The Florida Gators Athletic Department is now on top of the Southeastern Conference, and they owe a tremendous thank-you to their Women's Athletics.
The women captured the first place finish and, as a result the Gators have won the 2007-2008 SEC All Sports Trophy with 159.50 points.
This is nothing new to the Gators. They have captured the trophy for sixteen out of seventeen years. This is the second year in a row the Gators have walked away with the coveted trophy. The trophy is presented by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group.
Jeremy Foley, athletics director stated that this is a great source of pride for the school. He praised the students, athletes and the coaches of UF, and they are well deserving of that praise.
Florida won the overall SEC title with an overwhelming 96 points, while Georgia came in second with 82.5 points. Georgia broke the Gators winning streak of 14 straight SEC Al-Sports titles in 2005-2006. They finished second this year with 140 points and Tennessee came in third with 128.5 points this year.
The Florida women's teams posted SEC titles in tennis, soccer, volleyball, softball and golf. That's a total of five SEC titles, which is a strong showing for any school. We must give credit where credit is due, as well. The men did well, too, by finishing second in the men's standings with 63.5 points. To put this in perspective, the men ended up with one point less than Tennessee, who took the first place berth. Jeremy Foley said that it was important to give Tennessee credit for finishing first, but said that it is important to remember that the Gators did quite well, staying only one point apart.
"We are proud of the men and the women. We are proud of the entire athletic department," Foley stated enthusiastically.
Whether you are a student at UF, an alumni or a Gator fan, you can - and should - be proud of your athletic department. They have a strong history of winning, and this year is no exception. So, keep your spirits high, sport your colors; support your team. Get your Official Gator Merchandise and wear it proudly.
