Sumrall's Team Needs To Do Rory Did -- To Claim Their Rightful Place

Can Denzel get that 5th year?

I know, that sounds far fetched 1,000 miles away, but it is in fact, only 527 miles from Gainesville to Augusta. And somewhat similar in quest. But Rory’s  11 years in the making. And right there in that beautiful setting.

GAINESVILLE — it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The  Orange and  Blue Neighborhood. On an absolutely perfect lemon-lime April Saturday full of hope and promise and maybe a little bit of Rory McIRoy-style of proclamation.

I say that, you think I’m looney,  but there is indeed a parallel between what the Masters champion has done and what the Florida Gators need to do: State your claim about who you are meant to be and get out of your own way.

I know, that sounds far fetched 1,000 miles away, but it is in fact, only 527 miles from Gainesville to Augusta. And somewhat similar in quest. But Rory’s  11 years in the making. And right there in that beautiful setting.

It’s about finally discovering your identity. Now that Rory McIlroy know who he is and realizes his remarkable skills with a green jacket in his closet. He is able to go forth and be who he is supposed to be. You can see how refreshed he looks. You can see how at home he feels in Augusta and you can tell there are many more great rounds so we played by the young Northern Irishman. The fun is, on the other hand, could be grand. Just as it could be in Gainesville someday soon.

We’re waiting to see how new Coach John Sumerall will shake this squad up for 2026. It looks very promising and today is a good day to get started. In body politic, whether it be religious, I political or athletic, it only takes someone to start the believing somewhere at some point in order to get rolling – claiming your rightful place. Someone waking up in this program with an epiphany and saying “you know what, we’re the Florida Gators we can do this!“ 

I go back all the way to Bear Bryant in the early 60s who was first to say out loud: If they ever wake up and realize what they have at Florida — look out,  the rest of the world is gonna pay! And it was only the next year they started paying as that 1963 team was the first to ever beat him in Tuscaloosa. Remarkably it still ranks as one of the Gators’ great victories  of all time. But that has come and gone. It’s just like these Masters will come and go. But right now in the heart of this whole competition it’s a beautiful thing to experience as a fan or a player, etc. 

That’s why I look with some expectation on this Orange and Blue game, which could tell us a little something more about what we want to know of these Gators — and it’s a lot more than who has the edge as the starting quarterback race.

And I believe in good karma. Good things happen to good people in good programs. 

There is evidence of that in basketball again  upon receiving the news that Denzel Aberdeen is returning to the Gators – widely celebrated by many, including myself – it’s an indication that there’s a certain magnetic field in play. Good coaches a good programs tend to be very lucky. Don’t they?

I think Denzel is a perfect fit for Todd Golden’s team and brings about excellent chemistry if he can finalize that fifth year of eligibility.

More good things having happened to the good people in Augusta, where Gator graduate Fred Ridley, executive chairman at Augusta, witnessed one of the most spectacular rounds of golf ever played on that beautiful 65 by Rory, which put him up by five after 36 holes. It may not ensure another green jacket, but boy it sure is a leg up – or should we say, an arm up?

McIlroy nearly was paired in Saturday’s final group with Patrick Reed, his foil during a memorable Ryder Cup match in 2016 and in the final group of the 2018 Masters, won by Reed. But a bogey on the 18th hole Friday left Reed tied for second with Sam Burns, who will play with McIlroy on Saturday. 

—More Masters: it will do about $70 million in merchandise sales this week.

-$10 million per day

$1 million per hour

$16,000 per minute

$277 per second

That's $25 million more in merchandise sales than the Atlanta Braves did all of last year — in just one week, with no online sales.