MARK LONG
FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 file photo, Florida head coach Dan Mullen speaks with players before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Florida and Alabama in Atlanta. Florida coach Dan Mullen finally acknowledged making some “regrettable” comments last year. None of those were more head-scratching than Mullen wanting to pack Florida Field during a pandemic. But he offered no apologies about staying quiet after ESPN reported he has interest in moving to the NFL. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Mullen focuses on Florida amid college football concerns

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2021 05:50 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen finally acknowledged making

File-This Nov. 21, 2020, file photo shows LSU tight end Arik Gilbert against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. Florida landed one of the country’s most coveted transfers Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, a likely replacement for star tight end Kyle Pitts. Former LSU standout Gilbert committed to the Gators on Twitter, saying “this is the best situation for me and I’m excited to join the family.” (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
Former LSU TE Arik Gilbert chooses Florida as landing spot

By Mark Long Jan. 31, 2021 09:00 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida landed one of the country's most coveted

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2013, file photo, UAB coach Garrick McGee watches the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern State at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Florida promoted McGee from analyst to quarterbacks coach Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, filling a vacancy created by Brian Johnson's departure to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. McGee spent the 2020 season working behind the scenes at Florida after a two-year stint at Missouri. The former Alabama-Birmingham head coach has bounced from job to job for most of the past decade. (Mark Almond/The Birmingham News via AP, File)
Florida promotes McGee to QBs coach to replace Johnson

By Mark Long Jan. 29, 2021 04:41 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida promoted Garrick McGee from analyst to

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 file photo, Samford running back Jay Stanton (20) is tackled by Auburn defensive tackle DaQuan Newkirk (44) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Auburn, Ala. Florida is rebuilding its defensive line with help from the transfer portal. The Gators officially welcomed former Auburn defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk to the program Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 a little more than a week after landing Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Florida rebuilds D-line by adding transfers Newkirk, Shelton

By Mark Long Jan. 14, 2021 03:57 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is rebuilding its defensive line with help

Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims (17) catches a touchdown while being defended by Florida defensive back Donovan Stiner (13) during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl between Oklahoma and Florida at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020.(Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)
Florida tabs veteran SEC coach McGriff to coach secondary

By Mark Long Jan. 09, 2021 04:14 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida announced the hiring of Wesley McGriff as its

Florida coach Dan Mullen, center, watches play against Oklahoma during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Questions rise about Dan Mullen's coaching future at Florida

By Mark Long Jan. 05, 2021 01:46 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen could be on the verge of

Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson (3) throws the ball during an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Lexington, Ky. North Carolina State (8-3) is a 2 ½-point underdog against Kentucky (4-6) in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a number the Wolfpack consider a slight heading into Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 game in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky runs for 281, beats NC State 23-21 in chippy Gator

By Mark Long Jan. 02, 2021 04:09 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kentucky's postgame locker room provided a scene

Florida coach Dan Mullen, center, watches play against Oklahoma during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
AP source: Florida fires 2 assistants after defensive fiasco

By Mark Long Jan. 01, 2021 08:19 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen wasted little time

Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson (3) throws the ball during an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Lexington, Ky. North Carolina State (8-3) is a 2 ½-point underdog against Kentucky (4-6) in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a number the Wolfpack consider a slight heading into Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 game in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
NC State seething in underdog role vs Kentucky in Gator Bowl

By Mark Long Jan. 01, 2021 10:48 AM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It’s one of the oddest betting lines of the bowl

Florida wide receiver Trevon Grimes (8) makes a touchdown catch for a touchdown against Alabama defensive back Patrick Surtain II (2) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
No. 10 Florida will be without top 4 pass catchers in Cotton

By Mark Long Dec. 28, 2020 02:23 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No. 10 Florida will be without its top four pass

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) makes the catch ahead of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Kyle Pitts turns pro less than 12 hours after SEC title game

By Mark Long Dec. 20, 2020 11:09 AM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida tight end Kyle Pitts first talked to coach Dan

Florida coach Dan Mullen, center, points to the monitor while disputing a ruling by officials during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Mullen admits 'it would be huge' to beat Saban in 10th try

By Mark Long Dec. 18, 2020 02:19 AM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Dan Mullen’s impressive head coaching resume has a few

FILE - Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a pass as Auburn linebacker Chandler Wooten (31) tries to tackle him during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Auburn, Ala. , in this Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. The Southeastern Conference championship game features two of the nation’s top playmakers, and neither is a quarterback. Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts are the real stars of the league’s most potent offenses. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Smith, Pitts are the real stars of SEC's Alabama, Florida

By Mark Long Dec. 15, 2020 04:02 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game features

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) dives over the LSU defense for a 1-yard touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Swamp stunner: L-S-Shoe tops No. 6 Florida on 57-yard FG

By Mark Long Dec. 12, 2020 11:09 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — There were no shortage of eye-popping moments in this

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) tries to avoid a flying tackle by LSU safety Todd Harris Jr. (4) and cornerback Eli Ricks (1) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Unrecognizable LSU trudges into Swamp to face No. 6 Florida

By Mark Long Dec. 10, 2020 12:47 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — LSU’s reign as national champion essentially ended

FILE - Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) throws a pass against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., in this Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, file photo. No. 6 Florida doesn't really even try to run the ball anymore. There's an occasional handoff here and there, but the Gators are mostly one-dimensional _ and that's fine with coach Dan Mullen, Heisman Trophy front-runner Kyle Trask and arguably the deepest receiving corps in the country. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Stalled ground game? Pass-happy Florida simply happy passing

By Mark Long Dec. 08, 2020 04:58 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen doesn’t even really bother

Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (84) scores a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Gainesville, Fla. Nov. 28, 2020. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Pitts scores 3 TDs in return, No. 6 Florida tops Kentucky

By Mark Long Nov. 28, 2020 03:26 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Pitts was feeling a little jittery before his

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) listens as head coach Dan Mullen speaks to his players after an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Florida won 38-17. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
No. 6 Florida seeking defensive turnaround against Kentucky

By Mark Long Nov. 27, 2020 01:57 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No. 6 Florida has no doubt it can keep pace with

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) passes against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Trask faces Kentucky again, as starter, Heisman front-runner

By Mark Long Nov. 24, 2020 12:57 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Trask’s college football career, maybe even his

Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter, left, catches a pass in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown in front of Arkansas defensive back Jalen Catalon during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Playing catch: Florida's Shorter gets daily help from mom

By Mark Long Nov. 17, 2020 02:34 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Justin Shorter contorted his body in the end zone,