best in college football history- are finally getting the ultimate recognition they deserve- spots in the UF Hall of Fame. Explosive kick/return man Brandon James posted a...

Scottie Lewis to return for sophomore year

Scottie Lewis to return for sophomore year

Florida’s basketball team got a sort-of-but-not-really-surprising boost today, as shooting guard Scottie Lewis announced that he will be coming back for his sophomore season. Lewis, a ridiculously athletic kid from southern New Jersey, arrived in Gainesville last fall...

The “Kyle Trask Emory Jones” debate: why not both?

The “Kyle Trask Emory Jones” debate: why not both?

The "Kyle Trask Emory Jones" debate is in full swing. Yes, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that has, among other things, lengthened college sports fans' offseason, the fanbase-wide argument regarding who should be the starter at the most important position of...

Coronavirus abruptly ends 2019-20 NCAA athletic season

Coronavirus abruptly ends 2019-20 NCAA athletic season

Photo credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images UPDATE 5:10pm: although it feels wholly logical to assume that college baseball and softball are over for 2020, the language in the two released statements- from the SEC and NCAA, and which you can read below- left one pair of...

TE Nick Elksnis commits to Florida

TE Nick Elksnis commits to Florida

Tight end Nick Elksnis (Jacksonville, FL/Episcopal) has announced his decision to be a Gator, thus netting Florida its first commitment of its Junior Day weekend. In doing so, Elksnis effectively flips from Penn State, from which he decommitted last week....

2020 Florida Gators’ Junior Day visitors list

2020 Florida Gators’ Junior Day visitors list

The Gators' second Junior Day event in Gainesville is upon us, and it's important to keep an eye on because more often than not, Florida uses it to add members to its list of commits. This time around, the chances of the Gators doing so are increased appreciably-...

For Gator basketball, time is running out to figure things out

For Gator basketball, time is running out to figure things out

For much of Saturday's game against Tennessee, Florida couldn’t score. When they finally remembered how to score, they couldn’t come up with the critical stops. In other words, it was a typical basketball game for Mike White’s Gators on the heels of an impressive win....

Four star TE Gage Wilcox commits to Florida

Four star TE Gage Wilcox commits to Florida

Congratulations to Gage Wilcox. You, sir, have just become the first commit for Tim Brewster. Wilcox, a four star tight end from Tampa's Jefferson High School in the Class of 2021, committed on an Instagram Live video, as captured by twitter user @CurtisK421....

Florida takes step forward by throttling LSU

Florida takes step forward by throttling LSU

Photo credit: Florida Gators Maybe this is another mirage, the latest peak in a dizzying array of sine waves for Mike White’s Gator basketball team. Or maybe, after we all erroneously thought this team had turned the corner several times before, this is the game that...