Pond Birds

Name: Pond Birds
Price: 71.09 AUD
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ISBN: 9780813081564

Gator Basketball-the Whole Story from the Inside

Bill Koss

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Paperback

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English

University Press of Florida
10 March 2026

Basketball

The history of the University of Florida basketball program from its beginnings to the arrival of Billy Donovan, told by a former player and longtime Gator sports analyst

In the 1960s, the University of Florida football players began calling the long-legged Gator basketball players “pond birds.” Bill Koss was one of them. In Pond Birds, Koss tells the definitive story of Florida Gators men’s basketball from the program’s modest beginnings in 1916, through decades of highs and lows that included 55 years without an SEC conference title, and into the pivotal years leading up to the onset of Billy Donovan’s transformative tenure in 1996.

Koss takes a deep dive into the moments and personalities that shaped the program, such as the fiery leadership of coach Norm Sloan and the steady, strategic approach of Lon Kruger. Stories of recruitment efforts, both failed and successful, and the arrival of Gatorade make this book both a sports history and a cultural snapshot of college athletics in a bygone era. For diehard Gator fans and college basketball enthusiasts of all allegiances, Pond Birds is a reminder that greatness is built over time with perseverance. Now that Florida basketball has three national championships, Pond Birds invites readers to appreciate the journey from Point A to Point B—and leaves them eager for the next chapter.

By: Bill Koss
Imprint: University Press of Florida
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 16mm
ISBN: 9780813081564
ISBN 10: 0813081564
Pages: 274
Publication Date: 10 March 2026
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Acknowledgments In the Beginning . . . 1916–1960 1. A Man for All Seasons 2. The Early Years 3. Setting the Stage Norm Sloan—A Basketball Man at Last: 1961–1966 4. The Turning Point 5. Battle Scars 6. Developing a Foundation 7. A Complicated Coach 8. Life and Death Experiences 9. Achieving a Milestone 10. Never Say Never Tommy Bartlett—An All-American Experience: 1967–1973 11. A Breath of Fresh Air 12. The Best Season Ever 13. WALKing to the Big Apple 14. The Science of Success 15. Taking a Final Shot John Lotz—Basketball Blue Bloodlines: 1974–1980 16. The Carolina Connection 17. Having Fun Again 18. LOTZ to Overcome 19. Breaking Through Barriers 20. A Fatal Blow 21. Blindsided by Faith Norm Sloan—A Painful Taste of Glory: 1981–1989 22. Norman Stormin' Again 23. Building a Base 24. Trying Times 25. A Five-Year Assessment 26. Fighting for Respect 27. The Art of Survival 28. Winning is Everything 29. Maxwell Lights Up Broadway 30. Costly Mistakes 31. Talent Personified 32. Little Yellow Balls 33. A Red LETTer Run 34. Championship Rings 35. From Penthouse to Outhouse 36. Agony and Ecstasy Lon Kruger—Family Time: 1991–1996 37. The Healing Touch 38. Everyone Contributes 39. Finding a Way 40. Final Four Fever 41. Sailing Uncharted Seas 42. A Family at Last Epilogue A Collection of Memories

Bill Koss was a starting center for the Florida Gators from 1963 to 1965. After serving the team as an assistant coach from 1966 to 1972, he became a radio and television commentator for various outlets, including Sun Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN. In 2008 he was inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2013 he was named an Allstate SEC Basketball Legend.

Reviews for Pond Birds: Gator Basketball-the Whole Story from the Inside

“Koss and Gator hoops are inextricably intertwined. . . . Koss’s insight and wealth of knowledge about the program provide the depth and detail of Pond Birds.”—Gainesville Sun