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Articles by Jack Meyer
Two Goals In Four Minutes Help Lehigh Secure 3-3 Draw Against Army
Two Goals In Four Minutes Help Lehigh Secure 3-3 Draw Against Army 9/20/2025 9:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer WEST POINT, N.Y. – Lehigh men's soccer traveled north on Saturday evening for its first road Patriot League match of the season against the Army West Point Black Knights. Lehigh trailed 3-1 after the first half, but two Mountain Hawk goals in the final four minutes secured a 3-3 draw.
How a McDonald’s sundae saved my life
What a difference four years can make. In May 2021, I stared myself down in my bathroom mirror. One arm on the counter, the other gripping the first knife I could find out of the kitchen drawer. After a few moments of contemplation that felt like an eternity, I dropped the knife and on the verge of tears, sheepishly knocked on my mom’s door. It was hard to verbalize the anguish I felt in that moment, but one look at me was all she needed to know that I was in pain.
Five-year Florida linebacker Derek Wingo prepares for life beyond Gainesville
A little less than five years ago, UF’s campus looked completely different. With everyone having just started to pick the pieces of their life back up amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Florida Gators football cautiously made its return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Among the team was an eagle-eyed 18-year-old Derek Wingo, preparing for his collegiate debut.
Kevin O’Sullivan ejected, Florida baseball drops fourth straight SEC series against Vanderbilt
Ten minutes. That’s all it took for UF head coach Kevin O’Sullivan to be ejected from Saturday’s midday meeting between the Florida Gators and Vanderbilt Commodores. At 1:02 p.m., UF freshman right-hander Aidan King threw out the game’s first pitch. He endured a chaotic frame of action, including a controversial no-call on a first base pick-off and a wild sequence that ended in Vanderbilt junior center fielder RJ Austin being tagged out at home plate.
Florida women’s basketball staves off underdog Texas Tech, advances to WBIT semifinals
Two teams fighting for their postseason lives, three late-game reviews and a combined nine free throws in 18 seconds. The Florida Gators’ matchup with the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament quarterfinals had everything anyone could ever want in a basketball game. All that, and a razor-thin finish which saw the Gators narrowly escape the Stephen C. O’Connell Center and punch their ticket to the tournament’s penultimate round.
Jimmy Butler’s Blunt Response To His Miami Heat Tribute Video
Tuesday night marked a bittersweet — and somewhat tense — reunion between Jimmy Butler and his former. After being traded from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors last month, Butler returned to South Florida for his first game back in the Kaseya Center since his departure. In the end, the Heat came away with the last laugh en route to a resounding 112-86 win that saw Butler held to just 11 points in 29 minutes.
Florida’s Cinderella SEC Tournament run ends in quarterfinals against LSU
For the second consecutive year, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team saw its SEC postseason journey end in the quarterfinals. In 2024, it was an unranked Ole Miss squad that sent UF packing. This time around, it was No. 9 LSU. That’s not to say the Rebels were anything to balk at, but it does serve as a testament to how much tougher the SEC has become in just a year – and in turn, how much more difficult Florida’s road turned out to be.
Liv McGill’s career night powers Florida to upset win over No. 19 Alabama in SEC Tournament
Last season, the Florida Gators pulled off one of the more impressive Cinderella runs in the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament. They skated by the bottom-seeded Missouri Tigers and pulled off an impressive upset against sixth-seeded Vanderbilt before coming up just short against Ole Miss. This year, the stakes have been higher, and the opponents have been tougher.
Florida out-muscles Auburn in opening round of SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament
With less than two minutes to go, the Florida Gators were hanging on by a thread in their SEC Tournament opener. Following a back-and-forth affair with the Auburn Tigers all evening, UF held on to a four-point lead in the game’s home stretch. Florida needed one final spark – one last play – to put this game on ice. Whenever the Gators have faced situations like these this season, a familiar face has always found a way to answer the call: freshman guard Liv McGill.
Florida surrenders season-high 13 runs, drops series finale against Miami
When two powerhouse programs like Florida and Miami meet, chaos will always find a way to come into play. In the first two games of their 2025 weekend series, the Gators came away with a pair of impressive – but relatively narrow – wins over the Hurricanes. On Sunday, however, the script was entirely flipped. Miami (9-3) came away with a staggering 13-6 victory to kill any remaining hopes of a Florida (11-1) series sweep.
Luke Heyman homers twice in Florida’s series-clinching victory over Miami
Big players make big plays in big-time moments, and it doesn’t get any bigger than a Sunshine State rivalry showdown in front of a record-breaking Condron Ballpark crowd. With a weekend series victory hanging in the balance, the Florida Gators entered the bottom of the eighth inning sporting a narrow 4-2 lead over the Miami Hurricanes. Enter UF junior catcher Luke Heyman, who came into the day bearing the lowest batting average of any UF batter with seven or more starts (.227).
DJ Lagway Makes Major Career Move on Tuesday
Florida star quarterback DJ Lagway has already racked up all kinds of praise and accolades on the field in the last six months. But on Tuesday afternoon, Lagway announced that he was taking a major step forward in developing his brand away from the turf as well. The 19-year-old has partnered with UF Health to officially launch the DJ Lagway Foundation.
Florida tallies season-high 13 runs, dismantles Dayton in weekend series opener
While the 2025 campaign may still be relatively young, the Florida Gators have looked as good as can be through their first five games this season. Florida’s series opener against Dayton marked the former’s fourth consecutive game tallying double-digit runs – all while holding the opposing Flyers to just one. It only took seven innings for the Gators to earn a 13-1 run-rule victory over Dayton on Friday night.
Jeriah Warren’s buzzer beater lifts Florida to last-second victory over Mississippi State
The energy in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center had reached a boiling point. With just 11.6 seconds left on the clock and the score all tied up at 66 apiece, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team needed one last miracle to knock off the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Sophomore guard Laila Reynolds fiddled around in the paint for a few seconds before passing it off to senior forward Alexia Dizeko. The latter immediately roped the ball back to senior guard Jeriah Warren at the top of the key.
Career days from Pierce Coppola and Brody Donay lead Florida to sweep over Air Force
Nearly one year ago to the day, the Florida Gators were stunned in their season opener against the St. John’s Red Storm. The loss put UF on a lopsided trajectory for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, which saw the Gators finish the regular season at 28-26 before mustering their way into a College World Series run. Despite its success in the postseason, UF made it clear from the get-go that it couldn’t afford another wonky start in 2025.
Florida Set to Receive Visit From Top Ranked Safety in 2026 Class
Coming on the heels of a successful 2025 recruiting season that saw the Florida Gators leapfrog from dead in the water to a top 10 class in the nation, UF has already started to turn some heads on the 2026 trail as well. On Wednesday afternoon, four-star safety Bralan Womack announced that he has narrowed down his recruiting list to four schools: Ohio State, Texas A&M, Auburn -- and Florida.
Two season-ending injuries and one comeback campaign later, Florida pitcher Pierce Coppola set to shine in 2025
Just over two years ago, Florida pitcher Pierce Coppola sat in his parked car sobbing. The then-sophomore left-hander had just found out he sustained his second season-ending injury in a row. This time, months before he could officially take the mound in the 2023 season. “Our athletic trainer told me at practice, and I was like ‘Damn, again,’” Coppola said. “In my tears, in my car, I was like, ‘This is not fair.
Florida fans face student section chaos in Tuesday night win against Tennessee - The Independent Florida Alligator
In the hours preceding the Florida Gators men’s basketball team top-ten showdown against the Tennessee Volunteers, hundreds of students lined up outside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in hopes of securing a seat in the court-side student section. Instead, pandemonium ensued as the O’Dome doors opened. Fans started to push their way to the front of the building, with some groups cutting the line entirely. As crowds poured in, security was unable to keep the chaos under control.
Florida rolls over Hofstra to snap four-game losing skid
Coming into Monday night sporting a four-game losing skid, the Florida Gators knew they needed to find a way to get back on track. Sure enough, they did exactly that in a fiery performance against the Hofstra Pride at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Florida (4-3) had four players reach double-digit scoring figures in an emphatic 75-48 victory over Hofstra (2-5).
Florida adds four 2025 recruits in six days, lifting Gators to No. 12 class in the country
Just under three weeks ago, the Florida Gators ranked No. 43 in the nation for the 2025 recruiting cycle. Now, as they enter December and approach Early Signing Day, UF’s incoming freshman class is on the verge of cracking the top 10 in the country. After landing commitments from four-star linebacker Ty Jackson, three-star wide receiver Muizz Tounkara and three-star offensive tackle Jahari Medlock on Monday, the Gators landed three more recruits as the week went on.
Florida falls to James Madison, finishes 0-2 in St. Pete Showcase - The Independent Florida Alligator
After a promising 3-0 start to its 2024-25 campaign, the UF women’s basketball team has fallen to a below-.500 record following a rough weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Gators concluded their St. Pete Showcase slate with a 77-72 loss to James Madison on Friday afternoon. The defeat brought UF’s recent losing skid to four consecutive games, marking a stark contrast from the Gators’ start to the season. Florida’s starting lineup showed up for the most part.
Florida opens St. Pete Showcase with tight loss to Tulane
While most families have spent their Thanksgiving eating turkey and enjoying the holiday season, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team spent its Thursday on the hardwood in day one of the St. Pete Showcase. Florida opened up its weekend with an 83-81 loss to the Tulane Green Wave. The defeat came in spite of a stellar performance from UF senior center Ra Shaya Kyle, who finished the afternoon with 25 points and nine rebounds.
Florida stuns No. 9 Ole Miss in triumphant Senior Day victory
Florida’s senior day had just about everything you could want from a college football game: beautiful weather, high stakes for both squads, nonstop action from start to finish and a shocking result that shook the college football world to its core. In their final home game of the 2024 campaign, the Gators (6-5, 4-4 SEC) stunned the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels (8-3, 4-3 SEC) in a 24-17 upset victory at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A new hope: DJ Lagway, defensive breakthroughs have Florida’s future back on track
Merriam-Webster defines hope as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” Florida football fans would likely define hope as simply “DJ Lagway.” As the true freshman signal-caller has found his footing throughout UF’s 2024 campaign, the Gators have blossomed as a collective squad. For the first time in what has felt like an eternity for the Florida faithful, the future finally looks bright for UF’s football program.
Florida’s comeback attempt stumped, Miami emerges victorious in Sunshine State showdown
As the clock ran down in the fourth quarter at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Miami senior guard Hanna Cavinder slowly dribbled up the court with a smile on her face. Behind her, fellow UM senior guard Haley Cavinder emphatically Gator chomped in celebration. The moment the final buzzer sounded, the two sisters erupted as they greeted their cheering teammates on the bench.
Florida dismantles Chicago State, keeps undefeated start to 2024-25 season alive
What started out as an apparent mismatch on paper between the Florida Gators and Chicago State Cougars quickly turned into a blowout of historic proportions. Saying Florida (3-0) took care of business against Chicago State (0-4) on Tuesday night would be an understatement. The Gators made their presence felt on both ends of the floor en route to a commanding 104-35 win over the Cougars. “We played 40 minutes of Gator women’s basketball,” UF head coach Kelly Rae Finley said.
Florida surrenders season-worst 49 points in blowout loss to No. 5 Texas
Entering their road matchup against the No. 5 Texas Longhorns with their starting quarterback sidelined and a plethora of other injuries endured by key contributors, not many fans or analysts expected the Florida Gators to come away with a victory. At the very least, Florida fans hoped to see their team put up a fight following a hard-nosed loss to No. 2 Georgia one weekend earlier. What ensued in Austin, however, was still nothing short of disheartening for the Gators.
Gators roll over Rattlers, move to 2-0 on new season
Thursday afternoon proved to be a busy afternoon in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Before Florida’s men’s basketball team took to the floor at 8 p.m. for its home opener against Jacksonville, UF’s women’s squad kicked things off with an all-around fiery performance against the FAMU Rattlers. The Gators came away with a flashy 102-67 win on Thursday, thanks in part to the performance of freshman guard Liv McGill.
Florida wideout Eugene Wilson III will miss rest of 2024 campaign due to season-ending hip surgery
UF sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III will miss the rest of the 2024 season after undergoing hip surgery on Tuesday, per Swamp247. Following a breakthrough freshman campaign in 2023, Wilson III has struggled to pick up where he left off due to nagging injury concerns. The sophomore wideout initially suffered what was deemed a lower body injury in Florida’s 45-7 win over Samford on Sept. 7, which in turn sidelined him for over a month. Wilson III eventually made his return to the field on Oct.
DJ Lagway suffers hamstring injury, will miss remainder of Florida-Georgia
Florida true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway will miss the rest of the Florida-Georgia rivalry game after sustaining a hamstring injury in the second quarter. With just over five minutes remaining in the first half, Lagway slipped on a quarterback draw and remained on the ground after the play. As Florida's training staff attended to him, both sidelines emptied out onto the field, seemingly in a show of support for the freshman signal caller.
Most memorable moments in Florida-Georgia football rivalry
In a rivalry with as much historical significance as Florida-Georgia, there tends to be little love lost between the two schools. Ever since the Gators and Bulldogs first met in Jacksonville over 100 years ago in 1915, the event formerly known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” has spawned all kinds of memorable moments, photo finishes and all-around chaos.
Florida shows plenty of promise, dominates Flagler in Wednesday exhibition
As the leaves continue to fall and the temperatures wind down near the end of October, college basketball season only continues to loom closer and closer. On Wednesday night, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team returned to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center hardwood for the first time in seven months.
True freshmen Jadan Baugh and DJ Lagway lead Florida to commanding win over Kentucky
Florida’s primetime contest against Kentucky marked the first time in program history that the Gators started a pair of true freshmen at both quarterback and running back. With redshirt senior signal caller Graham Mertz out for the season with a torn ACL and senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. sidelined with a lower body injury, the Gators were forced to turn to backup freshman quarterback DJ Lagway and freshman running back Jadan Baugh to carry the load.
Aliyah Matharu, Florida's reigning leading scorer, enters transfer portal
Less than three weeks before the Florida Gators women’s basketball team was set to kick off its 2024-25 campaign, the squad has already lost one of the most impactful players on its roster. Florida’s 2023-24 leading scorer and graduate guard Aliyah Matharu has officially entered the transfer portal, per On3 Sports. This will mark the fourth school of Matharu’s career, as she had previously played for Mississippi State and Texas prior to joining UF in 2022.
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz expected to miss remainder of 2024 season
Florida’s starting redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season following a knee injury he sustained in the team’s loss to No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday, according to CBS Sports and 247 Sports. Mertz went down with an awkward-looking non-contact injury in the third quarter of the Gators’ contest against the Volunteers. He had just thrown a touchdown to redshirt sophomore tight end Arlis Boardingham before he limped off the field in pain.
Florida goes down to the wire, runs out of gas in overtime loss to No. 8 Tennessee
Injuries, overtime, clutch plays and chaos abound. What many fans and analysts alike expected to be a lopsided matchup between the Florida Gators and the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers turned into a cutthroat contest that came down to the wire. In the end, however, UF ran out of gas in perhaps its most grueling effort of the 2024 campaign. Florida head coach Billy Napier was seemingly emotional and made it clear in his post-game remarks that the Gators left everything they had on the field.
Florida vs Tennessee: Live Updates
PRE-GAME | INJURY REPORT - Notable players out for Florida today include safety Asa Turner (knee), running back Treyaun Webb (knee), defensive back Ja'Keem Jackson (lower body) and wide receiver Marcus Burke (undisclosed). Wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, defensive lineman Joey Slackman and offensive tackle Austin Barber are all expected to be active in tonight's contest, although it remains to be seen how many reps each one will receive.
Florida football determined to keep improving following statement win over UCF
Just three weeks ago, the Florida football program was seemingly on the brink of a lost season. Boos rained down across Ben Hill Griffin Stadium following UF’s 33-20 loss to Texas A&M, rumors emerged that Florida boosters secured enough money to fund head coach Billy Napier’s buyout and the team’s locker room was all but dead silent following the game. Fast forward three weeks, and it’s almost like Florida’s struggles never happened. Almost. Since their loss to the Aggies on Sept.
Florida opens SEC slate with tie against No. 20 Kentucky
Coming into its first SEC match of the 2024 season, Florida faced an uphill battle against No. 20 Kentucky. Nevertheless, Florida put together a strong defensive performance to keep the Wildcats At bay, albeit at the cost of a limited amount of offensive momentum. The Gators (3-1-5, 0-0-1 SEC) came away with a 0-0 draw against the Wildcats (8-0-1, 0-0-1 SEC) on Thursday night, snapping the latter squad’s eight-match win streak.
Eugene Wilson III, Joey Slackman both undergo knee surgery, timetable for returns unclear
The Gators look to be without two of their top players for an extended period of time. Within the last five days, both sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III and graduate defensive lineman Joey Slackman have undergone surgery to repair a pair of respective knee injuries, per 247Sports. Wilson III previously sustained a lower-body injury in Florida’s 45-7 win over Samford on Sept. 7.
Graham Mertz learning to “appreciate life for what it is” amid chaotic start to season
UF redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz entered a relatively quiet press room Sept. 14. Coming off a demoralizing 33-20 loss to Texas A&M, Mertz posted up in the corner of the room, surrounded by a barrage of reporters. When asked what his last 14 days had been like, Mertz let out a deep sigh. “I’ve had a strong, hefty two weeks,” he said. Since Florida’s season-opening loss to then-No. 19 Miami just over two weeks ago, Mertz has been hit with a variety of roadblocks and challenges.
Florida flatlines in disheartening loss to Texas A&M
Entering its first SEC contest of 2024, Florida knew whatever happened in its matchup against Texas A&M would define the direction of the program. On Saturday afternoon, the results spoke for themselves: the Gators look to be in for a long and wearisome season. Florida (1-2) struggled to keep up with Texas A&M (2-1) en route to a demoralizing 33-21 loss.
Florida seeking to bounce back from lackluster season opener
In the weeks leading up to Florida’s season opener against Miami, there was an overwhelming sense of optimism around the Gators’ football facility. Players, coaches and fans shared a belief that the program was ready to turn around for the better. Following a far-from-perfect 2023 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier could have silenced any remaining doubts that the team could compete in an already competitive pool of SEC squads this season.
Ricky Pearsall shot in San Francisco robbery attempt
Former Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was reportedly shot during a robbery attempt in Union Square on Saturday afternoon. Pearsall, who was selected 31st overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, was attending an autograph signing event in the city when the incident occurred. Gia Vang of NBC Bay Area reports that the suspect is currently in police custody, and Pearsall is in stable condition.
Position profile: Breaking down Florida’s starting defensive line in 2024
Entering the 2024 campaign, the Florida Gators football team endured more than their fair share of shake-ups on the defensive line. After all the dust settled, it appears that head coach Billy Napier has put together a platoon that could make some noise against opposing SEC offenses this coming season.
Florida soccer looking to break through as 2024 season kicks off - The Independent Florida Alligator
Since its most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019, Florida endured its fair share of struggles on the soccer pitch. The Gators strung together three consecutive losing seasons before then-second year head coach Samantha Bohon got her squad back on track in 2023. The Gators finished last season 6-5-6, marking their first winning record in four years.
Position profile: Florida quarterbacks
As redshirt senior quarterback Graham Mertz arrived at Monday's press conference inside the Heavener Football Complex, he seemingly could not stop smiling. The sixth-year quarterback addressed the surrounding media with an unwavering attitude of confidence. When asked where he anticipates taking a step forward in 2024, Mertz chuckled a bit. “I have a healed collarbone,” he said.
Florida football’s freshmen breakout contenders in 2024
Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer. We inform. You decide. Monday, August 26, 2024 Several freshmen in Florida’s 2024 recruiting class have potential to make an instant impact this season In the ever-growing world of college football, it can be easy to lose track of potential stars on the rise or for players to fly under the radar.
Former Gators women’s tennis star McCartney Kessler wins first WTA Tour title
Former Gators women’s tennis player McCartney Kessler won the Tennis in the Land final in Cleveland Saturday, defeating top seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6, 6-1, 7-5. The No. 98 player in the world, Kessler only had one tour-level win in her career before entering Cleveland. In the final, Kessler got off to a slow start, losing seven of her first eight games in the match and not having a break opportunity. She quickly responded to win six consecutive games, tying the match at one set apiece.
Florida women’s basketball announces 2024-25 conference schedule
On Wednesday afternoon, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team officially released its SEC schedule slate for the 2024-25 campaign. UF will play eight conference games at home and eight on the road in the back half of its upcoming season. Opening up its SEC slate, Florida will kick off the new year with a trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on Jan. 2. Three days later, the Gators will return to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for their home conference opener against Georgia.
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