Graphic: Scott MacCord/UAA Communications
Orange & Blue Notes: Richards Made Impact, India & Byrne, More Gators Tidbits
Monday, July 2, 2018 | General, Scott Carter
More than 40 years have passed since Richards stepped into the lineup to replace an injured Nat Moore during the '73 season, but Richards maintained a place in the game and built a legacy as head coach at Marietta (Ga.) High School, where he starred prior to coming to UF.
Based on a memorial service in honor of Richards on Friday night at Marietta High, attended by a group of his former UF teammates and hundreds in the local community, Richards' greatest impact stretches far beyond anything he did while carrying a football.
According to the Marietta Daily Journal, former pupil Terrance Huey spoke at the service in honor of Richards, who died June 24 at age 64. Huey told the crowd of several hundred that he sold drugs in high school until Richards picked him up on a street corner one day and became a father figure.
"He said, 'go get your stuff and get in the car,' " Huey told the crowd. "From that point on, I knew I'd never have to worry again."
Huey's story wasn't the only one of that kind, which made Richards such a beloved father figure in the community he called home before and after his time with the Gators.
INDIA, BYRNE READY TO SIGN
Jonathan India and Michael Byrne have been teammates with the Gators for the past three seasons, helping UF advance to the College World Series every season of their careers.
According to the latest reports out of Cincinnati, India and Byrne are about to start their professional careers. India, the fifth overall pick of last month's MLB amateur draft, and Byrne, the Reds' 14th-round pick, are reportedly set to take physicals on Tuesday as the last step prior to signing.
#reds are having 5th overall pick Jonathan India meet media tomorrow afternoon, as well as CF Michael Siani (4th rd) and RHP Michael Byrne (14th rd). I reported yesterday they agreed to terms with India, pending physical.
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) July 2, 2018
The 2018 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, India became only the fourth player in school history to hit 20 home runs in a season. Meanwhile, Byrne exits UF as the school's all-time saves leader. Neither move is a surprise, though there was chatter about Byrne potentially returning for his final season and move into the starting rotation next season if he could not reach a deal with the Reds.
For more on the negotiations, you can check out this story by Bobby Nightengale of Cincinnati.com.
O'DAY OUT
Former Gators pitcher Darren O'Day, who recently made a significant financial contribution to UF's baseball program, is out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
A reliever for the Orioles, O'Day suffered a torn hamstring on June 26 trying to field a bunt and opted to have surgery to repair the injury.
Darren O'Day will undergo season-ending surgery. https://t.co/XzvPh7Iwsm pic.twitter.com/A5qzFkSLbr
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) June 30, 2018
"It's not a complete tear off the bone, but most of it is off," O'Day told The Baltimore Sun. "I need to functionally get it fixed so it just doesn't happen again. They told me that if I didn't have surgery, it would be 10-12 weeks, which puts me in September, and more than likely it would happen again at some point. So, if I get it fixed, it's six months. So that's a pretty arduous recovery, but it'll put me in better shape next year to be able to compete and not always be wondering if my hamstring was going to go again."
Read more about O'Day's setback from Jon Meoli on baltimoresun.com.
KELLY MEMORIAM
UF football player Brooker Mikey Kelly had two stints with the Gators in the 1950s -- before serving in the Marines and after his return. Kelly died last month at age 87.
A defensive end, Kelly was a member of Florida's first team to play in a bowl game when the Gators defeated Tulsa in the 1953 Gator Bowl. Kelly embarked on a career in education after three seasons at UF and made his mark as a high school football coach and administrator, first in Jacksonville and then in Ocala.
Read more about Kelly in this obituary by Joe Callahan of the Ocala Star-Banner.
REMEMBERING JOHANNES
In April, the UF baseball program held a 20-year anniversary for the 1998 team that made it all the way to Omaha. Todd Johannes, a former reserve catcher, was one of those who attended the weekend festivities.
Sadly, two months later the 41-year-old Johannes has died. Kevin Brockway of The Gainesville Sun wrote Monday about Johannes' death in Guatemala.
Johannes spent four seasons in professional baseball after finishing his college career. Johannes was a member of the 1993 Westminster Christian team in Miami that featured future major league star Alex Rodriguez, the No. 1 overall pick of the '93 draft. He started his college career at Pepperdine before transferring to Florida
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