Florida Gators thread

[azuquita8]

Donovan yet to sign extension


By KEVIN BROCKWAY
Sun sports writer



Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

Almost a year after his surprise return from the Orlando Magic, Florida men's basketball coach Billy Donovan has yet to sign his six-year, $21 million contract extension offered from the school last June.
Donovan coached the 2007-08 season under financial terms of the new deal based on a verbal agreement. When Donovan signs, he will have five years remaining on the contract.
The Sun learned of Donovan's contract status in a follow up to a Freedom of Information Act request filed last June.
"We know that Billy and his attorneys are reviewing this," Florida assistant athletic director Fred Demarest said. "There are no hangups and we are confident that it will be signed in the near future."
Demarest said Donovan has changed attorneys since last June, which is part of the reason for the delay. Donovan was not available for comment Thursday.
It's become commonplace for Division I college coaches to work extended periods without signed deals. Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has yet to sign a seven-year contract outlined when UK hired him in April of 2007. Gillispie and the school are working under a memorandum of understanding, a written agreement that's not legally binding.
Bob Huggins worked through his first season as basketball coach at West Virginia without a signed contract. Earlier this week, Huggins signed a 10-year extension that will pay him $1.5 million annually.
But working without a signed contract involves risk on both sides, according to Thomas Hurst, a University of Florida law professor who specializes in sports and contract law.
"If Billy were to do something that caused him to fall out of the University (of Florida's) favor, he would have no protection," Hurst said. "And if Billy were to choose to seek employment elsewhere, the university would have no recourse."
Hurst acknowledged it was "unusual" for a negotiation of a sports contract to last 11 months.
"If Billy changed attorneys, it suggests he may have been unhappy with how negotiations were going," Hurst said. "I'm sure there are some odds and ends that still need to be worked out."
Florida did not include a buyout clause in Donovan's previous deal, which paid him an average of $1.7 million over six years. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has said in the past he does not believe in using contract buyouts because he wants coaches that are happy to be working at UF.
Although NBA coaching vacancies remain at New York, Chicago and Dallas, it's unlikely that Donovan would consider a jump to the pros again this quickly. Donovan reached a separation agreement with the Magic after signing a five-year contract to coach the team June 1 (he left the Magic on June 6). Though terms of the separation agreement were not disclosed, it's believed that under the agreement Donovan is prohibited from coaching another NBA team during the five years without the Magic receiving some form of compensation.
A jump to another college also would be unexpected. After turning down a chance to interview at Kentucky in April 2007, Donovan said he would not leave Florida for another college program.
Donovan, who turns 43 later this month, has guided Florida to two national championships, three Final Fours and 10 consecutive 20-win seasons in his 12 years as Florida's coach. This past season, the Gators reached the National Invitational Tournament semifinals with a 24-12 record, failing to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

[azuquita8]

Last night I took some time out to attend the Gator Gathering the Central Florida Gator Club holds every year, and once again Urban Meyer came to speak at the event.

I was one of the lucky few to get there early and into the autograph line; by the time my turn came I looked Coach Meyer in the eye and said, "We're gonna have a great season, Coach". He responded with a huge smile, and as things turned out his request for fan enthusiasm toward Gator football would be one of the topics he'd be speaking about.

The Cap One Bowl loss this past January was a hard one to swallow, and I'm sure his being in Orlando immediately brought that game to mind. He admitted to being "disgusted" after that loss, but it also was a poignant reminder to never take anything for granted; in his own words he alluded to perhaps a little too much complacency after the 2006 National Championship win that led to a less-than-desirable result after the 2007 season. He went on to talk about giving 100% effort, enjoying the things we do and never losing interest in them whether it be our careers or sports, and even appreciating the struggle to reach our goals and achieve results. To emphasize his point he played a Converse commercial featuring Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat and tied each part of the commercial into what he was talking about.

He also discussed the renovation taking place in the football complex and the improvements being made; his aim is to illustrate Florida football from past to present and give due recognition to those who helped pave the way to where our program is right now. I also appreciated the fact that he gave Charley Pell credit for starting to raise the bar in the 1980's (In spite of the fact that Pell would later be fired for NCAA rule infractions that led to probation, he set the foundation that would lead to UF eventually winning championships in the 1990's.) and to Steve Spurrier for the accomplishments of the 1990's. Based on what Meyer talked about last night he has a vision for Florida football and as I see it he's intent on taking things a step further - we could be looking at more championships down the road.

He later went on to talk about the academic improvement of our players with the overall team GPA going up and our graduation rate being the best in the SEC, then talked about his players for 2008 and improvements he's seen over 2008. He also mentioned a couple of former players who've kept in touch with him (Orlando's own Brandon Siler, now with the Chargers and Ray McDonald who plays for the Niners). In closing he stressed fan enthusiasm and support as being crucial to the success of our football program as well as participation in events such as the one I went to last night.

What should have been a fun event for Coach Meyer was marred earlier by his having to dismiss a player from the team (Jamar Hornsby; he was charged with credit card fraud and theft stemming from last year's tragic loss of walk-on QB Michael Guilford and a girl he was giving a ride home to from a party who happened to be the girlfriend of CB Joe Haden and had stolen her credit card) as I learned from chatting with Gator Bait's Marty Cohen at the end of the event. This ruins our record of no player arrests that we had going for the year prior to yesterday, but it also was a reminder to our players that if they break Meyer's core values (tell the truth, treat women with respect, no drugs, no stealing) they're no longer wearing Gator Orange and Blue.

As I see things we're in good shape for 2008 and are a legitimate contender to be back in Atlanta this coming December for the SEC title - if spring practice was any indication of that there are good things ahead for the Gators if they can stay healthy, stay out of trouble, stay together as a team and stay focused. It's all up to them.

GO GATORS!!!!!!

[azuquita8]

Ratliff's grand slam lifts softball to SEC title


Special to The Sun



Published: Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11:54 p.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. — The top-ranked Florida softball team won its first Southeastern Conference Tournament title on Saturday, beating No. 3 Alabama 4-1.
Twice in the game, there was a sense of déjà vu in the air as senior Mary Ratliff came up to bat with two outs and the bases loaded. In the sixth inning déjà vu proved true as Ratliff did what she did in Tuscaloosa earlier in the season and hit a grand slam to put the Gators (62-2) in the lead, 4-1.
“I knew the ball was going out when I hit it,” Ratliff said. “I just get put in these opportunities because of how good my teammates are. All weekend teams had been walking the batters in front of me to get to me. Today I was able to come through for my team. That is what I am proudest of.
"At some point you just have to look yourself in the eye and step up. I hadn’t done that all weekend, but am glad I was able to today.”
The inning started with junior Ali Gardiner hitting a triple to right center with one out. Freshmen Megan Bush and Tiffany DeFelice each drew full-count, two-out walks to load the bases. Then Ratliff stepped up to the plate. With a 2-2 count, Ratliff lifted the ball deep over the fence in right field for her second grand slam of the season and her ninth home run of the year. Those four runs put the Gators ahead to stay.
“I am very proud of the tournament championship for our program and for our players,” head coach Tim Walton said. “Our team has shown a lot of character and determination all season.”
Florida junior hurler Stacey Nelson earned tournament most valuable player honors for her performance the last two days. Nelson threw a complete game, allowing Alabama (51-6) only four base runners on three hits and one hit batter.

[azuquita8]

Tebow makes appearance at TPC


Special to The Sun



Published: Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow visited TPC Sawgrass for the final round, watching the action on the famed par-3 17th with his brother, father and a few friends.
Tebow had hoped to catch former Florida golfer Chris DiMarco, but DiMarco was finished before Tebow arrived at the course.
Tebow, who became the first sophomore to win college football’s most prestigious award, didn’t get an early start because he got home late Saturday night from a missionary trip in eastern Europe.
The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Tebow lives nearby in Jacksonville and attended Nease High in Ponte Vedra Beach. So was he able to get through the hometown crowd without much problem?
‘‘Not really,’’ said Tebow, who was escorted by two sheriff’s deputies.

[Chicagobear1223]

Originally Posted by dolfan06

huskies rip gators! lmao

that is so not funny!

[azuquita8]

Patchan shot, full recovery expected


By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.

Florida football coach Urban Meyer confirmed Monday that freshman defensive lineman Matt Patchan was shot in the shoulder Friday night in a Tampa area park and is now recovering in Gainesville.
"Matt Patchan was a gunshot victim Friday night at a Tampa area park. He was a bystander and shot in the left shoulder and is expected to fully recover in three weeks," Meyer said in a statement released by UF.
The incident occurred at Sadie Park in Brandon.

[azuquita8]

Gators' offseason to-do list


By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.

Come together, right now
* The Gators lacked unity and chemistry last season, which can be traced to the offseason a year ago, when UF was coming off the national championship and everyone was too giddy to detect any potential problems in those areas. Meyer stressed chemistry and unity throughout the spring, and the Gators did seem to be closer than they were last season. Now, they have to remain in that togetherness mode during the summer workouts and conditioning program. These guys are going to have to get together on their own and play pitch-and-catch and put themselves through drills. This is where that championship bond starts to take hold.
Come back, Percy (and others)
* Coming off his heel surgery in the spring, wide receiver Percy Harvin must now do everything the doctors and trainers tell him to do to get back to 100 percent in the next six or seven weeks. Harvin is such an important part of the offense, and the Gators need him back at full speed to set so many things in motion. He is one of several key injured players who must make a successful (and fairly quick) comeback. The others are offensive tackle Phil Trautwein, offensive guards James Wilson, Jim Tartt and Maurice Hurt, quarterback John Brantley, linebacker Ryan Stamper and defensive tackle Javier Estopinan.
Avoid the night life
* During the offseason last year, several players got in trouble with some rowdy and embarrassing late-night behavior. This reflects one thing — a lack of leadership. The leaders of the 2008 team, quarterback Tim Tebow and middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, need to step up and make sure their teammates stay in line. Going out is acceptable. Going out and doing something stupid is not. Of course, the Gators are off to a really embarrassing start, with safety Jamar Hornsby getting the boot last week for felony theft and fraud.
Hang on, Moody
* After a slow start, Southern Cal transfer Emmanuel Moody came on strong at tailback in the last week of the spring, then he rushed for more than 100 yards in the Orange and Blue Debut. But he wiped out all that good stuff by losing a fumble in the end zone. Meyer is adamant Moody (or any other tailback) won't see the field if there is a chance he's going to fumble. Moody has some serious talent, but to showcase it and become a major contributor in the fall, he's got to fix his problem with ball security this summer.
Keep eating, Rainey
* Redshirt freshman Chris Rainey had a breakout spring, producing big play after big play at tailback and receiver. The goal now is to put some meat (and more muscle) on his thin frame. He's been working at it and is closing in on 180 pounds. Meyer would like him to be at about 185 by the start of the season. Running backs coach Kenny Carter has said he envisions Rainey eventually being an explosive 195-pound tailback. With some size to go along with his speed and skill, Rainey has a chance to be Harvin-like this season. So, eat up, Chris.

[azuquita8]

Football's Hunter, Pridemore ready to work


By ROBBIE ANDREU
Sun sports writer



Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 9:51 p.m.

The Omar Hunter watch came to official end Monday when the All-America defensive tackle from Buford, Ga., began classes in the Summer A semester at the University of Florida.
Hunter is rooming with high school teammate T.J. Pridemore, who also is starting classes this week.
With a lack of consistency at defensive tackle in the spring, UF coach Urban Meyer said the Gators were on the Omar Hunter watch in anticipation of Hunter arriving this month and then competing for a starting role in August.
Hunter, who arrived in Gainesville on Friday, is getting a head start with his early enrollment. Hunter and Pridemore will be participating in the offseason conditioning program this summer.
The rest of the true freshmen (other than the six who enrolled in January) will begin classes in the Summer B semester in July.

[azuquita8]

Ex-Gator Horford unanimous pick for NBA All-Rookie team


The Associated Press



Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 9:25 p.m.

NEW YORK — Al Horford and Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant headlined the NBA All-Rookie team announced Tuesday.
Atlanta’s Horford was the only unanimous choice with 58 votes, followed by Seattle’s Durant with 57 in balloting by the league’s head coaches.
Houston’s Luis Scola (53), Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton (48) and Seattle’s Jeff Green (43) also made the first team.
Horford ranked first among rookies in double-doubles (25) and rebounds (9.7), helping the Hawks end the league’s longest postseason drought with their first playoff berth since 1999.
The 6-foot-9 Durant led the SuperSonics with 20.3 points per game, 7.6 more than any other rookie. He was the only first-year player to lead his team in five categories — points, blocks, steals, free throws made and free throw percentage. Durant blocked more shots than any other guard in the league (75).
The All-Rookie second team was Toronto’s Jamario Moon, Memphis’ Juan Carlos Navarro, Philadelphia’s Thaddeus Young, Detroit’s Rodney Stuckey and Houston’s Carl Landry.

[azuquita8]

UF baseball controls its fate


By BRANDON ZIMMERMAN
Sun sports writer



Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:22 p.m.

Scores from around the SEC are typically announced between innings at McKethan Stadium.
Should that happen when Florida opens a three-game series against visiting Vanderbilt tonight at 6:30 p.m., don't expect the Gators to be paying attention.
Florida enters the final three games of the regular season with control of its own destiny in the race for one of the eight spots in next week's SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
A Florida (31-20, 14-13 SEC) sweep over No. 13 Vanderbilt (37-15, 15-11) would lock up an SEC berth for the Gators.
"We have to take care of our own business," Gator coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "We don't want to look at the scoreboard to see what other teams are doing, to be quite honest. We want to take care of our own business and not worry about it."
The Gators are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the packed SEC standings. But Florida is also just one game ahead of ninth-place South Carolina (13-14).
If Florida takes two of three from the Commodores, it would likely be enough to secure an SEC berth. Should Florida lose twice or get swept, however, it would be left needing some serious help.
"It pretty much boils down to us needing to take care of business and get the series against Vanderbilt," left fielder Avery Barnes said. "Two wins pretty much assures us a spot in the SEC Tournament. It feels great knowing we have the opportunity to get into the tournament only on what we do and not having to rely on someone else."
Still, Florida isn't leaving anything to chance.
"We feel like we need to win every game," infielder Clayton Pisani said. "That's our mentality going into it. Mathematically, I don't know what it takes. But we want to come out of it with a couple wins, especially with Saturday being Senior Day. We're definitely coming in trying to win two or three games."
The Gators wasted a major opportunity to secure an SEC berth last weekend when they nearly swept Alabama. But the Gators blew a pair of late-inning leads and dropped two of three. Florida, however, bounced back Tuesday with a 12-2 win over South Florida.
"I feel good about our guys," O'Sullivan said. "We bounced back after a tough weekend."
The Gators jumped out to an early lead in the SEC standings by going 7-2 over the first three weekends. Florida has scuffled a bit since, going 7-11 over the past six weekends.
Nevertheless, Florida has been good enough to control its own fate heading into the final three games.
"That's the point we were trying to get to, is to be able to control it ourselves, and now we get to," sophomore pitcher Kyle Mullaney said. "We're going to go out there and play hard and see what happens."
It promises to be a wild weekend in ballparks all over the SEC this weekend.
"It's been a battle for everyone," O'Sullivan said. "We're not the only team that's 14-13. Everyone's got tough weekends this weekend. Everyone has got their backs to the walls and have a lot of pressure this weekend.

[azuquita8]

Off-field incidents frustrate UF coach Urban Meyer

By MARCUS NELSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 15, 2008
MIAMI — Florida football coach Urban Meyer didn't wait long to dismiss Jamar Hornsby from the team last week after he was arrested last week on felony charges of credit-card fraud.
Hornsby turned himself in to police Friday morning. He was off the team that night.
The junior safety is one of 16 Gators football players who have been involved in off-the-field incidents since Meyer became coach in 2005. They've given Meyer plenty of chances to refine how he disciplines players.
That said, Meyer wishes he had fewer opportunities to be judge and jury when his players get in trouble. He told reporters Wednesday he is concerned that NCAA rules are keeping him from getting to know players well enough during recruiting.
"When you look around and see some of the things that go on, it's amazing, it's disconcerting and it is alarming what is happening," Meyer said before speaking at a Gator Gathering at Parrott Jungle. "We take a great deal of time and effort to educate guys and build character."
Meyer pointed out that the Hornsby incident was the first one the team has had to deal with since last season ended. That was in stark contrast to last off-season, during which Meyer was busy coping with his players' off-the-field problems.
"I can assure you one incident is not going to offset five great months as we get ready for the 2008 season," Meyer said.
When Meyer was hired at Florida in 2005, he arrived after stints at Utah and Bowling Green with the reputation of a coach who ran model programs and whose mantra at Florida has been to only take "the top 1 percent of the top 1 percent."
But those numbers nearly caught up with Meyer last season as he gave many players a second chance, including Hornsby.
Meyer was lenient on Hornsby and often gives second chances to first-time offenders to allow them to prove to him they deserve to work their way back on the team by doing extra running and conditioning or revoking scholarships.
Meyer remembers his emotion when he heard the news: "It's anger and you just have to reevaluate how you're doing."
Meyer said he is afraid recent NCAA bans on text messaging and head coaches not allowed to go out and evaluate players during the spring will hurt a coach's ability to know the character of players he is signing.
"The NCAA is pulling us off the recruiting process," Meyer said. "I'm not allowed to go out and I'm not allowed to text message, but I'm trying to find out (about players) the best I can."
Meyer often uses dismissal from the team only as a last resort.
When he was at Utah, many clamored for him to kick star running back Marty Johnson off the team after his second drunken-driving arrest.
Instead Meyer and his wife, Shelly, who has a degree in psychiatric nursing with a specialty in addiction, helped Johnson, who led the Utes to an undefeated season in 2004, to deal with his alcoholism.
Hornsby's story likely won't have a happy ending.
Hornsby's most recent arrest - on charges that he charged more than $2,800 to a gas card that belonged to a student who died in a car accident that also killed Florida football walk-on Michael Guilford - was his second brush with the law after he entered a deferred prosecution program on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge stemming from a fight in April 2007.
In that case, Hornsby was accused of throwing someone onto the hood of a car during a fight and causing $750 in damage.
Hornsby was also suspended by Meyer for the final five games of the season for what Meyer said was related to selling tickets he was allotted, a violation of NCAA rules.
"It's case by case, and he's not the first guy to have an issue and won't be the last," Meyer said.
"... Are we perfect, absolutely not. Give me a school that is perfect and I'll give you a couple of examples to show it's not, but that's not our business. Our business is the University of Florida."

[nerrad]

hey az, are you guys running the 2 qb system this year?

[azuquita8]

UF's Meyer has a tough balancing act

By ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
On one hand, Urban Meyer has college football's ultimate goodwill ambassador. The King of Do the Right Thing.He is Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who managed to squeeze in nine holes of golf with his coach Tuesday after his work in the Philippines, where Tebow helped circumcise young boys in need of the surgery, and preaching to hundreds of inmates in a Gainesville prison and a visit to Croatia for more missionary work.
TEBOW THE REAL DEAL
'Every once in a while I ask him, `Are you going to throw some footballs this summer to give us a chance to win?' '' Meyer said before a speaking at a Gator Club of Miami event Wednesday at Jungle Island. 'Tim is a completely devout Christian, and his life completely revolves around it. He plays football because it gives him a platform to help people. In today's day and age of being cynical and `Do you really believe it?' everything about him is real.''
On the other hand, Meyer has -- or, more accurately, he had -- a player who committed the most disturbing, heartless, atrocious act in this year's round of offseason transgressions. It is the kind of act that strengthens that collective cynicism of which Meyer speaks.
Last week, Jamar Hornsby turned himself in on charges he used a dead woman's credit card.
A woman who reportedly was his friend. A woman who died tragically in the same accident that killed one of Hornsby's teammates. And he allegedly kept using it. Reportedly more than 70 times, spending nearly $3,000 (Hornsby's major, by the way, was social and behavioral sciences, which would make for quite the irony if his story ends up in a textbook one day).
AN IMAGE PROBLEM
Hornsby was immediately kicked off the team, but the damage had been done to the image of a football program whose coach preaches character and whose star quarterback preaches for a living.
Hornsby's arrest made major headlines for its callous and cold-hearted nature, drawing nearly as much interest as Tebow's work in the Philippines.
And let's be honest: If Tebow were helping to provide vaccines instead of performing the most delicate of surgeries, his work would have gotten far less attention than that of Hornsby, a former star recruit who had become little more than a special-teams contributor.
It is the kind of event that reminds coaches just how close to powerless they are in monitoring more than 100 student-
athletes. The cynics will say coaches promote character while on the recruiting trail but place the quality well below 40-yard-dash times and high school statistics.
Meyer said it is getting harder for him to properly measure character.
''The NCAA is pulling us off the recruiting process,'' he said. ``I'm not allowed to go out [to visit players] anymore. I'm not allowed to text message. I'm trying to find out as best I can. You just keep re-evaluating.
``If you just look around and see some of the things that are going on, it's amazing. It's concerning. It's alarming. So we take a great deal of time and effort in trying to educate guys, work with them and recruit character. Are we perfect? Absolutely not.''
He's hardly alone.
Just in this state, Florida State receiver Preston Parker was arrested last month and charged with carrying a concealed .45-caliber handgun and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana. Then there are the noncriminal issues that are less serious but just as disconcerting for a coach trying to maintain a proper program. Daron Rose, FSU's starting left tackle, was deemed academically ineligible for next season. Florida freshman Matt Patchan caught a bullet in the shoulder in a random shooting while at a park near Tampa. Central Florida cornerback Johnell Neal was injured during a shooting in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La. (notice no University of Miami players are listed, yet as soon as one is, the ''Thug U'' label will be all the rage again. Go figure).
All a coach can do is continue to sermonize on how heavily the good outweighs the troubling.
''It's a shame that one person had to steal away from what the other 104 guys are doing,'' Meyer said. ``We had the highest GPA in University of Florida football history. We had 58 [players] that had over a 3.0.''
Unfortunately, school grades will never get the attention low-grade felonies do. And it would take an act of Congress, which wouldn't really be that surprising these days, or at least an act of Roger Goodell to legitimately decrease the number of college football players who find themselves in serious legal trouble every year.
So a coach like Meyer has to discuss the Jamar Hornsbys of the world just minutes before he is about to tell a gathering of supporters just how great the University of Florida is.
It helps, then, that Meyer can distract even the most cynical with talks of Tebow -- even if he might have to use the word ''circumcise'' and try not to squirm.
''He walks the walk and he talks the talk,'' Meyer said of Tebow. ``It's phenomenal.''
Image repair is a little easier with him around.

[azuquita8]

Baseball rallies for key win


By BRANDON ZIMMERMAN
Sun sports writer



Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:16 p.m.

Brandon McArthur's improbable journey continues to roll on.
Florida's senior first baseman added to his Gator legend Thursday night when he broke a 6-6 tie with a two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning to lift Florida to an 8-6 win over No. 13 Vanderbilt at McKethan Stadium.
"I'm on cloud nine right now," said McArthur, who has been playing with a ruptured right anterior cruciate ligament since April 2. "I don't know what to say."
Two batters before McArthur's heroics, fellow senior Bryson Barber launched a two-out, two-run home run off the right field foul pole that tied the game at 6-6.
"We're seniors," Barber said. "It's our time to step up and we did."
Senior Josh Edmondson (4-3) retired Vanderbilt quietly in the ninth as Florida won for the first time in 15 games this season when trailing after seven innings.
"We've been waiting a long time to get a win like this," Gator coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "It's a great start to the series."
The win moved Florida one step closer to earning one of eight berths in next week's SEC Tournament. The Gators (32-20, 15-13 SEC) are now two games ahead of ninth place South Carolina, which lost to Tennessee, 13-2, Thursday and fell to 13-15 in the SEC.
Florida can clinch an SEC berth with a win over Vanderbilt when the series continues tonight at 6:30, or with another South Carolina loss. The Gamecocks' loss meant that Vanderbilt (37-16, 15-12) clinched an SEC Tournament berth in spite of the loss.
O'Sullivan said he is only worried about what happens at McKethan Stadium.
"We've got to win the series," O'Sullivan said. "We're not going to worry about the other scores. We're not going to back into it."
It seems that McArthur won't let them. Playing in what is likely his last series at home, McArthur opened the game with an RBI triple in the first inning.
"I was hoping he was not going to leg out that triple," O'Sullivan said. "We've told him that before. But that's the competitor he is."
McArthur, though, would hurt his team when he committed a fifth-inning error, which led to two unearned Commodore runs. It wouldn't matter.
With Vanderbilt leading 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth and Clayton Pisani on first, Barber launched a pinch-hit home run off Vandy's Russell Brewer (4-2) to tie the game at six. The home run nearly hooked foul before clanging off the foul pole.
"I was leaning toward it to make sure it went fair," Barber said.
Avery Barnes (4-for-5) then singled to bring up McArthur. Surely, no one expected McArthur to launch one over the left field fence. He entered the game with one home run on the season and six in his career.
Of course, the home run didn't shock the Gators. McArthur is now hitting .400 since rupturing his ACL.
Now, the Gators have much more breathing room with two games to go in the season.
"A game like that kind of loosens us up a little bit," O'Sullivan said. "There's a lot of pressure on us this weekend. We needed this."
Notes
O'Sullivan said he had junior Patrick Keating, Saturday's scheduled starter, warming up in the bullpen in the ninth. O'Sullivan said he would have used Keating had David Macias reached with two outs in the ninth. O'Sullivan also said he might use Keating in relief today, then patch his staff together on Saturday. ... Florida center fielder Matt den Dekker extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single.

[azuquita8]

UF lineman returns after being shot

Thursday, May 15, 2008

MIAMI — Florida freshman defensive lineman Matt Patchan has resumed individual workouts after being shot last week at a Tampa area park, Gators coach Urban Meyer said.
"He's great and worked out on (Wednesday)," Meyer said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, during which an unknown shooter fired into a crowd at a park in Brandon, hitting Patchan and a former teammate of his at Seffner-Armwood High School.
"It's a different world out there and he was just a bystander and had no involvement at all," Meyer said.
Meyer also said receiver Percy Harvin is recovering well from surgery in April on his right heel.
"He's good," Meyer said. "He is working five days a week and three days a week he's doing rehab. He's at 196 pounds and strong as an ox."