THOUGHTS OF THE DAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 By Franz Beard AN OVER-UNDER FOR EVERY SEC TEAM IN 2019 Alabama: Alabama gave up an unheard of 18.1 points per game last year, largely due to an end-of-the-year collapse that saw the Tide give up 127 points in the last four games including 34 to Oklahoma and 44 to Clemson in the two playoff games. There is a reason why Nick Saban replaced his defensive coordinator. Take the under as in under 15 points and under 300 yards allowed per game. Arkansas: Last year the Hogs went 2-10, the worst record in school history. The four non-conference games this year are Portland State, Colorado State, San Jose State and Western Kentucky, all at home. The Hogs might not win a single SEC game, but they’ll be hard pressed to lose a non-conference game. Take the over as in over three wins. Auburn: Auburn ran the football for only 167.46 yards per game while averaging 4.25 yards per carry. Those are pedestrian numbers and have a lot to do with Auburn’s disappointing 8-5 record that had some alums talking about firing Gus Malzahn. The problem was two-fold. First, Gus wasn’t calling the plays until the bowl game (Auburn lit up Purdon’t for 63 points and 586 yards). Second, quarterback Jarrett Stidham gained one yard rushing. Total. If you’ve followed the Gus then you know his offense is dysfunctional without a running QB which he has this year in redshirt freshman (Joey Gatewood) and true freshman (Bo Nix). Take the over as in Auburn will run for over 220 yards per game. FLORIDA: The Gators got to opposing quarterbacks for 37 sacks in 2018 with Jachai Polite leading the way with 11. Even though Polite is gone, Florida’s pass rush is going to be scary good. Start with grad transfer Jonathan Greenard, who had 7.5 sacks two years ago while playing for Todd Grantham at Louisville. Greenard and Grantham are reunited at UF and now Greenard has that bookend edge rusher (Jabari Zuniga) that he never had at Louisville. Now throw in Jeremiah Moon, Khris Bogle and some other athletic freaks and the Gators are going to terrorize opposing QBs. Take the over as in over 40 sacks. Georgia: Georgia is 24-5 the last two years and would have a national championship and a second SEC title except the Poodles have blown double-digit leads to Alabama (national title game, 2017; SEC title game, 2018). Because of what Georgia fans would call a couple more “near national championships” the Poodles are everybody’s preseason #3. But take a look at a schedule that includes Notre Dame, Florida, (at) Auburn and Texas A&M. Take the under as in under 11 wins and quite possibly under 10. Kentucky: Kentucky parlayed a stacked defense led by a ferocious pass rusher (Josh Allen, 17 sacks) and a ball control offense that could control the clock with Benny Snell Jr. (1,449 yards, 17 TDs) pounding it between the tackles into the first 10-win season since Fran Curci was the coach back in the 1970s. Allen and six other starters are gone from that defense. So are Snell and three O-line starters. Take the under as in under 10 wins for sure, most likely under eight. LSU: The Tigers have a QB they believe can give them a chance to make it to the promised land (Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game) in Joe Burrow, who put up decent numbers (16 TDPs, 7.6 per pass attempt) while learning the offense on the fly last year (arrived as a grad transfer in August). To further Burrow’s development, Coach O hired Joe Brady from the New Orleans Saints to put some electricity in the passing game. The Tigers have incredible speed on the outside and a veteran offensive line to protect Burrow. Take the over as in over 250 passing yards per game. Mississippi State: Mississippi State’s defense gave up 13.2 points and 263.1 yards per game in 2018. That’s impressive stuff but DC Bob Shoop will be missing three first round draft picks (DT Jeffery Simmons, DE/LB Montez Sweat and S Jonathan Abram) and four other starters. Take the over as in over 20 points and 320 yards allowed per game in 2019. Missouri: With Derek Dooley calling the plays, Mizzou’s passing numbers took a serious dip in 2018. Missouri receivers averaged 16.24 yards per reception in 2017 but that dropped to 12.93 in 2018 and that was with a future NFL QB (Drew Lock), whose yards per attempt fell from 9.3 to 8.1. Kelly Bryant is the new QB. He doesn’t have Lock’s arm or ability to make tough throws. Take the under as in under 7.5 yards per pass attempt and under 250 yards per game passing. Ole Miss: This one is easy. There is no way the Ole Miss defense can be as bad as last year when the Rebels gave up 510.5 yards and 36.2 points per game. Take the under as in under 500 yards and under 33 points allowed per game. South Carolina: If there has been a knock on quarterback Jake Bentley it has been that he completes far too many passes (30 in his career) to the other team. He throws one of the best deep balls in the country, but he tries to force too many of the shorter throws into tight coverage. Word is that Bentley finally understands that a 5-yard completion is better than a pick. He has to throw fewer interceptions for South Carolina to break even or better against that brutal schedule. Take the under as in under nine interceptions this season. Tennessee: Last year the Vols averaged a pitiful 129.08 yards per game rushing and just 3.7 yards per carry. The architect of that dismal effort was Tyson Helton, who somehow got himself hired as the HBC at Western Kentucky. The new OC is Jim Chaney, who spent the last three years calling the plays at Georgia. Don’t expect the Vols to set the world on fire in the running game, but it should improve enough to get them to a bowl game. Take the over, as in over 150 rushing yards per game. Texas A&M: Kellen Mond’s improved numbers in 2018 had a lot to do with having Trayveon Williams (1,760 yards, 18 rushing TDs) to run the football behind a huge, veteran O-line. Williams has moved on to the No Fun League and the two best O-linemen have graduated so don’t expect the Aggies to come anywhere close to last year’s 219 rushing yards per game and 5.29 per carry. Take the under as in under 190 rushing yards per game. Vanderbilt: In the second half of 2018, Ke’Shawn Vaughn was the most dangerous running back in the country. He finished the season with 1,244 yards and 12 rushing TDs while averaging 7.92 per carry. If he gets a step he’s as good as gone yet he carried the ball only 13 times per game and had only two games with more than 20 carries. If the Commodores are to get anywhere close to five wins Vaughn’s got to see the ball early and often. Take the over as in over 1,500 rushing yards. SOME GOOD QUOTES FOR FRIDAY Andy Staples of The Athletic on UCF athletic director Danny White and the ongoing football scheduling debate: “The current scheduling debate in the Sunshine State is whether UCF should take a two-for-one with Florida should the Gators agree that the Orlando game would be in Spectrum Stadium on UCF’s campus and not in Camping World Stadium near downtown. White considers that hypothetical to be pure fantasy, though. What’s in that for Florida, a program with an already formidable conference schedule and a traditionally good out-of-conference rival (the aforementioned Seminoles)? There is little upside for the Gators to play the Knights in Gainesville — other than it might excite season-ticket buyers more than currently scheduled games against Towson or New Mexico State. And there certainly isn’t a benefit to the Gators going to the Bounce House. Orlando isn’t an exotic destination for people who already live in Florida, while Boulder and Austin — where the Gators have scheduled future non-conference games — are. Plus, Florida runs a real risk of losing to a team that has gone 14-0 at home during the past two seasons. That wouldn’t be good for a Gators brand that new coach Dan Mullen is working to rebuild.” Jim Bowden of The Athletic on former Gator lefty pitcher A.J. Puk, who is close to being called up to the Oakland Athletics: “Puk was the A’s first-round pick and went No. 6 overall in the 2016 draft, and his first three years in the minors have not disappointed. He has 253 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched. He was sidetracked by Tommy John surgery a year ago, but has returned and is back pitching, and the A’s have put him in the bullpen – both to help his comeback and to maximize his high-90s fastball and work on harnessing his nasty-but-inconsistent slider and developing change-up. His frame has made it difficult for him to repeat his delivery, which in turn has hurt his command and control of his pitches. His move to the bullpen seems to be helping, though, and the A’s view him as a lefty reliever who can help them down the stretch, pitch multiple innings, and get out both lefties and righties.” Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger on one young phenom QB who trains with private coach Ron Veal: “Julian Lewis is only 11 years old, but Nick Saban knows who he is. As Julian’s dad, T.C., tells it, at Alabama’s youth camp in June, the Crimson Tide coach took in the majestic precision of the boy’s quarterbacking, sidled up beside him and said, ‘I want you back. Every summer.’ Julian had been training for that moment since he was eight, that tender age when most boys are preoccupied with searching for boogers, not receivers downfield. That’s when he started working with private QB coach Ron Veal in hopes of one day attracting not just compliments, but also scholarship offers. While the notion of elite instructors like Veal molding lab-grown QBs destined for big-time programs is not new, here’s what is: Never before have so many of their pupils been so ready so fast.” SEC FOOTBALL/BASKETBALL STUFF The Little Rock Touchdown Club has scheduled former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino as its guest speaker on September 9. Petrino, who was 34-17 in four seasons at Arkansas, was fired before the 2012 season when he and a former Arkansas volleyball player were involved in a motorcycle crash. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Nathan Neihaus is leaving the Tennessee program for medical reasons. One of the reasons quarterback Sawyer Smith left Troy to become a grad transfer at Kentucky is his plan to become a football coach after his career is complete. Meanwhile, Smith is pursuing a master’s degree in sports leadership. One of the reasons LSU defensive end Jarrell Cherry has bulked up from 225 when he signed to his current 270 is he carries bricks in his backpack. The backpack is so heavy that an LSU assistant coach couldn’t lift it. Missouri grad transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant won’t be receiving a national championship ring from Clemson. Bryant left Clemson after four games when Dabo Swinney made Trevor Lawrence the starting QB. “He wasn’t on the team,” Swinney told ESPN’s Chris Low. “You’ve gotta be on the team to get a ring. I love Kelly and appreciate what he did for us, but he decided to move on.” RANDOM THOUGHTS: Baltimore Orioles first baseman had to be restrained in the dugout when he went after manager Brandon Hyde, who apparently said something Davis didn’t like. Davis is hitting a scintillating .182 with 111 strikeouts in 247 at bats to go with eight homers and 30 RBI. For this he is being paid $23 million a year … The Boston Red Sox are a full 16 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. Did anyone see this coming? … Heisman Trophy QB Kyler Murray was 6-7 for 44 yards in his pro debut with the Arizona Cardinals Thursday night … Dwayne Haskins made his pro debut with the Washington Redskins, throwing for 117 yards and two interceptions … Charges have been dropped against Georgia Southern QB Shai Werts, who claims the substance on the hood of his car that police tested positive for cocaine was actually bird poop. I don’t have to make this stuff up.

Hello, I’m Buddy Martin, editor and publisher of the new Gator Bait Magazine. And I am beginning to feel like I just walked on the set of Ground Hog Day Starring Bill Murray as part of the new ownership group for the new GatorBait2019 effective July 10, 2019. Hello, I’m Buddy Martin, editor and publisher of the new Gator Bait Magazine. And I am beginning to feel like I just walked on the set of Ground Hog Day Starring Bill Murray as part of the new ownership group for the new GatorBait2019 effective July 10, 2019. Here I come again, boomeranging right back where I started from! Another fork in the road back toward the University of Florida, where I was educated, met my wife, became one of those Boys From Old Florida and wound up in journalism. Maybe it was in my blood. I recently found out that my late grandfather, preacher-writer William Laban Martin, actually owned and operated The Gainesville Elevator newspaper in the early 1900s. Great name, The Gainesville Elevator. As most Gator fans know, it’s an up-and-down world. Right now with Dan Mullen and Mike White & Company, things appear to be going up. Gator Bait TV executive producer/director son Brenden is my co-owner/partner, so this is very much a family deal. We Martin Boys have ridden down this dusty trail before. Brenden likes to say, “We know what NOT to do, because we’ve already failed at it several times.” Brenden was talking about our stint as co-founders of Florida Sports Talk radio, two years of trying to relaunch GatorCountry.com during the depression/recession and, most recently, the accidental innovation of Gator Nation Kingdom/The Buddy Martin Show. That latter is still and going after 19 months. Ask us about Chip Kelly and The Ocala Airport someday. From my meager beginnings as a cub sports writer with the Florida Alligator, Ocala Star-Banner, and Gainesville Sun, I ran through the gauntlet of newspapers, then network TV, websites, then talk radio…whew! I get tired just saying it. And now this gig is back in the print media. Familiar ground. Consider it a reclamation project: Doing our part to help and preserve the written word. Newspapers have already gone the way of the dinosaurs. #JournalismPreservation While everybody else is zigging, we are zagging with this marriage of Old School/New School ideas and technique. You’ll be able to read actual words. We believe words still matter. And you’ll see see photos. And live streaming shows and video. After saying and writing millions of words about the Florida Gators – yes,  I hope to have millions more in this new/old venture. At least that’s what we’re setting out to do on short notice. We’ve certainly made a dent with our first new “transition edition,” a thick, 27-page edition! (Thanks Zach Abolverdi!) It included our tribute to Mr. Two Bits, my favorite interview with Dan Mullen, Franz’s Thoughts of the Week column and our conversation with Paul Finebaum. Stay tuned for more exciting plans with the debut soon of GatorBait Plus and GatorBait Gold, which will soon merge with the #BuddyMartinShow on Facebook Live streaming where all our member/friend loyalists at #GatorNationKingdom hang out. And while I’m at it, I want to thank members of our GatorBait Lighthouse project for stepping up to support this project before it was even completed. Not all our incredibly talented GatorBait team may be our blood, but several of them are just like family. Especially Coordinating Producer/Technical Director Chad Ritch and his brother Executive Director of Operations Darren Ritch with whom we have served with for six months or more. And soon you’ll hear the voice and see the face of my former radio partner, Tom Schmitz, who is teaming up with Brenden. You’ll also recognize other familiar names our recent jammed-packed pre-SEC Media Days edition: Senior Columnist Franz Beard and his Thoughts of the Day — now “Thoughts of the Week.” Franz has been a key member of our team for more than 18 months. We are also blessed and excited to be working with some talented young journalists like special reporter Kassidy Hill, Graham Hall and photographer Alex Shepherd. I’ll stop there. More to come and unveil soon. We jumped right in. Chad, Darren, Kassidy Hill headed right away to Birmingham for coverage of SECMediaDays19. So we are celebrating another connection with yet another version of my seemingly insatiable appetite for everything Gators. And happily doing so. We will be rolling out lots of new things in weeks to come, including our big GatorBait Tailgate in Orlando for Florida-Miami. But we are still very much a work in progress. And our motto is “Underpromise, Overdeliver.” I am honored to be taking the reins of this iconic 40-year-old publication founded by David Stirt and, operated for many years by Landmark Publications, with Marty Cohen and my good friend Zach Abolverdi at the helm. I intend to hang on to the shirttails of Zach, who has a brilliant future and no doubt will soon on to bigger and better things (his decision, not mine). Zach promises to keep us around as a “hobby” for some of his musings There is a tendency on my part to gush here, so I’ll sign off with this commitment: We want to hear from you. If you need to reach me or one of our staff, try this contact information: PS I hope soon you’ll be gushing with me. Let me hear from you: GatorBaitEditor@gmail.com 352-509-6191 Facebook: The Buddy Martin Show

By DARREN RITCH GatorBait Executive Director of Operations As I sat outside on evening watch recently at my home in Crystal River, the beautiful pink sky going down on the horizon, I caught a scent of football in the air. It may have been a puff of wind, but I recognized that distinct fall smell of anticipation in that breeze. You fans can identify with the excitement that came over me as I felt it pass through my veins like an ice cold glass of Southern Sweet Tea. As I began to contemplate the upcoming season and all the expectations for Florida football this year, I remembered the Gators closing out the last season with their fourth straight victory: An impressive 41-15 Peach Bowl win over the Michigan Wolverines. I thought to myself, “We need to keep this party going!” So that’s what we’re doing with the GatorBait Tailgate on Florida-Miami Aug. 24 on game day in Orlando at this terrific venue: Johnny’s Other Side. I am going into my 30th year as a season ticket holder and 45th season attending games, but this year will be a little more special. I have joined Buddy Martin and the GatorBait magazine team as Executive Director of Operations. While we’re celebrating GatorBait’s 40th birthday, we are also rolling out new products and services — plus introducing you to our new team. You’ll notice since Buddy and his son Brenden recently took over ownership of GatorBait, the quality and value of content has substantially increased. This team is taking it to a whole new level by adding the GatorBaitMedia.com website, with many more features to come. So that’s why you’re invited to GatorBait Tailgate party at Johnny’s Other Side restaurant on gameday in Orlando prior to the Florida vs Miami game. My wife Peggy and I visited Johnny’s a few weeks ago and spent time with VP of Operations, Andy Baker. Not only were we impressed with the location, quality of food and hospitality we were shown, but the good news is that Johnny’s is located just minutes from Camping World Stadium and features covered outdoor seating, many big screen TVs, an outdoor bar and free parking next to the establishment for as long as its lasts. Andy is a huge Gator fan and is so excited to be hosting our first GatorBait Media Tailgate that he is offering a 15 percent discount on your total bill including food and drinks for all existing GatorBait subscribers. If you aren’t a subscriber, you can sign up at the tailgate and receive these discounts as well. In addition to the atmosphere, food and drinks, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Buddy Martin and the GatorBait team and purchase the GatorBait 40th Birthday tee shirts at a reduced price of $20 for preorders and onsite purchase. The tailgate starts at 11am and ends at 2pm on gameday, allowing plenty of time to drive to the stadium. Parking maybe limited so get there early but there is overflow parking at a church a few blocks away. So join in the pep rally to get Johnny’s rocking! We look forward to seeing you at the 2019 GatorBait Tailgate Kickoff to help us celebrate new ownership of this iconic magazine, tell you about our exciting plans and kick off yet another year of Gator Football.

Q: Do you have multiple leaders with such a veteran group? A: “I think they’re all in the room feeling their own way. I think they all lead in a different way. Some are a little quiet, some are gonna lead by example. The biggest thing for me, what I’m looking for in a leader — and I don’t care if you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior — I want somebody that’s gonna lead by example and do it the right way. If you can do it the right way, the vocal part will come. I think if you’re living life the right way and doing things the right way — on and off the field — and trying to become that man, the leadership comes easy. Now other people will follow you because they see you doing it the right way.” Q: How do you delineate the depth chart and receiver rotation with so many receiving options? A: “You take a look at the room I have right now, those guys are all competing and you’re talking about from the young guys all the way through. And they’ve done a good job of learning the system. But the competition level — understanding that we’ve got one ball and they’ve got to compete to get playing time on the football field — makes you work a little harder. But at the same time, for me it’s still great because you’re developing. You have a couple of knicks so somebody’s not practicing or someone twists an ankle, all of sudden you’re down three guys. But you can still practice at a full-speed tempo or you can play a game at a full speed tempo because everybody understands the roles, as far as being able to play multiple positions or being able to adjust to something.” Q: Why is that development so key in your mind? A: “We always talk about if somebody goes down you gotta be able to move. What is your value, what is your worth to the program? The more that you can do for the program, the better the chance that you’re gonna have to play. But it’s like anything else, you got one ball. Everybody wants that. And I like it when they’re kind of complaining at me and saying, ‘l want the ball.’ Great, come practice and do a great job with it to earn that responsibility and earn that right. But they’ve all did a good job this spring. I’ve got an upper class group level and they’ve practiced that way. We gotta continue to coach. You can’t get tired of the process. You can’t get bored of the process. The minute you get bored of the process because you know what’s going on, that’s when you’re gonna drop down a level. So it’s about competing every day within yourself to make yourself a better player and they’ve done a good job with that.” Q: What is Jacob Copeland’s frustration level and how do you deal with that? A: “You know what, he’s frustrated because he can’t play right now and he’s been injured. He came in as a true freshman and got hurt last year. He got healthy, came back in the spring and did some good things, one of the practices I was blown away. I was like, ‘Wow.’ It’s kind of like a little kid when you forget about that toy that you haven’t played with a while. Oh my gosh. He was explosive, in and out of breaks. Then he tweaked a little bit again. The one thing I will tell you that he’s done a great job with — not a good job, a great job — is learning. His learning curve went like this (points up). Some guys when they get hurt, you see it go in different places. Different people drift away and they don’t always focus into the learning curve. But I’ll tell you what, he’s done a fabulous job. You ask him a question; he can spit it out. We go out and review, we go through a walk through, he’s the guy reading me the script. So, he’s constantly learning, taking the rep mentally. He’s done a fantastic job. He’s got a group of brothers on this team trying to push him in the right way and keep him positive. But he’s done a great job of as far as staying positive and learning.” Q: On freedom of routes, has that always been your style or developed? A: “No, I think it’s kind of always been the same. It all depends on who you’re working with. I’ve been very fortunate to work with Coach Mullen for a long time. When you develop that relationship, what his expectations of quarterback play is and what his expectation of receiver play is, then it allows you and it allows the receivers to just play. People ask me, ‘What do you recruit?’ Well, I want great athletes. I want guys that can take the ball the distance every time they touch the ball. What (freedom of routes) allows you to do is to play fast. We give them options. They can go inside or outside and different releases. They don’t have to just be rigid and do it this way. We recruited them because they’re great athletes. I don’t want to take that away from them. I still want to keep that great athleticism, let them use that, but now lock it in fundamentally with different techniques. But at the same time, allow them to use their God-given ability to have that freedom to work. If you saw Freddie Swain, he caught a couple of long passes. Well, that’s not the natural play. What it is, that’s the natural read. He sees the defender come up; he has an opportunity to change his route. Then, all of a sudden, it’s timing between him and the quarterback that took place last year, last summer, last season, this offseason coming into the spring. But it’s got to continue that way to be successful.”

He stood up and he hollered. For six decades he kept coming back and hollering. And his two bits worth became nearly 60 years and he became the glue that held The Gator Nation together in all kinds of weather. The perfect icon of The Ultimate Fan. And now, perhaps after his years of endurance, “The Spirit of The Swamp.” In 1949 he accepted an invitation from a friend and George Edmondson came to Florida Field before it had all those other names. Appalled to hear fans booing their own players, he decided to do something to change their attitude. When they booed, he cheered. Mr. Two Bits, a World War II pilot, became a life force for Gator Nation back when it was only a colony. He inspired many generations of fans, players, coaches — even the University of Florida itself — since first coming to a Gator football game as Florida’s most famous walk-on in history. Mr. Two Bits wasn’t even a UF graduate, but nobody cared because of his incredible work ethic, commitment and passion. Edmondson officially retired as the Gators’ most famous cheerleader after the 2008 season. Although 97, inactive for several years due to illness, when he died in early July, Edmondson was still highly revered and beloved. “So sad to hear about Mr. Two Bits passing away,” Dan Mullen tweeted. “Traditions are what makes college football so special, and George Edmondson started one of the greatest. With memories we will always cherish, he will be dearly missed by all Gators.” Steve Spurrier knew Mr. Two Bits pretty well. And although “we didn’t really hang out” in the same circles, the HBC regards him highly and greatly appreciates his legacy. He was a super loyal guy and helped Gator football at lot in his day,” said Spurrier, who looked up one day in the stands and saw this guy with a yellow shirt, orange and blue tie, khaki pants, saddle oxford shoes, a “Two Bits” sign and a whistle. Many wept in the Gator Nation. Former Gator band member Jane Linderman, a devout fan who lives in Alaska, felt a deep sense of loss. “Mr. Two Bits passing has me crying,” she wrote. “I have lost a friend. I never met him in person, he was always bounding up or down the stadium steps too fast. What contagious enthusiasm George had.” It just feels like he’s always been there for the Gator Nation. That’s why it’s tough to believe that Edmondson retired from his epic role all the way back in 2008. As the cliche goes, “Often imitated, never duplicated.” When Jeremy Foley decided to honor George by inviting a “celebrity” Mr. Two Bits to perform in his honor, it made us realize just how much the real Mr. Two Bits had been taken for granted. “For generations of Florida football fans, doing the Two Bits cheer led by George was part of the fabric of their day cheering on the Gators,” said Foley, athletic director emeritus at Florida. “All of Gator Nation will remember George for his enthusiasm, dedication and love for Florida and how he willingly shared that love.” Only time will be able us to measure the contributions that George Edmonson made. But perhaps in death (July 2, 2019) he will more famous than in life. His routine has been mimicked by scores of famous players, athletes and alumni at games in The Swamp. Running back Errict Rhett was the first. Heisman hero Danny Wuerffel and teammate Chris Doering were among those chosen to imitate the Edmondson routine. “There’s no question, you always knew who he was,” Wuerffel said. “Every now and then you’d hear a certain part of the stands erupt and you just assumed it was Mr. Two Bits. The thing that’s hit me is just the whole life cycle from where this started to where it is. “His story is a lesson of perseverance and faithfulness. This is someone who had an idea to lead some cheers -- was never commissioned or asked to do it. He did his small part, did it very faithfully for many years, and it grew and grew. And now, to be recognized by Florida and for it grow to the point where it’s a staple cheer for different celebrity folks, I just think it’s inspiring for all of us.” As an example of the reverence he commanded, each of those chosen to become the celebrity Mr. Two Bits said they felt heavy pressure. Chris Doering was so intent on making his moves authentic that he did film study to make sure his routine as close to the original as possible. He told the Tampa Bay Times: “I remember seeing him as this larger-than-life kind of character as a young kid. You’re in awe, pointing at him like he’s this superhero figure.” Even the HBC put a little extra in it. “I did Mr. Two Bits for the UMass game,” recalled Spurrier. “I guess the opener of the 2016 season. I tried to give it a good little jump for ‘Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits, a Dollar.’ And what was ironic is that I did something that no one’s ever done before. It wasn’t long after Usain Bolt had just won the Olympics — about a month or two ago — and he does this thing like shooting the arrow in the sky. And so I did that right after the ‘Two Bits.’ “Later on I became the coach of the Orlando Apollos and that was sort of asked about that by our staff. “So it was a little ironic. But yet, so many people have done ‘Mr. Two Bits’ and it’s an honor for everyone to go out and do it. I know Cris Collinsworth (former Gator wide receiver) was in town doing it last year. I believe the best swimmer in the world, Caleb Drexel, was out there. So it’s it’s an honor to do that at least once.” Asked if, like Doering, he felt pressure doing the routine, Spurrier said: “Well, you don’t want to mess it up too much. But you know they don’t put a microphone on you so you just do your thing. Every person can do something a little different. And I think most people try to do that.” It was noted by Scott Carter of Floridagators.com: “His final game cheering was against his alma mater, The Citadel, the program against whom he originated the ‘Two Bits’ chant back in 1949.” Perfect symmetry by the man in the yellow shirt, orange and blue tie, khakis and saddle oxford. (Buddymartinshow@gmail.com) Here are some other thoughts about how Mr. Two Bits was remembered by some: "A icon and friend to many thousands of true and loyal Gator fans over the years. He possessed more energy and a zeal for life than any person I knew and was a testament to spirit and a never give up attitude. I will always recall his wide eyed Gator grin and positive persona that offered a strong shake of the hand and a GO GATORS on any occasion! Thanks Two Bits for being a part of my and so many Gator Lives!” — Steve Crider Boulder, Colo. “The Gator Nation has always meant so much to us, and George and I have loved being a part of it. We were both made honorary alumni of the university, and it has always meant so much to us.” — Jane Edmondson, George’s widow. “George Edmondson truly brought joy and excitement to generations of Gators. To this day, no football game at the University of Florida is complete without his familiar cheer ringing throughout the stadium. The way he lived his life is a testament to the power of loyalty, dedication, team work and not giving up when the chips are down, and that is a wonderful legacy.” — Dr. W. Kent Fuchs, UF President. “George’s passion and love for the Gators produced one of college football’s enduring traditions. The fact that Mr. Two Bits continues to this day speaks to the magnitude of his legacy at Florida. His loyalty and long-standing commitment to the Gators is a fantastic example of the passion that makes college athletics so great.” — Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin “I remember as I was preparing to go out and do that, how hard … my heart was beating, and feeling those butterflies and that anxiety ... I remember feeling anxious to make sure I had it as close to what (Edmondson) would have worn.” — Chris Doering (to the Tampa Bay Times.) “Edmondson, who resided in Tampa and sold insurance, did not even attend UF, but he was a diehard Gator football fan dating to the post-World War II era. He began his turn as Mr. Two Bits during the 1949 season opener against The Citadel. He would continue the routine until retiring in 2008 — three years after the school named Edmondson an honorary alumnus.” — Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel “ … a true Southern gentlemen, a WWII Navy pilot and one of the kindest souls I ever knew.” — Mike Hill, UNC Charlotte, Formerly UF Associate Athletics Director “I have many fond memories of Mr. Two Bits …his 85th Birthday Celebration at Busch Gardens in 2007. I think the secret of his longevity may have been his affinity for adult beverages.” —Tom Klinker, Leesburg “We sat in Section 59 from 1982-2014, and while he did not always make it to the South End Zone upper level, we thought we were the loudest group as the rest of the stadium would join along.” — Tony Agolini “I feel honored that some of these celebrities would portray me out there on the field before the game.” — George Edmondson, in 2013

AUSTIN, Texas — Florida’s men broke two collegiate records and another school record with one of the top five performances in collegiate history, which propelled the Gators to their 23rd top-2 finish in the last 34 NCAA Championships. Florida was the runner-up team at this year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, as it finished 10 points behind Texas Tech. The massive haul of top-2 finishes at a 67.6-percent clip dates back to 2003, when Mike Holloway took over as men’s head coach. No other program in the country boasts more than nine top-2 finishes during that span. The Gators also have a pair of third-place finishes in that time frame. The Gators’ historic day was summed up in five incredible numbers: 37, 12.98, 2:59, 9.97, and 20.08. Florida’s 4×100 relay shattered the collegiate record and became the first sub-38-second team in NCAA history, winning its first national title in the event since repeating as champions in 2013 and 2014. Junior Raymond Ekevwo, sophomore Hakim Sani Brown, junior Grant Holloway, and senior Ryan Clark clocked a time of 37.97 seconds, breaking the collegiate record of 38.17 set by Houston at last year’s NCAA Outdoors. Florida’s seven all-time NCAA titles in the event — all of which have come since 2000 — are the third-highest total in Division I history. The Gators’ seven national titles since 2000 also lead all Division I programs. Holloway came back 40 minutes later and three-peated as the 110-meter hurdles champion with time of 12.98 seconds, which broke Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record of 13.00 seconds, set May 5, 1979. It also tied Americans Mark Crear (1999) and Jason Richardson (2012) for the No. 18 ranking on the world all-time list. Holloway’s victory makes him the first collegian in history to sweep the 60-meter hurdles (indoor) and 110-meter hurdles titles three consecutive years. The Chesapeake, Va., native also joins Southern California’s Jack Davis as the only other collegian in history to win three consecutive outdoor high hurdles titles, as Davis won the 120-yard high hurdles from 1951-53. His title is the fifth in program history, with the other two belonging to Josh Walker (2004, 2005). Holloway’s pair of titles Friday give him eight for his career, which broke Marquis Dendy’s school record of seven individual national championships. Sani Brown also came back and turned in impressive performances at both 100 and 200 meters, capturing bronze medals in both events. The Tokyo, Japan native clocked a wind-legal 9.97 seconds in the 100 meters, breaking Bernard Williams’ 19-yearold school record of 9.99 seconds from the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships. His time also broke the Japanese record of 9.98 seconds. Roughly 45 minutes later, Sani Brown clocked a wind-legal 20.08 seconds in the 200 meters, topping his personal best of 20.13. The time makes him the No. 2-ranked 200 runner in Japanese history, and ranks him fourth on the program’s all time top 10 list. Florida capped the meet with a stunning runner-up finish in the 4×400 relay. Sophomores Benjamin Lobo Vedel and Chantz Sawyers, junior Denzel Villaman, and Holloway combined to run 2:59.60 and break Florida’s five-year-old school record of 2:59.73. The time also equaled the fourth-fastest time in collegiate history. Holloway split an insane 43.75 seconds — by far the fastest split in the field — on the anchor leg, as he moved the Gators from fourth to second with an extraordinary effort on the homestretch. Florida senior Yanis David captured the program’s first-ever long jump national title with the 10th-farthest mark in collegiate history Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Lamentin, Guadeloupe native’s 18 points were the most by a field athlete and the second highest total among all competitors. David had far and away the best series of her career, as she topped her personal record three times, with the final of those efforts reaching 6.84 meters (22 feet, 5.25 inches). The jump tied the No. 7 performer on the collegiate all-time top 10, broke Shara Proctor’s 10-year-old school record by 13 centimeters (5 inches), and topped her own personal record from last year’s SEC Outdoor Championships by 17 centimeters (6.5 inches). Only two jumps in NCAA Outdoors history remain farther than David’s, and the women who hold them went on to win Olympic gold medals. LSU’s Sheila Echols leapt 6.94 meters (22 feet, 9.25 inches) in 1987, and Ole Miss’ Brittney Reese jumped 6.93 meters (22 feet, 9 inches) in 2008. Gators Duo makes history Florida horizontal jumper Yanis David and all-around standout Grant Holloway became the first Gators in history to receive outdoor national awards from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, as the organization announced the honors Tuesday afternoon. David was named USTFCCCA National Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, while Holloway was named USTFCCCA National Co-Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Both earned the same distinctions indoors as well, though sweeps have been relatively common as of late. The pair garnered national recognition with their sensational performances at last week’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Q: Kelly, tell me about Amanda, what she’s meant to this program, your relationship, how it’s grown. Amanda, could you also talk about what Kelly has meant to the program? KELLY BARNHILL: “Amanda has made an impact on this program since day one. She loves softball so much. But what she loves more is her teammates. These last four years, getting to know Amanda, it’s been interesting. We’ve learned a lot about each other. I think this year is the best relationship we have, especially having her there on the infield. She knows where I was at head-wise. She would come over and be, I’ll take a breath with you right now. She’s just one of the catalysts behind this team. We don’t do a lot of things we do without Amanda Lorenz. It’s going to be very, very sad not playing with her anymore. Going to be even worse when I have to pitch against her. AMANDA LORENZ: “Kelly has been amazing since the day she stepped on campus. I think she’s always had a really high standard for herself, the people around her. I think we’re a lot different, so we’ve both grown so much since stepping on campus. Our relationship has grown so much. I’m thankful to have been able to witness a lot of the amazing things that Kelly has done throughout her career. I’m proud to be her teammate. “I’m proud of the relationship that we have now because we’re two totally different people. We’ve really grown to know each other, know how to talk to one another, know how to get the best out of one another. I’m really thankful for her time here. I love the fact that she’s a perfectionist just like me. We feed off of that, off of one another. That’s why I chose Florida, to have teammates like Kelly Barnhill who push me every day to get better. I’m thankful, proud of her. Yeah, it’s going to be weird not playing with her anymore, for sure.” Q.What went wrong in the first inning against Alabama? BARNHILL: “Well, just didn’t come out having my best stuff. Looked pretty good in bullpen but got out there in the game and Alabama was on it. They took some good swings. I didn’t make my best pitches.” Q. After the first inning, when you got to go out and throw the last pitch, did you know it was going to happen? BARNHILL: “Yeah, coach came up to me and he asked what I kind of wanted to do. Just kind of a moment to honor what I’ve done at Florida wearing the orange and blue. He told me that I’d throw one pitch, he’d take me out. It was just a really special moment for me. I love all of my teammates. They’ve supported me and they’ve been there for me.” LORENZ: “It was awesome (Barnhill’s pitch). I was really trying not to get emotional until the last out was made. When I saw coach came out there, give her a hug, I was crying in left field. That’s not fun. I’m in the middle of a softball game, I don’t want to be crying, but I was crying. It was just really special, to hear all the fans cheering for her, honoring her, just having one more smile and happy memory as she’s leaving the field. That is just so special. I’m glad she had that moment. She’ll remember that for the rest of her life. Really special.” Q. Is there a way you can put into words what your experience at Florida has meant? LORENZ: “Getting the opportunity by Coach Walton, I’m just so thankful to have played for him, to have learned under him. I’ve grown so much as a softball player, but most importantly I’ve grown so much as a person. I know I’m definitely not the same person as when I first stepped on campus. I’m just most thankful for that and my teammates, “It was by far the best four years of my life. I didn’t know it was possible to love orange and blue this much, this university, these people, my teammates. Just means the world to me. Everyone has become my family. Gainesville is home. I wouldn’t have grown as much if I chose any other school. I’m just so thankful to be here. The only thing I’m sad about is the fact I didn’t help give Florida another national championship. I came here thinking that was it. But the lessons I’ve learned here are immeasurable.” Q. KELLY, what do you think you’ve learned the most about yourself during these four years? BARNHILL: “I think one of the things I learned about myself is I’ve learned that you just need to tune out outside expectations and other people’s opinions because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. All that matters is being true to who you are. Those other people, it doesn’t matter what they think. It doesn’t matter what expectations they have for you. They expect you to pitch a no-hitter every single time, five for five. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you’re true to yourself and you love who you are.”

GAINESVILLE — For a second consecutive year, Florida all-around standout Grant Holloway is a finalist for The Bowerman, collegiate track and fi eld’s highest individual honor and the sport’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, as announced Thursday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Holloway, who was a finalist last year as well, is the fourth multi-time finalist in the award’s history, joining him with Arizona’s Lawi Lalang (2013-14), and Oregon’s Ashton Eaton (2009-10) and Edward Cheserek (2014-16). The Chesapeake, Va., native’s record breaking junior season has him in prime position to become Florida’s second The Bowerman winner. Marquis Dendy captured the 2015 award, while Christian Taylor were finalists in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Horizontal jumper Yanis David was named a women’s finalist for The Bowerman Wednesday, giving Florida a men’s and women’s finalist for the first time in program history. Aside from the Gators and LSU this season, only three other years saw one school have a men’s and women’s finalist – Arizona (2013) and Oregon (2014, 2015). The Bowerman will be presented during a formal ceremony at the annual USTFCCCA Coaches Convention. This year’s presentation will be December 19 at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grand Lakes in Orlando, Fla. Joining Holloway as men’s finalists are LSU’s Mondo Duplantis and Texas Tech’s Divine Oduduru. Holloway, the USTFCCCA National Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, won four individual national titles, set three collegiate records and an American record, and put his name all over the collegiate all-time top 10 lists. Holloway won his third consecutive 110-meter hurdles national title in 12.98 seconds, breaking Renaldo Nehemiah’s 40-year-old collegiate record of 13.00 seconds and tying Americans Mark Crear (1999) and Jason Richardson (2012) for the No. 18 ranking on the world all-time list. The victory also made Holloway the only collegian in history to sweep the indoor and outdoor high hurdles titles three consecutive years. The same day, Holloway ran the third leg for Florida’s collegiate record breaking 4×100 relay team, which won the NCAA Outdoors title in 37.97 seconds. And he capped it all off with a 43.75-second split for Florida’s 4×400 relay team, which finished second and tied the fourth-fastest time in collegiate history (2:59.60). At the NCAA Indoor Championships, Holloway demolished his own collegiate record and broke a 32-year-old American record to win the 60-meter hurdles, crossing in 7.35 seconds. The time was the fourth-fastest in history and made him the No. 3 performer on the world all time list. Holloway also won the 60 meters title, beating fellow The Bowerman finalist Divine Oduduru and becoming the third man in Division I history to complete the straightaway sweep. Even more impressive, he did it with the fastest single-day combined time in the sport’s history (13.85 seconds).

The UAA Board of Directors passed a budget proposal of $140.9 million for the 2019-20 athletics season, a 3.9 percent increase over the previous year. Florida’s new operating budget for the upcoming year has been approved by the University Athletic Association, the school announced Monday. The UAA Board of Directors passed a budget proposal of $140.9 million for the 2019-20 athletics season, a 3.9 percent increase over the previous year. That figure will give UF one of the highest operating budgets in the country. “It’s going to continue to support our student-athletes at a high level,” Gators athletics director Scott Stricklin said of the new budget. The percentage increase is actually the lowest it has been over the last four years, according to operating budget documents on Florida’s team website. UF had a 5.9% year-over-year increase in 2018-19, a 7.0% increase in 2017-18 and a 5.6% increase in 2016-17. The average annual cost of a UF scholarship for student-athletes is valued at $68,438, consisting primarily of the cost of the scholarship (44 percent), travel (31 percent), sports medicine and health (13 percent), academic support (7 percent) and equipment (5 percent). According to Florida’s team website, football (59 percent) and men’s basketball (8 percent) continue to be the primary sources of revenue for the UAA’s athletic programs. Another 25 percent of the $140.9 million budget will be generated by royalties and sponsorships.

Good things come to those who wait, as Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes found out last year. GAINESVILLE — Good things come to those who wait, as Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes found out last year. The former 5-star recruit transferred from Ohio State to UF after the 2017 season and the NCAA granted him immediate eligibility last August. However, there would be no immediate impact from Grimes in 2018. He caught three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but made just one reception in four of the next five games. Grimes understood why the ball wasn’t coming his way early on. “We have a lot of great weapons,” he said. “Van Jefferson, Tyrie Cleveland, Josh Hammond, there are a lot of great receivers on our team. I knew my time would come whenever it does. “You can’t be stingy. You have to let the ball go where it goes. If it doesn’t come to you one game, it might go to you the next. I always had the mentality if the ball comes to me, I do what I do.” Florida coach Dan Mullen knew there would be an adjustment period for Grimes, but had no hesitation about adding him to the roster. Mullen said Grimes came highly recommended from the Buckeyes coaching staff. “He has great size and he’s a mismatch with size. But he has some speed on top of that to run away from people,’ Mullen said. “I didn’t think we had great receiver depth. And that’s something for me, we like to have receivers out there on the field and I like to roll guys through. “To me, I don’t like guys having to play more than 40 plays a game at the receiver position because of how fast and how hard we expect them to run on every play. To have the opportunity to get a highly-recruited guy that was a great high school player — even though we didn’t know past that where he was at — that was big for us.” Grimes proved his worth during the final month of the season. After making 13 receptions for 147 yards through the first eight games, he caught 12 balls for 219 yards in the last four weeks. His breakout performance came in the regular season finale at Florida State. Grimes was propelled to the starting lineup following the injury to Tyrie Cleveland, who broke his right collarbone in the first quarter. The Ohio State transfer stepped up in his absence. He had a career day against the Seminoles, hauling in five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in UF’s 41-14 win. His 22-yard score in the third quarter put the Gators up 27-7. Grimes was the first and only Florida receiver with a 100-yard game last year, and it served as a confidence booster for him. “It helped me a lot,” Grimes said. “I was never down at any time during the season. I guess you could say I always knew my time would come, just had to stay patient. But having a game like the Florida State game really did help me a lot going into the next season and coming into this spring.” Grimes continued his dominant play in the Orange & Blue Game on April 13. He had a 64-yard touchdown and finished with four catches for 195 yards, breaking Dallas Baker’s spring-game record from 2004 (176 yards). “I give all the glory to the coaches,” Grimes said. “Coach [Nick] Savage, Coach [Billy] Gonzales, Coach Mullen, all of them stay on me every day. Even when I have bad practices, they hold me to a high standard. “I feel like I’ve made the most strides mentally, getting in the playbook, diving into coverages, learning different route concepts and coverages shifts. That has helped me out a lot.” According to his fellow receivers, Grimes’ performance in the Orange & Blue Game was just a glimpse of what he did in practice all spring. Seniors Freddie Swain and Van Jefferson expect big things from No. 8 this fall. “He went crazy in the spring game,” Swain said of Grimes. “You can tell that during spring practice he finally understands what he is doing and why he is doing it. It shows that he has tremendous ability to be a great athlete.” Jefferson added, “He had an awesome spring and he’s been doing extra work. We’ve been getting that in together. You can see that unfolding this spring and he’s going to transition that into fall camp.” From his injury-plagued season at Ohio State to his mother’s health issues that led to him transferring, Grimes said he’s had to overcome a lot of obstacles over the past two years. He feels those “barriers” are now behind him. “I’ve learned a lot about myself mentally,” Grimes said. “I didn’t really play that much my freshman season. My sophomore season was all right. I hold myself to a high expectation, so I really just had to get off a couple of mental barriers. “And now that I feel like I’ve overcome those, I’m going out there and having fun with my teammates and brothers. There’s nothing that me or our team can’t accomplish this year.”

Top to bottom, it’s the deepest unit in the SEC and perhaps nationally. GAINESVILLE — Tyrie Cleveland took to Twitter Tuesday to share a photo of his position group, considered Florida’s best WR corps in more than a decade. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” Cleveland said in the tweet. Top to bottom, it’s the deepest unit in the SEC and perhaps nationally. And that’s in spite of a top-50 overall WR recruit from the Sunshine State spurning the Gators for four consecutive recruiting cycles (2014-17). It started in 2014 with 5-star wideout Ermon Lane, who flipped from Florida to Florida State late in the process. The following year, the Gators lost another head-to-head battle with FSU for 5-star receiver George Campbell. UF rebounded in the 2016 class with five WR signees, highlighted by Houston’s Tyrie Cleveland. However, the Gators missed on their No. 1 overall in-state target, Nate Craig-Myers, who signed with Auburn. That trend continued in the 2017 cycle, as top-50 overall recruits and South Florida products Trevon Grimes (Ohio State) and Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) both passed on UF and chose to go out of state for school. The Gators did land James Robinson on signing day that year, but a heart condition ended his career before it started. Florida finally found success with top-100 receivers from the Sunshine State in the 2018 class, but Jacob Copeland redshirted as a freshman and Justin Watkins was dismissed from the team last summer. Three of UF’s five WR signees from 2017-18 have been lost to attrition, yet the position is now the strongest it’s been since 2008. How? Veteran coaching, player development and a pair of impact transfers have transformed Florida’s WR corps in just one year. “You always try to recruit … but our job here is to develop depth,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. “There’s a lot of places that might want to play one or two people and that’s it. That’s what they play, and then four years later you’ll hear it’s somebody else. We’re trying to develop depth, and I think it’s paid off for us.” The proof is in the pudding. Under the tutelage of Gonzales, Josh Hammond, Freddie Swain and Kadarius Toney made significant strides and changed the dynamic of Florida’s slot position. The addition of transfers Grimes and Van Jefferson gave the Gators more weapons out wide with Cleveland, and freshman tight end Kyle Pitts also switched to receiver. The development of that depth did indeed pay off in 2018. Eleven different Gators caught a touchdown pass (28 total scores), marking the first time since 2009 at least that many players had a TD reception. All UF pass catchers combined for just 10 touchdowns in 2017. Florida’s receivers accounted for 23 of the 28 scores last season, and the entire group returns this fall. “If you look, we have some guys now, with all of our receivers back, ” head coach Dan Mullen said. “It’s the same guys, but now you’re talking about another year in the program and understanding the offensive scheme and understanding how to make plays within the offense. These guys are bigger, faster, stronger. I think you see that growth in Year 2 of what they are able to.” Heading into 2019, Cleveland is no longer the only proven player at the position. Jefferson led the team in receptions (35), yards (563) and touchdowns (6) last season, and Grimes emerged late in the year with his breakout performance at FSU. It’s pick your poison in the slot with Hammond, Swain and Toney, whose expected to see his touches expand in the “Percy” role. And with Copeland now healthy and Pitts’ permanent position change, good luck trying to cover Florida’s WR corps. “You’ve seen a guy like Trevon stepping up and being a mismatch out there on the field,” Mullen said. “You want to roll the coverage over to Trevon, you’re leaving Van or Tyrie one-on-one. Then you’ve got Kyle Pitts with size, Freddie and Josh and those guys inside — it’s great to cause mismatch problems. “That’s what I want from the offense. You don’t want to design where you’re always trying to get the ball to a guy. We want to be able to just run the offense and take what the defense gives us. Having the depth at the receiver position, and the talent, allows you to do that.” Many Florida fans complained about WR recruiting after four straight years of striking out on a top-50 recruit from the Sunshine State. Things have still worked out for the Gators despite those misses, especially in hindsight. Lane never lived up to his 5-star billing at FSU, switching from receiver to safety and going undrafted in 2018. Campbell didn’t pan out with the Seminoles either, catching 11 passes in four years before leaving for West Virginia. Craig-Myers regressed during his time at Auburn and decided to transfer mid-season, landing at Colorado State last December. This isn’t to suggest stars don’t matter — the Gators have top-100 WR Leonard Manuel committed for 2020 — but landing elite players is just one part of the equation. Not every 5-star recruit will become a sure-fire starter in college. They must be coached up and developed. Judging by last year and his first stint at UF, this group is in good hands with Gonzales.

The Florida Gators enter year five under head coach Mike White who will be feeling immense pressure this upcoming season because expectations are higher than ever for this Gator squad. The Florida Gators enter year five under head coach Mike White who will be feeling immense pressure this upcoming season because expectations are higher than ever for this Gator squad. White is returning three young starters for next season along with bringing in the No. 7 recruiting class in the nation. Not only that, but during the offseason the Gators landed the best big man on the market in Kerry Blackshear Jr. These offseason moves have put UF in position to make a legitimate tournament run in March. While Blackshear was the shining prospect acquired in the transfer market it is important not to overlook transfer Anthony Duruji, a junior from Louisiana Tech. Duruji will have two years of eligibility but will not be available until the ‘20-21 season due to transfer rules. When able to play, he will be a solid presence on the floor standing at 6ft 7in and weighing 211 pounds. Duruji provides solid defensive pressure with his ability to block shots and as a sophomore posted 12.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg. The big splash this offseason came with Kerry Blackshear transferring from Virginia Tech. He will be eligible immediately next season as a grad transfer and will produce right away. Blackshear will start most likely at the center/power forward position. He adds much needed versatility as a big man who averaged 14.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last year at an efficient 50% field goal rate. When playing he will be able to spread the floor and allow shooters with space to shoot through his unique passing abilities. This was a huge win for Mike White and the Gator squad heading into next season. The 2019 recruiting class had 6 players in total highlighted by three top 50 players in Scottie Lewis, Tre Mann, and Omar payne. Lewis and Mann will have the best opportunities to showcase their talents right away in Gainesville. Scottie, a 5 star SF, has explosive bounce with lightning quick speed and will for sure be highlighted on sportscenter for his wild dunks and crazy athletic plays. While he does need to develop his jump shot more, Lewis projects as a one year player who will most likely jump into the draft due to his talent and upside. Tre, a 5 star SG, will be used for his ability to shoot the ball as he shot 36% from behind the arc and 53% from 2pt range in highschool. His raw talent will earn him solid playing time next year alongside sophomore guards Nembhard and Locke. Omar, a 4 star C, has tremendous upside and will have the chance to develop behind Blackshear, Gak, and Basset. With Payne not starting immediately he will have the chance to learn the system as well as get some minutes off the bench allowing him to have a larger contribution in a year. Finishing out the class is Jason Jitoboh, Ques glover, and Alex Klatsky; all are projects that will most likely not see important playing time for a year or two but add depth at the center and guard positions. The talent from this class gives the Gators the necessary assets to contend for an SEC title and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The Gators return Andrew Nembhard, Noah Locke, and Keyontae Johnson. These three sophomore starters will be expected to produce at a high level of play behind there strong freshman seasons. The main dilemma Mike White will face this year will be how to maximize the talent in the rotation. It will be interesting to see how he mixes the lineup together throughout the year to put the team in the best position to win. A new way-too-early top 25 done by Jeff Borzello, a writer for ESPN, has Florida jumping up all the way to No. 4 in the rankings. With the SEC having so many talented teams UF will be put through the gauntlet during the regular season. They must consistently shoot from 3pt range and improve on the defensive side of the ball if this team wants to win the SEC. The past couple season Florida has been crippled by poor depth from the PF and C positions. Inexperience and injuries really hurt this teams chances the past couple seasons and Mike White knows that he needs high production from Blackshear to have a successful year. Coach White is not on the hot seat right now, but he cannot continue to coast on 20 win seasons. Gator fans are eager for championships and with how this upcoming season looks Mike White must deliver. With the mix of talented young players and veterans don’t be surprised if you see this team in the Elite 8 or maybe even in the Final 4 this year.