Graphic: UAA Communications
A Message From Scott Stricklin
Monday, July 1, 2019 | General, Ticket Office
Scott Stricklin pens a letter to Gator Nation as we all close the book on the 2018-19 academic year.
Gators Fans:
As another athletic year comes to a close it is a good time to remind ourselves of the University Athletic Association's mission of delivering a championship experience with integrity.
There were many championship moments during the 2018-19 Gators sports calendar.
The men's indoor track and field team won the national title (pictured below), the ninth for head coach Mike Holloway and extended Florida's streak of winning at least one national championship to 11 straight years. UF is one of only three schools in the country to claim a championship in each of the last 11 seasons, with the Gators tallying 20 in that span.
Bryan Shelton led the men's tennis program to a Southeastern Conference championship and its first Final Four since 2005, matching the best finish in school history. The football team's win versus Michigan in the New Year's Six Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl put the exclamation point on a 10-win season that had the Gators ranked sixth nationally in a final poll. Men's outdoor track and field (2nd), men's swimming and diving (6th), women's indoor and outdoor track and field (both 6th), softball (7th), gymnastics (9th), lacrosse (9th) and volleyball (9th) also turned in top-10 finishes.
Five UF teams claimed conference titles (gymnastics, lacrosse, men's tennis, men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track & field), with the four SEC titles sharing the league's high for 2018-19.
For their collective efforts, Florida finished third in the Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup All-Sports standings. It was the Gators' 11th straight national all-sports top-5 finish and Florida is the only program to place among the top 10 for 36 consecutive seasons.
Off the field, Florida student-athletes posted a 3.12 cumulative GPA for fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters. Overall, 17 of the 19 teams carry a cumulative GPA above 3.0 GPA after the spring of 2019 semester and 351 of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher. Last month, four UF teams – men's basketball, men's cross country, women's golf and women's tennis -- were recognized for their rank in the top 10 percent of the NCAA Academic Progress Rates.
Eighty-four student athletes graduated in 2018-19, and 57 of them won a national or conference championship during their time at Florida. Close to 80 percent of them (67 of the 84) earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition during their Florida careers.
While our student-athletes were busy winning championships and performing at a high level in the classroom, our staff continued its work on Phases 2 and 3 of the Facilities Master Plan. We held a memorable ribbon cutting ceremony for the $15 million renovation of the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in February. The new facility was showcased by record-breaking crowds at the NCAA Super Regional as Florida defeated Tennessee to advance to the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in 12 seasons. We also had a groundbreaking ceremony (pictured below) for the new Florida Ballpark in February, with a projected cost of $65 million. If you've driven by Hull Road lately, you can see the steel coming up out of the ground as we progress to the anticipated June 2020 completion date. Meanwhile, design and construction planning continues for the projected $85 million Florida Football Training Center, which breaks ground next summer at the McKethan Stadium site after baseball relocates to the new ballpark. The football team's current locker room is also receiving a $1.5 million facelift this summer.
These projects and others are possible because of the wonderful support of our Gator Boosters and season-ticket holders. This year has been one of the most successful fundraising years in Gators Athletics history, with over $60 million given and pledged for only the second time in Gator Boosters history. We are so appreciative of the generosity of Gator Nation, and our student-athletes and coaches are counting on this continued level of support to help us reach our $155 million goal for Phases 1-3 of our Facilities Master Plan.
While it wasn't a Gator athletic event, the UAA hosted the first concert at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 25 years when country music star Garth Brooks performed in The Swamp in April. It was a great event for the Gainesville community as 77,000-plus fans enjoyed the show.
It won't be long before the 2019 season kicks off – this year it will be the earliest start date in school history when the Gators face Miami on Aug. 24 in Orlando. The eyes of the nation's sports fans will be on Camping World Stadium as the two teams kick off college football's 150-year anniversary. Two weeks later, Florida returns to Gainesville for the home opener against UT Martin. Fans will have a chance to enjoy an enhanced experience at the Gator Walk Village on the North Lawn, the Gators Food Patio on the outer west concourse and the upgraded, fully-functional high-density Wi-Fi system in the stadium. In the coming weeks, we will let you know about all of the exciting new fan experiences planned for the 2019 home football season.
In the meantime, we wanted to take this time to thank you for the many ways you continue to support the Gator athletic program. More than 1 million of you attended our 140-plus home events last year, many more watched on TV, listened to Mick Hubert on the radio or followed us on various social channels.
Enjoy your summer, Gator Nation. As you travel around with family and friends, proudly wear your Orange and Blue and share your adventures on social media so all can see that Gator Nation is indeed everywhere.
We look forward to hosting you again on campus this fall for some more exciting Gators sporting events.
Go Gators!
As another athletic year comes to a close it is a good time to remind ourselves of the University Athletic Association's mission of delivering a championship experience with integrity.
There were many championship moments during the 2018-19 Gators sports calendar.
The men's indoor track and field team won the national title (pictured below), the ninth for head coach Mike Holloway and extended Florida's streak of winning at least one national championship to 11 straight years. UF is one of only three schools in the country to claim a championship in each of the last 11 seasons, with the Gators tallying 20 in that span.
Bryan Shelton led the men's tennis program to a Southeastern Conference championship and its first Final Four since 2005, matching the best finish in school history. The football team's win versus Michigan in the New Year's Six Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl put the exclamation point on a 10-win season that had the Gators ranked sixth nationally in a final poll. Men's outdoor track and field (2nd), men's swimming and diving (6th), women's indoor and outdoor track and field (both 6th), softball (7th), gymnastics (9th), lacrosse (9th) and volleyball (9th) also turned in top-10 finishes.
Five UF teams claimed conference titles (gymnastics, lacrosse, men's tennis, men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track & field), with the four SEC titles sharing the league's high for 2018-19.
For their collective efforts, Florida finished third in the Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup All-Sports standings. It was the Gators' 11th straight national all-sports top-5 finish and Florida is the only program to place among the top 10 for 36 consecutive seasons.
Off the field, Florida student-athletes posted a 3.12 cumulative GPA for fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters. Overall, 17 of the 19 teams carry a cumulative GPA above 3.0 GPA after the spring of 2019 semester and 351 of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher. Last month, four UF teams – men's basketball, men's cross country, women's golf and women's tennis -- were recognized for their rank in the top 10 percent of the NCAA Academic Progress Rates.
Eighty-four student athletes graduated in 2018-19, and 57 of them won a national or conference championship during their time at Florida. Close to 80 percent of them (67 of the 84) earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition during their Florida careers.
While our student-athletes were busy winning championships and performing at a high level in the classroom, our staff continued its work on Phases 2 and 3 of the Facilities Master Plan. We held a memorable ribbon cutting ceremony for the $15 million renovation of the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in February. The new facility was showcased by record-breaking crowds at the NCAA Super Regional as Florida defeated Tennessee to advance to the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in 12 seasons. We also had a groundbreaking ceremony (pictured below) for the new Florida Ballpark in February, with a projected cost of $65 million. If you've driven by Hull Road lately, you can see the steel coming up out of the ground as we progress to the anticipated June 2020 completion date. Meanwhile, design and construction planning continues for the projected $85 million Florida Football Training Center, which breaks ground next summer at the McKethan Stadium site after baseball relocates to the new ballpark. The football team's current locker room is also receiving a $1.5 million facelift this summer.
These projects and others are possible because of the wonderful support of our Gator Boosters and season-ticket holders. This year has been one of the most successful fundraising years in Gators Athletics history, with over $60 million given and pledged for only the second time in Gator Boosters history. We are so appreciative of the generosity of Gator Nation, and our student-athletes and coaches are counting on this continued level of support to help us reach our $155 million goal for Phases 1-3 of our Facilities Master Plan.
While it wasn't a Gator athletic event, the UAA hosted the first concert at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 25 years when country music star Garth Brooks performed in The Swamp in April. It was a great event for the Gainesville community as 77,000-plus fans enjoyed the show.
It won't be long before the 2019 season kicks off – this year it will be the earliest start date in school history when the Gators face Miami on Aug. 24 in Orlando. The eyes of the nation's sports fans will be on Camping World Stadium as the two teams kick off college football's 150-year anniversary. Two weeks later, Florida returns to Gainesville for the home opener against UT Martin. Fans will have a chance to enjoy an enhanced experience at the Gator Walk Village on the North Lawn, the Gators Food Patio on the outer west concourse and the upgraded, fully-functional high-density Wi-Fi system in the stadium. In the coming weeks, we will let you know about all of the exciting new fan experiences planned for the 2019 home football season.
In the meantime, we wanted to take this time to thank you for the many ways you continue to support the Gator athletic program. More than 1 million of you attended our 140-plus home events last year, many more watched on TV, listened to Mick Hubert on the radio or followed us on various social channels.
Thanks a million - and more - for your support! #GoGators
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) June 21, 2019
(RT if you visited last year & ❤️ if we'll see you next year) pic.twitter.com/ESiFjDcqvh
Enjoy your summer, Gator Nation. As you travel around with family and friends, proudly wear your Orange and Blue and share your adventures on social media so all can see that Gator Nation is indeed everywhere.
We look forward to hosting you again on campus this fall for some more exciting Gators sporting events.
Go Gators!
It's nearly impossible to make a video that captured all the thrills and excitement of the 2018-19 season - but we gave it a shot! RT if you see your favorite sport or athlete. #GoGators pic.twitter.com/snedGppoRX
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) June 29, 2019
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