Charlie Strong and Florida Gators defense are terms that go hand-in-hand, except this time Strong will not be leading one of the best units in the country onto the field but rather trying to figure out a way to score on it.

All of that will occur in one month when Florida and Strong’s Louisville Cardinals square off in the 2013 Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 in New Orleans, LA.

It will be one day short of exactly three years from the last time he donned orange and blue and coached the Gators’ defense against Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl. Florida allowed just three points in the first half and cruised to an impressive victory.

“We are so excited here at the University of Louisville to be playing an opponent like the University of Florida,” said Strong on Sunday after the game was announced. “I spent so many years there and I just think back; it seems like it yesterday we were in the Sugar Bowl playing Cincinnati for the last time being at the University of Florida.”

Though he is years removed from the program, Strong praised the Gators’ defense and said he watches Florida play each and every week. In fact, he still communicates with some of the players he helped recruit, most of whom are in their final seasons at UF.

“You look at the defense and you’re so familiar with the guys there, when you think about those guys,” he said. “Lerentee [McCray], he has been there forever, Omar [Hunter] and [Jelani] Jenkins, all those players, Frankie Hammond at wide receiver; and Caleb Sturgis, I thought my man was done but he’s still kicking there. You look at [Jon] Bostic and how well he’s played. Then you look at the quarterback position with [Jeff] Driskel being a dual threat where he can run and throw the ball.

“That’s an outstanding program; a program that’s built with toughness, offensive and defensive line, a very tough program. So it’s going to be an exciting matchup.”

Strong certainly seemed enthused on Sunday. His passion for the Florida program sounded as genuine as it was when he was a coordinator. He also took some time to praise the school’s administration, head coach Will Muschamp and what the Gators have accomplished so far this season.

Read the rest of this story…after the break!
Continue Reading » Sugar Bowl against Florida a well-deserved treat for “good guy” Charlie Strong

Tags: Caleb Sturgis, Charlie Strong, Frankie Hammond, Jeff Driskel, Jelani Jenkins, Jeremy Foley, Jon Bostic, Lerentee McCray, Louisville Cardinals, Omar Hunter, Sugar Bowl, Will Muschamp

Head coach Will Muschamp has received a one-year extension from the Florida Gators and is now under contract with the school through 2017.

As first reported Tuesday morning by The Gainesville Sun and later confirmed by the school, Muschamp received the one-year extension in August, just six months after President Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley picked up the one-year option they had to extend his original five-year contract to a six-year deal.

Muschamp originally signed a five-year deal worth $13.75 million. Each of his add-on years are paid at the same rate ($2.75 million) through his first contract noted that he would receive a $500,000 bonus for being extended through 2016 and a $250,000 bonus if he was extended again through 2017.

In his first year at the helm of the Gators’ program, Muschamp led Florida to a 7-6 record, capping off a .500 regular season with a bowl victory. He has taken a huge step with the team, improving it to 11-1 through the regular season in 2012, and is being strongly considered for both conference and national awards for the job he’s done. Muschamp also corralled the No. 3 recruiting class in the country for the Gators in 2012 and is on his way to another top-five class for 2013.

Details of Muschamp’s contract as released on May 5, 2011.

Tags: Bernie Machen, Jeremy Foley, Will Muschamp

No. 6 Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp met with the media on Monday to review the team’s hard-fought 14-7 victory over the Missouri Tigers and preview Saturday’s game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

INJURY UPDATES

Though the Gators dealt with a rash of injuries both last week and during the game Saturday, Muschamp said that only redshirt sophomore running back Mack Brown (ankle) is listed as “questionable” for this week’s contest.

However, there are at least seven players who are “probable” for the Louisiana-Lafayette game including redshirt junior wide receiver Andre Debose (knee), redshirt senior kicker Caleb Sturgis (ankle), redshirt senior left guard James Wilson (knee), senior left tackle Xavier Nixon (knee), redshirt senior Buck linebacker Lerentee McCray (ankle), redshirt junior right guard Jon Halapio (ankle) and junior S Matt Elam (unknown).

Muschamp said none of the players will practice on Monday but he expects everyone listed as “probable” to participate in some way beginning on Tuesday.

PLAYER AWARDS

Offensive Players of the Game: Redshirt senior WR Frankie Hammond, Jr. and sophomore fullback Hunter Joyer
“[Joyer is] a guy that is having an outstanding year. He’s very unsung but blocks extremely well. A lot of the runs that we’re springing are because of him. He made a great block for Omarius [Hines]. Really, this is a season award for him. He had a really good game Saturday, but he’s played consistently well all season for us.”

Scrap Iron: Halapio, redshirt junior center Jonotthan Harrison

Big Plays: Hines, junior RB Trey Burton, senior RB Mike Gillislee

Defensive Players of the Game: Senior S Josh Evans and junior defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd
“I thought [Evans] played very well. He’s played consistently well for us this entire season and really is having a good year for us.”
* Floyd was also named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week
“Sharrif was very difficult to block inside in this past ballgame and has been for the most part this season. He’s really playing his most natural position inside…and having a fantastic year.”

Ball Hawks: Evans, Elam, senior Mike linebacker Jon Bostic, junior defensive end Dominique Easley, sophomore cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy, junior CB Jaylen Watkins

Special Teams Players of the Game: Purifoy, sophomore S De’Ante Saunders

Read the rest of what Muschamp had to say…after the break!
Continue Reading » 11/5: Muschamp pleased with Florida’s resolve

Tags: Alex McCalister, Andre Debose, Antonio Morrison, Brent Pease, Brian Poole, Caleb Sturgis, D.J. Humphries, Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler, De'Ante Saunders, Dominique Easley, Frankie Hammond, Hunter Joyer, Jacoby Brissett, James Wilson, Jaylen Watkins, Jeremy Foley, Jon Bostic, Jon Halapio, Jonathan Bullard, Jonotthan Harrison, Josh Evans, Latroy Pittman, Lerentee McCray, Loucheiz Purifoy, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, Mack Brown, Marcus Maye, Matt Elam, Matt Jones, Mike Gillislee, Missouri Tigers, Omarius Hines, Raphael Andrades, Sharrif Floyd, Trey Burton, Will Muschamp, Xavier Nixon

In his weekly press conference, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier was asked a number of questions about his former team, the Florida Gators. A starting quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner and national championship-winning coach for the Gators, Spurrier still has love for Florida that he has never hidden since rejoining the college ranks. Below is what Spurrier said on Tuesday.

» On how special it will be to go back and play at Florida again: “Florida is always going to be my school. I love Florida and my wife and my daughters and even Steve Jr. got a graduate degree from there. Did you know that? [...] So, we’re Gators, but we’re Gamecocks now. We’re Gamecocks now. And when my coaching days are over, I’ll be more of a Gator then. But I’m a Gamecock now, and this is our team. I certainly hope the Gators finish second in the [SEC] East this year. That would be a good finish for them and hopefully we finish first, certainly. But they’re having a very good year. I like Will Muschamp and obviously Jeremy Foley and the guys down there. We’re still good friends. It’s, I think, healthy competition.”

CLICK TO EXPAND and read the rest of this post.

Tags: Jeremy Foley, South Carolina Gamecocks, Steve Spurrier, The Swamp, Will Muschamp

No. 4/6 Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp made an appearance Wednesday during the Southeastern Conference‘s weekly coaches teleconference and touched on a number of topics surrounding his team and its upcoming game against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday at 6 p.m. live on ESPNU. Minutes after he hung up on the SEC teleconference, Muschamp appeared on the Dan Patrick Show for a short interview. (Additional quotes from that can be found at the end of the post.)

ONE OF TWO PUNTING UNITS SHINING

To say that Muschamp is pleased with the way the Gators are punting the ball and covering down the field would be putting it mildly. Florida’s head coach believes that his team has one of the best punting and coverage units in college football and gives much of that credit to sophomore punter Kyle Christy.

“[He’s] had a tremendous impact on our football team,” Muschamp said. “His leg and him being able to flip the field and control the vertical field position has been critical to our success here this season and why we are where we are. He is an outstanding punter.”

Christy is averaging 46.5 yards per punt (fifth nationally) so far this season, which is 5.6 yards better than he was booting it a year ago. UF is netting 43.4 yards per punt (fourth nationally), meaning the Gators (specifically sophomore gunners cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and running back Chris Johnson) are doing a great job in coverage as well.

“Loucheiz and Juice are both guys that pay extremely hard. They’re very competitive guys. That’s a one-on-one battle out there in those situations, especially when we punt and employ some different looks,” Muschamp said. “Those guys accept that opportunity to go one-on-one outside. Both of them are very difficult to defend because they’re both strong guys that run extremely well. They’re both technicians, they do a nice job of getting off any kind of bump-and-run. And they run vertically and they tackle extremely well in the open field.”

Where Florida is struggling is in the return game, specifically on punts. Redshirt junior wide receiver Andre Debose mans that position but is ranked just 41st nationally with an average of 9.57 yards per return.

“I have a lot of confidence in Andre. Andre got banged up a little last week. We just got to make some better decisions as far as fielding the ball,” Muschamp said. “We’re still repping a bunch of guys, and I got confidence in Andre. We got to do a better job holding up on blocking for him. A couple situations [last week where] we certainly could have fielded the ball and not lost some yardage there.”

NOTES AND QUOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND and read the rest of this post.

Tags: Andre Debose, Chris Johnson, Jeremy Foley, Kyle Christy, Loucheiz Purifoy, Mike Gillislee, SEC, Vanderbilt Commodores, Will Muschamp

1 » Former Florida Gators left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson, a first round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, took a line drive to the face on Saturday while pitching during the Futures at Fenway doubleheader that showcased the team’s minor leaguers. The organization announced shortly after he arrived at the hospital that Johnson has multiple orbital bone fractures on the left side of his face but neither suffered a concussion nor lost consciousness. Eye-witness reports noted that Johnson waved to the crowd when he was carted off the field. Boston’s Short-Season A affiliate, the Lowell Spinners, posted a Facebook update on Sunday that said he “popped by the park today after leaving the hospital and is in good spirits.” Fellow former Gators pitcher Tommy Toledo took a similar line drive to the face on March 14, 2009 during a game against Charleston Southern.

2 » Free agent forward/center Vernon Macklin, who was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft but did not receive a qualifying offer from the team following the season, has chosen to sign with Gaziantep of the Turkish Basketball League. “Vernon decided to turn down three NBA camp invites,” agent Greg Nunn told HoopsHype. “He feels he needs to play to showcase his talents and return to the NBA next year.” Macklin averaged 5.9 minutes of action in 23 games last season, registering 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds. He was invited to Detroit’s summer league team but not picked up by the organization for the main roster.

3 » Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey recently answered four questions for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and gave this gem of a reply when asked about taking Bowling at the University of Florida:

“Oh yeah, it went great. It went awesome for me. Passed that one with flying colors. [My average] was terrible. I didn’t really care, I just wanted to play that game. I couldn’t do the spin thing – I’m usually a gutter ball type of guy.”

4 » Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley recently told GatorZone.com that he is pleased with the progress that the football team is making as well as the job that head coach Will Muschamp is doing in year two at the helm of the program.

“I just met with the football staff and I see it building. Like anything, it doesn’t get built overnight. All coaches want that and all fans want that. I get that, but if it’s going to be something substantial, and it’s going to be built to last, it’s got to be built the right way. I see that in terms of what is happening with our team: discipline, the weight room, academically. I see the buy-in from the players. I see the way the staff works. At the end of the day, you’re judged on winning games in any sport, but I see it building to where Gator fans want it to be and where Will wants it to be. I think that’s very exciting. If we’re going to build it, we’re going to build it the right way. Will has said that a thousand times. He’s building a program here and that’s what you want – a program built to last.”

It also would have been extremely interesting to read Foley’s answer to a potential follow-up question (Was the program previously not built the right way?) to that response.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Brian Johnson, Detroit Pistons, Draft, Gaziantep, Jeremy Foley, Maurkice Pouncey, MLB, NBA, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tommy Toledo, Vernon Macklin, Will Muschamp

Former Florida Gators wide receiver Carlos Alvarez was officially inducted into the prestigious College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2012 class in a ceremony held Saturday in South Bend, IN.

One of 79 All-American players and nine coaches made eligible for selection by the voting committee last year, Alvarez was voted in May 2011 to be one of 16 inductees (14 players, two coaches) enshrined in July 2012.

He played on the Gators for three seasons (1969-71) and still holds three school records for career receiving yards (2,563), receptions in a single season (88) and receptions in a game (15). Alvarez also set the then-University of Florida and Southeastern Conference career receptions mark with 172 catches in 1971.

“I’m hardly ever speechless, but I am,” he said in May when he learned of the honor. “When you look at college football and the number of people who have played…I feel honored just to be mentioned.”

Alvarez is the third Florida player elected to the Hall of Fame since 2006.

He is also the ninth overall representative of the Gators to be enshrined in the hall, joining coaches Charlie Bachman (1978), Doug Dickey (2003) and Ray Graves (1990), and players linebacker Wilber Marshall (2008), running back Emmitt Smith (2006), quarterback Steve Spurrier (1986) and defensive ends Dale Van Sickel (1975) and Jack Youngblood (1992).

“Carlos is a great example of all that is good in college athletics. His tireless work and commitment to excellence translated into success both on and off the field,” athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a school release. “He has maintained his level of commitment and success in his professional career as well. I’ve had the opportunity to see Carlos a number of times when he visits Gainesville and he remains a tremendous ambassador for our program. The honor is well deserved.”

Photo Credit: University of Florida archives

Tags: Carlos Alvarez, Charlie Bachman, College Football Hall of Fame, Dale Van Sickel, Doug Dickey, Emmitt Smith, Jack Youngblood, Jeremy Foley, Steve Spurrier, University of Florida, Wilber Marshall

One month ago the Florida Gators and Georgetown Hoyas announced that their college basketball programs will begin the 2012 season by participating in the Navy/Marine Corps Classic on Nov. 9 off the coast of Jacksonville, FL.

Set to compete onboard a U.S. Naval carrier on the water outside an active military base, Florida and Georgetown will go head-to-head one of three currently scheduled games set to be played on naval ships in honor of Veterans Day.

And while fans are undoubtedly excited to see their favorite team competing on a large stage in such a high-profile game, attending the contest in person may not necessarily be within the realm of fiscal possibility for many Gators.

Interviewed live Tuesday by host Frank Frangie on Sports Radio 1010XL in Jacksonville, executive director of sports & entertainment for the City of Jacksonville Alan Verlander provided some insight on how fans may be able to acquire passes for the game.

According to Verlander, who said an official press release with exact details is scheduled for Thursday, the cheapest way to attend the two-day event is for $1,000 with packages set to be sold for as much as $50,000. However, that cost will cover a lot more than just the ability to watch Florida and Georgetown square off live on the carrier.

“It’s not just $1,000 for one basketball game,” he cautioned. “It’s $1,000 for a whole two-day event.”

[View Florida-Georgetown Sponsorship Packages]

The City of Jacksonville is technically not allowed to sell tickets “to an event on a navy base or any military base that is active,” so instead they partnered with the Jacksonville Jaguars to create “sponsorship packages” for a two-day event.

Those packages will include a V.I.P. party for the Jaguars game on Thursday, passes to the basketball game, parking and the ability to attend a pre-game fan festival on the military base (including a concert from a “big-name entertainer”) prior to Friday’s contest.

“We’re creating a fan fest on the [military] base before the basketball game,” Verlander explained. “Envision this: You’ve got an aircraft carrier on the coast there…and then right adjacent to that you have a huge fan festival, and we’re trying to bring in a big-name entertainer. We’re in talks right now with a big-name entertainer that everybody’s heard of.”

He also noted that a portion of the money paid for each sponsorship package will go to purchasing tickets so members of the military can attend the football game on Thursday and the press release notes that “proceeds from the sponsorship packages will go to support local military and veterans efforts.”

“The aircraft carrier that they’re bringing is going to have 3,000 servicemen and women that will go to the Jaguar game the night before and then obviously go to the basketball game,” Verlander told OGGOA on Wednesday. “Part of each package is helping send those servicemen and women to the [football] game.”

Only 8,000 passes will be disseminated for the basketball game with 3,000 going to members of the military. Of the remaining 5,000, Verlander said 4,400 should be available to the public with UF and GU each receiving a small allotment of their own.

“The actual attendance on the deck will be 8,000. That’s as many as we can seat. We fully anticipate it selling out very quickly,” he said. “It’s going to be a hard ticket.”

Verlander also told OGGOA that he and the universities both hope that students will be able to attend the game though it is currently unknown how many tickets will be available. Season ticket holders will have to spring for the sponsorship packages.

“We’re looking at potentially doing some kind of thing for the students – students at both Georgetown and Florida – but it would be on a very limited basis. We’re still looking at that right now as far as students go,” he said. “If you’re a Gator season ticket holder, really the only way to [go to this game] is to buy one of these packages. It’s not because we’re trying to be exclusive or anything like that; it’s a major event to put on with major expenses and it’s a one-of-a-kind of event that we’ve got to be able to pay for and partner with the military and do it the right way.”

Read the rest of this story on the Navy/Marine Corps Classic…after the break!
Continue Reading » Getting into Navy/Marine Corps Classic featuring Florida and Georgetown will cost you

Tags: Billy Donovan, Gator Growl, Georgetown Hoyas, Jeremy Foley, Mike Hill, Navy/Marines Corps Classic