Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Gators play seven home games in a row. You would think TW would have at least one press conference after one of the games. If he doesn't I think that is a terrible look.

 

Last year A&M was the last team in the SEC to qualify for the NCAA softball tournament with an overall record of 29 & 26 and a conference record of 6 & 18. Looks like Gators have to find two more SEC wins. One would think even this team could accomplish this small feat. Love following these young ladies but it sure would be more fun if they more competitive.

 

Last year there were two teams that hosted regionals with 16 loses. If that holds true Gators can only loose 7 more games. With games left with FSU, Tenn, Ga, Auburn and Ky.....not going to happen.

 

I cannot get too excited about Gator softball that lacks great pitching. I think most of us know by not without elite pitching a team is not going to go very far. Championship teams start with elite pitching. So either we have missed on such pitchers or we are not developing. Here's the thing, ever since we lost our pitching coach to Ok, our pitching has been good but no where great. It seems to me that our coach is content with status quo. Where have we seen that before?

 

I think the SEC requires teams to have press conferences just like facilities built today are required to have press briefing rooms (which are obviously used for team meetings and the like).

From last year's press conferences it seemed like mostly two "reporters" showed up, one of whom seemed to be a kid from the student paper.

I'm gonna give CTW the benefit of the doubt and figure there's no press conferences because there's no press in attendance who are requesting a conference. Maybe as we get deeper into SEC play that will change.

 

So my bet on running the table isn't going to pay off?

 

I'm not sure what "reporters" are there when he does hold a presser. If it is usually Herb Brooks asking the questions, he is a paid employee and not a reporter. It seems obvious that in most circumstances either there are no true reporters there or they are under instructions not to ask questions Walton doesn't like. For instance, players are missing from the lineup or not even in the dugout and it is never covered and reported. Lugo and Hightower last year. Nothing regarding Baylee this year. The list is longer than that. Either there are no true reporters there or they are pitifully poor journalists or they are told they won't be there again if they ask pertinent questions.

 

Great post. If he does have a press conference he can't avoid the elephant in the room which is the poor performance of the team.

 

No UF coaches address injury issues....that of course is primarily driven by HIPAA, but I think it is also generally something coaches don't like to get into regardless.

 

Walton has historically never had an issue with that "elephant in the room", he calls it like he sees it regarding performance. I've always said there is nothing in a presser any coach can say that will make fans happy when a team is struggling....it's almost like people want their pound of flesh because their team didn't win.

 

That is just simply not remotely correct. We constantly receive information on an injury diagnosis and prognosis in almost all sports and at almost every school. Anthony Richardson comes up lame, it is talked about. Bailey Dowling blows out a knee last year....it is talked about. Trinity Thomas hurts her leg...it is talked about. You don't need to have a ten minute dialogue from a doctor to satisfy the legitimate concerns of fans and supporters but never ending dead silence, as is the norm with UF softball, doesn't happen in the majority of situations. I suppose a player could invoke HIPPA but it obviously seems to rarely if ever happen. If it is a personal matter and not an injury, that's all you need to say..."so and so is dealing with a personal matter and will be back soon". That's all that needs to be said. BTW, Walton did talk in some detail regarding Hannah's injury last year. He had no choice given the status of her on the team and the fact everyone saw it happen on live tv.

 

It is 100% correct....of course fans talk about. And UF coaches are VERY tight lipped.
Your examples prove exactly that.
We got almost no info on AR injuries....what they were, when he would return, etc
How about you tell me what UF has said about Trinity and her injury? What is the injury? Do you even know anything other than "lower body" lol.
Not sure who Bailey Dowling is, but Bailey Goddard has had 2 major injuries and I have never seen UF comment a single time on severity, specific injury, or return time.
Would we like to know? Sure. Could UF probably give more info? Sure, but it would have to be generic.
And you don't understand HIPAA apparently. A person/player doesn't "invoke" it. HIPAA is always in place, and to reveal that confidential information is a serious violation and carries serious consequences.

 

UF confirmed Trinity has a lower leg injury and is day-to-day. I'm surprised you don't know one of Bama's best players. There are many examples. Again, I'm not saying anything needs to be said other than basic information. Such as our own Sully regarding a cringing injury:
A reporter said that Langford was expected to miss more than a month due to a ruptured testicle that required surgery. The reporter said Langford’s injury was not expected to bother the outfielder long term and that his return was based on his ability to tolerate pain.

“He was evaluated and treated by the doctors last night,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It’s going to take a little bit of time for him to get back. There’s really no timeline but we will get him back. These things are going to take a little bit of time.”

 

I posted earlier in the thread, but it’s gonna take more than that I think. All 6 of A&M’s conference wins were against ranked teams, right now we have exactly one win against a ranked team all year. And our last 5 series are against teams that are 1,2,4,5 and 12 in conference.
If we don’t play better there is a legit scenario where we aren’t making the post season. The 22 RPI right now helps, but get swept a few times and that falls quickly too.

 

You are just proving my point....they give a generic non answer. Which per HIPAA is all you're going to get. "No timeline", "lower body", "day to day", ....that's not any real information. Is that what you are looking for? Do you consider that "addrssing injuries"? I mean technically it is addressing it by telling you they aren't going to tell you anything.

 

I think your example proves apkgator's point:

Did Coach O'Sullivan give *any* specifics? What was the diagnosis? What is the extent of the injury? How serious is the injury? Basically, Coach O'Sullivan admitted that Langford was still alive.

Thayer Hall was out for a month. Even when she came back the injury was never disclosed.

[Whoops -- apparently Apkgator made the same point while I was slowly typing]

 

You did it better than me lol....I'm scratching my head wondering what I'm missing here

 

If I remember correctly and I might not because I'm older than dirt, wasn't there a decent amount of information given out when Keyontae got hurt?

 

I just Google'd "Keyontae" because I have no idea who that is. Apparently there is a sport called "basketball." Who knew?

The first result that popped up was:
"Family Of Florida's Keyontae Johnson Shares Details Of His Medical Emergency. Today, Florida put out an update from Johnson's family, on his condition."

In all seriousness, I do sort of remember that incident and the media frenzy. So maybe UF helped out the family by handling the press.

 

Y

No. Three years later, there’s still almost zero information out there about what happened to Key. Other than “they’re working to get a diagnosis, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers”.

There was a lot of media coverage, but almost zero information. The family did post an update that he was stable, and some members of the team posted a video dancing on the roof at shands.