1 » Three-star Florida Gators offensive lineman commit Roderick Johnson (Delray Beach, FL) updated the avatar on his Twitter account recently with the picture below (left), which appears to who a modified version of the football uniform with thicker numbers in a different font. As can be seen by the comparison picture next to it (right), the different font is significantly thicker and the design appears adjusted so that there is a thinner outline in both blue and orange around the numbers. To each their own as far as design tastes go, but this number change looks to go along with Florida’s total transition to a new font for the entire sports program. Uniform changes across college football are mostly headed in a modern and streamlined direction; UF looks to be going for the opposite if this big block style has indeed been adopted for the uniforms, too.

UPDATE – Jan. 29: OGGOA has confirmed with a source close to the program and an incoming player that these are indeed the new uniforms for 2013 and are being shown to recruits and players as what they will be wearing next season. The jersey, which appear to feature a sweatbox under the numbers similar to what is used on NFL jerseys, is also made of a lighter more breathable material that Nike uses in its shoes. There are no changes being made to the pants or helmet at this time.

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Tags: Billy Horschel, Camilo Villegas, Case Harrison, Chris Doering, Draft, golf, NFL, PGA, Roderick Johnson, Sharrif Floyd, uniforms

1 » No. 1 Florida Gators baseball (31-9, 11-7 SEC) won their second-straight weekend series on Sunday with a 6-3 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs (24-17, 8-10 SEC) at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Florida won the series opener 3-2 in 16 innings on Friday before dropping Saturday’s contest 5-3 and needing a victory Sunday to clinch the series. The Gators started with a 1-0 lead via a solo homer by junior catcher Mike Zunino (2/4, HR, RBI, 2 R) in the bottom of the second, tied the game 2-2 in the fourth thanks to a RBI double by senior center fielder Daniel Pigott and fell behind 3-2 in the top of the sixth after the Bulldogs rallied. However, Florida would match and exceed that rally in the bottom frame, scoring four runs including three coming from a homer to right by Pigott (3/3, HR, 4 RBI, R, BB) to take a 6-3 lead.

Junior right-hander Hudson Randall (3.0 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, K) got the start for the Gators but struggled with his command in the fourth. Florida’s bullpen allowed two more earned runs over the next 2.2 innings but was able to close out the contest with 3.1 scoreless innings including junior left-hander Steven Rodriguez striking out three of the five batters he faced. Senior RHP Greg Larson improved to 6-0 with the victory, and junior RHP Austin Maddox notched his 11th save of the season.

2 » No. 1 Gators gymnastics may have come up just short of winning the overall national championship on Saturday but that did not stop freshman Kytra Hunter from picking up her second individual 2012 NCAA Championship on Sunday. Hunter, who won the NCAA all-around title (first in school history) on Friday with a final score of 39.725, captured the NCAA vault title on Sunday with a score of 9.8750. Hunter also came within a hair (0.0125) of taking the floor exercise championship as well.

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Tags: Austin Maddox, baseball, Billy Horschel, Brian Gay, Daniel Pigott, Georgia Bulldogs, golf, Greg Larson, Hudson Randall, Matt Every, McKethan Stadium, Mike Zunino, PGA, Steven Rodriguez, Valero Texas Open

1 » The Florida Gators may not be playing for a championship, but members of the team will return home from the 2011 Outback Bowl in Tampa, FL, with some swag. For participating in the game, each player on both teams will receive a Fossil watch, Jostens ring, $150 Best Buy gift card, $25 Outback Steakhouse gift card and a hat, according to the SportsBusiness Journal.

2 » Former Gators All-American golfer Billy Horschel earned his PGA Tour card at Qualifying School on Monday. Coming off a season in which he only participated in four events (missing the cut in each) before injuring his wrist and sitting out the remainder of the year, Horschel made the cut at 9-under par and is ready to finally begin his career. He also made the cut last December, finishing seventh in the event. Horschel’s PGA Tour card expired due to his lack of participation because of injury. Originally overlooked in this posting was fellow former UF golfer Will Stricker, who also earned his card at Q-school this weekend. Congratulations to both men.

3 » According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Chris Hays, four-star 2011 running back recruit Dee Hart (Orlando, FL) – a current Michigan commitment – will jump to Florida should head coach Rich Rodriguez be fired sometime soon. Hart, who reportedly desires to play in the spread offense, has dropped Alabama from his recruitment and seems to be concentrating on only two schools now. Of course, Hart could also end up in Gainesville, FL, even if Rodriguez keeps his job, especially if the Gators’ coaching staff can convince him that Rodriguez could be gone in a year while head coach Urban Meyer’s job security is arguably the best in the nation.

4 » FOX Sports college basketball writer Jeff Goodman, whose had his eye on Florida all offseason, contends that it is the Gators’ backcourt which is causing the majority of the problems for the team so far this year. Calling sophomore guard Kenny Boynton and junior point guard Erving Walker “shot-hunters,” Goodman agrees with head coach Billy Donovan’s passionate plea for the players to worry about making their teammates better rather than putting points on the board.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Billy Horschel, Dee Hart, Erving Walker, golf, Kenny Boynton, Outback Bowl, PGA, Rich Rodriguez, Urban Meyer, Will Stricker

1 » Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has already had a few eventful days in Florida in the month of July. On Saturday – teaming up with Florida’s Blood Centers, the Van Duzer Foundation and Palm Beach Autographs – the former Florida Gators star headlined a 12-hour blood drive in Fort Pierce, FL. Between meeting with fans, signing a ton of autographs (some of which can be purchased here) and speaking about his charities, Tebow entertained the crowd and kept fans wanting more. His First and 15 Foundation was also a featured part of a brand new playroom addition to Shands Children’s Hospital‘s pediatric cancer facility; the organization donated $156,000 used to buy high definition televisions, video game consoles and the like.

Five more BITS on John Brantley, golfer Billy Horschel and more…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Tebow, Brantley, Horschel, volleyball

Tags: Berkley Whaley, Billy Horschel, Cleveland Indians, Denver Broncos, Dwight Freeney, Elvis Andrus, First and 15 Foundation, golf, Indianapolis Colts, John Brantley, Kerwin Bell, Mark Sanchez, Matt LaPorta, PGA, Shands, Texas Rangers, Tim Tebow, volleyball

1 » Experiencing his first season on the PGA Tour, former Florida Gators four-time All-American golfer Billy Horschel’s season is now over after he injured a tendon in his left wrist. Planning to have surgery on his wrist after seeing a specialist in New York last week, Horschel will be granted a medical exception by the PGA so he can return to the tour without having to qualify in 2011. “I’m not shocked,” he told Florida Today. “It happens. It’s the nature of sports in general. You get hurt, you have to take time off to get beter. I haven’t been 100 percent in a long time.”

2 » Camilo Villegas, by comparison, is a seasoned veteran having joined the tour in 2006 and taken home wins in the BMW Championship and The Tour Championship in 2008. “I’m playing golf for a living,” he said when asked about his recent struggles by The Gainesville Sun. “A million people would give whatever to be here. I’m feeling more appreciative of what I’m doing. This week, I’m having fun. I have nothing to lose.”

Tags: Billy Horschel, BMW Championship, Camilo Villegas, golf, PGA, Tour Championship

1 » In South Florida, it remains “all about The U,” but some including former Miami Hurricanes defensive back Bernie Blades are worried that the Florida Gators are taking all of the state’s elite talent. “If we allow these kids to leave South Florida and go to the Gators, we will keep starting below the curve,” Blades told The Miami Herald. “I love Randy Shannon. But if we cannot start keeping these kids at home, then we have to focus on finding someone who will.”

2 » Former Florida dazzler turned ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews continues to fight as she faces her stalker in a California courtroom. In a sentencing memo that was filed Monday with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, CA, Michael David Barrett appears to have uploaded videos of 16 women aside from Andrews into the same online account. According to the document, Barrett allegedly conducted 30 background checks on various women and uploaded 32 videos in all. Barrett accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and agreed to spend 27 months in prison. Andrews and her attorneys have not approved that sentence, are demanding $335,000 in restitution and are scheduled to make their case heard in court on March 15.

Extra Bit » OGGOA wants to send its warmest wishes to former Gators golfers Billy Horschel and Brittany Nelson, who got engaged to each other Tuesday evening. You can congratulate them at their respective Twitter pages here and here.

Tags: Bernie Blades, Billy Horschel, Brittany Nelson, dazzlers, Erin Andrews, golf, Miami Hurricanes, Randy Shannon

1 » The tragic earthquake in Haiti is affecting hundreds of thousands of locals, so it is no surprise that it has come home to the University of Florida. In addition to two Florida journalism students being reported missing after the quake in Port-au-Prince, Florida Gators senior cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis’ family has suffered terrible losses. You can donate to the relief effort through the Red Cross. Thanks to Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald for pointing out the news on Pierre-Louis. UPDATE: Both UF students are safe, and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Heater told Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel that Pierre-Louis’ parents are as well. However, other members of his family have perished.

2 » Florida senior forward Dan Werner has hit only two of his last 23 attempts from beyond the arc. Kevin Brockaway of The Gainesville Sun asked head coach Billy Donovan last week if he has considered changing the starting lineup in order to give junior forward Chandler Parsons more minutes. “On those situations, with two upperclassmen, I would have a tendency to talk to those guys about that,” Donovan said. “Chandler comes into the game pretty quickly. It’s not that big of a factor for me, the last two games the guy has come into the game with 17:44 on the clock.”

3 » On the heels of a spectacular 29-point performance from then-senior guard Sha Brooks, the Gators took down the mighty Tennessee Lady Vols in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center 66-57 on Feb. 8, 2009. Hoping to repeat that performance, a much younger Florida team (9-7, 2-1 SEC) goes up against a more veteran No. 4-ranked Tennessee squad (14-1, 2-0 SEC) as they match-up again Thursday at 7 p.m.

4 » Florida seniors quarterback Tim Tebow and swimmer Gemma Spofforth have been named the 2009 recipients of the Ben Hill Griffin Award. Recognizing and honoring the top male and female student-athlete who excel in both athletic and academic achievement as well as extra-curricular involvement, the award is presented by the University Athletic Association. Tebow is its first three-time winner.

5 » Former Gators golfer Billy Horschel is taking his newly minted PGA Tour card with him on a trip to Honolulu, HI, as he prepares to tee off in his first official PGA event, the Sony Open. “It’s pretty awesome,” Horschel told Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun. “Monday I went out and played nine holes, and I was thinking when I teed it up on the first hole, ‘I’m going to be doing this every week.’ It’s exciting, but it’s a little nerve-wracking.” Read more about Horschel’s first event.

6 » New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has recently begun to have his name mentioned for head coaching gigs throughout the NFL. A former Florida quarterback, Schottenheimer has remained comfortable with his position on the Jets and actually turned down an interview request from the Buffalo Bills for their top job. Though it is unlikely he lands a promotion this season, look for Schottenheimer to have a legitimate chance to work in the league as a head coach in 2011.

Tags: Ben Hill Griffin Award, Billy Donovan, Billy Horschel, Brian Schottenheimer, Buffalo Bills, Chandler Parsons, Dan Werner, Gemma Spofforth, New York Jets, NFL, O'Connell Center, PGA, Sha Brooks, Sony Open, Tennessee Lady Vols, Tim Tebow, University Athletic Association, women's basketball, Wondy Pierre-Louis

Former Florida Gators All-American golfer Billy Horschel finished seventh in PGA Tour Qualifying School on Monday with rounds of 69-70-67-69-72-69. Good for 16 under par, Horschel’s scores earned him his official PGA Tour card. PGA Tour Q-School took place from Dec. 2-7 on the par-72 Links Course and par-72 Lakes Course at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, FL.

Tags: Billy Horschel, golf, PGA