Foundation set: Gators complete Phase 1 of offseason program
Welcome to Good Morning Gators, where we cover the latest news, notes and analysis on Florida athletics. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything in the world of Florida football, UF recruiting, Gators basketball, Florida baseball and more.
The Gators completed phase one of their offseason program, aka Foundation, on Monday.
Players gathered for a team photo in the indoor practice facility, where they spent the past three weeks with director of strength and conditioning Mark Hocke and his staff.
Hocke will now begin the second phase, Identity, this week. Last year, Florida coach Billy Napier called the first half of phase two the most difficult and challenging thing the players will do the entire year from a mental and physical toughness standpoint.
“It’s what we call our identity program,” Napier said in an interview with ESPN Gainesville’s Steve Russell. “It’s 15 sessions. One hour, between 4 and 5 o’clock, four days a week. It’s really to kind of create momentum for spring practice. The first half of that is probably the most difficult and challenging thing we do the entire year from a mental and physical toughness standpoint.
“We’re trying to create intangibles on our team. We’re creating leadership opportunities. … It gives an opportunity for the coaches and players to build some relationships on the way towards spring practice. So, in general, it’s one of my favorite times of the year because 75 percent of your team — the ones you’re going to play with in the fall — they’re in that indoor for every one of those 15 sessions.”
When Hocke first met with the UF media last spring, he detailed what the 15 one-hour sessions during phase two consist of.
“This is a demanding game, right? It’s a physical game. It’s a violent game,” Hocke said. “So getting under a heavy back-squat bar, that’s demanding, that’s adverse situations. Sprint-repeatability, right? The days of running miles and three hundreds are over.
Top 10
- 1New
Dylan Raiola
Nebraska QB kills transfer rumors
- 2Breaking
Heisman Trophy
Finalists revealed ahead of award ceremony
- 3
Carson Beck injury
Georgia comments on QB1
- 4
Finebaum calls out Kirby
Kirby Smart draws ire
- 5
Thomas Castellanos
FSU, SEC contenders for transfer QB
“We’re running 40-yard sprints, 20-yard sprints, repeatedly. 25 seconds, hurry-up offense. Can you strain your gut for four to five seconds, rest for 25 seconds with great body language, and then do it again over and over and over?”
The Gators will hold their first spring practice on March 4 and the Orange & Blue Game is scheduled for Thursday, April 13.
*** Not a subscriber of Gators Online? CLICK HERE to receive a year of premium access for $30.00!
In other Florida football news
- Meet the 10 transfers from Florida Gators 2023 recruiting class
- Torrence, Gouraige compete in Senior Bowl, Miller misses game
UF recruiting roundup
- Five candidates to become the Gators’ next 2024 commitment
- Top-100 prospect ‘most definitely’ visiting the Gators in March
- Four-star WR gelling with Keary Colbert, sets visit with Gators
- Four-star DB eager to strengthen knowledge of UF’s program
Gators sports roundup
- Florida’s second-half rally falls short against the Kentucky Wildcats
- Three UF baseball players named NCBWA preseason All-Americans
- No. 2 Florida gymnastics use road best for win at No. 18 Arkansas
Let’s keep talking
Want to keep the conversation going? Head over to our Florida message board, Swamp Talk. Sign up here and join the discussion.
Also, you can sign up for Gators Online’s FREE Newsletter to have the latest in UF sports sent directly to your mailbox every day.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE GATORS ONLINE YOUTUBE PAGE
Gators Twitter updates
- The foundation has been set for the 2023 Gators: