1 » Now that the undrafted free agents have been scooped up and rookie minicamp is in the books, the newest Florida Gators in the NFL have plenty of work to do to remain on their teams heading into the 2013 season, which starts in exactly four months. As of press time, there are 41 total Gators spread across 19 different NFL rosters. Below is a list of teams corresponding with the number of Florida players currently on their rosters and set to participate in their respective training camps.

(4): Miami, Washington
(3): Baltimore, New England, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
(2): Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Jacksonville, Seattle
(1): Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis

2 » Gators guard Sydney Moss has accepted an invitation to try out with USA Basketball for a spot on the under-19 team that will compete in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships from July 18-28. Team trails are being held May 16-19 in Colorado Springs, CO. Florida head coach Billy Donovan will be coaching the men’s team in the same event from June 17-July 7. He will begin his duties on June 14 in Colorado Springs as he tries to whittle down a 25-player tryout to the 12 that will earn spots on the final roster.

3 » Former Gators shortstop Nolan Fontana is raising eyebrows inside the Houston Astros organization with the way he is currently playing for the Class-A affiliate Lancaster JetHawks in the California League. Fontana (as of Tuesday) is leading the league in batting average (.369), walks (30), runs (29), on-base percentage (.504) and on-base plus slugging (1.071); he is also second in hits (41). As expected, Fontana is also proving to be an excellent defensive shortstop.

4 » Attorney John Morgan (of the law firm Morgan & Morgan) out of Orlando, FL has commissioned the below television commercial (which is also running as a radio spot) to support quarterback Tim Tebow and entice the Jacksonville Jaguars to sign the local product. Considering general manager Dave Caldwell made it perfectly clear months ago that Jacksonville was not interested in Tebow, Morgan is basically just wasting his money and using these advertisements to promote his name and business.

Tags: baseball, Billy Donovan, FIBA, FIBA World Championship, Houston Astros, Lancaster JetHawks, MiLB, MLB, NFL, Nolan Fontana, Sydney Moss, Tim Tebow, USA, USA Basketball

1 » The 2013 NFL Scouting Combine is now in the books. Though not all of the 10 Florida Gators invited participated in the full event, a handful did and looked quite good while doing so. Below are links to OGGOA‘s combine wrap-ups. Click the appropriate link to see how your favorite former Florida player performed.

Safeties Matt Elam and Josh Evans – Tuesday | Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd; linebackers Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins and Lerentee McCray – Monday | Running back Mike Gillislee – Sunday | Offensive tackle Xavier Nixon, kicker Caleb Sturgis, tight end Jordan Reed – Saturday

2 » New England Patriots running back and Olympic silver medalist sprinter Jeff Demps wants to return to the track but do so without giving up football. According to agent Daniel Rose of Gridiron Sports, who did not return a request for comment from OGGOA but did send a tweet about the subject on Tuesday, Demps truly hopes that New England gives him permission to pursue both of his passions. “Jeff Demps has no intentions of leaving football. He loves doing both football and track. Representing Team USA in track and field in the Olympics and playing NFL football are an honor and privilege and Jeff Demps loves both,” he wrote. NFL.com‘s Ian Rapoport first reported the story and explained on NFL Network that “he plans to compete in an event in March and that calendar would run through August. They informed the Patriots of that this week. It’s possible the Patriots could work out a deal as Demps does want to play two sports. It’s a little too early to know a resolution on this but we do know he wants to play two sports.” Whether or not New England – or another NFL team – wants to give Demps that opportunity is an unknown at this point.

3 » While at NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston, TX a few weeks ago, Golden State Warriors power forward David Lee approached USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo about playing for Team USA in the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup and remaining on the team through the 2016 Rio Olympics. According to FOX Sports’ Chris Tomasson, Colangelo “said nothing is definite yet as far as Lee being among 20 to 24 players” invited to Las Vegas, NV for training camp from July 24-28. Chances are he will have that opportunity, however, as Lee trained with Team USA in preparation for the World Championships in 2010 and probably would have made the team if not for sustaining an injury that forced him to depart early.

Check out three more Gators news BITS…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: combine, Demps, Lee, Donovan, Lochte

Tags: All-Star, Billy Donovan, Caleb Sturgis, combine, David Lee, FIBA, FIBA World Cup, Golden State Warriors, Jeff Demps, Jelani Jenkins, Jon Bostic, Jordan Reed, Josh Evans, Lerentee McCray, Matt Elam, Mike Gillislee, NBA, New England Patriots, NFL, Olympics, Ryan Lochte, Sharrif Floyd, swimming, USA, USA Basketball, Xavier Nixon

Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan has been retained to continue leading USA Basketball during the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship set to take place from June 17-July 7 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Donovan, a court coach during the 2011 USA Basketball Men’s U19 National Team Training Camp two summers ago and head coach of the team that won the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship last summer, will represent his country as a head coach in international competition for the second time in his career. His coaching staff, which included Virginia Commonwealth head coach Shaka Smart (a former Florida assistant) and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, is also set to return.

“It’s such an honor to have this opportunity to represent our country with USA Basketball once again, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Donovan said. “Mark Few and Shaka Smart are both outstanding coaches. I have tremendous respect for them both and am glad for another chance to coach alongside them.”

The Donovan-led Americans breezed through last year’s event, amassing a 5-0 record and winning games by an average of 38.6 points to win the gold medal and qualify for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship. USA Basketball hopes to see the team continue its success with Donovan at the helm.

“Our 19-and-under team is going to have as good a coaching staff as there is in coaches Donovan, Few and Smart,” said Jim Boeheim, Syracuse head coach and chair of the 2009-12 Junior National Team Committee. “It’s going to be a tremendous advantage to have the same staff that led the 18-and-under squad a year ago.”

Donovan will begin coaching the team on June 14 in Colorado Springs, CO as 25 players begin a five-day training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with only 12 earning spots on the roster.

The United States will begin the event in Group D along with China (FIBA Asia U18 gold), Ivory Coast (FIBA Africa U18 silver) and Russia (FIBA Europe U18 fourth place). The gold medal game is scheduled for July 7.

Tags: Billy Donovan, FIBA, FIBA Americas Championship, FIBA World Championship, Shaka Smart, USA, USA Basketball

Three Florida Gators entered the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Monday hoping to earn the opportunity to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. By the time the event concluded on Sunday with the Dominican Republic falling 88-73 to Nigera for the third and final qualifying spot, none of the three saw their dreams realized.

Florida had the opportunity to see up to four players compete in the Olympics – center Joakim Noah (France), C Al Horford (Dominican Republic), point guard Nick Calathes (Greece) and redshirt senior guard Mike Rosario (Puerto Rico). Noah, whose team had already qualified for the games, was forced to withdraw from the event as he continues to nurse a severely sprained ankle suffered on May 4; the other three all lost their spots by falling in the tournament this week.

Greece’s run came to an end at the hands of Nigeria in an 80-79 stunner on Friday. Puerto Rico was also sent packing Friday as Lithuania took them down 76-72. The Dominican Republic had two chances to earn a berth but fell in both opportunities, losing 109-83 to Lithuania on Saturday and again to Nigeria on Sunday.

Horford dominated his team’s first two games of the tournament, registering 30 points (10-of-14) and 12 boards against Korea as well as 22 points (10-of-13) and nine rebounds against Russia. He was less overpowering in the final three games, scoring 14 points (5-of-17) and adding 15 rebounds in a victory over Macedonia, notching 12 points (4-of-14) and four boards in the loss to Lithuania, and leaving the court due to frustration with 15 seconds left after scoring just 12 points against Nigeria.

Center Azania Stewart of the Great Britain women’s basketball team will be the only Gators representative competing in the sport during the Olympics.

Tags: Al Horford, Azania Stewart, FIBA, Joakim Noah, Mike Rosario, Nick Calathes, Olympics, women's basketball

One of three Florida Gators competing in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament this week in Caracas, Venezuela, Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford and the Dominican Republic are just one victory away from advancing to the 2012 London Olympics after toppling Macedonia 86-76 on Friday.

Horford registered 14 points (on 5-of-17 shooting) and 15 rebounds in the win as he continues his domination of the event. He previously scored 30 points (10-of-14), notched 12 boards and dished four assists against Korea and added 22 points (10-of-13), nine rebounds and four dimes against Russia.

The Dominican Republic fell to Lithuania 109-83 on Saturday and has subsequently forced into a sudden death contest on Sunday against Nigeria in which the winner will earn the third and final Olympic qualifying spot.

Horford struggled mightily from the field once again, scoring 12 points on just 4-of-14 shooting while registering four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The two other Gators competing in the tournament saw their Olympic dreams come to a crashing halt thanks to a pair of losses on Friday.

After toppling Jordan (107-63) and Puerto Rico (98-84) in the preliminary round, Greece was stunned 80-79 by Nigeria on Friday, ending former Florida point guard Nick Calathes’s chance to go on and compete in London, England.

Calathes only played 11 minutes and made 1-of-5 shots for three points; he watched from the bench as Nigeria gave up a late three-point lead but rallied from behind and pulled ahead in the final seconds for the upset victory.

Puerto Rico was similarly sent packing by Lithuania on Friday with the 76-72 loss knocking redshirt senior guard Mike Rosario’s Olympic hopes four years into the future.

Rosario was one of two Puerto Ricans who did not see the court in the hard-fought contest that saw his team come from behind to take a late lead (72-71 with 36 seconds left) before allowing the Lithuanians to score the final five points of the game.

With C Joakim Noah (France) withdrawing from the Olympics due to a severely sprained ankle he suffered two months ago, Horford is the Gators’ only chance to see a male basketball player represent them in London.

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, FIBA, Joakim Noah, Mike Rosario, Nick Calathes, Olympics

1 » Currently competing at the 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas, Venezuela are former Florida Gators point guard Nick Calathes (Greece) and forward/center Al Horford (Dominican Republic) and redshirt senior guard Mike Rosario. Each competed with their country in preliminary round action early in the week and saw their teams pick up at least one victory; all advanced to the quarterfinals and will have the opportunity to move on to the semifinals without eliminating each other. Greece faces Nigeria, the Dominican Republic takes on “Macedonia” and Puerto Rico squares off with Lithuania all on Friday.

Calathes posted 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting with two rebounds and three assists in Greece’s 107-63 victory over Jordan on Monday and followed that up with eight points on 2-of-6 shooting with three rebounds and five assists in a 98-84 victory over Puerto Rico on Wednesday. Horford dominated the Dominican Republic’s 95-85 victory against Korea on Tuesday with a team-highs of 30 points, 12 boards and four dimes while going 10-of-14 from the field; he posted similar statistics in his team’s 84-69 loss to Russia on Wednesday when he posted team-highs of 22 points and nine boards, adding four assists while going 10-of-12 from the floor. Rosario did not play much in either game and combined for a total of six points and four rebounds while hitting just 1-of-6 shots over the course of his 14 minutes. Puerto Rico toppled Jordan 93-52 on Tuesday but fell to Greece on Wednesday. The top two teams from each group advanced.

2 » After performing well during his first two NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders, wide receiver Louis Murphy ran into some health issues in 2011 and was not able to contribute much, catching just 15 balls in 11 games as a reserve for 241 yards. With the 2012 season about to begin, the Contra Costa Times’ Steve Corkran believes “Murphy is in a fight for [the] final two [receiver] spots on the roster due to the fact that a pair of rookies – fifth-round pick Juron Criner and undrafted free agent Rod Streater – came on strong during minicamp and have impressed coaches. Murphy is due $1.26 million in the final year of his contract and certainly wants to put together a “contract-year” performance before becoming a free agent in 2013.

Extra BIT » Six current Gators student-athletes – junior center Patric Young, junior forward Will Yeguete, junior running back Trey Burton, sophomore tight end Clay Burton, sophomore hurdler Katrina DeKrey and junior thrower Ashley Miller – recently participated in a week-long mission trip to Africa sponsored by the organization Athletes In Action. While there, the guys played soccer with some children and Yeguete took a pair of videos of the players taking penalty kicks.
Click to expand and see the videos.

Tags: Al Horford, Ashley Miller, Clay Burton, FIBA, Katrina DeKrey, Louis Murphy, Mike Rosario, Nick Calathes, Oakland Raiders, Olympics, Patric Young, Trey Burton, Will Yeguete

Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan won the first gold medal of his career on Wednesday as he led USA Basketball to an 81-56 victory over Brazil in the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

The United States was the only team to go undefeated (5-0) on its way to taking home the gold. The Americans tore through the competition in Sao Sebastian, Brazil, winning every game by at least 19 and by an average of 38.6 points (105-42 vs. Virgin Islands, 110-59 vs. Mexico, 83-64 vs. Brazil, 107-72 vs. Argentina, 81-56 vs. Brazil).

The FIBA Americas was Donovan’s first go-around as head coach of Team USA. He was joined on the bench by Florida trainer Dave Werner as well as former Gators assistant and Virginia Commonwealth head coach Shaka Smart and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. Donovan had previously served as a court coach for team trials in 2011.

The strong showing in the tournament qualified the United States for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship next June. Donovan is not guaranteed to be the head coach of that team though he will likely be called upon again to continue leading the Americans.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Dave Werner, FIBA, FIBA Americas Championship, USA, USA Basketball

1 » Florida Gators senior guard Mike Rosario, playing with the Puerto Rico National Team in the 2012 Centrobasket Championship, registered seven points and three rebounds in his team’s easy 92-60 win over Panama on Monday. Puerto Rico is set to take on the Bahamas at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday as they continue in the event and hope to earn a bid to the 2012 London Olympics.

2 » In Brazil with the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team, Florida head basketball coach Billy Donovan improved to 3-0 in international competition as the Americans defeated host Brazil 83-64 on Monday in the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. The United States has already qualified for the 2013 FIBA U18 World Championship set for next summer but still has plenty to accomplish in this tournament. The U.S. will take on Argentina on Tuesday in a semifinal game for the opportunity to play for the tournament title against either Canada or Brazil.

3 » Gators junior runner Tony McQuay was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman the biggest award in collegiate track & field on Tuesday, becoming the fifth student-athlete from Florida to receive the distinction in the last three years. Though UF has yet to bring home the prestigious award, McQuay has as legitimate of a shot as anyone before having won the national title in both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash. He also anchored the Gators’ 4×400-meter team that captured the outdoor national championship and was one of the two top performers for the Florida men’s track & field team that swept the indoor and outdoor 2012 NCAA Championship.

4 » The 2011-12 athletic season has come to an end for the Gators and though some highly ranked Florida teams missed out on opportunities at national titles (baseball, gymnastics, lacrosse, softball), UF also brought home a school record three NCAA Championships thanks to sterling efforts by men’s track & field (indoor and outdoor) and women’s tennis. The NCAA Indoor title for men’s track and field marked the third-straight for the program, and women’s tennis completed their quest to win back-to-back titles with their victory this season. The Gators also won eight individual national titles including six in track & field and one in gymnastics.

Tags: baseball, Billy Donovan, FIBA, FIBA Americas Championship, field, gymnastics, lacrosse, Mike Rosario, NCAA, NCAA Indoor Championship, NCAA Outdoor Championship, Olympics, softball, tennis, The Bowerman, Tony McQuay, track, USA Basketball