- Florida softball committed five errors in its last two games at Georgia, leading to six unearned runs and two losses.
- Gators football got a commitment from Peyton Miller, the No. 1 rated center in the country.
- UF basketball coach Todd Golden is hopeful that his starting frontcourt will return intact next season.
The Front 9 comes at you after a weekend where I played golf twice, it rained twice, and twice as many people seemed to be in town for graduation.
1. Any of you who follow Florida softball probably could not believe what you were seeing this weekend in Athens. The Gators won the first game and were up 7-2 in the second when the roof caved in. They came in leading the country in fielding percentage and had committed only 17 errors in 54 games. So maybe it was a one-off that UF kicked the ball around for five errors in the last two games which led to six unearned runs and two losses (in keeping with the “two” theme). OK ladies, it’s the postseason now. Let’s tighten up.
2. Meanwhile in Gatorland, it seems like all the chest puffing Jon Sumrall is doing is paying off on the recruiting trail as he continues to impress with his ability to build the trenches. The latest commit is the No. 1 rated center in the country in Peyton Miller from Texas. But remember that Billy Napier’s problem wasn’t recruiting.
3. FOMO Game of the Week
I hate to say it, but this might be the last time you can see the Gators baseball team play in person in 2026. Florida hosts Kentucky for three games starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. UF is a bit of a bubble team right now when it comes to hosting a regional.
4. Four questions with national championship winner Todd Golden
- Is it difficult to believe that you are about to enter your fifth year at Florida? And have you gotten used to the humidity?
Golden: That is hard to believe. I’m so grateful to [UF athletic director] Scott [Stricklin] and this administration for providing me with this opportunity four years ago, and it has been a great fit here for me and my family. We’re appreciative of the community here. The humidity is a fair tradeoff —Gators are comfortable in the swamp, right? - Are you for or against the expansion of the NCAA Tournament?
Golden: It looks like that change is coming now, and I’ve said before — obviously I am biased here —the NCAA Tournament is the best event in all of sport. I think it will continue to be because of the talent level in the sport and the drama of the single-elimination format. - Has the off-season success helped ease the sting of the postseason?
Golden: I do think the way our season ended gave us a better chance to get these guys back just because it didn’t really end the way we hoped it would. And now we’re in the position where Tommy’s [Haugh] back, Condo’s [Alex Condon] back, Rueben’s [Chinyelu] testing the NBA waters. We want what’s best for him, but selfishly we’d like him back. If we can get all three of these guys, that’s an incredible foundation going into next year already. - Have you thought about playing more golf or is it too time consuming?
Golden: I love to get out there and play when I can. Coaching is obviously a time-consuming profession, but I try to make some time to get out there on occasion to play a few holes or go to the driving range to unwind for a bit.
5. Florida teams that would have been great in a 12-team football playoff
- 2001: Sexy Rexy and the Gators should have been playing in the Rose Bowl, but stuff happened.
- 2009: Went undefeated in regular season, but Alabama got in the way.
- 1969: One bad day in Auburn, Alabama — an ink blot on a beautiful season.
- 1984-85: Probation was a problem, but both teams were ridiculously talented.
- 1990: The HBC likes to say this was the team that started it all and I would love to have seen them finish it.
6. This will happen this week
Somehow, some way, you will find a way to watch Florida in the SEC Softball Tournament even though the Gators first game Thursday is at 11 a.m. Don’t worry, if they win the Friday game is at 5 p.m.
7. Hot take of the week
College baseball and softball need to follow MLB’s path and come up with their own version of the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike system). Maybe it is too expensive for all the teams, but you can’t tell me the SEC is too poor to have strike zones that are consistent. It’s not just me. Former Washington All-America pitcher Danielle Lawrie was killing the strike zones on TV.
8. Tweet of the week
From Gymnastics Now about a Gator great: “Selena Harris-Miranda is hanging up her grips… but she isn’t quite saying goodbye to gymnastics! The Bruin-turned-Gator says she hopes to own a gym or be a head coach of a college team one day.”
9. Movie recommendation
Let’s just get this out of the way. If you have never seen “Tombstone” we can’t be friends until you do. It’s on TV three times a week (or so it seems). Val Kilmer should have at least been nominated for an Oscar.