My Gator World

Complete History Of The 1998 Florida Gators Football Team

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Florida Gators were one of the most dominant teams in college football in the 1990s. They had a world class coach and world class talent that helped them win. During this time they were coached by former Heisman Trophy winning Florida Gators Quarterback Steve Spurrier. They won 6 conference championships in the SEC and one National Championship during this time.

1998 was a very successful year for the Gators. They went 7-1 in the conference and 10-2 overall.Additional information can be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/777645-2011-florida-gators-football-7-games-that-could-be-blowouts. They started off the season with a warm up game against The Citadel with a huge win of 49-10 they also won their second game quite handily against Northeast Louisiana. They lost their first game of the year in week 3 against arch rival Tennessee at Tennessee. They then had a very successful run winning their next 7 games against conference foes like Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU. Three of these wins came against ranked opponents.

The only other loss of the season came in the last regular season game of the year against arch rival Florida State University. FSU was ranked 5 in the nation at the time of the match-up. The Gators were ranked 4 at the time and lost by a score of 12-27 on the road in Doak Campbell stadium in Tallahassee. They they went on to win the Orange Bowl in Miami against 18 Syracuse to finish their season 10-2 and ranked 7 in the nation.

Complete History Of The 1997 Florida Gators Football Team

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Fresh off a National Championship the previous year, the 1997 Florida Gators began the season ranked 2 in the country. In head coach Steve Spurrier’s eighth season, the Gators started strong winning its first five games by an average of 36 points. As a result of their early dominance, the Gators were working on their third week in a row of being the 1 team in the country when they played SEC rival LSU. Florida ended up losing a close game on the road 28-21 and its top ranking.

Florida would lose again two weeks later in the game known as “The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. The Gators lost 37-17 to the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators would then pull together and win its next three games, including a 32-29 nail biter against its inner state rival, the Florida State Seminoles, which was ranked 2 at the time.

With the victory over Florida St, the Gators ended the season with a record of 9-2, which was good enough to earn a trip to the Florida Citrus Bowl to play Penn St. The Gators would win the game 21-6 to end the season with a 10-2 record and ranked 6 in the country.

Complete History Of The 1996 Florida Gators Football Team

admin — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The 1996 Gators were led by head coach Steve Spurrier to their first consensus National Championship. It was one of the University of Florida’s most thrilling seasons. They only lost one game to non-conference rival the 2 ranked Florida State Seminoles. It was the final regular season game and the Gators lost by just three points. The loss was avenged in the Sugar Bowl as the Gators defeated the then 1 ranked Seminoles to claim the National Championship. Senior Quarterback Danny Wuerffel guided the team on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. His two favorite targets were Reidel Anthony and Ike Hilliard. Both would be first round picks in the NFL amateur draft after combining for nearly 2200 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. Running backs Elijah Williams and Fred Taylor, both Juniors, rushed for over 1300 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Gators dominated the competition on their way to winning the Southeasten Conference Championship. Wins included an early season romp over 2 ranked Tennessee. Other conference victories over 12 LSU and 16 Auburn made the Gators a solid 1 ranked team in the country. Overall the Gators would outscore opponents 559 to 201 while averaging over 500 yards of offense per game.

Florida’s Biggest SEC Opponents for 2011

admin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Gators have been strong the last few years, so strong in fact that you haven’t had to tune into a direct.tv satellite channel to watch them – they’re on basic cable! But this year’s going to be a tough year and some of the SEC’s other teams are shaping up nicely. Here’s a look at some of the Gator’s biggest competitors to watch in the SEC…
Georgia Bulldogs – One of the oldest and strongest rivalries in football the GA/FL game is set to be another doozie this time in October. The Bulldogs have floundered the last couple of years but with this being Richt’s make or break season you can bet they’re going to bring their A game to the field.
Auburn – Auburn showed Florida who was boss last year when they beat them out for the SEC Championship. They’re likely going to do it again this year if Florida can’t learn to contain the Tiger’s formidable offensive game.
Ole Miss – The consummate underdog, the Rebs are shaping up to be a decidedly strong team this year. Florida typically missteps with underestimated teams and Ol’ Miss may just be that team this year.

Weighing in on Will Muschamp

www.mygatorworld.com — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The success for Florida coaches over the past 2 decades is well documented, save for the less than prosperous Ron Zook era. With the unfortunate news for Gator fans that Urban Meyer is stepping down (the second time in two years such an announcement has been made), a new age of Gator football is set to begin. After evaluating potential candidates to take over one of the most sought after gigs in the country, the University of Florida decided to hire Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, already named as Mac Browns eventual successor would he have waited out the clock in Austin.What’s Good About This Hire?Having played football at the University of Georgia in the early 90′s, then served successful stints as defensive coordinator at LSU and Auburn, Muschamp is very familiar with the SEC brand of football. He knows what it takes to play and coach in the toughest conference in the country. Not to mention, it also says a lot about the state of the Florida program that Muschamp, firmly entrenched as a high paid assistant and coach-in-waiting at Texas would be willing to leave another of the nation’s top football schools in its own right. With that said, Mack Brown is expected to be in charge in Texas for some time (though perhaps less if he endures more years like this one), so whether Muschamp truly feels Florida is a better opportunity or was merely subject to wearing patience is open to interpretation. After all, it wasn’t long ago Muschamp called the Texas Longhorn head coaching job “THE elite job in the country,” a statement that either excites Florida fans about their ability to lure him away or paints Muschamp in the likeness of Bobby Petrino, Benedict Arnold, Judas, and other self-driven scumbags in history.Question Marks?Unlike Meyer, a BCS tested head coach upon his arrival in the swamp, Muschamp, for all his success as a D coordinator, has zero head coaching experience. There will likely be at least some learning curve, making it difficult for the new ball coach to operate at full capacity early on. Furthermore, Muschamp might not be on top of his game at the moment, considering his Texas team has been sitting at home on their hands since late November, failing to even qualify for a bowl after losing 5 of their last 6 games, giving up 28, 30, 39, and 33 points to Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, respectively. Granted, it was a rebuilding year coming off a National Championship appearance, with athletes like the Longhorns recruits, there’s no excuse for not going bowling at all over the Holidays.

Big ‘Gator Shoes’ to Fill

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:05:53 +0000

As the 40,000 some-odd students plan to head back to classes in Gainesville this fall, one young man entering his 4^th year of college probably has more butterflies in his stomach than the collective legion of aspiring sorority girls lined up on Norman Field come bid day. For most students, by the 4^th year of college, they’ve established at least somewhat of a routine, whether it be waking up at noon on the basement couch of a can & bottle-littered fraternity house or perhaps swinging by a local coffee house to get a fresh cup of joe before heading over to your morning lab. Whatever the case, by year 4, it’s not likely to expect a large scale shift in normalcy. For John Brantley, however, life is about to change, not in a winter to spring type shift, more of a universe-shaping big bang lifestyle realignment.As a redshirt junior (read: 3^rd year of eligibility, 4th actual year for more casual fans), Brantley inherits arguably the most high profile quarterback job college football has ever seen. Sure there was Tee Martin taking over for Peyton Manning in 1998, who won a National Championship for the Volunteers by the way, but few quarterbacks have ever been so beloved by the local community or such the infatuation of mainstream media as the recently NFL-bound Tim Tebow. Can you name another 25^th overall draft pick to set a draft record for jersey sales or pace the entire NFL in jersey sales the month after draft day? Not since Johnny Moxon took over for an injured Lance Harbor for the West Canaan Coyotes has one player been thrust into a more direct spotlight from a backup role.In limited time, Brantley has performed well for the Gators, though his Saturdays will certainly be a little more pressure filled than the mostly mop-up duty he’s worked in recent years. Still, the 6’3” gunslinger out of Ocala/Trinity Catholic has made good on his top 3 recruit billing thus far, completing 71.1 of his passes in over the last 2 years on his way to 10 touchdowns and just one interception. After all, it won’t be the first time Brantley’s name has replaced Tebow’s on a list, as Brantley edged out Tebow’s shared high school state record for TD passes by the narrow margin of 99 to 98.

SEC Preview

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:53:48 +0000

With the Gators making an almost predetermined appearance in the SEC title game in 3 of the last 4 seasons, the SEC is anticipating a conference wide shakeup going into the 2010 season, particularly in the East where no team stands on confidently solid ground. Here’s a look at how the conference could play out over the course of the season, with the top spot undisputedly going to defending national champsAlabama (2009 conference record: 8-0) Returning not only a BCS Championship Trophy but a Heisman Trophy to further clutter the well-decorated shelves down in Tuscaloosa (actually the Heisman is the first of its variety for the Crimson Tide), Mark Ingram and company look to once again wreak havoc on opposing front lines trying to tackle the freight train style offense Alabama greases the tracks for up the middle. As long as quarterback Greg McElroy can manage to hand off the ball and throw the occasional long ball in the general direction Julio Jones (don’t worry, he’ll catch it), he should once again enjoy the easiest starting gig in quarterback history.Arkansas (2009: 3-5) It’s almost laughable that the Razorbacks are among the top billed team from historically the nation’s premiere conference, but so goes a down year for the SEC. The Razorback’s do feature Ryan Mallett, the top rated quarterback in the conference, who could prove to follow in the footsteps of former Bulldog Matt Stafford on his way to a lofty draft status.Georgia (2009: 4-4) Speaking of the Dawgs, the Athens faithful have less a sure thing at QB than even the Gators do, but the talent surrounding first-year signal caller Aaron Murray could be enough to beat any team not wearing crimson. With Washaun Ealey and Caleb King forming arguably the best emerging RB duo in the nation, not to mention A.J. Green split wide, even Brock Berlin could conceivably quarterback this bunch to a 9-win season.Darkhorses: Florida and Ole Miss, with the transfer acquisition of Oregon sendoff and Heisman candidate Jeremiah Masoli, lead a pack of potential contenders in what is sure to be a wide open race for second place in the conference standings.

Off-season Recap

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:39:17 +0000

In what looks to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Gators, and a down year for the SEC East in general, Florida will need major contributions from a bevy of first year starters and newcomers to the team if they are going to pose a legitimate threat to climb the conference ranks once again this year. On the heels of a Sugar Bowl victory (soured only by a loss to Alabama that would’ve sent the Gators to the BCS Championship), having become the first team in Division I history to notch consecutive 13-win seasons, Florida now faces a time of uncertainty that it has successfully eluded the program over the course of the Urban Meyer era. Shockingly announcing his retirement after the Sugar Bowl win, Urban Meyer sent Gator Nation into panic though thankfully the panic was short lived. Within 48 hours, Meyer softened his position on his proposed absence, instead opting for the more soft spoken “leave of absence,” taking time off to focus more on his family and health issues. Fortunately, Coach Meyer’s health issues, later disclosed to be a non-life threatening heart muscle defect, have apparently subsided as he will once again find himself holding the clipboard and headset on the sidelines in Gainesville come September. Meyer resumed full coaching duties in March, just 2 months after his big announcement, with plenty of time to conduct spring practice and welcome first-time Gators to The Swamp.Meyer’s short stint of indecision regarding his head coaching position did little to slow the roll of the football program, though he never wavered in his dedication to the University of Florida, emphasizing he would be involved in some capacity no matter what. The 2010 recruiting class trails only that of USC (according to Rivals.com rankings) and with the recent sanctions imposed against the Trojans, along with a host of top recruits likely opting to transfer, the Gators and Longhorns would surely duke it out for the top spot were there to be a recount.

Recruiting Roundup

mrice — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:30:24 +0000

With one of Florida’s most accomplished classes of departing players now moving on to NFL and other post-collegiate careers, 2010 marks a vital year in rebuilding the talent pool for Gator teams going forward. Overall, the 2010 class looks to be as promising as almost any in recent memory, boasting four 5-star recruits, amid a well-rounded class of high level talent. Here’s a look at the top rated entering freshman who will soon call The Swamp their home.Dominique Easley, Defensive Tackle/End, Curtis HS (Staten Island, NY): Easley’s biggest strengths are on the pass rush, where the 250 lbs. big man boasts seemingly impossible quickness and shows a knack for timing snap counts. Though he could use a little more size if the Gators want to move him inside to the defensive tackle position, which he played some in high school, albeit against far smaller competition than SEC offensive lineman, Easley should be able to pack on a few pounds with some off-season strength and conditioning.Matt Elam, Safety, William T. Dwyer HS (West Palm Beach, FL): Elam plays towards contact, a trait that should serve him well as the Gators once again look to blend speed and toughness. A two way player in high school, Elam spelled some time at running back, though his 4.45 speed should be put to better use punishing opposing RBs who break through the line of scrimmage. Originally destined to be a Gator, Elam changed his stance after an intense flirtation with the Seminoles, though eventually Elam wised up and will start the season on the winning side of the Sunshine State.Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, George Washington HS (Philadelphia, PA): Quite simply a big man at 6’3” 310 lbs., Floyd has prototypical size for an interior defensive lineman. Equally impressive is what he can do with his massive frame, showing off rare burst for a player of his immense proportions. Floyd has all the talent in the world, with Florida as a place to tune up his technique, fundamentals and football IQ, in what should be a mutually beneficial partnership on the way to what should be a near certain NFL future for Floyd.Ronald Powell, Defensive End, Rancho Verde HS (Moreno Valley, CA): Powell has more potential than any player in Florida’s incoming class, perhaps the same could be said nationwide, the only question is whether he has the drive and motor to make good on his gifts. Already posing an intimidating figure, Powell has the figure to add a little more bulk to complement his already serviceable strength and unparalleled outside pass rush. Truly a gifted athlete, Powell saw time at TE as well in high school, hauling in 6 TD receptions his senior year.

Welcome to the NFL Tim

mrice — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:20:39 +0000

Training camp in the August heat… head coaches can build a reputation off of it, some veterans go through long contract holdouts just to avoid it, but for NFL rookies, training camp serves as a first impression to the inner workings of an NFL franchise. The transition from college to the pros goes a lot further than throwing out the old “option” standby and learning a whole new level of X’s and O’s. Training camp is full of adjustments, from adjusting to the speed of the game to life at the bottom of the proverbial pecking order. Enter former Florida great (still heart wrenching to say “former”) Tim Tebow, a regular Captain Planet in college, using his physical gifts and superhuman powers to do good on and off the field. A Heisman winner by his sophomore season and finalist the remaining two years, Tebow has been the undisputed top dog on the Florida campus at the very least since Horford, Noah and Brewer made their way to the NBA. So how then would a player who has been running the show for the better part of 3 years adjust to the hazing from his veteran NFL teammates? It didn’t take long to find out.The Broncos high profile first round pick sported a new doo last week, courtesy of LenDale White’s amateur barbershop. Perhaps in reference to Tebow’s very public religious stance, veteran Broncos opted to give their new quarterback the “Friar Tuck,” completely bald on top with a thick circle of hair hugging to his dome like a toilet seat, grainy chinstrap beard still connecting one side to the other. By all reports Tebow was all smiles about his new look, recognizing his place on the team and role within the organization. Here’s to hoping Tebow suffers more embarrassment off the field than on the field (lighthearted embarrassment that is, not a Pacman Jones-esque shaming of the family name), as he embarks on his NFL career.