Tag: Scott Stricklin

Florida Gators athletic director alludes to more changes on football staff

The Florida Gators are rebuilding and making changes to its coaching staff, but athletic director Scott Stricklin has been aware all along

The Florida football program has made many changes to its football staff as of late, with head coach Billy Napier at the forefront of making the hard decision to move on from certain coaches.

Now it’s being reported by Gators Online that UF athletic director Scott Stricklin and Napier have always been on the same page when it comes to making these moves, such as parting ways with secondary coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Sean Spencer.

Stricklin gave an exclusive interview with Gators Online, detailing his relationship with Napier and when they considered what moves to make in the offseason.

“Our regular communication during the season is pretty frequent, right? We see each other. I stop by and talk to him at least once a week in addition to other run-ins,” Stricklin said. “We sat down midweek during the open date and started having some of those more in-depth conversations and those are some things that were on his mind back then even. And so, this wasn’t something like, end of the season, ‘OK, now it’s time to evaluate.’ It’s a constant evaluation.”

Stricklin added that he understands how Napier operates and that he’s always quick to realize what’s holding back his team from winning.

“Billy is almost maniacal in the way he evaluates things. And so, when fans get frustrated with an area and they want to comment and express their opinion, they don’t ever need to be concerned, ‘Does Billy realize this is a problem?’ Because he’s probably realized it’s a problem before it showed up out there on the field.”

It appears that evaluations are still taking place for the Florida Gators and there may be more moves ahead. Napier already brought on Ron Roberts as co-defensive coordinator and the linebackers head coach. Roberts also earned the moniker of executive head coach for defense.

The rebuild continues for Florida football all offseason, so stay tuned for more updates, especially as national signing day approaches.

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Florida Gators athletic director says he’s not going anywhere

Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin spoke Gators Online and said there’s no interest to move anywhere.

Florida Gators athletics director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] was the subject of many rumors this week following the job opening at Texas A&M.

Despite being connected to the vacancy, Stricklin confirmed with Gators Online that he’s here for the long haul with the Gators.

“The University of Florida is the best job in the country for college athletics,” Stricklin said. “It’s the best location. It’s the best school. We’ve got an awesome fanbase. I love being a Gator and I have no interest in working somewhere else at this time.”

Stricklin’s stint at Florida has certainly been a success, with 11 total national championships across seven different sports, including 37 SEC championships. The athletic director joined the University of Florida staff in 2016 after his six-year stint with Mississippi State.

Throughout his eight years at UF, Stricklin has overseen many projects, hoping to improve the campus and athletics department one renovation at a time. His latest success was the new James W. Bill Heavener Football Training Center, which opened its doors in August 2022.

Although most of the training center is utilized for football purposes, the rest of the building is accessible for all student-athletes at Florida. It was a project to help the recruiting process, something that Stricklin takes seriously.

“The recruiting piece, to me, the most important thing,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin noted.

“There’s a reason why a bank lobby is really nice and why churches build really nice facilities. It’s because that’s a representation of the quality of what’s going on at those institutions. The facility says a lot about what is important to this enterprise.”

It sounds like Stricklin enjoys his current position at UF, and is putting a lot of thought into his next move as the current athletic director. He’s currently working on renovating Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Florida Gators athletic director reveals details for stadium renovations

Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin appeared on WRUF/ESPN Gainesville to detail the renovations of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

The Swamp… where only Gators get out alive.

An iconic structure in the college football universe, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is being set to undergo a large renovation following the 2024 football season, and there’s a lot of negative opinions stemming from the Florida faithful because its reported the project may reduce the total capacity of the stadium.

The Florida Gators always carry a significant advantage while playing at home with a 88,548 capacity, so rumors of reducing the number immediately sparked an uproar among Florida die-hards.

UF athletic director Scott Stricklin made an appearance on Sportscene, a WRUF/ESPN Gainesville radio program to clear the air and shed more light on what Striklin and the UAA are planning.

“At one point I think we might have mentioned that we might have to reduce capacity. That is not the goal,” Stricklin said. “The goal is to be in a situation where we can have the same number of Gator fans that have been coming the last 30 years to continue to come. In a perfect world, we don’t impact capacity negatively and we’re able to be at the same number.”

Stricklin also stated that he sees the project as more of a “restoration” and that is why he hired Crawford Architects, a company that oversaw the update of the historic baseball stadium Fenway Park in Boston. The athletic director wants to keep the iconic structure intact, but improve the overall quality.

“The wing walls, the proximity of the fans to the field,” Stricklin said. “Not putting a bunch of chairbacks everywhere just because that does take away from what makes it unique. We’re going to be very careful whatever we do. We don’t know exactly what that is.”

“We’ll start in the next eight to twelve months and come up with an idea that we can take to Gator Nation and say, this is the vision,” Stricklin continued. “That’s going to be significant because obviously, it’s the most important facility we have.”

Only time will tell what happens to the beloved stadium, but Florida fans are rightfully anxious to see what results will show from the project. The important part is Stricklin is listening to the fans and understands the concern for arguably the most important building on campus.

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Florida AD Scott Stricklin talks stadium renovations

We know that renovations are coming for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, but could Florida build a new stadium entirely?

Florida fans haven’t taken kindly to athletic director Scott Stricklin’s proposed plan to renovate Ben Hill Griffin Stadium because of a potential capacity reduction, but his latest comments on the topic float an idea that might be even more unpopular: moving the stadium site entirely.

When talking to WRUF on Monday, Stricklin mentioned that the university has discussed potential new locations for a brand-new stadium. The current plan is to upgrade the stadium to give it a more modern feel and open up more areas for fans, but Florida is exploring all of its options before hiring an architect for the project.

The good news for Florida fans is that Stricklin understands the emotional attachment the fan base has to the stadium. He admitted that Ben Hill Griffin has “something sacred” about it and that the relocation idea was unlikely.

“The multi-phase renovation to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is intended to accomplish numerous improvements to this historic venue,” he said. “The goal is to preserve the energy and history while upgrading systems and spaces to better serve the University of Florida community and offer a broader variety of game experiences.”

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium turns 100 in just seven years. The upcoming renovations will be the most significant in its history. An architect should be hired by next month, which is when rumored plans will (or won’t) turn into physical blueprints.

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Florida Gators AD Scott Stricklin considering Jags games in Gainesville

Could the Jags call Ben Hill Griffin Stadium “home” for the next two years?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are facing a two-year diaspora from their home turf at TIAA Bank Field as the structure is scheduled to undergo a major facelift — not unlike the one that the venue experienced back in the mid-1990s.

While the effects of the instruction work ripple beyond the boundaries of Duval County all the way to Gainesville, Florida, and Athens, Georgia, given that the improvements will force UF and UGA to play their traditionally neutral site rivalry game somewhere else, those waves could also provide a financial windfall for the Sunshine State’s flagship school.

According to multiple recent reports, the Jax franchise has reached out to Florida’s athletic director Scott Stricklin about the possibility of hosting Jags games in the Swamp. Of course, there are plenty of other options on the table as well, but at very least, the offer appears to be intriguing.

“The Jaguars have shared their exciting vision for their stadium renovations with us and also expressed interest in having future conversations about where they would play games during the renovation,” Stricklin said. “It would be worth exploring hosting games in The Swamp. There are a lot of Jags fans in Gainesville given the close proximity to Jacksonville.”

Other stadiums under consideration are Camping World Stadium and FBC Mortgage Stadium (a.k.a the “Bounce House”) in Orlando, as well as Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee and – in what appears to be a bit of a long-shot — Wembley Stadium in London, England.

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Florida planning significant upgrade to football stadium

The Gators have plans to upgrade Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ahead of the 2024 season and it’s going to cost a pretty penny.

The Florida Gators are planning to significantly upgrade Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, according to athletic director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] who appeared on ESPN 98.1 WRUF’s “Sportscene” Monday.

While blueprints haven’t been finalized, Stricklin says the athletic department has a general idea for the kind of renovations it wants and the upgrade is going to be significant. Of course, bringing the Swamp further into the 21st century costs a pretty penny.

“That is going to be by far the most ambitious facility project not only the University of Florida has ever done from an athletic standpoint, but it might be the biggest in SEC history, maybe even as big as any nationally,” Stricklin said. “It’s going to be, my guess is to fully renovate the Swamp, you’re looking at a few hundred million dollars.”

Florida’s last major upgrade to the stadium came in 2003 when the press box was expanded and club-level seats and luxury boxes were added. That project cost $55 million, so Florida is planning on a much larger facelift this time around.

“Really what you want to do is you want to make sure Ben Hill Griffin Stadium extends its useful life for several generations. Not a 10- or 15-year fix but a 75-year fix.”

New video boards and aesthetics are just the beginning of what is planned. Structural renovations will ensure the venue is among the top in college football for years to come, and some more space could be opened for gameday use.

It’s an ambitious project, but Stricklin has already done well building a new home for Florida baseball (Condron Ballpark) and the new Heavener Training Center.

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Updated move-in date set for Florida’s $85M football facility

UF has announced a new date for the opening of their $85 million football facility, the James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center.

Ribbon cutting day is almost upon the Florida Gators. Previously expected to be ready by the end of July, The James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center is scheduled to open on August 14.

The $85 million facility broke ground in June of 2020 on the site of the old Alfred A. McKethan Stadium, the former home of the Florida Gators baseball team before they moved into the new Florida Ballpark for the 2021 season.

Located next to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the new training center will be considered to be one of the best in the country, including brand new weight rooms, locker rooms, a rehabilitation facility with hydrotherapy, a cabana-style pool, a recording studio, barbershop, and much more.

While the football team and its staff will be housed in the new facility, it will also be open to all University of Florida student-athletes, with a new dining hall and lounge with the aim of connecting student-athletes across all sports.

While the project was funded, approved, and began construction during [autotag]Dan Mullen[/autotag]’s time in Gainesville, the facility reflects a clear intention from Florida athletic director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] that the Gators will provide [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] with whatever he needs to be successful at the highest levels of college football.

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Here are the players expected to attend Florida’s recruiting weekend

Florida’s big recruiting weekend is here. Here is a list of players that the Gators are expecting to greet on campus this weekend.

The most important weekend in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s Florida tenure to date is here. Florida’s annual Friday Night Lights event and Saturday’s recruiting cookout are the backdrops for what could be a massive momentum boost for the Florida Gators.

Friday is the Gators’ annual Friday Night Lights recruiting event where players get one-on-one work with Florida coaches and staff inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Saturday’s cookout is a new tactic Napier’s staff hopes will show the more personal side of Napier’s revamped Florida Gators program.

Prospects from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes will attend this weekend. All prospects will be able to see the Gators’ new James W. Heavener Football Training Center. While its doors have not officially opened (athletic director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] stated it would be ready by the end of July) the recruits will get a first look at the $85 million facility.

Here is a list of prospect expected to attend this weekend, sourced by GatorCountry:

2023 – DT James Smith

2023 – DL Qua Russaw

2023 – DL/ATH Sam M’Pembha

2023 – DL Kamran James

2023 – DL Kelby Collins

2023 – DB Cormani McClain

2023 – S Bryce Thornton

2023 – DB Jordan Castell

2023 – DB Ja’Keem Jackson

2023 – LB Karmelo Overton

2023 – LB Desirrio Riles

2023 – LB Kaveion Keys

2023 – WR Andy Jean

2023 – Michael Mitchell (Utah Commit)

2023 – ATH Daquayvious Sorey

2023 – OL Tyree Adams

2023 – OL Caden Jones

2023 – Treyaun Webb (Florida Commit)

2023 – DB Sharif Denson (Florida Commit)

2023 – WR Eugene Wilson (Florida Commit)

2023 – WR Creed Whittemore (Florida Commit)

2023 – WR Tyree Patterson (Florida Commit)

2023 – OL Knijeah Harris (Florida Commit)

2023 – OL Bryce Lovett (Florida Commit)

2023 – DL Gavin Hill (Florida Commit)

2023 – TJ Searcy (Florida Commit)

2023 – DB Aaron Gates (Florida Commit)

2024 – QB DJ Lagway

2024 – RB Chauncey Bowens

2024 – RB Jerrick Gibson

2024 – WR Ric’Darious Farmer

2024 – WR James Randle

2024 – DL Kendall Jackson

2024 – DL David Stone

2024 – LB Myles Graham

2024 – DB Desmond Ricks

2024 – ATH Fred Gaskin

2024 – DB Kensley Faustin

2024 – DB Jaylen Heyward

2024 – DB Brayshon Williams

2025 – QB Antwaan Hill

2025 – QB Colin Hurley

2025 – QB Tramell Jones Jr.

2025 – ATH Vernell Brown III

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Top-10 2023 defensive lineman to visit pair of SEC teams this week

The Gators will host this top defensive lineman on the second leg of his late July recruiting tour.

Kelby Collins is in for a busy week. A top-10 defensive lineman in the 2023 class, the 6-foot-5-inch, 280-pounder is taking advantage of his summer vacation to make it on campus at two schools on his recruitment list. He told 247Sports that he would be on campus at Alabama during the week before making it to Gainesville this weekend for the Gators’ big recruiting weekend.

Friday is UF’s annual Friday Night Lights recruiting event where players get one-on-one work with Florida’s coaches and staff inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium while Saturday is Florida’s highly anticipated cookout for recruits. The four-star prospect is the latest to announce his attendance for the massive recruiting weekend, joining an unofficial list of 2023, 2024 and 2025 prospects that the Gators will look to make an impression on.

On top of the Friday Night Lights event and the cookout, recruits will get an in-person look at Florida’s brand new James W. Heavener Football Training Center. Athletic Director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] said back in May that he expected the facility to be completed by late July, coinciding with this weekend’s recruiting events. Collins told 247Sports that he was looking forward to seeing the new facility this weekend, something that was not ready when he took his official visit to Florida on the first weekend in June.

Collins is considered to be the 8th-best player in the state of Alabama, according to the 247Sports composite. In addition to Florida, Collins has taken official visits to South Carolina and Georgia. He holds offers from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma, among others. The Under Amour All-American says he plans to announce his commitment before his senior season.

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Where Florida football ranks ahead of 2022 season per Phil Steele

The Gators land inside the top 40 in Phil Steele’s latest preseason rankings but not nearly as high as the fans would hope.

Phil Steele has revealed his 2022 preseason top-40 poll with the Gators coming in at No. 32.

Steele is a professional and collegiate football journalist whose college football preview magazine has become a staple of the off-season cycle. In a post to Steele’s digital magazine, Steele slots the Gators in at No. 32, behind programs such as Boise State (No. 31), BYU (No. 26), and UAB (No. 21).

While the ranking could be a bit jarring for Gators fans, the ranking actually makes some sense. The Gators are coming off a 6-7 season that included a Gasparilla Bowl loss to in-state opponent UCF. They also went 2-6 in SEC play and lost their only conference wins coming against Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Florida’s program is also undergoing an overhaul from top to bottom, and it starts with new head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]. Coming off a successful run at Louisiana, athletic director [autotag]Scott Stricklin[/autotag] has provided Napier the off-field resources he needed when he arrived in Gainesville, hiring a massive staff and injecting the program with a much-needed culture change.

While the teams ahead of Florida in the rankings may not traditionally be in a better position than the Gators, you can understand where Steele was coming from when ranking the Florida Gators. This time next year? It could be a different story.

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