INSIDER
Florida basketball coach Todd Golden acknowledges school investigation and considers defamation suit
Read full article: Florida basketball coach Todd Golden acknowledges school investigation and considers defamation suitFlorida basketball coach Todd Golden is acknowledging an ongoing school inquiry and says he is considering “defamation claims,” presumably against his accusers.
Florida says coach Billy Napier on solid ground despite 15-18 record after promising signs
Read full article: Florida says coach Billy Napier on solid ground despite 15-18 record after promising signsFlorida coach Billy Napier is getting a fourth season to try to get the Gators back to their winning ways.
Florida AD says Georgia ‘seems committed’ to keeping game in Jacksonville
Read full article: Florida AD says Georgia ‘seems committed’ to keeping game in JacksonvilleWhile Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has stated he wants the game in Athens, Florida AD Scott Stricklin says the Georgia administration has no plans to move the game.
Florida fires women’s soccer coach Tony Amato after 1 season
Read full article: Florida fires women’s soccer coach Tony Amato after 1 seasonFlorida has fired women’s soccer coach Tony Amato and changed direction less than one year after giving him a six-year contract to replace beloved program architect Becky Burleigh.
Florida’s Stricklin gets extension, nearly doubles salary
Read full article: Florida’s Stricklin gets extension, nearly doubles salaryFlorida athletic director Scott Stricklin received a three-year contract extension that nearly doubled his salary and made him one of the highest-paid administrators in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.
Florida holds off FSU rally to win 24-21 for 3rd straight victory in rivalry series
Read full article: Florida holds off FSU rally to win 24-21 for 3rd straight victory in rivalry seriesAnthony Richardson came off the bench and led Florida to a 24-21 victory over rival Florida State on Saturday that made the Gators bowl eligible a week after firing coach Dan Mullen.
Florida fires football coach Dan Mullen as struggles mount
Read full article: Florida fires football coach Dan Mullen as struggles mountDan Mullen has been fired as the Florida Gators’ head football coach, completing a downfall that saw him play for the SEC championship last season and sinking to just five wins this year.
Florida makes Dan Mullen 5th-highest paid college football coach in the country
Read full article: Florida makes Dan Mullen 5th-highest paid college football coach in the countryFlorida head football coach Dan Mullen earned a raise and a contract extension that puts him among the highest-paid in the country.
The Latest: Sabres to have limited number of fans at 4 games
Read full article: The Latest: Sabres to have limited number of fans at 4 gamesThe Sabres added another option of proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test within six hours of the doors opening. The Sabres had fans in attendance only once this season. No other players or coaches were affected by the coach’s positive test. ___Buffalo Sabres interim coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis are headed back to work after being cleared from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Ad___The Michigan Wolverines are out of the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament because of positive COVID-19 test results within the team's Tier 1 testing group.
The Latest: NHL lists 9 players in COVID protocol
Read full article: The Latest: NHL lists 9 players in COVID protocolThe Boston Bruins had four players added to their list, which resulted in the league postponing their next two games. Boston’s David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci and Craig Smith joined Sean Kuraly, who entered the protocol a day earlier. The five players on one team are the most since the Philadelphia Flyers had five on Feb. 23. A total of 153 players have spent at least one day in the protocol since the NHL season began publishing its list on Jan. 13. ___The NHL has paused the Boston Bruins after four more players entered the league’s COVID protocol.
Gators will begin football practice this week, no spring game this year
Read full article: Gators will begin football practice this week, no spring game this yearNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators addresses his team after a victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida football team will begin practicing this week, but the school won’t hold a spring game for the second consecutive season. “Beginning this Thursday, the Gators football team will have 15 practices that will encompass four weeks. However, hosting fans for an intra-squad spring football scrimmage seems unwise given all circumstances, including the fact that Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is being used as a large-scale COVID testing and vaccination site.”AdThe NCAA allows 15 practices during the spring, although teams typically use one of those 15 as the spring game. The Gators didn’t have a spring game last year as the onset of the pandemic forced sports into a hiatus.
Florida, Notre Dame schedule home-and-home series in 2031-32
Read full article: Florida, Notre Dame schedule home-and-home series in 2031-32A helmet of the Florida Gators (photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) and a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet (photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images). GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida and Notre Dame have scheduled a home-and-home series for the 2031 and 2032 football seasons. Notre Dame will travel to Gainesville early the following year. The programs have met just once, with Notre Dame rallying to beat Florida in 39-28 in the 1992 Sugar Bowl. The Gators have home-and-home series scheduled with Texas, Utah, Cal, Colorado, Arizona State and North Carolina State.
Florida AD: ‘Encouraging signs of progress’ for hoops player Johnson
Read full article: Florida AD: ‘Encouraging signs of progress’ for hoops player JohnsonAthletic director Scott Stricklin said on Thursday that Johnson was showing “truly encouraging signs of progress” at UF Health in Gainesville. The Gators also announced that their next three nonconference basketball games would be postponed. “Keyontae Johnson continues to show truly encouraging signs of progress as he undergoes tests and further evaluation at UF Health,” Stricklin said in a statement. “This has been an emotionally taxing time for Keyontae’s family, friends and teammates,” Stricklin said. “Our hope is that everyone impacted will take an opportunity to process those emotions and regroup ahead of the start of the new year.”Games against Florida Atlantic (Dec. 19), Florida A&M (Dec. 20) and James Madison (Dec. 22) were all being postponed.
Florida AD Stricklin: Johnson ‘trending in right direction’
Read full article: Florida AD Stricklin: Johnson ‘trending in right direction’Scott Stricklin told WRUF radio that Johnson continues to make progress after collapsing on the court during a game at Florida State. Stricklin visited Johnson at UF Health on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m told he’s even progressed a lot since then, that he’s having good conversations with his doctors, with his coaches,” Stricklin said. “His prognosis seems to be trending in the right direction, but we still have a lot of questions. Like many of his Florida teammates, Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer.
Gators’ COVID-19 outbreak seems to be slowing down
Read full article: Gators’ COVID-19 outbreak seems to be slowing downThe 10th-ranked Gators reported four new positives since the middle of last week, when they postponed two games because of the novel coronavirus. Florida reported 25 new cases Tuesday from the past week of daily testing, but athletic director Scott Stricklin said last Wednesday that 21 football players had tested positive. Coach Dan Mullen and at least two assistants also tested positive. The Gators (2-1) were scheduled to host defending national champion LSU last week and Missouri this Saturday in the Swamp. Florida’s football team has had 31 positive tests in October.
The Latest: UEFA cancels men's soccer under-19 Euros
Read full article: The Latest: UEFA cancels men's soccer under-19 Euros___The Italian swim team’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympics are in crisis with 10 more athletes testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Olympic champion Federica Pellegrini was already at home in isolation after testing positive last week. The federation says all of the swimmers are asymptomatic and that no staff members have tested positive. ___The Mountain West football game between New Mexico and Colorado State has been canceled due to COVID-19. Overall contenders Simon Yates and Steven Kruijswijk had already been withdrawn from the race after testing positive.
Virus wreaking havoc on SEC with Saban now testing positive
Read full article: Virus wreaking havoc on SEC with Saban now testing positive10 Florida's game against defending national champion LSU was postponed Wednesday to tentatively Dec. 12 after the SEC postponed Missouri-Vanderbilt on Monday. Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason is going through a similar situation. To play, the SEC requires at least 53 on game days. Timing is critical depending on the day of the week a positive test or tracing result returns. “Every time you’re taking a test," Mason said, “you're crossing your fingers ... you don't have anybody in harm's way."
Florida-LSU football postponed due to COVID-19
Read full article: Florida-LSU football postponed due to COVID-19JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s home game Saturday against LSU is being postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Gators football program. The game against LSU, which was scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m., will now be played Dec. 12. Stricklin said that Florida had a surge in COVID-19 positive results. The Gators had 18 positive tests among scholarship players and another three walk-ons also test positive. A day earlier, Florida announced that it was pausing all football-related activities due to an increase in COVID-19 numbers among players.
SEC postpones LSU-Florida game as Gators deal with outbreak
Read full article: SEC postpones LSU-Florida game as Gators deal with outbreakThe Southeastern Conference postponed Saturday’s LSU-Florida game a day after Mullen had 19 players and coaches test positive for COVID-19. The game was tentatively rescheduled for Dec. 12, the league's built-in bye week before its annual championship. It's the second SEC game bumped this week, following Missouri-Vanderbilt. Florida hosts Missouri next, on October 24, and that game also could be in jeopardy. Mullen said two assistant coaches also tested positive.
Florida halts meetings, practices amid 19 new COVID cases
Read full article: Florida halts meetings, practices amid 19 new COVID casesFlorida head coach Dan Mullen reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. 10 Florida paused all team activities Tuesday following “an increase in positive COVID tests among players," putting Saturday's home game against defending national champion LSU in jeopardy. The Gators had 19 positives following Tuesday morning testing, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. He brushed aside criticism and praised his players for how well they have handled COVID safety protocols. The Gators test student-athletes three times a week, with football players getting tested Sunday at noon as well as Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Gators halt football activities as COVID-19 cases rise within program
Read full article: Gators halt football activities as COVID-19 cases rise within programJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida football team is pausing all football-related activities following an increase in COVID-19 cases, the school said Tuesday. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement that the Gators would halt all football activity and look for more clarity on Wednesday. The Gators (2-1) are scheduled to host LSU (1-2) on Saturday at 4 p.m.“The University of Florida football team has experienced an increase in positive COVID tests among players this week. Out of an abundance of caution, team activities are paused as of Tuesday afternoon,” Stricklin said. Following the game, Mullen said that he hoped that Ben Hill Griffin would be packed with fans for Florida’s game against LSU.
Gators announce safety protocols, attendance plans for 2020
Read full article: Gators announce safety protocols, attendance plans for 2020JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators football will look quite a bit different this season. Florida announced a handful of changes for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including only 20% capacity at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ahead of its home opener against South Carolina on Oct. 3. The Gators open their season on the road at Ole Miss on Sept. 26. The capacity limit will take the Swamp from 88,548 to right at 17,000, the school said on Thursday. The only time that fans are permitted to remove them is when they are eating and drinking.
Stricklin: If it can be played, Florida-Georgia game still on in Jacksonville
Read full article: Stricklin: If it can be played, Florida-Georgia game still on in JacksonvilleJACKSONVILLE, Fla. The SEC going with an all-conference schedule leaves one major hole for the Florida Gators. I anticipate that game staying in Jacksonville and staying on that same date, Stricklin said. Stricklin said that he wanted to keep that rivalry intact, but COVID-19 wouldnt allow it. A full SEC schedule will be released in the coming weeks, the conference said. Florida is currently scheduled to play the six SEC East teams, plus LSU and Ole Miss from the SEC West.
Florida-Georgia football game wont move to campus site this year
Read full article: Florida-Georgia football game wont move to campus site this yearJACKSONVILLE, Fla. If there is a college football season in 2020, the Florida-Georgia game will be played in Jacksonville. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said on Tuesday that if theres a season, that game should still be held in Jacksonville. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity followed that on Thursday when he told the DawgNation website the game would remain in Jacksonville. Scott and I spoke about this on Monday and agreed the game would remain in Jacksonville, McGarity told the website. Stricklin said on Tuesday that if games are being played this year, then he thinks the Florida-Georgia game should be held where it always is.
Scott Stricklin: College sports will return when its safe to do so
Read full article: Scott Stricklin: College sports will return when its safe to do soAsked if college football was worried about a bad look if it rushed players back to the field to try and salvage a season, Stricklin said that the sport wouldnt do that. I dont think were going to put them in a situation where were going to have bad optics. I dont think college football will do that.The scheduling and what ifs about football in the fall remain up in the air, Stricklin said. Stricklin said that hed still like to play that game if it was safe to do so. Our hope is to be able to play the game and be able to play in Jacksonville in some form, he said.
Florida naming basketball court for Billy Donovan
Read full article: Florida naming basketball court for Billy DonovanJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The most successful coach in Florida men’s basketball history is getting his own piece of the hardwood floor in Gainesville. The school announced on Friday that the court at Florida will be named for former Gators coach Billy Donovan. Donovan spent 19 years with the Gators, leading the team to back-to-back national championships and four NCAA Final Four appearances. Donovan was told in person by current Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin and former AD Jeremy Foley, who hired Donovan in 1996. “During my time at Kentucky, I had a front-row seat for the impact Billy made, not just on the Florida program, but our league.