Who should replace Mike White at Florida?

by | Feb 11, 2020 | Gator Basketball, Uncategorized

Gators basketball coach

Recent developments have proven that barring a Herculean reversal of fortunes, at some point in the not-so-distant future, the current Gators’ basketball coach will be replaced. Most fans, save for a small but loud minority, have shifted the primary topic from “will Mike White get fired?” to “when will Mike White get fired?”

Of course, when you do fire a coach, you need to replace him. Keep in mind that surefire Hall Of Famers like Billy Donovan, Jay Wright, Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams and Bill Self are off the table. Also keep in mind that Florida has already blown their chances at guys like Chris Mack (who was my first choice back in 2015 when Donovan left), Tony Bennett, Mick Cronin, Nate Oats and Eric Musselman. We need to firmly plant our feet in the world of reality before beginning this conversation; none of those aforementioned guys are coming.

But part of planting our feet in the world of reality means realizing that the Florida Gators’ men’s basketball head coaching job is a top fifteen job in the country. No, it’s not a top five job and the Gators won’t be getting anybody to make anything close to a lateral move to come to Gainesville, but it is one of the most prestigious and enticing college basketball head coaching jobs in America and Florida can get almost anybody it wants. Hopefully, Scott Stricklin will act quickly enough that some of these guys I’m about to list won’t make career moves that add them to the aforementioned “off-limits” category.

So with all that in mind, who should Florida target to succeed White as the Gators’ basketball coach?

Top Tier

1: Chris Beard, Texas Tech (and formerly Little Rock)

Age: 46  |  Record: 122-44 (73.4%)

Synopsis: grand slam hire; first choice. Beard lifted a historically inept Texas Tech program to an Elite Eight in his second year, and built off of that by taking the Red Raiders to the national championship game in his third year, where they lost a heartbreaker to Virginia. Now in his fourth year, he again has the Red Raiders at a healthy 16-8 and in contention to again reach the NCAA Tournament despite being forced to orchestrate a complete program facelift following the majority of last year’s team leaving. Before Texas Tech, he took Little Rock to a Sun Belt regular season and tournament title before guiding them to a first round upset win over Purdue in the NCAA Tournament in his lone season there. He also has a proven track record of recruiting and then developing first round NBA Draft picks, such as Jarrett Culver (drafted 6th by Phoenix in 2019) and Zhaire Smith (drafted 16th by Phoenix and traded to Philadelphia in 2018). And on top of all that, he’s only 47 years old, meaning he could be in Gainesville for a long, long time.

Chances to land him: coin flip. There’s a $3M buyout to be dealt with, but Florida has an affluent enough array of donors that the school should have no problem ponying that up in addition to giving him a raise to tip the scales in his mind. Even if Florida were to simply match his current $4.575M salary at Texas Tech and not bump it up to an even $5M a year, the other factors would probably be more than enough to persuade him: Florida is a better job in a conference that’s easier to win than the Big 12, boasting a better history, with a better local recruiting base, better facilities and a better booster base. Put simply, nobody worth his salt stays in Lubbock for too long; if Florida wants to take him away from Texas Tech, they will. The real problem could be Texas, as in the University of, where Beard went to school. Shaka Smart’s days are numbered, so UT boosters may not care that Beard’s buyout doubles if he were to move to another Big 12 school. Which means that they may be more than prepared to engage in a bidding war with Florida’s booster base for his services should it come to that- even starting out $3M in the red. Therefore, Florida had better move fast if they want him. Beard almost certainly comes off the board following the 2020-21 season and probably will after this season.

2: Gregg Marshall, Wichita State (and formerly Winthrop)

Age: 56  |  Record: 517-197 (72.4%)

Synopsis: home run hire. While Marshall is a decade older than Beard and likely would not stay at Florida for as long as Beard would, he also has a long, proven history of consistent success at schools with a very limited ceiling. So the prospect of giving him a school without a true ceiling is exciting. He took little Winthrop to the NCAA Tournament in seven out of nine years and even pulled off a first round upset over Notre Dame in the 2007 NCAA Tournament before taking the Wichita State job. Despite leading the third most prestigious program in the state of Kansas and thus being severely handcuffed on the recruiting trail, Marshall made the most of what he had and took the Shockers to seven straight NCAA Tournaments, even leading them to the Final Four in 2013 as a nine seed. But he’s taken them as far as they can go. I’d make the first call to Beard due to the higher upside, but Marshall is tied for the safest high level hire out there with the next candidate on the list.

Chances to land him: strong. In order to fight off an attempt by Alabama to poach him in 2015, Wichita State raised Marshall’s salary to $3M a year until 2018, at which point that number rose to $3.5M annually. But Alabama isn’t Florida, at least not in hoops. Marshall would have a very difficult time passing up the allure of an elite basketball program where the ceiling is what you make it, and in a state that breeds talent like few others do. The bottom line with Marshall is the same as it is for Beard: nobody stays in Wichita forever. But now throw out the part where he’s the logical top choice for another school that’s impatiently waiting for the season to end so it can fire its coach. If Stricklin is willing to put together a sweet enough compensation package for him, Marshall likely won’t hesitate to make the move.

3: Mark Few, Gonzaga

Age: 57  |  Record: 593-123 (82.8%)

Synopsis: home run hire. Few and Marshall are kind of 2A and 2B on my list, but I went with Marshall ahead of Few because Few faces far less resistance on his way to the NCAA Tournament on a yearly basis than Marshall does. Which does admittedly rub a little bit of the shine off the fact that he’s guided the Zags to the NCAA Tournament in each of his 20 seasons there. Still: Few has proven time and again that his team can play with the big boys, taking Gonzaga to five consecutive Sweet 16’s, including three Elite 8’s in that stretch and the 2017 NCAA Championship Game. And he can win quickly, too. Gonzaga was absolutely nothing before he got there, and he immediately lifted it off the ground by guiding it to its second ever Sweet 16 in his inaugural year before gradually building it into the perennial top 15 program in the nation that it is today.

Chances to land him: moderate. Probably slightly less than a coin flip. In other words, if forced to lay down my life’s savings on whether or not Few would leave Gonzaga for Florida, I’d go with no, he would not. But before you dismiss the possibility out of hand, it’s worth noting one critical thing: he makes $1.78M a year. With the resources it’s got at its disposal, Florida could easily double or even triple that salary, plus incentives and perks, if it came down to that. Then throw in the more fertile local recruiting base, higher program prestige and ceiling that I’ve been citing with Beard and Marshall and it becomes a real debate. Yes, Gonzaga fans will tell you he’s about more than just money, and yes, he’s built a life on the West Coast and may not be actively looking to move across the country, but money talks and it’s as sure a bet as the sun will rise tomorrow that he will at least listen.

Second tier

4: Dana Altman, Oregon (and formerly CreightonKansas State and Marshall)

Age: 61  |  Record: 663-345 (65.9%)

Synopsis: solid hire. Altman is not quite in the top tier of guys on my list due to the combination of his age, which could mean he’s only here for five or six years and then burns out, and a possible lack of desire to start over somewhere else while he’s got something rolling in Eugene. But the credentials are there. After a brief stint at Kansas State, Altman rebuilt a historically impoverished Creighton program and left it in far better shape than he found it when he left fifteen years later for Oregon. There, after a rocky first year, he quickly began an impressive program turnaround and ripped off five straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, winning at least one game each time and guiding the Ducks to an Elite Eight in 2016 and the 2017 Final Four. The Ducks dropped off over the next two years, but Altman led them to an unlikely Pac-12 tournament title and a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2019 and now has them quietly poised for another special season in 2020.

Chances to land him: coin flip. Oregon is far from a blue blood basketball program, but they’re not a historical bottom feeder, either. With Nike all but naming them their official university, they’ve got instant brand recognition, a deep booster base and natural program recruitability. Then again, Florida can match that brand recognition with its Jordan sponsorship and Oregon’s booster base with an equally deep booster base of its own and beat the Ducks at everything else they have going to keep Altman: a more talent rich local recruiting territory to complement that natural recruitability, at a more prestigious program that’s been to the top before, and most importantly, a sweeter offer. Altman currently makes $2.8M a year to coach Oregon, which Florida can undoubtedly top. But at this point in his life, Altman may just want to settle down and retire a Duck.

5: Ben Howland, Mississippi State (and formerly UCLA, Pittsburgh and Northern Arizona)

Age: 62  |  Record: 494-270 (64.7%)

Synopsis: solid hire. The way that UCLA dropped off in the back half of his tenure there is worth an eyebrow raise. But everything else checks out. Howland hit the jackpot by signing Darren Collison, Russell Westbrook, Jordan Farmar, Arron Afflalo, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Kevin Love in a three year span and made the most of them, taking the Bruins to three straight Final Fours from 2006-2008 before everything kind of fizzled out for him in Westwood. But then Scott Stricklin hired him at Mississippi State, where he slowly turned things around after a rough start. Now Howland has arguably the worst basketball program in the SEC poised for back to back trips to the NCAA Tournament, which suggests that the end of his UCLA tenure could have been the anomaly and not the rule.

Chances to land him: very strong. It’s very difficult to imagine Howland turning Florida down if Stricklin makes him an even semi-enticing offer. Refer back to the prior paragraph if you already forgot who hired him last his last job. He only makes $2.05M a year, which Florida could top with ease. This would be a golden second chance for him at the highest level of college basketball, a shot at redemption after things fell apart in Los Angeles. And it would continue the pattern of Florida using Mississippi State as its farm system: Florida has already poached their athletic director (Stricklin), their football coach (Dan Mullen), the majority of Mullen’s assistant coaches and administrative employees there, their top kicker recruit (Evan McPherson) and someday soon their top linebacker recruit (Diwun Black), so why not add their men’s basketball coach to that list?

6: Kevin Willard, Seton Hall (and formerly Iona)

Age: 44  |  Record: 233-181 (56.2%)

Synopsis: low risk, high reward hire. Willard is definitely a riskier option than Altman or even Howland, and his first five years in Essex County were definitely shaky. But there’s no denying the job he’s done at Seton Hall since then has been masterful. Despite being stuck at a historical bottom feeder program in the shadows of nearby Villanova and having to fend off local talent raiders like Michigan State, Duke, UNC and Kentucky on the Garden State recruiting trail, Willard has constructed Seton Hall into a yearly tournament team and has developed Myles Powell into one of the best players in college basketball. Also, he’s in his mid-40’s, so if he finds success in Gainesville he’s likely to stick around for a long, long time. But some guys are just meant to be head coaches at the mid major level, not at the Power Five level, like Anthony Grant and Shaka Smart. And though most coaches probably get away with far worse, he was suspended two games for transfer tampering. That’s no reason to ultimately steer clear of him, but it is a reason to go after the safer options first and then carefully vet him.

Chances to land him: very strong. Willard has already turned down Virginia Tech, but Florida is a much better basketball program than Virginia Tech. Just ask Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Hudson or even Kerry Blackshear. If you’re a good enough coach, it’s much easier to win the SEC at Florida than it is to win the Big East at Seton Hall with only a Kentucky program that rarely keeps a starter for more than one year standing in your way. And for Florida to double Willard’s $1.56M salary would be a drop in the boosters’ bucket. With even a semi-tempting compensation package, Willard would take the job in a heartbeat.

7: Steve Pikiell, Rutgers (and formerly Stony Brook)

Age: 52  |  Record: 248-216 (53.5%)

Synopsis: medium risk, high reward hire. Pikiell’s first three years at Stony Brook were atrocious, going a combined 20-67. Throw those out, though, and Pikiell’s record as a low-level Division I coach at Stony Brook and Rutgers is 226-147, or about 60%. So the obvious question becomes: if he can do that at horrible programs, what could he do at a great one? He undoubtedly left the Sea Wolves better than he found them, and now he can say the same thing at Rutgers. This is a Scarlet Knights program that has been to six NCAA Tournaments, ever, and not one since 1991. He had a Herculean cleanup job ahead of him at Rutgers upon arrival, and after three years of watching the postseason from home he seems to have finally put it all together. To have arguably the single most impoverished Power Five basketball program not named Northwestern ranked in the top 25 is nothing short of astonishing, and that alone throws his hat in the ring. But there’s also no hard evidence against the theory that Pikiell is a one-trick pony with this one team, and after screwing up the White hire, there’s no need or reason for Florida to take another chance on a different guy with several more proven, safer and realistic options available.

Chances to land him: certain. Going from Rutgers to Florida is like going from eating a gas station hot dog to eating at a five star restaurant. The interest level on Pikiell’s end won’t be the reason he ultimately doesn’t make the move if he doesn’t. He makes even less than Willard, meaning Florida could double his salary without a moment’s hesitation in exchange for him taking the keys to an exponentially more prestigious and better situated program. And double Pikiell’s salary ($1.40M) would still be less than what Mike White makes now ($3.01M). As is the case for his Garden State counterpart in Willard, the job is Pikiell’s is Florida makes him a feasible offer.

Third Tier

8: Brian Dutcher, San Diego State

Age: 60  |  Record: 66-24 (73.3%)

Synopsis: medium-high risk, medium-high reward hire. Right off the bat, the fact that he’s 60 years old and has only been a head coach for three years is a concern. The data to support bringing him onboard is woefully incomplete. That said, he’s been around the game for a long time and does have a proven track record of success as an assistant to Steve Fisher. Most impressively, he had a hand in recruiting the famous “Fab Five” to Michigan and in signing Kahwi Leonard at San Diego State. He’s currently got the Aztecs in consideration for a #1 seed next month, meaning he obviously learned something under Fisher’s stewardship. But again, the central issue is that there are several other, younger candidates with far more accomplishments under their belt. As far as lower tier options go, though, Dutcher is a strong one.

Chances to land him: moderate. Money won’t be the issue here. Dutcher makes $800,000 a year to lead the Aztecs, meaning that Florida could multiply his annual salary by time and a half and pay him $1.2M, pay White’s full $1.75M buyout and still wind up paying less to head basketball coaches than the $3.01M a year it’s currently paying White now. The issue will be if Dutcher wants to be off on his own for the first time ever after having been groomed in one place. And this isn’t the guy to hand a blank check to. It might take more money than is reasonably worth for such a risky hire to make this arrangement work.

9: Buzz Williams, Texas A&M (and formerly Virginia Tech, Marquette and New Orleans)

Age: 47  |  Record: 264-166 (61.4%)

Synopsis: high risk, medium-high reward hire. Williams is a tricky one to evaluate, in part due to the fact that he has been around the block more than most 47 year olds. He built off a decent foundation at Marquette left by Tom Crean, guiding the Eagles to five consecutive Round of 32 berths, including Sweet 16 berths in the latter three of those years and an Elite Eight berth in the last one. After one rough year following the Elite 8 trip, he bolted for Virginia Tech, where he again flipped fortunes around. Williams guided a VT program that was 9-22 his first year to three straight NCAA Tournaments in his third, fourth and fifth seasons, highlighted by a trip to the Sweet 16 last year. Then he jumped ship again, this time for Texas A&M. So the ability to build a program and oversee year to year improvements is there. He’s a great coach. That’s not the question. But he’s already ejected twice from respectable programs, and for him to come to Gainesville would mean that he’s done it a third time. Florida is a better job than Texas A&M, Virginia Tech or Marquette, and it’s one of the top jobs in the country, but should one of the few jobs better open up- like Michigan State, Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas or UCLA- it’s easy to fathom him leaving Florida with little to no warning.

Chances to land him: low. Williams makes $3.8M this year at Texas A&M and will make $100,000 more for each year he stays. While Florida does have the money to improve on that, the school and boosters also don’t really want to use it on anything they’re anything less than certain of. If each of the first several options turned Stricklin down and he started to get nervous that he might have to settle, maybe this would become conceivable, but it appears as though Texas A&M noticed the same trend of Williams fleeing programs after half a decade as I did and took strides to make sure that didn’t happen again.

10: Chris Holtmann, Ohio State (and formerly Butler and Gardner-Webb)

Age: 48  |  Record: 174-117 (59.8%)

Synopsis: high risk, medium-high reward hire. Holtmann is clearly nobody’s idiot. He made Gardner-Webb much better off than it was when he first got there, he kept the Butler machine running with three straight trips to the Round of 32 and even took them to a Sweet 16, and now he’s got Ohio State on the brink of its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in as many years there after the Buckeyes failed to get there in the two years prior to his arrival. But there’s also the big question of what his ceiling is. He’s done fine on the recruiting trail at two prestigious jobs and performed satisfactorily with them, but it leaves me wondering if perhaps he’s already done the best he’ll ever do. In fairness, he hasn’t stayed at one job long enough to see it through, but that’s why he’s a big question mark. Because we really don’t know with him. And Florida can do a lot better than the unknown.

Chances to land him: moderate. Holtmann makes $3.1M a year at Ohio State, which is quite high for someone who’s never even made the Elite 8. Of course, that’s due in part to him not staying very long at one place. And of course, that begs the obvious question of how much money Florida really wants to spend on something that they simply don’t know to be a top-tier product. If Florida throws the checkbook at him they’ll probably get him, but for that reason I don’t think they will. And from his point of view, this is probably the closest thing to a lateral move as any candidate on this list would have to make to come to Gainesville.

Backup options

11: Anthony Grant, Dayton (and formerly Alabama and VCU)

Age: 53  |  Record: 248-141 (63.8%)

Synopsis: high risk, medium reward hire. Some guys just aren’t meant to lead major Power Five programs, and Grant might be the poster child of that theory. He did work some magic at VCU and seems to have figured things out again at Dayton, but it’s vital to remember what happened when he got his shot at the highest level. He was a colossal bust at Alabama, which, sure, isn’t an elite basketball program by any means, but that also means they have extremely low expectations, and he didn’t meet them. In his six years with the Crimson Tide, Grant made only one NCAA Tournament and that ended with an immediate first round loss. Then again, Grant did spend a decade in Gainesville under Billy Donovan, so if anybody is physically capable of recreating Donovan’s magic at Florida, you may as well make your first glance in the direction of his top assistant. So while Grant is by no means a hire worth setting up a parade for, you could certainly do a lot worse than him in a pinch. And who knows? He might surprise us all.

Chances to land him: certain. His salary at Dayton is pennies compared to what Florida could offer him if that was what it took to steal him. Plus, he’s from Miami, and he does have a lot of fond memories in Gainesville. Now throw in the better program, better facilities, etc. that would appeal to all the other candidates on here. Whether or not he would take the job if offered is not up for debate.

12: Steve Wojciechowski, Marquette

Age: 43  |  Record: 114-75 (60.3%)

Synopsis: high risk, medium reward hire. Wojo spent a full fifteen years as an assistant at Duke under Coach K, during which time he had a hand in two national championship teams. He’s one of the more savvy X’s and O’s guys out there, and has a long history of recruiting top tier talent. He took over Marquette in the 2014-15 season and has done a solid job with them in a loaded basketball conference that also includes Xavier, Villanova, Butler and Seton Hall. And he’s done all that in his first 43 years of life, which means that if he were to come to Florida and succeed, he could be a Gator lifer. The big question: can he guide a program to the top on his own? The results don’t exactly scream yes, and it’s again worth noting that Florida can’t afford another costly experiment after they pay Mike White’s buyout.

Chances to land him: strong. Going from Marquette to Florida is undeniably a step up. As a private school, Marquette can keep the details of his contract under wraps, but it’s almost guaranteed that Florida can top his salary if they want to. 

13: Jamie Dixon, Texas Christian (and formerly Pittsburgh)

Age: 54  |  Record: 404-167 (70.4%)

Synopsis: medium risk, medium-low reward hire. Dixon isn’t a bad coach by any means. He guided Pittsburgh to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of his 13 seasons there, and won a game in nine of those tournaments. But his postseason resume there looks eerily similar to Mike White’s: one stray Elite 8 appearance, consistently decent, never terrible but also seldom great. And it’s exactly those credentials that have White’s job in jeopardy. Now he’s at TCU, a traditionally lower tier program, and has done fine with them given their lack of expectations, but hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. If Stricklin and his search party royally whiff on their first dozen options, and need to just grab a safe high floor, low ceiling hire, this is probably who he’ll go for. At worst, he’s another Mike White, but there just isn’t the data to suggest that the best case scenario with him is up to the Gator Standard, so it would take a major plot twist for him to guide Florida to the mountaintop.

Chances to land him: moderate. It’s tricky. He did play four years at TCU, so luring him away from his alma mater isn’t going to be easy. That doesn’t mean it’s not doable; UCLA tried to do it last year and nearly pulled it off, but failed because of a reported $8M buyout at the end of last year that TCU (rightly) refused to budge on. Now that buyout is reportedly $6M, which is still a lot. But if Dixon was willing to leave TCU for UCLA, chances are he’d be willing to leave for Florida, too. It’s just a matter of how much Florida boosters want to pay for anything less than a top tier hire, and Dixon isn’t that.

Last resorts

14: Frank Martin, South Carolina (and previously Kansas State)

Age: 52  |  Record: 258-169 (60.4%)

Synopsis: desperation hire. Martin’s resume basically consists of two teams: the 2009-2010 Kansas State team that he took to the Elite 8, and the magical 2016-17 South Carolina team that dispatched college basketball heavyweights Marquette, Duke, Baylor and finally Florida to reach the school’s first ever Final Four as a Regional #7 seed. The problem is, that Final Four team was the only team he’s ever taken to the big Dance in seven years in Columbia, and he didn’t exactly have a powerhouse the rest of his years at Kansas State, either. The assumption in targeting him would be that he wouldn’t have to work any magic at Florida or catch lightning in a bottle, and that he could just go to work and the recruits and results would be there because of the program’s high status. But that’s extremely dangerous to assume with the five different one-game-over-.500 or worse teams he’s had in his first seven there.

Chances to land him: very strong. Martin is from Miami, and rumors were floating that he would return home to take the Hurricanes job before he left KSU for South Carolina. But he undoubtedly sees by now that you can only do so much with the Gamecocks in any sport that isn’t baseball. If offered the Florida job, it’s extremely hard to fathom a set of circumstance in which he wouldn’t take it.

15: Scott Drew, Baylor (and formerly Valparaiso)

Age: 49  |  Record: 354-220 (61.7%)

Synopsis: emergency last resort hire. Drew is definitely an interesting case study in conflicting perceptions. A small minority of Baylor fans don’t seem to like his coaching style and thinks he underachieves. A large majority of opposing coaches seem to think he’s a snake and wins more than a coach at Baylor should. But I don’t care about either of those things on their own, because his ability to flip a traditional bottom feeder like Baylor into a team that consistently reaches- and wins games in- the NCAA Tournament is more important than what others think of him. What I- and more importantly, Florida- do care about is the fact that Baylor got nailed for major NCAA violations under Drew’s watch, including the dreaded “failure to monitor” label that resulted in three years of probation and scholarship losses over the next two years. Desperate times could call for desperate measures, I suppose, and if he can win at Baylor he shouldn’t have a problem winning at Florida, but unless Stricklin reaches that level of desperation, this guy is off limits.

Chances to land him: strong. He and Baylor seem to be a good match for each other in more ways than one, but that’s not factoring in the possibility that another suitor hands him a blank check and tells him to name his number. He wouldn’t come cheap, but my guess is that if Florida boosters wanted to get him badly enough, they’d dig deep enough into their wallets to make it happen. The question would be if Drew would choose Florida or wait for an even more prestigious job (Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State, etc.) to open up.

Hard no to:

-Kelvin Sampson, Houston (and formerly Indiana, Oklahoma and Washington State)

Why not? An avalanche of NCAA violations, resulting in a five year show-case penalty. End of story.

-Shaka Smart, Texas (and formerly VCU)

Why not? Simply not good enough. Note: this is where Florida would probably go if literally every other option turned them down and the search reached full-on crisis aversion mode, but if it comes to that there are much bigger problems at play that will subsequently need to be addressed.

-Richard Pitino, Minnesota

Why not? Way too young, and unproven, and thus way too big a gamble. Note: I really like the younger Pitino and think he could be a great hire one day soon, and if Florida keeps White longer than I anticipate and his career at Minnesota really takes off he could shoot up to the top of this list, but as of now he just doesn’t have the results. 

-LaVall Jordan, Butler (and formerly Milwaukee)

Why not? Copy and paste the synopsis for Pitino.

-Matt McMahon, Murray State

Why not? Copy and paste the synopsis for Pitino and Jordan, but at an even lesser school.

-Mark Turgeon, Maryland (and formerly Texas A&M and Wichita State)

Why not? The sum of his results have been mediocre at best, and Florida should and will aim higher than that.

-Lon Kruger, Oklahoma (and formerly UNLV, the Atlanta Hawks, Illinois, Florida and Kansas State)

Why not? He’ll be 68 by the time next season starts.

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Dear Dan Mullen: Show Me

Dear Dan Mullen: Show Me

The Florida Gators are set to do battle with archrival Georgia once again, but the script to this year's Cocktail Party seems eerily familiar. And the onus is on Dan Mullen to deviate from that script. Remember? Four years ago, speculation was swirling about the job...

Four star WR Jayden Gibson commits to Florida

Four star WR Jayden Gibson commits to Florida

Dan Mullen and the Gators have just picked up a commitment from wide receiver Jayden Gibson, a consensus four star wide receiver from West Orange, FL. And thus, the Gators' 2022 recruiting class is really starting to come along. Gibson announced his decision on CBS...

Gameday Tidbits: Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt

Gameday Tidbits: Florida Gators vs. Vanderbilt

The Florida Gators, who are coming off a heartbreaking 13-20 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats need to bounce back this weekend in the Swamp.  Quite frankly, it should be very difficult for Florida to not bounce back against a very bad Vanderbilt football team. To put...

2022 DT Jamari Lyons commits to Florida

2022 DT Jamari Lyons commits to Florida

Florida's 2022 recruiting class got off to a fairly slow start, but has picked up some steam tonight with the addition of four star defensive tackle Jamari Lyons. Lyons, out of Melbourne and Viera High School, chose the Gators over South Carolina, Indiana, and...

Gameday: Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats

Gameday: Florida Gators at Kentucky Wildcats

Tonight, the Florida Gators face the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington. This will be Florida’s first true road test of the season in what should be an incredibly hostile environment.  The Gators look to continue to roll through the SEC East as they take on division foe,...

Emory Jones deserves respect. Period.

Emory Jones deserves respect. Period.

  We are now just a few days from Emory Jones’ first true road test as a starting quarterback. And though the concept is fairly obvious to some, it's not to others, so it's worth diving into in more depth: he deserves respect for how far he’s come from the...

Game day: Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Game day: Florida Gators vs. Tennessee Volunteers

Tonight, the Florida Gators face the Tennessee Volunteers in a primetime showdown in the Swamp. This time, the Gators look to bounce back from a narrow defeat by the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide. Though Tennessee is not the Tennessee of Old, we still expect this to be an...

Game day: Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Game day: Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Finally, the day has come! Today the #11 Florida Gators will battle the #1 Alabama Crimson tide in a matchup of epic proportions. Florida fans circled this game in anticipation since the announcement came that Alabama would once again return to the Swamp. This is a...

Florida LB Ventrell Miller out for the season

Florida LB Ventrell Miller out for the season

Florida's defense took a hit last Saturday when linebacker Ventrell Miller suffered an unknown injury in the Gators' 42-20 win over South Florida. That injury was subsequently deemed to be an elbow injury, but the exact nature- and the exact severity- of the injury...

Game day: Florida Gators at South Florida Bulls Preview

Game day: Florida Gators at South Florida Bulls Preview

Gameday is once again upon us! This time, the Florida Gators will face the South Florida Bulls in a quasi-road game where the stands promise to feature as much orange and blue as green and gold- if not more. Amidst what some people deem to be a quarterback controversy...

Five takeaways from Florida Gators’ 35-14 win over FAU

Five takeaways from Florida Gators’ 35-14 win over FAU

The Florida Gators knocked off FAU 35-14 to begin the 2021 season, but left much to be desired. So: what stuck out along the way? (Aside: I'll be keeping these "five takeaways" pieces short and sweet throughout the season in order to get more stuff written each week.)...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

#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-...

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...