If you are of a certain age, you remember the name EF Hutton from this commercial. Similarly, when former Alabama head coach Nick Saban discussed the University of Florida administration and issues since the Spurrier/Meyer glory days, people listened. 

St. Nicholas of Tuscaloosa delivered the gift of a much-needed message to not only the Florida administration, but the fanbase. For the first time in years, ESPN GameDay actually brought substance to the table, instead of early-morning shenanigans.

Unhappy

Coach Saban spoke his truth; he echoed the thoughts of many in and around the Florida program. 

“Well, I think maybe the problem isn’t the coaches… They should’ve taken advantage of building better facilities when Urban Meyer was there,” said Saban. What’s the collective been like? How have they adapted to this new model of college football? So it’s not just the coaches. When you’ve been through four coaches that haven’t had success, there’s something else that people should be looking at.”

Translation

Athletic Director Scott Stricklin remains not only behind the times but behind the eight ball when it comes to raising money. College football, even before Sherwood Blount tried to personally fund SMU, leading to the death penalty, survives on money.

Now, the extended University of Florida family is many things, but there’s always one constant, they remain loaded with cash. The school and the thousands of alums that can donate needed to do so years ago. Jeremy Foley left the school in a prime position in wins and losses. However, Stricklin not only tarnished that but could not rub three dimes together from alums for NIL.

Saban firmly places the blame upon the Florida administrative hierarchy. Remember, UCF as a D1 entity didn’t exist 30-years ago. Yet, they are considered a favorite over Florida in two weeks and have managed to grow exponentially because of foresight. 

Culture of Winning

In addition, Saban brought up the lack of winning culture for the Gators. You would sooner find Waldo first before you spot a lie in the following quote.

“They’ve been through 4 coaches since Spurrier and Urban Meyer, who both created a tremendous culture of winning there. And sometimes the fanbase can just think ‘well we can show up and expect to win’, and not make the commitment to the program that you need to make to continue to make the changes and investments you need to make to keep up with changing times.”

Bottom Line

Now, some could construe Saban’s harsh words for Florida as defending one of his former assistants in Billy Napier. Yet, his quotes ring true. When will Florida return to its former glory? When will the donations pour in, to help recruit better players? 

Unlike Miami who annually boasts about “being back”, only to fold like a cheap lawn chair, Florida’s recent history should provide a road map back to prominence, provided the administration either changes with the times or finds new people to run the show.

Nick Saban spoke from a point of clarity and unobstructed vision. The brain trust of Florida athletics needs to follow suit.

Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend area could see a landfalling hurricane on Thursday, potential a Category 2 or stronger.

Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center issued its first forecast track for a disturbance hovering west of Jamaica, now classified as potential tropical cyclone 9. The track takes it between Mexico and Cuba, into the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida’s west coast in three days.

Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Yucatan Peninsula, and Cuba issued one for the Isle of Youth and Artemisia, as well as a hurricane watch for Pinar del Rio. Both spots could see up to four feet of storm surge and several inches of rain from the storm.

Because the system has not formed yet and lacks a defined center, forecasters warned that the forecast was more uncertain than usual. They expect Helene to develop in the next day or two and then rapidly strengthen as it heads toward Florida.

“Given the large size of the tropical-storm-force wind field and fast forward speed that is forecast, storm surge, wind, and rainfall impacts will likely extend well away from the center, particularly to the east of the system,” the 11 a.m. discussion read.

South Florida could see rain, potentially heavy, beginning as soon as Wednesday and lasting into the weekend.

Helene’s path forward is lined with some of the warmest waters in the Atlantic basin, which could fuel its growth into a strong hurricane. The first forecast called for Helen to top out with 110 mph sustained winds right before landfall, a strong Category 2 verging on Category 3.

The waters in the northeast Gulf are about 2 degrees Celsius warmer than average, posted Ben Noll, a meteorologist with New Zealand’s National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, on Twitter.

“It’s concerning from a potential intensity and moisture availability perspective!” he wrote.

The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots. Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Sunday, September 22, 2024

Winning Cash4Life numbers from September 22 drawing

06-22-34-47-53, Cash Ball: 02

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from September 22 drawing

Midday: 08-15-29-30-33

Evening: 06-08-10-17-34

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from September 22 drawing

Morning: 04

Matinee: 09

Afternoon: 03

Evening: 02

Late Night: 10

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from September 22 drawing

Midday: 9-7, FB: 4

Evening: 8-8, FB: 1

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from September 22 drawing

Midday: 6-6-1, FB: 4

Evening: 7-2-1, FB: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from September 22 drawing

Midday: 1-8-5-3, FB: 4

Evening: 7-8-3-9, FB: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from September 22 drawing

Midday: 7-8-6-1-6, FB: 4

Evening: 5-9-0-7-3, FB: 1

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

• Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
• Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
• Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

• Full name
• City of residence
• Game won
• Date won
• Amount won
• Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
• Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
• Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
• Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
• Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.