Politics

Florida is finalizing a deal to hire Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as coach, AP source says

Published

2 months ago

November 30, 2025

Florida is hiring Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its next coach, settling for its second choice after Lane Kiffin reportedly picked LSU over the Gators.

Sumrall is finalizing a six-year, incentive-laden contract worth nearly $7.5 million annually with the Gators, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither side had publicly confirmed the hire.

Sumrall will remain with the 22nd-ranked Green Wave for next week’s American Conference title game and through the College Football Playoff if Tulane makes the 12-team field.

The 43-year-old Sumrall played linebacker at Kentucky (2002-04) and returned to his alma mater for a three-year stint before becoming Troy’s head coach in 2022. He won consecutive Sun Belt championships in two seasons with the Trojans and then enjoyed similar success at Tulane.

Sumrall is 19-7 in two years in New Orleans and led the Green Wave to the American championship game both seasons. So he has made four league title games in four years as a head coach. The Gators are hoping he’s Urban Meyer 2.0 and not Billy Napier 2.0.

Sumrall had been considered a possibility at Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss. Florida made a late push when Kiffin’s interest in the Gators waned.

Luring Sumrall away from Auburn — he’s a Huntsville, Alabama, native and his wife graduated from Auburn — will be considered a solid pull in many circles. But Florida fans are likely to view him as a consolation prize, another gamble from a Group of Five conference.

Going back to Louisiana for another G5 coach? And a defensive guy to boot? That’s a bold move for Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, who is sure to draw the ire of the Florida faithful for failing to land Kiffin.

He was roundly booed at a championship celebration to honor men’s basketball coach Todd Golden and his title-winning team in April. Now, the fan base is calling for his job.

A website titled FireScottStricklin.com documents Stricklin’s shortcomings, and some fans organized a rally Sunday outside Florida Field to promote Stricklin’s “immediate removal.”

But Stricklin seemingly has the support of the Board of Trustees, which gave him a three-year contract extension in June and allowed him to conduct a coaching search that included roughly 10 interviews without interference.

There were rumors and reports about boosters getting involved and straining relationships with Kiffin and his camp. But Stricklin made it clear he was the only one making the hire. Kiffin reportedly chose LSU after a public tug-of-war involving all three schools.

Kiffin’s family members took scouting trips to Gainesville and Baton Rouge, and he met with administrators and fundraisers on several occasions. The trip to Gainesville was underwhelming, according to people familiar with the search, and high school football in the area left plenty to be desired.

Florida even turned to Heisman Trophy winners Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel during its pursuit of Kiffin, who eventually slowed communication with UF officials to the point where the Gators decided they had to move on in a crowded market.

Now, Sumrall will be counted on to lead a downtrodden program back to prominence in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.

Tulane’s numbers are far from gaudy: The Green Wave rank 39th in the country in total offense and 64th in total defense. Sumrall is expected to hire outside coordinators and an NFL-style general manager to help him rebuild in Gainesville.

The Gators (4-8) clearly have talent and ended a dismal season with one of their best performances, a 40-21 victory against rival Florida State in the Swamp in which running back Jadan Baugh ran for a career-high 266 yards and two touchdowns and DJ Lagway threw for three scores.

___

Republished with permission from The Associated Press.

Source link

Politics

SeaWorld, Universal announce musical acts ahead of annual food festivals

Published

23 minutes ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

Universal and SeaWorld have announced the details on one of the best theme park deals of the year: concerts that are included in regular park admission during their annual food festivals.

Both theme parks are bringing in major artists as part of Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval and SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival.

Disney World also welcomes well-known artists and nostalgic favorites to play for theme park guests. But the Mouse has not officially released the 2026 schedule for the Garden Rocks concerts at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The festival runs March 4 to June 1.

Universal’s Mardi Gras concerts kick off Feb. 7 through March 28 on select nights. This year’s lineup features Grammy-winning DJ and producer Zedd, Bebe Rexha, and The All-American Rejects, who are returning for the second year in a row as the concert series’ finale.

The nightly concerts take place following Universal’s Mardi Gras parade featuring elaborate floats and plenty of bead throwing.

At SeaWorld, the music includes KISS rocker Gene Simmons, the Beach Boys, Flo Rida, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Fray and Boyz II Men during the concert series running on select nights from Jan. 31 to May 17.

“This is the biggest and most diverse concert lineup we’ve ever presented as part of Seven Seas Food Festival,” said SeaWorld Orlando Park President Jon Peterson in a statement. “With chart-topping artists, throwback favorites, and every concert included with park admission, we’re delivering one of the best entertainment values in Central Florida.”

The majority of the dates have been announced, although SeaWorld said a few additional acts will be announced later in the year.

Orlando has deep ties to boy band history, which you’ll find at the theme parks’ festival concerts.

You won’t see Justin Timberlake anytime soon playing behind a backdrop of roller coasters. But Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC performs Feb 22 at the Pop 2000 Tour night at SeaWorld. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick’s former bandmate Joey Fatone teams up with the Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean at Universal Orlando Feb. 21.

Source link

Politics

Tampa Bay Lightning arena agreement worth up to $358.5M heads to Hillsborough County Commission

Published

54 minutes ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

The revised agreement is intended to secure the Lightning’s long-term presence in downtown Tampa.

Hillsborough County Commissioners are scheduled to consider a $250 million agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning to expand the county’s financial commitment to renovations at the Benchmark International Arena (formerly known as the Amalie Arena) and extend the team’s lease from June 2037 to June 2043.

The proposed agreement would raise the county’s maximum renovation contribution from $108.5 million to $358.5 million, while requiring the Lightning and Tampa Bay Arena LLC to spend an additional $75 million of their own funds on arena improvements. Under the terms of the deal, the team would be required to pay for renovation work upfront before becoming eligible for county reimbursement.

The revised agreement is intended to secure the Lightning’s long-term presence in downtown Tampa and address ongoing capital needs at the more than 30-year-old county-owned arena.

According to documents for Wednesday’s Hillsborough County meeting, the county’s share of the renovation costs would be financed exclusively through revenue bonds backed by the fifth-cent tourist development tax. To date, the county has paid approximately $91 million under the original arena renovation agreement first approved in 2006.

The agreement also requires Tampa Bay Arena and the Lightning to seek additional financial support from the city of Tampa and the state, though no commitments from either government are included in the agenda item.

The staff report indicates that continued investment is necessary to keep the arena competitive with newer venues and to preserve its role as a major economic driver in the Water Street and Channelside districts.

“Such public benefits include the Arena’s role as a catalyst for small and emerging businesses located in the District, a stimulus for development in the larger area around the Arena, and the host of many esteemed cultural events held in the Suncoast region of the State of Florida,” staff wrote in the report.

Source link

Politics

Patricia Rumph joins crowded race to be first-ever District 7 Orange County Commissioner

Published

2 hours ago

January 19, 2026

May Greene

Patricia Rumph, a retired state corrections department employee, is running for Orange County Commission’s District 7 in August.

“I am running for County Commission because service is not something I talk about, it is something I have lived every day of my life,” Rumph said.

Rumph’s campaign priorities are public safety, investing in strong infrastructure, affordability, and environmental stewardship, she said in a statement to announce her candidacy.

Rumph is joining a crowded field for a two-year term representing District 7 in the nonpartisan race. The other candidates are Selina Carter, Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner, Stacey Gordon-Ali, Framily Support Network co-founder Aaron Lewis, Sonya Shakespeare, and former Orlando City Commissioner Vicki Vargo.

A County Commissioner’s current annual salary is $130,262.

District 7, which covers Maitland, Eatonville, Pine Hills, Orlovista and Fairview Shores in the northern part of Orange County, is one of the two new County Commission seats added after last year’s redistricting.

“As District 7 is formed, this is a moment to build something new and to do it the right way,” Rumph said. “Our residents deserve a commissioner who is present, accountable, and deeply invested in the people who call this district home.”

Rumph’s 30-year career in the Florida Department of Corrections included jobs as Correctional Probation Senior Officer, Human Resources Specialist, and Fiscal Assistant. She retired in 2017.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida.

“In 2020, Rumph was appointed Orange County’s Inaugural Community Ambassador, a role created to build trust between law enforcement and residents and to lead initiatives focused on reducing gun violence and violent crime,” she said in a press release.

“Prior to that appointment, she served for three years as President of the Pine Hills Community Council and has held leadership roles on numerous county boards and advisory committees.”

She was also named the League of Women Voters of Orange County Grassroots Champion of the Year, noted a press release highlighting her public service.

“From Pine Hills to neighborhoods across District 7, I have worked side by side with residents to make our communities safer, stronger, and more connected,” Rumph said in a statement. “This new district deserves leadership that knows our neighborhoods, listens to our families, and fights for opportunity in every zip code. I am ready to bring proven, community-rooted leadership to the County Commission.”

Source link