1 » Three-star wide receiver recruit Ja’Juan Story (Brooksville, FL) committed to the Florida Gators on June 28, but his actions more than a month later may – or may not – have an impact on that decision. According to the Hernando County Sherrif’s Office, Story was arrested late Sunday night on charges of battery after attempting to break up a fight between four women (one of whom was the mother of his brother’s child). “When I turned around, her and a woman and her two daughters was about to fight,” Story told The Gainesville Sun’s Edward Aschoff. “So I came over because there was knives and I took a box cuter from my brother’s [girlfriend], but one of the other girls had two knives. I tried to tell her to leave but she wasn’t listening.” Contrary to what a spectator told police, Story said he did not hit anyone but simply pushed the parties apart. “I was just trying to break everything up since no one else was,” he added. “I didn’t do anything wrong. The only thing I did wrong was be there.”

2 » As reported by Len Pasquarelli on Sunday, former Gators wide receiver Percy Harvin rejoined the Minnesota Vikings on Monday after having missed training camp since July 31. In the interim, his grandmother passed away, his migraine headaches once again became a nuisance and some believe he also lost a close personal friend. Regardless, Harvin is now back on the field after answering a “five-day letter.”

Two more BITS on Jaye Howard and Greg McGarity…after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Story, Harvin, Howard, McGarity

Tags: Georgia Bulldogs, Greg McGarity, Ja'Juan Story, Jaye Howard, Minnesota Vikings, Percy Harvin, World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

1 » Florida Gators redshirt junior starting quarterback John Brantley seemingly stunned the media Saturday…by having grown a mustache. All joking aside, Brantley apparently decided to do so as a tribute to two former Florida quarterbacks – his father John Brantley III and his high school coach Kerwin Bell. As to whether or not it will be a permanent fixture in his look? “I’m not sure yet. Everyone is doubting me, so I might do it for that reason. They say I won’t keep it, so I might just because of that,” he said.

2 » Georgia’s hiring of former Florida executive senior associate director of athletics Greg McGarity as their new athletic director was not much of a surprise to anyone, especially considering McGarity’s pedigree, experience and talent. A few of the Gators’ most prominent names provided their thoughts about the McGarity hire in an official release from the University of Florida.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley: “I’m happy for Greg and his family. It’s been a dream of his to be an athletic director and all of his hard work has paid off. Greg has been an invaluable asset to our organization over the years. He has been involved in the day to day operations of our department and has been by my side every step of the way – from hiring coaches, to budgets, facility planning and event management, he has been a key component of our success. Greg is extremely loyal and has great vision for the future. More than anything Greg is one of my most trusted and closest friends. He has meant much more to me than an employee. Greg is family and we wish him the very best.”

Head football coach Urban Meyer: “Greg has been a tremendous asset to me and our football program in my time at Florida. I remember first meeting Greg when Jeremy flew out to talk to me about the Florida job. He was involved in every discussion with Jeremy and our family and I could tell right away that Greg played a pivotal role in the athletic department. I could also see that his relationship with Jeremy and others in the athletic department went beyond the professional level. He was very well liked and respected among his co-workers. Greg always found a way to get things done, but he did it in a very personable manner.”

Head basketball coach Billy Donovan: “I’m elated for Greg and his family that he is getting a chance to not only direct a first-class athletic department, but in essence, to go home. I’ve known Greg for 15 years, he was involved in my hiring at Florida, and has been someone I’ve always had great respect and admiration for. I echo the sentiments of everyone here in wishing he and his family the best in Athens and we will certainly all miss him. Georgia has made a fantastic hire.”

Photo Credit: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Tags: Billy Donovan, Georgia Bulldogs, Greg McGarity, Jeremy Foley, John Brantley, John Brantley III, Kerwin Bell, University of Florida, Urban Meyer

A source inside the University of Florida‘s University Athletic Association has confirmed to OGGOA that Florida Gators executive senior associate director of athletics Greg McGarity has been tabbed as the Georgia Bulldogs’ next athletic director, is on the way to sign a contract and will be officially announced as such Friday.

McGarity, who had essentially been Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley’s right-hand man during his tenure at Florida, was hired in 1992 after graduating from Georgia. He was up for the Bulldogs’ AD job in 2003 and was widely believed to be the school’s top candidate to replace Damon Evans since July.

“I have been very fortunate to work alongside the very best in collegiate athletics at two outstanding institutions, the University of Georgia and the University of Florida, over the last three decades,” McGarity wrote in an application letter to Georgia’s associate vice president for human resources. “I know what it takes to lead and direct an athletic program at the highest level, and am ready to lead the University of Georgia Athletic Association into the future. I look forward to having the opportunity to compete for this position.”

He was such a popular candidate that U.S. Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) went out of his way to write the school’s president to “enthusiastically recommend” McGarity. “He is ready to get back to his hometown and to serve his alma mater in this distinguished position,” Kingston wrote.

OGGOA wishes to extend our sincere congratulations to Mr. McGarity.

Tags: Damon Evans, Georgia Bulldogs, Greg McGarity, Jeremy Foley, University of Florida

1 » Perhaps none of the former Florida Gators who are now rookies in the NFL are having more success than the trio drafted by the New Engalnd Patriots – defensive end/linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, LB Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez. Word out of Patriots camp is that all three are shining and will get on the field plenty. Cunningham and Spikes continue to work with the first-team defense and could be penciled in as starters when the season begins. “Jermaine has picked up things very well,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “I think each day you can definitely see him getting better, more confident, understanding things that happened the day before and being able to process that.” ESPNBoston.com‘s Mike Reiss broke down their progress:

Read more about the Patriots’ rookies and three additional BITS on Riley Cooper, Bobby McCray and Greg McGarity…after the break!
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Patriots, Cooper, McCray, McGarity

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Alex Brown, Bill Belichick, Billy Johnson, Bobby McCray, Brandon Spikes, DeSean Jackson, Georgia Bulldogs, Greg McGarity, Jack Kingston, Jason Avant, Jeremy Foley, Jeremy Maclin, Jermaine Cunningham, Kein Kolb, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Riley Cooper, University of Florida

1 » Denver Broncos veteran Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey has been heaping the praise on rookie quarterback Tim Tebow and that trend continued Wednesday in an NFL.com report. Talking about Tebow’s star quality and magnetism, the former Georgia Bulldogs star placed the Florida Gators legend above even the most famous Florida State Seminole. “I’ve been on a team with some [high-profile] players, such as Deion [Sanders] and guys like that, but I’ve never seen nothing like this,” Bailey said. “It’s amazing. […] I’m kind of proud of him for the way he handles himself. He wants to be one of the guys. People are going to put him on that pedestal, but he handles both sides very well.”

Defensive end Justin Bannan is also impressed. “I’m kind of blown away,” Bannan said. “I’ve just never seen anything like it. It’s like a phenomenon. This city’s just become obsessed with Tebow. The guy has earned that right to get that kind of attention, because he’s probably going to go down as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — college player to play the game.”

2 » It should be no question that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center/guard Maurkice Pouncey, the University of Florida and the NCAA all want the allegations surrounding the player to be settled – one way or another – as soon as possible. Nevertheless, according to the University Police Department, determining whether or not Pouncey accepted a $100,000 payment from the runner for a sports agent may take up to two more months to settle. “It’s still an ongoing investigation,” Capt. Jeff Holcomb told The Gainesville Sun. “It could be another month or two before it’s finally closed out. It’s a slow-going process.” The process has been underway since June.

Photo Credit: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

Tags: Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, Denver Broncos, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Justin Bannan, Maurkice Pouncey, NCAA, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tim Tebow, University of Florida

Sooner or later, within the next few hours, days or weeks, the Georgia Bulldogs will fire athletic director Damon Evans. From his decision to drive under the influence to his actions upon being stopped by police officers, Evans has made it nearly impossible for the University of Georgia to keep him employed much longer.

Because of this, the Bulldogs will need to hire a new athletic director, and The Florida Times-Union’s Gene Frenette believes Evans’ replacement will come from the school’s biggest rival – the University of Florida.

Greg McGarity, a Georgia graduate and the executive senior associate director under athletic director Jeremy Foley, has been with the Florida Gators since 1992. The university describes his current responsibilities as the following:

Oversees the swimming & diving and women’s tennis programs, event operations, facilities, video services, risk management, information technology and communications, purchasing, auxiliary services, aviation operations and strength and conditioning programs. Assists Athletics Director in supervision of football and men’s basketball programs.

Essentially Foley’s right-hand man, McGarity was up for the UGA job in 2003 and could very well be the university’s top candidate when the position opens up.

Tags: Georgia Bulldogs, Greg McGarity, Jeremy Foley, University of Florida

1 » Former Florida Gators linebacker, 1992 NFC Defensive Player of the Year and three-time Pro Bowler Wilber Marshall has decided to speak out about the proposed 18-game NFL season because he believes it is a money grab and will take a serious toll on players’ bodies. “I take meds just to walk,” he told Florida Today. “I don’t like taking them. I know what they do to the liver. I saw what happened to Walter [Payton]. So far, my head’s good. It’s just the rest of my body that doesn’t work. […] They should keep it at 16 games and eliminate the two preseason games anyway. But you know how it is. It’s all about the NFL making money, and not about the players’ health.”

2 » Florida freshman shortstop Nolan Fontana was named to the Rawlings NCAA Division I Gold Glove Team on Wednesday, the first player in school history to earn such an honor. The only freshman on the nine-player team, Fontana posted a .986 fielding percentage and only committing four errors in 279 chances in 2010.

3 » In the process of re-signing with ESPN, former Gators dazzler and current sideline reporter Erin Andrews will be featured in the August 2010 issue of Vanity Fair. Complete with an alluring photo spread, Andrews was interviewed by George Wayne who, safe to say, asked her some pretty ridiculous questions. Among them: “Do you have man-size feet like Paris Hilton?” “What is the one thing you take when feeling constipated?” and “What gets me to the vomitorium is that faux romance between you and that cheesy ballroom dancing partner of yours. What was with this tabloid fake romance?” Luckily for OGGOA’s male readers, Wayne’s somewhat absurd interview comes along with a video of Andrews’ photo shoot.

4 » Georgia Bulldogs athletic director Damon Evans was arrested on charges of driving under the influence Wednesday evening. Evans, driving a 2009 BMW, was pulled over just before midnight and is said to have smelled of alcohol while failing a field sobriety test. He refused a breathalyzer test and was released on his own recognizance Thursday morning. The University of Georgia is expected to release a statement sometime soon; some believe the school will ask him to resign.

Photo Credit: Patrick Fraser/Vanity Fair

Tags: baseball, Damon Evans, Erin Andrews, Georgia Bulldogs, Gold Gove Team, NCAA, NFL, Nolan Fontana, Player of the Year, Pro Bowl, Rawlings, Walter Payton, Wilber Marshall