University of Florida Women Gymnastics: Dynasty, Dynasty!

By Jimbo Brown

Coach Faehn Giving Some Pointers To A Young Athlete

Athlete Talk normally supply its readers with articles about the more traditional sports; football, basketball, track & field, etc. So today we wanted to show some love to the University of Florida Women’s gymnastics team. The team is being coached by a great women that believes in talent, persistence and talent. Coach Rhonda Faehn has been the coach for the past 13 years and has brought nothing but success to the university. During her time UF has won 4 sec titles, 10 NCAA regional titles, 10 super six appearances and 3 back to back to back national titles. The only other sports program to win three consecutive national titles is UF men’s track & field team. The women’s team has tons of talent on it.

2015 NCAA Gymnastics Champions

On every team championship team there are individuals that the underclassmen look up to and those two are Kytra Hunter and Bridget Sloans. These two set the tone for the other athletes on the team, especially Hunter. Hunter is a 15-time All American and is a 3x NCAA champion. Like most teams, the Gators had an up and down regular season. Through the good and bad times the whole roster delivered at clutch moments. For example, Bridgette Gaquatto’s career-best-tying floor routine gave UF a share of the 2014 title. This year freshman Alex McMurty came through and delivered the 3^rd consecutive national title by putting up a career best 9.95 to close UF’s bar rotation. Three freshman competed with the team for the national title, this establishes a good foundation for the slight rebuild Coach Faehn has to do.

Losing Hunter and fellow seniors Rachel Spicer, Jamie Shisler and Kierten Wang would be devastating for most teams. These seniors have contributed to the team in so many ways. The squad is already returning 9 people from their national championship team. 7 of the 9 actually competed this past weekend. The incoming freshmen will have plenty of leadership to follow because the retuning athletes have never experience a season that didn’t end with a national title. Freshman Kennedy Baker is the only African American on the team right now and she had a very good beginning to her career. The Gators have a bright future ahead of them. To be successful you have to emulate the greats.

Miami Carol City High School signs with NIKE and BSN Sports

By: Jimbo Brown

Ironic how 9 years later, the first Dade county high school to appear in a NIKE commercial has officially signed a contract with the worlds leading brand. I don’t know the details of the agreement but they also partnered up with BSN Sports. For those who are not familiar with BSN, it is a factory-direct equipment company. BSN represents hundreds of teams/organizations across america. Being a Chief alumnus I feel this was long over due. I remember when the commercial first aired. Me and the boys believed we was about to receive some fly Nike uniforms and gear. Sad to say Coach Walt Frazier, declined the offer. The only thing we were given was the generic “Miami Carol City Football is Everything,” which I still have. All Nike schools had these shirts, lol. I am proud to say that this shows my school is moving back in the right direction.

Since Aubrey Hill has token over as the head coach, the team has done nothing but progressed. The talent is starting to come back to its home. With Rashad Fenton signing to the University of South Carolina, shows the program is gaining national exposure. Its going to take more than a apparel deal to prove we have returned. That comes with wins and competing for state championships. 

Chief Pride!

Omar Kelly: "Ted Ginn Jr. is not a Bust"

            Remember Ted Ginn? The explosive receiver & return specialist from Ohio State that the Dolphins drafted with the 9^th overall pick back in 2007. Over his 3 year career in Miami, he caught 128 balls for 1664 yards & only 5 touchdowns, to go along with 2 rushing td’s & 3 td’s on special teams. I don’t know about you but I would say that is terrible production for a top 10 receiver. In my opinion, Ted Ginn was one of the worst draft picks for Miami over the last decade.  

            Omar Kelly, one of the best known beat writers for the Dolphins & a man that I follow on Twitter, thinks he wasn’t too bad. Last week, a discussion was brought up on Twitter about his top 3 Dolphins busts in the last 10 years. He said John Beck, Pat White, & Patrick Turner. All those players came in with high expectations but they didn’t last long in Miami so I agree. Another follower stated Ted Ginn, which Kelly replied: “Ted Ginn has had a productive NFL career & he’s still playing.” He offers his definition on a bust in the NFL: “a player your team selected high who not only didn’t live up to expectation, but was pushed out the league quickly.” So because Ginn is about to play his 9^th season in the league while scoring over 20 touchdowns in his career, Omar Kelly believes he is far from a bust.

            My definition of a bust is simple. It all depends on your investment on a player & the value you’re getting back. So a top 5 quarterback with expectations of becoming the long-term starter but ends up being a career backup is a bust. On the other hand, Tom Brady, a 6^th round pick by the Patriots but ended up becoming one of the best QB’s in the NFL with 4 Super Bowl rings, is a steal. Ted Ginn is a bust because he didn’t come close to reaching top 10 expectations. I hated that pick & I could’ve told the Dolphins Ted Ginn was a terrible pick, and Pat White. They basically reached for a 4.2 return specialist in the top 10. White, a West Virginia prospect who had the record for most career rushing yards for a QB at the time, was drafted in the 2nd round in 2009 to pretty much be a sub-in for the Dolphins Wildcat formation. Omar Kelly then explains his reasoning why Ted Ginn didn’t succeed with the Dolphins & this is where he lost me. He said the Dolphins forced him out onto the field when he wasn’t ready & all he did was make mistakes. So I’m thinking about last year’s receiver class, which was probably the best in NFL history. You had Odell Beckham Jr., who went to the Giants with the 12^th pick & missed the first 4 games, but still ended up with 1,305 yards & 12 td’s on 91 catches. Then you had Allen Hurns, who went UNDRAFTED, put up 677 yards & 6 td’s for the Jaguars. You also had Sammy Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin, Mike Evans, Jordan Matthews, Brandin Cooks, Josh Brown, Martavis Bryant, & Jarvis Landry (2^nd round pick for the Dolphins, would you look at that.) So you telling me that Ted Ginn, the 9^th overall pick, wasn’t even ready to play. That’s crazy.     

              

University of Florida: A Track & Field Powerhouse

By: Jimbo Brown

Dedric Dukes bringing home a 1st place finish

University of Florida is considered one of the best schools to attend in the world. Being one of the top-ranked public schools, UF has one of the biggest fan bases. This wonderful institution has excelled both academically and athletically. The Warrington Business School just won 1st place at the national case competition and the girl’s gymnastics team took home a National Championship in 2014. The track program has had the most consistency since Coach Mike Holloway took over about a decade ago.  The Gators are coming off of a successful weekend at Florida Relays track meet. The men and women teams finished with 20 individual personal records and 17 top-five finishes.

Coach Holloway aka “Mouse” a UF graduate is the nucleus that makes the machine produce greatness and consistency. He was an assistant coach on the 2012 USA Olympic team. Through his 8-year career with the Gators he has develop 12 individual national champions. The men’s and women’s programs has won multiple of indoor and outdoor SEC conference championships. If the teams didn't win out right, they either tied with another powerhouse or finished in the top-three. The men’s program has had more success overall bringing 5 team national championships; 3 indoor and 2 outdoor. The program wouldn't be as successful if it wasn't for the talent coach Holloway is able to recruit throughout the year.

Holloway is a mastermind when it comes to recruiting. He has always been able to get the most talented runners in the nation. Both teams are stacked with runners, jumpers and throwers from across the nation. Even though the Gators can have any student-athlete in the country, Holloway focuses on the talent in the state of Florida. Ebony Eutsey and Robin Reynolds two of the most decorated Florida High School athletes. They have contributed to the success of the women program, along with many others. On behalf of the men programs, the athletes that have come through have went on to represent the university and the country all over the world. Will Claye, Tony McQuay, Christian Taylor and Jeff Demps have contributed to our countries Olympic success. Coach Holloway has modeled many athletes to NCAA legends. The track & field program has produced 47 All-Americans and 141 All-American Honors. To have a great program at any level of competition you have to have a great leader.

This past indoor season yielded great results for the University of Florida Men’s program, with them winning the SEC championship this year. Najee Glass posted the second fastest 400m time in the nation this year and the 8^th fastest time in school history. With this early success, he will do nothing but progress. Coach Holloway is one of the best coaches in the nation and has built a program that will continuously  grow.