Matt Baker
@MattBakerCFB
Followers
13K
Following
4K
Media
3K
Statuses
116K
National college sports reporter at The Athletic. Indiana native. Northwestern grad. Florida resident. Tampa Bay Times alum. [email protected]
Tampa, Fla.
Joined January 2010
South Carolina's legal team is advising against the Gamecocks using the name Sir Big Spur moving forward because of some đź’Żcollege football bickering. The State has some suggestions for a new name, including Cluck Norris, Marco Pollo and Cock Commander .
675
800
4K
That should do it. But can we all agree not to do the “Boise didn’t belong” thing? Because they did.
169
111
4K
You mean a football team in Orlando is trying to claim a championship it didn't really win? Huh.
72
631
4K
The Mississippi State band honors Leach with Pirates of the Caribbean
9
316
3K
The jokes were easy when ex-#Gators HC Jim McElwain sold his home for a $400K loss. The real reason isn't funny: He did it to help a family with two disabled children. #Wolverines @UMichFootball @mgoblog.
56
913
2K
If this tweet gets me fired then, at least I went out in the most college football way imaginable.
26
48
2K
The Instagram account that posted the Deondre Francois video Saturday evening just posted this.
267
926
2K
FSU honoring former coach Willie Taggart.
Noles had 12 men on the field, five-yard penalty.
19
271
2K
In accordance with Peach Bowl tradition, the Gators have won the national title.
42
405
2K
For the second week in a row, FSU held an opponent to negative yards in the fourth quarter. Minus-15 against Florida, minus-23 tonight.
7
350
2K
FSU Board of Trustees vs Atlantic Coast Conference.Judge John C. Cooper assigned to the case in Leon County.He’s an FSU alumnus
71
199
1K
Billy Napier and UF interim president Kent Fuchs after the loss to Miami
138
76
1K
Are Florida State's best two players their kicker and punter?.
148
46
1K
Billy Napier leaves the field after a two-score home loss to Texas A&M
36
72
1K
Miami QB Cam Ward says USF is the toughest team they've played so far. "I believe so.".Miami, remember, opened against Florida. .
28
67
934
My 2020 goal was to run 1,000 miles this year. My total as of this morning: 1,000.5.
33
2
791
Miami held USF's top-10 rushing offense to 1.9 yards per carry tonight. That's the second-lowest figure of Alex Golesh's time as head coach/OC. Lowest? Against No. 1 Georgia in 2021.
3
163
706
Napier says dismissing Brenton Cox was a "healthy thing for our team.".
15
81
626
Interesting comment from #Gators TE Moral Stephens last night: “I think this team is pretty talented, but since I’ve been here, I feel like Florida teams have always been talented, I just feel like we needed the right person to lead us.”.
12
120
601
#Gators are having a scrimmage, but we can’t take photos or videos. So here’s what has happened so far
33
63
584
Miami announces a new official sponsor: Mr. Meat Master. I have never heard of Mr. Meat Master, and I am not going to Google it, either.
43
73
587
Whoa. #FSU president John Thrasher says the ACC presidents are meeting at 4:30 today, and he thinks it will be the final final decision on whether to play.
61
356
574
Statement from U.S. Rep Gus Bilirakis on #FSU’s playoff exclusion. He wants a briefing from CFP and NCAA about the decision
31
88
576
Mississippi State lines up without a quarterback to start and takes a delay of game penalty (declined, of course). One more Leach tribute. Now, it's football time.
1
49
556
I was wrong in my line of questioning with Dan Mullen today. With newly discovered October battery accusation against John Huggins, it’s five (not four) members of his program accused of violence against women during his tenure
127
242
519
On a Zoom with reporters, ESPN's Tom Luginbill says #FSU is closing the gap with Clemson, starting with what Norvell has done with the culture.
17
61
540
Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland had 4 sacks last night, giving him 20.5 since transferring from Florida. The Gators have 38 total in that span.
6
65
546
@a99barnsey Indeed. Sometimes if you work hard enough for long enough and get a lucky break or two, you can accomplish your dream.
3
5
500
Florida State AD Michael Alford in a booster town hall shares these slides about the Noles’ brand value/viewership ratings. He says he loves to look at TV numbers by market after big games. “We own the state of Florida.”
70
50
532
The final day of Willie Taggart's deal at FSU was yesterday, which means his buyout should be off the Noles' books.
28
55
528
News: The attorneys general of 12 states are asking the North Carolina Supreme court to dismiss the ACC's lawsuit against Florida State.
15
72
529
24
371
476
Mullen: I think we offered (UCF) a 2-for-1, like we do for most schools in their position. Mullen says it'd be a big deal for #UCF, to have an SEC school come play at their place. "If they want to try to toughen their schedule. " Mullen says.
43
119
482
Five members of the #Gators' 2019 recruiting class have now left without ever playing a real snap. So that class that was No. 9 now would be the program's second worst of the Rivals era.
79
218
481
*NOW* it's official. The ACC must share its ESPN contracts with FSU as part of the Leon County litigation, according to the court order signed by a judge this morning (and obtained by the Tampa Bay Times).
23
96
500
Here's our John Romano this morning on FSU being shut out.Headline: 13 teams couldn’t beat FSU, but 13 faceless administrators just did🔗
13
94
479
NEWS: Florida's Attorney General has requested communications and contracts between the ACC and ESPN amidst #FSU's legal fight. Story⬇️.
22
62
464
Taggart on not signing a QB recruit for the second year in a row: "we have a plan. I think a pretty good plan. I don’t necessarily want to discuss it right now." #FSU.
148
98
429
Brenton Cox says he was at a loss for words after this win. #Gators "I’m just too excited.".
0
25
438
*immediately moves KState into my top 10*.
Sweet Kansas State helmets the Wildcats will wear Saturday vs. Tulane
10
15
425
UGA DC Dan Lanning, a former Mike Norvell assistant at Memphis, just dropped a "how you do anything is how you do everything." #FSU.
8
44
427
Kirby Smart on the debacle tonight with FSU's roster situation: This needs to be fixed. College football has got to decide what they want.
22
41
412
We just broke press box protocol with a standing ovation for @RobbieAndreu and @pat_dooley on their last games covering the #Gators for the Gainesville Sun.
12
26
376
Michael Penix Jr. received quite the welcome in Dade City yesterday as grand marshal of the MLK parade , our @TBTimes_Bulls writes. “He’s a hometown hero,” Mayor Jimmy Shive said. #PurpleReign .
6
20
368
#FSU AD Michael Alford says during the BoT meeting that the Noles lead the nation in distance covered by fans to go to games. 55% travel at least 200 miles.
27
48
378
I really don't understand why we don't talk about that game much as one of the best in college football history, or at least one of the best title games the sport has had.
13
56
363
Statement from #FSU AD Michael Alford (in part): "Our players, coaches, and fans - as well as all those who love this sport - deserve better. The committee failed college football today.".
21
104
365
2017: CFP title game.2018: NHL All-Star Game (?).2019: Women's Final Four.2020: March Madness.2021: Super Bowl. Not bad, Tampa. Not bad.
8
214
360
The Michigan DE running to shake hands with Tampa Bay Tech product Michael Penix Jr.? That’s Jaylen Harrell, another Tampa guy (from Berkeley Prep).
8
26
370
Auburn HC Hugh Freeze said Brian Battie is improving. But there's a long road ahead for the former USF star. I'm sad to report that his prognosis, according to court records, is permanent paralysis.
45
60
363
Kyle Trask on the Heisman chant at the Swamp: 'I heard it, obviously.".
0
15
333
There’s a lot of, uh, stuff going around on here about FSU/Clemson/ACC/realignment. Not all of it is created equal because not all the sources are created equal. So as you consider the sources, remember Brett is as plugged-in as any college football reporter in the country.
Big Ten, SEC unlikely to add Florida State if it leaves ACC & ACC survives, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Big Ten & SEC don’t want FSU because adding FSU doesn’t make financial sense, no desire to expand & “they’ve been a disruptive partner,” sources said
50
35
314
BREAKING: #USF board of trustees approve the plan for the $340 million on-campus football stadium.
27
81
320
So Bob Stoops is coaching the Renegades at a high school whose mascot is the Colts. Colts are horses. Renegade is a horse. I don't know how much clearer this could possibly be.
11
23
310
#FSU AD Michael Alford tells the BoT they've received $53 million in pledges for the football operations building. That process is going "very well," he says.
2
25
308
A sentence I never thought I’d write: #FSU has no comment on a Reddit thread questioning its eligibility for the Independence Bowl.
11
82
297
Napier says his DC, Patrick Toney, is one of the best coaches he's ever been around. and Napier has been around a lot of good coaches.
22
13
312
Pregame shot here in Miami, with 9 minutes and change before kickoff
34
61
298
With the 4* WR gone, a #Gators class that was No. 9 would now be No. 17, between Notre Dame and South Carolina.
Arjei Henderson will be released from his NLI, source says. wide receiver who signed with Florida didn't get eligible.
91
112
280
Dabo, leaving the ACC title game presser: "So Jimbo took that job, huh?".Sitting outside the press conference room is more entertaining than actually being in it.
4
82
286
I was curious how #Gators QB Feleipe Franks’ statistical improvement ranked nationally, so I looked it up. Turns out only two regular QBs had higher jumps in passing efficiency than Franks did.
4
89
273
The Post and Courier ranked all the ACC and SEC coaches. 1. Dabo.2. Saban.3. Mullen.5. Jimbo.20. Manny .28. Taggart.
35
123
279
#Gators QB Graham Mertz: "This flat out is not acceptable. That’s how it should be in the locker room.".
8
14
281
Cristobal calls #FSU QB Jordan Travis "one of the most explosive players in college football.".
3
16
271
NEWS: Clemson's amended complaint against the ACC now seeks (unspecified) damages against the conference. Says the league "slandered its title." .
17
44
270
33
77
275
NEWS: Florida's Attorney General has launched an investigation into #FSU's College Football Playoff snub. Quick story⬇️.
88
31
270
Luke Del Rio's 320 passing yards are most for #Gators in an SEC game since. Chris Leak against Arkansas in 2004.
2
164
249
Two thoughts from Miami practice: Jarren Williams is better than I remembered him, and Shaq Quarterman is a dude.
29
41
257
SOURCES: SEC, ACC plan to play through this.
The universe will end with a black dwarf supernova
10
46
252