Florida Gators junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap, 20, was arrested at 3:25 a.m. Tuesday morning by Gainesville Police on charges of driving under the influence. Dunlap was found slumped over sleeping behind the wheel of his red Chrystler at a traffic light by Officer Robert Rogers, who was dispatched to the area after reports of reckless driving were sent in.

At a complete stop, Dunlap’s car sat still as the traffic light went through multiple cycles. Officers then went over to the car and turned off the ignition while the clutch was still in gear, according to the police report. Dunlap, once awoken, was “very groggy,” showed signs of impairment (bloodshot eyes, difficulty relaying basic information, alcohol on his breath), performed poorly in field sobriety tests and refused a breath test.

“They approached the car and found the suspect slumped over in the driver’s seat,” GPD spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg said. “He appeared to be asleep. The car’s windows were cracked so they attempted to wake him up. They talked to him and he would only open his eyes for a few seconds and then fall back asleep.”

Dunlap faces one second degree misdemeanor DUI charge and will remain in jail without bond until he faces an Alachua County judge. This charge is his first offense. Team spokesman Steve McClain said that the Gators are “aware of the incident and are currently gathering more information.” Head coach Urban Meyer is expected to address the situation after practice Tuesday evening.

UPDATE: Dunlap stood in front of Judge Mary Day Coker Tuesday morning, who told the future NFL first round draft pick that he cannot possess alcohol or drugs or drive a motor vehicle as his license has been revoked. Coker also admonished Dunlap for underage drinking and gave him no bond as this was his first offense. Dunlap’s only replies during the meeting were soft “Yes, ma’am”s. He was released on his own recognizance and will return to court at a later date.

OGGOA will have more on this breaking news story as it becomes available. For now, Florida fans can expect one of the Gators’ top defensive players and the 2009 BCS National Championship game MVP to be suspended for Saturday’s SEC Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Legendary Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden, who has spent the past 34 seasons at the helm of one of college football’s greatest programs, announced his retirement from coaching on Tuesday. He will assume an emeritus with the school, helping with fundraising and other opportunities. With 388 career victories, two National Championships (1993, 1999) and a streak of 14 consecutive top-five finishes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll (1987-2000), Bowden retires as one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of the sport.

While no one will dispute Bowden’s achievements, I personally find the circumstances surrounding his retirement to be disturbing. Having said on more than one occasion toward the tail end of the 2009 season that he wished to continue coaching, retiring now was obviously not Bowden’s decision. Bowden was given two options during a meeting with FSU president T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman on Monday: return to the Seminoles in 2010 as an ambassador to the program with little input on day-to-day operations or retire after the upcoming bowl game.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that, “as part of his retirement, Bowden is expected to be offered a non-coaching position at FSU for an unspecified amount of time. In addition to any settlement compensation that may be negotiated as part of his retirement, Bowden is also entitled to $1 million upon his retirement as part of a clause in his coaching contract that was agreed upon at least 10 years ago.” Offensive coordinator and long-time coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher has already discussed a contract with the Seminoles to replace Bowden after FSU’s 2009 bowl game. Florida State has secured a berth to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville on Jan. 1 against the West Virginia Mountaineers, allowing Bowden to coach his final game in the state of Florida.

Neither scenario originally proposed by the Seminoles afforded Bowden the respect, appreciation and celebration he so richly deserves. He is owed an entire season of praise and affection, not a quick farewell that amounts to a kick in the butt and a “don’t let the door hit ya on the way out.” Bowden deserves to say goodbye to Florida State fans after a seventh straight loss to game against the archrival Florida Gators at home in Tallahassee, FL, not a demoralizing loss in Gainesville, FL, or a bowl game on the road (even if it is in the state). At the very least, Bowden should be able to experience the fanfare and adoration he watched Gators senior quarterback Tim Tebow receive on Saturday…or that which his own defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews got last week both pre- and post-game against the Maryland Terrapins.

Tebow made it a point to find Bowden on Florida Field after Saturday’s game. Why? He wanted to show his respect to one of the greatest coaches of all time and tell Bowden one thing: “God bless.” Bowden’s response? “God is great.” If only Florida State’s millionaire boosters were as respectful to the man who built their program from the ground up as a 21-year-old rival football player was only two nights ago.

- ESPN: Bowden’s legacy goes beyond the game
- ESPN: Bowden delivered big wins, laughs
- Sun-Sentinel: FSU legend Bobby Bowden deserves a more fitting ending
- SI: FSU’s Bobby Bowden leaves a remarkable legacy behind
- FOX Sports: Bowden had an amazing run at FSU

One month ago, OGGOA broke exclusive news about Florida Gators junior cornerback Moses Jenkins undergoing a procedure to alleviate symptoms following complications from a concussion he suffered during the Kentucky Wildcats game earlier in the season. We also reported that Jenkins was out indefinitely as the coaching staff sought a medical redshirt for him from the NCAA.

OGGOA learned Monday afternoon that Jenkins’ medical redshirt request has finally been approved by the NCAA, allowing him to retain two years of college football eligibility. After weeks of waiting, Jenkins and his family are relieved that the redshirt request was put through. A source close to the player told OGGOA that he did not feel like his normal self until six weeks after initially suffering the injury. Fortunately, Jenkins feels much better now and is in the process of making a full recovery; he should be able to return to action in the offseason and will play a key role on special teams in 2010.

Also receiving approval for a medical redshirt this week was senior transfer wide receiver Carl Moore, who had been experiencing back pain/issues all year. Moore will have one year of eligibility left and plans to play next year for his redshirt senior season.

Winning the 2009 Legends Classic over the weekend, which included a defeat over the (at the time) No. 2 Michigan State Spartans, Florida Gators basketball (6-0) returned to the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 polls on Monday for the first time since Jan. 19. The Gators are in the No. 13 and No. 17 spots, respectively.

In other news: ESPN College GameDay will be on-site at the 2009 SEC Championship game between the No. 1 Florida Gators and No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

No. 1 Florida Gators players and coaches have spoken with the media extensively over the last two days regarding the 2009 SEC Championship game on Saturday against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. You can find choice quotes and notes from the press conferences and interviews in no particular order after the break…
Continue Reading » Quotes & notes from UF on SEC Championship

Five-star shooting guard Bradley Beal (St. Louis, MO), the No. 7 overall recruit in the nation according to Rivals, announced Monday afternoon that he has decided to attend the University of Florida and commit to play college basketball for the Florida Gators in 2011. Beal (6’3”, 180 lbs.) chose the Gators over the Kansas Jayhawks, Duke Blue Devils, Missouri Tigers, Illinois Illini, Ohio State Buckeyes and St. Louis University.

Averaging 23.5 points per game during his sophomore season, Beal shined as he led the U.S. under-16 team to a gold medal in the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina last summer. He joins a 2011 recruiting class that already includes fellow five-star SG Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL) and three-star point guard De’Ante Saunders (Deland, FL).

“Really, it’s the whole coaching staff from Coach [Billy] Donovan to Coach [Rob] Lanier to Coach [Richard] Pitino and Coach [Larry] Shyatt that makes Florida so attractive,” Beal said. “They have a real passion for winning and I like the way they work hard together. They really wanted me and want me to be a key factor to the team in the future. I really like the way Coach Donovan brings out the best in you. I think he really wants you to succeed and I think he really cares about his players.”

Beal’s ability to play up-tempo basketball and get open in transition makes him an attractive addition to the 2011 class. Donovan got an early look at Beal after the shooter attended his Elite Camp last year. If nothing changes, Beal will sign his National Letter of Intent with the Gators in November 2010.

BREAKING NEWS: Five-star shooting guard Bradley Beal (St. Louis, MO) has committed to Billy Donovan and Florida Gators basketball, according to two sources.

Four-star wide receiver Ivan McCartney (Miramar, FL) is believed by many to be the Florida Gators’ top receiving target for 2010. Leaving Gainesville, FL, over the weekend, McCartney may very well have the Gators at the top of his list (though he will not say for certain). “It was crazy,” McCartney told Rivals of his weekend. “It’s overwhelming. There’s nothing much more I can say. I loved everything – coaches, players, atmosphere, campus, education, everything is just great.” The No. 4 WR in the nation, No. 4 recruit in Florida and No. 35 prospect overall, McCartney met with head coach Urban Meyer and position coach Billy Gonzales. “They were saying they really want me. That I’m their No. 1 receiver prospect and with my work ethic I can come in and play right away and even start. It’s all up to me.”

Recruiting news on Gerald Christian and Matt Elam, a 2011 commitment, a list of visitors and much more after the jump…
Continue Reading » Big recruiting update after Florida-Florida State

1 » While the No. 1 Florida Gators will technically be the visiting team on Saturday in the 2009 SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA, they have opened as a five-point betting favorite against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. During their current nation-leading, school-record 22-game winning streak, the Gators have defeated 21 opponents by a double digit margin.

2 » Proponents of a playoff system for the National Championship should be pleased that Saturday’s match-up of No. 1 vs. No. 2 is a de facto play-in for entry into the BCS National Championship game in Pasadena, CA. This is the second consecutive year that the top two seeds will face each other in the SEC Championship. In 2008, Alabama was No. 1 while Florida was No. 2. It would be a tough task to find two teams as similar as the Gators and Crimson Tide, even if one tried.

3 » Alabama head coach Nick Saban expects running back Mark Ingram to be “fine” for Saturday’s game against Florida. Ingram, considered by many to be the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, left Friday’s game against the Auburn Tigers with a hip pointer and did not return. For the Gators, junior linebacker A.J. Jones (MCL) will miss the game while redshirt junior transfer running back Emmanuel Moody (ankle) and sophomore cornerback Janoris Jenkins (hip) are probable, according to statements from head coach Urban Meyer.

4 » Senior transfer wide receiver Carl Moore has been granted a medical redshirt and will return to the Gators for the 2010 season. A JUCO transfer in 2008, Moore struggled in his first season with Florida and had chronic back issues leading up to and during 2009. Moore’s size and trustworthy hands make him a valueable asset to the Gators’ receiving crops. Still waiting for an official word on his requested medical redshirt is junior cornerback Moses Jenkins, who suffered a serious concussion against the Kentucky Wildcats and has yet to return to action.

5 » The No. 15/15 Florida volleyball team (23-5, 16-4 SEC) received the No. 16 overall seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament field of 64. The Gators will host the College of Charleston Cougars (18-12) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The winner will play the victor of the Florida International Golden Panthers vs. Miami Hurricanes match in second-round action on Friday at 7 p.m.

6 » Gators women’s basketball (3-3) hit a season-high 12 three-pointers on their way to a 71-60 victory over the Golden Panthers (2-4) on Sunday. Sophomore guard Jordan Jones scored a season-high 25-points while shooting .500 (5-of-10) from beyond the arc and 9-of-16 overall. Next up is the Florida A&M Rattlers as part of a doubleheader with men’s basketball beginning Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Extra Bit » ESPNU Road Trip: FSU-Florida Gameday