Sumrall has been no stranger to displaying fiery emotions, with his energized postgame speech after beating Auburn and breaking a headset after a no-call in the Ole Miss win as clear cases. The speculation from fans over his passion spiraled into a belief that Sumrall was directed to tone his actions down based on his reserved reactions. To that, Sumrall had a simple but blunt response.

“Are you s——- me?” Sumrall said Monday when asked if he has been told to rein himself in.

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If those four, vulgar-but-powerful words were not enough to dispel the rumors, Sumrall elaborated. The first-year coach continued to slam the door on any notion that he has been ushered to change anything about his coaching mentality.

“If anybody wanted me to act differently, I wouldn’t have come here,” Sumrall said. “So good luck trying to reel me in or tell me how to do it or whatever. My wife has tried and it hasn’t worked for her.”

Sumrall not only vehemently waved off any social media buzz around his own actions, but also shut down conjecture around the injury status of Gators wide receiver Vernell Brown III. Brown, who led Florida in receiving yards last season, has been absent for Florida’s two losses since suffering a knee injury against Ole Miss.

As Brown was held out of Saturday’s 38-19 loss to South Carolina, fans took to the online community to express their displeasure at the sophomore’s absence. More keyboards clacking meant more negative thoughts about Brown’s desire to get back to playing, producing another myth that Sumrall was forced to address. 

That narrative was thoroughly debunked by Sumrall, clarified Brown’s process back to the field and when to possibly expect the standout to return to action. Sumrall mentioned that as last week progressed, Brown ramped up his cardio and running but was still not showing the entirety of his capabilities from a velocity standpoint.

“He ran some to see if he could test it. Was he running? Yes. Was he running his top in speed? No. Not anywhere near it,” Sumrall explained. “We’re not going to put a player in harm’s way if he’s not able to play the game the right way and protect himself. He’s doing everything he can to try to play.”

Sumrall went on to detail more about the ailment, noting how the injury has affected Brown’s approach. The Gators’ coach also noted that it is likely Brown will appear on the initial availability report for the third straight week upon its release on Wednesday.

“When you’re a speed player, if you can’t play with your speed, it’s really hard to go play, and you have to be able to protect yourself. I think he’s very frustrated because he wants to get back. Hell, I want him to come back. I mean, we’re a better football team with him available.”

The reason for all the negative attention from both fans and outside critics has been the adversity that Sumrall’s team has dealt with over the past two weeks. A pair of blowout losses and a 24-spot drop to fall out of the AP Top 25 Poll have turned undefeated jubilation from Gators fans into hyperbolic panic and frustration.

Those disappointing feelings culminated on Saturday, with the 22nd straight sellout home crowd raining down boos on Sumrall for the first time since his hiring at Florida. After being told about the situation by the media on Monday, Sumrall sided with the fans and cited the team’s shortcomings as a fair reason for the anger.

“The thing I love is having freaking passionate, awesome fans. Why you come to the University of Florida is because people care. I’d rather the stands be full and them be passionate and pissed off if something’s not going good,” Sumrall said. “I don’t want them to applaud when we’re not playing well. We do need their support. We need them to be behind the guys.”

Another clear change between the stretches is how Florida’s offense has operated. After scoring at a torrid pace for 214 points across the first four games, the Gators have only put together 36 points over the last eight quarters of football. 

The way for Sumrall and the Gators to get the fans back on board is through looking forward instead of dwelling on the past. The focus for Florida has been to deal with the adversity and use it as a motivator, an aspect the first-year coach is still trying to pin down.

“I think where we have to grow as a football team, and I have to do a better job, is helping our guys understand it’s always going to be nip and tuck and tight games, and you have to fight until the finish,” Sumrall said. “That is a concern of mine. It is something I saw and felt the last two games that we’ve got to get corrected.”

Facing that adversity could be key for Florida, especially with one of its hardest matchups of the season next on tap. The Gators prepare to face a No. 7 Texas team that is in a similar situation to Florida, albeit on a much smaller scale. 

Just as Gators have taken their lumps, the then-No. 1 Longhorns were stunned in a 27-24 upset loss to unranked Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday. The first loss of the season for a team with high expectations will surely have them motivated and hungry to get back in the win column.

Pair that with the experience that the Longhorns boast, and the game becomes even more lopsided in their direction, with Texas opening as 10.5-point favorites over Florida. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian stands as one of the top coaches in college football, but that was not always the case. 

Texas’ 5-7 record in 2021 during Sarkisian’s first year made the ascent unlikely to become one of the SEC’s top teams in 2026. That development is one that Sumrall himself credits to how Sarkisian has shaped the team.

“Sark and I have a great relationship.
I like him a lot. I respect how they’ve built what they built,” Sumrall said. “What they’ve built roster-wise, you look at and you’re like, ‘That’s what a national championship contender looks like.’”

The post Jon Sumrall Pushes Back on Critics: ‘Good Luck Trying to Reel Me In’ first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

Here’s a look at the numbers behind the loss. 

The Good: Bailey Stockton 

The lone bright spot was Bailey Stockton, who finished with 127 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Quarterback Aaron Philo’s high school teammate more than doubled his career high in receiving yards against South Carolina. 

“I don’t really care about that, because I could have zero catches,” Stockton said of his individual performance. “I just want to win.” 

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Despite his team-first mindset, Stockton made his presence felt right away, hauling in a 59-yard touchdown pass from Philo on Florida’s second drive. The reception was Florida’s longest passing touchdown of the season, surpassing Vernell Brown III’s 49-yard score against FAU. 

Stockton is the third Florida receiver this season with 100 receiving yards in a game, joining Brown III and Dallas Wilson. This is the first time since 2022 that three or more Florida receivers recorded 100-yard receiving games in the same season. Xzavier Henderson, Ricky Pearsall, Daejon Reynolds and Justin Shorter were the last group of Gators to accomplish the feat.

The Bad: Florida Loses the Middle Minutes Yet Again 

At first glance, the box score suggests a close game. South Carolina totaled 393 yards of offense, just six more than Florida’s 387. However, the final score told a different story.

The end of the second quarter and start of the third proved costly for Florida once again. From 4:09 remaining in the second quarter to 8:36 remaining in the third, South Carolina outscored the Gators 17-3. 

With 3:29 remaining in the first half,  Philo threw an interception to Vicari Swain, who returned it to Florida’s 26-yard line. The Gamecocks scored a touchdown minutes later to take a 17-10 lead and never relinquished it. 

Sellers completed back-to-back explosive passes on South Carolina’s opening third-quarter drive for a combined 51 yards, extending the Gamecocks’ lead to double digits. 

“I do think we’ve looked a little bit worn down in the second half,” UF coach Jon Sumrall said. “I think we’ve looked maybe a little sluggish, a little slow and not maybe as strong as we need to be to finish the right way.”

Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) has now allowed a touchdown on its opponent’s opening possession of the second half in three consecutive games.

The Ugly: Florida’s Passing Defense Getting Exposed 

Florida has allowed 1,497 passing air yards this season, the fifth-most in the FBS. Air yards measure how far a pass attempt travels beyond the line of scrimmage. The stat is indicative of how the Gators’ secondary has performed this season, and Saturday was no different. 

LaNorris Sellers had his most efficient SEC game this season against the Gators, completing 23 of 35 passes (65.7%). However, perhaps the most shocking stat was that Florida failed to record a single pass breakup.

“In the throw game, they hit some explosive pass plays today,” Sumrall said. “It wasn’t on just one guy. It was certain guys in different situations, and we have got to win 50-50 balls down the field and be in a competitive position to make plays on those balls.” 

Florida’s secondary also struggled to get off the field on third downs. South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) converted 10 of its final 14 third-down attempts after opening the game 0-for-2. The Gamecocks led the SEC in Week 6 with a 62.5% conversion rate.

South Carolina averaged 7.8 yards to go on third down and gained 10.1 yards per attempt in those situations (David Waters of Gators Breakdown). Sellers threw for 117 of his 229 passing yards on third down, accounting for 51.1% of his total yards. 

Once opposing offenses find their rhythm, Florida has struggled to slow them down. When opponents cross the Gators’ 40-yard line, Florida allows an average of 4.24 points per possession, the second-worst mark in the SEC. 

The Gators now travel to No. 7 Texas (5-1, 1-1)  for Saturday’s game. Coverage begins at 9 a.m. on WRUF 98.1-FM/850-AM/103.7 HD2 and at noon on ABC.

The post Florida vs. South Carolina by the Numbers: The Good, Bad and Ugly first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

With sights set on rebounding from the defeat in front of a homecoming crowd, the result was much of the same from the week prior. Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) could not stop South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC), which notched its first SEC win since a victory over Kentucky on Sept. 27, 2025, as the Gamecocks rolled to a 38-19 win in The Swamp.

Here are five things that stood out from the Gators’ 19-point defeat:

Brad White’s Secondary Struggles Again

Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons kicked the passing game into a different gear last week, throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Gators. The poor performance for Florida’s defense gave defensive coordinator Brad White a different mentality ahead of the matchup with South Carolina.

“There’s too much survival mode right now and not enough hunting,” White said Tuesday.

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Despite the message, Florida showed a similar effort against South Carolina and got punished for it.

Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers gashed the Gators for 279 yards and four passing touchdowns on 23-for-35 passing. One of the more glaring pitfalls for Florida was how it handled South Carolina on third down, allowing the Gamecocks to convert 10 situations on 16 attempts and keep drives alive. Just as harmful for Florida was how they attacked South Carolina when the visitors entered the red zone, with the Gamecocks going a perfect four-for-four on scores from inside the Gators’ 20-yard line.

With six games remaining in the regular season, there is still enough time for Florida to fix its defense moving forward. However, the losses will continue to stack up if the Gators secondary cannot find a way to stop teams from beating them in the passing game.

An Unfamiliar Jadan Baugh Reappears

One of the keys for Florida to rebound with a victory against South Carolina was to get running back Jadan Baugh going again after a rough performance against Missouri. Much to the dismay of Florida coach Jon Sumrall, the Gators could not follow through on that area of necessary improvement.

“In the SEC, you’re going to get challenged every week. There’s been a physical challenge on the other side,” Sumrall said on the run game following the loss. “We have not answered the bell for that the last two weeks, and that’s disappointing.”

The Baugh that Florida fans have seen over the last two weeks is the polar opposite of the Heisman Trophy-worthy start to the season. Baugh’s 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through the first four games have been overshadowed by a pair of tough outings.

While Baugh improved on his 12 carries for 13 yards against Missouri, he still looked lackluster against the Gamecocks. Baugh ran the ball 15 times for 59 yards and one touchdown, with his average yards per carry sitting at 3.9 yards. 

The performance for Baugh was not bad by any means, but lacked the explosiveness that has become synonymous with the junior running back. The Gators will need the dynamic runner they saw in the first four weeks back if they hope to see sizable improvements from their offense.

Florida’s Offense Stalls Out After Dominant Start to Season

The aforementioned Baugh is not the only culprit as to why Florida’s offense has been troubled. The blame can be passed around to the unit as a whole.

Against Missouri, the Gators went through 33 minutes and 39 seconds of game time between wide receiver Dallas Wilson’s touchdown in the second quarter and quarterback Tramell Jones Jr.’s strike to wide receiver TJ Abrams on the final drive. 

The offense faltered once more against the Gamecocks, with Florida only scoring on four of its 12 drives and only reaching the end zone twice. The Gators also came up empty on their first drive of the game, ending a five-game streak to start the season of scoring on their first opportunity. The woes were present throughout the stat sheet, with the Gators going six for 13 on converting third downs and being outpaced by the Gamecocks in total offense and passing yards.

Across the last 120 minutes of football, the Gators have only put together 36 points after exploding for 214 points in the first four games. Sumrall believes the stark difference between those outputs does not simply boil down to one aspect.

“You have to execute within the play that’s called, and then sometimes the other side presents something that you may have to adjust for,” Sumrall said postgame on the offense’s execution. “We do have to find ways to stay on schedule right now offensively and get positive yards.”

It is evident that Florida has been a tale of two teams throughout the first half of the season, with the offense being the greatest example of that. An inability to score over the past two tilts is the identity that Sumrall’s team hopes to wipe away with a return to the firepower they showed across their four wins.

Receivers Shine, Philo Remains Consistent Despite Loss

Amid a two-week absence for star wide receiver Vernell Brown III, the remainder of the receiving corps has excelled. 

The player at the forefront of the extra workload on Saturday was wide receiver Bailey Stockton. The Georgia Tech transfer led the way with eight catches for 127 yards while hauling in a career-long 59 yard touchdown reception from quarterback Aaron Philo. Dallas Wilson also supplemented the performance, adding eight catches for 74 yards to the stat sheet.

While the majority of the offense has been in a dry spell for the Gators, some consistency has been found in how Philo has been able to find his receivers. The redshirt sophomore quarterback may want to forget the day because of his interception and lost fumble, but still completed 75% of his passes for 227 yards.

It may be tough sledding for Florida’s offense at the moment, but some bright spots still remain.

Is Florida Prepared for Tough Stretch Ahead?

Two weeks ago, the prevailing sentiment from most Florida fans was that the Gators had a realistic chance of making the College Football Playoff. That thought is hanging on by a thread and gets gloomier when examining the next few matchups.

After back-to-back losses, Florida is faced with a road trip to take on No. 7 Texas. As if playing one of the SEC’s best teams was not hard enough, the Gators will have to take the field against a Longhorns squad that will surely be fired up. A 27-24 loss to unranked Oklahoma is plenty of motivation for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to get his team amped up to face the Gators in front of a home crowd.

Florida will get a short break afterwards with its first and only bye week of the season, but stares down another heavyweight right after. A matchup with the new No. 1 team in the nation in Georgia presents another serious challenge, with the Gators rolling out to Atlanta to face the top-ranked Bulldogs.

The way Florida has been performing in both phases of the game was not sufficient to beat South Carolina at home, let alone two top-10 matchups away from Gainesville. Sumrall and the Gators will have some soul searching to do in order to find answers before the rough schedule ahead.

“We clearly haven’t arrived the last two weeks because we’ve been exposed in a pretty substantial way,” Sumrall said postgame. “Sometimes when you’re winning, it masks maybe the things that are not going right or that you’re not doing well.”

The post Five Takeaways from Florida’s Blowout Loss to South Carolina first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

After a chaotic first half that ended with an impressive stand by the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense at the goal line, the Jaguars found themselves down 14-7 at the break. And with flags flying and the offense struggling to rebound, Jacksonville still managed to pull off a late surge, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence finding wide receiver Parker Washington in the end zone with 3:26 to play.

A missed extra point set up Philadelphia to take the lead with a field goal, and kicker Jake Elliott capitalized, hitting a 48-yarder to put the Eagles ahead, but the Jaguars had Cam Little in their arsenal. A 53-yard return by Ameer Abdullah set Little up for a 57-yard field goal for the last-second win.

Against a banged-up Philadelphia squad, the Jaguars (4-1) defeated the Eagles (2-3) 19-17 Sunday morning at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first stand in London started with a bang, and the chaos didn’t die down until the final buzzer.

Rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for the touchdown, but it was nullified by two sets of offsetting penalties and a scuffle toward midfield that benched Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. and Philadelphia’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for the remainder of the game.

And the Jaguars’ first drive was similarly chaotic. They were hit with two penalties (a delay of game and a holding call on offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon), and Trevor Lawrence was sacked and fumbled for a loss of 15 yards. Faced with a fourth-and-30, Jacksonville punted it away.

However, on the next drive, the Jaguars settled in and began firing offensively. A 51-yard house call by wide receiver Parker Washington capped off a quick three-play, 63-yard, 1:26 drive, and Jacksonville got out to an early lead overseas.

But the offense experienced the same stalls it’s struggled with all season thus far, being held scoreless and nearly turning the ball over twice more through the remainder of the half.

Meanwhile, a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Philadelphia running back Will Shipley tied the score at seven apiece, and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts found wide receiver Darius Cooper for the 62-yard touchdown — the longest allowed by Jacksonville so far this season — with under six minutes to play in the half to take a 14-7 lead. But through the rest of the morning, those two touchdowns weren’t enough as Jacksonville clinched the win.

Under immense pressure throughout the contest with the offensive line struggling yet again, Lawrence managed to shine.

He recorded 331 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 24-of-39 passing. He fumbled twice, both recovered by the Jaguars, but finished with a 95.1 rating.

Jacksonville’s leading receiver was Washington, who posted six catches for 124 yards and both touchdowns. Meanwhile, Bhayshul Tuten labored to move the needle on the ground. He wasn’t able to make many explosive plays despite his efforts, though, ending with 22 carries for 72 yards.

Philadelphia found all its success in the air. It posted 210 net passing yards, with Hurts going 21-of-40 for 220 yards and a touchdown. Without star running back Saquon Barkley and against one of the premier run defenses in the country, the Eagles were held to 22 yards on the ground through the contest.

Jacksonville’s defense put the pressure on, holding the Eagles out of the end zone for the entire second half. They sacked Hurts just once but recorded six quarterback hits. For the first time in nine games, the Jaguars did not record an interception, but limiting production down the stretch was enough.

Much like last week, penalties bogged down Jacksonville throughout the day and brought the game down to the wire. They again recorded 13 for 100 yards.

The Jaguars remain in London to take on the division rival Houston Texans on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

The post Cam Little’s 57-Yard FG Lifts Jaguars Over Eagles in London first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

Florida’s defensive instability and crumbling run game weren’t able to hold a candle to South Carolina’s unstoppable offensive unit. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers led the Gamecocks with 279 passing yards and five total touchdowns (one rushing) while going 23-of-35. 

Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC), on the other hand, finished with 387 total yards and four turnovers. Former Heisman Trophy-contender Jadan Baugh notched just 59 rushing yards and was rivaled by quarterback Aaron Philo, who gained 32. 

Wide receiver Bailey Stockton kicked off the scoring in the first quarter after a slow start. The wide receiver caught a pass from Philo and made a 59-yard run to the end zone to give the Gators a 7-0 lead with 11:25 left to go in the first quarter. 

Florida’s triumphs for the game ended there. South Carolina went 7-of-11 in third-down conversions in the first two quarters while notching two touchdowns through the air.

The Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3) responded to Stockton’s run quickly, ending a 10-play drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Sellers to wide receiver Nyck Harbor to bring the score to 7-7 at the end of the first. 

Florida was then unable to get the ball moving, settling for a 21-yard field goal from Patrick Durkin, reclaiming its lead at 10-7. 

The Gators’ defensive unit briefly grabbed the reins, preventing the Gamecocks from entering the end zone with 4:09 left in the second quarter. Myles Graham notched his second sack of the game on Florida’s 22 at second-and-9 for a loss of 8 yards, forcing South Carolina to go for a  37-yard field goal and again tying the score at 10-all. 

From that point, South Carolina outscored Florida 28-9 the rest of the game to end an eight-game losing streak in the SEC. The Gamecocks are now 3-17 at The Swamp, with the other two wins coming under some coach named Steve Spurrier.

“[South Carolina’s] defensive front won the battle at the line of scrimmage over us in the run and the pass game,” UF coach Jon Sumrall said. “I think they’ve got good players, but we have to help our guys play better.”

Following a 5-yard false start penalty on Florida – marking the fourth before the first half had ended – the Gamecocks turned the game in their favor. Defensive back Vicari Swain intercepted a pass from Philo, returning it for 18 yards to Florida’s 26. From there, South Carolina couldn’t be stopped. Sellers made a 12-yard pass to Mazeo Bennett Jr. to bring the score to 17-10 with 1:47 left before the half. 

The game was delayed starting at halftime for lightning in the area, but resumed at 3:05 p.m. after a 45-minute halftime delay. The extra rest in the locker room didn’t seem to quell the Gators’ issues in the second half. 

Florida, which has lost 17 consecutive games when trailing at the half, ended the opening drive in a successful 48-yard field goal from Durkin. The Gators continued to trail 17-13 as South Carolina sprang ahead.

Sellers kept the Gamecocks rolling into the final stages of the game, closing out one of his best games this season. With 8:36 left on the clock in the third, Sellers threw for his third touchdown of the game — a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Donovan Murphy. 

Florida’s defense continued to struggle, allowing 279 passing yards, 116 rushing yards, 38 points and letting the Gamecocks run to 10-of-16 in third-down conversions. 

“We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and keep working, keep getting better,” UF linebacker Aaron Chiles said. “Improve our chemistry, improve our communication and just defensively improve everything.” 

The Gators offensive was once again unable to respond, and Sellers extended the lead to 31-13 with a 1-yard rush to the end zone with 1:12 left in the third. 

The dominance continued into the fourth when South Carolina extended the lead once again when Sellers launched a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lex Cyrus. The score, now at 38-13, was only seen by a small percentage of the originally sold-out stadium after many fans filed out.

Florida attempted to respond in the last two minutes, but the 2-yard touchdown rush from Baugh was too little, too late. Florida has been outscored 83-36 in back-to-back losses.

“Honestly, I think it’s a player thing right now,” Stockton said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the coaches … we’re just not doing what we need to do.”

The Gators, who went 4-0 in September and are now staring at an 0-4 October with games at No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Georgia in Atlanta ahead, visit the Longhorns next Saturday.

The post Humbling Homecoming: Gamecocks Crush Gators, 38-19 first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

In an Instagram post Thursday evening, former Gators senior Skylar Draser announced she will graduate from the University of Florida in December and transfer to a new program with two years of eligibility remaining.

“I know I still have so much more to give to this sport. I am excited for the opportunity to continue competing at a high level, experience a new environment, build new relationships and continue growing as both a gymnast and a young woman,” Draser posted. “Here’s to new beginnings, finding where I belong and giving everything I have to a program that believes in its athletes as people, supports them through adversity, invests in their growth and holds everyone to the same standards.”

UF coach Jenny Rowland announced Draser and juniors Ly Bui and Lily Bruce are no longer with the program in a statement Wednesday.

“We wish them well moving forward,” Rowland said in the statement. “Our focus remains on supporting our athletes and maintaining a team culture built on accountability, respect and commitment.”

Draser competed in all four events in her Florida career, most consistently as the leadoff routine of the beam lineup. She has a career best 9.95 on the apparatus, matching that score twice in her career on vault.

In 2026, Draser competed all events but floor, with season highs of 9.9 and 9.95 on vault and beam, respectively. In her lone bars appearance as an event alternate, she posted a 9.825.

The New York native was also acknowledged for helping create the 2026 team motto, “The Promise,” emphasizing the team’s commitment to one another and the journey to the national championship. Draser helped lead this Gators program to an SEC Championship and thirdplace finish at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth.

“Simply put I made my commitment to UF at such a young age and gave everything to the best of my ability to stay true to that commitment even when I questioned my happiness and whether this was truly where I belonged,” Draser posted.

Because no reason was publicly given for the dismissal, many rumors have spiraled about Draser, Bui and Bruce. Draser did not give a reason, emphasizing she walked away rather than got removed.

“I never imagined that stepping away from Florida in the middle of my final year would mean seeing my name circulating online attached to so many hurtful and disturbing false narratives,” Draser wrote. “It is heartbreaking to see people create stories about situations they know nothing about. While I cannot control what others choose to say or believe, I know the truth, I know my character and I know what I gave to this program.”

With so much speculation floating, Gators gymnastics alumni are also chiming in. 

The most vocal is 2026 graduate Selena Harris-Miranda. She commented on a post Monday reporting the rumored dismissal from a top program in the NCAA, “the coaches be bonkers bro.” Harris-Miranda was dismissed from UCLA after the 2024 season before transferring to Florida.

And on Draser’s post, former Gators all arounder Payton Richards commented, “if only people knew the truth about Gator gym.”

Two current team members also commented. Senior Anya Pilgrim told Draser, “will miss you,” and sophomore Maddy Dorbin said, “Lots of love for you.”

Bui and Bruce have yet to make a statement of their own. WRUF reached out to the trio and team alumni for comment but has yet to receive a direct response at the time of publication.

“I love you, and I’m so very proud of you always,” Bruce commented on Draser’s post Friday afternoon. “I hope wherever takes you next brings you so much happiness. Love you sister.”

The post Skylar Draser Breaks Silence After Exit From Florida Gymnastics first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

Brown was injured at Florida’s last home game against Ole Miss on Sept. 26. He sat out during the Gators’ loss to Missouri. UF coach Jon Sumrall said earlier Brown’s return would be dependent on how he felt.

“Medically, nothing is going to hold him other than his own readiness,” Sumrall said. “We have to see how he responds and how he feels ready to go.”

The sophomore is Florida’s only player listed on the injury report. Running back London Montgomery, safety Bryce Thornton and cornerback Dijon Johnson were taken off Friday’s SEC report after being featured on the first release Wednesday. 

South Carolina has eight players out, including defensive backs Quay’sheed Scott, Jalewis Solomon, edge rushers Kobby Sakyi-Prah and Julian Walker, wide receiver Jayden Sellers, offensive linemen Carter Miller and Josiah Thompson and defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.

Gamecocks star edge rusher Dylan Stewart is expected to play after serving a one-game suspension. Stewart received the suspension after punching Alabama tight end Josh Ford in their Week 4 matchup.

The post Update: Florida’s Vernell Brown III Ruled Out Against South Carolina first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

After a moment of admiration, it’s time to show it off. 

Snedeker, 76, and Steirer, 66, grip the handles and start pulling. They take the relic from 1953, the same year Century Tower was built, through the streets of the University of Florida. 

“He likes to call them ‘trips,’” Steirer said. “We’ll walk up and down stadium road, by Steinbrenner, up and down the streets and have people take their picture with the drum, and David gives them buttons.” 

For most men over the age of 65, lugging a drum around before a college football game isn’t the most thrilling idea. Here, though, the “Big Boom” is the best representation of the history behind the Gator Band and the joy it brings to fans. So these men are willing to carry (or pull) the burden.

At every home game since 2012, the Big Boom has been the leader of the band’s march into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Before then, it appeared at every Homecoming game. But what remains the same, for 51 years, is that Snedeker pulls it.

Snedeker was a member of the Gator Band from 1968-1971. As a junior and senior, he was selected to be Big Boom’s caretaker. After college, Snedeker became a school administrator and environmentalist. When the Gator Alumni Band started in 1973, Snedeker started to notice a gap in the crew. “Where’s the drum?” he said. Then in 1976, he asked to un-retire the antique and get it back on the field. 

These days, after a few hours of trips, Snedeker and Steirer meetup with the band to march to the stadium and perform its pregame routine. After that, they race to return the drum to Steinbrenner, which has a room dedicated to the instrument.  

Then the two return to the stadium, missing part of the first quarter, to watch the show. Steirer has become a massive Gators fan through representing the Alumni Band, despite, unlike Snedeker, never attending the University of Florida. 

In 1998, Snedeker needed help with his drum duties. He was quick to call Steirer, who was the band director at a middle school in Kissimmee, where Snedeker was the principal. 

“He goes ‘I’m not an alumni,’” Snedker said. “And I said, ‘After this game, you will be.’” Steirer hasn’t missed a game since. 

The two have developed a strong bond through the experiences they’ve shared with Big Boom. Handing out pins, taking people’s pictures, spending time with the band and watching Gators football has made the pair so much closer than just old coworkers. 

“David is my best friend,” Steirer said. “He’s the older brother I never had.”

Since he wasn’t a graduate, Steirer always made sure to not get too involved with the conversations surrounding the Alumni Band. He was always just doing it for Snedeker. But after receiving a certificate denoting him as an official member of the Florida Alumni Band, Steirer realized what everyone else knew: He’d become a Gator for life. 

“It’s great to be a Florida Gator,” he said. No one knows more about what that means than Snedeker. 

At his core, Snedeker is just a passionate historian. He was a history major in college and walking through his home, that’s obvious. He owns every Florida football program since 1946, UF report cards from 1936, ticket stubs of UF vs. Harvard from 1922, and much more. 

As Snedeker flips through his binder of pictures of Albert the Alligator, he stops on a page from 1982. He chuckles and explains that the Albert from that year was supposedly designed by Disney. He looks away from the page and says, “Guess what I have?” One walk to his garage later, and he’s holding the head of the UF mascot from 44 years ago.

A few feet over, lie the mallets for the drum. Snedeker points out they weren’t always so fancy. In fact, the mallets used to be a roll of toilet paper on the end of a broomstick, wrapped in duct tape and covered with a sock. 

The orange and blue spray paint on the old mallets left marks on the heads of the drum, which can still be found today. Snedeker explained that the cowhide drumheads have never been replaced or cleaned and are incredibly sensitive to heat and humidity. It’s a miracle they’ve survived 73 years. 

If a history professor walked in his door tomorrow, his house would probably be declared a museum. One that Jay Watkins, the Gator Band director, knew could help his program when he arrived in 2006. 

“When I first got here, I noticed there was no archive or history of the band program. David works to track down old uniforms, pictures, parts and anything,” Watkins said. “He’s the unofficial historian.”

Snedeker uses that title to maintain his favorite artifact of all: Big Boom. Watkins said Snedeker maintained Big Boom out of his own pocket until a few years ago when the Gator Band Alumni Association started to provide funding. But it’s still Snedeker’s responsibility, one that he doesn’t take lightly. 

“He checks on it pretty regularly,” said Watkins. Every picture day, band members pose in front of the drum that is an iconic symbol of not only Florida band history, but Florida history. 

And on Saturday, the Big Boom will get its old friends back in town. Every homecoming, the words of The Blues Brothers come to life in Gainesville: “We’re putting the band back together.”

Snedeker and Steirer will be joined by 340 alumni Saturday for Florida’s matchup against South Carolina. Receptions, meetings and rehearsals precede the big day, including a scholarship reception where Snedeker’s “Big Boom Scholarship” is given to outstanding members of the drum line. 

For one week a year, Snedeker and Steirer aren’t the only alumni on the field. The University of Florida Alumni Band will march on Steve Spurrier Field with the Gator Band, as the history that Snedeker cherishes comes to life.

The post Here Comes the Boom: The Keepers of the Gator Band Drum first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

No. 5 Florida volleyball (13-1, 4-0 SEC) swept Missouri (8-8, 1-2) to start its four-match road stretch (25-13, 26-24, 25-13) on Friday.

The Gators extended their winning streak to 11 matches and continued its dominance against the Tigers. Missouri hasn’t beaten Florida since 2018 or taken down the Gators on its home court since 2016.

Florida set the tone early by hitting .538 with 14 kills and no errors on 26 attempts in the first set.

Logan King contributed seven kills and six digs, while the Gators recorded 16 digs and three blocks to help limit Missouri’s offense. 

Missouri came out with momentum in the second set, challenging Florida’s defense. The Tigers recorded 15 kills compared to Florida’s 13, putting pressure on the Gators. 

Florida’s hitting percentage dropped to .357, as the team recorded three attack errors. 

Brooklyn Briscoe delivered a key kill to give Florida the lead and the Gators rallied to secure set point and take the second set. 

Florida closed out the sweep with its most efficient offensive performance of the match hitting .680 with no errors in the third set. Taylor Parks recorded 15 assists to help lead the Gators offense. 

Selena Leban was a secret weapon from the back row, contributing five kills to help lead Florida to another sweep. 

Missouri struggled with errors, committing 15 attack errors compared to Florida’s three. The 12-error difference helped the Gators maintain control. 

Florida overcame 13 service errors improve to 16-5 all-time against Missouri in securing its eighth sweep of the season.

The Gators also held the defensive advantage, finishing with 38 digs and six blocks, while the Tigers had 29 digs and no blocks.

Florida remains the only undefeated team in the conference while holding the longest active winning streak.

The Gators play at 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Vanderbilt (12-2, 2-2) on SEC Network+.

The post No. 5 Florida Sweeps Missouri for 11th Consecutive Win first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.

The No. 16 Gators (4-1, 2-1 SEC) are set to take on unranked South Carolina (2-3, 0-3 SEC) at home. South Carolina hasn’t had the strongest opening to its season.

Florida notched a 41-39 road win in their last meeting with South Carolina, but the teams have extensive history with each other dating back to 1911. The Gators lead their all-time series with the Gamecocks 31-10, but in The Swamp, they lead 17-2.

The Gamecocks have lost their last three SEC matchups against Mississippi State, Alabama and most recently losing to Kentucky 35-34 in overtime. But although they may not be the Gators’ strongest competition, they still pose a threat–especially in Florida’s weak spots.

South Carolina’s run-focused offense could be dangerous against Florida’s flaky defensive front. Overall, they sit at No. 1 in the SEC in average rushing yards per game (256), and No. 3 in total yards per game (491).

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has passed for 1,059 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions through five games this season. Wide receiver Nyck Harbor has recorded 13 catches for 195 yards and 1 touchdown, while running back Matt Fuller has notched 71 carries and 433 rushing yards through five games. Fuller and Sellers are fourth and seventh in the SEC in rushing yards through five games.

On Tuesday, Florida defensive coordinator Brad White said Fuller is a key piece of South Carolina’s threatening run game. He also noted that Sellers resembles NFL running back Saquon Barkley’s, specifically in how difficult it is to contain him once he gets into the open field.

“Between the running back and the quarterback, now the run game is very much in play and you’ve got to be disciplined,” White said. “Scheme-wise, there’s enough moving pieces and formations and motions. So our guys have to be disciplined to understand where their gap fit is up front.”

For a Florida defense that’s currently ranked 15th in the SEC in total defense, allowing 393 yards per game and 16th in pass defense, allowing 266.6 yards per game, South Carolina’s dual threat could pose a significant issue.

Gator safety DJ Coleman also spoke on how to contain the quarterback.

“I feel like we’ve just got to contain him as much as we can, but be aggressive in doing it,” he said. “Not letting him run around and…being aggressive at the attack point whenever he’s running, and just making him feel it whenever we get the chance.”

One of the Gamecocks’ biggest issues is consistency. Although they’ve been able to get down the field early in the game and form sufficient leads, they have trouble closing the deal. In their last three SEC games, the team has failed to score a single point in the third quarter.

With an impressive offensive unit, their inconsistency may be credited to a defensive unit that generally sits near the bottom of the SEC. In SEC play, South Carolina has allowed 41.7 points per game and 425.3 yards per game, 298.3 of which are credited to passing.

Although the Gators have relied on Jadan Baugh moving the ball on the ground, both quarterback Aaron Philo and Florida’s wide receiver room are more than capable of making plays on field.

Philo has thrown for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns through five games this season. Despite star wide receiver Vernell Brown III potentially being out for Saturday’s game, Florida still has depth in the room. Dallas Wilson, who earned offensive player of the game for Florida after their loss against Missouri, has notched 302 yards for three touchdowns this season. Wilson’s backed up by Eric Singleton Jr., who just recently made his way off the injury report and onto the field.

Come Saturday, it may be necessary to focus on the Gamecocks’ weak spots. With two high-power offensive threats, the primary goal for each team will be containing the other’s key scoring players.

For the Gators, focus remains on how their defensive unit can hold up.

“There has to be more of a dog mentality,” White said. “There’s too much survival mode right now and not enough hunting.”

The post Scouting South Carolina: Florida Faces No. 1 SEC Rushing Offense first appeared on WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN.