Sports

New Florida head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sunday in Gainesville. (BRAD MCCLENNY/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

New Florida head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sunday in Gainesville. (BRAD MCCLENNY/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Florida's Billy Napier embraces 'scared money' catchphrase

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, December 6, 2021
GAINESVILLE — New Florida coach Billy Napier had heard the expression countless times before, mostly while playing poker in his youth. “Scared money don’t make money.” Napier never expected it to become his catchphrase, one that would follow him from Lafayette, Louisiana, to Gainesville.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sits on the bench in the closing minutes of Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sits on the bench in the closing minutes of Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, Calif. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

ANALYSIS: Difficult to measure Lawrence's progress amid Jaguars' woes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, December 6, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville’s offense is in such disarray that it’s nearly impossible to measure any progress rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence might be making.
New Florida head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sunday in Gainesville. (BRAD MCCLENNY/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

New Florida head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sunday in Gainesville. (BRAD MCCLENNY/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Napier plans to hire 'unprecedented' support staff at Florida

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 5, 2021
GAINESVILLE — New Florida coach Billy Napier plans to hire an “unprecedented” support staff, he said Sunday.  Napier had close to 40 analysts at Louisiana-Lafayette and could end up with even more in Gainesville.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson catches a touchdown in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Nevin Lawson during Sunday’s game in Inglewood, Calif. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson catches a touchdown in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Nevin Lawson during Sunday’s game in Inglewood, Calif. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

NFL: Rams roll over Jaguars to snap 3-game skid

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 5, 2021
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Jacksonville Jaguars were the cure for just about everything that ailed the Los Angeles Rams throughout November. Matthew Stafford and the Rams hope they can stay up at this level when their stretch run gets a whole lot tougher.
Florida quarterback Emory Jones looks for a receiver against Florida State on Nov. 27 in Gainesville, Fla. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Florida quarterback Emory Jones looks for a receiver against Florida State on Nov. 27 in Gainesville, Fla. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Gators will face UCF in Gasparilla Bowl

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 5, 2021
Florida will face UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. The Knights out of the American Athletic Conference finished the season 8-4 while the Gators were 6-6.
Alabama wide receiver Shatarius Williams celebrates his team's win after the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia on Saturdayin Atlanta. Alabama won 41-24. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

Alabama wide receiver Shatarius Williams celebrates his team's win after the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia on Saturdayin Atlanta. Alabama won 41-24. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Playoff set with Alabama vs. Cincinnati, Michigan vs. Georgia

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 5, 2021
IRVING, Texas — As college football's postseason evolved from disconnected bowls to the BCS to the current four-team playoff, it never truly embraced the underdog the way the NCAA Tournament does.
Soon-to-be Florida head coach Billy Napier talks before Louisiana-Lafayette's Sun Belt Conference championship game against Appalachian State on Saturday in Lafayette, La. (MATTHEW HINTON/Associated Press)

Soon-to-be Florida head coach Billy Napier talks before Louisiana-Lafayette's Sun Belt Conference championship game against Appalachian State on Saturday in Lafayette, La. (MATTHEW HINTON/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Napier gets 7-year, $51.8M contract at Florida

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, December 4, 2021
GAINESVILLE — Billy Napier more than tripled his salary while moving from the Sun Belt to the Southeastern Conference.
Fort White forward N’Coreyia Atkins drives to the basket against Eastside on Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White forward N’Coreyia Atkins drives to the basket against Eastside on Friday night. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Atkins' big night helps Fort White pull away from Eastside to stay undefeated

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, December 3, 2021
FORT WHITE — DeShay Harris can’t remember the last time it’s happened. For all the Fort White head coach knows, it’s the first time. In any case, the Indians can say something they haven’t been able to in a long, long while: “We’re 5-0.”