SB Nation User Blog: skigator93

Janoris breaks the golden silence of spring

skigator93 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:09:42 -0000

"Silence is Golden." You see the statement before motion picture movies at the theatre. For college football teams - especially those who look primed to make a serious championship run, silence truly is a welcome sound. For it means that your team is not in the news during the spring and summer months, a time when newsmakers always do so for the wrong reasons.

We were thinking that only injury could derail the 2009 version of the Gator train, but we forgot about idiocy. You know - fighting in downtown Gainesville and not stopping when ordered by the police to do so. Things like getting tased and then briefly running from the police.....all bad and all stupid.

Janoris Jenkins is the latest Gator to have a mugshot on file with the GPD. As usual, the team is "waiting on the results of the investigation." At worst, Jenkins will miss some games (likely the first 2 games against our typical patsy opponents and then return for Tennessee). Since he has no previous record, he will like use the deferred prosecution option and have to complete some community service. At best, Meyer will "handle it internally" whatever that means, and we will be called a bunch of thugs by our rivals. Whatever the outcome, it is a black eye for the UF football team. Let's hope that somehow, this is the only incident of the summer.

It must be difficult to sleep at night when you are a head football coach of 18-22 year olds who are in a place like Gainesville with all kinds of time on their hands for the summer.

Are you kidding?

skigator93 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:56:08 -0000

This might be the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen/heard. This is a member of the US House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Florida (parts of Duval, Clay, Alachua, Putnam, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole & Orange Counties) thoroughly embarassing the University of Florida with her congratulatory remarks. I'm sure she means well, but the speech is the most painful thing I have ever forced myself to sit through.

Below is the link to the speech via Withleather...you have been warned

Click here, but have some Tums nearby!

I sure hope that "Irving Meyers" can keep this streak going....and that someone unseats this lady before the end of next season.

More Under the Radar News

skigator93 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:18:51 -0000

Earlier this week, Gator placekicker Jonathan Phillips was granted a medical hardship by the NCAA (for missing virtually all of the 2007 season), allowing him to return to the team to kick in 2009. Hopefully Phillips' extra season will go as well as Phil Trautwine's did and he'll get another ring for his efforts.

Although this wasn't exactly headline news, it is very comforting to know that the Gators will return an experienced kicker who converted all but one field goal attempt last season. You never know when your title hopes may rest on a last second field goal attempt, and it's always better to have an experienced guy in that situation than a first time kicker.

Here's the link:

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090309/ARTICLES/903090902

Something about Jonathan Dowling

skigator93 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:52:00 -0000

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090310/ARTICLES/903100948/1136?Title=Commit-says-he-ll-go-from-Seminole-to-Gator

The above article is taken from the Gainesville Sun and talks about 2010 Gator DB recruit Jonathan Dowling. I can do without the comparison to Deion Sanders (I would prefer a comparison to Will White or Fred Weary maybe?), but I especially like the following quote:

“I could care less how many people are (at the safety position)," he said. “I’m going in there to take somebody’s spot.”

That is a far cry from say, Greg Reid, huh? I also like his statement that he will only take one visit (to Gainesville) and isn't changing his mind. Let's hope that's another difference from Reid's path.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news...

skigator93 — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:57:24 -0000

But our quarterback just announced he is coming back for his senior season. There has been talk that Harvin and Spikes will join him and come back together like the '04s did in basketball, but I think that is doubtful. Regardless, I like the thought that our defense may be better next year, because, like the Dawgs, we were very young this season. Add Tebow and the next crop of speedy receivers and I like our odds. See you in Jax.

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090111/NEWS/901110951/1090?Title=Tebow___I_m_coming_back_

In the news

skigator93 — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:53:31 -0000

First, a nice article on Coach Stoops from the Gainesville Sun...

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090103/COLUMNISTS/901030995/1044?Title=Stoops_made_big_impression_at_UF

Next, this story is making its way around Gator Nation with reckless abandon. I have already received it via e-mail and text. This Gator says "meh....." Franks didn't really call out anyone or say anything that I would call "bulletin board material." I think the media often looks too hard at these things...I would hope our team doesn't need something this marginal for motivation.

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090104/APS/901042172

Just thought you guys would find the above interesting....

Congrats to UGA....and lookie here! S-E-C!!

skigator93 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:04:10 -0000

Congrats to the Bulldog Nation on a great Citrus Bowl victory (to heck with all the coproate sponsors and new names!). As I write this, Ole Miss just beat up one of the Big 12 "Big 3," and the game wasn't as close as the score. With the two SEC Championship teams left to play (and Kentucky playing now), the conference is off to a 4-1 start. Maybe Kyle was a little strong with his contention that the SEC is "down" this year. Perhaps some of the other teams (like Ole Miss) just picked up for perennial powers Tennessee and Auburn?

We'll have to revisit after the final 3 teams play....stay tuned and go S-E-C!

p.s. can we cut South Carolina out of the conference - sort of a "last in - first out" downsizing because of the battered economy?

One change we need in the Bowl arena

skigator93 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:28:45 -0000

Am I the only one who thinks the conference tie-ins to certain bowls are ridiculous? Is there anyone out there who wouldn't rather see USC play Texas in the Rose Bowl instead of beating up on a weak Penn State team while Musberger and Herby gush over them for 3 hours in the booth?

Personally, I think USC is as good as any team in the country. A four team playoff this season with USC. UF, OU and Texas would have been very interesting to watch for every college football fan in the country. Instead we get to see USC roll Penn State (thanks for the easy confidence points in the Alligator Army Pick 'Em contest), Texas is expected to do the same to another Big 10 patsy and then one good game for everyone to watch. It works out this season for Gators, but we could get much better games by dumping the conference tie- ins. Who cares if the SEC champ doesn't go to the Sugar? Anyone?

Recruiting Story

skigator93 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:31:49 -0000

Here is a recruiting story that I pulled from the Crimson and Creme (OU) site:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/sports/ncaafootball/26recruit.html?_r=1&ref=sports

The OU fansite is much better than the story, but thought you might find it interesting nonetheless. It is about prized recruit Jamarkus McFarland, an alleged "honor student" from Lufkin High in east Texas, although he appears to have difficulty with the english langauge (based on the quotes in the story).

The article exposes everything that is wrong with recruiting as Texas and Oklahoma do battle for the top rated defender in Texas. The kid's mom sounds like an attention whore, influencing her son based on how the two schools treat her. Although she does not attend her son's football games, she was heavily involved in the recruiting process and obviously knows what is best for her kids, since McFarland's older brother is in the pokey. McFarland seems to be following in mama's footsteps - calling OU's DC at 12:01 am on Christmas Day to commit because "isn't that what you wanted for Christmas?" Uh, no Jamarkus, I wanted a national championship, but I guess you'll do....

Recruiting sounds like a miserable process. I don't envy the coaches who have to spend countless hours making people like this believe in a university which is probably too good for them to begin with.

Go Gators!!!

Way to represent Gator Nation

skigator93 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:18:42 -0000

Please read the below entry and comments from Alabama fans on Roll Tide Roll. I visited there often last week and most of the posters there are well-informed and passionate Tide Fans.

http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2008/12/7/684080/florida-fans#10546461

I was afraid from the title that the post was going to be negative, but was glad to see otherwise. We represent the Gator Nation, so although we cannot control every jackass out there, I am glad to see the overall perception this weekend of Gator fans, was a positive one.

Go Gators.