GatorBaitMedia.com And Buddy Martin Media Add New Faces

Allen Barney will team up with our “championship team” to cover the Gators, along with relative newcomer Eddie Gilley and veterans Franz Beard, Loren Meadows and Carlton Reese

Allen Barney joins our team (Chris Spears Photo)

President Brenden Martin and co-owner, editor/columnist Buddy Martin made these announcements Saturday about BuddyMartinMedia, and GatorBaitMedia.com, which have become a “championship team” about to celebrate 50 years of covering the Gators.

Dan Bond is also a major contributor. Chris Spears continues as chief videographer and photographer.

Gilley is a lifelong sports fanatic. He played football from peewee to high school. Started baseball as a toddler and was fortunate to play at Samford University. He has served teams as a volunteer coach and chaplain. He’s been around athletes his whole life. Since 1987, he has missed just two college home football games for the universities he has served. He has mentored many athletes over the years and he’s a fan of all sports, but “the only colors you will find in his closet are orange and blue.”

Eddie Gilley: You'll see him more (Chris Spears Photo

Growing up in Ocala, Barney was exposed to Gator sports often and quickly became a fan of their athletic teams.

As he was choosing his career path before college, he knew covering sports would be the way to go because sports have always been “a big part of my life.” He began playing T-ball in Anthony Little League when he was five years old and continued in athletics until graduating high school from North Marion High.

Barney graduated College of Central Florida before transferring to the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism during the fall of 2022. He formerly interned at InsidetheGators.com as a writer/reporter, covered high school sports in Marion County for the Ocala Gazette/Ocala Star-Banner as a writer/reporter and was a play-by- play announcer for the College of Central Florida.

Allen is a proud father of two daughters (1 and 7 years old) and has been with his fiancé Kylie for 12 years. “I promise to deliver the best coverage of Gator sports a fan deserves,” Barney vowed. “I’m excited to be back!”

Brenden Martin's role as a national force in turn-key podcasting with other key major figures has expanded recently, including Rob Browne of SEC Sidelines, but he continues to produce The Buddy Martin Show and focus on streaming in which has been a pioneer. Buddy's show has grown into new markets like the Florida Panhandle where he now resides part-time, while also maintaining an Ocala residence.

Beard, Reese and Spears are months away from publishing a book on Florida's basketball championship season for GatorBait Publications.