1 » In a piece published Thursday by FOX Sports, reporter Thayer Evans dives further into Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer’s attempts to regain his health and control of his football team. Among other notes, Evans reports that Meyer now uses his “lunch hour” each day to run and life weights. “It’s the first time he’s regularly exercised in years, but he’s so committed that he rescheduled his weekly media sessions during this season to 11:15 a.m. instead of noon like previous seasons,” the article states. There is plenty more (some of which you likely already know) on Meyer’s delegation techniques and other changes he is making to take care of himself.

2 » CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish had an opportunity to sit in on a two-day coaching clinic run by Florida assistant basketball coach Larry Shyatt, which featured a number of high-profile coaches and assistants “talking about a variety of subjects, exchanging ideas, discussing, debating,” etc. “This clinic is different,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. “It’s just an exchange of ideas – coaches passing knowledge back and forth and trying to help each other, and I think that’s what’s great. This is what you get in it for, to coach and have fun and get better and help other guys get better.”

Three more BITS on Pouncey, Loeffler and Demps…after the break.
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Meyer, Shyatt, Pouncey, Loeffler

Tags: Dan Mullen, Denver Broncos, Doak Walker Award, Jamal Williams, Jeff Demps, John Brantley, John Brantley III, Justin Hartwig, Larry Shyatt, Matt Painter, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Bowl, Scot Loeffler, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

1 » In a special to ESPN, Matt Winkeljohn takes a closer look at high school juniors Scottie Wilbekin and Matt Carlino skipping their senior seasons to (hopefully) join the Florida Gators and UCLA Bruins, respectively. Most importantly, Wilbekin’s father said that there is a “99 percent chance” of everything working out so he can enroll in the University of Florida next year. Nevertheless there is still “a lot [that] has to happen on our part” for it all to go down, according to Svend Wilbekin, including his son taking all necessary classes and receiving a high enough SAT score.

2 » After an hour interview with him on the radio, Alabama sports talk show host Paul Finebaum has declared former Gators offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen “the future of college football.” What is interesting is that Finebaum cites Mullen’s youth, beautiful wife, attitude, demeanor and politics as the main reasons he will be a success rather than, you know, his football acumen. “He left me with my eyes wide open and shaking my head with admiration and respect,” Finebaum wrote. OGGOA wonders if he would have felt the same way if Mullen ended up becoming the top guy at Florida.

3 » Former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow’s No. 15 Denver Broncos jersey is flying off the shelves both in Denver, CO, and nationally. The jerseys are going so fast that, according to a Champs Sports outlet employee who spoke with Denver News, they are being put on display immediately when they arrive without price tags ($80 per) for expediting purposes. Stores are being so careful that Tebow’s jerseys – unlike others on the racks – are being attached with a heavy cable as to prevent shoplifting.

4 » Fans do not need to shoplift Tebow’s jersey in order to save a few bucks on it. They can just dust off the jersey of former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall (or purchase a new one for half-price or as little as $10) and bring it to embroiderer Daniella Grieve, who is removing Marshall’s name and replacing it with Tebow’s for customers. “[This idea] could turn into something big, and if not we have Tebow jerseys for our two little boys,” Grieve told CBS4 in Denver.

» Of course, if you wish to purchase Tebow’s real NFL jersey, you can grab it directly through OGGOA’s store! You can also visit our Gators-specific store here!

Tags: Brandon Marshall, Dan Mullen, Denver Broncos, Matt Carlino, Mississippi State Bulldogs, NFL, Scottie Wilbekin, Tim Tebow, UCLA Bruins, University of Florida

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

Tags: All-SEC, Allie Will, Anastasia Revzina, Andre Smith, baseball, Bob Stoops, Brian Johnson, Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals, Coach of the Year, Dan Mullen, Denver Broncos, Draft, Freshman of the Year, Jeff Moyer, Jermaine Cunningham, John Elway, John Jerry, Josh McDaniels, Lauren Embree, Marrit Boonstra, Michael Oher, Mississippi State Bulldogs, MLB, NCAA Team Championship, New England Patriots, NFL, Player of the Year, Roland Thornqvist, SEC, SEC Tournament, Steve Young, tennis, Tim Tebow, Tommy Toledo, Urban Meyer

The 2000s were quite a decade for University of Florida athletics. Florida Gators football and basketball were especially exceptional, combining for four National Championships (five appearances) and five Southeastern Conference Championships (six appearances) while earning five BCS bowl game and eight NCAA Tournament berths, respectively, over the last ten years. To end this decade of champions, OGGOA has compiled our own Gators All-Decade Team for each sport.

Continue Reading » OGGOA Presents: Florida Gators All-Decade Team

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Ahmad Black, Al Horford, Alex Brown, All-Decade, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Grant, Anthony Roberson, BCS, Ben Troupe, Billy Donovan, Billy Latsko, Brandon James, Brandon Siler, Brandon Spikes, Channing Crowder, Charlie Strong, Chas Henry, Chris Leak, Ciatrick Fason, Corey Brewer, Cornelius Ingram, Dan Mullen, David Lee, Derek Harvey, Drew Miller, Earnest Graham, Eric Rutledge, Eric Wilbur, Ian Scott, Jabar Gaffney, James Smith, Jarvis Moss, Jeff Chandler, Joakim Noah, Joe Haden, Keiwan Ratliff, Lito Sheppard, Major Wright, Marcus Thomas, Matt Bonner, Maurkice Pouncey, Max Starks, Mike Degory, Mike Pearson, Mike Pouncey, National Championship, NCAA Tournament, Percy Harvin, Phil Trautwein, Ray McDonald, Reggie Nelson, Rex Grossman, SEC Championship, Shannon Snell, Taylor Jacobs, Tim Tebow, Todd Johnson, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

Much has already been said about Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer’s resignation, and it has only been hours since he has decided to step down from the program. Many of Meyer’s players, former players, peers and friends have already released statements about their thoughts and feelings about the situation.

Check out the sporting world’s reaction to Meyer’s announcement after the jump!!!
Continue Reading » Sporting world reacts to Meyer’s resignation

Tags: Abram Elam, Al Horford, Alabama Crimson Tide, Atlanta Hawks, Bobby Bowden, Cleveland Browns, Dan Mullen, Florida State Seminoles, Gary Patterson, Houston Nutt, Lane Kiffin, Les Miles, LSU Tigers, Mack Brown, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Nick Saban, Ole Miss Rebels, Taurean Green, TCU Horned Frogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, Tim Tebow

With the shock of the resignation of Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer still ringing through the ears of Gator Nation, one of the major questions arising is a simple one: “Who will replace him?” OGGOA has complied a list of the most likely and most rumored candidates that could replace Meyer:

Check out the full list of potential replacements after the jump!!!
Continue Reading » Who will replace Urban Meyer as head coach?

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, Bob Stoops, Bobby Petrino, Boise State Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons, Bronco Mendenhall, BYU Cougars, Charlie Strong, Chicago Bears, CHris Petersen, Dallas Cowboys, Dan Mullen, Denver Broncos, Gary Patterson, Houston Cougars, Jeremy Foley, Kevin Sumlin, Kyle Whittingham, Louisville Cardinals, Mike Shanahan, Mississippi State Bulldogs, NFL, Oklahoma Sooners, TCU Horned Frogs, Urban Meyer, Utah Utes, Washington Redskins

Monday will mark the 19th day since former Florida Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was hired away to be the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, and head coach Urban Meyer has yet to name his replacement. When then-offensive coordinator Dan Mullen split town for the Mississippi State Bulldogs head coaching gig in 2008, Meyer had his substitute (Steve Addazio) named in just over two weeks.

Whether it is because the Gators are playing their bowl game a week earlier this season or Meyer’s has a desire to prevent another distraction from hindering his team’s performance prior to the 2010 Sugar Bowl, some fans are finding the absence of an announcement about Strong’s replacement troubling.

Earlier this month, OGGOA profiled assistant head coach, defense/defensive line coach Dan McCarney and assistant defensive coordinator, safeties coach Chuck Heater – the two men on the current staff most likely to replace Strong. As time is winding down and assistants are being snatched up by programs across the country, it is looking more and more likely that one of these two will lead the Florida defense in 2010. And though Meyer was believed to be looking outside the program at first (presumably for a big-time name), recent reports and rumors indicate that Heater may very will end up earning the promotion.

SPECULATION: In addition to a tweet by Gainesville Sun beat writer Pat Dooley claiming that Heater “wants [to be defensive coordinator] bad,” rumors are circulating that Meyer has interviewed former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Willie Martinez for a position coach job. Should Martinez be hired, he would likely coach safeties, alleviating Heater of the duty. Strong’s departure also opens up the linebackers coach job, a position that could theoretically be filled by Martinez or cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford with the other taking over the entire secondary. Martinez, who is from Coral Gables, FL, and considered to be a terrific recruiter, would form a dynamic duo with Bedford when recruiting defensive players in South Florida.

Tags: Charlie Strong, Chuck Heater, Dan McCarney, Dan Mullen, Georgia Bulldogs, Louisville Cardinals, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Steve Addazio, Sugar Bowl, Urban Meyer, Vance Bedford, Willie Martinez