Welcome to Bait & Bits, a series on Hail Florida Hail that will feature one “bait” about an opposing school and some bits about the Florida Gators. Have any links that you want on Bait & Bits? Tweet it at us @HailFloridaHail or @TLane4Real.

Bait

Colonels Have Coach, Running Game: The Eastern Kentucky coaching situation this season has been a lot different than that of their Florida Gator opponents. Colonels’ coach Dean Hood is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the best coach in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Dean has the Colonels at 9-2, including a win against an FBS opponent in Miami (Ohio). And ranked No. 14, the Colonels have a chance to for a bid to the FCS playoffs. Hail Florida Hail wrote about the threat the Eastern Kentucky running game will pose the Gators this weekend. (WKYT)

Bits

Walker Back Tonight After Suspension: The No.8 Gators men’s basketball team, 1-1, look to bounce back from their loss to Miami with a strong game against Louisiana-Monroe at the O’Dome tonight. The Gators will be getting forward Chris Walker back for the first time this season, as the forward was suspended for the first two games. Watch the game tonight at 8 p.m. on the SEC Network. (GatorZone)

Soccer Has Home Stand to Advance in NCAAs: The Florida Gators women’s soccer team has home field advantage for its next steps in the 2014 NCAA soccer championship. It starts tonight at 7 pm when the No.2 regional seed Gators face unseeded California. Soccer fans that want to get an early start and scout the potential next Gator opponent can watch No. 3 regional seed Texas Tech face Auburn. If the Gators win tonight, they’ll play the winner of that game on Sunday at 2 p.m. to advance to the next round. (GatorZone)

Volleyball Goes for Title, Undefeated SEC Season: The No. 6 Gators volleyball team has already clinched a share of the SEC title with a win over Kentucky last Sunday. Now, the Gators need to win just one of their upcoming two road matches at Ole Miss on Friday and Arkansas on Sunday to clinch the SEC title. Win them both and the Gators finish the season undefeated. (GatorZone)

Women’s Basketball Drops Close One in NY: The Gator women’s basketball team, 2-1, suffered its first loss of the season in a close road outing at St. Johns in Queens, N.Y., where the led twice in the second half but fell to the Red Storm 72-66. The Gators next face Charleston Southern at the O’Connell Center on Tuesday. (GatorZone)

McNeely to Receive Legacy Award: Georgia game hero and Publix employee Mike McNeely, a senior wide receiver, will receive the National Football Foundation Legacy Award on Dec. 9 in New York City. McNeely, a former walk-on, has a 3.92 GPA and has been accepted to the university’s medical school. (Gainesville Sun)

Garcia up for Pop Warner Award: Florida senior center Max Garcia is one of four nominees for the Pop Warner National College Football Award, which recognizes players for not only their performance on the field, but their dedication to family and community as well. The award will be presented Dec. 10 in Orlando. (GatorZone)