Florida Gators football

Florida Gators football
2017 Florida Gators football team
First season 1906
Athletic director Scott Stricklin
Head coach Jim McElwain
3rd season, 19–8 (.704)
Stadium Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
(Capacity: 88,548)
Field Steve Spurrier-Florida Field
Field surface Grass
Location Gainesville, Florida
NCAA division Division I FBS
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Eastern
Past conferences Independent (1906–1911)
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1912–1921)
Southern Conference (1922–1932)
All-time record 710–404–40 (.633)
Bowl record 22–21 (.512)
Claimed nat'l titles 3 (1996, 2006, 2008)
National finalist 1 (1995)
Conference titles 8 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2006, 2008)
Division titles 14 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003*, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012*, 2015, 2016)
Rivalries Florida State Seminoles (rivalry)
Georgia Bulldogs (rivalry)
LSU Tigers (rivalry)
Tennessee Volunteers (rivalry)
Heisman winners 3 (Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Tim Tebow)
Consensus All-Americans 32[note 1]
Current uniform
Colors Orange and Blue[2]
         
Fight song "The Orange and Blue"
Mascot Albert and Alberta
Marching band Pride of the Sunshine
Website FloridaGators.com

The Florida Gators football program represents the University of Florida in American college football. Florida competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games in Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (nicknamed "The Swamp") on the university's Gainesville campus. The Gators have won three national championships and eight SEC titles in the 108-season history of Florida's varsity football program.

Historical overview

The University of Florida (then known as the University of the State of Florida) fielded its first official varsity football team in the fall of 1906, when the newly consolidated institution moved from its temporary location in Lake City to its present campus in Gainesville. The Florida football program has evolved from its humble beginnings and achieved notable successes. They have played in forty bowl games; won three national championships (1996, 2006 and 2008) and eight Southeastern Conference championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2006 and 2008), and produced eighty-nine first-team All-Americans, forty-six National Football League (NFL) first-round draft choices, and three Heisman Trophy winners.

Florida has had an on-campus home field since the beginning of their football program. Since 1930, their home field has been Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The stadium was known as Florida Field until 1989 when its name was extended to honor alumnus and sports benefactor Ben Hill Griffin. During the 1990s, football coach Steve Spurrier called the stadium "the Swamp"; the nickname quickly became popular, and has been used ever since.

Since 1906 Florida has had twenty-five head coaches, including three who were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame for their coaching success. Their first head coach was Pee Wee Forsythe in 1906; the 2015 season was the first for their twenty-fifth head coach, Jim McElwain.

During the program's early years, Florida was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association and then the Southern Conference. In 1932 the University of Florida was a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and it is currently one of fourteen member institutions. The Gators have competed in the SEC Eastern Division since the league began divisional play in 1992.

Florida plays an eight-game SEC schedule, with six games against the other Eastern Division teams: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt. The schedule is filled out with an annual game against Louisiana State and a rotating SEC Western Division team. Until 2003, the Gators also played Auburn every season.

Key conference rivalries include the annual Florida–Georgia game in Jacksonville, Florida (usually around Halloween), the Florida–Tennessee rivalry (usually mid-September), and the inter-divisional Florida–LSU rivalry with their permanent SEC Western Division foe (in early to mid-October).

Florida has also played in-state rival Florida State every year since 1958, usually facing off in the last game of the regular season. The two teams' emergence as perennial football powers during the 1980s and 1990s helped build the Florida–Florida State rivalry into a game which often has national-title implications. Before 1988, in-state rival Miami was also an annual opponent; due to expanded conference schedules, the Florida–Miami rivalry has been renewed only three times in the regular season and twice in bowl games since then. The remaining dates on Florida's regular schedule are filled by non-conference opponents which vary from year to year.

Rivalries

Georgia

Steve Spurrier under center v. Georgia, 1966

Previously known as "the world's largest outdoor cocktail party," it is most commonly called the "Florida–Georgia game" by Gator fans.[3] The game is held at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, usually on the last Saturday in October or the first Saturday in November.[4] The designated "home" team alternates, with ticket distribution split evenly between the schools.[5]

In the rivalry's early years, games rotated among locations in Savannah, Georgia, Tampa, Florida, Jacksonville and, occasionally, Gainesville and Athens.[6] Since 1933 the game has been played in Jacksonville, except for 1994 and 1995 (when the teams played a pair of home-and-home games at their respective stadiums).[6]

Georgia had early success in the rivalry, winning the first six games and holding a 21–5–1 series lead before 1950.[6] After the 2014 game Florida had won 21 out of the most-recent 27 games, and holds a 38–28–1 advantage in the series since 1950.[6] The Bulldogs lead the series overall, 49–43–2.[6]

Since 2009, the Okefenokee Oar has been awarded to the winner of the Florida-Georgia game.[7] Florida last received the oar for its 2016 victory.[8]

Tennessee

Tim Tebow in the spread v. UT

Although Florida and Tennessee are charter members of the SEC, irregular conference scheduling resulted in the teams meeting infrequently for many years. Tennessee won the first ten games between 1916 and 1954, when Florida finally defeated the Volunteers.[9] In 1969, Florida hired Tennessee head coach (and former Florida quarterback) Doug Dickey to replace the retiring Ray Graves immediately after their teams met in the Gator Bowl.[10]

The rivalry reached a peak during the 1990s. In 1992, the SEC expanded to twelve schools and split into two divisions.[11][12] Florida and Tennessee (in the Eastern Division) have met every year since, usually in mid-September for both teams' first conference game of the season.[9] Led by coaches Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer and featuring players such as Danny Wuerffel and Peyton Manning, both teams were highly ranked and the game had conference- and national-title implications. Florida and Tennessee combined to win two national championships during the decade.[13]

Since becoming annual opponents, the Gators and Volunteers have combined to represent the Eastern Division in the SEC Championship Game fifteen times in twenty seasons. Florida had an eleven-game winning streak against Tennessee (from 2005 to 2015) and leads the series, 26–20.[9]

Florida State

Teams in formation near the end zone
2007 Florida State game

The University of Florida and the Florida State College for Women became co-educational in 1947.[14] The new Florida State Seminoles football team began playing small colleges, moving up to the major-college ranks in 1955.[15] Almost immediately, Florida State students and supporters called for the teams of Florida's two largest universities to play each other annually.[16]

Contrary to popular belief, Florida's state legislature did not decree that Florida and Florida State should meet on the field; a bill mandating the game was rejected by the Florida Senate.[17] Prodding by Florida governor LeRoy Collins facilitated an agreement between the two universities to begin an annual series in 1958.[18] Due to Florida State's smaller stadium, the first six games were played at Florida Field. The series has alternated between the campuses since 1964, when Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee was expanded.[19] Florida dominated the early series with a 16–2–1 record through 1976. Both teams have produced significant winning streaks, and the series is nearly tied over the past four decades; Florida State holds a 21–18–1 advantage. Florida leads the all-time series, 34–24–2.[20]

The Florida–Florida State game has had national-championship implications since 1990, and both teams have entered the game with top-10 rankings thirteen times.[21] Among these was the Sugar Bowl rematch at the end of the 1996 season, when Florida avenged its only regular-season loss and won its first national championship 52–20.[22]

Louisiana State

Louisiana State and Florida first met on the football field in 1937, and have been annual opponents since 1971.[23] Since 1992, LSU has been Florida's permanent inter-divisional rival from the SEC Western Division. The winner of the Florida–LSU game went on to win the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national championship game in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons. This rivalry has been known recently for close games, with both teams highly ranked. Florida leads the all-time series, 32–28–3.[23]

Alabama

Alabama in red and Florida in white
Florida and Alabama in 2010

Although Alabama and Florida are charter members of the SEC, they have never been annual opponents.[24] They have met many times over the years, especially since the SEC Championship Game began in 1992. The Gators and the Crimson Tide have met seven times for the SEC championship.[24] On four occasions, the winner of a Florida-Alabama SEC title game has gone on to win a national championship. In 2008 and 2009, the teams were ranked first and second coming into the game. The second-ranked team won both times (Florida in 2008 and Alabama in 2009), with both conference champions going on to win the BCS National Championship Game. The Gators are no longer tied with Alabama (4-5) in SEC championship games after losing in 2016, and Alabama leads the overall series 25–14.[24]

Auburn

Auburn and Florida played annually from 1945 to 2002.[25] In the overall series won-lost record, Auburn is Florida's most evenly-matched SEC opponent. Beginning in the 1980s, one team was usually highly ranked coming into the game and it had conference- and national-title implications.[26][27]

The series has had several notable upsets. Auburn defeated previously-unbeaten Florida teams in 1993, 1994, 2001, 2006 and 2007, although the Gators won SEC championships in 1993 and 1994.[28]

The annual series ended in 2002, when the SEC adjusted its football schedules so each team played one permanent and two rotating opponents from the opposite SEC division every year (instead of one rotating and two permanent teams).[29] When Texas A&M and Missouri joined the conference in 2012, the schedule was changed again; each team played one permanent and one rotating opponent from the opposite division every year. LSU was designated as Florida's annual SEC Western Division opponent, and Florida and Auburn play two regular-season games every twelve years. Auburn leads the series, 43–38–2.[25]

Miami

Florida and Miami formerly played each other for the Seminole War Canoe Trophy, but they canceled after the 1987 season[30] when Florida's annual SEC schedule expanded to eight games. The teams did not play each other again until the 2001 Sugar Bowl.[30] Florida and Miami played a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003, and met again in the 2004 Peach Bowl.[30] The Gators won the first leg of a home-and-home series in 2008, ending a six-game losing streak against the Hurricanes.[30] Their 2008 victory against Miami was Florida's only victory against them in the last 30 years. The last scheduled regular-season meeting of the Gators and the Hurricanes was in Miami in 2013, where the Hurricanes won 21–16. They have scheduled the next game to be somewhere in the year of 2019.[31] Miami has a 29–26 lead in the all-time series.[30]

Uniforms

Jerseys

Former player Percy Harvin wearing the most common Florida home uniform since 1990

The Florida football team has worn a home uniform of blue jerseys (usually a variation of royal blue) with white pants for most of the program's history. The most notable exception was a decade-long period from 1979 until 1989, when at the suggestion of coach Charlie Pell, the Gators switched to orange home jerseys.[32]

Steve Spurrier restored the home blue jerseys when he became the Gators' head ball coach in 1990.[33] From 1990 until 2014, Florida's primary home uniforms were blue jerseys with white pants, with blue pants an option for high-profile games, especially at night. Current head coach Jim McElwain usually allows his senior players to decide which uniform combination the team will wear for each game. Since this practice began during the 2015 season, the Gators have worn many different combinations of blue or orange jerseys along with blue, orange, or white pants.[34][35]

For road games, Florida wears white jerseys with blue, orange, or white pants, depending on the colors of the opponent or the choice of the players that week.

Helmets

Florida has had a number of helmet designs, especially early in the program's history. Since the end of the leather helmet era, base colors have alternated between orange, white, and (occasionally) blue, and logos have included an interlocking "UF", a simple "F", and the player number.[36]

Gators (in blue and white) and Florida Atlantic Owls (in white)
2007 game against Florida Atlantic

From 1979 until 2006, Florida wore orange helmets with a script "Gators" logo in all contests. To commemorate the 100th year of the football program in 2006, the Gators played one game wearing throwback uniforms modeled after their mid-1960s uniforms which included white helmets with a simple "F" logo.[37] In 2009 the Gators participated in Nike's Pro Combat uniform campaign, wearing specially-designed blue uniforms and white helmets with a slant-F logo.[38] These uniforms were worn for the last regular-season game against Florida State, and the white helmets were worn again the following week against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game with white jerseys and pants.[39]

Since Jim McElwain became the head coach in 2015, the senior players have been allowed to choose their uniform combination for each game, and the program added a second helmet design - a white helmet with a slanted-"F" logo on one side and the "Gators" script logo on the other. Florida has worn these alternate helmets in several games, both at home and on the road.

Team logos

Conference affiliations

Conference championships

Florida has won a total of eight SEC championships. The Gators won their first championship with a conference record of 5–0–1 in 1984, but the title was vacated several months after the season ended by the SEC university presidents because of NCAA infractions by the Florida coaching staff under Charley Pell. The 1985 and 1990 teams also finished atop the standings with conference records of 5–1 and 6–1, respectively, but Florida was ineligible for the championship due to its NCAA probation for rule violations by previous coaching staffs. The Gators won their first official SEC football championship in 1991.[28]

Season Conference Coach Overall Conference
1991 SEC Steve Spurrier 10–2 7–0[43]
1993 11–2 7–1[44]
1994 10–2–1 7–1[45]
1995 12–1 8–0[46]
1996 12–1 8–0[47]
2000 10–3 7–1[48]
2006 Urban Meyer 13–1 7–1[49][50]
2008
Conference championships 8

Conference division championships

With the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina to the Southeastern Conference in 1992, the conference split into eastern and western divisions and a game between the division winners determined the SEC champion. Florida has made twelve appearances in the SEC Championship Game (the most by any SEC school), its most recent in 2016. The Gators have won seven of the twelve SEC Championship Games in which they have appeared.

Season Division CG result Opponent PF PA
1992† SEC Eastern Loss Alabama 21 28[51]
1993 Win Alabama 28 13[44]
1994 Win Alabama 24 23[45]
1995 Win Arkansas 34 3[46]
1996 Win Alabama 45 30[47]
1999 Loss Alabama 7 34[52]
2000 Win Auburn 28 6[48]
2003† – – – –[53]
2006 Win Arkansas 38 28[49]
2008 Win Alabama 31 20[50]
2009 Loss Alabama 13 32[54]
2012† – – – –[55]
2015 Loss Alabama 15 29[56]
2016 Loss Alabama 16 54[57]
Totals 14 7–5 – 290 300

† In 1992, Florida finished the season tied with Georgia for the SEC East; however, Florida had defeated Georgia and won the tie-breaker to represent the division in the 1992 SEC Championship Game. In 2003 Florida ended the regular season in a three-way tie for the SEC East title with Georgia and Tennessee, and in 2012 the Gators were tied with Georgia. According to the SEC's tie-breaking procedure, Georgia was selected to represent the division in the 2003 SEC Championship Game and 2012 SEC Championship Game.

Yearly records

Florida's season records are from the record books of the university's athletic association. Through 2013, the Gators compiled an overall record of 684 wins, 395 losses, and 40 ties (including post-season bowl games).[28]

All-time record against SEC teams

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Alabama 14 25 0 .359 Lost 5 1916 2016[24]
Arkansas 9 2 0 .900 Lost 1 1982 2016[58]
Auburn 38 43 2 .470 Lost 3 1912 2011[25]
Georgia 43 49 2 .468 Won 3 1915 2016[6]
Kentucky 50 17 0 .746 Won 30 1917 2016[59][60]
LSU 32 28 3 .524 Won 1 1937 2016[23]
Mississippi State 33 19 2 .630 Lost 1 1923 2010[61]
Missouri 3 3 0 .500 Won 2 1966 2016[62]
Ole Miss 11 12 1 .479 Won 1 1926 2015[63]
South Carolina 26 8 3 .736 Won 2 1911 2016[64]
Tennessee 26 20 0 .565 Lost 1 1916 2016[9]
Texas A&M 2 1 0 .667 Won 2 1962 2012[65]
Vanderbilt 38 10 2 .780 Won 3 1945 2016[66]
Totals 322 235 15 .576

Against in-state rivals

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
Florida State 34 25 2 .583 Lost 4 1958 2016[67]
Miami 26 29 0 .473 Lost 1 1938 2013[30]
Totals 60 53 2 .530

Bowl games

Florida has appeared in 42 NCAA-sanctioned bowl games, winning 22 and losing 21. This includes a streak of 22 consecutive bowl-game appearances from 1991 through 2012, the fifth-longest in college football history.[68]

Season Bowl Opponent Result
1912 Bacardi Bowl† Vedado Athletic Club W, 28–0[69]
1952 Gator Bowl Tulsa W, 14–13[70]
1958 Gator Bowl Mississippi L, 3–7[71]
1960 Gator Bowl Baylor W, 13–12[72]
1962 Gator Bowl Penn State W, 17–7[73]
1965 Sugar Bowl Missouri L, 18–20[74]
1966 Orange Bowl Georgia Tech W, 27–12[75]
1969 Gator Bowl Tennessee W, 14–13[76]
1973 Tangerine Bowl Miami (OH) L, 7–16[77]
1974 Sugar Bowl Nebraska L, 10–13[78]
1975 Gator Bowl Maryland L, 0–13[79]
1976 Sun Bowl Texas A&M L, 14–37[80]
1980 Tangerine Bowl Maryland W, 35–20[81]
1981 Peach Bowl West Virginia L, 6–26[82]
1982 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Arkansas L, 24–28[83]
1983 Gator Bowl Iowa W, 14–6[84]
1987 Aloha Bowl UCLA L, 16–20[85]
1988 All-American Bowl Illinois W, 14–10[86]
1989 Freedom Bowl Washington L, 7–34[87]
1991 Sugar Bowl Notre Dame L, 28–39[43]
1992 Gator Bowl (Bowl Coalition) NC State W, 27–10[51]
1993 Sugar Bowl (Bowl Coalition) West Virginia W, 41–7[44]
1994 Sugar Bowl (Bowl Coalition) Florida State L, 17–23[45]
1995 Fiesta Bowl (Bowl Alliance National Championship) Nebraska L, 24–62[46]
1996 Sugar Bowl (Bowl Alliance National Championship) Florida State W, 52–20[47]
1997 Florida Citrus Bowl Penn State W, 21–6[88]
1998 Orange Bowl (BCS) Syracuse W, 31–10[89]
1999 Florida Citrus Bowl Michigan State L, 34–37[52]
2000 Sugar Bowl (BCS) Miami (FL) L, 20–37[48]
2001 Orange Bowl (BCS) Maryland W, 56–23[90]
2002 Outback Bowl Michigan L, 30–38[91]
2003 Outback Bowl Iowa L, 17–37[53]
2004 Peach Bowl Miami (FL) L, 10–27[92]
2005 Outback Bowl Iowa W, 31–24[93]
2006 BCS National Championship Game Ohio State W, 41–14[49]
2007 Capital One Bowl Michigan L, 35–41[94]
2008 BCS National Championship Game Oklahoma W, 24–14[50]
2009 Sugar Bowl (BCS) Cincinnati W, 51–24[54]
2010 Outback Bowl Penn State W, 37–24[95]
2011 Gator Bowl Ohio State W, 24–17[96]
2012 Sugar Bowl (BCS) Louisville L, 23–33[55]
2014 Birmingham Bowl East Carolina W, 28–20[97]
2015 Citrus Bowl Michigan L, 7–41[56]
2016 Outback Bowl Iowa W, 30–3
Games: 43 Record: 22–21

† The University Athletic Association does not recognize the 1912 Bacardi Bowl as part of the Gators' bowl record.[28]

National championships

Year Coach Selector Record Bowl Opponent Result
1996 Steve Spurrier AP, Coaches 12–1 Sugar Bowl (Bowl Alliance National Championship Game) Florida State W 52–20[47]
2006 Urban Meyer BCS, AP 13–1 BCS National Championship Game Ohio State W 41–14[49]
2008 BCS National Championship Game Oklahoma W 24–14[50]
Total: 3

The 1996, 2006 and 2008 Gators were ranked number one in the final AP and Coaches Polls and were recognized as consensus national champions after winning postseason national-championship games.[98]

The 1984 Gators were recognized as national champions by The Sporting News, The New York Times and the Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, Matthews, and Jeff Sagarin rankings. However, they finished third in the final AP Poll and seventh in the final UPI Coaches Poll behind the BYU Cougars, who were number one in both major polls and thus considered the national champions in the pre-Bowl Alliance and BCS era.[99] The 1985 Gators finished fifth in the final 1985 AP Poll and were recognized as national champion by one minor selector.[100] Partially because the football program was on NCAA probation in the mid-1980s, the university has never claimed a share of the national championship for either the 1984 or 1985 season.[101]

Individual award winners

College Football Hall of Fame members

Twelve people associated with Florida have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, including three former head coaches and nine former players:

Name Position Florida years Inducted
Carlos Alvarez Wide receiver 1969–71 2011[119]
Charlie Bachman Coach 1928–32 1978[120]
Wes Chandler Wide receiver 1974–77 2015[121]
Doug Dickey Coach 1970–78 2003[122]
Ray Graves Coach 1960–69 1990[123]
Marcelino Huerta Coach 1947–49 2002[124]
Wilber Marshall Linebacker 1980–83 2008[125]
Emmitt Smith Running back 1987–89 2006[126]
Steve Spurrier Quarterback 1963–66 1986[127]
Dale Van Sickel End 1927–29 1975[128]
Danny Wuerffel Quarterback 1993–96 2013[129]
Jack Youngblood Defensive end 1967–70 1992[130]

Doug Dickey, Florida's quarterback in 1951 and 1952, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 for his record as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers from 1964 to 1969 and the Gators from 1970 to 1978.[122] Steve Spurrier was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986 for his record as Florida's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from 1964 to 1966.[127] Marcelino Huerta, a standout Gator lineman from 1947 to 1949, was inducted in 2002 for his record as head coach of the Tampa Spartans, Wichita State Shockers and Parson Wildcats.[124]

All-Americans

Since Florida's first season in 1906, eighty-nine players have received one or more selections as first-team All-Americans.[28] This includes thirty-two consensus All-Americans, of which six were unanimous.[131] The first Florida first-team All-American was end Dale Van Sickel, a member of the 1928 team.[132] Florida's first consensus All-American was quarterback Steve Spurrier, the winner of the Heisman Trophy for the 1966 Gators.[28][133]

SEC Legends

Since 1994, the Southeastern Conference has annually designated one former football player from each SEC member school as an "SEC Legend." Through 2012, the following twenty Gators have been SEC Legends:

Fergie Ferguson Award

The Fergie Ferguson Award is given in memory of one of the University of Florida's finest athletes, Forest K. Ferguson. Ferguson was an All-SEC end for Florida in 1941 and state boxing champion in 1942. Subsequently, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, he led an infantry platoon during the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944.[134] Ferguson helped clear the way for his troops to advance on the Axis position, and was severely wounded leading his men in the assault.[134] A recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions,[134] he died from war-related injuries in 1954. The award, a trophy, is given to the senior football player who most displays "leadership, character, and courage."[135]

Ring of Honor

Unlike other college and professional sports teams, the Gators do not currently have any retired jersey numbers. Although Steve Spurrier's (11) and Scot Brantley's (55) numbers were once retired, Spurrier reissued them as head coach.[136]

The Florida Football Ring of Honor, the Gator's alternative to retiring a player's number, pays homage to former players and coaches. The University of Florida Athletic Association created the Ring of Honor in 2006 to commemorate 100 years of Florida Football. Jerseys with numbers worn by Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Jack Youngblood are displayed on the facade of the north end zone of Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; their numbers are used by current players.[137]

Name Position No. Florida years Inducted
Wilber Marshall Linebacker 88 1980–83 2007
Emmitt Smith Running back 22 1987–89 2006
Steve Spurrier Quarterback 11 1964–66, 1990–2001 2006
Danny Wuerffel Quarterback 7 1993–96 2006
Jack Youngblood Defensive end 74 1967–70 2006

To be considered for induction into the Ring of Honor, a former player or coach must be absent from the university for five seasons, be in good standing, and meet at least one of the following criteria:[138]

All-Time teams

A Florida Football All-Time Team was compiled by the Florida Alumnus, the official publication of the Florida alumni, in 1927.[139]

First team
QB – Rammy Ramsdell
HB – Dummy Taylor
HB – Ed Jones
FB – Bill Middlekauff
E – Ferdinand H. Duncan
T – Cy Williams
G – Goldy Goldstein
C – Bo Gator Storter
G – Tootie Perry
T – Jim Coarsy
E – Joe Swanson

Second team
QB – Bob Shackleford
HB – Ark Newton
HB – Harvey Hester
FB – Ray Dickson
E – G. P. Wood
T – Pus Hancock
G – Arthur Doty
C – Lamar Sarra
G – Ed Meisch
T – Robbie Robinson
E – Frank Oosterhoudt

Another University of Florida all-time team was chosen by the Miami Herald according to a fan vote in August 1983.

First Team Offense
QB – Steve Spurrier
RB – Larry Smith
RB – Nat Moore
WR – Cris Collinsworth
WR – Wes Chandler
TE – Jim Yarbrough
OT – Randy Jackson
OT – Mike Williams
OG – Burton Lawless
OG – Guy Dennis
C – Bill Carr
PK – David Posey

First Team Defense
DL – Jack Youngblood
DL – Scott Hutchinson
DL – David Galloway
DL – Charlie LaPradd
LB – Ralph Ortega
LB – Scot Brantley
LB – Wilber Marshall
LB – Glenn Cameron
DB – Steve Tannen
DB – Jackie Simpson
DB – Bernie Parrish
P – Bobby Joe Green

Second Team Offense
QB – John Reaves
RB – Rick Casares
RB – James Jones
WR – Carlos Alvarez
WR – Charles Casey
TE – Chris Faulkner
OT – Mac Steen
OT – Charlie Mitchell
OG – Larry Beckman
OG – John Barrow
C – Steve DeLaTorre
PK – Brian Clark

Second Team Defense
DL – Robin Fisher
DL – Joe D'Agostino
DL – Lynn Matthews
DL – Vel Heckman
LB – David Little
LB – Fred Abbott
LB – Sammy Green
DB – Bruce Bennett
DB – Tony Lilly
DB – Hagood Clarke
P – Don Chandler

All-Century Team

The Florida Football All-Century Team, chosen by Gator fans, was compiled by The Gainesville Sun in the fall of 1999.[140]

First Team Offense
QB – Danny Wuerffel (1993–96)
RB – Neal Anderson (1982–85)
RB – Emmitt Smith (1987–89)
WR – Carlos Alvarez (1969–71)
WR – Wes Chandler (1974–77)
TE – Jim Yarbrough (1966–68)
OT – Lomas Brown (1981–84)
OT – David Williams (1985–88)
OG – Burton Lawless (1972–74)
OG – Donnie Young (1993–96)
OC – Jeff Mitchell (1993–96)
PK – Judd Davis (1992–94)
KR – Jacquez Green (1995–97)

First Team Defense
DE – Jack Youngblood (1968–70)
DE – Kevin Carter (1991–94)
DT – Brad Culpepper (1988–1991)
DT – Ellis Johnson (1991–94)
LB – Wilber Marshall (1980–83)
LB – Scot Brantley (1976–79)
LB – David Little (1977–80)
CB – Steve Tannen (1967–69)
CB – Jarvis Williams (1984–87)
S – Louis Oliver (1985–88)
S – Bruce Bennett (1963–65)
P – Bobby Joe Green (1958–59)

Second Team Offense
QB – Steve Spurrier (1964–66)
RB – Rick Casares (1951–53)
RB – James Jones (1979–82)
WR – Reidel Anthony (1994–96)
WR – Ike Hilliard (1994–96)
TE – Kirk Kirkpatrick (1987–90)
OT – Jason Odom (1992–95)
OT – Mike Williams (1973–75)
OG – Larry Gagner (1963–65)
OG – Jeff Zimmerman (1983–86)
OC – Phil Bromley (1981–84)
PK – David Posey (1973–76)
KR – Jack Jackson (1992–94)

Second Team Defense
DE – David Ghesquiere (1967–69)
DE – Lynn Matthews (1963–65)
DT – David Galloway (1979–81)
DT – Charlie LaPradd (1950–52)
LB – Sammy Green (1972–75)
LB – Alonzo Johnson (1983–85)
LB – Ralph Ortega (1972–74)
CB – Fred Weary (1994–97)
CB – Richard Fain (1987–90)
S – Tony Lilly (1980–83)
S – Wayne Fields (1972–75)
P – Ray Criswell (1982–85)

100th-Anniversary Team

The 100th-Anniversary Florida Team was selected in 2006 to celebrate a century of Florida football. Fans voted by mail and online.[141]

Offense
QB – Danny Wuerffel (1993–1996)
RB – Errict Rhett (1990–1993)
RB – Emmitt Smith (1987–1989)
RB – Fred Taylor (1994–1997)
WR – Carlos Alvarez (1969–1971)
WR – Cris Collinsworth (1977–1980)
WR – Chris Doering (1992–1995)
WR – Ike Hilliard (1994–1996)
OL – Lomas Brown (1981–1984)
OL – Mike Degory (2002–2005)
OL – Jeff Mitchell (1993–1996)
OL – Jason Odom (1992–1995)
PK – Jeff Chandler (1998–2001)

Defense
DL – Trace Armstrong (1988)
DL – Alex Brown (1998–2001)
DL – Kevin Carter (1991–1994)
DL – Brad Culpepper (1988–1991)
DL – Jack Youngblood (1968–1970)
LB – Scot Brantley (1976–1979)
LB – Channing Crowder (2003–2004)
LB – Jevon Kearse (1996–1998)
LB – Wilber Marshall (1980–1983)
DB – Louis Oliver (1985–1988)
DB – Lito Sheppard (1999–2001)
DB – Fred Weary (1994–1997)
P – Shayne Edge (1991–94)

Gators in the National Football League

A number of former Florida players have played in the National Football League (NFL), beginning in the 1920s. They include defensive lineman Jack Youngblood and running back Emmitt Smith, both of whom were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Coaching staff

The current head coach is Jim McElwain, and the 2015 season was his first with the team. McElwain replaced Will Muschamp after the 2014 regular season and bowl game. McElwain's coordinators and assistant coaches are:

Name Position Joined staff
Jim McElwain Head Coach 2015
Doug Nussmeier Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2015
Randy Shannon Defensive Coordinator 2015
Chris Rumph Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line 2015
Greg Nord Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends 2015
Brad Davis Offensive Line 2017
Ja'Juan Seider Running Backs 2017
Kerry Dixon II Wide Receivers 2015
Tim Skipper Linebackers 2015
Corey Bell Defensive Backs 2017
Mike Kent Director of Strength & Conditioning 2015

[142]

Future opponents

Non-division opponents

Florida plays Louisiana State (LSU) (a non-division opponent) annually; with the other six SEC Western Division teams rotated on a six-year cycle, Florida plays every Western Division team once every six years (twice every twelve years) with alternating home and away games.[143]

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
vs LSU at LSU vs LSU at LSU vs LSU at LSU vs LSU at LSU
at MSU vs Auburn at Ole Miss vs Alabama at Texas A&M vs Arkansas at Auburn vs MSU

Non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of November 13, 2016[144]

2018 2019 2020
vs Colorado State
September 15		 vs Miami (FL)
at Orlando, FL
August 31		 vs Eastern Washington
September 5
vs South Alabama
September 19
vs Idaho
November 17
at Florida State
November 24		 vs Florida State
November 30		 at Florida State
November 28

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The NCAA records for "consensus" All-Americans do not reflect the total number of All-American honors received by Gators football players, only those players who received a majority of the various first-team All-American selections at their position in any given season. The Gators' first consensus All-American was quarterback Steve Spurrier in 1966; the thirty-second and most recent was cornerback Vernon Hargreaves in 2015.[1]

References

  1. ↑ NCAA Football Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 7–13 (2015).
  2. ↑ "UF Identity Style Guide". University of Florida. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Georgia-Florida game needs a name and a trophy".
  4. ↑ Says, Cline. "Party on: Florida, Georgia agree to keep rivalry game in Jacksonville through 2021 | OnlyGators.com". Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  5. ↑ "Florida-Georgia tickets not going up". jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 College Football Data Warehouse, Florida vs Georgia. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "UF-UGA: War for the 'Okefenokee Oar' | GatorCountry.com". GatorCountry.com. 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  8. ↑ "Georgia vs. Florida - Game Summary - October 31, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  9. 1 2 3 4 College Football Data Warehouse, Florida vs. Tennessee. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Dickey Replaces Graves As Florida Grid Coach". The Dispatch. January 1, 1970.
  11. ↑ WOJCIECHOWSKI, GENE (1990-08-02). "Arkansas Joins SEC; There May Be More : Colleges: Miami, Texas, Florida State, South Carolina, Texas A&M also might wind up in Southeastern Conference.". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  12. ↑ "Best season for all 14 teams since SEC split into divisions". Saturday Down South. 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  13. ↑ "Steve Spurrier, Phillip Fulmer helped fuel fantastic Florida-Tennessee rivalry". 14 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "On this day in Florida history - May 15, 1947 - Florida State College for Women goes co-ed, renamed FSU". Florida History Network - Your one-stop source for celebrating and preserving Florida's past, today. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  15. ↑ "Florida State Football - 1955 Year In Review". www.nolefan.org. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  16. ↑ Norm Froscher, "Golden anniversary history lesson," The Gainesville Sun (November 28, 2008). Retrieved December 1, 2012.
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  18. ↑ "50 Things you should know about the UF-FSU rivalry" - The Tampa Tribune
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  32. ↑ Sun, LEAH COCHRAN Special to The. "Retro Gators: The Gators will wear throwback jerseys when they take the field today".
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  70. ↑ "1952 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-10-05.
  71. ↑ "1958 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-10-03.
  72. ↑ "1960 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-10-03.
  73. ↑ "1962 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-09-24.
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  76. ↑ "1969 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-10-03.
  77. ↑ "1973 Florida Gators". Archived from the original on 2016-10-03.
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  124. 1 2 College Football Hall of Fame, Hall of Famers, Marcelino Huerta. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
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  134. 1 2 3 Hall of Valor, Forest Ferguson, Military Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  135. ↑ About the award.
  136. ↑ C, Bill (20 July 2012). "Mizzou Moves To The SEC: The Ol' Ball Coach And The Nouveau Riche".
  137. ↑ "Wilber Marshall Named To UF's Ring Of Honor," GatorZone.com (August 15, 2007). Retrieved August 1, 2014.
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  139. ↑ "Writer Picks All-Time Gator Eleven, Going Back 10 Years To Name Taylor And Storter". The Evening Independent. October 14, 1927. p. 5A.
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  142. ↑ "2016 Football Coaching Staff".
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Further reading

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