2006 florida gators football roster

Or write about sports? The team is honored as BCS champions by President George W. Bush at the White House. Dallas Cowboys right guard Crawford Ker (68). Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. Despite giving up four turnovers and forcing none, the Gators easily beat the spread for the second time this season. The Gators quickly jumped out to a 60 lead on a trick play that led to a Chris Leak pass to Jemalle Cornelius for a touchdown just over two minutes into the game. Donnie Young was considered the heart and soul of Floridas offensive line during the 1996 championship run but unfortunately was hobbled by injuries by the end of his collegiate career. Andre Caldwell caught two touchdowns, and Dallas Baker added one more for the Gators. Florida won the toss and elected to defer the option to the second half, giving Ohio State the ball first. [25] Leak found three different receivers on the drive, which culminated with a lob pass to fellow senior Dallas Baker. The Gators also scored right before halftime on Tebow's first touchdown pass, where he faked a leap over the pile and threw the ball to a falling Tate Casey. The Gators and the Bulldogs traded possessions, with the Gators getting the ball back with a little over three minutes in the game. The fourth ranked Gators took on the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2006 SEC Championship Game. Wynn, who was in Urban Meyer's doghouse early in Meyer's tenure at Florida, carried the ball 8 times on the drive, picking up several key first downs to keep the clock running. Florida needed a first down on third and five to seal their victory and elected to give Andre Caldwell a carry off a reverse. Leak led the Gators back on the field, starting from the Ohio State 35-yard line. The season was the second for head coach Urban Meyer, who led the Gators to an SEC Championship, a BCS National Championship, and an overall win-loss record of 131 (.929). Florida quarterback Chris Leak was 19-of-29 for 352 yards and four touchdowns. He did, however, kick a 22-yard field goal. Florida quarterback Chris Leak was 19-of-29 for 352yards and four touchdowns. Bowl Game: Won BCS Championship 38-24 versus Ohio State More Team Info Hetland had missed 9 of 13 attempts on the season, but split the uprights, giving the Gators a 2414 lead. Foster Marshall, Jr./Florida Times-Union. After being released from the program midseason, this former Gator still managed to sign on with an NFL team. Leak would later be named the game's most valuable player. The Gators scored the last 34 points of the game after surrendering a touchdown with 12:40 to play in the 1st quarter. Under extreme pressure yet again, Smith attempted to scramble outside of the pocket, but was caught by defensive end and special teams hero Jarvis Moss, who stripped Smith of the football. Florida's defense, which had been touted as one of the best in the SEC, lived up to their billing, stifling the Georgia offense for the entire first half. The Gators trailed for nearly the entire first three quarters. However, Wynn was stopped on a 3rd and 8 play, for only 2yards. The momentum changed yet again, this time in Florida's favor. Florida's defense continued to stifle Georgia throughout the second half, until late in the third quarter. Chris Leak rallied the Gators to within a field goal when he found Dallas Baker for a four yard touchdown. ESPN's College GameDay was at Jordan-Hare Stadium to cover the critical SEC matchup between the number two ranked Gators and the number eleven ranked Tigers. The Buckeyes then got their first offensive possession of the game. The win also moved the Gators into fourth place in the BCS rankings. During the 2006 season, the Gators also celebrated two milestones in their history: the tenth anniversary of their first national football championship in 1996, and 100 years of Florida football dating to their first season in 1906.[7]. 5 in the AP and Coaches polls. Read more about our data coverage. Most notably, Aaron Hernandez was on the 2008 squad, ended up being convicted of murder during his time in the NFL and committed suicide while in prison. Leak again rallied the team, but it was freshman Tim Tebow who made a huge play when he converted a crucial fourth down inside Tennessee territory. 2, behind only defending champion Texas. Overall, the Gators finished with more points(62) than the Catamounts had yards (59). On the following Arkansas offensive series, the momentum of the game appeared to change yet again, when receiver Cedric Washington threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to tailback Felix Jones on a trick play. On their next offensive possession, the Gators were determined to put the game out of reach. The third-ranked Gators had little trouble disposing of the 1-AA Western Carolina Catamounts 620. The Gators entered SEC play with a 13-2 record. After a botched snap between center Steve Rissler and quarterback Chris Leak, Alabama's Prince Hall returned the fumble for their only touchdown of the game. The Gators won their seventh SEC title by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 3828 in SEC Championship Game on December 2, 2006,[6] then defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 4114 in the BCS National Championship Game on January 8, 2007, beginning the SEC's streak of seven consecutive national championships. Reidel Anthonys 18 receiving touchdowns in 1996 remains Floridas team record and was the SEC single-season record until 2019. (); : On the opening kickoff, Ted Ginn Jr sprinted for a 93-yard kick off return for a touchdown, turning the largely Ohio State crowd into a frenzy and giving the Buckeyes a 70 lead 16seconds into the game. Like in their other 3 SEC victories, the Gators fell behind in the first half, allowing an LSU touchdown drive after a fumble on the opening drive. 2008 Florida Gators Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 13-1 (2nd of 119) ( Schedule & Results ) Rank: 1st in the Final AP poll Conference: SEC (East Division) Conference Record: 7-1 Coach: Urban Meyer (13-1) Points For: 611 Points/G: 43.6 (4th of 119) Points Against: 181 More Team Info Florida School History 2008 Florida Statistics From there, the Gators offense stagnated for most of the first half. Coach Urban Meyer, who was coaching in his first national championship game, took a timeout to compose his team after the inauspicious start. Most Recent Games and Any Score Since 1869. Tebow faked his usual quarterback run up the middle, ran left and flipped an easy one yard touchdown pass to a wide open Andre Caldwell. Florida's defense, which had been touted as one of the best in the SEC, lived up to their billing, stifling the Georgia offense for the entire first half. Visiting Central Florida averaged just 2.6yards per play and 153 total yards in the game.[15]. A slough of freshman played, including Jarred Fayson, who saw time at quarterback and wide receiver. Percy Harvin was an electric player for the Gators at a few different positions on the gridiron while also a standout track and field athlete. Adam Dubbin. 2006 Florida Gators football team. See our list of forfeits and vacated games for more details. As such, the official record for Alabama is 0-7 (0-6 in conference). Leading 3414 heading into the third quarter, the Gators appeared to be conservative on offense, which resulted in a quick three and out on the first possession of the half. Tailback Antonio Pittman weaved through the Gators' defense on the next play, for an 18-yard touchdown run, pulling the Buckeyes to within a touchdown. As such, the official record for Alabama is 07 (06). [7], The Gators celebrated the ten-year anniversary of winning their 1996 national championship in football during the opening game against Southern Miss. Late in the first half, Chris Leak had a career-long 45-yard run. Need we say more about Tim Tebow? 24 of those snaps came against Georgia, one of the . After two Tebow runs up the middle, Florida faced a third down and goal on the Ohio State one-yard line. 2 Michigan and play in the BCS National Championship Game with a win. The Gators also celebrated 100 years since the start of their football program in 1906. Aaron Hernandez. The decision backfired, and Wells was stopped short of the first down, giving the Gators great field position. Soon thereafter, the Gators seemingly averted danger when they stripped the ball from the Tigers at the goal line. 2, behind only defending champion Texas. With about 5minutes left in the 2nd quarter Auburn kicked another field goal to make the score 108. [8] Coincidentally, the Gators again faced and defeated Ohio State in the 2007 NCAA tournament, also marking the first time in college sports history that identical matchups and results have occurred in both football and basketball championships. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. Chris Leak's third pass attempt of the game was intercepted by the Golden Eagles, who scored on a 6-yard Damion Carter pass to Jeremy Young 3 plays later. On the following play, running back DeShawn Wynn rumbled in for a two-yard touchdown, giving the Gators a stunning 217 lead. The Gators got the football back, hoping to restore their two-touchdown lead. 367. Possibly the greatest offensive lineman in Gators history, Lomas Brown was the cornerstone of the Great Wall of Florida who was a standout in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. The Gators came into the game favored by three points. Full Florida Gators roster for the 2022 season including position, height, weight, birthdate, years of experience, and college. Will Hill. The victory catapulted the Gators over second ranked Michigan in the BCS standings, giving the Gators the right to play Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.[24]. Ohio State was now in a deep hole, trailing by ten with six minutes to go in the half. With 8minutes remaining in the game, the Gators were determined to end the game and give the school a national championship. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, the Buckeye offense was widely considered to be the best offense in college football. Following the interception, the Gators continued to use unorthodox formations and plays to keep Ohio State off balance. In a thrilling game, defensive lineman Jarvis Moss blocked an extra point and a potential game winning 48-yard field goal with only eight seconds remaining in the game to ensure a Gator victory. On the next offensive series, Gators quarterback Chris Leak was intercepted on an attempted shovel pass which was returned by Antwain Robinson for a touchdown, giving the Razorbacks a stunning 2117 lead. The third ranked Gators had little trouble disposing of 1-AA Western Carolina. ); The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. DeShawn Wynn added 86 yards on the ground to help the Gators maintain a steady attack. Florida scored on their first possession of the game, moving the ball very effectively with a blend of running and passing. Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a Gator Great in 2009, Ike Hilliard was also honored as an SEC Legend in 2011. Many people had speculated that because of Spurrier's hiring as the South Carolina Gamecocks coach he would be booed, but instead he received a very loud ovation during the ceremony.[11]. Alabama had all victories vacated by the NCAA in 2010. In the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Chris Leak to Dallas Baker the Gators took a 103 lead. Florida had great field position, following a personal foul penalty on Ohio State. Florida needed a first down on third and five to seal their victory and elected to give Caldwell a carry off a reverse. Leak threw three interceptions, all of which came with the Gators controlling the flow of the game. By forcing a safety in the third quarter, the Gator defense outscored the blanked Golden Knights offense. Big Ten, . The Volunteers shot out of the gate in the second half with an impressive touchdown drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Montario Hardesty, giving the Vols a 177 lead. The Wildcats took the lead briefly with a touchdown with under two minutes to play in the half, but the Gators responded with a touchdown of their own on a DeShawn Wynn run with :26 left in the half to take a 127 lead. Auburn kicked one additional field goal with 30 seconds in the quarter to cut the Gator lead to 1711 at the half. Braun was a brick wall in protection to begin his career, allowing only one pressure on 75 pass-blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus. The Gators and the Bulldogs traded possessions, with the Gators getting the ball back with a little over three minutes in the game. The following drive, Junior quarterback Erik Ainge threw an interception to Reggie Nelson to seal a Gator victory. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 6:49AM. Tennessee pulled ahead by six when James Wilhoit hit a 51-yard field goal early in the fourth. The Gators took the three-point lead into the fourth quarter knowing with a win, they will have made their case to play in the BCS National Championship Game. The Florida football team celebrating their championships at the White House with President Bush. The Gators had their best pre-season ranking from College Football News, which listed them at No. Even with the run-ins with the law, Florida was still littered with talent across the board. The season opened in the Swamp against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Florida entered the game hoping to avenge a 313 loss in Tuscaloosa, Alabama the previous season, and end a rare three-game losing streak against a conference opponent. Florida overcame the toughest schedule in the nation by opponent winning percentage[1][2][3][4] to become national champions. Knowing the field goal lead wouldn't be enough, the Gators came out firing on their offensive series. Tebow. Using their power running game, and a 13-yard scramble from Troy Smith, the Buckeyes drove to the Gators' 18-yard line. The play was stopped well short, but Georgia was called for a controversial face mask penalty which gave Florida a first down. Leading the Gators on offense was Chris Leak, who with 258yards passing in the game, eclipsed Danny Wuerffel as the All-Time passing yards leader in Gators history. On the next Florida drive, Leak found game MVP Percy Harvin on a perfectly thrown 37-yard touchdown pass. Percy Harvin. Florida's offense was stuffed on the following drive but got a muffed punt by Georgia to regain the ball. Mike Pearson played under Spurrier from 1999 to 2001, earning a first-team All-SEC selection in 2000 and 2001 while also being recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2001 and ultimately reaching Gator Great status in 2013. August 22, 2022 2:40 pm ET. Maurkice & Mike Pouncey. Find out more. The Gators came into the game favored by three points. The Gators trailed for nearly the entire first three quarters. Coach Urban Meyer stated during the game that "Marcus did not meet his responsibilities and obligations to remain on the team.". Chris Leak's third pass attempt of the game was intercepted by the Golden Eagles, who scored on a 6-yard Damion Carter pass to Jeremy Young 3 plays later. Tebow appeared to be running yet again, but he pitched the ball to wide receiver Andre Caldwell who then threw a touchdown pass to tight end Tate Casey which proved to give the Gators a big enough lead to win their first conference championship in six years. Alabama finished the season with an overall record of 6-7 (2-6 in conference) but had all victories vacated by the NCAA in 2010. All Gators has included the number designations for each new piece and Cahron Rackley below. But those miserable knees kept him from being drafted until the 15th round in 1972 and he never signed with Dallas, instead pursuing a law degree where he has done quite well. (); : DeShawn Wynn, who was in Urban Meyer's doghouse early in Meyer's tenure at Florida, carried the ball 8 times on the drive, picking up several key first downs to keep the clock running. In addition, with the men's basketball team winning the 2006 and 2007 NCAA men's basketball national championships, the University of Florida became the first Division I school to ever win the football and men's basketball titles during the same year. Chris Leak struggled throughout the game, going 18 of 25 passing for 237 yards and one touchdown. A terribly unfortunate story off the field, Aaron Hernandez played a large role in Meyers title-winning offense in 2008 and was unquestionably one of the best at his position. During the 2006 season, the Gators also celebrated two milestones in their history: the tenth anniversary of their first national football championship in 1996, and 100 years of Florida football dating to their first season in 1906. The Gators had their best pre-season ranking from College Football News, which listed them at No. Florida used a timeout to draw up a play for Tebow, who remained in the game. After two Tim Tebow runs up the middle, Florida faced a third down and goal on the Ohio State one yard line. With about 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter Auburn kicked another field goal to make the score 108. Kristen Murslack. Leak came back into the game, and continued his strong play, finding Baker again for a 21-yard touchdown pass which would eventually prove to be the game winning score. The Volunteers shot out of the gate in the second half with an impressive touchdown drive capped by a one yard touchdown run by Montario Hardesty, giving the Vols a 177 lead. The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season. Jeff Zimmerman was a stalwart on the O-line for Florida as a member of the group known as the Great Wall of Florida that terrorized D-lines during the 1980s. Prior to the game, Florida also unveiled its four initial entries into the Gator Football Ring of HonorEmmitt Smith, Danny Wuerffel, Steve Spurrier, and Jack Youngblood.[16]. Find out the latest on your favorite NCAAF players on CBSSports.com. [10], Sources: 2012 Florida Football Media Guide,[11] and GatorZone.com.[12]. On the next Florida drive, Leak found game MVP Percy Harvin on a perfectly thrown 37-yard touchdown pass. In perhaps one of the most stunning decisions of the game, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel decided to go for it on fourth and 1 from his own 29. Florida (111) won its third straight against Florida State and improved to 60 against its three main rivalsTennessee, Georgia and Florida Statein Meyer's two seasons. Ohio State ran a draw play on 3rd down and punted on the following play. Previous Year Next Year. Before the game, it was announced that star defensive lineman Marcus Thomas was kicked off the team for the remainder of the year. Florida moved the ball with some success on their next possession but were held for the first time all night by the Ohio State defense, forcing a Florida punt. Sign up for the Gators Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. On third down, following a sack, the Gators blitzed, hit Smith as he threw the ball, and cornerback Reggie Lewis intercepted the pass. Richardson: 176/327 (53.8%), 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 103 rushing attempts, 719 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns Kitna: 10/14 (71.4%), 181 yards, one touchdown, one. [16], Florida went with a throwback uniform style for the game, wearing uniforms from the mid-1960s as a part of the 100-year celebration of Florida Football. Previous Year Next Year. The second half of the game was more of a defensive struggle for both teams, but the Gators scored two more touchdowns (and made both PATs) to make the final score 267. Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama /Arkansas /Auburn /Clemson /Colorado /Georgia /Iowa /LSU /Michigan /Michigan State /Nebraska /North Carolina /Notre Dame /Ohio State /Oklahoma /Oregon /Penn State /Rutgers /Tennessee /Texas /Texas A&M /USC /Wisconsin. Pre-season Unofficial Depth Chart: http://www.gatorzone.com/football/media/2006/pdf/42.pdf, Statistics as of January 31, 2007 http://gatorzone.com/football/history/2006/team.pdf. The Tigers' Early Doucet fumbled the second half kickoff into the end zone for a safety, which led to the long Tebow throw on the next drive. Chris Leak took a final knee on fourth down, ending his illustrious career as a Gator on top of the college football world. Leak took a final knee on fourth down, ending his illustrious career as a Gator on top of the college football world. Standings . Do you have a sports website? The Gators have now won fifteen of the last eighteen against their hated rivals from Georgia. It was the Gators' first shutout since blanking Mississippi State on September 29, 2001. JON DEMPS Charge: Misdemeanor driving with a suspended license in September 2006. Pre-season Unofficial Depth Chart: https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111019/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/media/2006/pdf/42.pdf, Statistics as of January 31, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20091222085829/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/history/2006/team.pdf. Running back DeShawn Wynn, who saw limited action in the game, was able to pick up another first down to seal Florida's seventh win of the season. The game changed for good, on the next Ohio State possession. Jason Odom started all four years at Florida, earning the senior team captainship in 1995 along with first-team All-SEC selections in 1994 and 1995, and a unanimous first-team All-American selection in 1995. After a Leak interception, true freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford led the Bulldogs to a touchdown which he capped off on a 13-yard touchdown run off a quarterback draw, cutting the deficit to fourteen points. Ohio State was now in a deep hole, trailing by ten with six minutes to go in the half. The Gators held Oden to 7 points and went on to win 86-60. On third down, following a sack, the Gators blitzed, hit Smith as he threw the ball, and cornerback Reggie Lewis intercepted the pass.