- Billy Donovan is joining the San Antonio Spurs as their lead assistant coach.
- Florida football must fix several negative stats including a minus-276 rushing yards differential and a minus-72 point difference in the fourth quarter.
- The Big 12 Media Days start Tuesday, where the conference will push for multiple College Football Playoff bids despite anticipated SEC opposition.
The Front 9 comes at you after fireworks, amazing food and pool fun — the best recipe for a Fourth of July weekend.
1. The news really didn’t come out of nowhere that Billy Donovan is going to San Antonio to be the No. 1 assistant. He had been bouncing the idea off close friends for a couple of weeks. There are a lot of NBA writers who believe it’s simply a launching pad for his next head coaching job and that might be true. But more than anything, Billy was just tired of rebuilding and too good a coach to be losing the way he was. He’ll win now and that will make him happy again. It also feels like he is done with college since he couldn’t ask for better openings than this offseason.
2. Just an observation and soccer ultras and the Tartan Army should not take it personally. But the sport is difficult for the casual fan. You never know if the game is in its last seconds, you don’t like the flopping and sometimes you can’t tell one team from the other. Still, the ratings will tell you that we’re watching. It’s been a great bridge to Media Days.
3. FOMO games of the week
We have five of the six baseball races with a level of excitement (the Dodgers have ruined the NL West race) and next weekend is the last coming up before the All-Star break. Of special note to me is the NL East where my Braves had better figure out their pitching quickly. Braves at Cards and Phils at Tigers wrap up the first half.
4. Four questions with former Washington defensive back and current Gainesville resident Mike Bass
- Which of your 30 NFL interceptions was your favorite?
Bass:Although categorized as a fumble, the “interception” in Super Bowl VII versus the Miami Dolphins. The interception of a pass from Roger Staubach to Bob Hayes in a Monday night game at RFK was pretty sweet. - You played a lot of offense in high school. Did you ever miss it?
Bass:I never missed playing offense. I wanted to just play, regardless of the position I was playing. In retrospect, considering the beating that running backs take, playing defense kept me in the NFL for 10 years. - How was it to have a small speaking role in the movie “Paper Lion”?
Bass: I agreed to participate in this movie as a favor to my teammate, Roy Jefferson. For years, I have smiled when my movie career was mentioned, as it always brings a smile to my face. My acting career in this movie was not one of my greatest accomplishments. - Did you get to know Garo Yepremian at all after you took his weird fumble back for a touchdown in the Super Bowl?
Bass: Garo and I were teammates with the Lions. We both were disenchanted with the Lions and left in 1979. Garo went to Miami and I went to Washington. Coach Vince Lombardi had come out of retirement to coach the Redskins. He actually called and asked me to come to Washington although he had cut me in 1977 from the Packers. Lombardi installed me as a starter in the first week of training camp and I retained that position for 104 consecutive games, including my tenure with George Allen. Garo and I remained friends throughout our pro years and thereafter.
5. Five negative numbers Florida has to fix this season
- Minus-4: UF and its former quarterback threw four more interceptions than the Gators picked off.
- Minus-16: Florida gave up more first downs passing than it gained.
- Minus-276: Rushing-yards differential. And Florida has Jadan Baugh!
- Minus-72: The difference in points scored in the fourth quarter last year. Woof.
- Minus-33: The difference in third-down conversions.
6. This will happen this week
The first of the Media Days starts Tuesday with the Big 12 and you are going to hear a lot of clatter about how the conference deserves multiple teams in the College Football Playoff. Brent Yormack, the commish, will have plenty to talk about and SEC fans will disagree with 90 percent of it.
7. Hot take of the week
I like hot dogs. I really do. I know that the ingredients are a mystery wrapped in an enigma enveloped by a riddle, but I once ate six during a long Florida baseball game in the Tennessee press box. But for the life of me I can’t understand why ESPN treats competitive eating as a real sport. The last thing I want to see is a dude sucking down 66 buns soaked in water and going through the dogs like they were finger sandwiches. What is this, the Ocho?
8. Tweet of the week
From baseball writer Jon Heyman: “The most egregious All-Star snub has to be the starter who is 10-1 for a last place team, with a 2.61 ERA. The great oxymoron Sonny Gray should be in Philly.” As a Red Sox fan, I agree.
9. Remote drop of the week
I can’t help it. I make fun of the movie to the point where I start annoying my wife. But “Independence Day” makes me stop and watch it every time.