Gator Tailgating

Come Tailgate With Us For The Citadel Game!

Rusty — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:12:09 -0500

Javascript is required to view this map.

Looking for a tailgate party to hit up while getting ready to watch the Gators beat The Citadel? The GatorTailgating.com crew will be setting up at about 7:30 am near the corner of Gale Lemerand (formerly North-South Drive) and Museum Rd. It's directly in front of the parking garage that's located on Gale Lemerand just south of the red light at Museum Drive. See the interactive map above for better directions.

We’ll have a huge banner, TVs, Stereo Equipment, food, and, of course, drinks! Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of the food. This week, Gabe is...

Florida-Citadel: A Look into the Future

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:35:42 -0500

Game Preview

This game will not be pretty. In fact, it will be downright ugly.

The game isn't even going to be televised on most cable packages because there are much better games to televise.

If other games on Florida's schedule are road bumps, this game with the Citadel amounts to the bug that gets smashed on your windshield. Florida will win the game without much effort, in what amounts to a glorified scrimmage, before next week's rivalry game with Florida State.

Urban Meyer: The New Steve Spurrier

jpm91 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:39:06 -0500

Steve Spurrier looked on from the sideline as Florida converted the extra point, giving the Gators a 56-6 lead with under six minutes left in the game.

This time, however, Spurrier was on the losing side of a "Swamp Romp," suffering the worst defeat of his coaching career at the hands of Urban Meyer and the Gators.

Tailgating Utility Vehicles Made for Tailgaters

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:30:30 -0500

The tailgating industry is growing at an incredible rate and car manufacturers have taken notice. Why should you have to accomodate for what your vehicle lacks in tailgating convenience, when you could buy a vehicle custom made with you in mind.

New Gator Football Signee: 6'7" 256 LB (and All-League Sprinter)

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:32:34 -0500

The Gators get an early commitment from Denver, Colorado defensive end Nick Kasa. He's considered to be one of the top five DE's in the nation and rated "five stars" by Scout.com. Nick has great speed for a big man...he's an 11.0 100m sprinter for the Legacy High School track team.

In a year or two of workouts, Gator strength coach Mickey Marotti will likely add 50 pounds of muscle to Kasa's 6' 7" frame...and may add a couple steps of speed as well.

Florida Gators Basketball: 10 Most Intriguing Games of 2008-2009

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:51:35 -0500

Another year of "Billy Ball" has begun in Gainesville, and Billy Donovan is telling us how young this team is.

Sounds a lot like last year.

Truth be told, the 2008-2009 Gator men's basketball team features 11 underclassmen and just two upperclassmen (not counting Georgetown transfer and junior forward Vernon Macklin, who must redshirt under NCAA transfer rules).

But a huge difference from last year is that the Gators have increased their number of scholarship players from nine to 12. This means practices are more competitive, and playing time only goes to players that have earned it.

Percy Harvin's Signature Play: The Counter

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:17:46 -0500

The counter play is a general term for a misdirection running play where everything appears geared to having the ball carrier go in one direction, but he ends up running the other direction. In other words, the runner goes counter to the expected direction.

It is a play that Percy Harvin is absolutely lethal on. Both his first quarter and third quarter touchdown runs against South Carolina came on the brand of counter play that Urban Meyer likes to use.

I will diagram the latter since it was longer, but the other would have been a touchdown from any distance away from the end zone as well.

The Third Quarter Run

Here is the formation:

Florida begins in a three-wide set with Kestahn Moore as a running back next to Tim Tebow and Aaron Hernandez lined up as an H-back behind RT Jason Watkins. Louis Murphy is wide to the right, Riley Cooper is wide to the left, and Harvin is in the slot.

Tailgating in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game

Mike — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:21:42 -0500

GatorTailgating.com is doing a series of articles on where and how to tailgate at all of the Gator Football games. This is the seventh part of our series detailing where and what to look out for in Atlanta, Georgia for the SEC Conference Championship game. Go Gators!

Florida Gators Downs South Carolina, Spurrier-Style

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 08:35:21 -0500

Former coach of Florida football, Steve Spurrier, used to hold a reign over the Southeastern Conference. He'd frequently run the score up, and most notably proclaimed that he scored 52 in a 52-17 victory of the Georgia Bulldogs at Stanford Stadium in 1995 just for one simple fact:

"I wanted to hang half a hundred on them".

Well, now Steve Spurrier knows exactly what it feels like to have a half a hundred dropped on the team he's calling the shots for.

Gators Hang 'Half a Hundred' on the Ol' Ball Coach for First Time

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:32:39 -0500

No. 3 Florida cruised to a 56-6 win over No. 24 South Carolina Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 90,646 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The win moved the Gators to 9-1 overall (7-1 SEC), while South Carolina fell to 7-4 (4-4 SEC). The 56-point win over the Gamecocks marked the fifth-straight game that the Gators have put up 42 or more points, tying the University of Oklahoma for the longest active streak in the nation.

It was a career-best day for junior running back/wide receiver Percy Harvin (Virginia Beach, Va.), who recorded eight rushes for a career-high 167 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Harvin now holds the top three spots in the UF record books for rushing yards by a wide receiver in a season, totaling 476 yards rushing so far this year. Harvin additionally extended his scoring streak to 12-straight games with a touchdown, tying Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who also shares the feat.

Come Tailgate with us Before the South Carolina Game!

Rusty — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:25:52 -0500

Javascript is required to view this map.

Looking for a tailgate party to hit up while getting ready to watch the Gators beat Spurrier's Gamecocks? The GatorTailgating.com crew will be setting up at about 7:30 am near the corner of Gale Lemerand (formerly North-South Drive) and Museum Rd. It's directly in front of the parking garage that's located on Gale Lemerand just south of the red light at Museum Drive. See the interactive map above for better directions.

We’ll have a huge banner, TVs, Stereo Equipment, food, and, of course, drinks! Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of the food. This week, Gabe is...

Steve Spurrier & Urban Meyer Matchup Promises Plenty of Intrigue

shanksta13 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:20:22 -0500

With the head ball coach making his second return to Gainesville this weekend as the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, the atmosphere promises to be intense.

Coach Steve Spurrier is nothing short of a legendary figure in Gainesville and at the University of Florida, having won the first Heisman trophy for the Gators in 1966, coached a Heisman winner in 1996, and led the Gators to their first ever National Championship.

Florida-South Carolina: Urban Takes on the Ol' Ball Coach Again

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:23:34 -0500

Game Preview: No. 4 Florida (8-1) vs. No. 25 South Carolina (7-3)

Just like old times. "The Ol' Ball Coach," Steve Spurrier, will be prowling the sidelines in Gainesville Saturday, Florida will then face Alabama in the SEC championship game, and the Gators are in the middle of a winning streak that has seen them put up 30-plus-point wins over four SEC opponents.

Despite the nostalgia factor of Saturday's game, it really is 2008 and not 1996. Spurrier will be on the opposing sideline as head coach of the Gamecocks and the No. 1 defense in the SEC. The Gamecocks come into Gainesville looking to secure their first New Year's Day bowl bid since 2001.

The Case For Second Best

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:44:53 -0500

A little bit of history... To preface this article, I am a Gator fan. I approach Carolina sports, and specifically Gamecock Football, pretty much with mediocre gusto. I am happy to root for the team in my new hometown, but I am not attached to their success or failure.

I attended Florida as an undergraduate in the twilight of Spurrier's heyday. The feeling on every gameday was that we would win. Period. It didn't matter the opponent, the location of the game, or the fact that these were college kids who were still growing and developing. The Gator Nation expected a victory, and nothing else was acceptable. I think in many ways, it was the primary force that drove Spurrier from Gainesville and into the arms of Daniel Snyder and the Redskins (well, that and a HUGE PILE of money). The pressure of winning, the uninterrupted intrusion into his life, by the local media, and the constant expectation that we were gonna go for the championship every season.

In a Stunning Upset, Vandy's Reserves Shut Out Florida's Reserves

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:19:20 -0500

In what is assuredly a big upset, Vanderbilt’s backup players were able to shut out Florida’s backup players, 14-0, on a chilly night in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday. Quarterback Chris Nickson, filling in for injured starter Mackenzi Adams, led the way for the Commodores’ reserves with two touchdown passes and 39 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

“We just decided to throw them out there and see what happened,” Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson said. “They did a heck of a job against a group of players that had some guys who could probably start for us.”

BCS Busters: How One Game Changed Everything

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:34:42 -0500

The Computer that controls the fate of the top five teams in the country will be very busy this weekend. At this point, we know at least one conference championship game (SEC), we know that Oklahoma is the all that stands between Texas Tech and perfection and we also know that the Big Ten and Pac-10 is most likely out of the BCS Championship.

How does this affect us? Well take a look at these games that changed the foundation of the BCS Computers.

Gators Win the East & Control Their Own BCS Destiny

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:36:12 -0500

Florida is sitting pretty now that Penn State has lost. Even if this week's BCS standings look like last week's except with no Penn State, Florida moves from fifth to fourth, which would at first appear to leave them two spots short. However, looks can be deceiving and I'll tell you why.

First, Florida can remove one other team in front of them with a victory over Bama in the SEC Championship game, that is, if Bama even stays undefeated and remains ranked above Florida.

Florida-Vandy: Could the 'Dores Pull Off the Upset?

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:03:00 -0500

Trap Game?

This game for Florida has a lot of the hallmarks of a trap game.

First of all, it is a Vanderbilt game in Nashville. When the Gators won the national championship in 2006, UF only won in Nashville 25-19. When they won the national championship in 1996, they only won in Nashville 28-21. Ron Zook's first squad in 2002 won only 21-17, and his 2004 team trailed at halftime.

The Difference in Gator Football is All About Pressure

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:30:41 -0500

Call me Bernoulli, because today I'm talking pressure differential.

The Florida offense spent much of the first four games struggling to fulfill off-season expectations. It flowed freely against Hawai'i and Tennessee for the most part, but it did not do all that well against Miami and Ole Miss.

Jai Lucas to Transfer to Another School

Rusty — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:08:13 -0500

Florida guard Jai Lucas, the son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas, has decided to transfer.

Reports have that the point guard and his mother met with Gators coach Billy Donovan on Wednesday.

Lucas, a sophomore from Bellaire, Texas, averaged 8.5 points last season and led the Gators in 3-point shooting at 43.5 percent. He started all 36 games last season, as well as the team's first exhibition game Monday night.

The All-Important Statistic: Third Down Defense

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:31:49 -0500

Early this year I wrote an article detailing my thoughts on the 2007 Florida Gators defensive struggles. As I discussed in the article, solid third down defense is one of the most important aspects of a championship caliber team. I wrote about last year's Florida team not only because I am a Gator fan, but also because I thought Florida's third down defense was their primary weakness last year.

While their defense was awful, the 2007 edition of the Florida Gators were still somewhat of an offensive juggernaut, leading the nation in 3rd down conversion percentage while facing the least amount of 3rd downs. On the other hand, Florida's defense was near the bottom of the SEC in 3rd down conversions. The result was a 9-4 season that was viewed as disappointing by some, but should have been expected considering the nine new freshman and sophomore starters on the defense. This year, Florida is demolishing opponents because improved third down defense has changed the Gators' fortunes.

Penn State vs. Florida for the BCS Championship?

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:57:24 -0500

The Penn State Nittany Lions are the No. 3 team in the Nation. They have put up terrific offensive, defensive, and special teams stats. More importantly, they have won. Some of the games were close, some weren't great performances, but they were still wins.

Gator Hoops Opens with Blowout of Werner University

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:05:25 -0500

The University of Florida men’s basketball team kicked off the 2008-09 season with a 108-49 exhibition victory over Warner University on Monday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

The Gators were led by junior forward Dan Werner (Middletown, N.J.), who scored 17 points and collected six rebounds. Sophomore forward Alex Tyus (St. Louis, Mo.) collected his a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Tyus was 6-of-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Tailgating: The Vital Checklist

Rusty — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:50:28 -0500

Before you head off to the game, it's always a good idea to be prepared and double check that you haven't forgotten anything important. Keep these checklists with you and go over them before you pull out the driveway to ensure that your next tailgate trip will go as smoothly as can be expected.

Revenge Has Never Tasted so Sweet

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:22:37 -0500

Retaliation has never been this classy.

Last season, the Georgia Bulldogs brought the entire team out on the field at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in this contest, a move that shook the world, and had many Gators fans, such as myself, up in arms.

This year, Florida is the only team doing the dancing, following a 49-10 rout of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Florida-Georgia: The Common Opponents

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:50:11 -0400

Despite playing in the same division of the same conference, Florida and Georgia have played just two common opponents thus far in the season: Tennessee and LSU. That is mostly because Georgia always plays South Carolina and Vandy at the beginning of the season, while Florida always plays them at the end.

Florida-Georgia: The Smack Talk Preview

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:48:14 -0400

Normally when I write articles, I try to keep an even keel and be fair to all parties. This is not one of those articles. You’re free to browse my archive if you want something like that, and anyone who gets upset by reading this should just take it with a grain of salt.

Florida and Georgia play this weekend in Jacksonville in one of the most unique environments in college football. Half of the stadium is red, half is blue, and there’s a distinct line between them.

Florida-Georgia Keys To Victory and Prediction

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:45:36 -0400

The Florida-Georgia game is one of the biggest and most storied rivalries in all of the SEC. Florida has played Georgia more than any other opponent. Georgia had years of dominance in this series, until Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville and established a run of dominance over the Bulldogs, that has now been passed through the Zook era and onto Urban Meyer.

The Gator Defense is Ready for Saturday

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:17:14 -0400

Last years defense that surrendered over 400 yards of total offense and 188 on the ground to Knowshon Moreno and put him on the map will not show up on Saturday against Georgia. A defense that is first in scoring defense and third in total defense in the SEC will. Florida is much more experienced and mature than they were last year on both sides of the ball. They are significantly more mature on defense.

Florida-Georgia: By the Numbers

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:53:52 -0400

History runs deep in the Florida-Georgia rivalry, as both Mark Richt and Urban Meyer are well aware.

Yes, Florida has won 15 of the last 18, an amazing run of dominance.

As Richt points out, though, Georgia has an overwhelming edge (46-37) in the overall series. Perhaps he mentions that because he is 2-5 against the Gators, but regardless, history is always fun to look at—and this year is no different.

Tailgating Tips From the Pros

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:18:14 -0400

By David Kierski

THE KEY to looking like a pro is knowing your basic cold. But even if you've invented tailgating, we've all got something to learn. Here's a list of tricks and tips to help you impress the crowds at the next game:

Gators Roll Through Wildcats & Turn Focus to Cocktail Party

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 09:55:41 -0400

In front of a Homecoming crowd of 90,589 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, No. 5 Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) defeated Kentucky (5-3, 1-3 SEC), 63-5. The win marked the 22nd-straight Gator win against the Wildcats and the 19th-straight Homecoming victory.

Come Tailgate with GT.com before & after the Kentucky Game!

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:30:00 -0400

Javascript is required to view this map.

Looking for a tailgate party to crash while getting ready to watch the Gators Wildcats? The GatorTailgating.com crew will be setting up at about 7:30 am near the corner of Gale Lemerand (formerly North-South Drive) and Museum Rd. It's directly in front of the parking garage that's located on Gale Lemerand just south of the red light at Museum Drive. See the interactive map above for better directions.

We’ll have a huge banner, TVs, Stereo Equipment, food, and, of course, drinks! Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of the food. This week, Gabe is...

Homecoming 2008: Four Keys to a Gator Victory

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:42:49 -0400

Coming off a bye week, the Gators look to improve on their 5-1 record thus far. Earlier in the week, they were ranked 10th in the initial BCS standings.

Kentucky is their opponent this week, as the Gators play towards winning the SEC Eastern Division. Florida has beaten Kentucky 21 years in a row, and this year should make 22 before heading into the showdown with Georgia.

Here's how the Gators will win...

Wear Orange for Mr. 2 Bits

Rusty — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:23:28 -0400

Mr. Two-Bits Tribute Set for Saturday; Fans Encouraged to Arrive Early, Wear Orange

With Mr. Two-Bits, George Edmondson, to be honored in a special pre-game ceremony, all Gator fans are being asked to arrive early and wear orange for this Saturday's Homecoming clash between fifth-ranked Florida and Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.

The 84-year-old Edmondson, who has led his famous cheer at Gator games for 60 years, will retire from his Mr. Two-Bits' role at the end of the season. The Gators have planned a special tribute for Mr. Two-Bits before Saturday's Homecoming game, and fans should be in their seats by 12:10 p.m. to join in the celebration.

The Gators' Rooting Guide: Inauguraul BCS Poll Edition

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:21:39 -0400

The BCS standings have just come out, and Florida is 10th. As I mentioned earlier, the Gators are only a hair out of fifth place if you look at the scores, so it’s pretty tight so far.

The overall sentiment this season is that, if no one goes undefeated and these are available, the one-loss Big 12 champion and the one-loss SEC champion will play for the title. These two are clearly the best conferences in the land, and the conventional wisdom goes that their champions should be rewarded for it.

Tailgating with Man's Best Friend

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:34:26 -0400

By Kent Whitaker of Tailgater Monthly

Let's face it, many of us consider our dogs as part of the family. Ally and I do when it comes to our golden retriever, Moses. Not only is Moses another "son", he is also my co-worker. Moses, Ally and I have traveled the country for our book signings and as spokespersons for Purina and ALPO. I give great grilling tips at events and on TV while also promoting how to include your dog in on the family fun.

But traveling with a large dog to media events and tailgates at races and football games has opened our eyes to the needs of all pets at these types of events. Don't get me wrong, a tailgate party can be a great opportunity for socialization. There are plenty of sights, smells, and friendly pats to keep your dog happy all day long. But Ally and I have become very aware of some pets at tailgates that, for lack of a better phrase, are abused.

Demps & Rainey: Florida Football's Dynamic Duo

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:06:25 -0400

Entering the 2008 season, the Florida Gators had several concerns to address on both offense and defense.

Among these questions, the state of the running game was chief among them. Would the Gators have an effective running back to complement their high-powered passing attack?

Opponent Preview: Wildcats Slide by Razorbacks for Win

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:55:38 -0400

On another beautiful night in Commonwealth Stadium, Kentucky looked like the same team that played very poorly against South Carolina last Saturday.

Kentucky shot itself in the foot for most of the game by missing on plays and being flagged for penalties. When Kentucky fans thought is was over, it was just the beginning.

Around the SEC: The Mad Hatter and The Ol' Ball Coach

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:35:13 -0400

I know that when I first wake up in the morning, I always feel better after splashing some cold water in my face. Hopefully the LSU Tigers are feeling better after getting their heads dunked in the ice tub on their recent trip to Gainesville.

Now that the Bayou Bengals have gotten a glimpse of their own mortality, they have to prove that they are still good enough to contend for the coveted SEC crown. The first day of the rest of their season will be this Saturday, when they travel to South Carolina to take on Steve Spurrier and his upset-minded Gamecocks.

Florida Basketball: A Blueprint for Success

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:54:29 -0400

Florida is a football school, but the general perception is that Florida is a basketball school too. Right now it is not far-fetched to think that Florida has a brighter future in basketball than they do in football.

Gators Control Their Own Destiny for SEC & BCS Titles

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:34:59 -0400

So who was the biggest winner this week in college football? It would be hard to argue against Texas, coming off a dominating performance against the No. 1 ranked team in the country. Indeed, anytime a team beats the top-ranked team, it is cause for celebration. But the Florida Gators pulled of an impressive show of their own.

The Gators jumped seven spots in the AP rankings and are now sitting fifth.

Gators Mid-Season Report Card

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:43:14 -0400

The Gators have gotten through the first half of their season and now have a bye week before going through the easier half of their schedule. Here is a position by postion analysis of the Gators team this far into the season.

Quarterback: Incomplete

This is as fair a grade I could give Tim Tebow for his season so far. The reigning Heisman winner has been under the biggest and brightest microscope of any college football player in recent memory, if ever.

Tebow hasn't put up the numbers like he did a year ago, but the Gators are playing better football as a team this season, which is better for the big picture—an SEC title and possible national championship.

Urban Meyer: The Avenger

shanksta13 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:37:20 -0400

By Thomas Goldkamp

Urban Meyer has quickly moved up in the college football coaching ranks. He began his head coaching career at Bowling Green State University in 2001 before moving to Utah in 2003, and then his current position with the Florida Gators in 2005.

Meyer's coaching attitude can be described in one word—Avenger.

The Gators Finally Show Up 100%

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:36:39 -0400

Entering the season, Urban Meyer touted his team as the fastest in the nation and tonight gave us an idea of just what he meant. We all know Florida has a stacked offensive roster, but have been waiting to see something emerge from it. Apparently, the fourth quarter of the Arkansas game when the Gators busted the Razorback defense for three touchdowns, opened the eyes of Florida’s Offensive Coordinator, Dan Mullen, and illuminated the possibilities.

Mike the Tiger's Big (Bad) Day at the Swamp!

Mike — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:56:45 -0400

GatorTailgating.com is experimenting with spreading the Gator spirit to younger children. In that spirit, here is an article on LSU's mascot, Mike the Tiger, and his big day in Gainesville!

SWAMPED: Gators & Tebow Thwart LSU

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:45:39 -0400

After scoring a touchdown in a 51-21 victory of the third ranked Louisiana State Tigers, Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow gave the LSU student section and sideline a nod of the head and a raising of the finger in triumph, a gesture that stretched all throughout the capacity crowd of 88.548 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and didn't stop there.

Come Tailgate with us for the LSU Game Tommorrow!

Rusty — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:33:37 -0400

Javascript is required to view this map.

Looking for a tailgate party to hit up while getting ready to watch the Gators beat the Tigers of Louisiana? The GatorTailgating.com crew will be setting up at about 8 am near the corner of Gale Lemerand (formerly North-South Drive) and Museum Rd. It's directly in front of the parking garage that's located on Gale Lemerand just south of the red light at Museum Drive. See the interactive map above for better directions.

We’ll have a huge banner, TVs, Stereo Equipment, food, and, of course, drinks! Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of the food. This week, Gabe is...

Florida's Running Attack Against LSU

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:18:26 -0400

Tebow and Harvin

Any discussion of Florida’s offense, rushing or passing, begins with these guys.

Tim Tebow’s rushing numbers are down since he’s carrying the ball about five fewer times a game than he did last year. The coaches have made a concerted effort to get him to do less freelancing, and that has been the case so far. Even so, he has had a few long runs on scrambles when no one is open. He will do most designed runs on read option plays, and he’s still the short yardage back.

Florida-LSU: Keys to a Gator Victory

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:10:17 -0400

Florida-LSU week is officially now in full swing.

A game once thought to be an afterthought on the schedule has now become one of the marquee matchups in all of college football.

Close games, NFL-caliber talent, trash-talking, and even recruiting accusations towards Urban Meyer have given the Florida-LSU game a higher place in the importance scale on the road to both an SEC Championship and a National Championship.

Tailgating in Tallahassee for the Florida / Florida State Rivalry Game

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:40:41 -0400

GatorTailgating.com is doing a series of articles on where and how to tailgate at all of the Gator Football away games. This is the sixth part of our series detailing where and what to look out for in Tallahassee, Florida for the annual Florida-FSU Game. Go Gators!

Analyzing Florida's Offense Against Arkansas

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:57:23 -0400

By David Wunderlich

A reporter called it mundane at times. The head coach called it awful at times. “It” was the Florida offense against Arkansas.

A glance at the box score and news might lead you to think that “it” wasn’t that bad. You’d see 38 points scored on over 500 yards of offense, and two members of it earned All-SEC honors for the week. What could possibly have gone wrong?

Well, “it” didn’t pass the smell test for most of the first half, and "it" had a more difficult time getting into a true rhythm than it did even in the loss to Ole Miss. There was some sputtering, there were a lot of hankies on the field, but ultimately the game ended in a breakthrough.

Les Miles Not Sleeping on Florida

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:40 -0400

There is unrest in Gator Nation. It mostly surrounds the offense, an entity that Gator fans have rarely if ever been satisfied with in the post-Spurrier era. Whether it isnitpicking or outright disdain, some folks are pretty upset.

To all those who are not happy: Les Miles thinks you're crazy.

"If you find any weaknesses, tell me," Miles said at his weekly media luncheon Monday. "They don't have any weaknesses. Being ranked (No. 11) is underselling them some. It will be our strengths against their strengths."

Florida Still Has Plenty of Questions After Win Over Arkansas

shanksta13 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:21:33 -0400

By Thomas Goldkamp

The Gators bounced back from their stunning loss to Ole Miss last week, and they did it in much the same fashion that lost them the game last weekend.

Quarterback Tim Tebow had several short yardage conversions for first downs, including a 4th and 1 play that he was unable to pick up last week.

Lipstick On A Pig: Final Score is Misleading Due to Big 4th Quarter

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:48:04 -0400

Arkansas looked the best it has in several ballgames on Saturday, losing 38-7 to Florida before 70,072 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Late touchdowns made the score misleading. The Razorbacks (2-3 overall, 1-2 in the SEC) actually looked very good most of the game. That's good news for the future at Arkansas.

But it's not very good for the Gators' immediate future, with what lies just ahead.

The Gators Will Beat Arkansas, But Can They Cover?

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:30:08 -0400

Both Florida and Arkansas are coming off disappointing losses, but that is where the similarities between these two teams stop. Florida lost in a stunner to Ole Miss in the Swamp while Arkansas lost by 42 to old SWC rival Texas.

Florida Offense vs. Arkansas Defense

QB Tim Tebow is not having the same type of year he did in '07, especially on the ground. Florida has yet to find a reliable alternative to Tebow on the ground. Instead, they are using Percy Harvin on sweeps and options and a myriad of shaky tailbacks out of the backfield.

Despite the Gator Loss, Bourbon Meyer is the Drink of Champions

gabe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:22:36 -0400

In an astounding country butt whooping the magical ingredients of the Bourbon Meyer stomped Ole Miss’s Hot Toddy. The final score? 23-9!

Tebow's Journey to Becoming a Game Manager

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:44:51 -0400

By David Wunderlich

Just as no one sets out to become a smooth jazz musician, no quarterback sets out to become a game manager. Young guys growing up want to win the Super Bowl like Favre or Elway did; not a single one envisions themselves winning it like Brad Johnson or Trent Dilfer did.

The term "game manager" has turned into a backhanded compliment for quarterbacks, almost like saying a woman has a "great personality." It's good to be able to manage games, of course, but it's code for saying the guy has a weak arm, limited mobility, and gets by on short passes and handoffs.

Saturday's Forecast Calls for A Motivated Tim Tebow

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:56:41 -0400

From a Razorbacks perspective, Ole Miss’ 31-30 victory over Florida last Saturday was probably the worst possible thing that could happen at this point in the increasingly depressing season.

Sure, some part of that is because it’s never fun to see photos like this of your controversial ex-coach while your controversial new coach is presiding over a complete meltdown against a historic rival.

The State of the Florida Gators: Blame and Hope

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:11:39 -0400

Well, Florida fans, kiss the undefeated season—and the Heisman Trophy—goodbye.

The dreams of spending a New Year's vacation in Miami for a week or two became a faint mirage of what Florida fans assumed would happen given the three relatively easy wins to start the season.

The SEC: What We've Found Out and What we Haven't

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:15:39 -0400

Well, there you have it.

The majority of the question marks I commented on recently seem to have been ironed out. We knew that many answers would be found after the Alabama/Georgia game, but I don't know how prepared we all were to receive answers to questions we didn't even ask (right, Florida?).

Let's go ahead and get the showdown in Athens out of the way.

Florida Drops to #12 in AP Poll After Loss to Ole Miss

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:40:49 -0400

By Derek Stephens

When I said the key of the game for the Ole Miss Rebels was to blitz Tim Tebow, I found it very ironic on 4th-and-1, trailing by one, Tim Tebow is stuffed by the Ole Miss blitz to seal the upset and shock around the world for Ole Miss and Houston Nutt.

Gators Go Through Looking Glass in Loss to Ole Miss

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:33:19 -0400

By David Wunderlich

Nearly everything about Florida’s game against Ole Miss was the polar opposite of what happened through the first three games of the year. I have not gone through my recording for a full analysis; ideally that will come tomorrow. For now though, just consider these things.

Tailgate With GT.com for the Ole Miss Game Tommorrow!

Rusty — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:45:18 -0400

Javascript is required to view this map.

Looking for a tailgate party to hit up while getting ready to watch the Gators beat the Rebels of Ole Miss? The GatorTailgating.com crew will be setting up at about 7:30 am near the corner of Gale Lemerand (formerly North-South Drive) and Museum Rd. It's directly in front of the parking garage that's located on Gale Lemerand just south of the red light at Museum Drive. See the interactive map above for better directions.

We’ll have a huge banner, TVs, Stereo Equipment, food, and, of course, drinks! Donations are appreciated to cover the cost of the food. This week, Gabe is...

Florida vs. Ole Miss Game Preview

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:30:08 -0400

The last series Ole Miss had with Florida in 2003, Ole Miss defeated Florida 20-17 in what was an upset at the time but ended up showing that Ole Miss was the better team that year.

Ole Miss seemed to be headed in the right direction as Eli Manning set off into the sun and the glory of NFL millions. Florida looked more like the program on the decline now.

Tailgating in Nashville for the Vanderbilt Game

Mike — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:35:11 -0400

GatorTailgating.com is doing a series of articles on where and how to tailgate at all of the Gator Football away games. This is the fifth part of our series detailing where and what to look out for in Nashville, Tennessee. Go Gators!

Where are the good and bad areas of town for motels to stay in the night before/after the big game?
The best place to stay is on West End Ave and Hillsborough Pike, which go right by the
read more

Opponent Reveiw: Ole Miss' First Four Games

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:13:07 -0400

By Derek Stephens

After the Week Two loss against Wake Forest, many Ole Miss fans were devastated, but they knew their Rebels were the real deal.

Now the crystal ball doesn't look as clear as it did over two weeks ago, as Ole Miss sits 2-2 going to the Swamp on Saturday to pay the Gators.

There are many reasons for the way Ole Miss has performed since Wake Forest, but here are some main reasons why Ole Miss fans aren't as optimistic as once before.

Analysis of Florida's Offense Against Tennessee

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:06:46 -0400

by David Wunderlich

I sat down with my recording of the game today and took a good long look at Florida’s offensive drives. I only looked at the first six of the seven, since Urban Meyer deemed the final drive as not having any “competitive plays” in his Monday press conference.

Before we get too far into this, let’s first consider some quotes from Tim Tebow after the game:

1st Quarter of Football Season Status Report

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:44:52 -0400

By David Wunderlich

A quarter of the Gators' season has gone by, so it's time to take a look at where we are, how we got there, and where we're likely going.

Where We're At

Florida is 3-0, 1-0 in the SEC, and that's good enough to be tied with Georgia for second in the east at a half game behind Vanderbilt.

The Gators offensive numbers are down from last season, but the defense is vastly improved. They sit 15th in rush defense, seventh in pass defense, fifth in total defense, and second in scoring defense. The first string defenders have allowed only a touchdown and a field goal in three games.

Gators Handily Defeat Vols in Knoxville, 30-6

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:04:16 -0400

Let's recap real quick.

Week 1: Gators start off the season with a win against Hawaii, 56-10

Week 2: Gators manage to defeat Miami, 26-3

Week 3: Gators handily defeat Tennessee, 30-6

In it's first away game of the season, No. 4 ranked Florida (3-0, 1-0) headed to Tennessee (1-2, 0-1) in their annual rivalry game; and for the fourth year in a row, defeated the Vols.

Florida-Tennessee: Where Were the Volunteers?

gator_tailgating_admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:40:43 -0400

by Joseph Morgan

I was wrong. I'm pleased with the outcome of the Florida-Tennessee game, but I'm also embarrassed that I predicted Tennessee to make a game out of it.

I was naive enough to think that the Volunteers would be motivated, considering the buzz surrounding the "Tennessee quit," comments made by Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Gators Look for 4th Win in a Row Over Volunteers

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:04:05 -0400

By Ron Johnson

There are those faithful Volunteers fans who will say that Tennessee will shock the world once again this weekend. There are those who feel that Florida is all talk and little action. There are those who would love nothing more than to see the Gators taken down a peg or two this weekend.

Florida-Tennessee Game Thoughts and Preview

gator_tailgating_admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:16:14 -0400

By David Wunderlich

I had an experience in Neyland Stadium in 2004, having visited while I was in the Gator Band. It was somewhat impressive, though it's not as loud as the Swamp is thanks to the architecture. That was the game where Dallas Baker got the penalty at the end that enabled UT to get down the field and score to win.

We began getting our stuff together as time was winding down, knowing it was over. James Wilhoit would make a field goal with six seconds to go to lock in the 30-28 final score.

Beware of Tennessee!

gator_tailgating_admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:26:04 -0400

By Joseph Morgan

The Florida Gators travel to Knoxville Saturday to take on arch-rival Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in their 2008 SEC opener. After a 59-20 victory over the Volunteers in Gainesville last season, Florida is not taking Tennessee as seriously as they should be.

Let's just say that's a big mistake—especially against a rival.

Percy Harvin: "Achilles Heel" of SEC Defenses

gator_tailgating_admin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:52:06 -0400

By Sean Crawford

SEC defensive coordinators may need to start buying Tylenol nighttime for the lack of sleep that's ahead of them.

"Percy will show NO MERCY." This quote may become a reality starting Sept. 20, when the Florida Gators play Tennessee at Rocky Top. Florida Gator running back/wide receiver Percy Harvin is now something he's never been while at the collegiate level—100 percent healthy.

How the Gators Can Beat the Volunteers

gator_tailgating_admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:48:40 -0400

When Florida is on Offense

Protect Tebow

Sounds simple, right? Easier said than done.

Miami pressured Florida all night, and Tennessee will look to do the same. UT Defensive Coordinator, John Chavis, is one of the best in the country, despite what occured in the Rose Bowl two weeks ago.

Opponent Review: Tennessee vs. UAB Postion Analysis

gator_tailgating_admin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:59:51 -0400

By Matt Mabry

It was a tough first half for the Volunteers vs the UAB Blazers but the Vols responded in the second and won in a 35-3 victory. Here are my unit grades for the ball game

QB: C-

Made some quality throws from time to time but threw two interceptions and could have possibly had more.

The Breakdown: Urban Meyer vs. Randy Shannon

gator_tailgating_admin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:50:14 -0400

Following Saturday's Florida Gators' 26-3 win over the Miami Hurricanes, the debate of running up the score was put into effect. Hurricanes head coach Randy Shannon's hand slap of a handshake at midfield after the game, along with his supposed "no comment" about the last second field goal called for by Gators head coach Urban Meyer, was revisited when he brought it up during his Sunday press conference.