SIX BITS: Tennis, Tebow’s defense, Cunningham’s future, Mullen’s job, Johnson’s start, Moyer

By Adam Silverstein
April 29, 2010

1 » The No. 3 Florida Gators women’s tennis team was honored extensively by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday, taking home the top three available annual awards. Freshman Lauren Embree won SEC Player of the Year, freshman Allie Will took home SEC Freshman of the Year honors and Roland Thornqvist was named SEC Coach of the Year. Also representing the team were seniors Marrit Boonstra and Anastasia Revzina, who were named to the All-SEC First Team and Second Team, respectively. Embree and Will also earned All-SEC First Team honors and placement on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Florida was undefeated (11-0) during the regular season, won the 2010 SEC Tournament and will compete in the 2010 NCAA Team Championship beginning May 14.

2 » When it comes to former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow’s future with the Denver Broncos, you will find no stronger advocate or staunch defender than Denver Post columnist Woody Paige. As someone who suggested the team select Tebow from the get-go, Paige has gone on the offensive against a number of his readers who continue to question head coach Josh McDaniels’ decision, comparing Tebow to the likes of John Elway and San Francisco’s Steve Young.

Check out four more BITS on Cunningham, Mullen and Florida baseball…

3 » Calling former Gators defensive end the “joker in this year’s [New England] Patriots deck,” ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss asks if Jermaine Cunningham is the answer to the team’s pass-rush woes. “One of the main reasons the Patriots went with Cunningham,” he writes, “is that they viewed him as more of a natural fit to make the challenging transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. [Cincinnati Bengals DE Carlos] Dunlap, they felt, was more of a pure 4-3 end.” Citing Cunningham’s success against Alabama’s Andre Smith and Ole Miss’ Michael Oher and John Jerry, Reiss believes the answer to his initial question is a simple “yes” and that he is “the most important rookie in this year’s class.”

4 » When Florida head coach Urban Meyer stepped down for a few hours in December, talk of his replacement focused mostly on two coaches: Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. Asked point-blank by a caller on Alabama radio host Paul Finebaum’s show whether or not he would have taken the job if offered, Mullen admitted that he discussed it with his wife. “I said I don’t know,” Mullen said. “We’re going to have to spend a lot of time, if we even got a call, if we would be interested at all.” OGGOA Opinion: He would have jumped at the opportunity.

5 » The freshest face on the Gators baseball team, freshman left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson, is filling a huge void in the team’s rotation with sophomore right-hander Tommy Toledo still out after facial surgery. Yahoo! Sports’ Kendall Rogers put together a nice profile on Johnson, who is already garnering interest from a number of MLB teams and may not end up being with Florida for the long-term.

6 » Gators baseball earned a commitment Wednesday from Santa Fe College sophomore infielder Jeff Moyer, according to The Gainesville Sun A third baseman who is batting .404 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI so far this season, he is also slugging .762 and getting on base at a .505 clip.

11 Comments

  1. npgator says:

    Good stuff Adam.

  2. Wingtee says:

    Adam, on Brian Johnson how long is ” not for long”. ?

  3. JOEGATOR says:

    MLB teams can show all the interest they want. We’ll have Johnson for at least 2 more years. He should be absolutely dominant by the time he leaves.

  4. Johnson cannot be drafted until he turns 21 or completes his junior year.

  5. JOEGATOR says:

    That’s what I was referring to as well.

  6. Aligator says:

    Uh Mullen is the next Coach in waiting, believe you me. He would bring that system of his back and with the athlestes here beat peoples brains in, he is just paying those dues in Mississippi right now.

  7. Aligator says:

    what is up with Alli Will’s hair? hello to the 80’s! congrats Uf Tennis!

  8. John Shanks says:

    Finebaum…I almost stopped reading right there. I loath that man and his defenders (Lamm…).

    Good info though, my guess is Mullen had a bag packed just in case and his realtor’s number on speed dial.

  9. Wingtee says:

    I knew that concerning the draft but I thoughtu were au like he will be leaving soon

  10. Gator Ken says:

    Someone Help us if we ever hire Mullet as our HC. Long Live Meyer!!!

  11. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    If UM did leave or retire we would be crazy not to look at Chris Peterson…what he has done reminds you a lot of UM before UF!!!

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