Latest news with #Gator
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter 'hates Florida' but loves new Gator teammate CJ. Gardner-Johnson
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter 'hates Florida' but loves new Gator teammate CJ. Gardner-Johnson Kamari Lassiter hates the University of Florida, but he loves what C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring to the Houston Texans' secondary this fall. It's expected for the second-year cornerback out of Georgia to despise his rival school, especially after the dominance in recent years from the Bulldogs in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. Still, talent comes from the Southeastern Conference each year. Once in the league, the only colors that matter are the ones on Sundays. Lassiter knows that despite being a Gator, Gardner-Johnson adds a spark to a secondary looking to become the top unit in 2025. "He's one hell of a ball player. He really understands the game. He's played for a long time and he comes with his own energy," Lassiter said following Tuesday's OTA practice. "He just comes with his own passion and it affects the players around him. You can see, just watching this film, how his energy and how he talks and how he plays the game, it affects people around him, whether it's on the opposite side of the ball or whether it's on his side of the ball.' Acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Keynon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick, Gardner-Johnson should provide more stability opposite second-year starter Calen Bullock. He also joins a group of veterans in a young core who understand the pathway toward postseason success, including Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Last season, Houston put together a pass defense that ranked sixth in passing yards allowed (201) and 13th in scoring defense (21.9). Gardner-Johnson, who totaled 12 interceptions during two seasons with the Eagles in 2022 and 2024, should be a welcome name to a unit that finished top three in turnovers last season. While Florida and Georgia fans can't coexist, Lassiter is sure that he and Gardner-Johnson can put down the conference hatred in college if it leads to a conference title in the NFL. The Texans open the regular season against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 7.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
University of Florida trustees stand by their controversial choice for college president
Century Tower on the Gainesville campus of the University of Florida. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) University of Florida trustees on Thursday stood by their selection of Santa Ono as the next president, despite his nomination being denied by the State University System Board of Governors (BOG). Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF Board of Trustees and a proponent of Ono, defended the UF trustees' decision to forward Ono to the BOG for final approval. 'Our Board of Trustees stands by the integrity of the search, the strength of the candidates it produced, and the principles that guided our work,' Hosseini said during a lengthy board meeting. 'This outcome is deeply disappointing to our Board of Trustees.' Ono was rejected by the Board of Governors in a 6-10 vote after he was questioned for hours about his conflicting stances on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The UF board voted unanimously in favor of Ono the week prior. Back to the drawing board: UF presidential finalist nixed for conflicting DEI stances Had he received the job, Ono's contract would have provided him about $3 million annually. 'We believe Dr. Ono was uniquely qualified to lead this university at this moment,' Hosseini continued. 'The symbolism and substance of the sitting president of a university as prestigious as University of Michigan, choosing to come to University of Florida should not be lost. It was a powerful signal that Florida's model for higher education grounded in merit, academic excellence, institutional neutrality, and accountability to students and taxpayers is earning the trust and interest of top team leaders across the country who are ready to advance this vision.' The UF presidency is being filled on an interim basis by former President Kent Fuchs. The permanent job has been open since July, when former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse resigned from the presidency. 'We will continue to pursue the kind of bold principle and forward thinking leadership that Gator nation deserves,' Hosseini concluded. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida softball's first-year standout named NFCA Freshman of the Year
Florida softball outfielder Taylor Shumaker was named the NFCA Freshman of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Tuesday night at the 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series banquet in Oklahoma City. The first-year standout was honored with the award based on a unanimous decision, making her the second-ever Gator to win it. The other to achieve the same accolade was outfielder Amanda Lorenz in 2016. Advertisement Shumaker is batting .389 and leads the team with 22 home runs, 72 runs scored, 17 doubles, and an .818 slugging percentage heading into the Women's College World Series; her 86 RBI so far this spring are tied for the best mark in the NCAA. She has also drawn 40 walks and is 18-for-19 in stolen base attempts. The outfielder from Fullerton, California, is currently tied for the Florida single-season record in both home runs and RBI. The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Softball: Taylor Shumaker named NFCA Freshman of the Year
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ben Shelton's French Open run ends in Round 4 against Carlos Alcaraz
Ben Shelton's French Open run ends in Round 4 against Carlos Alcaraz Ben Shelton made his first trip to the fourth round at Roland-Garros over the weekend, but he ran into a buzzsaw in World No. 2 and reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. Shelton stole a set, delaying a relatively easy win for Alcaraz by 45 minutes, 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The former Gator played the Spanish phenom evenly for most of the first two sets, losing the tiebreak in the first and a late break point in the second. Shelton broke Alcaraz twice in the third set before falling in the fourth and final set. Despite the loss, it's the best Shelton has felt coming out of a match against Alcaraz, who now holds a 3-0 lead in the head-to-head series. 'The most pressure that I thought I've applied," Shelton said. "The most comfortable that I felt in the baseline exchanges. The best I've hit my open-stance backhand when he's put pressure there.' Alcaraz showed some love for the former Gator after the match as well. Both are 22 years old, but Alcaraz has four more years of pro experience. They are both considered future stars of the sports, with Shelton playing catchup after taking the collegiate route to develop. 'I think we played really complete tennis, with the drop shots, coming to the net, big shots, he stayed there the whole match," Alcaraz said. "It's great having Ben around in these matches, it's great energy for the people. I love watching him play. I want to appreciate the moments I shared with him today.' Even though Shelton didn't make it into the quarterfinals or further at the French Open, his Round 4 appearance is an improvement on last year's Round 3 exit. He's already taken a step forward in half of the year's Grand Slams, making the semifinals at the Australian Open in January. Wimbledon (Round 4 in 2024) is up next at the end of the month, and the US Open (Round 3 in 2024) at the end of August. With the results of the French Open, he'll jump back up a spot to the No. 12 spot in the world, tying a career-high ranking set in March. Shelton's next step is to begin competing with the Alcarazs and Jannik Sinner's of the world. He won't hold a top-10 ranking without beating top-10 talent. Shelton begins his grass court season in June with possible appearances in Germany (Stuttgart), Great Britain (London) and Spain (Mallorca) before Wimbledon. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida softball's first-year standout named NFCA Freshman of the Year
Florida softball's first-year standout named NFCA Freshman of the Year Florida softball outfielder Taylor Shumaker was named the NFCA Freshman of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Tuesday night at the 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series banquet in Oklahoma City. The first-year standout was honored with the award based on a unanimous decision, making her the second-ever Gator to win it. The other to achieve the same accolade was outfielder Amanda Lorenz in 2016. Shumaker is batting .389 and leads the team with 22 home runs, 72 runs scored, 17 doubles, and an .818 slugging percentage heading into the Women's College World Series; her 86 RBI so far this spring are tied for the best mark in the NCAA. She has also drawn 40 walks and is 18-for-19 in stolen base attempts. The outfielder from Fullerton, California, is currently tied for the Florida single-season record in both home runs and RBI. The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
