Chomping At Bits comes stocked with the best Florida Gators links and news we can find. Got a link we should check out? Email us at AlligatorArmy@gmail.com, subject line CAB.
Chip Kelly is Billy Donovan 2.0: Look, I realize that Donovan was actually introduced as the Orlando Magic's head coach and spent more than a couple of hours as the franchise's head coach, while there was never any official word that Kelly was the next Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach, but the parallels are so tidy — Kelly is beloved and gets credit for building a championship contender, like Donovan; both were fleeing to Florida pro franchises at fairly inopportune times for the teams they were leaving; both will likely end up with huge raises that include massive buyout clauses if they are to bolt for the pros — that I'm pretty comfortable with the comparison. (Brian Floyd and Joel Thorman, SB Nation)
Recapping Florida's recruiting weekend: You're not going to get better info at a free site, but beyond the two Florida commitments from Saturday (Bryan Cox, Jr. and Adam Lane), it seems like Alex McCalister will commit to Florida today, and that the Gators are in good shape with Stefon Diggs and Nelson Agholor. That's a successful weekend. (Zach Abolverdi, Gator Prospectus/Gainesville Sun)
Gators take tough road loss: Florida's women's basketball team is likely going to be a bubble team for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, and losses like the 57-52 one the Gators suffered on the road at No. 6 Kentucky on Sunday won't help their standing. On the bright side: Florida can get 57-52 losses on the road at the nation's No. 6 team. (GatorZone)
Jeremy Postin sets school record in weight throw: I have no idea what the weight throw is, I'll be honest. Is it a hammer throw without a hammer? (GatorZone)
Five Gators could get Super Bowl rings: At least one will. (@onlygators)
Also: Hit the jump because I want your feedback.
As you may have noticed, Chomping At Bits has been sporadic at best in the last few weeks, as I've been working more weekends over at good ol' SBNation.com and getting into the swing of things with my semester. I regret that, because I think a link dump is an integral part of what can make Alligator Army great: We talk about the news of the day here, and I and others try to pass along interesting, important stuff in CAB with our own spin on it.
I enjoy writing it, too, especially when I get the time to do both some of the shorter, snarkier things you see up there and the longer paragraphs of stuff like the Donovan/Kelly comparison; they make for good discussion topics, if nothing else, often allow me to give you a quick take on what's going on, and are quick digests of what's going on in Gator Nation.
So I'm gonna be trying to make sure we get some CAB post every day from here on out, and I want to know this from you all: What time would be best for a link post for you, and what format should it take? Answer that however you want in the comments, or drop me a line via Twitter, or hit Alligator Army's Facebook page (also getting a revamp this week, though we'll discuss that later in the week), or scroll down to the bottom of the page and email me. As with everything else at Alligator Army, I want to make this as good a site as possible, and that means listening to what its readers want it to be.
As always: Talk about any and all of this and/or anything else you have to say in the comments. Need more Alligator Army in your life? Like AA on Facebook, follow AA on Twitter, and download the SB Nation iPhone app or the SB Nation Android app to take all your favorite Gators content — and the rest of SB Nation — with you on the go.
0 recs | 38 comments
8:30 to 9 am is good.
ParadigmShift35 - January 23, 2012
9 AM is the best time
As for actual discussion-ness: (1) Why are recruiting sites still pay-for-content? That seems weird, considering companies make money on free websites. (2) Now Chip Donovelly will spend three years underachieving before re-catching fire and becoming nationally relevant again.
Chekhov's Spread Gun Option - January 23, 2012
Also, he'll no longer be able to recruit big guys for some reason.
Chekhov's Spread Gun Option - January 23, 2012
To me the pay sites are more about perception than reality.
The reality is that they’re no more accurate or timely than the beat writers, bloggers, and Twitter community, and in fact are often wildly inaccurate(“Stoops to UF is a done deal!”, “Bell is your next offensive coordinator!”). By charging a fee, billing themselves as “insiders” and trafficking in rumors and innuendo of back-room dealings, they offer their subscribers the feeling of being closer to the program.
The other side of that coin is that they have to produce content to keep their subscribers happy even under the current administration’s near-total information blackout, so you see sooth-saying, unnamed “sources” quoted frequently in their articles. I refuse to pay to read what amounts to little more than speculation and conjecture. Before the information was so widely available online, maybe these publications/sites did offer something exclusive, but in the current environment, I find their continued existence as paid subscription sites laughable.
As far as CAB is concerned, I like the current link/brief rundown format, and as long as it’s up before noon, I’m good.
car.full.of.midgets - January 23, 2012
I've always got the impression the paid for sites
offer a lot more in terms of creepiness.
Example:
They’d be the ones more likely to hunt down a high school coach, friends, and/or family. They’d be the ones more likely to hypothesize connections from visits, vague personal connections to schools, and a more constant stream of updates from various other people that know the recruit. They also tend to try to be in constant contact with the recruits, attempting to get ideas of where their heads are at.
Charles UF - January 23, 2012
I agree. 9AM is the best and keep the format and everything how it is now. Don’t change it.
Gators1 - January 23, 2012
Agreed.
What you’re doing with CAB has been really good, don’t change a thing!
CKGator - January 23, 2012
Spikes INT yesterday was saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
Gators1 - January 23, 2012
coming down the home stretch for recruiting...
This should be a pretty exciting finish.
Cardsfan25 - January 23, 2012
I think everyone agrees with the Donovan comparison
though I’d say Kelly is a half-Donovan, based on what Andy said above- Donovan actually signed a deal with the Magic, and was introduced in a press conference. Billy D trolled the Magic way harder than Kelly did the Bucs.
CAB’s super, thanks for askingggggg! Really though, it’s fine- the current time/format work just fine, and no worries if it isn’t as regular as a fiber-rich diet
swampchomp7 - January 23, 2012
worked out well for the Magic
SVG is a great coach (tremendously annoying, but still great). I’d actually say that it has worked out better for the Magic than the Gators, but it looks like Donovan has Florida back on track again.
Chekhov's Spread Gun Option - January 23, 2012
We'd better watch out
Under the terms of Donovan’s backing out on the Magic, he had a five-year ban from NBA coaching. This is year five so…(ominous music)
swampchomp7 - January 23, 2012
I think he's done with that
If Florida had struggled last year, I’d be nervous, but I think he’s trying to be an all-time legend at this point.
Chekhov's Spread Gun Option - January 23, 2012
He is kind of already there - at least at UF
Would anyone else be surprised if future Gators teams are NOT playing at Donovan Arena?
skigator93 - January 23, 2012
I meant national scope
I get the feeling that Donovan wants to be the next Coach K.
Chekhov's Spread Gun Option - January 23, 2012
Time wise it makes little to no difference to me
I read it when I get a chance. If that’s 8 AM or high noon on the dot then it still doesn’t really change when I find time to read it, which might be 9AM or might be 9PM.
Format wise I like it how it is.
SC-Gator - January 23, 2012
See, this is why I hate iPhones and anything Apple. They mess up my Theater of Operations post (which will be up later today) and somehow my comments in this section are somehow gone.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012 via iPhone app
me too. Glad to hear I am not the only anti-Apple person on Earth.
skigator93 - January 23, 2012
I also had to post from the iPhone app. And yes, I died a little inside.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
I'm not so much anti-Apple
as I am anti-Apple fan culture.
car.full.of.midgets - January 23, 2012
THIS
SERIOUSLY. As bad or worse than Dave Matthews fans
swampchomp7 - January 23, 2012
My sophomore year roommate was an Apple diehard AND a big DMB fan.
AND he looked like a hippie BUT DIDN’T SMOKE.
We don’t talk anymore.
Andy Hutchins - January 24, 2012
Don’t blame you.
FlaGators - January 24, 2012
totally agree
I am gradually switching most of my computing devices to apple products, but begrudgingly. Their fanboys (and fangirls) are the worst.
doker - January 23, 2012
P.S.
Q: How do you know if someone has an iPhone?
A: They’ll tell you before you have a chance to ask.
doker - January 23, 2012
Haha, this is so true.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
This is true. Which is most likely why I can’t stand the iPhone/iPad and all that stuff. In fact, yeah, I’m going to say that’s why.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
iTunes is, essentially, the devil
Seriously. That’s the worst thing about Apple. iTunes sucks substantially.
Charles UF - January 23, 2012
I never even been to iTunes (mostly because you have to pay) but all I hear are bad things.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
Also, Andy whenever you want some back-up with CAB, just let me know. And yeah, anytime in the morning is good for the post. Seems better that way.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012 via iPhone app
*Photo* - Weight Throw
It’s the ball on the grip. Sometimes they’ll use chain or like a wire depending on regulations. It’s a form of the Scottish game. They spin just like shot put (more or less).
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
you probably mean hammer throw or discus right? No spinning in the shot put.
skigator93 - January 23, 2012
Well yeah, I was just simplifying it.
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
They spin half a rotation right?
Sveet - January 23, 2012
Depends on the person…
Here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_throw
FlaGators - January 23, 2012
still not sure what the difference is between hammer and weight throw
looks like weight might be heavier than the hammer….but they look really similar – one uses a chain and the other a cord?
skigator93 - January 24, 2012
Yeah, that and the weight is different, one to four rotations, and it’s usually a wire connection the grip to the ball. Unless of course you want to go ancient and it is basically a sledge hammer.
FlaGators - January 24, 2012
Also, with the hammer throw, there is a bigger distance between the grip and the “ball”
FlaGators - January 24, 2012
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