Florida Sports Wire

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  - The Southeastern Conference announced its 2015 SEC Football Legends class, a collection of former football standouts who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December. The 2015 Football Legends Class includes 14 former stars who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions. This year's class includes All-Americans, All-SEC selections and Academic All-Americans as well as NCAA and SEC record holders. The group represents teams that won National and SEC Championships and are represented in state, school and college football halls of fame. Taylor, a standout running back from 1994-97, earned first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and was named All-SEC his senior year, leading the Gators in rushing that season with 1,292 yards on 214 carries and a team-high 13 touchdowns.  Taylor had eight 100-yard rushing performan...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The rain would not go away and despite what the box score read, neither did the Jacksonville University men's soccer team. In its midweek nonconference finale, Jacksonville invited UCF to Southern Oak Stadium where it put forth a strong showing but fell, 3-2. Allan Morgan and Ejiroghene Mrabure scored for JU while Matias Pyysalo had an impact on all three of UCF's scores with a goal and a pair of assists registered on the night. "We're getting tested all the time but we're battling back," said Head Coach Mauricio Ruiz. "We're still making individual mistakes but for the third game in a row we were the better team. We're just not finding a way to get the result." There was plenty of action in the first 10 minutes of play and much of the momentum sided with the Dolphins. The home team recorded two shots and earned a corner kick but it was the Knights who took the early lead on a shot by Hadji Barry (11:45). The Do...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville Armada FC owner and CEO Mark Frisch announced on Monday the dismissal of general manager Dario Sala and head coach Guillermo Hoyos along with assistant coaches Edison Ibarra, Rafael Perez Niño and Sebastian Fabres. The Armada currently sits in last place in the North American Soccer League Fall and Combined Season standings and has been held scoreless in their last five matches and 498 minutes of play. In addition, the team has yet to win a single game on the road, with a record of 0-2-11 (W-D-L). "Since the inception of the Armada FC, I have made it clear that I have a very high standard for performance on and off the field. To achieve success in this league, and win championships, we must defend effectively, attack relentlessly, score goals and win games - both at home and away from home - on a consistent basis. We have not done this," said Frisch. "Following an in-depth analysis of the team and operations, I am confident that a n...

By FRED SEELY JAX SPORTS NEWS We almost have reached the bottom of college basketball. We aren't there yet, but it's in sight. If you are a college fan, you're in the wrong town, pal. You may have two Division 1 schools but they aren't making it easy for you to watch their games and, considering the opposition, you probably won't want to bother. The main culprit is Jacksonville University. It has a bad team, a terrible home schedule, poor promotion, plays in the near-worst conference and a dumpy place to play in a not-so-hot part of the city. Don't let the University of North Florida’s appearance in the NCAA tournament last year fool you. It has a so-so team, a terrible home schedule, poor promotion, the same near-worst conference and an arena that's nothing special. Playing downtown? No games from these two. If you must see basketball in the Veterans Memorial Arena, you'll have to settle for an NBA exhibition and a doubleheader...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -  The Jacksonville Armada FC mounted a series of opportunities against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Wednesday night at Lockhart Stadium, but it wasn't enough to get the Armada on the scoreboard as they fell 2-0. Armada goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo finished with six saves. In only their second meeting of the year, the Armada (3W-2D-8L NASL Fall, 6-5-12 Combined) and Fort Lauderdale (5-5-2, 8-7-7) took to a wet rain soaked pitch.  Jacksonville will return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 when it hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Community First Park next Saturday Sept. 26. The Armada will host a tribute to Jacksonville's original NASL club, the Tea Men, and also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night. Tickets, starting at $12, are available by calling 1.844.2.Armada or visiting armadafc.com.

By FRED SEELY JAX GOLF NEWS The World Golf Village has a big weekend ahead. It's October 2-4 and there's something for everyone in what they're calling a Golf Festival. It starts with a golf tournament, includes a chance to visit with two Hall of Famers, and there's also lots of family activities. Here's the deal: Oct. 2: A scramble tournament on the Slammer & Squire. It's $200 includes what they say is a $100-value gift bag. The shotgun is at 1. Oct. 3: A big demo day from noon-4. In attendance will be Hall members Nancy Lopez and David Graham. Then, from 4-6, there's a Family Fun Zone with foot golf, a putt-putt course, free 9-hole rounds of golf for families, bounce house, face painting, and a Pitch, Chip, & Putt Challenge for juniors. Oct. 4: They'll have an Adult-Junior competition starting at 1 that includes a gift bag and dinner. For those who aren't playing, the museum is open at no charge and the Tour Academy will have...

By FRED SEELY JAX SPORTS NEWS Peter Bragan gave himself a grand farewell this month as he ended his family's 30-plus year ownership of the Jacksonville Suns. What we lose is a good businessman, one who fought the system and won. Bragan made a lot of money, certainly in the seven figures each year, because some greedy big shots in town tried to pull a power play on him. Here's what happened. Around 2002, some of the city's self-proclaimed big shots decided they wanted Triple-A baseball to go with the new Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville when it opened in 2003.  Mayor John Delaney went along (after all, politicians don't argue with the big shots.) Bragan was a pain in the derriere and getting rid of him would be a bonus . Getting rid of Bragan wasn't like getting rid of a pimple on the butt. He is a fiercely protective person who won't back away from a fight. He may be crass, cheap and hard-headed, but he ain't dumb. But, why wouldn...