There was a bright spot from the UCLA game though. Center fielder Matt den Dekker, chased Brett Krill’s deep fly in the top of the fourth for the defensive play of the day. Den Dekker was looking over his right shoulder, running directly at the wall, as the ball dropped over his head and into his right glove as he slid on his knees on the warning track. Some people are calling it the best play ever in CWS history.

Watch the video here.

“It’s the best catch I’ve ever seen in person,” Kugler (the CWS play by play analyst) said. “Major League Baseball, college baseball… best catch I’ve ever seen. I didn’t think he was going to get the ball, first off. Not only did he get the ball, he slides down and makes the catch. I still can’t believe it.”

As I mentioned above, Florida now has to play FSU in an elimination game this afternoon at 4:30. If they win this game they’ll get either a rematch with UCLA or they’ll play TCU.

For those pining for some Gator news in the offseason, there was no shortage of such this past weekend. First off, HUGE congrats to one of my favorite current Gators, Jeff Demps, for his 100-meter men’s outdoor track title as well as for his being part of the winning men’s 4×100 relay team (kudos to Chris Rainey as well for being a part of that same quartet). Kudos to Mariam Kevkhishvili for winning the women’s shot put title at the NCAA outdoor meet, and congrats to the entire Florida men’s track team for their second-place finish at the NCAA meet!

It’s great to see our Gator baseball team back at the College World Series after a five-year absence by taking the Super Regional series against the Hurricanes on our home field in Gainesville. A combination of a complete-game win by Alex “Johnny Pants” Panteliodis in Game 1, great defense out in the field, effective hitting and seven errors by Miami in Game 2 got us back to Omaha this coming weekend to face UCLA in the first round. Best of luck guys, and represent Gator Nation well!

A bit of unsettling news offset all of the above when redshirt sophomore WR Frankie Hammond was arrested early Sunday morning on charges of DUI and open bottle. Nothing short of an act of total stupidity on his part, but it also meant that Coach Meyer is, beginning this season, enforcing a stronger zero-tolerance policy toward player misconduct. As much as I don’t fancy the idea of the innocent suffering on account of the guilty the emphasis on team unity, adherence to team rules and teammates being asked to watch out for each other is being made clear; given the number of player arrests in the past few years being at an unacceptable level, this new policy is being implemented with the entire team sharing in the guilt of the transgressor as a deterrent to any further violation of the law or team policy. Sure, drinking adult beverages is a part of college life and won’t go away anytime soon on our campuses, but then again there’s no excuse for students who are legally considered adults under the law to not conduct themselves in a rational manner where the consumption of alcohol is concerned. Though some of our fanbase is already playing the “judge-jury-executioner” role in suggesting he be removed from the team, I honestly don’t see Hammond’s punishment being that drastic – but then again I don’t anticipate Urban being as lenient as he was with Carlos Dunlap, who was guilty of the same thing last season prior to the SECCG and wound up being suspended from that one game. I expect Coach Meyer to see how Hammond’s case will be adjudicated in the courts and review any mitigating circumstances that may exist before he makes a final decision on Hammond’s penalty.

For all the media hype and rumor-mongering taking place in the past few months about conference expansion, the number of teams changing alliances hasn’t been as drastic as was anticipated. Looks as though the Big 12 will remain intact for the time being, albeit minus two of their members (Colorado to the Pac-10; Nebraska to the Big Ten). Personally I think all this is a bit ridiculous, but the bottom line is that the Almighty Dollar is the driving force behind all these moves as opposed to trying to maintain the integrity of college football. Whether or not these moves will result in the Big Ten and Pac-10 implementing conference championship games, respectively, and eventually facilitating a playoff to replace the current BCS system remains to be seen, but if this re-alignment will ultimately compel a post-season playoff, then there’s one thing constructive to all this.

Counting down the days until the start of the season on September 4……….

The No. 4 University of Florida softball team will play No. 5 UCLA in its first game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Thursday, June 3 at 3:30 p.m. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. UCLA has won this thing many times… Florida has never. Though they got very close in 2009 but were upset by Washington.

As far as baseball goes… The Gainesville Regional winner will face the winner of the Coral Gables Regional in a Super Regional series next weekend. The eight Super Regional winners advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

From GatorZone.com

The University of Florida baseball team learned on Monday afternoon that it was awarded the third national seed for the 2010 NCAA Baseball Tournament that begins on Friday at McKethan Stadium. Making their 26th Regional appearance, the top-seeded Gators (42-15) will face fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (35-20) at 7 p.m. Second-seeded Florida Atlantic (35-22) will meet third-seeded Oregon State (31-22) earlier in the day at 1 p.m.

“We are very excited for the start of Regional play,” third-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Playing at home should be a good opportunity for our fans to come and support us. It will be a challenging field and we are looking forward to facing a talented Bethune-Cookman team on Friday.”

First off, HUGE congrats go out to our Gator baseball team for winning the regular season SEC title; here’s hoping they can make it back to Omaha for the CWS. Congrats to Jeff Demps on his stellar track season; can’t wait to see him back in action on the football field this fall! Also have high hopes for our women’s softball team as well (and oh BTW, congrats to Francesca Enea on her recent engagement!) and looking for a repeat trip for them to the women’s big show.

I am far from being an aficionado of “reality TV”, but based on what I’ve been seeing on Twitter it looks as though Gator alum and ESPN sports reporter Erin Andrews is still a contender on “Dancing with the Stars”. I wish her well; the more positive things she can do after going through that ordeal with the stalker are just what she needs. Should she wind up winning it’ll be the second time a Gator alum won; it was back a few years ago when Emmitt Smith happened to win the “title’.

Great to hear that Urban Meyer’s enjoying his off-season; taking much-needed time off to be with his family and to travel a bit outside of football shows he’s serious about improving his all-around health and well-being. Based on what I recently read in a Pat Dooley article (the link to which is also posted in our Gator Football forum) he’s currently in Italy scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican. Sounds like he’s feeling and looking great as well; I can’t wait to see him back on the sidelines this coming fall.

Prayers also going out to Ellen Tressel, wife of Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel, as she recovers from her recent heart surgery. Hope she gets well soon!

Besides keeping up with our new Gator rookies in the NFL and baseball/softball teams, another sport I keep up with while waiting for football season to start is pro tennis – and it so happens that the French Open gets underway this weekend. Seeing that Rafael Nadal’s back and recently defeated Roger Federer in a tourney, their rivalry could heat up again on the clay courts in Paris. Anyway, I’m hoping that either Federer or one of our rising American stars (I like Andy Roddick also) can take the men’s title and that Serena Williams, who’s the women’s top seed, takes the women’s title.

Well, time for a refill on my coffee. Enjoy the upcoming summer, fellow Gators!

From GatorZone:

Maddox hit .538 (7-for-13) over the three games, homered in each outing and boasted a slugging percentage of 1.462. He also paced the squad in RBI (five) and runs (five) versus the Wildcats and six of his seven hits on the weekend went for extra-bases, as he had three dingers and three doubles.

Maddox has been dominant all season. He leads Florida in batting average (.369), RBI (42), multiple-hit games (17), doubles (13), multiple-RBI games (12) and slugging percentage (.698) and is the team leader in SEC play with a .369 clip, 21 RBI and eight round-trippers.

I don’t know what he’ll do after the college baseball season, but you can guarantee he’ll have a fat MLB contract waiting for him this summer. He was drafted by the Rays out of high school in the 37th round and there’s no doubt he’s improved on that. He could be a first round draft pick now at 6′3″ 230 lbs.

Dan Werner. I think we are all in agreement that Dan Werner is a liability on the court at any given time. Now I’m not one that concentrates too much on basketball. I try to catch every Gator basketball game I can, but I certainly have less knowledge of the game than some. But every time I have seen Werner check in this season, I get nervous. He is shooting a career-low .336 from the field, and .279 from bonus range, as well as averaging 2 turnovers a game. He was previously shooting .433 as a starter from the field, and .333 from behind the arc. And the guy simply has no confidence. I’m not bashing the man, The guy is the nicest person you can meet, I’m sure of it. But I know you are asking yourself, as am I, why does he get an average of 24 minutes a game since January 16th? As Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com has explained, Billy Donavon’s hands are tied with this situation. With Kenny Kadji out for the season, Chandler Parsons doing well in Werner’s old starting position, and freshman Erik Murphy getting 9 minutes a game, there are no more big guys on the roster to use. Parson’s is recovering from a knee injury, so you don’t want to give him extra time, and risk having him injured again. Maybe Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin should get more playing time? Just thoughts. But in my opinion, if something drastic doesn’t happen in the next few games, like maybe hitting more than 8 free throws a game, then we are a no go for the big dance in March. Most think that last loss to Xavier put the season in serious jeopardy. I wish they were wrong.

Now, to something I know a little more about(hehe). Football. I’ve listed in previous blogs who I think are going to be BIG impacts as newcomers this spring and into the season. My favorite pick to breakout is Andre Debose. Of course, his rehab is still progressing, but it has been said that he might not participate in full contact drills this spring. I’ve read on his Twitter that his hamstring is feeling much better, and that his work outs are going great. I’ve also heard that he is now able to sprint full speed on a treadmill. I know it’s unfair to compare Andre to Percy Harvin, especially since we haven’t even seen Andre on the field as a Gator, and since his injury. But I am REALLY excited to see him as a multi-position player. And I think that when the season rolls around, he will be full speed ahead. Another impact player I have mentioned is Matt Elam. Another multi-position athlete. I think we will see him start as a safety along with Ahmad Black. Going over his highlight film, It’s very easy to see that Elam will fit in on the field, no matter the spot. He should do well filling the spot of Major Wright as that hard-hitting safety.

There are multiple receivers to sort through to figure out who will be the biggest impact in the fall. And I don’t think they can go wrong with any of them. They are all very capable of being a go-to guy. The freshman that stands out the most to me is Chris Dunkley. At 5’11”, he could use a little more height, but he has very long arms to make up for it. He may need to put on a little more weight to compete in the SEC, but he certainly has the structure for it, and I don’t think it will be a problem. I also think that Dunkley will emerge as a leader, and captain of this football team for the next few years. Gerald Christian, the tight end from Dwyer High School, and a teammate of Matt Elam, I think will emerge as a go-to guy for Brantley. Much like Hernandez had been for Tebow. He has great athletic ability for his size. Ronald Powell, the monster from the left coast, Is going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next few seasons. I don’t think there is a doubt around, that this guy will make an immediate impact at defensive end. I’m looking for Powell to be a leader on this defense just as Brandon Spikes has been. Powell, along with Sharrif Floyd, and Lynden Trail I think will breakout as headaches for opposing offenses.

Looking at this class, I want to say that everyone of these young athletes will make noise in Gainesville over the next few years. Though it is very unlikely that all of them will. I think most are going to get some playing time their first two seasons. Whether it be on special teams, or their natural positions rotating in.

Many of us have questions concerning the hiring of the defensive backs coach, Teryl Austin, from the Arizona Cardinals as our new co-defensive coordinator. He has never been a defensive coordinator at any level before. Though he has been coaching in collegiate and professional football since 1991. He has been an assistant under the likes of Joe Paterno, Dick MacPherson, Lloyd Carr, and Mike Holmgren after playing college ball at Pittsburgh from 1984-87. He has no known connections to Urban Meyer, but Austin has worked with Steve Addazio during his tenure at Syracuse and with QB coach Scott Loeffler at Michigan. He has had two positions in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams reached the Super Bowl while he was coaching the teams’ secondary. One thing is for sure, Austin must have made a major impact on Urban Meyer. Teryl Austin is a big family man, and we all know that is a trait that Meyer has high on his list. Austin comes highly recommended from Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Bill Davis, a close friend of Meyer’s. While we don’t know how this move will work out until spring practice or the season begins, I rest assured that Meyer and Addazio have made a great hire. Chuck Heater being co-defensive coordinator along with Austin should make the transition of the defense a lot smoother than it would be. And with all the talent that Austin and Heater have to work with, I think the defense will be as strong as ever.

The projected 2010 Florida Gator coaching staff goes as follows…

Head Coach: Urban Meyer

Interim Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line: Steve Addazio
Quarterbacks: Scot Loeffler
Wide Receivers: Zach Azzanni
Running Backs: Stan Drayton
Tight Ends: Brian White

Defensive Coordinator: Teryl Austin
Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs: Chuck Heater
Associate Head Coach, Defense/Defensive Line: Dan McCarney
Linebackers: D.J. Durkin

Special Teams: D.J. Durkin, Urban Meyer?
Recruiting Coordinator: Stan Drayton
Director of Player and Community Relations: Terry Jackson

Only 54 more days until 2010 Orange & Blue Debut!!!

As always, Be Well Gator Nation

p.s. The Nationally ranked number 7 Gator Baseball team will play its first game of 2010 on February 19th against the South Florida Bulls, at home in Gainesville at 6:30pm. The team will have games against LSU, Alabama, and Georgia featured on ESPN affiliated channels on May 1st, 2nd, 8th and 14th.

“First, I want to congratulate Southern Miss,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “They played really, really well. All year long we have played teams who have made mistakes and kicked the ball around a little bit, but they play great defense. Their bullpen again did a heck of a job. We had a solid game plan going against their starter, but once again their bullpen put up six-straight zeroes on the scoreboard. We just couldn’t quite distance ourselves enough from them. If you had told me going into the day that we had a two-run lead with six outs to play and a rested Billy Bullock on the mound, I would have felt pretty good about it. But, you have to tip your caps to them.”

Preston Tucker played well for the Gators again. He was 2-for-2, with three walks and provided the Gators with a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his team-leading 15th homer. With two down, the slugger launched a 2-1 pitch that cleared the right field fence and caromed off a light tower to increase his school-record RBI total to 85. Brandon MacArthur, who is leaving UF after this season, also added a homerun in the middle innings.

“Never once will I think that I made the wrong decision by coming back. I wanted to come back because of Coach O’Sullivan. I have a great relationship with him and all of the coaching staff. This has been a great season and it’s a tough way to go out but I’ve had so much fun. My six years here as a Gator have been unbelievable. I will always be a Gator and support this team 100 percent.”

It’s sad to see the Gator baseball team fail to make the College World Series. They would have been a long shot to win it, but still would have come in with a fighting chance.

“The whole goal going into the weekend was to win this one and earn another weekend to play,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We came out tonight with a really good approach at the plate. We didn’t chase anything out of the zone. When you get an early lead like we did, it makes it awful easy on your pitching staff. The relief pitching once again was outstanding.”

Freshman Preston Tucker was named the Regional’s Most Outstanding Player after going 9-13 with six RBI, and two homeruns. He was absolutely slugging the ball. There’s no doubt the Gators wouldn’t have been as successful in the Regionals without his bat.

“Winning this award is really just a tribute to everyone on this team swinging the bat,” Tucker said. “When we have players on base, it puts more pressure on the pitcher than on me. Everyone swung really well today and just gave our pitchers the confidence to throw strikes.”

The winner of the Super Regional next weekend will earn a place in Omaha at the College World Series.

Making their 25th Regional appearance, the top-seeded Gators (39-20) will face fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (32-26) at 6:30 p.m. Every year the Gators have gone to the CWS they have alays done so by playing at home. UF is 64-51 (.557) all-time in NCAA Tournament action and has reached the CWS five times: 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2005.

“We are very excited for the start of Regional play,” second-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Playing at home should be a good opportunity for our fans to come and support us. It will be a challenging field and we are looking forward to facing a talented Bethune-Cookman team on Friday.”

These are the best baseball games to go to. If you plan on going, please click here for ticket information.

Go Gators!

The future looks bright for the Florida Gators. Both Preston Tucker and Anthony DeSclafani (the Gator best pitcher right now) are freshman.

Here are some highlights from a game against UNF just a few weeks ago.

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