GATORBAIT MEDIA

He’ll return not as a stranger. Not as a prodigal son, exactly. More like a man who took the long way around the block and found the front porch light still on.

Placekicker Trey Smack was selected by the Green Bay Packers (Photo by Chris Spears) If you weren’t already convinced then the National Football League Draft proved conclusively the Florida Gators were under-coached the last four years. Seven Gators were taken in the 2206 draft which concluded Saturday afternoon, one in each of the seven rounds. That is tied for fourth in the SEC, more than 10 other schools in the most competitive and talented league in the country. Nationall

Jake Slaughter (66) was taken by the Chargers in the second round (Photo by Chris Spears) People keep underestimating Jake Slaughter, much to their detriment. A couple of years ago Slaughter didn’t make first, second or third team All-SEC when the coaches voted, yet that same year he was a consensus first team All-America by all the major services. He followed that up with an All-SEC and second team All-America year in 2025. Mel Kiper, who did consider Slaughter the best ce

He had come south to play for a place he called his dream school, to play for a coach named Coach Golden, and to play alongside boys who had become more than teammates — they had become his people. And oh, how Tommy could play.

(Photo by Chris Spears) With good reason, Todd Golden was relaxed and in a confident, not cocky, mood Wednesday morning. He spent more than 20 minutes answering questions that obviously began with the report that if Steve Kerr calls it a career with the Golden State Warriors, Golden will be first on the list that ownership contacts to make the leap from college basketball to the NBA.   “I definitely plan on coaching the Gators,” Golden answered.   And why not? In his four yea

Tommy Haugh is returning for his senior season at Florida (Photo by Chris Spears) "Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA. It's not just the NIL. It's a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach [Todd] Golden. To go to the school I love to play for. It was definitely a tougher decision than last year, but it was best for my career and future." – Tommy Haugh, speaking to ESPN Money isn’t everything. If it were, Tommy Haugh would

The 5-for-5 rule should make Denzel Aberdeen eligible without a waiver (Photo by Chris Spears) “Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled The battle outside ragin’ Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls For the times, they are a-changin' ” – Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin’”   Yes, the times are changing and for once, the NCAA, in its infinite wisd

Tommy Haugh, Todd Golden and Alex Condon after Florida's loss to Iowa (UAA Photo) Braylon Mullins, the freshman whose shot sent Duke packing in the East Regional championship game in Washington, DC, has decided to return to UConn for his sophomore season. Big deal? You bet, and it just might be a signal of things to come in the NBA Draft, in particular with the Florida Gators.   Mullins was a certain first rounder. He’s 6-6, a more than capable defender but more important to

Florida started with a wobble and ended with a hop as the season came to a conclusion in Fort Worth with a third place finish. The Gators had the same rotation as Thursday, which was a favorable one. Their top two events Beam and Bars are where they would start and end with. So, off to a great start and a chance for a big score at the end. Unfortunately a 197.6875 just wasn’t high enough. 198’s win championships and Oklahoma had one on Thursday (198.300) and another on Saturd

Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo is expected to be Florida's starting QB (Photo by Chris Spears) The concerns are legitimate. The last time the Southeastern Conference won the college football national championship was Georgia in 2022. In the three years since, not only has a Big Ten team won the national title all three years, but the SEC hasn’t gotten a team to the championship game.   Consensus opinion is the Big Ten will make it four straight since everybody and his brot

Thursday’s session saw some low scoring overall. With no perfect 10’s given in the afternoon or evening session. Oklahoma pulled out the highest score with a 198.300.

“I was surprised and really appreciate the honor,” Spurrier told me, sounding equal parts humbled and amused. There are moments in Florida athletics when the past and present don’t just shake hands — they lock arms and march together. This was one of them. Jenny Rowland didn’t need to say a word. She let the wardrobe do the talking. And somewhere, you could almost hear Steve Spurrier chuckling gratefully. I heard it in real time. “I was surprised and really appreciate the hon