florida baseball

Florida’s upset at Kentucky in men’s basketball gave Todd Golden a much-needed signature win and supercharged the Gators’ NCAA Tournament resumé. Wins at Rupp Arena don’t come easily. Prior to Wednesday, UF had won just 10 times in 50 visits to Lexington since 1974. Napier’s last trip to Kentucky ended with a 33-14 beat down, one of 14 losses in his two seasons. Poor special teams play is one of the reasons. Napier aimed to address the issue by hiring Joe Houston from the NFL, but still retained the man in charge the past two seasons. In the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss the state of Golden and Napier’s programs while also paying tribute to Tampa columnist Martin Fennelly, a premiere talent and longtime Gators’ commentator gone too soon.

• Men’s basketball: Win at Kentucky (:00)
• Upcoming games (11:11)
• Football: Special teams hire (17:20)
• Tennessee’s NIL mess (24:55)
• Staff changes on horizon (27:29)
• National Signing Day (32:43)
• Money, money, money (35:12)
• Billy Napier: Hot topics (38:21)
• Portal individual rankings (40:08)
• Death of a colleague: Martin Fennelly (46:00)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Baseball (53:11)

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge preview Florida before the 2024 college baseball season. The duo discusses the addition of Alabama transfer Colby Shelton, the questions surrounding the Gators' outfield and much more.

Highway To Hoover is presented by pitchLogic. Take control of your training by monitoring every pitch with their smart baseball. The pitchLogic ball gives personalized feedback and recommendations so you can set goals with confidence and make your pitches even nastier! Learn more: https://pitchlogic.com/

Subscribe to the Highway To Hoover Podcast: Apple | Spotify
Learn more about SEC Extra: https://d1ba.se/SEC-Extra-Info
Follow SEC Extra on Twitter: https://twitter.com/D1SECExtra

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge start by discussing the recent announcement of the SEC permanent opponents for the 2025 season and beyond. Afterward, they do another fall whiparound and discuss what Joe saw at Florida last week, what Mark saw in LSU's exhibition game on Sunday and they pass along some notes from Aaron Fitt on what he saw at South Carolina's Fall World Series.

Highway To Hoover is presented by pitchLogic. Take control of your training by monitoring every pitch with their smart baseball. The pitchLogic ball gives personalized feedback and recommendations so you can set goals with confidence and make your pitches even nastier! Learn more: https://pitchlogic.com/

Subscribe to the Highway To Hoover Podcast: Apple | Spotify
Learn more about SEC Extra: https://d1ba.se/SEC-Extra-Info
Follow SEC Extra on Twitter: https://twitter.com/D1SECExtra

UF announced its search began for an architectural firm to oversee a complete renovation of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. AD Scott Stricklin expects the project to impact every aspect of the iconic venue opened in 1930 as Florida Field and now better known as the Swamp. Mark’s No. 1 item on the to-do list might surprise listeners. During the latest Swamp Things, he and Edgar dig into all the details of the largest facility project in the UAA’s history and climax of athletic facility upgrades campus wide.

• Stadium makeover announcement (1:07)
• Wish list: Urinals (23:01)
• $400M seems unrealistic (7:10)
• Capacity questions (10:42)
• Building in stages over time (14:16)
• Timetable (23:15)
• Atmosphere at The Swamp (25:30)
• Most ambitious NIL collectives (27:33)
• ESPN layoffs (35:58)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Baseball, gymnastics, swimming (38:54)

Florida was positioned to end the 2022-23 athletic season with the Gators’ third national title in June. Instead, coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s baseball team collapsed during the deciding game in the College World Series against LSU. While one game does not make a season, the loss ended a calendar year that left a lot to be desired in Gainesville. Edgar and Mark offer bricks and bouquets during the latest Swamp Things.

• Baseball roller coaster (1:23)
• Revenge motivation (6:27)
• Where do you go from here? (9:37)
• Grading 2022-23 athletic season (18:15)
• Football standout (32:50)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (35:37)

In the span of 72 hours, the Gators responded to QB commit Austin Simmons’ flip to Ole Miss with a tidal wave of recruiting success. When the dust settled, Billy Napier’s 2024 class had risen more than a dozen spots to sit No. 3 and the Gators’ second-year coach had his biggest wave of momentum to date. The key now is to keep the good times rolling and the new commits in the fold for the next six months. Meanwhile, coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s squad shows no signs of slowing down in Omaha. Mark and Edgar try to keep pace during the latest Swamp Things.

• Billy Napier rebounds on recruiting (:58)
• What do you do with momentum? (3:40)
• At look at the players (5:28)
• Baseball (13:58)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Track & field (20:04)
• Golf (24:22)

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge preview Florida, LSU and Tennessee in the College World Series. They discuss the Gators being in the more manageable of the two brackets, how the game between LSU and Tennessee on Saturday night could be the most electric atmosphere in Charles Schwab Field history and they give predictions for the series. They also touch on Alabama hiring Rob Vaughn as its new head coach.

The SEC decided to punt on a scheduling decision and keep an 8-game conference slate for at least one more year. The decision allows the Gators to keep a much-anticipated non-conference schedule in 2024. Beyond that remains a mystery as Florida football looks to rejoin the nation’s elite. Coach Billy Napier said he faces ‘a great challenge’ as he rebuilds the Gators,’ but believes he’s up to it. Meanwhile, JC Deacon’s squad proved its mettle to capture the school’s national title in men’s golf since 2001. Mark and Edgar do their best to prove theirs during the last Swamp Things.

• SEC: 8-game schedule (2:37)
• What’s best for the fans/tv? (6:15)
• Coffee with Billy Napier (15:32)
• Putting the pieces together (25:30)
• NIL issues (27:21)
• Redoing The Swamp (31:00)
• UF wins national men’s golf title (33:19)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (39:21)

Florida’s walk-off, extra-inning win against Alabama was college baseball at its best and began the Gators’ quest for their first SEC Tournament title since 2015. Earlier in the day, Florida and Georgia agreed to extend their contract to play in Jacksonville through 2025 as the rivals debate the long-term future of their annual game. Next week in Destin, SEC coaches, ADs and administrators will get together during the annual spring meetings to discuss scheduling, gambling, NIL, among other topics on a jam-packed agenda. Mark and Edgar unpack it all during the latest Swamp Things.

• Florida catcher BT Riopelle steals the show (3:44)
• Future of Florida/Georgia game (13:39)
• SEC spring meetings: Scheduling (19:10)
• SEC: NIL/field-storming/gambling (30:26)
• SEC: Guys with checkered pasts (38:35)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (44:38)

On this episode of Highway to Hoover, Joe Healy is joined by Jacob Rudner of 247 Sports to talk Florida baseball. They discuss how early it was apparent that this team was extraordinarily talented, the duality of the starting rotation being supremely talented and somewhat inconsistent and the offense checking all the boxes needed to check to be a powerhouse. Additionally, they talk about the urgency among the players on the roster to make a deep postseason run after being eliminated in home regionals each of the last two seasons.

D1Baseball is going to Hoover! Join SEC Extra‘s Joe Healy and Mark Etheridge on Monday, May 22, at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company for a live recording of their SEC Tournament Preview for their popular podcast, Highway To Hoover. Learn more: https://d1baseball.com/product/highway-to-hoover-live-show/

The no-show by Florida’s offense during the spring game spurred questions about the direction of Billy Napier’s attack. Is the criticism unfair or is the Gators’ coach taking on too much responsibility? Meanwhile, Todd Golden’s squad is shaping up to be bigger and more physical a season after getting pushed around. No one has gotten the best of Florida gymnastics the past two years, other than Oklahoma. The Sooners once again edged the Gators for the national title despite the valiant efforts of injured star Trinity Thomas, whose remarkable career still ended in memorable fashion. During a fast-paced Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark discuss it all — and more.

Was the annual Orange and Blue game a bad night for Billy Napier’s offense or a sign of things to come for Austin Armstrong’s defense? Perhaps it was a little bit of both. Whatever the case, the lowest-scoring spring game on record raised eyebrows and questions about Florida’s attack and offered hope for an embattled D. Mark and Edgar break it down during the latest Swamp Things, while tossing in a little bit of Gators’ basketball, baseball and gymnastics.

The NCAA Tournament continues to deliver drama, upsets and hope for programs on the outside looking in. After ending their season with an NIT no-show against UCF, the Gators face a roster makeover and push to become one of the next quick turnarounds in college basketball. Meanwhile, Florida women’s team made the most of its WNIT opportunity and is solidly positioned with several key pieces poised to return. While the Big Dance captivates a nation, football is the focus in Gainesville. Spring football begins Week 2 and March 30 Pro Day is on the horizon. Edgar and Mark discuss it all and more during the latest Swamp Things.

Former Florida QB Anthony Richardson was expected to steal the show at the NFL Scouting Combine, but might have even surpassed expectations. Will Richardon’s record-setting performance seduce an NFL team into the ultimate risk-reward move? Almost as predictable is Alabama coach Nick Saban complaining about something. This time it’s the Crimson Tide’s potential three permanent opponents if the pending 16-team SEC expands the schedule to nine games. Edgar takes a trip down memory lane with the legendary coach who is suffering a bit of amnesia. Meanwhile, don’t forget basketball season, even if it’s over for the Gators, barring an SEC Tournament miracle. Despite an disappointing Year 1, Todd Golden did find a future star in Riley Kugel. Will it be at Florida? Mark and Edgar break it all down during the latest Swamp Things.

• NFL Scouting Combine: Anthony Richardson (2:00)
• He will go in the Top 5 (8:30)
• Problematic interview comments (14:30)
• The question is accuracy (18:09)
• Spring practice: More efficient (23:23 )
• Should #15, #11, #22 be retired? (26:08)
• Billy Napier on staff (28:33)
• Nick Saban’s schedule complaint (36:18)
• Men’s basketball (46:32)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (55:40)