Latest news with #GatorChomp
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
No UF job, no dignity, no self-respect: Was it really worth it, Santa Ono?
My father died in 1999 – yet 26 years later I still find myself constantly drawing from his bottomless well of sage wisdom, straight-shooting common sense and exquisitely timed advice. OK, OK, OK. There was that one time when my dad, weary of the 11-year-old me hounding him to let me try chewing tobacco so I could imitate Sparky Lyle – one of my favorite baseball players – intentionally withheld some advice that definitely would have been handy: When you chew tobacco, you spit out the juice. You don't swallow the juice!!!!!!! That realization hit me not long after I took the chaw of tobacco out of my mouth. Unfortunately, however, it also hit me after I had projectile vomited across the kitchen table while eating the apple pie my mother gave me and my brothers for our evening snack. (No, I've never touched chewing tobacco again. And, yes, I do suspect that's exactly what my father had in mind when he 'forgot' the 'spit out the juice, son' part.} But . . . anyway . . . I can say I also remember a piece of advice that my dad was willing to share with me – and thankfully so: 'Rog,' he said, 'if you ever fail and fall, do it holding on to your principles and dignity. It won't hurt as much when you hit the ground – and it'll be much easier when you get back up.' Which leads me to these questions: Won't it be painful for Santa Ono to get up off the ground after appearing to toss aside both his principles and dignity in an unsuccessful bid to become the University of Florida's president? Won't it be difficult for Ono to rise to his feet after bending one knee at the altar of 'We hate diversity, equity and inclusion' sycophancy – only to have a Louisville Slugger smashed across both of them by the anti-DEI sycophants he was pathetically pandering to please? Was any of this degrading self-debasement worth it? Was any of this open groveling worth the effort to win the 'privilege' of doing that dumb Gator Chomp on Saturday nights during UF Gators football games? Any of it? By now, everyone knows the story of Ono. You know, he's the former University of Michigan president who: Used to be an avid supporter of DEI as UM's leader. Cynically changed his views on diversity, equity and inclusion at UM to appease the divisive and obsessive anti-DEI movement, led by its high priest of toxic propaganda, New College of Florida Board Trustee Christopher Rufo. Abruptly resigned from UM to pursue the presidency at UF, whose trustees rubber-stamped him as the sole candidate for the job. Panicked when the 'woke-woke-woke-woke-woke' myna birds – led by Rufo (naturally) and Florida Congressman Byron Donalds (a 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate) began swarming and pecking him over his past support for DEI. Opinion: Don't let politics rule UF president decision. Just look at New College. Wrote a widely distributed – and utterly servile – guest column in which he insisted that there couldn't possibly be a single person on Earth who despised DEI as deeply and as passionately as he did. Saw the University of Florida presidency snatched from his grasping hands when the Florida Board of Governors rejected UF's recommendation to give him the job. Now what's the one common thread regarding Ono in pretty much all of the above items? Sarasota Voices: A Conversation with the Opinion Page Editor It's the thread of one man appearing far too willing to treat both principles and dignity as expendable attributes, and he didn't even sacrifice them for a cause – sheer professional opportunism – that's particularly noble. And when you think about it, could there possibly be anything more nauseating than that? Um, actually, let me take that back – there is one thing that comes to mind. Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at Follow him on X (Twitter) @RBrown_HTOpin. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: No UF president job for Ono, who bowed to anti-DEI fanatics | Opinion
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium among top 10 greatest venues in college football
Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium among top 10 greatest venues in college football College football is a cornerstone tradition in the United States that has lasted for well over a century, and there are few places better to experience the exhilaration of sports than at a university's home stadium. In fact, the largest sports venues in the nation belong to collegiate programs scattered across the map. Eight schools have home fields that can hold over 100,000 screaming fans, while the largest venue outside of the amateur gridiron belongs to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which serves as the home of both the New York Jets and New York Giants and ranks 15th overall with a maximum capacity of 82,500. So we all know that college football stadiums reign supreme. Which one offers the absolute best game day experience? Carter Bahns of 247Sports tackled this topic by ranking college football's 10 greatest stadium atmospheres, including the University of Florida's storied Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — affectionately known as the Swamp since Steve Spurrier's tenure as head coach. He ranks Gainesville's premier landmark at No. 9 in the nation, following the Auburn Tigers' Jordan-Hare Stadium and ahead of the Nebraska Cornhuskers' Memorial Stadium. "The home-field advantage and an improving roster combined to help Florida close last season with a surprisingly potent surge that included a pair of ranked November victories at The Swamp. The Gators' fan support is about as reliable as it comes, and the heat and humidity inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium play an equal role in dragging down opponents," Bahns notes. "From the Gator Chomp to the 'I Won't Back Down' sing-along, Florida fans have some of the best traditions out there. And when visitors line up for crucial plays, there are few stadiums louder than this one." Take a look below at the full standings, including each stadium's overall capacity and ranking among all sports venues in the U.S. 247Sports Top 10 College Football Stadium Rankings TIGER STADIUM, LSU (5th, 102,321) BEAVER STADIUM, PENN STATE (2nd, 106,572) NEYLAND STADIUM, TENNESSEE (6th, 101,915) KYLE FIELD, TEXAS A&M (4th, 102,733) AUTZEN STADIUM, OREGON (81st, 54,000) MEMORIAL STADIUM, CLEMSON (16th, 81,500) HUSKY STADIUM, WASHINGTON (37th, 70,083) JORDAN-HARE STADIUM, AUBURN (13th, 88,043) BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM, FLORIDA (12th, 88,548) MEMORIAL STADIUM, NEBRASKA (14th, 85,458) Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
8 fun shirts that celebrate the Florida Gators' 2025 basketball National Championship
8 fun shirts that celebrate the Florida Gators' 2025 basketball National Championship In a final four of all No. 1 seeds, the Florida Gators are the best of the best. Florida took home this year's NCAA men's basketball championship following a 65-63 win over the University of Houston Cougars. Many were on Florida's side heading into the tournament, considering them the hottest team in college basketball. The Gators continued the hot streak, winning their first NCAA title since back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007. Florida's offense overcame a strong Houston defense despite being down double digits in the second half. March Madness, as always, lived up to the hype. Now is the time to show your Gator pride. Add to your University of Florida collection now with the roundup of the best of shirts right here: MORE GATORS: Shop Florida national championship gear: Gators hat, shirt, hoodie and more Florida Basketball: National Champions Gator Chomp Shirt Price: $36 Shop National Champions Gator Chomp Shirt Florida Basketball: 2025 NCAA Champions Grid Shirt Price: $36 Shop 2025 NCAA Champions Grid Shirt Florida Basketball: It's Great to be a Florida Gator National Champions Shirt Price: $36 Shop It's great to be a Florida Gator Shirt Florida Gators 2025 National Champions Schedule Shirt Price: $34.99 Shop Florida National Champions Schedule Shirt Florida Basketball: 2025 NCAA Champions Banners Shirt Price: $36 Shop 2025 NCAA Champions Banners Shirt Florida Basketball: 2025 NCAA Champions Classic Shirt Price: $36 Shop 2025 NCAA Champions Classic Shirt Florida 2025 National Champions Shirt Price: $39.99 Shop Florida Championship Shirt Florida Basketball: Walter Clayton Jr. WALT3R Shirt Price: $34 Shop Walter Clayton Jr. WALT3R Shirt BONUS: Florida National Champions Hoodie Price: $84.99 Shop Florida Championship Hoodie BONUS Florida Gators Jordan Brand 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions Locker Room Hat Price: $42.99 Shop Florida Gators Championship Hat
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former NFL star Tim Tebow joins Trump in Oval Office
Former NFL star Tim Tebow and his wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow, joined President Trump for a visit in the Oval Office on Monday. In a post on X, Margo Martin, a special assistant and communications advisor for Trump, shared a photo with the Tebows with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cheer on the University of Florida men's basketball team in the March Madness Final Four. 'A couple of Gators in the Oval Office,' Martin's post said. The Tebows and Rubio posed with the 'Gator Chomp' behind Trump's Resolute Desk. Nearly a year ago, Tebow, a former quarterback and Heisman trophy winner, testified before Congress to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. He joined with Republican lawmakers to announce the Renewed Hope Act of 2024. He's also worked with Homeland Security Investigations to identify and rescue child sexual abuse victims, Fox News reported. Tebow's visit comes just a day after musician Kid Rock visited the White House. Kid Rock, one of Trump's more prominent celebrity supporters, arranged a dinner between the president and talk show host Bill Maher. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Former NFL star Tim Tebow joins Trump in Oval Office
Former NFL star Tim Tebow and his wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow, joined President Trump for a visit in the Oval Office on Monday. In a post on X, Margo Martin, a special assistant and communications advisor for Trump, shared a photo with the Tebows with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cheer on the University of Florida men's basketball team in the March Madness Final Four. 'A couple of Gators in the Oval Office,' Martin's post said. The Tebows and Rubio posed with the 'Gator Chomp' behind Trump's Resolute Desk. Nearly a year ago, Tebow, a former quarterback and Heisman trophy winner, testified before Congress to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. He joined with Republican lawmakers to announce the Renewed Hope Act of 2024. He's also worked with Homeland Security Investigations to identify and rescue child sexual abuse victims, Fox News reported. Tebow's visit comes just a day after musician Kid Rock visited the White House. Kid Rock, one of Trump's more prominent celebrity supporters, arranged a dinner between the president and talk show host Bill Maher.
