The Gator football team gets another verbal commitment; former Gator defensive coordinator Charlie Strong gets a big win for his Louisville Cardinals; the Atlanta Falcons pick off Drew Brees five times in a win over New Orleans and more in our Friday Sports News And Notes…
** The Gator football team receives a verbal commitment Thursday from one of the top high school safeties in the country in Orlando Dr. Phillips safety Marcell Harris, the son of former Gator defensive back Mike Harris. Florida now has 22 verbals in its 2013 class.
** The Louisville Cardinals overcame a 14-3 deficit to defeat Rutgers on the road 20-17 to claim a share of the Big East title and a probable BCS bowl berth in either the Orange or the Sugar Bowl.
** Tonight in college football, all eyes on the Mid American Conference title game as Kent State faces Northern Illinois. If the Golden Flashes win, they could qualify for a BCS bowl. The Pac 12 title game is also Friday as UCLA faces Stanford with the winner going to the Rose Bowl.
** The Atlanta Falcons pick off New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees five times in a 23-13 win over the Saints. The Falcons improve to 11-1 while the Saints fall to 5-7. Brees had his record of 54 straight games with a touchdown pass snapped as well.
** In baseball news, former Gator signee Denard Span is traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Alex Meyer. And it looks like Mariano Rivera will return to the New York Yankees as he signs a one year deal.
** In men’s college basketball, eighth ranked Kentucky was blasted on the road by Notre Dame 64-50 as the Wildcats fall to 4-2.