@CarlinHartmanUF No truer words @CarlinHartmanUF. You are a difference maker. One of the most important reasons why the character and skillset of this team continues to grow.
It was almost two years ago today that #Gators big man Micah Handlogten suffered an injury that many thought would end his college career.
Two years and a whole bunch of hardware later, Handlogten is ready for one last chance to dance.
Story: https://t.co/DO7CJqN889
Let’s talk about Micah Handlogten.
We all saw the distressing sight of him as he suffered one of the nastiest injuries I’ve ever seen. 99.99% of us will never know that type of misery. All we could do was pray.
By “pray”, I mean pray he’d *walk* again. I never thought he’d play basketball again. And I thought that if by some chance I was wrong and he did, it would be for another team, as Florida would make a logical business decision to not count on him.
Fast forward through the next eleven months. Why fast forward through them and not shine a light on Micah’s grueling and exhausting recovery process? Because Micah put in the work at a level that most human beings cannot even begin to comprehend. He did what very few people on this earth are wired to do. And thus we cannot pretend to relate to the journey he went through to get back out there— never mind in the 2024-25 season, but just ever again, period. We can only respect it. 🫡
So with that block of time in the rear view mirror now and Micah able to at least adequately use that leg again, he faced a decision as Alex Condon suddenly went down against Mississippi State: give up the redshirt year and provide that extra big presence for a handful of games to replace Condon’s so Florida wouldn’t just lose that interior presence, or preserve the year of eligibility and give himself more time to fully heal.
Micah, of course, made the decision that required the sacrifice. The selfless choice. The team-first choice.
And now Micah isn’t just merely a national champion; he was one of those who played in that national championship game. Sure, everyone on that roster contributed to it because they push the starters in practice every day— that cannot be lost— but Micah saw live action in the most pivotal moments that helped decide that championship. He didn’t just have a hand in it; he was one of the eight players on the floor that night who carried Florida to it.
I could thank Micah for his toughness. For his perseverance. For his selflessness. Or even for his natural height advantage 😂
I’m not going to do any of that though.
Instead, I’m going to thank him for being a Gator hero. His contributions to the box scores may not match those of Thomas Haugh or Walter Clayton, but his legacy is one that’s just as unforgettable. Because these are the kinds of stories you tell your children about and reminisce about in rocking chairs on your porch with some beers and some buddies.
And that legacy isn’t done being written yet.
I personally don’t think it’s fair for one person to speak on behalf of an entire fanbase, but I’m going to make an exception here.
@MHandlogten, you have the eternal respect, admiration, and appreciation from #GatorNation. Thank you for all the memories you’ve made here. Now go make a few more. 🐊👑
To one of the best parents of a student athlete I’ve ever known! Danielle, Ben, Hailey and Mia are about as good as it gets when it comes to supporting their son/brother as well as the program. ❤️
The most terrifying detail about Noah's Ark isn't the size of the flood. It is the design of the boat.
If you look closely at the blueprints God gave Noah in Genesis 6, He was extremely specific.
He gave the exact length, width, and height. He specified the type of wood and the pitch to seal it.
In my little years, I have never thought of this, but God intentionally left out one crucial component. There was no steering wheel, no sail, and worse still, there was no engine.
Think about how scary that is.
Noah was building a massive vessel to survive a global storm, but he had zero control over it, or over where it went. He couldn't steer it away from rocks. He couldn't turn it into the waves. He couldn't aim for dry land. He was completely at the mercy of the water.
The Ark was not designed for navigation; just for floating.
Noah’s job was to be the Passenger, not the Captain.
God was the Captain.
This is a picture of your life right now.
You are trying to put a steering wheel in a boat that God can control, if you let Him…
More Will Richard praise, this time from Jimmy Butler:
“He’s hella smart. But the thing I love most about Will is his ability to listen. You tell him what to do to the best of his ability, he’s going to do it.”
Richard finished with 15 points and a +19 plus/minus.