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The best thing about the SEC Network for Florida fans is going to be the ability to see something about Florida on national television on a daily basis. The best thing about the SEC Network for Florida fans who aren't just Florida football fans will almost certainly be the significant increase in the number of Gators games — in all sports — that will show up on the channel.
These things go hand in hand.
I've watched (and listened to) all sorts of weird streams over the last three years while trying to cover those various teams, and the quality of those streams has varied wildly, from student-produced broadcasts to am-I-watching-a-dishwasher picture. The idea that those teams that wouldn't otherwise be on national TV will be is tremendously appealing to the average Florida fan, as I wrote last year.
Florida's non-football teams have deserved coverage like this for a while now, what with the incredible 11 national championships those teams have won in just the last four years. The Gators soccer squad ought to be on TV from time to time, and Florida's two-time defending national champion gymnastics team should have its meets carried live, and Florida's swimming team should be in the spotlight during the SEC Championships, and the reigning national champions in softball should be on TV more often than not.
And while the SEC Network won't air every game featuring those teams — the men's basketball team is still going to be relegated to Fox Sports Net once, and that team is more popular than any non-football squad — it will be a massive improvement on the previous piecemeal setup.
And given that the only SEC sports in season this fall are football, soccer, and volleyball — sports in which Florida is a compelling story, the preseason favorite, and the preseason favorite, respectively — we're going to see a lot of the Gators on the SEC Network in its first few months.
With the advent of the SEC Network, the #EverythingSchool is gonna feel like the #EverywhereSchool from time to time, too. There's nothing wrong with that.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a Florida season preview airing at 9:30 p.m. to watch...