Tag Archives: Florida

BY Jon Nyatawa / 5:50 pm, Thursday, Sep. 20 /

Sophomore defensive tackle Chase Rome, who temporarily left the NU program last week, has rejoined the Huskers and is available to play against Idaho State Saturday, coach Bo Pelini said Thursday.

Pelini said Rome has returned with “the right attitude” after a personal issue prompted a week-long absence. Rome started the first two games at defensive tackle for Nebraska this season.

“He’s ready to come back,” Pelini said. “He’s been practicing with us all week.”

An update on the DT rotation: Junior Thad Randle (still battling back from offseason knee surgery) started in Rome’s place last week, lining up next to senior Baker Steinkuhler. Redshirt freshman Kevin Williams’ role has increased lately. The same is expected for true freshman Aaron Curry and redshirt freshman Todd …

Report: OL Moore to transfer to Florida

BY Jon Nyatawa / 1:22 pm, Thursday, Sep. 20 /

An ESPN.com report published Thursday indicates that Tyler Moore’s leave of absence from Nebraska will be permanent. He’s reportedly transferring to Florida.

Moore parted ways with the Husker football team in August, a departure that coach Bo Pelini first described as potentially temporary. Moore was attending classes at St. Petersburg College this semester, but had left open the possibility of a return to Lincoln.

But Moore’s father, Brian, told ESPN.com Thursday that Tyler, a sophomore, has decided to join the Florida program. He was also considering Florida State.

“Tyler visited both Florida and Florida State, and he said the feeling was just different at Florida,” Brian Moore told ESPN. “He really likes Coach (Will) Muschamp and the Florida staff and just felt really comfortable …

Beating South Carolina makes title sweeter for Arizona

BY Jon Nyatawa / 11:36 pm, Monday, Jun. 25 /

Arizona coach Andy Lopez shared a handshake and a hug with South Carolina’s Ray Tanner after his team clinched a national title Monday. Soon after, Lopez was gushing, at every opportunity, about the Gamecocks in media interviews.

Sincere words from Lopez, too. He called Michael Roth a “legend.” And SC’s closer, Matt Price? “My God,” Lopez said, rendered speechless.

Not that the Wildcats needed any validation for what they accomplished this year — they just won a CWS title! — but taking down the two-time defending champs along the way adds some significance to the moment for Lopez and his players.

They knocked off South Carolina in the same (seemingly magical) fashion that the Gamecocks won the past two championships — timely hitting, efficient defense …

The giant slayers of Kent State?

BY Jon Nyatawa / 5:12 pm, Wednesday, Jun. 20 /

Sure seems like a fairy-tale. A mid-major program from Ohio that doesn’t even utilize all of its NCAA-allotted 11.7 scholarships beating two SEC powerhouses in back-to-back games?

Why do you think the Kent State players smiled and chucked in a postgame huddle Saturday when their coach told them that to stay alive in the CWS, they’d face either the nation’s No. 1 team or the two-time defending champs? Matchups so one-sided that even the underdog has a complete understanding of its role.

Don’t get it twisted, though, the Golden Flashes fully believe they’re talented enough to be in Omaha. They just know that they’re not on-paper equals with Florida or South Carolina.

Sometimes, though, the squad with the most professional prospects doesn’t always win.

“We’ve …

Florida battling back after ugly start

BY Jon Nyatawa / 6:39 pm, Monday, Jun. 18 /

Kent State took an early lead over Florida Monday, but you knew (even as poorly as the Gators looked at the start) that the No. 1 overall seed would respond with some kind of surge.

After trailing 5-1, Florida has pulled with 5-4 as we head to the eighth inning of what should be a dramatic conclusion to the second elimination game of the College World Series. Heartbreak coming for someone, certainly.

The Gators should feel lucky to still have a shot in this one.

Kent State’s 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position over the last three innings, stranding five during that stretch.

The Golden Flashes were opportunistic early, though, what helped them build the lead. Florida, meanwhile, looked rather uninspired.

>> An error by …

Heat knocks out Florida’s starter

BY Jon Nyatawa / 4:51 pm, Monday, Jun. 18 /

With a damp towel around his neck, Florida ace Hudson Randall headed toward the locker room, instead of back out on the playing field, as the second inning of the Gators’ elimination game began.

It was 95 degrees at first pitch (felt hotter, even with a light breeze), and the game will go down in the NCAA books as the warmest since July 11, 2001.

The Gator players did take batting practice in shorts before the game, but one would think Florida would be used to weather like this, right?

Well, apparently not Randall. The junior right-hander labored through the first inning (he threw 16 strenuous pitches). Coach Kevin O’Sullivan made a lengthy mound visit toward the end of the frame, at one point calling …

Even in the loser’s bracket, Florida remains confident

BY Jon Nyatawa / 3:50 pm, Monday, Jun. 18 /

As improbable as a successful run through the loser’s bracket would seem to be, Florida might be the only team in this College World Series built for such a feat.

First thing’s first, the No. 1 overall seed Gators face off against Kent State Monday. The elimination game starts at 4 p.m.

If Florida survives, it would have to beat the loser of Monday’s Arkansas-South Carolina match-up before sweeping two in a row from the winner of that game. Won’t be easy. The Gators are confident, though.

“We have a lot of pitching left,” freshman Josh Tobias said after Saturday’s loss to South Carolina. “A quality of a championship team is when you bounce back from failure. We’re a championship team.”

The Gators will get …

Three reasons to root for Kent State

BY Jon Nyatawa / 2:31 pm, Monday, Jun. 18 /

Not that any local College World Series fans, with a soft spot for the underdog, need any more reasons beyond the Cinderella nature of Kent State’s postseason run to support the Golden Flashes.

But there are three significant human-interest stories — of perseverance, and of tragedy, and of dedication — involving players on this Kent State team that might just inspire you to, at the very least, strengthen your allegiance to the Golden Flashes bandwagon.

The Flashes will take on Florida in an elimination game at 4 p.m. Monday. But here’s a reminder that life for an athlete is about more than just the Ws and the Ls…

1. Backup catcher Jason Bagoly is in Omaha despite the fact that his mother, Cheryl McHenry, died …

Shortstop’s family name caught Arizona coach’s eye

BY Jon Nyatawa / 7:59 pm, Sunday, Jun. 17 /

Maybe the only reason why Arizona coach Andy Lopez went up to chat with Alex Mejia at a Wildcat prospect summer camp is because he wondered if the young high schooler was related to a former foe.

In high school and college, Lopez (UCLA) played plenty of games against Carlo Mejia, who was an All-American at Pepperdine in 1975. So when Lopez saw “Mejia” on the back of a kid’s jersey at that camp, he overlooked the 8.3-second 60-yard dash time and started a conversation.

“(I said) are you related? — and before I could finish, he said, ‘Yeah, my dad said to say hello,’” Lopez said.

Evaluation process over. Recruitment over. Alex Mejia was going to be a Wildcat.

“I said, if you’re like …

South Carolina at it again

BY Jon Nyatawa / 9:22 pm, Saturday, Jun. 16 /

Through four innings, you may have been wondering if the Gamecocks had lost their mojo. A legitimate concern, really.

South Carolina was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven. Starting pitcher Michael Roth had given up a few hard hits. Left fielder Tanner English misplayed a line drive with two outs in third inning, allowing the baseball to fly over his head while two runs crossed the plate.

Very un-South-Carolina-like.

Then the fifth inning happened. The first five Gamecocks to bat reached base. Sophomore designated hitter Erik Payne had the biggest hit — a three-run triple that made it 3-2. South Carolina added two more runs in the frame and still leads 5-3 heading into the seventh.

Welcome back to Omaha, SC.

Winners of …