A few thoughts to jump start your Friday morning:

A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning:

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

Oh, if it were only possible to sum up our holiday feelings by wishing all of Gator Nation good tidings and praying that Florida football could experience a return to glory days. It’s a complicated Christmas this year. Every celebration of Christmas is different, usually marked by gladness and happiness, the reunion of loved ones, or a significant gain or loss or change in your life. Such is the case for me this year. It would be easy to say, “All I want for Christmas is the joy of Christmases past.” But I cannot.   Because that really can’t be possible.  Some things and some people are irretrievable. And eventually even memories grow sketchy. And is it even possible to experience joy  in the midst of heartache? Absolutely. I am living proof that it is. This will be the first time in 63 years I have not shared Christmas with Joni and/or one of our kids. Rebecca, Brenden and Lori are all spending  Christmas at home with their families this year following the death of their mother on June 15.  They are all mourning her loss and honoring her Christmas traditions in various ways, from cooking her special recipes, displaying some of her favorite things or playing music she loved. Brenden even dug out her old tree and resurrected it with her favorite decorations. For me, as many of you know, I have moved in to a new chapter of my life. In the midst of my suffocating grief and with the encouragement of two friends also recently widowed, I was able locate an angel who inspired me to move forward when I didn’t feel I could. It was an old flame whose last name and marital status and location I didn’t even know. Through divine assistance I found her. Today I am sitting here  with my fiancee Dawne in our beautiful Northwest Florida condo, high above St. Andrews Bay. Yesterday we had a really nice celebration with her family — now as our new extended family — at the home of her oldest son Tommy Ford, sheriff of Bay County, with the family of his brother Tyler Ford, the pastor who will marry us Jan. 20 in Mariana. What a great family who so graciously welcomed me. We will alternate living between Panama City and Ocala. Dawne and I go way back to over 63 years ago as true loves who broke up and went separate ways. The next serious relationship I had was with Joan Sharp which began five weeks later and in 18 months we married. Do I miss her? Of course. Am I sad? Certainly! But am I grateful to have someone like Dawne in my life to share her family and celebrate a resurrected love? Yes. What a blessing! So I am having a grateful Christmas while mourning Joni's loss. Luke I said, comlicated. Christmas is always a marker for life’s milestones. This became my Christmas miracle for which I will be eternally grateful, in the midst of pain and grief. I have found joy out of profound sadness. Merry Christmas and may your family have a blessed holiday.

Even before the opening tap of Florida’s game with Grambling at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Friday afternoon, the outcome was never in doubt. It wasn’t a case of Florida winning, it was by how much. The Gators are very good and getting better. It’s not even January and the season can’t end soon enough for Grambling. That the game turned into a 39-point blowout win for the Gators was almost irrelevant. That Todd Golden wanted to see from the Gators was a sustained, maximum effort that lasted from opening tip until the final horn. He got what he was looking for. “The concern in a game like this is that you just don’t attack the game the right way and you don’t honor the game in the way you compete, and you feel like you’re just going to get through it,” Florida coach Todd Golden said after the Gators (9-3) won their fifth straight game, 96-57, over a clearly outmatched Grambling (2-10) team that has yet to win a game against a Division I opponent. “I didn’t feel that at all tonight. From the jump, I thought we were competing really well.” The Gators have had this habit of playing very well against the better competition but giving ho-hum efforts against lesser talented teams. Back in November against Loyola (MD) and Florida A&M and as recently as an early December win over Merrimack, the Gators played down to the competition. Those three wins were the no doubt about it types, each of them won by at least 20 points, but each one left the impression the Gators could have and should have played better. The Gators were in a take no prisoners mode against Grambling. The intensity was evident at both ends of the floor and with the exception of a 9-0 run over a two-minute stretch in the first half when Grambling cut Florida’s lead to 21-17, the Gators dominated the game. That run had nothing to do with effort on Florida’s part. It was simply a matter of the Gators missing some shots and Grambling making a few. Grambling’s moments of bliss came to a crashing end when Will Richard connected on a 3-pointer with 8:15 to go in the half, ending the 9-0 mini-run. That shot jump-started the Gators who outscored Grambling 20-6 the rest of the half for a 44-27 lead at the break. The Gators hit 17-27 overall from the field (63 percent) in the first half including 6-11 from the 3-point line (54.5 percent) for one of the best shooting halves of the season. The final 20 minutes was an extension of the last 8:15 of the first half. The ball moved unselfishly, the Gators hit shots, played solidly at the defensive end and gave Golden an opportunity to play his bench extensively. Playing without Riley Kugel, who sat with a bruised foot, Golden played his entire bench 14 players in all seeing action. Seven Gators logged 20 or more minutes, two more were in for more than 15. As well as Florida’s starters played, the play from the bench was impressive. Florida’s reserves contributed 34 points on 15-26 shooting, grabbed 16 rebounds and delivered  16 assists, two blocked shots and a steal. Included in the 34 bench points were two from former manager turned walk-on Bennett Andersen, whose layup with 10 seconds left on a nifty pass from freshman Kajus Kublickas set off a celebration on the UF bench. “It was amazing,” Denzel Aberdeen said of Andersen’s layup. Aberdeen came off the bench to score 11 points and hand out five assists. Two of his points came on a thunderous dunk with 3:08 to go on a drive from the wing that saw him elevate elbow above the rim for a hammer of a finish. “I’m happy for him. To see him from a manager last year to being a walk-on now is amazing to see. He worked his tail off for this position and he was able to score today.” A grinning Andersen said, “I haven’t seen the video yet, but I know that when I do, I’m going to see them all going crazy on the bench. Having this really great group of dudes has made it super fun.” As pleased as Golden was with the 16 assists from his bench, he was equally happy that the nine reserves were charged with only two turnovers. Aberdeen and Alex Condon each had five assists while Kublickas and Julian Rishwain each had three. It was a nice afternoon for Golden’s three freshmen. Thomas Haugh had 13 points while Condon had five points, seven rebounds and five assists. Kublickas didn’t take a shot but he had two rebounds and three assists while directing the team flawlessly for nine minutes of floor time. Golden wasn’t at all surprised that the reserves played so well. "It’s what’s expected, to be honest, in terms of just playing the right way and playing for each other,” Golden said. “That group has been awesome in practice over the past couple weeks. Condo, Tommy, Denzel, Julian and Kajus play a lot together in practice on that second unit. There have been a lot of times that they carve up on [first] group. It gets frustrating at times, but then you look and realizing those guys are really good players also, but just a little younger and a little greener. But to a man, their best basketball is in front of them. They have a great feel for the game. Obviously, they were really efficient tonight. They moved the ball really well tonight. You saw that tonight." When the reserves came in the game, there was no dip in the intensity. The Gators were determined to start the game with intensity and maintain it the entire game. “We played all 40 minutes and I feel like that was the thing that mattered the most,” Tyrese Samuel said. Samuel finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season and third in the last four games. “We played all 40 minutes and we're in good spirits going home for Christmas and come back with positive vibes." The Gators will regroup after Christmas for a few days of practice before the final non-conference game of the season against Quinnipiac December 30. A win against Quinnipiac would give the Gators 10 prior to January 1 for the first time since the Elite Eight season of 2016-17. Southeastern Conference begins January 6 at the O-Dome against Kentucky. “You know, obviously we played well tonight, but Riley was out, and he’s gonna be a big part of our group as we get into conference play,” Golden said. “What I talked to the guys about was hey, I think in our locker room we know we have a lot of room to improve in different areas, whether it be offensively or defensively, and that should be exciting that we’re able to be 9-3 right now. Obviously, Quinnipiac [when] we get back, going into conference play – knock on wood – with a pretty good resume, but I do believe our best basketball is still in front of us with this group. That’s kind of the carrot that we’re dangling and the hope is that we can reach that high level as we get into SEC play.” Game notes: Five Gators scored in double figures, led by Will Richard whose 17 point effort included 5-9 from the 3-point line. Samuel followed with 15 while Zyon Pullin had 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and a steal. Haugh had 13, which is a career high, and Aberdeen had 11. Micah Handlogten had eight points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. The Gators shot 62.3 percent overall from the field (38-61) and 52.4 percent (11-21) from the 3-point line. As a team, the Gators had 27 assists on 38 made baskets with only 10 turnovers with just three in the second half. The Gators outrebounded Grambling 41-28, hit 9-10 from the foul line and outscored the Tigers 50-32 in the paint. SEC basketball Friday’s scores: FLORIDA (9-3) 96, Grambling (2-10) 57; No. 13 Illinois (9-2) 97, Missouri (7-5) 70; Auburn (9-2) 82, Alabama State (4-7) 62; Texas A&M (8-4) 79, Houston Christian (2-9) 52; South Carolina (11-1) 70, Elon (6-6) 43; Georgia (9-3) 78, North Florida (7-7) 60 Saturday’s games: No. 25 Ole Miss (11-0) at Southern Miss (6-5); Vanderbilt (4-7) at No. 23 Memphis (9-2); Mississippi State (9-2) at Rutgers (7-3); Eastern Kentucky (4-7) at Alabama (6-5)

Press Release by Rick Hertado GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Gator freshman Eugene Wilson III was recently named to this year’s Pro Football Focus All-Freshman Team, adding to his stack of postseason honors. The Tampa native was one of seven SEC players to make the list that marks his fifth postseason accolade. Wilson III was also recently named to the 247Sports True Freshman All-American Team, the Freshman All-SEC team, On3 True Freshman All-American team and was a College Football Network Freshman All-American Honorable Mention. Wilson III was the highest graded receiver for the Florida Gators during the 2023 season earning a grade of 81.6 according to Pro Football Focus. He was one of the most productive true freshmen in the FBS as he led the country in receptions per game (6.1) while ranking second in receptions (61). Wilson III was equally productive on the Gators as he finished the season with a team-high six touchdown receptions and finished second in both receptions and receiving yards behind Ricky Pearsall. Wilson III notched his most productive performance of the season in the Gators Week 10 contest against Arkansas. The receiver totaled eight receptions for ninety yards and two touchdowns.

The University of Florida has appointed Gerald Chatman as the new defensive line coach for the Gators, announced by Head Football Coach Billy Napier on Friday.

One of last year's starting cornerbacks, Jalen Kimber, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The Jumpman Invitational showcases the best of college basketball on and off the court. By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com CHARLOTTE -- The City of Charlotte rolled out the red carpet for four of college athletics' most prominent programs again -- Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, and Oklahoma. All are synonymous with success that has led to a strong relationship with the Jordan Brand as the four original “Jumpman” schools , the men’s and women’s basketball programs which have participated in the Jumpman Invitational. which has become one of the premier events in college basketball. Downtown Charlotte was decorated with banners and signage highlighting Jordan Brand and the four schools while players are gifted with exclusive Jordan Brand apparel designed specifically for the event. Jordan executives and prominent members of the community were present, making certain the event was first class in every way. The format randomly pairs the men’s and women’s basketball teams from each program. In 2023, the inaugural year, the Gators faced the Oklahoma Sooners while the North Carolina Tar Heels faced the Michigan Wolverines. For the 2023 event Florida would meet the Michigan men and women while North Carolina would be matched against Oklahoma. No matter the matchups , the event has become a premier opportunity for all four programs to put their relationship with the Jordan Brand on full display and allow showcasing the most notable athletic shoe and apparel brand in the sports world. For the Gators, participation in such an event was another opportunity to draw attention to two of college basketball’s most impressive rebuilds. Men’s basketball coach Todd Golden, in his second season, is already drawing comparisons to legendary coach Billy Donovan for his approach to building and leading his team. Florida women's coach Kelly Rae Finley is heading towards a historic third straight postseason appearance and has assembled one of the best rosters in school history. With both programs showcased as part of this event it can only broaden the appeal of both programs. The Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, NC (GatorBait photo) Tuesday night the Florida men played the most entertaining game of the invitational against the Michigan, coached by former NBA veteran Juwan Howard. The Gators were able to overcome a nine-point deficit in the second half as Zion Pullen hit a late three to send the game into double overtime, leading the Gators to the 106-101 victory. Speaking of the hard-fought win, Golden stated, "This should give us a lot of confidence as we move forward and continue to get into the season [that] when we play tough, highly contested games against really good clubs we can find a way to win. I'm just really happy and excited for our team." Wednesday evening would be the women’s time to shine and in one of the biggest wins of the Kelly Rae Finley era as Florida dominated Michigan to complete the sweep,82-65. From the shoot-around earlier in the day the Gators were dialed in and focused on the task at hand. “It’s not about them it’s about us," guard Zippy Broughton said. “We gotta stop them from putting it in the hole." The Gators shot 57 percent from floor and 53 percent from behind the arc to complete one of their best shooting nights of the season. Senior guard Aliyah Matharu led the Gators with 27 points, including 5 of 9 from three point range. Alberte Rimdal was the team's third leading scorer with 13 points and Leilani Correa added 16 off the bench. "We really challenged our team to be who we are for 40 minutes and that’s exactly what we did tonight,” said Finley. This was the second consecutive win for the team after two tough road losses earlier this month. “The win is a testament to the work the team continues to put in despite the setbacks,” stated Finley. “I think it’s just a testament to what we do and how we are coached.," Matharu added. “It’s all about coming together and being confident in one another." Kelly Rae Finley, Leilani Correa, Aliyah Matharu and the niece of former Gator Keke Smith (GatorBait photo) When asked about what the Jumpman Invitational means to her program, Finley, whose Jordan collection has garnered national attention, was more than complimentary to the people that organize the event. “I think is the premier event in the country at this time.” “Jordan Brand does an exceptional job of celebrating our student-athletes”, Correa said in echoing her coach’s sentiment. They go out of their way to treat us like superstars.. I’ve never experienced anything like it and I’m so blessed and so fortunate to be a part of it.” #kellyskicks Jordan 1 Mid (UAA photo) The Florida men returned home Wednesday evening to prepare to host Grambling Friday afternoon at the O’Connell Center, while the women will spend Christmas with family and friends and return home to play Winthrop Dec. 30 after more than 40 days away from home.