| Notebook: UF sports make SEC history
By Brandon Zimmerman
Sun sports writer
Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Florida's athletic program has ruled the SEC for almost two decades now.
We know this because the Gators have won the SEC All-Sports trophy in 16 of the past 17 years.
But which SEC program has been the most dominant for the 75-year history of the conference?
The Birmingham News, in its Sunday editions, decided that it's the Gators. The newspaper created a formula to determine which athletics program rates as the best in SEC history in all sports.
The News placed more weight on national titles and SEC titles than on other measurements such as number of All-Americans. It also weighed football and men's basketball most heavily.
Georgia finished second followed by LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky. Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt rounded out the top 10 while Ole Miss and Mississippi State rounded out the list.
The Gators recent success in the SEC has been documented by the school's 16 SEC All-Sports Trophy's over the past 17 seasons. The All-Sports Trophy is awarded by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group.
More rankings ...
Speaking of ranking athletic programs, Florida looks to be in good shape to once again finish in the top 10 nationally.
As of the latest standings, Florida was ranked seventh in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Director's Cup. The Gators have finished in the top 10 every year since 1983-84, but have never won it.
The final standings will be released next week after the conclusion of the College World Series.
Soccer schedule never dull
Most of Florida's non-revenue sports face challenging schedules each year. But it seems Becky Burleigh's soccer team always has the most interesting one.
The Gators' schedule, released this week, features road trips to Colorado and traditional-power Portland as well as home matches against Kansas and Nebraska of the Big 12 and Illinois of the Big Ten.
The Gators open in Boulder, Colo., on Aug. 22 against the Buffaloes in what will be a homecoming for Florida's Ameera Abdullah, of Denver, and Karly Findorff, of Colorado Springs.
Florida will travel to Portland, Ore., to face the Pilots on Sept. 19 then return home to host Kansas two days later.
Mullaney off to fast summer
Kyle Mullaney's sophomore season at Florida didn't exactly go as planned. His summer season, however, is off to a fast start.
Mullaney won his first start for the Orlando Suns of the Florida State Collegiate Summer League when he worked 6 innings of a 2-1 win over Clermont on June 13. For his effort, he was named the Pitcher of the Week for the Suns.
Mullaney is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two stars for the Suns.
Several other Gators are playing in summer leagues including five in the Cape Cod League. They are pitcher Billy Bullock (Harwich Mainers), catchers Buddy Munroe (Wareham Gatemen) and Hampton Tignor (Orleans Cardinals) and shortstop Cole Figueroa (Orleans Cardinals).
Outfielder Riley Cooper is playing for the New Market Rebels in the Valley League. Pitcher Tony Davis has joined the Fayetteville Swampdogs of the Coastal Plains League while outfielder Jonathan Pigott is playing with Mullaney for the Suns.
Gators center fielder Matt den Dekker, meanwhile, is participating in the USA Baseball National Team Trials. The national team roster will be finalized June 24.
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