Whether you’re a fan of the Miami Dolphins or a Florida Gators, there are some great sports teams in Florida. Here are a few of them.
University of Central Florida
Having won the American Athletic Conference, the University of Central Florida is now one of the best sports teams in Florida. In fact, the university is the second-largest undergraduate institution in the nation.
The university has been in existence for over 50 years and has been in the top tier of college football for almost two decades. Aside from football, the school is known for its other sports as well. Several notable alumni have played in the NFL and NBA.
UCF’s main campus is located in Orlando, Florida, and the university has a few satellite campuses across the state. Most students live on the main campus, which is located on a 1,400-acre property.
University of Florida Gators
Throughout the years, Florida Gators have produced some of the best athletes in the nation. Amongst these athletes are DeLisha Milton-Jones, Brad Wilkerson, and Frank Shorter.
In the 1990s, the Gators were coached by Steve Spurrier, who had been an NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner. He was a successful coach in his own right. But he did not stay at the Gators long. In 2001, Pat McMahon came to Florida.
Florida’s baseball team has been one of the most successful in the history of the program. They have won eight SEC championships in the past twenty-four seasons.
Miami Dolphins
Founded by actor-comedian Danny Thomas and attorney-politician Joe Robbie, the Miami Dolphins have become one of the oldest professional sports teams in Florida. They compete in the National Football League and play home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Before joining the NFL, the Dolphins were an All-America Football Conference team. They were one of the first professional football teams to begin play in the southeast. Their first training camp was at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. They were a part of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
University of South Florida Bulls
Located in Tampa, Florida, the South Florida Bulls are a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Bulls are also a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). In 2007, the athletics department at the university ranked in the top 10 for the first time in program history.
In 2006, USF earned a bid to their first NCAA Tournament. Jose Fernandez was named head coach. He led the team to a 10 postseason tournaments in eleven years. The program is also credited with upsets of Florida State, Louisville, and Auburn.
The football team plays home games at Raymond James Stadium, a 41,421 seat stadium. The facility is also home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL hertube.
Orlando Magic
There’s more to Orlando Florida than Disney World. The Orlando Magic are a professional basketball team that was established in 1989. They’ve had a wide range of notable stars such as Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and Nikola Vučević, throughout the teams history. The team is known for it’s fervent fans, “My dad sold our house in Orlando and we moved to Jacksonville because he was so upset during the Dwightmare saga” – Jenny Hennigan.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Located in Tampa, Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning is one of the top sports franchises in the state. The Lightning is a professional ice hockey team that plays in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. They play their home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Lightning has won more playoff games than any other team in the Eastern Conference since the turn of the millennium. They also have one Stanley Cup win in their history.
Tampa Bay Lightning entered the NHL with the Ottawa Senators in 1992. They had a losing record in the first three seasons, but they picked up their game in the fourth.
US Tennis Association National Campus in Lake Nona
Founded in 1927, the United States Professional Tennis Association is a globally recognized leader in tennis-teacher certification. With over 13,500 members working in the United States and 80 countries, the organization promotes greater awareness and participation in tennis.
The USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida is a 64-acre sports and performance district. The facility features over 100 tennis courts, a state-of-the-art broadcast facility, and an office building. It is the home of the Player Development operations and Community Tennis programs.
The facility features a wide range of programming, including individual lessons, a variety of youth programs, and a full schedule of adult camps. The facilities are also home to a multimedia studio and lab that will be used for TV production.
