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Gators and Friends

A look back at memorable moments away from the action, chosen by the photographers who captured them.

By Florida Gators

July 28^th, 2015

Team Florida

In all kinds of weather, we all stick together

Click here to view a selection of some of the most memorable action images from the 2014-15 UF Athletics season.

"This photo shows 436 of the 479 student-athletes at UF for the 2014-15 academic year. Gators come from all over the world." - Tim Casey

"The softball team really means it when it chants 'It's great ... to be ... a Florida Gator.'" - Tim Casey

"Gator grads. This is what it's really about for the student-athletes at UF." - Tim Casey

"The Gators made quite an entrance at the College World Series opening ceremonies." - Tim Casey

"Team Florida. These were fun photo shoots." - Tim Casey

Gator gymnastics seniors on Senior Night, in front of the two championship banners they helped earn. They won another. (Photo: Erin Long)

Scenic views

Write your story here. (Optional)

"First week of August football practices." - Tim Casey

"The O'Connell Center looked great with the glow sticks, nice work by the UAA Marketing Department!" - Tim Casey (Photo: Rachel Mowat)

New territory

We saw a lot of new things in the past year

Jim McElwain arrives at Gainesville Regional Airport for the first time. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Jim McElwain's family, Karen, Jerret, Hanna, and Lizzie, help select portraits before his introductory press conference. (Photo: Tim Casey)

See notes from the photographer below. (Photo: Jim Burgess)

"Dante Fowler had fun with the Rowdy Reptiles." - Tim Casey

Jim McElwain speaks about National Signing Day in February. (Photo: Tim Casey)

See notes from the photographer below. (Photo: Tim Casey)

"Billy Donovan's penultimate game in the O'Connell Center. New Coach Michael White enters the next phase of Gators basketball." - Tim Casey

Marquis Dendy, a prolific jumper, runs the 100-meter sprint in very impressive fashion. "I just like his face" - Christine Casey

"Fun with shadows." - Tim Casey (Photo: Kelly Streeter...who didn't fall off of the roof!)

notes about "New territory"

Photo 3: “Only days after suffering a serious ankle injury in the season’s opening match, Gator gymnast Bridget Sloan was back on the floor with her teammates cheering them on against Auburn. In typical Sloan fashion she just didn’t trudge around the floor on crutches, but rather tried to do whatever acrobatics she could. Sloan recovered from her injury to contribute in a big way to the team’s third consecutive national championship.” - Jim Burgess

Photo 6: “This was the first day of spring conditioning drills for the football team. With a new coach, the Gators are building the program up while an indoor practice facility is being built in the background.” - Tim Casey

The Kids (part 1)

Gators of all ages are still kids at heart. We love it when our student-athletes get to share a smile with their littlest fans.

"Pamela Begić was very popular during a soccer clinic with the Girl's Place." - Tim Casey

Lindsey Walker helps out during the Brandon Ling Memorial Sports Camp, part of the Goodwill Gators program. (Photo: Tim Casey)

"Tim gets handed plenty of things to autograph, so it's possible that someone asked him to sign their baby." - Tim Casey

See notes from the photographer below. (Photo: Yolandy Michel)

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Jay Metz)

Notes about "THE KIDS (PART 1)"

Photo 5: “I thought this was so cute when it unfolded before me. These kids were playing and suddenly out of nowhere these huge basketball players surround them and they start laughing and hanging out. It was cool.” - Yolandy Michel

Photo 6: Six-year-old Nathan Farrell, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Florida Champion, conducts the Gator Band in October. Just a few weeks before his first birthday, Nathan was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a degenerative disorder for which there is currently no cure. (Photo: Jay Metz)

THE KIDS (PART 2)

More fun with some young Gators

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Tim Casey)

"Dane Dunning had company for the national anthem." - Tim Casey

KeAndre Bates talks with coach Nic Petersen's son, Greyson. (Photo: Loreal Curtis)

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Rachel Mowat)

"Hey Mike, I'll give you some pointers on catching if you sign my ball." - kid in the orange shirt (Photo: Tim Casey)

NOTES ABOUT “THE KIDS (PART 2)”

Photo 1: Women’s tennis assistant coach Dave Balogh’s sons Cade (left) and Colby (right), and softball assistant coach Kenny Gajewski’s son Preston (center) peek over the fence to cheer during a match. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Photo 4: “This is my all-time favorite. I love how you can tell that the little dude absolutely adores Andrew Mike. It kind of reminds us and the players that kids see them as heroes.” - Rachel Mowat

Photo 6: Children salute during the national anthem before a baseball game where the families of all current and former military were invited on the field. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Family

Gators are thankful for the people who helped them get where there are today

Gator moms celebrate after a goal during the Gators' win against Stanford in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament in Chapel Hill. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Senior Nora Barry gets a hug from her mom after the Gators' season ended on Mother's Day in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Less than an hour before Father's Day, Josh Tobias gets a hug from his father after his college career ended in Omaha. (Photo: Tim Casey)

fun

Gators know how to enjoy themselves while competing at the highest levels

"Hours of weather delays and no action on the field? No problem, there are plenty of fun photos to be made." - Tim Casey

"Jessica Thielmann seemed happy with her result in the 500 Free" - Tim Casey

"Carli Snyder looks like she could be Disney princess with her hair like this, so I suggested she wear the volleyball like a crown." - Tim Casey

"A fisheye lens can help bring the viewer into this colorful moment" - Tim Casey

"Najee Glass points to a friend while crossing the finish line of the 4x400 relay at the Florida Relays." - Tim Casey

"Rhamat Alhassan's wingspan has an area of approximately 35 square feet. This was a fun way to illustrate that." - Tim Casey

"Dante seemed happy, I guess, after beating Georgia." - Tim Casey

Let me take a selfie

Write your story here. (Optional)

"Joakim Noah got a nice photo bomb in on Jay Bilas" - Tim Casey

"Sunset selfie silhouette from the bleachers at McKethan Stadium." - Tim Casey

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Kelly Streeter)

NOTES ABOUT “LET ME TAKE A SELFIE”

Photo 4: “Instead of asking for autographs or for players to pose for pictures, these fans were tossing their phones to the players to take selfies for them. Richie Martin was able to accommodate two phones at the same time. MLB scouts must have known he was a six-tool player when he was taken in the first round of the draft.” - Tim Casey

Photo 5: “Selfie stick and a softball championship trophy. Without any other data, future historians will be able to place this photo in 2015.” - Tim Casey (Photo: Kelly Streeter)

Special moments

Read the notes below to find out why we selected these images

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Jim Burgess)

See notes about this photo below. (Photo: Erin Long)

Seniors Matt Elliott and Eduardo Solaece-Gomez hug after their final collegiate competition at the NCAA Championships. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Notes about "SPECIAL MOMENTS"

Photo 1: “Among the many presentations and recognitions at Gator football games, the veterans of the Wounded Warrior Project provide some of the most memorable moments. At the LSU game, Sergeant major Pat Corcoran and his son received a loud, long ovation from the fans to thank him for his service to the country.” - Jim Burgess

Photo 2: “Brad deBorde was honored during his commencement ceremony. While taking portraits afterwards, he thanked me for being there. (He‘s well-known to be a thoughtful and appreciative guy.) He followed up with an email to thank me for capturing moments that student-athletes and their families treasure forever, regardless of which sport they play. In 20 years of photography, I had never received such a heartfelt message. I printed that e-mail to display at my desk in case I ever forget why I got into photography. It’s not about the sports, the scores, or being at the events. It’s the people who matter. Brad is going to do very well in life.” - Tim Casey

Photo 3: “A UF alumnus with dual degrees from the University of Florida, today‘s Honorary Mr. 2-Bits … a 92 year old World War II Veteran ... Bill Ebersole.” - Jay Metz

Photo 4: “Cancer patient Mickie Spicer hugs her daughter, Rachel Spicer, at the Gators Link to Pink breast cancer awareness meet.” - Erin Long

Photo 6: “Stipe Zunic is good at throwing things — usually a shot put. Thankfully, he didn‘t throw Coach Mike Holloway on this big hug during the Senior Day ceremony.” - Tim Casey

Photo 7: “A special moment in the ‘Welcome Home Celebration’ for the Gator Softball team‘s back-to-back championship occurred when head coach Tim Walton interrupted the script to recognize senior shortstop Kathlyn Medina. After a couple of emotional hugs, he took a minute or two to talk to everyone about how Kathlyn‘s often overlooked defensive efforts have been vital to the success of the team. Very cool, Coach.” - Jim Burgess

inside the ropes

Write your story here. (Optional)

Keanu Neal applies eye black before a game. (Photo: Tim Casey)

"Hammer time! Kyle Strawn spins during the hammer throw." - Tim Casey

"Yes, they are doing the Cupid Shuffle in the locker room after a win." - Tim Casey

Notes about "INSIDE THE ROPES"

Photo 2: “During a tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, several players stopped to read an except from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ near a replica of the cell King was locked in for eight days in 1963. It was great to see so many of the players read the entire excerpt, take interest in learning more, then reach inside the cell to touch a stool that was taken from the cell that King was in.” - Tim Casey

Photo 4: “The seniors were reflecting on how they had just played their final match on at James G. Pressly stadium. I wanted to capture the moment, but Lauren Silver (center) seemed to think I intruded. (She didn‘t, she let me know she loves the photo. She’s funny like that.)“ - Tim Casey

Champions!

We’re always expanding the trophy cases in Gainesville

Gators celebrate their 2015 NCAA team title. (Photo: Erin Long)

Florida Gators men's track and field...SEC Outdoor Champions! (Photo: Tim Casey)

"Oh hey, Tim Walton, I see you peeking through that NCAA Championship trophy." - Tim Casey

Thank you.

“Four talented and dedicated student assistants helped throughout the year. Christine Casey (no relation, we get asked a lot), Loreal Curtis, Yolandy Michel, and Rachel Mowat made a lot of this possible.

Top left: Chris Walker is tall. Rachel is not. Top right: Yolandy is giving the men‘s basketball players a preview of their portraits while Rachel assures them that they look ok. Bottom left: Richie Martin and Christine review photos. Bottom right: Loreal (right) came to UF to compete with the track team. She earned All-America honors, but missed the 2014-15 season due to injury. She put down the baton and picked up a camera to work with me as a student assistant.

Without the help of these four students, I would have felt like the guy on the left side of the last image at many events. It‘s been great to see them learn so much and improve their skills. (Off the track, for Loreal. Or, still on it in this example.” - Tim Casey