Latest news with #TheGainesvilleSun
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Florida football special teams coach moving on to Houston
One of the special teams' coaches for Florida football is moving on to a new job. According to a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Florida Gators Game Changer coordinator Chris Couch is accepting the special teams coordinator job at Houston. Advertisement The move reunites Couch with Houston coach Willie Fritz, whom he worked under at Tulane from 2016-20. Couch endured some ups and downs in his first two years under head coach Billy Napier as lead special teams' analyst. Under Couch, Florida at times failed to line up correctly, resulting in either 10 players or too many players on the field in changeovers for punts and field goal attempts. During the 2024 offseason, Florida added special teams' coordinator Joe Houston to work with Couch. Houston, a former special teams assistant with the New England Patriots (2020-23) and special teams coach at Iowa State (2016-18), added a new voice with experience. Due to a change in NCAA rules, both analysts were able to work on the field during 2024 fall camp, which resulted in smoother special teams' operation during the 2024 season. Coach joins former UF co-defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong as the second coach to leave the Gators for Houston in the last seven months. Armstrong took over as Houston defensive coordinator last December. Advertisement Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Report: Florida football losing special teams analyst to Houston
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida Gators lead nation in spring game attendance amid national decline in 2025
Florida Gators lead nation in spring game attendance amid national decline in 2025 While spring game attendance plummeted across much of the college football landscape in 2025, the Florida Gators defied the trend with the highest turnout in the country. According to The Gainesville Sun, 56,563 fans packed Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as the Swamp, for Florida football's annual Orange and Blue Game. This year's attendance marked the program's largest spring crowd since 2009. The turnout came during a time when many college football programs scaled back or eliminated spring games entirely. Despite that, Florida embraced the moment, using the game not only to showcase a promising roster for next season, but also to celebrate its men's basketball national championship with a halftime ceremony. Head coach Billy Napier's Gators are riding a wave of momentum into the summer. Much of the excitement centers around quarterback DJ Lagway. Lagway's presence alone drew significant attention, and fans got their first glimpse of what he could bring to the field in the fall. The Gators weren't the only school to draw a crowd, but they easily outpaced other major programs. The Ohio State Buckeyes reported 40,136 attendees, its lowest spring turnout since 2021. The Michigan Wolverines drew an estimated 40,000. The Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers and South Carolina Gamecocks surpassed the 30,000 mark, but the Orange and Blue stood alone at the top. While many coaches around the country reevaluate the risks and rewards of spring games, Florida football made a clear statement: the passion in Gainesville is alive and well. 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.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
FHP: Bell man lying on U.S. 129 hit and killed by SUV in Gilchrist County
A 61-year-old Bell man was hit and killed by a vehicle on May 1 in Gilchrist County, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Here's what we know: May 1 at about 6:15 a.m. State: Florida begins prosecutions under new law intended to protect law enforcement from harassment U.S. 129 near its intersection with Northwest Fifth Street. According to the report, a 57-year-old Bell woman was driving a GMC Acadia south on U.S. 129 when it struck the Bell man, who was lying in the southbound lane. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Bell man lying on U.S. 129 hit and killed by SUV in Gilchrist County
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida basketball sophomore G Kajus Kublickas to enter transfer portal
Florida basketball sophomore guard Kajus Kublickas intends to enter the transfer portal, a source confirmed to the Sun on Monday. The 6-foot-2 Kublickas, from Kaunas, Lithuania, appeared in 15 games over two seasons with the Florida Gators. Advertisement In six games for national champion UF in 2024-25, Kublickas averaged 0.7 points and 1.2 rebounds. In 2023-24, Kublickas appeared in nine games, scoring seven points with four assists, three rebounds and a steal. Florida loses all three of its starting guards ― All-American point guard Walter Clayton Jr., guard Will Richard and guard Alijah Martin ― from its 2024-25 roster. But the Gators bring back rising junior Denzel Aberdeen and rising sophomore Urban Klavzar, who are expected to take on more prominent roles in the backcourt next season. Other players expected to contribute to the backcourt for UF next season incude rising freshman Isaiah Brown, who showed promise in limited minutes this past season and incoming freshman Alex Lloyd, a top 50 national recruit. Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1 This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball losing sophomore guard to transfer portal
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida football spring game score today: Live updates from Orange and Blue game
Florida football will get another chance to grow when it holds its annual Orange and Blue spring game Saturday at The Swamp. Florida Gators fans who attend will get a sneak peak of how much progress UF's football has made entering year four under head coach Billy Napier. Advertisement "We have to make progress and work towards being a tough-minded group, a fundamentally sound group, and then one that can handle the adversity and momentum," Napier said. "Whether it's at home against a formidable public or some of these road games, some of these venues that we have to deal with." Of concern is the fact that quarterback DJ Lagway is dealing with a shoulder issue and hasn't thrown (at least publicly) this spring. Lagway has been taking part in drop back drills and is doing mental reps and could play on Saturday, but may wind up handing the ball off. Other players sitting out this spring have resulted in chances for new players to step up. Napier mentioned junior cornerback Cormani McClain, linebacker Aaron Chiles and wide receiver Aidan Mizell as players who have stood out this spring. In addition, Florida fans will get a first glimpse of 19 freshmen who enrolled early in January and are eligible to take part in the spring game, including top 100 recruit receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson. UCLA transfer wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant also has had a strong spring and will get his first opportunity to play in front of fans at The Swamp. Florida football spring game score updates Team 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Score Orange x x x x xx Blue x x x x xx Florida football spring game kickoff time Date: Saturday, April 12 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier Field (cap. 88,548). Gainesville, Fla. What channel is Florida football spring game on today? TV channel: None Streaming: None Florida football spring game weather updates Per the forecast for the Florida spring game at kickoff at The Swamp in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday is 70 degrees with 0% chance of rain and winds out of the northwest at 10 mph. Florida football schedule 2025 Aug 30: Long Island University Sept. 6: USF Sept. 13: at LSU Sept. 20: at Miami Sept. 27: Bye Oct 4: Texas Oct 11: at Texas A&M Oct. 18: Mississippi State Oct 26: Bye Nov. 1: Georgia (Jacksonville) Nov. 8: at Kentucky Nov. 15: at Ole Miss Nov. 22: Tennessee Nov. 29: Florida State Advertisement Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1 This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football spring game: Score, highlights from Orange and Blue game
