EA Sports may not be advertising the upcoming release of NCAA Football 11 on OGGOA (heaven knows we did enough free promotion for them already), but that doesn’t mean they don’t respect what we’re all about.

Just take their advertising campaign for the video game as an example. Though we initially had a tough time locating a copy of the television commercial being aired across the country, we have finally found it thanks to the help of one of our Twitter followers. (The first few seconds of the video are what counts here.)

This online ad also showcases the theme that the company has created.

Our point? We don’t have one really. It is just cool to see OGGOA (even as a phrase) being used to promote a big-time product…just as it was last year throughout the “Finish the Mission” campaign for Nike Pro Combat apparel. Now if EA Sports would only see the value in advertising here like some of our other sponsors.

Tags: EA Sports, NCAA, NCAA Football 11, Nike, Nike Pro Combat, Tim Tebow

1 » Asked his thoughts about the one-and-done mentality perpetuated by the Kentucky Wildcats, Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan decided to reminisce about the 2007 season, when his National Championship-winning team decided to take the unselfish route and return to school to repeat. “I don’t know all the situations in terms of [Kentucky players] with their families,” Donovan said per the Knoxville News Sentinel at the 2010 Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings. “My situation was very, very unique. There was an incredible chemistry and bond. And coming off a championship, they also wanted to try and do it again. Three of the [starters’ fathers] were professional athletes. I think the one thing their parents talked to them about was that they would never, ever play on a team like that, and that the NBA would always be there.”

2 » Donovan also spoke about his passion for the Florida program and how he does not envision leaving anytime soon, citing how nice the Gainesville, FL, community has been to raise a family and build a life. “I’m in a unique situation,” Donovan said. “Florida’s been great to me. I still have a passion for it.”

Four more BITS on Brandon Spikes, potential conference realignments and strength coach Mickey Marotti…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Oh-Fours, Donovan, Spikes, SEC, Marotti

Tags: Bernie Machen, Big 12, Billy Donovan, Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo, Kentucky Wildcats, Mickey Marotti, Mike Slive, NBA, New England Patriots, NFL, Nike, Oh-Fours, Pac-10, SEC, Spring Meetings, Tennessee Volunteers, Urban Meyer

After months of waiting, numerous media outlets received documents on Tuesday from the University of Florida’s University Athletic Association detailing the salaries that the Florida Gators assistant football coaches will receive for the next two seasons.

» Defensive coordinator / cornerbacks coach Teryl Austin – $440,000
» Offensive coordinator / offensive line coach Steve Addazio – $375,000
» Assistant head coach / defensive line coach Dan McCarney – $330,000
» Co-defensive coordinator / safeties coach Chuck Heater – $305,000
» Running backs coach / recruiting coordinator Stan Drayton – $240,000
» Tight ends / fullbacks coach Brian White – $240,000
» Quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler – $240,000
» Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni – $240,000
» Linebackers / special teams coach D.J. Durkin – $240,000

Contract notes:
- Head coach Urban Meyer is finalizing a six-year, $24 million contract
- Every returning coach received a raise of approximately $50,000 from their 2009 base
- All coaches receive a $10,000 bonus from Florida’s contract with Nike
- All coaches receive a car and other tangible incentives
- Addazio will be compensated with bonuses for time he spent as interim head coach

Universal bonuses:
- BCS National Championship Game appearance – up to 30 percent increase
- Other BCS bowl game appearance – 20 percent increase
- SEC Championship Game appearance – 10 percent increase
- Non-BCS bowl game – 10 percent increase
- Bowl game with less than $2 million payout – one month’s salary increase

Special thanks to the Orlando Sentinel for some of the information in this report.

Tags: Brian White, Chuck Heater, D.J. Durkin, Dan McCarney, Nike, Scot Loeffler, Stan Drayton, Steve Addazio, Teryl Austin, University Athletic Association, University of Florida, Urban Meyer, Zach Azzanni

1 » Three-star point guard commitment Scottie Wilbekin (Gainesville, FL), who is leaving The Rock School a year early as a junior to join the Florida Gators‘ 2010 recruiting class, remains a mystery to many fans who are curious as to what he can bring to the program right away. Reggie Rankin, who covers basketball recruiting for ESPN caught a glimpse of Wilbekin at the second session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and came away impressed. “[Wilbekin] has added about 25 pounds and his confidence and swagger on the court is tremendous,” Rankin wrote. “He may not be a star for the Gators, but he will provide them with a lead guard that possess a high basketball IQ, can run the team, get others involved and makes open shots. He also is an excellent defender that is alert in the passing lanes. He will provide Billy Donovan with a steady hand at the point position. […] It is great to see a kid have these options not only because he is a good kid and player, but most importantly a good student.”

Wilbekin’s school also went ahead and published a video with his coaches profiling his game and some of his accomplishments. (h/t Orlando Sentinel)

2 » Speaking of Florida basketball and its recruiting, former four-star 2008 commitment center Eloy Vargas has transferred for the second time in as many eligible seasons. This time, Vargas is leaving Miami Dade College for none other than head coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. Vargas averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds last season and hopes to make a quick transition back to the Southeastern Conference.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Eloy Vargas, John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats, Miami Dade College, Nike, Scottie Wilbekin, SEC

His respective endorsement deals with EA Sports and Nike have garnered plenty of publicity and earned him some good money, but the additional opportunities former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has turned down since joining the Denver Broncos are likely much more lucrative.

According to The Commercial Appeal, Tebow has “declined some seven-figure per year deals because he thought they would interfere with his football preparation,” opting to concentrate on working out before his first NFL training camp.

“I’m trying to work hard and not get my mind cluttered with all that,” Tebow said while working out in Memphis, TN. “When it gets to the point when something needs to be presented to me, I see it. Right now, it’s all ball for me.”

Tebow’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, realizes his client’s appeal and thinks there will be plenty of opportunities for him coming in both the near and distant future.

“Within the next five years, Tim clearly has a chance to be one of the most endorsable athletes on the planet,” Sexton told the paper this week. “I had one CEO of a major Fortune 500 company tell me, ‘You know what, Jimmy? For a corporation to put a face on their brand, this guy is the real deal. He’s the one guy who’s not going to be a scandal two or three years from now.’”

These mysterious “seven-figure per year” opportunities make his $300,000 Nike contract appear paltry by comparison. But being a NFL quarterback has never been all about money for Tebow.

“You have to decide what you have to be proud about, and being a football player doesn’t make you any more special than anyone else,” Tebow said. “Football gives me a platform and with that platform comes a responsibility and obligation to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Tebow has been working out in Memphis in preparation for Broncos training camp.

Photo Credit: Associated Press, (original) Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Tags: Denver Broncos, EA Sports, Jimmy Sexton, NFL, Nike, Tim Tebow

1 » Former Florida Gators wide receiver Dallas Baker, most recently waived/injured by the NFL‘s Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 6, 2009, has signed on with the Jacksonville Sharks of the newly revamped AFL. The Sharks are one of two new franchises being introduced to the league this year, and Baker joins fellow Gators cornerback Dee Webb on the team. The Sharks are 1-0 already this season with a 54-38 victory over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz last week.

2 » Each year, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association hands out The Bowerman award which recognizes the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track & field athlete. Three current Florida student-athletes are on The Bowerman’s watch list as of April 7: women’s senior thrower Mariam Kevkhishvili, men’s freshman sprinter Jeff Demps (new addition) and men’s sophomore jumper Christian Taylor. The Gators also boast women’s senior jumper Shara Proctor and women’s junior/senior distance runner Charlotte Browning as honorable mentions at this time. The award will not be handed out until December.

3 » Sourcing NFL.com draft analyst Gil Brandt, Jerry McDoanld of InsideBayArea.com says the Oakland Raiders have a high level of interest in former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. According to Brandt’s story, Tebow was asked by the Raiders’ coaching staff to break down a play. He replied, “This is how it’s called with Florida, this is how it’s called with your organization and this is how it’s called with West coast teams.” Brandt went on to say, “I think that when you get a quarterback and he reacts that quickly, you know that the guy is not only pretty smart, but he does have that mental quickness to adjust very fast.”

4 » Apparel and shoe company Nike has officially announced its partnership with Tebow. Click the link below to read the full press release.
Continue Reading » FOUR BITS: Baker, The Bowerman, Tebow, Nike

Tags: AFL, Charlotte Browning, Christian Taylor, Dallas Baker, Dee Webb, Jacksonville Sharks, Jeff Demps, Mariam Kevkhishvili, NFL, Nike, Oakland Raiders, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Pittsburgh Steelers, Shara Proctor, The Bowerman, Tim Tebow, USTFCCCA

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reports that former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow has agreed to an endorsement contract with Nike. The global shoe and apparel brand, according to Schefter’s report, signed Tebow to a deal worth just under $300,000 per year. However, it is said to include incentives that could significantly boost his pay likely depending on a variety of factors including sales and performance.

Since graduating, Tebow has already done a promotional appearance with Gatorade (a relationship that may continue) and is believed to be the cover athlete for EA Sports‘ NCAA Football 11 video game. He has also agreed to a partnership with Palm Beach Autographs for his John Hancock.

Seeing as the findings of a recent study had Tebow already being more popular and appealing than future hall of famers Brett Favre and Tom Brady and more of a trendsetter than Super Bowl winners Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning, there will likely be plenty of additional endorsement money coming in his future.

OGGOA will update this story as more information is made available.

Original Photo Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Tags: EA Sports, Gatorade, NCAA Football 11, Nike, Tim Tebow

The St. John’s Red Storm may have come and gone as a suitor for Florida Gators head basketball coach Billy Donovan, but that does not mean no other programs are interested in his services. According to various sources including one from the Eugene Register-Guard, the Oregon Ducks are in the process of creating a lucrative package in an attempt to lure Donovan out West.

Oregon recently fired head coach Ernie Kent after 13 seasons. Funded primarily by Nike, the Ducks athletic department has the funds necessary to offer Donovan a comparable package to what he is receiving from the Gators.

However, if he is unwilling to return home to New York, it is not likely Donovan would want to move his family across the country without the offer making him at least the highest-paid coach in the country (if not offering numerous other benefits).

Florida has once again let it be known that no one from Oregon has reached out to athletic director Jeremy Foley for permission to speak to Donovan, and Foley believes Donovan would let him know immediately if another school offered him a job.

Donovan is set to receive $3.3 million in salary for the 2010-11 season along with a $500,000 loyalty bonus that kicks in on April 1.

Tags: Billy Donovan, Ernie Kent, Jeremy Foley, Nike, Oregon Ducks, St. John’s Red Storm