Gator Tales with Sean Kelley

This unique episode of Gator Tales with Sean Kelley features two all-time Gators greats. Hall of Famer and football Ring of Honor member Emmitt Smith was back in Gainesville to serve as “Mr. Two-Bits” and enjoy Gators Football. He joined Jeff Cardozo and Tate Casey during the pregame show on the Gators Sports Network from Learfield. We share that discussion with Smith which featured a wide range o...

Episode 35 of Gator Tales with Sean Kelley, presented by UF Health, is all about transfers making an impact! Kelley kicks things off with Gators running back Montrell Johnson, fresh off a 71-yard touchdown run and a career milestone of 2,500 rushing yards. Johnson reflects on his journey from Louisiana to Florida and his role as a team leader this season. The senior, who also boasts over 2,000 all...

The new athletic year begins with Episode 34 of the Gator Tales Podcast with Sean Kelley. In this episode, Kelley sits down with Gators quarterback Graham Mertz and Gators linebacker Shemar James for a combo interview. The three discuss the upcoming season and go into detail about the Gators offense and defense from each of the team leaders' perspective. Both players are fresh off standout 2023 ca...

Episode 33 times up with graduation weekend and another busy home weekend for the Gators in Gainesville. Florida junior outfielder Ty Evans goes deep with Sean Kelley with topics both on and off the diamond. He also gives insight on the Gators' preparations for the stretch run of the season.    Head Coach Roland Thornqvuist and Florida women's tennis team host rounds one and two in the NCAA Tourna...

On Episode 32, Sean Kelley chats with Gators Gymnastics Head Coach Jenny Rowland to reflect on the 2034-24 season which ended at the NCAA Championship in Ft. Worth, TX. In Denver, Sean caught up with former Gators Basketball center and current Los Angeles Laker, Colin Castleton. Gators AD Scott Stricklin is back for another “Ask The AD.” This week’s question for Stricklin is about the Gators footb...

On this episode, Sean Kelley sits down with head football coach Billy Napier as the Gators wrap up spring practices and the annual Orange and Blue Game.    At the Scholarship Endowment Dinner, Kelley gets a chance to discuss all the success of Florida Swimming and Diving with captains Emma Weyant and Jake Mitchell. "Kenna On Campus" with UF student Kenna McGinnis reports on the latest Gators resul...

It's episode 30 and we're bringing you a preview of the Orange and Blue Weekend - and beyond. This episode features a lineup of guests poised to make an impact for the Gators. We start with Chimere Dike, the talented wide receiver stepping onto The Swamp for the first time in the Orange and Blue Spring Football Game after transferring from Wisconsin and reuniting with teammate Graham Mertz. Next,...

In Episode 29, Sean Kelley starts on the practice field and visits with Gators defensive lineman Kelby Collins. Collins is set to be a big part of the Florida defense, and he discusses the changes being made this Spring and shares about his upbringing in Alabama.    Then, from the diamond, it's a visit with former Gators baseball catcher, now broadcaster, BT Riopelle. Athletic Director Scott Stric...

Episode 28 features a Gator legend and perhaps one in the making. Sean Kelley visits with College Football Hall of Famer, Carlos Alvarez.  "The Cuban Comet" still holds the Gators all-time record for receiving yards and is the subject of a re-launched documentary about his career at Florida, his successful professional life in Law, and his on-going role as an activist.    Kelley then heads to the...

Episode 27 is a special March Madness edition from Indianapolis. The Gators return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.    Sean Kelley talks with the Gators starting power forward Tyrese Samuel about the Gators going dancing, the team's secret sauce and the injury to teammate Micah Handlogten.    This episode also features a visit with iconic play-by-play voice, Kevin Harlan. Harl...

Get ready to dive into the fervor of March Madness as the Gator Tales Podcast brings you an exclusive episode straight from the SEC Tournament, featuring none other than the stars of Gators Men's Basketball. Host Sean Kelley leads a captivating discussion with standout guard Walter Clayton Jr., who has taken the SEC by storm with his top-notch scoring and has quickly risen as an All-SEC Guard in h...

Episode 25 of the Gator Tales Podcast with Sean Kelley features Florida quarterback Graham Mertz and Gators baseball shortstop Colby Shelton. Mertz discusses his decision to stay at Florida for a second season, the start of Spring football practice and his new teammate DJ Lagway.    Shelton shares his journey from Alabama back to play in his home state for the Gators. He also talks about his ultra...

Episode 24 visits with 15-time All-American Leanne Wong after her performance last Friday in No. 5 Florida’s upset of No. 2 LSU in front of another sellout Exactech Arena crowd. In that meet, Wong set the nation’s 2024 all-around high of 39.875 and her walk-off floor 10.0 not only sealed the team win, it was the final perfect mark needed to complete her Gym Slam [10.0 in each apparatus]. She’s not...

Episode 23 introduces new football Executive Head Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator Ron Roberts. Deputy Athletic Director Lynda Tealer previews the 10th Annual “Stay in the Game” event, an initiative that began in 2014 to promote female student-athletes taking an active role inside athletics after their time as a collegiate athlete ended. Kenna McGinnis has a recap of recent Gator athletic events...

In celebration of Black History Month, Episode 22 holds a special conversation with the groundbreaking Ron Coleman. Known for being the first Gators African-American scholarship athlete, Coleman is an All-American, six-time SEC champion, and a lauded member of UF's Hall of Fame. Apart from his athletic bravura, Coleman is also a respected veteran of the United States Navy. As Gators Baseball enter...

In Episode 21, Sean goes one-on-one with Florida Football Head Coach Billy Napier. The wide-ranging conversation features Napier speaking to various staff and system changes in the program. Napier also discusses play calling responsibilities, the arrival of DJ Lagway, the Gators success in the classroom, and more. This episode also includes a visit with Gators Golf Associate Head Coach Dudley Hart...

Episode 20 follows Sean on his return from Lexington, unravelling the transformative coup for men's basketball. Shifting the spotlight to softball, we hear from versatile outfielder Korbe Otis. Otis maps out her journey from Columbine High School, through the University of Louisville, to finding her niche with the Gators. Furthermore, Sean engages in a deep discussion with Phil Pharr, the long-sta...

Episode 19 of Gator Tales kicks off with a chat with Leilani Correa, the current hotshot of the Gators Women’s Basketball Team. Correa opens up about her role as a seasoned leader of the team, her stellar recent performances, and her ambitions beyond her time in Gainesville. Transitioning to men's basketball, Sean catches up with Will Richard, the team's emotional backbone. Richard explores his pe...

In this week's episode, Sean Kelley has an exclusive conversation with the newly appointed Director of Football Performance, Craig Fitzgerald. After 25 years of decorated service in both the NFL and College Football, Fitzgerald brings his wealth of experience to Billy Napier's staff. He joins Sean to talk about his extensive journey and his vision for redefining the future of the Gators football t...

Here's our first installment of 2024 and this episode features Jay Bilas along with Zyon Pullin. Bilas is the lead analyst for ESPN's coverage of men's college basketball. He offers insight on the season so far, perspective on the changing landscape of the sport, and his insights on the Florida Gators.  Pullin joins the Gators this season after transferring from UC-Riverside. He is a fifth- year p...

Sean closes the fall semester with a roundtable discussion featuring Scott Carter and Chris Harry from FloridaGators.com. The top stories of fall 2023 are highlighted in the three-way conversation.    Gymnastics opens the 2024 season in a just a few weeks. Head Coach Jenny Rowland talks with Sean about the new season, the defense of the 2023 SEC Championship, the national runner-up finish to last...

Episode 15 of Gator Tales with Sean Kelley features Max Starks and Tim Walton. Sean interviews Max Starks as he reminisces about his career as a Gator and a Steeler and shares a good Steve Spurrier story, too.    Coach Tim Walton is preparing for his 19th season as head coach of Gators softball. Sean checks in with Walton for a preview of the 2024 team and the future of sport in the Olympics.    U...

Sean's guests in Episode 14 are Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan and UF Hall of Famer Shane Matthews. O'Sullivan shares his thoughts on his team's fall workouts and the upcoming 2024 Gators baseball team. Matthews discusses his being named an SEC Legend, his career and his role as analyst on the Gators Sports Network football broadcasts.  Finally, Kenna McGinnis introduces us to the "M...

In this week's episode, Sean Kelley pays tribute to 5th year walk-on, Daniel Cross, who will be honored on Senior Day as the Gators football team wraps up the regular season against Florida State at The Swamp. Cross opens up about his journey of resilience and dedication to his teammates and the University of Florida. Additionally, Sean catches up with the rising star of the Gators women's basketb...

Sean is back from Baton Rouge, and he talks about his trip with Gators Football to the LSU game. The conversation then turns toward men's basketball. Sean conducts his first interview with power forward Tyrese Samuel. Samuel is a native Canadian and transfers to UF from Seton Hall.   Then, it's off to the ice rink where Sean finds UF club hockey captain Connor Nicholson. Nicholson tells the story...