Monday, October 19, 2026

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2 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026

UF kratom researcher under fire for his ties to lobbying group EMAILS ON REIMBURSED HOTEL AND TRAVEL FEES OBTAINED THROUGH PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS PUT CREDIBILITY CONCERNS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

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question, an attack — is completely unjustified against the credibility of these scientists,” he said, adding that McCurdy has previously disclosed funding he’d received to speak at hearings like the Georgia Blue-Ribbon Study Committee in June. However, McCurdy never mentioned the AKA during the 2025 UN narcotics meeting, for which AKA covered his hotel room. Haddow also confirmed the AKA donated to the University of Florida Foundation to fund the International Kratom Symposium, an event McCurdy founded in 2019. But he said the AKA has never funded a kratom study for McCurdy, either directly or through its sister organization, the Center for Plant Science and Health. A controversial substance The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared kratom an unsafe food additive that can’t be legally marketed as an over-the-counter drug or dietary supplement. The FDA advises against using kratom due to a risk of liver toxicity, seizures and risk of addiction. Among the over 50 active compounds in kratom leaves, the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are the most studied, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. These compounds explain why kratom acts as

an energizing stimulant in low doses and an opioid-like sedative in higher doses. The deaths of two University of Mississippi students brought kratom under further scrutiny after MGM15 pills, a banned kratom-derived product, were found at both scenes. Court records of an unreleased toxicology report showed the presence of three chemicals from the pills in their bloodstreams, according to Action News 5. While kratom has also appeared in other toxicology reports, the product is often used alongside other drugs — like cough syrup, in one of the Ole Miss cases — making it hard to determine the students’ exact cause of death. Researchers and groups like the AKA make an important distinction between natural leaf kratom and synthetic or semi-synthetic derivatives like MGM-15, which contain chemically extracted and boosted levels of 7-OH. In Florida, kratom is governed under the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which bans the sale of kratom products to people younger than 21.

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After accepting travel reimbursements and indirect donations from pro-kratom lobbying groups, a UF College of Pharmacy professor has drawn criticism for not disclosing conflicts of interest in his research papers about the substance. A distant cousin of the coffee plant, kratom tree leaves have been used by farmers and laborers in Southeast Asia for centuries to boost energy, improve mood and manage opioid withdrawal. In the U.S., kratom has gained popularity in its powder, capsule and extract forms as an unofficial treatment for chronic pain and substance abuse. Christopher McCurdy, a UF College of Pharmacy professor, has been researching kratom’s effects for over two decades. His ties to the American Kratom Association, a group lobbying for kratom regulation instead of bans, were uncovered by ProPublica last month. On one occasion, the group covered McCurdy’s hotel fees when he spoke at the 2025 meeting of the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, according to a March 3 email between McCurdy and Stephanie Taylor, an assistant for the AKA. ProPublica also found the AKA paid for McCurdy’s $8,700 first-class plane ticket to Indonesia in 2024. But after he canceled the trip last minute, the AKA insisted he keep the flight credit for future travel, according to an Aug. 23 email between McCurdy and Mac Haddow, the AKA’s lead lobbyist. McCurdy did not respond to three requests for comment over two weeks by phone call, email and a message left in person with his assistant. The AKA has defended its relationship with McCurdy and other scientists, denying a conflict of interest. Lead lobbyist Haddow said the association sponsors travel for experts to present their published research, but it can’t dictate what scientists report at hearings. “This attack — and it is, without

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 ALLIGATOR 3

Veterans Affairs contract reallocates funding for 18 beds for veterans experiencing homelessness in Gainesville THE NEW SHELTER WILL SERVE AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WHILE VETERANS LOOK FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

By Sara Dhorasoo Alligator Staff Writer

Milton Brown has been homeless for over 20 years. If it weren’t for programs like the new Veterans Affairs housing contract with Volunteers of America Florida, the 64-yearold U.S. Army Infantry veteran said he wouldn’t have survived. A new Veterans Affairs contract with Volunteers of America Florida, a nonprofit working to help homeless veterans, will make 18 previously rented beds free for eligible veterans in Gainesville. The previous program, under a VA Grant Per Diem, required veterans to pay an income-based rent and could house them for up to 12 months. Now, the program is free with a three-month limit. The new program, which operates under a VA Contract Emergency Residential Services, will fund a total of 102 beds across North Florida, including 48 in Tallahassee and 36 in Ocala. The new contract will expire Sept. 30, 2027. As of 2025, 128 military veterans were identified as experiencing homelessness in North Central Florida, within Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Levy and Putnam counties, according to Task Force For Ending Home-

lessness’ 2025 Point-In-Time count. Alachua County accounted for 746 of the 887 people experiencing homelessness in these five counties. VOA Florida reached out to Rep. Kat Cammack, R-3, for assistance after an outside organization hired to write its grant application didn’t submit it on time. For the last 20 years, the organization used a grant from the VA, but it missed the February deadline this year and lost the funding. After VOA Florida reached out for financial assistance, Cammack said in a September press release she contacted the VA secretary, and her staff worked with VA leadership to confirm the new contract before the Oct. 1 deadline. VOA Florida will now operate its 18 Gainesville beds at 3901 NW Seventh St. where the veterans are housed through a VA contract instead of a grant-based program. This allows them to provide immediate, short-term housing and support with less administrative hurdles while staff connect them with longer-term support and resources, according to Barbara Lawton-Freeman, who manages the new program in Gainesville, Ocala and Tallahassee. “After the military, my whole life has been on the streets,” Brown said. “These programs here save people’s lives. They save our lives.” Brown moved into the new facility Oct. 9 and hopes to eventually find permanent housing, he said. He has been in similar housing programs in the past, but when the

Michael Angee // Alligator Staff

Milton Ray Beverly, veteran and resident manager of the VA buildings at the Gainesville Continuum of Care, poses at a table, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. programs ended, he said he relapsed. “As soon as I leave, I get back on drugs, alcohol, stuff like that, but I’ve been doing drugs since I was in fifth grade, so it’s, like, part of my arm,” Brown said. “If I stop doing it, it’s like I’m missing something.” Like many other veterans, he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, which triggers nightmares and hallucinations. His worst nightmares are about the men he killed in combat, he added.

“Once you’ve done that, it sticks with you for the rest of your life,” he said. “You can never, ever forget the day you put a man in the ground.” While living on the streets, Brown learned to like the rain and its smell, he said, and if he concentrates enough, he can visualize a candle to make him warmer when it’s cold. “I’m actually glad when it rains,” Brown said. “If you’re going to be in the weather, you experience it all the way. You get climatized from the

heat, the cold or whatever. You just gotta deal with it.” Veterans often experience homelessness due to untreated mental health conditions, difficulty finding jobs, unaffordable housing or substance abuse disorders. Stephanie Vranich, VOA Florida’s vice president of outreach and development, said while the new contract still provides housing to homeless veterans, it requires shorter stays. The new contract allows VOA Florida to house veterans for a maximum of 90 days, while the previous one covered up to 12 months. The program’s overall goal is to help individuals find permanent, affordable housing and become independent, she said. Beyond offering a place to stay, she said on-site residents and case managers are available 24 hours a day to assist veterans. They work closely with community partners like CareerSource Florida to connect veterans with additional VA benefits, mental and behavioral assistance and day-to-day necessities like meals and hygiene items. “That’s actually our passion,” Vranich said. “We love that we’re providing that roof over their head, but it is about what’s happening inside that housing.” Read the rest online at alligator.org. @saradhrs sdhorasoo@alligator.org

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4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026

Florida Board of Education bans undocumented students from postsecondary, dual enrollment programs THE POLICY IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF REGULATIONS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

By Ray Garcia Alligator Staff Writer

The Florida Board of Education voted in September to ban undocumented students from district-run postsecondary education and dual enrollment programs. The measure, which is mandated to take effect Spring 2027, expands on regulations adopted in June and September restricting undocumented students’ access to Florida public colleges, GED programs and universities. Implementation To comply with the decision, as of Aug. 5 Alachua County Public Schools require adults enrolling in adult high school or English for Speakers of Other Languages courses to prove U.S. citizenship or legal status. This falls before the board’s Spring deadline. In 2021, more than 70,000 adult English learners were enrolled in English language acquisition in Florida, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson said the district is requesting documentation like passports, birth certificates and permanent resident cards for enrollment starting this Fall. Enrollment staff will inspect the documents during registration but won’t keep copies of them, she added. The board’s ruling also affects dual enroll-

ment students, sixth through 12th graders earning credits at a local college or university. In Alachua County, students can take courses at Santa Fe College or UF. Colleges and universities will be responsible for checking documentation — a decision reached in the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees undocumented students access to tuition-free K-12 public education. ACPS won’t screen dual enrollment students itself and is not permitted to request immigration status, Johnson said. Lisa Brosky, Santa Fe’s marketing and communications associate vice president, wrote in an email that the institution is currently working to implement policies that comply with the Board of Education’s latest

Henry A. Moore // Alligator Staff

The Florida Board of Governors voted unanimously to ban all undocumented students from Florida’s state universities leaving many students with no way to finish their degrees.

rulings. The policies are pending approval from the Santa Fe Board of Trustees, she added. The screening applies to newly admitted, readmitted and dual enrollment students, Brosky said. Students admitted to the college before the policies’ implementation won’t be screened unless they later leave and apply to be readmitted, she added. Santa Fe annually hosts more than 1,000 dual enrollment students from Alachua County and neighboring counties. “At this time, we have no way to predict how many applicants might be unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence,” Brosky said. UF spokesperson Cynthia Roldán did not respond for comment after two emails and a phone call. Community reactions The latest restriction has garnered split reactions across Alachua County. Tim Marden, the chairman of the Alachua County Republican Party and mayor of Newberry, defended the state’s restrictions. “America should make every effort to ensure American citizens are prioritized when it comes to public expenditures,” Marden wrote in an email. “America cannot afford to continue incentivizing non-citizens to come here.” But local educators and immigrant advocates have expressed concern the restrictions will disrupt access to education and discourage students from participating in advanced academic programs. Claire Noguerol, a school counselor at Gainesville High School and a member of

immigrant advocacy group Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, said she’s worried the decision will decrease participation among families. Noguerol expects the policy to lessen enrollment in adult education programs, she said, impacting parents who have attended the classes for years. She also said she’s worried about participation in dual enrollment programs. Families in the process of applying to them may shy away from the opportunity as they fear giving out information, she added. Applicants with irregular immigration status might withdraw out of fear of exposing their families to unsafe situations, she said. “I just really hope that K-12 is protected and remains protected and that we are not put in a position where we have to require or inquire about student legal status,” Noguerol said. Concerns surrounding the decision extend to UF students. Harper Miller, a 21-year-old UF psychology and political science senior and the president of UF College Democrats, said enrollment regulations will likely be a hurdle to education access. “This will only present additional barriers and difficulties for genuinely passionate and motivated individuals who are ready and already contributing to our community,” Miller said. “I think it shows that the priorities are in the wrong place when it comes to changing policies for our education system.” @raygarciafl rgarcia@alligator.org

San Felasco Hammock Preserve receives national recognition

The preserve was inducted as Alachua County’s representative forest for its biodiversity and rich history By Christian Haas Alligator Staff Writer

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park received national recognition Oct. 16 when it was named Alachua County’s representative forest. The Old-Growth Forest Network, into which San Felasco was inducted, designates protected forests across the U.S. to preserve and inform people of old-growth locations, according to its website. A forest is classified as old-growth if it has developed over a long period, typically centuries, with little to no human disturbance. When an old-growth forest is inducted into the network, it’s granted formal protections to ensure its trees and ecosystems are safeguarded from commercial logging. San Felasco is the 12th forest in Florida to be recognized by the network, which protects over 300 forests across 41 states. Less than 1% of old-growth forests remain undisturbed by human activities in the eastern U.S., according to Ciera Wilbur, the network’s southeast regional manager. Recognizing old-growth forests opens the door for people to come together and celebrate them, she added. “The mental, emotional, spiritual, physical opportunity of getting out and being in nature is incredibly important for us,” Wilbur

said. Old-growth forests trap climate-warming greenhouse gases, mitigate water pollution and serve as a refuge for wildlife and vegetation, according to The Wilderness Society. The Old-Growth Forest Network selected San Felasco to represent Alachua County for its beauty and biodiversity, according to a press release published by the network. Florida’s forests are “incredibly unique” because of the state’s biodiversity and fire-adapted ecosystems, Wilbur said. She called San Felasco a perfect example of what makes Florida special. San Felasco’s significance San Felasco’s status as one of the few remaining old-growth forests makes it an underappreciated “treasure,” said Jack Putz, a UF ecology professor. The forest is the largest upland hardwood forest in North Florida, which also helps to promote wildlife survival, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Sinkholes and springs are some of the state park’s prominent features and help house over 20 natural communities of wildlife, vegetation and fungi, according to the FDEP. Sites like sinkholes and springs are examples of karst landscapes, which provide more than 90% of Floridians’ drinking water, according to Florida State Parks.

San Felasco also has a rare canebrake, Putz said, a small ecosystem typically dominated by bamboo and river cane. Canebrakes used to be common, but about 98% disappeared due to overgrazing, disease and deforestation from European settlement in North America, according to a North Carolina State University news release. Canebrakes help control erosion, remove excess nutrients from groundwater and provide food and shelter to wildlife. San Felasco State Park covers over 7,000 acres, allowing it to shelter iconic southern species like fox squirrels and bobcats, Putz said. It also has over 25 species of canopy trees, he added, when a typical forest of its kind may only have 10 species at most. “The diversity is astoundingly high,” he said. Old-growth forests can serve as benchmarks for researchers to better understand the environment and its history, Putz said. “When we do ecological restoration, we need to have some reference or target ecosystem to use as our model to evaluate,” he said. “‘How are we doing? What progress are we making?’” San Felasco’s Native American history The value of old-growth forests, including San Felasco, was also

felt by Native American peoples, said Gifford Waters, the historical archaeology collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Over 50 cultural sites have been uncovered in San Felasco, serving as evidence of about 12,000 years of uninterrupted human activity in the region, according to the FDEP. “I’ve worked throughout Florida most of my career, and this is the only site that has been totally undisturbed,” Waters said. “Most places in Florida [have] modern trash and construction on the sites.” One prominent discovery was made in 1956, when UF students found remnants of a 400-year-old Spanish catholic mission in San Felasco, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Mission San Francisco de Potano, the first Catholic teaching in Florida, began in 1606 in the state park’s southern region, Waters said. The Potano people founded the mission at their main village, and it persisted until 1706, he said, though it was abandoned for a small period in 1656. The mission’s temporary halt was initiated because the chief of the village at San Francisco de Patano helped instigate a rebellion against the Spanish government in St. Augustine, Waters said. Spaniards enforced unfair forced labor practices, he said, and no Francis-

can friars were killed during the rebellion. The village would have been home to a few hundred Potano people during its peak, and they left behind over 7,000 artifacts that have been collected by archeologists and students since 2006, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Most of the artifacts are pieces of pottery, tools and animal bones. Students and researchers have discovered a kitchen area and possible military barracks in San Felasco, Waters said. Students and researchers have found evidence of a “very large special-use building,” he said, which they believe could’ve been a chief’s or council house constructed by Native Americans. The uncovered Native American structures and sites have remained protected because they are not accessible from any of the state park’s trails, he said. “We’re hoping to add a lot more, just not to the history of the people in the area, but to add a lot more to the environmental history of the hammock as well,” Waters said. @ChristianH58745 chaas@alligator.org

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 ALLIGATOR 5

Briefly Speaking: Can Trump ban the press? A LEGAL BREAKDOWN OF THE RECENT RULING IN THE LAWSUIT THE PRESS BROUGHT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT

By Kaysheri Haffner Alligator Staff Writer

President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar CNN; MS NOW, formerly MSNBC; and Politico from the White House hit another legal roadblock Oct. 13 when a federal judge extended the outlets’ protections, reinstating access to the White House. The judge found the news outlets were likely to succeed in arguing the administration violated their constitutional rights. But the judge’s decision raises a larger question: Is the president allowed to ban reporters from the White House if he doesn’t like their reporting? On Oct. 13, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly expanded his previous temporary ruling to say the Trump administration’s ban likely violated the press’ First Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights. Kelly ruled the news outlets were likely to succeed in their lawsuit against the administration and rejected Trump’s argument that the ban was made out of concern for national security. The decision came after the expiration of Kelly’s temporary order to block the ban. Trump originally announced the ban Sept. 18 with a Truth Social post. News outlets immediately sued the administration. The constitutional elements impacting this decision are outlined in Kelly’s opinion, where he details the specific precedent that makes it likely the press will succeed in their lawsuit. Fifth Amendment concerns The 1977 Sherrill v. Knight sets the precedent to argue the ban violated the press’ Fifth Amendment rights. In this case, Robert Sherrill, a journalist from The Nation, was denied a press pass to access the White House without specific reason or ample time to respond. The court ruled journalists must be given a specific explanation and meaningful opportunity to respond if their request for a press place is to be rejected. The argument for due process was further supported by the 2020 Karem v. Trump, in which a journalist’s press pass was suspended in 2019 for violating professional journalistic norms

with the then-former Trump administration official Sebastian Gorka. The court reaffirmed that journalists have a right to access the White House, and specific reasons must be given if that right is revoked. The Trump administration failed to provide a sufficient explanation for the September ban or establish specific standards that resulted in the ban in the first place. Additionally, the administration only provided this explanation via a letter sent by the White House Press Office to the news outlets Sept. 22, after the ban was announced, which didn’t allow the reporters the time or ability to respond, according to Kelly’s opinion. First Amendment concerns News outlets also claimed the Trump administration violated their First Amendment rights through viewpoint discrimination and retaliation. Under the First Amendment, government agents can’t block ideologies or opinions while allowing perspectives from an opposing side. This is a form of speech regulation based on the content of the speech and therefore unconstitutional. Retaliation occurs when the government takes negative action against a person or group because they participated in constitutionally protected speech. Trump made three social media posts accusing the banned news outlets of reporting “FAKE NEWS” and intentionally painting the administration in a negative light, justifying the ban. While the government is free to criticize journalists and their coverage, it can’t take action against protected speech. One of the few exceptions to this rule is if the issue poses a legitimate threat to national security, which is what the administration claimed in this case. Kelly ruled there wasn’t much evidence to prove such a threat. The remaining pool of television news organizations allowed access to the White House, including ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, took part in a rare unified protest by refusing to cover the White House. Due to space constraints and ease of content distribution, coverage is regularly rotated within a small pool of five television news organizations. This system ensures events are covered without complicating communication among outlets. CNN, one of the banned outlets, was scheduled to cover presidential events and movements Sept. 21. In a show of soli-

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Anenaa Kumar // Alligator Staff

Amid the Trump administration’s White House press ban, questions of legality are brought up. darity, other networks refused to step in as a replacement. As a result, presidential coverage went dark for several days, meaning Trump received no television coverage of events such as his meeting with Xi Jinping, the president of China. Trump openly criticized major news networks, including CNN and MS NOW, on Truth Social and started an antitrust investigation through the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation, which treats the press’ protest as an anti-competitive corporate decision, launched Oct. 9 to determine whether the actions of the other news outlets constituted an illegal boycott under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The DOJ investigation is still in the early stages, and formal findings or conclusions haven’t been released as of Oct. 17. While the president is allowed to restrict press access to the White House by taking neutral action to enforce the president’s physical safety or protect classified information, the legal issue goes beyond those limitations. Read the rest online at alligator.org. @kaysheri_h khaffner@alligator.org

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

MUSIC

The Wombat’s RadioGNV gives local artists the spotlight FOR AN HOUR EACH MONTH, 90.1 PLAYS NOTHING BUT GAINESVILLE’S NEWEST MUSIC

By Brandy Sumner Avenue Staff Writer

When listeners across Gainesville tune their radios to 90.1 on the first Friday of the month, they can find an hour dedicated to playing the newest local music. RadioGNV launched its first hour on The Wombat in January 2023 after a chance encounter between one of the people who runs the station and 37-year-old Brandon Telg, who directs MusicGNV, a nonprofit supporting local independent artists. Telg had gone to The Bull, a downtown Gainesville bar and venue, to enjoy a night out and mingle. “We started talking — me and this guy at the bar — and he was like, ‘Yeah, we’d love for some

new programming to get on the docket,’” Telg said. “And I said, ‘Well, I would love to do an all Gainesville music hour of radio.’ And he said, ‘OK, well, let’s make it happen.’” Telg would go on to emcee the radio show, which he initially planned to curate with music from Gainesville’s past and present. But as hype for the show grew and more artists began to produce music, new releases from various bands started to fill the hour on their own. The hope, Telg said, is to give local bands new audiences and help people discover musicians they might have never heard. Its radio format offers its own benefits, he said, offering a break from online algorithms that tend to keep people stuck in one genre. A human-made playlist is more likely to shuffle in songs outside of a listener’s regular taste, he added. “Somebody has that human touch in its curation,” Telg said, “and that’s how you expand your musical palette.”

Chris Modrono, the 27-year-old guitarist and vocalist of local jam band Aisle 14, is a fan of The Wombat and often tunes into the station with his brother and bassist, Manny. Now both have gotten to hear their own song on the station. Friday’s show included Aisle 14’s “Island Jam” as part of RadioGNV’s eclectic mix. This wasn’t the band’s first inclusion on The Wombat, Modrono said, but it was their first time spotlighted in RadioGNV. Audience members have told Modrono they recognize Aisle 14’s music from hearing it on The Wombat, he said. “As an artist, I want to connect with those people,” he said. “I like to think of it as my audience that doesn’t know I exist yet.” Read the rest online at alligator.org/sections/the_avenue bsumner@alligator.org

Mily Moran // Alligator Staff

Music GNV and Wombat’s local music hour features a monthly segment highlighting local artists for one hour to begin each month.

NATURE

Sunny and Share Stems flower shop finds room to bloom AFTER OVER FOUR YEARS OF BLOOM BARS, THE GAINESVILLE BUSINESS IS BRANCHING FURTHER INTO WEDDING FLORALS

By Aaliyah Evertz Avenue Staff Writer

For over four years, Gainesville residents have left birthday parties, grand openings and sorority events carrying bundles of flowers from Sunny and Share Stems. Before event attendees pick their

flowers, 35-year-old owner Nicole Germany spends days getting them there. Flowers from a Jacksonville wholesaler arrive at her home, where she trims and prepares them. She stamps the paper bouquet carriers, cuts ribbon and packs a custom flower cart small enough to fit inside her Honda Civic. She puts it all together an hour before guests arrive. Germany has built this routine around the Bloom Bar, Sunny and Share Stems’ signature service, where guests sift through buckets of individual stems to create their own

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bouquets. Now, she is pushing the business into new territory. Germany is still balancing the business she wants to become her career with the job that pays her bills. She works as a server at The Flying Biscuit Cafe while running Sunny and Share largely from home. With two weddings booked next year and an inquiry as far ahead as 2028, Germany hopes the expansion will eventually make Sunny and Share her full-time career. “I wish it was,” she said. “I’m getting there, you know, that’s the goal.”

Sunny and Share Stems began during the COVID-19 pandemic after Germany left her full-time social media job and started experimenting with flowers. Inspired by a Tampa flower truck called Posies, she brainstormed ways she could bring flowers to people without a traditional storefront. From there, the Bloom Bar was born. At her first workshop at a DIY crafting studio, about 20 people made flower arrangements and painted mason jars to hold them. Since then, the cart has made its way to baby showers, Sweet 16s, grand

openings and sorority events. As Bloom Bars gained popularity and more businesses began offering similar experiences, Germany started thinking about how Sunny and Share could stand apart. After posting about her business on TikTok, she found an audience interested in starting similar endeavours and created an online how-to guide. Read the rest online at alligator.org/sections/the_avenue. @aaliyahevertz1 aevertz@alligator.org

The Alligator’s arts and culture reporting is made possible with the support of the Brian Doherty Fund.

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 ALLIGATOR 7

Celebrating 120 years of the Editorial

120 years later, student journalism remains as important as ever Reflecting on over a century of hard work done right

O

ne rule we’re told to follow as journalists is to never let a number stand alone. There must always be some mode of comparison to ground the reader: a stadium to fit inside or number of objects to tip the scale. Most of us didn’t go into this field because we love math. Big numbers are hard; we get that. So, to ask a similar question to one asked in a certain song from a certain Broadway musical: How do we define the number 120? A trip from our office to Disney World is 120 miles. A college semester is 120 days. A bachelor’s degree is 120 credit hours. But those comparisons fail to convey the memories created, accomplishments earned and battles fought — so bear with us if we choose to let a number stand alone just this once. This paper’s publication date marks exactly 120 years since it launched as The University News in 1906, the year UF — then called the University of the State of Florida — established its home in Gainesville. Some of the challenges we face today might sound surreal to those first editors, who lived in a 45-state U.S. and wouldn’t see widespread modern air conditioning until nearly half a century later. We can’t pretend to know how those first editors felt when they founded the paper. However, we can be fairly certain why they launched it, because it’s the same reason we continue to fight for it today: to inform so you can decide. Journalism faces battles both incredibly different from and eerily similar to those it faced in 1906. Modern technology is revolutionary, allowing us to communicate with people hundreds of miles from The Swamp. With it comes the rise of artificial intelligence, a tool

we’re encouraged to either adopt or risk falling behind. No one can promise us our jobs will be safe from its spread, but we can promise this much: Our work is 100% human, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon. Meanwhile, newsrooms are shutting down across the country, and local papers are shrinking into the leadership of larger conglomerates. Just last month, newspaper chain McClatchy, which owns The Miami Herald, laid off at least 90 journalists across dozens of publications. Some of those were former Alligator staff members. It’s hard to sit in a room of 70-plus other student journalists, all trying to ignore the LinkedIn layoff announcements flooding our feeds, and leap into making a paper each week. But we leap into it anyway — because we’ve seen the power of student journalism. Just last month, reporters from The Cornell Daily Sun broke the news of a sexual assault lawsuit at their university that has since gained global attention. The staff put nearly two years of dedication into the coverage, and their reporting communicated more to the campus than its administration. As The Cornell Sun’s editor-in-chief reflected: Why should a newspaper have financial independence if not to report unapologetically on its university? The Alligator prides itself on its independence. Since 1973, this paper has been funded independently of the university administration — which didn’t adopt us until 1912. Our independence is a defining achievement, and we have never taken it for granted. In the past three years alone, we’ve uncovered the misuse of funds by former UF President Ben

Sasse, arrests of UF employees and students and events that led to the ousting of Krishna Lunch. The newsroom’s passionate, fast-paced environment is also a catalyst for full-time journalists. Alligator alumni have gone on to work in newsrooms across the country, including The New York Times, Orlando Sentinel, Washington Post and Tampa Bay Times. Their work at the Alligator was just the beginning. Our newsroom is a learning ground that allows our staff to make mistakes and learn from them, develop their skills and foster lifelong connections. With all that’s happened in the past 120 years, we can’t begin to predict what the next 120 will look like. But we’re here and hungry to keep doing what we’re doing. And we don’t plan on going anywhere. To ensure student journalism can continue to thrive for years to come, please consider donating at alligator.org/page/donate.

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8 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS

Greatness across generations

Alumni Reflections What lessons from The Alligator have stuck with you the most?

“‘We inform, you decide’ should be the motto for journalism at any phase, at any time, in any medium.” — Adam Berry, former Alligator editor, 2007-11. “Don’t be an asshole.” — Chris O'Brien, former Alligator Sports editor and reporter, 2018-19. “More important than good writing is a good work effort.” — Petrana Radulovic, former Alligator Opinions editor and columnist, 2016-17. “We need healthy and courageous civic institutions. We need journalists asking

questions the rest of us can’t ask. We need students to work out their education in many ways.” — Matthew Boedy, former Alligator editor, 1999-2001. “Always ask questions.” — Marty Perlmutter, former Alligator Sports editor, 1970-72.

What is your favorite memory from The Alligator? “Driving all night from Gainesville to Panama City with David Klein, Robert Rivas and George Kochaniec to cover the aftermath of Category 3 Hurricane Eloise. We arrived at daybreak to a scene of ma-

jor destruction. Our Alligator press badges got us past the police barricades so that we could take photos and talk with folks who were going through the wreckage.” — Rick Rosen, former Alligator photographer, 197375. “Interviewing Muhammad Ali one on one after driving him from campus to Jacksonville at 3 a.m.” — Marty Perlmutter, former Alligator Sports editor, 1970-72. “All of us piling into a car and driving to Crescent Beach in the middle of the night, just because someone wanted to sleep on the beach.” — Eve D. Ackerman, former Alligator Staff Writer, 1973-74.

What advice do you have for student journalists? “It's hard in the media world right now, but it is incredibly fulfilling.” — Petrana Radulovic, former Alligator Opinions editor,

2016-17. “Keep doing the work. Keep reading. Keep reporting. Keep writing. Gain as much experience as you can. The work you do at The Alligator is so important for the Gainesville community, Gators fans and you. Treat it like it's your job.” — Adam Berry, former Alligator editor, 2007-11. “Put your phone down, and see what's right in front of you.” — Dave Hogerty, former Alligator photographer, 1979-82. “Getting it right is more important than getting it first.” — Eve D. Ackerman, former Alligator Staff Writer, 1973-74. “Write, write, write, and believe that there is a desperate need for a professional reporting and interpretation of the news — AI doesn't mean it isn't necessary; on the contrary, it's more necessary than ever.” — Ian Johnson, former Alligator Editor-in-Chief and Staff Writer, 1981-85.

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 ALLIGATOR 9

120 years of excellence The Alligator never writes or publishes with awards in mind — the material published is solely for the benefit of our readers. Sometimes, we even forget to submit our content to the myriad of contests available to writers and publications. Still, when we do remember to think about possible recognition, we are often pleasantly surprised. The following are only a small representation of the many awards The Alligator has won across its 120 years of publication. Space constraints prevent us from highlighting awards beneath first place. Look through our archives to see our Centennial edition, which highlights our first 100 years of awards. The keys to the organization presenting the awards follow: Florida Press Association awards — judged with all newspapers in Florida within the same circulation size. Society of Professional Journalists — (formerly Sigma Delta Chi) the most estimable, oldest and largest journalism association in the U.S., with members in the tens of thousands from every form of journalism. Southern University Newspapers — judged against the 10-state members of the association. Charlie Awards (formerly Florida Magazine Association) — recognize excellence in writing, editing, graphic design, digital, photography and overall best quality in Florida. Freedom Forum — recognizes journalists and media leaders who show a strong commitment to a free and fair press and the First Amendment.

SEE AWARDS, PAGE 10

10 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS

Alligator editors past and present

Editors of the Alligator must do it all: They decide which stories run on print versus web, direct how the news is reported, edit every single story you read and — most importantly — see that the newspaper meets its final deadline. Alligator editors-in-chief after The University News moved onto campus and its name was changed to The Florida Alligator Jim McGinley Paul Horton Dana Bullen Art Smith George Bayless Gene LeGette Art Smith Dan Hackel Al Quentel David Levy Don Allen Lee Fennell Joe Thomas Dick Hebert Jim Moorhead Bill Curry Neil Swan Bill Curry Tom Gibson David Lawrence Jr. John Askins Walker Lundy Steve Vaughn Ben Cason Andy Moor Gene Nail Eddie Sears Jim White Steve Hull Harold Kennedy Harold Aldrich Dave Doucette Dave Reddick Raul Ramiriz Bob Fraser Sam Pepper Phyllis Gallub Ron Sachs Steve Sauls Randy Bellows

(1951) (1951) 1952) (1953) (1953) (1954) (1954) (1955) (1955, 1957) (1957) (1958) (1958) (1959) (1960) (1960) (1961) (1961) (1962) (1962) (1963) (1963) (1964) (1965) (1965) (1966) (1966) (1966) (1967) (1967 – 68) (1968) (1969) (1969) (1969) (1969) (1970) (1970) (1971) (1971) (Spring 1972) (1972)

Editors-in-chief after the newspaper moved off campus and became The Independent Florida Alligator Tim Condon Debbie Smith Jim Seale David Smith Ron Cunningham Tom Shroder Brian Jones Mindi Keirnan Deborah Ibert Tom Julin Andrew Froman Dennis Kneale Tim Smart Patrick Cronin Cindy Spence Barry Klein David Dahl Robert Mcclure Donna Wares Johnathan Susskind Adam Yeomans Ian Johnson Dana Mcelroy Broward Liston Kyle Kulish Frank Lomonte Sallie Hughes Joshua Weinstein John Harris Michael Koretzky Sonja Isger Derek Catron Michael Giltz Lucy Chabot Judy Plunkett Debbie Cenziper

(Spring 1973) (Fall 1973) (Spring 1974) (Fall 1974) (Spring 1975) (Fall 1975) (Spring 1976) (Fall 1976) (Spring 1977) (Fall 1977) (Spring 1978) (Fall 1978) (Spring 1979) (Fall 1979) (Spring 1980) (Fall 1980) (Spring 1981) (Fall 1981) (Spring 1982) (Fall 1982) (Spring 1983) (Fall 1983) (Spring 1984) (Fall 1984) (Spring 1985) (Fall 1985) (Spring 1986) (Fall 1986) (Spring 1987) (Fall 1987 – Spring 1988) (Fall 1988) (Spring 1989) (Fall 1989) (Spring 1990) (Fall 1990) (Spring 1991)

Geoff Boucher Matthew Sauer Elizabeth Clarke Matt Adams Jon Glass Jaime Abdo Edie Gross Kara Kitts Grant Heston Amy Zerba Greg Auman Jacob Luft Tonya Favata Jamie Malernee Shannon Colavecchio William M. Hartnett Beth Kassab Michael Samuels Jason Brown Trey Csar Jenny Allen Sarah Myrick Heather Leslie Joe Black Cameron Ackroyd Sarah Anderson Dwayne Robinson Mike Gimignani Emily Yehle Warren Kagarise Bridget Carey Stephanie Garry Jessica Riffel Dominick Tao Lyndsey Lewis Chad Smith Devin Culclasure Jessica Dasilva Nicole Safker Kristin Bjornsen Chelsea Keenan Rachael Pino Emily Fuggetta Paul Runnestrand C.J. Pruner Elizabeth Behrman Joey Flechas Clare Lennon Erin Jester Sarah Kinonen Matt Riva Julia Glum Alex Harris Kristan Wiggins Kathryn Varn Jordan Mcpherson Alyssa Fisher Ariana Figueroa Giuseppe Sabella Emily Cochrane Martin Vassolo Molly Vossler Katelyn Newberg Melissa Gomez Morgan Mcmullen Meryl Kornfield Paige Fry Mark Stine Amanda Rosa Christina Morales Christian Ortega Kyle Wood Karina Elwood Kaelyn Cassidy Steven Walker Lianna Hubbard Julia Coin Makiya Seminera Alan Halaly Jiselle Lee Isabella Douglas Claire Grunewald Aiden Bush Siena Duncan Ella Thompson Delia Rose Sauer Alissa Gary Zoey Thomas Bailey Diem

(Fall 1991) (Spring 1992) (Fall 1992) (Spring – Fall 1993) (Spring 1994) (Fall 1994) (Spring 1995) (Fall 1995) (Spring 1996) (Fall 1996) (Spring 1997) (Fall 1997) (Spring 1998) (Fall 1998) (Spring 1999) (Fall 1999) (Spring 2000) (Fall 2000) (Spring 2001) (Fall 2001) (Spring 2002) (Fall 2002) (Spring 2003) (Fall 2003) (Spring 2004) (Fall 2004) (Spring 2005) (Fall 2005) (Spring 2006) (Summer 2006) (Summer 2006) (Fall 2006) (Spring 2007) (Summer 2007) (Fall 2007) (Spring 2008) (Summer 2008) (Fall 2008) (Spring 2009) (Summer – Fall 2009) (Spring 2010) (Summer 2010) (Fall 2010) (Spring 2011) (Summer 2011) (Fall 2011) (Spring 2012) (Summer 2012) (Fall 2012) (Spring 2013) (Summer 2013) (Fall 2013 – Spring 2014) (Summer 2014) (Fall 2014) (Spring 2015) (Summer 2015) (Fall 2015) (Spring 2016) (Summer 2016) (Fall 2016) (Spring 2017) (Summer 2017) (Fall 2017) (Spring 2018) (Summer 2018) (Fall 2018) (Spring 2019) (Summer 2019) (Fall 2019) (Spring 2020) (Summer 2020) (Fall 2020) (Spring 2021) (Summer 2021) (Fall 2021) (Spring 2022) (Summer 2022) (Fall 2022) (Spring 2023) (Summer 2023) (Fall 2023) (Spring 2024) (Summer 2024) (Fall 2024) (Spring 2025) (Summer 2025) (Fall 2025) (Spring 2026) (Summer – Fall 2026)

The Alligator's recognized work AWARDS, from pg. 9 *Awards for advertising excellence +Awards for display excellence 2006 1st — Classified advertising, best in-house promotion (1)* 1st — Display advertising, best use of color, Bennigan’s, Alicia Bennatt (1)* 2007 1st — Display advertising, best use of space, Flaco’s (1)* 1st — Classified advertising, best classified ad (1)* 1st — Advertising campaign or series (3)* 1st — Best classified page (3)* 2008 1st — Best real estate ad (1)* + 1st — Best classified promotion ad (1)* 2009 1st — Group promotion (1) + 1st — Clothing store (1) + 2011 1st — Special section cover (1) + 1st — Most efficient small space (1) + 2014 1st — Breaking news story, Richard Johnson, Jordan McPherson (1) 1st — Sports column, Eden Otero, Jordan McPherson (1) 2016 1st — In-depth reporting, Alligator Staff (1) 1st — Feature story: profile, Martin Vassolo (1) 1st — Sports column, Ethan Bauer (1) 1st — Health, medical & science reporting, Melissa Gomez (1) 1st — Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Alligator Staff (2) 2017 1st — Sports Feature Story, Ethan Bauer (1) 1st — Local Government Reporting, Ethan Bauer (1) 1st — Breaking News Reporting, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, “Protesters take a stand, outnumber Spencer supporters,” Ian Cohen, Romy Ellenbogen, David Hoffman and Jimena Tavel (2) 1st — Sports Writing, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, “Former Miami Dolphins wait and wonder about future health,” Ethan Bauer (2) 1st — Sports Column Writing, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Ethan Bauer (2) 1st — Feature Writing, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Ethan Bauer (2) 2019 1st — Education Feature, David Hoffman (1) 1st — Sports Column, Mark Stine (1) 1st — Sports Feature Story, Chris O’Brien (1) 1st — Breaking News Story, Paige Fry & Elliot Nasby (1) 2020 1st — Best Multimedia Feature, Alligator Staff (2) 2022 1st — Breaking News Photography, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, “Sister Cindy draws a crowd at alma mater,” Alan Halaly (2) 1st — Breaking News Reporting, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, “UF presidential finalist Ben Sasse addresses community in campus visit, protestors storm forum,” Makiya Seminera (2) 1st — Best All-Around Student Newspaper, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Alligator Staff (2) 1st — Editorial/Opinion Writing, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Alligator Editorial Board (2) 2023 1st — Editorial/Opinion Writing, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Alligator Editorial Board (2) 2024 1st — Best All-Around Student Newspaper, Mark of Excellence Award, Region 3, Alligator Staff (2) 2025 1st — Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media, Alligator Staff (5) 2026 1st — Sports Page or Sections, Alligator Staff (1) 1st — In-depth Feature, “UF presidential search committee member appears in files related to Jeffrey Epstein,” Alexa Ryan (4) 1st — Best Writing: In-depth Reporting, “Retired professor cut off for Charlie Kirk post says UF is “silencing dissent,” Swasthi Maharaj, Leona Masangkay (4) 1st — Best Writing: Public Service Coverage, “Ripple Effects,” Alligator Staff (4) 1st — Best Writing: Column, “Hamilton School blind spots,” Sasha Morel (4)

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he quickest way to have your game day experience ruined is to be seated next to a “doomer.” These are the people who, at even the slightest setback, will throw a fit about the state of our football program. Calls to fire our coach, bench our quarterback or give up entirely will frequently echo from these pessimistic fans. I call these fans “doomers” because they remind me of the “the end is nigh” insisters. They see everything through the lens of their own belief that the sky is falling. These fans sour the outlook of our program, dampening excitement and darkening the outlook of our football program.

Jon Sumrall went to Columbia, Missouri, in Florida’s first ranked road test and got absolutely demolished by the Tigers. No sugar coating here, the Gators got trounced. The No. 8 Gators were 5.5-point favorites over No. 25-ranked Missouri and lost by 28. After that embarrassing loss, doomers called for Brad White, the Gators’ first-year defensive coordinator, to be fired and for Florida to drop out of the rankings completely. The doomers became even louder the next week when the then-No. 16 Gators were similarly blown out, this time at home, by the unranked South Carolina Gamecocks. Florida became unranked and hope was at a

new low for the season. This was not the first time a first-year Gators head coach was blown out in an embarrassing fashion during their first ranked road test. Urban Meyer’s No. 5 Florida team lost to No. 15 Alabama 31-3 in 2005. Steve Spurrier was similarly destroyed at No. 5 Tennessee in 1990 45-3 while ranked No. 9. Should UF have listened to the doomers then? Rebuilding a football program to national prominence takes time; just because Curt Cignetti was able to do it in two years from 2024 to 2025 doesn’t mean it’s the standard. Especially since, and the Ole Miss

win has seemingly made people forget this, Florida won only four games Evan Dressel last year. Sumrall opinions@alligator.org matched that total in his first four games while averaging 53.5 points per game.

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here is a common stereotype that the average American tourist can’t identify countries on a map, assumes everyone speaks English and knows very little about the world outside the U.S. It’s an easy assumption to make especially because there’s enough truth behind it to make it real. Yet instead of asking how the average American knows so little, I think the more interesting question is how one of the most educated nations in the world can get away with it. In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, Americans only managed to correctly answer about half of questions on international affairs. These findings reveal gaps in international knowledge, but they also raise questions about the circumstances in which that knowledge develops. Consider geography. An American can travel across states and communities without leaving the country. In much of Europe, traveling the same distance might involve crossing national borders, encountering different languages and navigating unfamiliar political and cultural environments. The U.S. is culturally diverse, but encountering diversity within a country isn’t necessarily the same as engaging with the experiences and political circumstances of people living under different flags.

The relationship between international exposure and knowledge is reflected in Pew’s findings. Americans who had traveled internationally answered about 60% of questions correctly, while those who hadn’t only managed to get a third of them right. This doesn’t mean traveling automatically makes someone more informed, but it suggests there’s a positive correlation between exposure to other countries and greater international awareness. Of course, international travel isn’t equally accessible to everyone, and it shouldn’t be a prerequisite for understanding the world. The point is that our physical surroundings influence what we unintentionally encounter each day. Someone who regularly crosses national borders may become familiar with neighboring countries through daily experiences, while Americans can spend years traveling extensively without having those same encounters. While this can also apply to other large countries, America’s cultural dominance in media can make international perspectives easier to overlook. Geography isn’t the only thing keeping us in this bubble. American films, television, music and online spaces have an enormous international presence, exposing audiences abroad to

American culture. But that familiarity doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. Americans may recognize domestic celebrities and influencers more readily than international ones, not because foreign cultures are inaccessible, but because our entertainment environment rarely requires us to Shirin Khizzar seek them out. What we consume opinions@alligator.org shapes which countries and experiences feel familiar and which remain overlooked. That imbalance matters even more when it comes to the news we consume. The way Americans encounter current events has changed considerably, especially among younger audiences. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found about four in 10 Americans ages 18 to 29 regularly consume news from social media influencers. Pew’s 2025 findings showed nearly seven in 10 Americans receiving news from these influencers are more likely to come across it by chance than seek it out.

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9am-6pm all items * noon-6 1/2 price9am-6pm Boxe The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator. all items ** exceptFrien noon-6pm all item noon-6pm 10 cents sat. 9am-6pm 43 1/2 pri 9am-6pmall items * 9am-6pm * except Boxes Friends of the Library *Friends except Boxes noon-6pm Friends of the Library of the Library sun.-- 10 cents April 26 – 30, 2025 OCTOBER 25 - 29, all items * 20 all items * 430 N. Main St. gainesville, fl wed. 9am-6pm 1/2 price sat. 9am-6pm noon-6pm * except1/2 Boxesprice 9am-6p Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/opinions. @Shirinkhizzar Skhizzar@alligator.org

The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/sports

WOMEN'S TENNIS

How Jana Hossam’s love for tennis pushed her cross-country HOSSAM PLAYED TWO SEASONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO UF

By Alisa Gershman Sports Writer

Jana Hossam is no stranger to turning her life upside down for the love of the game. The Alexandria, Egypt, native first moved to the U.S. when her tennis career took her to the University of Southern California. After two years with the program, Gators tennis pulled her thousands of miles away once again. She now embarks on her first season at Florida with no regrets about making another life-altering move. Hossam was first introduced to the college tennis scene when she played in the Orange Bowl Tennis Championships in Florida to gain more exposure. With her outstanding performance, she caught the attention of college coaches who began to recruit her. When they told her about the competitive nature of college tennis and its benefits, she realized she wanted to pursue it.

While playing in a completely different country brought its adjustments, it also brought new experiences and opportunities for Hossam. She said the shift transformed her not only as a tennis player but also as a person. “I’m a little bit quieter and all that, so I was really nervous,” Hossam said. “But I think it changed me in a good way, so I’m happy that I took this path.” When choosing where to play, Hossam connected with USC. She said she loved the school’s high level of competition and supportive coaching staff. Through her freshman and sophomore seasons, she staked her claim as a powerful athlete on the West Coast. During her freshman season, she went 22-9 in singles and 17-5 in doubles. She earned a national ranking of No. 71 and was the 2025 Egypt Singles National Champion. Her path to success continued into the next season. She was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Singles All-American and earned AllBig Ten first team and Big Ten Player of the Week honors. She went 24-13 overall in singles and 19-13 in doubles, rotating among five partners. Hossam ended the year ranked No.

24 but achieved a career high of No. 16 in the ITA Singles Ranking during the season. She attributed the success of her sophomore year not only to her dedication, but to the support of her coaches and teammates at USC. “They helped me get out of my comfort zone,” Hossam said. But even with all her success, Hossam was ready for a new chapter — even if it brought her across the country she’d landed in two years prior. She made the transition from the West to East Coast and transferred to Florida over the summer to give herself a fresh start and new challenge at the SEC level. Florida’s weather proved to be a major adjustment. She had to fight off the Sunshine State’s unrelenting humidity, she said, a stark contrast to Southern California and Egypt’s dryness. “In the beginning it was a bit tough for me because the weather is really, really humid, and I wasn’t used to it,” Hossam said. “Even in Egypt, it's really hot, but not like this.” As the fall season barrels on, Hossam has grown increasingly comfortable with her Florida coaches and teammates.

The Gators competed at ITA AllAmericans in Cary, North Carolina, from Sept. 19-27. There, she truly felt the presence and support of her new team. “I enjoyed All-Americans when they were all cheering for every match,” Hossam said. “The vibes are really fun.” The unpredictable rain came through during the tournament and forced the players to compete indoors. The Gators, however, had been practicing outdoors the previous week and had to adjust to their game quickly. Hossam found this to be one of her weaknesses her first time sporting the orange and blue. “I think that was a little bit tough for me because I wasn’t really ready for it,” Hossam said. “I tried to handle it throughout my match, but it didn’t go my way.” Hossam was slated into the main draw from the beginning of the tournament, where Mississippi State's Gianna Oboniye defeated her 6-2, 6-4. “I was playing a big hitter, so I think that was one of my weaknesses,” she said. But she found her rhythm in the consolation bracket and beat Central Florida’s Jantje Tilbuerger 6-3, 7-5. In her third match, she fought

harder against NC State's Lavinia Tanasie and came out on top 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-1). Hossam was later defeated by Columbia’s Margot Phanthala 6-4, 6-2. On Oct. 8, the Gators began competing at ITA Regional Championships in Miami. Hossam was once again in the main singles draw and competed alongside freshman Capucine Jauffret in doubles for the first time. Hossam had a strong outing in her first match of the main draw, defeating Florida International's Viktorie Hazmukova 6-2, 6-0. But in the second round, she fell to Miami’s Raquel Gonzalez 6-4, 6-3. In doubles, Hossam and Jauffret quickly found a connection and picked up a seamless win against Georgia Southern's Evelyn Warkentin and Angelina Mihajlovic 8-0. However, the pair was then defeated by Miami's Jaquelyn Ogunwale and Berrak Kocak 8-2. With her first few outings as a Gator under her belt, Hossam looks to the spring season with her coaches and teammates standing beside her. @angershman alisagersh07@gmail.com

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida basketball takes on SEC Media Day as the team to beat, again THE GATORS WILL ENTER THE SEASON AS FAVORITES TO WIN THE SEC FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

By Jeffrey Serber Sports Writer

One year ago, Todd Golden addressed a room full of reporters in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Southeastern Conference Basketball Media Days for the fourth time at the helm of the Gators. During his 15-minute slot, Golden addressed the media for the first time as a defending national champion, and he faced the pressure of the high expectations that come with being the team to beat. Fast forward a year and the circumstances are almost identical. On Oct. 14, Golden addressed the media at SEC Tipoff ‘27 at the Hotel Wildemont in Birmingham, Alabama, and while his program isn’t the defending champion, the Gators have the expectations of one. Two days prior, the Gators were ranked No. 1 in the SEC preseason rankings for the second consecutive year. Throughout the event, Golden, along with starters Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, who were also selected to attend last year’s conference media day, faced those expectations head-on with the media once

again. But this time, they built on last season’s experiences, which included a regular-season SEC title and an NCAA knockout in the second round. “All of our guys, myself included, can use last year as a learning experience to not allow the expectations to affect us or dictate how we go,” Golden said. “We are more ready for this year than we were last year.” Another parallel from last year’s media day is the drama surrounding Florida and Golden’s relationship with Denzel Aberdeen. Last year, the head coach was asked what it was like to lose Aberdeen, who played a key role off the bench in Florida's 2025 national championship run. “We would have loved to have Denzel back,” Golden said at last year’s SEC Media Day. “There were other things that were more important to him than what we had to offer.” In his sole season at Kentucky, Aberdeen averaged 13.5 points and 3.4 assists per game. He averaged 17 points across his three games against UF last season. This year, Golden talked about what it was like to bring him back. Aberdeen received a temporary injunction Sept. 29, clearing him for the upcoming season. “When he left, obviously we were disappointed to see him go, but there was never really ill will,” Golden said. “He remained really close with the guys on the team. … Of course we were excited to bring him back.”

Florida’s frontcourt trio of Haugh, Condon and Chinyelu returned to SEC Media Day this year with high expectations. “All three of them are great models, great leaders,” Golden said. “These guys have put the team first, and I've really appreciated the way they led so far.” Ahead of last season, Condon was an AP Preseason All-American, Haugh earned preseason All-SEC third-team honors and Chinyelu entered his second season as Florida’s starting center. On Oct. 14, the expectations for the trio are arguably greater. “Us three, we want to leave a legacy at Florida,” Condon said. “We were able to get that national championship our sophomore year, and hopefully our fourth year we can say the same thing.” Haugh and Chinyelu received preseason AllSEC first-team honors this year. Condon earned second-team honors, making UF the only team with three players to receive preseason recognition. Chinyelu enters the season as the defending Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. After averaging 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds per game last season, the then-junior center became the first Gator in 50 years to finish a season averaging double-digit rebounds. Condon, who had his fair share of ups and downs, averaged 16.5 points in the second half

of last season. Most notably, Haugh was named preseason SEC Player of the Year, the first Gator to receive the award since Keyontae Johnson ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. Haugh finished with All-SEC First Team honors last year after averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 boards per contest. “Playing in this league, it’s the most difficult, the most physical league in America and college basketball,” Haugh said. “Being able to play in this, you become the most pro-ready player.” All three returned to Gainesville for their senior seasons, forgoing the 2026 NBA Draft where they were all almost guaranteed to be selected. Many mock drafts, including ESPN, had Haugh as a lottery pick. “It was an amazing decision that was in front of me either way I chose,” Haugh said. “Eventually, it was these guys coming back. … Just that ability to have another year to go try to cut down a net was huge for me.” This year, the Gators will strive to earn a different result than a second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament. Florida opens the 2026-27 campaign against Miami Nov. 2 in Tampa at Benchmark International Arena, the same venue where the Gators fell short in last year’s March Madness tournament.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026 ALLIGATOR 15

FOOTBALL

Takeaways from Florida’s come-from-behind win at Texas The Gators secured their first road top-10 victory in 14 years By Riley Orovitz & Max Bernstein Sports Writers

It had been over 5,075 days since Florida had defeated a top10 opponent on the road. But that 14-year streak was snapped when the Gators shocked the country and topped the No. 7 Texas Longhorns Oct. 17 behind a backup quarterback and fresh off a two-game skid. Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) walked into a rowdy Texas Memorial Stadium of 100,000-plus and eked out a 27-24 win. In their last road top-10 victory in 2012, the Gators dominated then-No. 10 Florida State. Texas (4-2, 1-2) was coming off a one-possession loss to Oklahoma and went 37 game minutes without a score against Florida. While the Longhorns led early and mounted a late comeback attempt, the Gators’ defense had one of their top performances of the season. After falling behind 17-3 with 2:44 left in the first half, Florida rattled off 24 unanswered points and converted eight of 11 thirddown attempts after failing on its first seven conversion tries. Ultimately, improvement on both sides of the ball was enough for the Gators en route to victory. Here are five takeaways from the Gators’ massive road upset over the Longhorns. The lights weren’t too bright for Tramell Jones Jr. Making your first collegiate start in one of college football’s most hostile environments is no easy feat. But quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. isn’t your average firsttime starter. After seven games of deputy work over his two-year career, Jones finally got his chance in Austin with Aaron Philo out due to a shoulder injury — and he made a major statement. At first, Jones struggled. While he completed five of his first six pass attempts, only one went for more than six yards. However, the sophomore signal-caller finally got going in the final drive of the first half. First, Jones layered a perfect pass to UF’s leading receiver of the season, Dallas Wilson, for a 17-yard gain on a crucial fourthand-12. He then connected with tight end Lacota Dippre in the end zone to bring the Gators back within one possession, 17-10. But Jones was at his absolute best in the second half. After misfiring on his throw in the third quarter, Jones went on a sevenpass completion streak, capped off by his second touchdown throw of the day to Dippre. But Jones wasn’t done there. He completed another five consecutive passes while executing a 14-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard goahead field goal by Patrick Durkin. Ultimately, Jones went 22-of-35 passing for 155 yards and two

touchdowns. “I’ve been playing football all my life. I just took it in as another football game, coming in here and playing the game I’ve been playing all my life,” Jones Jr. said. “I feel like I was comfortable. We just started off slow, and I just had to stay the course.” He also showcased his dualthreat ability, scrambling for 41 yards on 10 carries, two of which moved the chains. But his biggest run came in the best spot possible. On a third-and-7 with just 1:51 left on the clock, he kept the ball on a zone read and juked the last Texas defender to pick up the first down and ice the game. Jones’ success on the ground, paired with the resurgence of Jadan Baugh (25 carries for 91 yards) and the emergence of London Montgomery (four carries for 20 yards), led to a return to form for Florida’s rushing attack. Further, Jones consistently extended plays despite constant defensive pressure from the Longhorns, ultimately only being sacked once in the contest. He also outdueled preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and quarterback Arch Manning all afternoon. Manning, who came into the matchup 11-0 in home starts, went 14-of-20 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown. With his first collegiate start — and win — under his belt, it wouldn’t be a shock if Jones remains the starter going forward. “I’m glad we got two guys I believe in [and that] we can go win football games with,” Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said. “I really felt like we could win with both guys, and [today] proves it.” The real Florida defense stood up In the first two drives of the game, it seemed Florida’s defensive woes would continue for another week. The Longhorns had a combined 15 plays for 135 yards and put the first 10 points of the game on the board in just 6:10 of offensive game time. But then, the Gators’ defense woke up and stayed dialed in. Florida forced a punt, and then a three-and-out and punt. When Texas seemed destined to extend its lead before the half, sophomore linebacker Ty Jackson made the biggest play of his collegiate career, stuffing running back Hollywood Smothers on a fourthand-1 at midfield. That led to UF’s 14-point outburst at the end of the first half and into the second half. The Gators’ defense was at its 2026 peak in the third quarter. The Longhorns had just over 3 minutes of total possession and totaled only 8 yards in six plays. In the fourth quarter, the Gators stepped up when needed most. With Texas facing a fourth-and-2 near midfield, defensive tackle Brendan Bett stuffed Manning behind the line to force the change of possession.

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

Florida defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo flexes after defeating Texas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Austin, Texas. Florida’s defense did have a major chance to put the game out of reach on a fourth-and-6. However, JACK Jayden Woods couldn’t take down Manning, who aired it out to Emmett Mosley V for a 63-yard gain. Two plays later, Manning found wideout Cam Coleman for an 8-yard score. But the defense made its mark to secure the victory. On a secondand-8 nearing midfield, linebacker Myles Graham sacked Manning and forced the ball loose. STAR Kanye Clark jumped onto the pigskin, and Florida took over at Texas’ 39-yard line with 1:58 to go. That was just one of five sacks the Gators recorded on the day. Junior defensive end LJ McCray led the team with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a breakout performance. Graham had the other lone sack on the aforementioned forced fumble. Meanwhile, Bett, Jackson, defensive lineman DK Kalu and defensive backs Ben Hanks III and Lagonza Hayward all recorded half a sack. Ultimately, the Gators held Texas to 272 total yards and only allowed two conversions on 10 third-down attempts in their best performance of the season. “A lot of it was a mentality,” Sumrall said. “The guys, I think, took it personal. It’s no secret we haven’t played the kind of defense we need to play the first part of the year. I’ve been absolutely disgusted with it. ... So [I’m] very grateful for the mindset those guys played with.” Florida’s pass catchers delivered despite adversity For the health of Florida’s 2026 wide receiver room: When it rains, it pours. For the third consecutive game, standout wide receiver Vernell Brown III was sidelined due to a PCL sprain in his left knee. He went during warmups for a

third straight Saturday, but he ultimately didn’t see the field. Florida’s core took another major hit when, in the third quarter, Bailey Stockton, who had admirably filled in for Brown, went down with a noncontact leg injury. Stockton remained out for a handful of plays but returned on Florida’s final drive of the third frame. Stockton tallied four grabs for 31 yards. Down two of its top three receivers of the season, Florida needed the rest of its pass catchers to take advantage of their opportunities. And many did. Eric Singleton Jr. looked 100% for the first time all season, recording a team-high seven catches for 43 yards. He also nearly had Florida’s longest reception of the day in the early second quarter, but Jones undershot the speedy wideout, allowing Texas corner Bo Mascoe to break it up. Notably, Singleton was targeted on five of Jones’ first seven passes, cementing his presence early without Florida’s No. 1 option. Meanwhile, Dallas Wilson continued to make plays in big spots despite being tightly covered all afternoon. His first grab of the contest was a toe-tapping 17-yard catch on a massive fourth-and-12 conversion near the end of the first half. But it was Dippre who made arguably the biggest impression of the game. After Wilson’s big-time grab, Jones found a wide-open Dippre for UF’s first touchdown of the afternoon. On the ensuing drive out of the half, Dippre again found open space in the end zone to get on the board a second time. The Pennsylvania native logged just two catches coming into Austin, but he made a massive impact in the win. Not so special teams Ahead of the game, it appeared Florida would have an advantage with its special teams unit, but

that concept slipped away quickly. Punter Alec Clark saw his first action 5:26 into the game and nearly sucked some of the momentum out of Texas Memorial Stadium. He booted a 75-yard punt that took a massive bounce into Texas’ 5-yard line. The Gators had an opportunity to pin the Longhorns at the 1, but Kanye Clark pushed the ball into the end zone, and Texas opened the drive at its 20-yard line. The punt was the fourth-longest across all FBS programs this year. The Oklahoma Sooners narrowly defeated Texas last week thanks to a blocked punt in the end zone. Dakoda Fields’ second-quarter recovery fueled Oklahoma’s 27-24 win and exposed Texas’ special-teams blunders. However, Alec Clark’s punt wasn’t the sole mistake the unit produced. The senior’s third punt of the first half was fielded by Texas’ Ryan Niblett, who ran the length of the field and extended the Longhorns’ lead to 14. Kanye Clark continued his rough special teams outing after whiffing on a clear-cut tackle after Niblett received the punt. Texas’ dynamic returner wove through the rest of Florida’s coverage team and broke free unscathed. The Gators tightened up their special teams play from there. But those mistakes could have cost Florida the game any other day. First-half self-inflicted mistakes nearly cost the Gators Heading into the Oct. 17 game, Florida totaled 48 penalties for 467 yards. And against the Longhorns, the Gators’ discipline continued to be out of whack, as UF committed seven penalties to Texas’ one. The mishaps began on the opening drive, when cornerback Cormani McClain was flagged for pass interference against Coleman. Two plays later, Texas went ahead with a 32-yard touchdown run by Raleek Brown. On Florida’s second offensive drive, the Gators faced a fourthand-one midfield. Tramell Jones Jr. took a QB sneak and seemed to move the chains, but right guard TJ Shanahan Jr. was flagged for a false start, costing the conversion. The Gators subsequently punted. While Florida mostly cleaned up its discipline from that point forward, it could have been detrimental down the stretch. “Today, the game didn’t start out very good for us,” Sumrall said. “We played really sloppy early. ... [There were] several situations where we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot.” @rileyorovitz rorovitz@alligator.org @maxbernstein23 mbernstein@alligator.org

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