- The Florida softball team swept through its regional while the women’s track team secured the SEC outdoor title.
- Chandler Blanchet, a Buchholz alumnus, made the cut at the PGA Championship.
- Florida's baseball team will start play in the SEC Tournament Wednesday.
The Front 9 comes at you after a steamy weekend — and that was just the heat generated by Gator sports.
1. The key to the weekend was the No. 3. The softball team won its regional in three games, baseball swept LSU in three and the women’s track team completed the triple crown by adding the SEC outdoor title to the indoor and the cross country. It felt like softball pitcher Keagan Rothrock found her mojo this weekend and she will need it in the Super Regionals next weekend.
2. A special tip of the visor goes out to Chandler Blanchet, who was the only player with local ties to make the cut at the PGA Championship. Blanchet played at Buchholz and I used to see him at Meadowbrook (when it was alive) and the Gainesville Country Club (ditto).
3. FOMO Game of the Week
What’s better than afternoon baseball? Florida will start play in the SEC Tournament in Hoover (the town that sidewalks forgot) Wednesday at 2 p.m. on the SEC Network. The opponent will be either Vanderbilt or Kentucky. Those two teams play Tuesday.
4. Four questions with the Voice of the Gators, Sean Kelley:
- Being a New Orleans veteran, how happy were you to see Jon Sumrall come to Florida?
Kelley: I don’t believe that having lived in New Orleans before moving to Gainesville had any influence on my feelings about the Sumrall hire. I did receive several opinions about Sumrall from contacts I still have in New Orleans. Their thoughts about Florida hiring Sumrall were all very favorable. - When you were hired, you talked about wanting to be part of a community. Has Gainesville lived up to that?
Kelley: I think so. The fan base has been welcoming in a lot of ways and I’ve made some new friends. I’m proud of the work I’ve been able to do with Ronald McDonald House of North Central Florida. I hope that I have made a positive impact in various one-on-one interactions as those opportunities have come along. My hope is that new projects come along to further my connection with the community. - Since you still do NBA games as well as being the Voice of the Gators, do you ever wake up wondering what city you are in?
Kelley: The combination of my Florida Gators and ESPN Radio responsibilities does make for some chaotic travel at certain times of the year. I’m used to it, but sometimes I have to focus a bit more to keep the teams I’m preparing for or the city I am in straight. Sad to admit that there are some nights where I will wake from sleep and have to think about where exactly the bathroom is in a particular hotel room. - What is your best moment since you started working at Florida?
Kelley:I really enjoy the moments I get with fans where they are excited to welcome me and share their love of the Gators. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to truly appreciate the basketball championship run in 2025 including the full season journey with such a special team. It was a highlight of my career and a challenge that I’ll never forget.
5. Five numbers to know as Florida heads to Hoover for baseball:
- 20 – Number of multi-hit games for Ethan Surowiec this season.
- 10 – Home runs hit by the Gators at LSU to give them 83 for the year.
- 9 – Where sure-to-be-a-host Florida is ranked in the RPI.
- 8 – Number of wins for UF in the last nine games.
- 7 – Number of SEC Tourney titles Florida has won, second to LSU.
6. This will happen this week
Barring a deep run in the SEC Tourney, Vandy’s 19-year streak of making an NCAA Regional – the longest in the SEC – will end this year. The Commodores are 74th in RPI because of a non-con schedule that is 246th.
7. Hot take of the week
You’re probably not going to like this one, but because Morgan Wallen covered “I Won’t Back Down” in the Swamp this weekend I thought I’d look up UF’s record against Power 4 teams since that tradition started. It’s a mediocre 25-12 in eight-plus years. Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer combined to lose 10 games at home in 18 years. It’s still all about elite players and elite coaches. But the end of the third quarter is still elite.
8. Tweet of the Week
From KDKA anchor Bob Pompeani: “Soon, NFL games will be on 6 days a week There are Sunday games, Monday games, Wednesday games, Thursday games and now Friday games and at least 6 Saturday games.”
9. Remote drop of the week
Yes, I changed the name of No. 9. No matter where it is in the plot I stop and drop for “A Few Good Men” directed by the late great Rob Reiner.