Links blog: Birmingham Bowl preview, Durkin's future, Spurrier refutes Shockey story, more
Monday, December 29, 2014 | Football, Cross Country, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators returned to practice following their Christmas break on Sunday and practiced again this morning in preparation for Saturday's Birmingham Bowl.
Needless to say, it's been a strange month for the players, coaches and team staff as the program transitions from Will Muschamp to Jim McElwain as head coach.
Check out GatorZone.com later for a look back at the 2014 season.
For now, here are some fresh links covering items of interest to Florida fans:
--Gators interim head coach D.J. Durkin will have options – good ones – after Saturday's game. The news Monday that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has agreed to become Michigan's new head coach has many media outlets linking Durkin to Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. The two worked together when Harbaugh was Stanford's head coach.
--Two East Carolina defensive starters are ineligible for the Birmingham Bowl writes Sammy Batten of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.
--Here is a Birmingham Bowl breakdown via FoxSports.com.
--Former Gators head coach Steve Spurrier disputed a claim by former Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey regarding famous Bourbon Street brawl between Gators-Canes writes Susan Miller Degnan of The Miami Herald.
--Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel is exploring a graduate transfer to Duke writes Laura Keeley of the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer.
--New Gators offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was a standout player during his days at Idaho writes Jon Kasper of the Big Sky Conference.
--Gators cornerback J.C. Jackson, redshirted due to shoulder surgery as a freshman, escaped serious injury but a former high school teammate did not on their return home over Christmas break.
