Gators capture SEC Title on the Road!
Posted by UFreak in 
The 39th and 40th victories of the season, and the ones that secured the SEC Title, came tUFf at USCe IN Prime Time and in front of 8,188 and 8,240 screamin’ Gamecock fans! That’s getting it done! The Pittsburgh Pirates count gate receipts like that as a good day!
UFlorida and USCe were all tied up heading into the Thursday-Saturday 3-game series,….UF sitting at #4 in the country, and USCe ranked #6….Aside from both being top tem teams, each was sitting at 20-7 in the SEC, with an SEC Championship and #1 Seed in the Tourney hangin’ in the balance.
Two games into the set though, and its ALL over. Florida took the first two games (3-2 and 5-2), and will enjoy the spoils: The SEC Title, #1 Seed in the SEC Tourney, and (almost assuredly) Host in the Super Regional and Regionals. USCe and Auburn will finish in the top 3, with few teams in the country playing a well as Auburn of late!
UKentucky, with a win yesterday would have hooked THEIR wagon (once again) into the Tourney but have been denied 2 straight times against Jawja!…..JAWJA!….who had just 3 SEC victories ALL year entering this series!!!, Yeah!,..THEY beat UK 8-6 on Thursday and 20-0 UFriday night!…This follows a weekend sweep by the ‘Kats over Reigning Champ LoSerU, that had them back in the hunt! That’s got to sting a little….Too bad John Wall can’t play baseball too?!?!
Gators add indoor Track Title
NATIONAL TITLE, Track & Field 2010
The No. 1 University of Florida men’s track and field team captured the first NCAA Indoor Championship in program history on Saturday night, scoring 57 total team points and the Gator women placed fourth to cap off one of the most successful national meets in program history at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.
The Gator men scored 57 total team points, winning by 13 points over Oregon and Texas A&M, who finished tied for second with 44 total team points. The No. 4 Florida women placed fourth with 33 total team points. The Ducks won the women’s team title with 61 points, while Tennessee was second with 36 points and LSU was third with 35 points. It was the first top-five indoor finish on the women’s side since the Gators were second nationally in 2005.
The national championship by the Florida men’s track and field team marked the 23rd by a Gator team (all sports) in program history.
“It has been a long journey and I’m just so proud of my athletes and my staff,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I’m almost at a loss for words because of how happy I am. We kind of felt coming in that the first team that got to 50 would be the national champion. Everybody that put on the Gator uniform got after it this weekend. It shows the direction this program is headed in to win a national championship on the men’s side and to finish fourth on the women’s side.”
Over the course of the weekend, Florida captured national titles in the women’s mile (Charlotte Browning), men’s 60-meter dash (Jeff Demps), women’s shot put (Mariam Kevkhishvili) and men’s triple jump (Christian Taylor). The Gators also recorded 16 All-America honors on the weekend.
Freshman sprinter Jeff Demps (Winter Garden, Fla.) became the first person in school history to win the NCAA men’s 60-meter dash championship, doing so in a time of 6.57. That’s just shy of the school-record-setting time of 6.56 that he set in the preliminaries last night. Senior sprinter Jeremy Hall (Jacksonville , Fla.) placed sixth in 6.66. The Gators earned 13 total team points in the men’s 60m dash.
Senior thrower Mariam Kevkhishvili (Tbilisi, Georgia) became just the second woman in NCAA history to capture three consecutive NCAA indoor shot put titles, claiming the championship on Saturday with a school-record toss of 18.59m/61-0. That shattered her previous personal-record throw of 18.56m/60-10.75.Kevkhishvili has now won 13 consecutive indoor competitions dating back to her 2008 NCAA Indoor Championship also held in Fayetteville, Ark. Regina Cavanaugh of Rice is the only other woman in NCAA history to accomplish that feat, doing so from 1984-86
Junior distance runner Charlotte Browning (Pullborough, England) became just the second person in school history to win the NCAA mile championship, doing so in a time of 4:35.66. Browning, the 2010 SEC Indoor Champion in both the mile and 3,000m run, is the first Gator woman to win a national champion in the mile since Becki Wells did so in 1997. Browning set the school record in the women’s mile already this season at 4:31.24.
Sophomore jumper Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.) broke his own school record in winning the NCAA title the men’s triple jump, becoming the first athlete in school history to break the 17-meter plateau at 17.18m/56-4.50. Taylor captured the event for the second consecutive year, becoming the first person to win back-to-back NCAA men’s indoor triple jump title since Walter Davis of LSU accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2002.
Freshman jumper Omar Craddock (Kileen, Texas) placed seventh in the men’s triple jump to earn All-America honors in the first NCAA meet of his young career with a mark of 16.15m/53-0.
Freshman sprinter Tony McQuay (Riviera Beach, Fla.) earned All-America honors, finishing third in the men’s 400-meter dash in a career-best time of 45.74, which goes down as the third-fastest time in school history. Senior sprinter Calvin Smith (Lutz, Fla.) was eighth in 46.60.
The men’s 4x400m relay placed fourth overall in a time of 3:05.78, using the quartet of Preston Wilson (Orlando, Fla.), McQuay, Jovon Toppin (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad) and Smith to earn All-America honors.
With two All-America honors in the meet, Smith became Florida’s all-time men’s leader in total All-America honors with 15 in his career. He surpassed Mike Morrison (14) for the all-time lead – indoors and outdoors combined.
Senior jumper Shara Proctor (The Valley, Anguilla) earned All-America honors in her second event of the weekend, placing third in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 13.71m/44-11.75.
Junior thrower Keely Medeiros (Luziana, Brazil) finished eighth in the women’s shot put to earn All-America honors with a toss of 16.44m/53-11.25.
Florida opens its 2010 outdoor track and field season on Saturday, March 20, when it travels to Orlando, Fla., to participate in the UCF Black and Gold Challenge.
NCAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (MARCH 12-13, 2010, FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Men’s Heptathlon – 12 p.m. ET (AUTO: 5,675; PROV: 5,325)
15th/DNF. Gray Horn – 4,256
Heptathlon 60mH (AUTO: 7.70; PROV: 7.91)
15. Gray Horn – 10.78 (403 points)
Heptathlon Pole Vault (AUTO: 5.50m; PROV: 5.20m)
13. Gray Horn – 4.40m/14-5.25 (731 points)
Heptathlon 1,000m Run (Not an NCAA Championship Event)
–. Gray Horn – DNS
Women’s Shot Put – 5:30 p.m. ET (AUTO: 16.90m; PROV: 15.20m)
1. Mariam Kevkhishvili – 18.59m/61-0 (10 points)
8. Keely Medeiros – 16.44m/53-11.25 (1 point)
Men’s Triple Jump – 6:30 p.m. ET (AUTO: 16.15m; PROV: 15.45m)
1. Christian Taylor – 17.18m/56-4.50 (10 points)
7. Omar Craddock – 16.15m/53-0 (2 points)
Women’s Mile Final – 7:25 p.m. ET (AUTO: 4:37.00; PROV: 4:46.70)
1. Charlotte Browning – 4:35.66 (10 points)
Women’s Triple Jump – 7:30 p.m. ET (AUTO: 13.30m; PROV: 12.65m)
3. Shara Proctor – 13.71m/44-11.75 (6 points)
Men’s 400m Final – 7:55 p.m. ET (AUTO: 46.15; PROV: 47.25)
3. Tony McQuay – 45.74 (6 points)
8. Calvin Smith – 46.60 (1 point)
Men’s 60m Final – 8:15 p.m. ET (AUTO: 6.60; PROV: 6.71)
1. Jeff Demps – 6.57 (10 points)
6. Jeremy Hall – 6.66 (3 points)
Men’s 4x400m Relay – 9:25 p.m. ET (AUTO: 3:06.50; PROV: 3:10.40)
4. Florida – 3:05.78 (5 points)
(Preston Wilson, Tony McQuay, Jovon Toppin, Calvin Smith)
FLORIDA NCAA CHAMPIONS (ENTIRE WEEKEND)
- Charlotte Browning – Women’s Mile – 4:35.66
- Jeff Demps (Yes, the “RB” from the Football team!) – Men’s 60m – 6.57
- Mariam Kevkhishvili – Women’s Shot Put – 18.59m/61-0
- Christian Taylor – Men’s Triple Jump – 17.18m/56-4.50
FLORIDA ALL-AMERICANS (ENTIRE WEEKEND)
- Charlotte Browning – Women’s Mile – 4:35.66 (1st)
- Omar Craddock – Men’s Triple Jump – 16.15m/53-0 (7th)
- Jeff Demps – Men’s 60m – 6.57 (1st)
- Jeremy Hall – Men’s 60m – 6.66 (6th)
- Mariam Kevkhishvili – Women’s Shot Put – 18.59m/61-0 (1st)
- Tony McQuay – Men’s 400m – 45.74 (3rd)
- Tony McQuay – Men’s 200m – 20.80 (8th)
- Keely Medeiros – Women’s Shot Put – 16.44m/53-11.25 (8th)
- Kemal Mesic – Men’s Shot Put – 19.26m/63-2.25 (2nd)
- Shara Proctor – Women’s Long Jump – 6.64m/21-9.50 (3rd)
- Shara Proctor – Women’s Triple Jump – 13.71m/44-11.75 (3rd)
- Calvin Smith – Men’s 200m – 20.67 (6th)
- Calvin Smith – Men’s 400m – 46.60 (8th)
- Christian Taylor – Men’s Triple Jump – 17.18m/56-4.50 (1st)
- Christian Taylor – Men’s Long Jump – 7.93m/26-0.25 (2nd)
- Men’s 4x400m Relay – 3:05.78 (Wilson, McQuay, Toppin, Smith) (4th)
Final NCAA Indoor Championship Men’s Team Scores
1. Florida – 57
2. Texas A&M – 44
2. Oregon – 44
4. LSU – 42
5. Arkansas – 38
Final NCAA Indoor Championship Women’s Team Scores
1. Oregon – 61
2. Tennessee – 36
3. LSU – 35
4. Florida – 33
5. Texas A&M – 31
USA Bobsled team! GET IT DONE!!!
If they awarded medals after each bobsled run at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, former Florida track and field athlete Steve Mesler would have two golds in his pocket – or around his neck.
A pusher on the USA I four-man bobsled piloted by Steve Holcomb, Mesler was in the winning sled in each of two runs Friday at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
However, the Florida graduate must make it through two more runs Saturday before he can claim a medal. Total time from the four runs determine the order of finish.
The United States has not won an Olympic four-man bobsled gold medal since 1948 at St. Moritz.
Mesler, an alternate on the 2002 Olympic team and part of Todd Hays’ seventh-place team at the 2006 Games, graduated from Florida in 2000. As a Gator, his sport was track and field, his specialty the decathlon.
As a right-side pusher and third man in the sled, the 6-foot-2, 206-pounder’s job here is to push like crazy, load quickly and hang on.
Both starts were strong, with emotions in check.
“We don’t stand at the top of the hill and say ‘this is it, this is the Olympic Games.’ That’s not gonna get us anywhere,” said Mesler, 31. “It’s pretty obvious. We don’t need to tell each other. All you’ve got to do is open your eyes and see the (Olympic) rings everywhere. So we just act as if our goal is to win the race today. That’s what we did, so we’re going to hope to go out and win the race tomorrow.”
USA I’s start time of 4.75 seconds, briefly a track record, ranked second overall on the first run, behind Germany I’s 4.73.
USA‘s second start matched the 4.73, but ranked fourth overall. Germany I again was faster with a track-record 4.70.
USA I reached a top speed of 95 mph, flying through a wet snow on a 33-degree day.
Holcomb, who placed sixth in the two-man competition here that ended Sunday, simply outdrove Germany I’s Andre Lange. No easy task, as Lange already bagged the two-man gold here and is the two-time defending champion in the Olympic four-man competition.
USA I finished first first run in a track-record 50.89 seconds, the second in an even faster 50.86. The combined time of 1:41.75 leads Canada I by 0.40 seconds, with Lange’s Germany I another four-hundredths back. The next-best American sled, Mike Kohn’s USA III, is in 12th place, 1.36 seconds behind USA I.
“I’m going to sleep well,” Mesler said. “When you go to bed the night before (the first runs), you’re not sure if you’re going to be fast, you’re not sure how it’s going to go. You feel like you are.
“We know we’re fast on this track now. We know we can start. We know ‘Holcy’s’ driving. We know the equipment’s running. So we can go to bed knowing all we have to do now is come out and do our job.”
Others may not sleep as well. Six of 25 sleds crashed – three on the first run and three on the second. USA II, driven by John Napier, turned over on the second run but slid across the finish line to put the team in 17th place.
Four sleds withdrew earlier in the week. Three of those were because of injuries suffered in crashes either in the two-man competition or four-man practices. A Dutch team dropped out because Edwin van Calker said he wasn’t confident in his driving ability on the track.
Two weeks earlier, a luger from the country of Georgia was killed on the same track.
Mesler, who came to the Gators from Buffalo but has resided for the last seven years in Calgary, respects the track. He does not fear it, though.
”No, because we’re having good trips. We see those but Holcomb still has that same feel and it’s not going to change just watching other people crash.”
Between Holcomb and Mesler, in the No. 2 spot, is Justin Olsen of San Antonio. The brakeman and last in the sled is Curt Tomasevicz of Shelby, Neb.
“We’re right where we want to be,” Holcomb said. “We had a great day today and we’ll have another great day tomorrow.
“It’s not over yet. We’ve got another race ahead of us. This is basically like halftime.”
Steve Mesler, Curtis Tomasevicz, Justin Olsen and Steven Holcomb
Gators win opener vs USF, 6-2
2009 — Position — 2010
Avery Barnes — LF — Tyler Thompson
Matt den Dekker — CF — Matt den Dekker
Riley Cooper — RF — Daniel Pigott
Brandon McArthur — 1B — Preston Tucker
Clayton Pisani — 2B — Josh Adams
Mike Mooney — SS — Nolan Fontana
Josh Adams — 3B — Bryson Smith
Buddy Munroe — C — Mike Zunino
Preston Tucker — DH — Austin Maddox
Rounding the bases Friday night, Austin Maddox wasn’t sure if he was going to wake up before he reached home plate.
Moments earlier, Florida’s freshman designated hitter had just belted the second collegiate pitch of his career over the right-center field wall for a two-run home run to give the Gators (1-0) a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
His trance ended after he touched home and realized what happened.
“First (at-bat). That doesn’t happen to many people, but it felt really good,” Maddox said.
It felt pretty good for the Gators all night in their season opener against South Florida at McKethan Stadium. Along with Maddox’s debut, junior infielder Josh Adams showed off some power by clearing the left field bleachers twice as the Gators defeated USF 6-2 in front of a crowd of 3,309.
While Maddox felt like his at-bat was a dream, Adams, who has won consecutive All-SEC accolades, said he had goosebumps after his first at-bat when he hit a two-run homer off Randy Fontanez in the first.
He was giddy after the hit, but he wasn’t very nervous coming into the game.
“Honestly, for a lot of us it felt like another scrimmage game because we’ve been scrimmaging so much,” Adams said. “About five minutes until game time everybody started getting that look like, ‘All right, it’s here. We’re ready to go.’ Everybody was ready and it was a good night.”
Besides Florida’s offensive explosion in the first, Friday meant the return of a familiar face. After spending the 2009 season sidelined after shoulder surgery, sophomore right-hander Tommy Toledo made his first appearance on the mound in more than a year.
He started strong as he struck out his first batter, but admitted jitters caught up to him while facing his third batter, Stephen Hunt, who saved the inning with a single to center. After Hunt stole second, Toledo walked Sam Mende off a wild pitch, putting runners at the corners.
Toledo then calmly struck out the next batter on a 3-2 count.
Toledo’s nerves didn’t leave him. His control problems landed him in a bases-loaded situation in the second, but like the inning before, he escaped with a strikeout and the clean sheet.
“It was definitely good to get my feet wet a little bit with the guys on and get those situations out of the way,” Toledo said. “I’m sure its going to be like that for the rest of the season, so I’m glad I got the first one out of the way.”
Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan pulled Toledo after 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, two walks and an unearned run off 71 pitches. He was replaced by lefty Alex Panteliodis, who picked up the win after 3 1/3 innings and three strikeouts.
Florida’s bats went silent after Fontanez found his rhythm. He retired six straight after giving up those four runs and went 6 2/3 with five strikeouts in the losing effort.
Adams, who went 3-for-3 on the night, hit his second homer in the fifth and drove in his fourth run with a double in the seventh that scored senior center fielder Matt den Dekker.
The early bat work proved too much for the Bulls, but nerves kept the game from getting out of hand as Florida committed two errors on the night and only five hits after the first inning.
Still, O’Sullivan was pleased with the solid opening.
“There’s nothing like opening day,” he said. “Everybody’s anxious and everybody’s kind of amped up. I could tell our (batting practice) was a little different. It’s always good to get the first one out of the way.”
National Signing Day is approaching!!!
Most of the BIG names have declared, and Texas will likely end up with the #1 Class, followed by Florida, Alabama and a few other SEC Schools (6 in the top 10 to this point). On Wednesday (02.03.10) it’ll all settle, sans the possibility some Terrell Pryor/Bryce Brown type decides to ride the “LOVE-ME” train a little longer. For Pryor, it kinda made his two years of comparable “let-down” kinda interesting. And for UMichy and PeniSUfans, may have been a little humorous? OK, so in Michy’s case, they are PROBABLY a little more concerned with their direction, than how much better off both Pryor and THEY would be had it gone to Ann Arbor. Michiganis addressing their defensive needs in this class, but as far as top recruits coming in, that hasn’t yet returned. They will be better going forward, but Richie-Rod will wear asbestos underwear in this, his final year at the helm. Michigan will not be improved enUFf to save him….and the rope he’s been (to this point)given is long enUFf. PeniSU has righted the ship under Coke Bottle Glasses Guy, and lead the big10 in this years race. Its largely believed they’ll fall off a little in the conference THIS year, but are re-loading with this 2010 class.
There are two semi-high profile recruits, possibly, who will run this route this year. The extra time did little good for either of the two mentioned above; Pryor has been largely mis-used in Columbus, and Bryce Brown will move on to the NFL without ever playing in a January Bowl game! Still, I’m sure those extra weeks of Coaches coming by to blow you, were well worth the delay. In Pryor’s case, though, at least he’ll be playing for his conference Title every year. As much a credit to the his team, as it is for his conference. This year, he’ll have to beat scUMiami, Wiscony and Iowa. The two in conference games could be the most competition they had in a long while! scUMiami could be better this year than last. They have a ton of young fast players, that just didn’t handle the hot start so well last year. The game in 2011 will be the tUFfer game, but Pryor will likely make the jump by then…..based on potential more than appeal, I believe. He’s got the tools, he’s just not been able to play the kind of offense he’s built to play. tOSU fans would agree with that, following a loss. They might disagree with that line of thinking now, though. Fresh off a win against Defense-challenged Oregon (who was SHUT down by BSU in game one!), they have boners for the “O” now! At the time, of the Boise win over Ore-gone, it was considered an aberration. The team showed improvement. HOWEVER! -Noting what side of the ball matters (exclusively) in the PAC10 (sans USC), it may mean a little somethin’-somethin’..?? Oregon got to #7 by beating Arizona by 3 in double OT (44-41) and by beating Oregon State IN EUGENE, by 3 (UC smoke OSU in Corvallis in 2010,..smoked ‘em!) Arizona was shut-out in its Bowl game against Nebraska!
UCincinnati class rank, thus far?….With INdy’s DyJuan Lewis (top 150 player/recruit) in the mix, they are up to #58, per Rivals. HERE
Catch signing day updates here!….THIS coming Wednesday!
BIG Day for Chuckles and the Domer-fans!
Can the USCw secondary contain the Claussen-Pickle boy? Can the Pickle-boy throw against a team WITH an active secondary (one with a pulse)?…..Obviously THIS is where the game will be decided. Sure, Charlie’s porous defense will have to produce about a +4 T/O ratio, or at least score a few TD’s in order for this to be a game, but….the Irish DO have one thing working in their favor:…yeah, HER!
…………………………………look!
If Miss “Hawt-thighs” McTightPants can play “cover-corner”, too, the Irish will stand a chance. If not, then she’ll need to work the Trojan sideline like an over-aggressive “TRICK-or-TREATER”, this afternoon!….From her eye make-up to the tips of her black boots, she’s got the goods! BUT, will she have the endurance?
One thing is FOR SURE!…she won’t have ANY effect on “JIMMY“!…AT ALL!….yeah, its like a roving safety, he won’t even SEE HER out there!
Prediction:…..She’s a big hit, but the Irish fall for the 8th straight time to USCw….and like most games ND plays against ranked teams (under Chunky), this one will be ugly! Jimmy-Jimmy throws a few picks, but throws a late TD too, in the 27-13 loss.
LAME is BOZO?…I knew it!
Lane Kiffin is a Bozo!???…. Add this to the tally of pregame banter before the CBS game of the week 3:30 PM Eastern in Gainesville Florida 9-19-2009. In an interview, with the Gainesville Sun, Gators player Matt Patchan was asked what he would do if he passed Lane Kiffin on the street. He said:
“I probably wouldn’t say anything to him. I’ve got nothing to say to that guy. He’s a bozo.”
This is a little different than Lane Kiffin saying “I’m really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year, it will be a blast”
It is different because I don’t see the Vols putting “Lane Kiffin is a Bozo” on the bulletin board. Call me crazy. On top of that, what else do Vols fans/players expect? Their coach has had calamity after calamity since the day he stepped on to campus. They are used to Kiffin being made fun of by the national media, who cares what one random player from Florida says?
I say all of that to point out the Vols sad state of affairs. A player from one of your biggest rival can call your coach a Bozo and it is not a big deal. That’s close to rock bottom, but if the Vols start winning, it will all be coming up roses. All of this preseason gibberish and trash talk will be a funny distant memory if the Vols start 3-0…..yeah, “if”!
And it wasn’t even close, BUD!
It’s a sweep!
And it’s not even close. (BUD!)
The Florida athletic program has won the SEC All-Sports Trophy for the 19th time in the past 22 years. The New York Times Regional Newspaper Group has awarded trophies to the men’s, women’s and overall champions since 1995 when the league decided to stop presenting an award.
Florida easily outdistanced second-place Georgia in the overall standings, compiling 162.50 points to Georgia’s 133.50 in 16 sports. The Gators won six SEC titles in the 2008-09 school year — football, soccer, women’s outdoor track and field, women’s swimming and diving, volleyball and softball.
Points are awarded based on each sports’ finish in conference play with 12 going to the first-place team. Each school’s total points are divided by the number of sports. This is Florida’s ninth sweep of the three categories — overall, men’s and women’s.
It’s the 16th win for the women’s program and 13th for the men’s.
“I’m very, very proud of our coaches and student-athletes,” said Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley. “It was a very, very good year for the Gators. Again, that’s a testimony to our coaches and their athletes.
“It’s something we take a lot of pride in. Everybody knows what a good league the SEC is. To win that trophy, it’s something all our athletes and coaches are trilled about, and so am I.”
LSU finished third in the overall competition with Tennessee fourth and Auburn fifth.
Florida’s men scored 70 points in seven sports for a 10.0 average while LSU was second at 8.21. In the women’s sports, Florida had an average of 10.28 compared to second-place Tennessee’s 9.06 average.
Florida is the only SEC school to win all three titles in one season.
“Dog pile on the Tebow, dog-pile on the Tebow!”…
Man, this guy has it rUFf,…..2 natty’s in 3 years, and a very decent shot in 2009 at 3 in 4 years…..one He15man on the mantle, and a very decent shot in 2009 at a 2nd!…..STILL!, he’s the most hated and criticized player in the country, outside several studios and the most perfect city in all the World!….Tim “you-suck-because-you’re-a-Gator-and-not-on-MY-favorite-team” Tebow!..This is your life!
LINK
For the 3rd Spring in a row, the calls about him NOT making it as a Pro surface!….Surprise! He’s got no accuracy, can’t throw deep, plays in a system (they ALL play in a system for gawd sake!), the spread doesn’t go Pro, and he has to run to be effective……WOW!….How is it this man-child hasn’t stuck a meat cleaver into his aorta by now!…..(stop it all you haters!)
hhhmmm,…will he, or won’t he, be a good Pro player…..I don’t really care, from a “Pro” standpoint. I’m a marginal Pro fan, and I have no favorite team there (thanks to the Bungles)….I’m a Gator and a College Football fan, primarily. so, from that standpoint alone, he did his job already! Since the success of 1st round QB’s is, like, 0.259 % ANYway,….who cares!? He, despite the other fans and their hate, IS a great kid, and has done nothing but win to bring ON that hate,. So from that standpoint, I wish him all the best. He’s earned it.
Billy Horschel takes SEC Title w/10 under
SEA ISLAND, Ga. — After shooting a final-round 71 (-1) on Sunday, senior Billy Horschel took home the 2009 SEC Championship Individual Medal, with a three-day total of 206 (-10). Horschel led the UF men’s golf team to a third place finish at Frederica Golf Club.
Horschel carried the team all weekend, playing all three rounds under par and beating Mississippi State’s Carlos Sainz by two shots. Horschel got off to a blistering start in the first two rounds, shooting68 (-4) on Friday and 67 (-5) on Saturday.
His final round 71 (-1) was good enough to hold on for the win.
It was Horschel’s third-lowest tournament score in relation to par in his collegiate career, and his first win since he shared the medalist honors at the 2007 NCAA East Regional.
“I’m elated for Billy,” said head coach Buddy Alexander. “He played beautifully all week. He’s a senior and he’s worked extremely hard and he wanted a ring. Now he’s going to get one as an individual.”
Florida shot even-par 288 on Sunday and totaled 865 (+1) for the tournament.
Georgia ran away from the field, shooting under par as a team in each round and finishing at 15-under 849. The Gators were in second for a good portion of the final round, but Arkansas took second place at two-under 862.
Junior Tyson Alexander enjoyed his best round on Sunday, opening with four birdies in his first seven holes. He dropped a few strokes but sank two more birdies and carded a final round 70 (-2). He moved up 17 spots on the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 17th at three-over 219.
“We got off to a much better start today,” coach Alexander said. “Tyson put us in position to catch Arkansas, but we couldn’t quite get it done. We knew coming into the tournament that Georgia was the team to beat.”
Florida will now wait to find out its destination for the NCAA Regionals, to be held May 14-16. There are six possible sites the Gators could travel to: Galloway, N.J. (host Columbia), Austin, Texas (host Texas), Daly City, Calif. (host San Francisco), Sorrento, Florida (host UCF), Bowling Green, Kent. (host Western Kentucky) or Stillwater, Okla. (host Oklahoma St.)….Let’s bet its Sorrento, Fl…huh!