1 » Florida Gators quarterback John Brantley has faced his fair share of obstacles over the course of his college career but trainer Tom Shaw does not believe that will prevent him from succeeding as a professional. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Brantley has been training at the ESPN/Disney Wide World of Sports Complex since the season ended and has spent much of that time working with Shaw, the acclaimed trainer/coach of big-time signal callers like Eli and Peyton Manning, Michael Vick and most notably Tom Brady. “You saw what he did at the University of Florida, so a lot of people aren’t giving him an opportunity,” Shaw told the Sentinel. “But with what I’ve seen in the time that I’ve spent with John is that he could be one of the best quarterbacks that I’ve ever had.” Shaw believes Brantley is a better athlete than Brady and has a strong arm but most work on his footwork. “I don’t sell kids. If they’re good they’re good. If they’re bad, I’ll tell you,” he said. “I’m not saying he’s the next Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or whoever. I’m saying this kid has the ability, the talent to be a pro football player and be successful at it because he has all the tools.”

The paper also notes that Brantley is being represented by Joel Segal of Lagardere Unlimited, the agent who has also signed running back Chris Rainey for 2012 and boasts a stable of other Gators including Percy Harvin (Minnesota), Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh), Mike Pouncey (Miami) and Ahmad Black. In other words, it may be wise to expect Brantley to be selected somewhere in the late rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft if Segal has anything to say about it (which he will).

2 » With his show Eastbound & Down set to return to HBO on Feb. 19, Kenny Powers recently decided to write an open letter to Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow called “The Gifted Young Athlete.” The letter, available unedited on Grantland.com, is uncensored and features explicit language. Below is a very short passage appropriate enough for publication here on OGGOA.

Yet here Jesus is, helping me & Tebow out in sports, just because we’re maybe a little bit cooler in his eyes. It’s a raw deal, plain and simple.

Click to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Lucas Oil Stadium

The event, which is held for six days from Feb. 22-28, consists of more than 300 players being put through a series of drills, tests and interviews while more than 600 NFL personnel in attendance (including coaching staffs, executives, player personnel and medical staffs) look on and evaluate each of them. It amounts to the final job interview these athletes will participate in before the 2012 NFL Draft commences on April 26.

The three former Gators student-athletes invited to the combine include:

Running back Jeff Demps – Group: 6; Camp: RB06
Defensive tackle Jaye Howard – Group: 7; Camp: DL22
Running back Chris Rainey – Group: 6; Camp: RB24

Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins (Group: TBD; Camp: DB27) was also invited and is expected to participate in the event.

Demps, on the other hand, is unlikely to take part in the combine as he has decided to run track for the Gators and attempt to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

The two notable names left off the invite list are those of quarterback John Brantley and wide receiver Deonte Thompson. Other draft-eligible Florida players include center/guard Dan Wenger and defensive end William Green.

Read about each player’s day-to-day schedule in Indianapolis after the jump!

Schedule:
Travel, Registration, Pre-exam & X-rays, Orientation, Interviews
Wednesday – Groups 1-3; Thursday – Groups 4-6
Friday – Groups 7-9; Saturday – Groups 10, 11

Measurements, Medical Exams, Media, Psych Tests, Interviews
Thursday – Groups 1-3; Friday – Groups 4-6
Saturday – Groups 7-9; Sunday – Groups 10, 11

NFLPA Meeting, Psych Tests, Interviews
Friday – Groups 1-3; Saturday – Groups 4-6
Sunday – Groups 7-9; Monday – Groups 10,11

Workout (timing, stations, skill drills), Departure
Saturday – Groups 1-3; Sunday – Groups 4-6
Monday – Groups 7-9; Tuesday – Groups 10, 11

OGGOA will offer full coverage of the combine throughout the event.

Asked about players coming into the league from the Florida Gators this year, Kiper expects running back Chris Rainey to be the highest pick but says he is unlikely to be selected before the fourth round.

“Florida right now is looking at guys that are figuring on day three of the draft,” he said. “Rainey is an interesting guy because he has speed and has got some versatility. He certainly could fit what a team is looking for in the fourth round area.”

The rest of available Gators – notably defensive tackle Jaye Howard and quarterback John Brantley – Kiper believes will be picked in rounds 5-7 depending how they perform at Pro Day and the 2012 NFL Combine.

“Howard right now I have as the 12th highest-rated defensive tackle and that was before the juniors came in,” he said. “That would push him down between say 17 and 23, which pushes him into the late-round category.”

Kiper has Brantley as the No. 15 quarterback overall and says that his inability to show any major strides this season is the reason he will not be picked higher if at all.

“He never developed into the quarterback he was hyped to be,” he explained. “We all heard about John Brantley coming through. He was going to be coming over off of [Tim] Tebow. He was going to be the pure passer. He was going to be the guy that was going to get that passing game going. You never saw any indications of him being an early round pick. He just didn’t perform to that level.

“Obviously he did not have great talent around him to the level that Florida has had in past years. We know that. The guys up front and certainly the guys at the skill positions even though they did have [Jeff] Demps and Rainey and some other kids that have ability. You never saw any indication that Brantley was going to take that next step and put himself in the mix with the first-second-third-round quarterbacks.”

Other UF players available for selection in the draft include defensive end William Green, wide receiver Deonte Thompson and center/guard Dan Wenger.

Click to expand and read the remainder of this post.

MUSCHAMP’s TWO POST-GAME STATEMENTS

Accepting the trophy on stage after the team sang the school alma mater and fight song, Muschamp delivered the following statement to his players, their families and the fans remaining in the crowd after the game:

“I can’t talk real well right now. I’m proud of these players, fighting through a tough situation, a tough transition, but they hung with us all the time. I appreciate the Gator Nation. We’re building a program, not a team, and it takes time, and I appreciate your patience. I’m going to tell you what. We’re going to have a better football team next year because of these young men you got right here. And you’ve got an outstanding staff. Go Gators.”

He began his post-game press conference in a similar fashion:

“[This was about] sending the seniors out the right way. We got a lot of good kids in that locker room. We got some guys that have had a very frustrating year. The realization of this whole thing, if you really want to see big picture, is in the last two years at the University of Florida we’re 15-11. That’s unacceptable. That’s what we are. We’re one game’s difference from last year. We’re 7-6; we were 8-5 last year. Sometimes I think you got to put your realistic glasses on of where you are and what you are as a program right at this point. And it’s not where we’re going to be very long, I can assure you of that. We’re moving in the right direction.

“I’m very pleased with the attitude and the effort and the drive of our young men. They kept fighting in the game and kept playing; they did it the entire season. I don’t think you could turn the tape on and watch a team that wasn’t giving effort, wasn’t trying to play with the right kind of toughness. It wasn’t always what we wanted at times. It was frustrating at times, and I appreciate the backing of our administration in what we’re trying to do. I’ve said it before and I mean this sincerely: We’re not building a team, we’re building a program. That takes a foundation to start, it really does. You stay the course with what you’re trying to do and what you believe in and the hardcore values of what you want. It isn’t always what you want. You get criticized and those sort of things, and that’s part of the deal. That’s part of being the head coach at the University of Florida, and I fully accept that.

“[I’m] excited for our football team. We need to get better and that starts with me. For our entire organization, 7-6 is not acceptable at the University of Florida. We’re looking forward to getting started on January 9. When we start school, we’re going to have a good team meeting that day and get these guys ready to go. That’s when our season starts for next year. It’s good momentum. There are a lot of guys out there knowing their opportunity to come a place like Florida, get an outstanding education, play for a great staff and be a part of a winning tradition..”

HIRING PROCESS WILL NOW BEGIN

Muschamp has maintained for weeks that he would not hire either an offensive coordinator or a strength and conditioning coach until after the bowl game, and he has now lived up to that promise. However, with the game in the rear view mirror, fans will undoubtedly be pining for him to make those decisions soon. As of press time, Muschamp admitted he is closer to one hire than the other. “I’m very close on the strength [coach], I just got to finalize some things and get with Jeremy [Foley],” he said. “And then after that, with the offensive coordinator, I’ve got no timetable. Just kind of working through that to make the best decision for Florida.”

It is expected that Muschamp will hire Jeff Dillman, the head of physical conditioning at the IMG Performance Institute to replace Mickey Marotti, who departed UF to become an assistant athletic director in charge of strength and conditioning at Ohio State. OGGOA reported on Dec. 21 that he was a top candidate, and a report surfaced on Dec. 27 that he has already been chosen for the position.

As for offensive coordinator, a number of candidates remain possible for that job. One of them – current running backs coach Brian White, held the interim job for the Gator Bowl and did quite well with his game plan and play calling. “Brian’s an outstanding football coach,” Muschamp said. “He’s certainly under consideration. At the end of the day, we’re going to hire the best football coach for the University of Florida as we move forward.”

ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAME

» Muschamp took some time to discuss a number of occurrences in the game that fans were undoubtedly curious about watching at home or in the stands in Jacksonville.

» On why the special teams played so well Monday: “D.J. Durkin does the best job in the country on special teams. Week-in and week-out, [he creates] momentum changers and puts our guys in situations to be successful.”

» On if there was hesitation on his part to kick the field goal inside the one: “Yes, there was. The big thing I talked to Brian on the headset. I said, ‘If we’re inside the one, we’re going for it. If we’re not, we need to make it a two touchdown game.’ Yes, we talked about it on the headsets.”

» Muschamp said White wanted to take a knee at the end of the first half, but he overruled him and decided to throw the ball up and take a shot. Due to some different handling of the clock by the officials – which Muschamp said was his fault for not talking to his team about before the game – there was a delay of game as there had been earlier. At that point, the decision was made to take the knee and run out the clock.

BRANTLEY, SENIORS ABLE TO GO OUT THE RIGHT WAY

As Muschamp noted, with redshirt senior John Brantley as the primary starter, Florida has gone 15-11 over the last two seasons. That is certainly not what the legacy dreamed about growing up hoping to one day be the quarterback of the Gators. Nevertheless, Muschamp is extremely proud of his signal caller for being a very unique type of person both on and off the field.

“A lot of guys in our society nowadays, when things don’t go their way, the easiest thing to do is point a finger rather than look in the mirror. A lot of times it’s very difficult in our society nowadays to take the high road in a lot of situations. And I’ll tell you, John’s done that,” he said. “It’s not always fair being the quarterback. [...] You got all eyes on you. You get way too much credit when things go right, and you get way too much blame when things go wrong. From that standpoint, John handles it. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t point fingers. He handles it, takes the criticism and moves to the next day.

“From that standpoint, and having been around other situations where it wasn’t that way, it’s refreshing to have a young guy in our society who is willing to do that. I certainly think he’ll have an opportunity to play on Sunday. I think someone will give him that opportunity. It’s not always John’s fault or the quarterback’s fault. We have to play better in other areas and put our guys in position to be successful.”

Brantley said the team’s performance meant a lot to him and the seniors on a personal level. “We had our ups and downs. The last couple of years hasn’t been the best, but I just stuck with my teammates and coaches and we made the best out of it,” he said. “Just to get a good win against a good team like Ohio State, that almost makes the season kind of worth it just to go out with a hot note and for these young guys to go into the offseason.”

When all is said and done, Brantley is not worried about how he will be remembered by Florida fans but rather the way in which they think about the entire senior class that sacrificed so much for the Gators. “[I care that] my teammates and these seniors, that we went out on a positive note. These young guys who have years to come here at Florida, that they keep building of this win. They’ve got a bright future ahead of them,” he said. “Those guys, they’ve been loyal to us and loyal to the program. I’m definitely going to miss playing on Saturdays, that’s for sure.”

DEBOSE’s KICK RETURN A SHOT IN THE ARM

Miscues and frustrations dominated the first part of the Gator Bowl, but a relatively straightforward kickoff return for a touchdown by redshirt sophomore wide receiver Andre Debose gave Florida a spring in their step that helped propel them throughout the remainder of the contest.

“It meant a lot to me. I just try to do anything that I can do to help the team. I just had an opportunity today to help the team a lot. It feels great. There’s no feeling like it,” Debose said of the return. “It just takes a lot of practice and believing in your blockers and believing in your coach. Our coach really pushes it into us how important special teams is. I take pride in being a specialist and going hard for the team.”

NOTES AND QUOTES

» Muschamp on avoiding a losing season (to ESPN): “It’ll never be about me. It’s about our program and our football players, and I’m very proud of them. I certainly didn’t want them to be saddled with [a losing season].”

» The Gators were quite injured heading into Monday’s game and the team – especially the offensive line – was in dire need of a MASH unit at the end of the contest. In addition to a pair of starters being out, two more offensive linemen were dinged up in the contest. Junior Xavier Nixon and redshirt freshman Chaz Green (ankle) each left with injuries, though Muschamp said they will both be fine. Additionally, freshman linebacker Chris Johnson (ribs) and sophomore safety Jaylen Watkins (undisclosed) should be good to go as well.

» Muschamp on if sophomore defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd will move back inside permanently: “He’s going to play both. He’ll continue to play both and we’ll continue to try the best combination of guys. This year the best combination was him at end. I can’t answer that for next year yet.”

» Muschamp on the performance of junior LB Jon Bostic: “Jon’s played very well all year. He’s played really wellall year. He’s been very consistent. We put an awful ot on the mike linebacker as far as making calls and getting us in-ad-out of calls. [...] Jon had a great command of what we were trying to do, but it wasn’t just today, he’s done it all year. He’s been very consistent all year, he and Jelani [Jenkins] both.”

» Muschamp on if the team having fun after the game made up for the close calls this season: “Close counts in horseshoes and hand grenades and that’s really about it. You don’t come close in football. The team gets tired of me telling them we’re close. They’re tired of hearing that. [The win was] a sign of our team fighting through it. I told them in the locker room, I said, ‘I don’t want anyone to forget this season. I don’t want for anybody to forget the frustration, the tough times, the guys who weren’t committed to our program and didn’t want to do it the right way, didn’t want to do it our way. And as we move forward understand the type of commitment it’s going to take to be successful and to do the type of things you have to do to be successful.’ It’s hard to win. Those are easy words to talk about, but they’re hard to do.”

» Muschamp on if he saw improvement in the team on Monday: “We didn’t get the results we always wanted, but I’m kind of a process-oriented guy and how things are going. I’m looking at attitude and character and guys buying in and athleticism and playmaking ability, and I also take into consideration some of the things you got to as a coach – youth. No one wants to talk about those things. Anybody can state the problems. It’s my job to solve the problems. Ned in the third grade reader can tell you what the issue is. Find out how you solve the problem. The point being, I think we’ve made tremendous strides in some areas. [...] Patience is not a good word around here but sometimes you’ve got to exercise that especially putting the state of the last two years back-to-back [in focus].”

Offense was not the Florida Gators’ strong suit this season, but Florida (7-6) got just enough of it Monday to compliment a sterling effort from their special teams and defense en route to a 24-17 toppling of the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-7) in the 2012 Gator Bowl at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL.

The Gators and Buckeyes were tied at a touchdown apiece minutes into the second quarter until a kickoff return and punt block were each brought back for touchdowns to give UF a 21-10 lead and help the team pull out a much-needed victory to end a tough first season under first-year head coach Will Muschamp.

Florida started out at their own 40-yard-line after the opening kickoff fell out of bounds at the one. The Gators got two quick first downs before redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley was hit from behind and, after a review that overturned an incomplete pass, the loose ball was ruled a fumble and given to the Buckeyes. OSU moved down the field but consecutive sacks by UF sophomore defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd forced a punt.

The Gators took over on their own 20, and Brantley began leading his team down the field once again. On first-and-10 from the Buckeyes’ 22-yard-line, junior left tackle Xavier Nixon (knee) and Brantley (right forearm) both went down with injuries when the latter was sacked. Brantley would return to the game and two plays later threw a 17-yard strike on third down to redshirt senior wide receiver Deonte Thomspon for the first touchdown of the game.

Thompson’s reception was questioned by Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell as it appeared the ball came loose when he hit the ground, but Florida got on the field to kick the extra point before he could call a timeout to force a review.

A review wound up being called on the ensuing possession when OSU running back Dan Herron fumbled the ball on first down. UF recovered and won the challenge but coughed it back up to the Buckeyes just two plays later when Brantley mishandled a snap.

Ohio State took advantage of the miscue by tying the game. QB Braxton Miller, who did not attempt a pass in the first quarter, completed three throws for 41 yards as part of an eight-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a touchdown with 11:25 left in the first half.

Florida responded even quicker as redshirt sophomore wide receiver Andre Debose returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, going down the field untouched and putting his team ahead 14-7 while setting a school record for longest play in a bowl game and a Gator Bowl record for longest play. He was named the contest’s Most Valuable Player after the game.

Click to expand and read the rest of the Gator Bowl game story.

Location: EverBank Field – Jacksonville, FL [Capacity: 84,000]
Weather Forecast: 57°F, sunny, winds WNW at 13 mph
Time: 1:00 p.m. (ET)

TV: ESPN2/ESPN2HD
SiriusXM: 91
Online Video: ESPN3.com
Live Updates: @OnlyGators

Odds: Florida -2; O/U 44

HOMEWORK

Need to catch up on the Gators before the bowl game? No problem. OGGOA has been here since the end of the regular season compiling a ton of information so you can do your homework on the team before its next exam.

Muschamp on Gator Bowl, coaches | Coordinators discuss players, game

HISTORY / STREAKS

» Florida leads the all-time series against Ohio State 1-0, with the No. 2 Gators defeating the No. 1 Buckeyes 41-14 in the 2007 BCS National Championship.
» Both teams are entering the game with a 6-6 record (each are 3-5 in their conference as well) and looking to finish the season above .500. UF losing would make them sub-.500 for the first time since 1979, while OSU would not have reached that low of a level since 1897 if they drop the game.
» Both teams are starting head coaches in their first year (and in Fickell’s case his last year) at the helm.
» This is Florida’s 21st consecutive appearance in a bowl game, good for first in the SEC and second nationally. The Gators have played in 18 January bowl games in the last 20 years dating back to 1993. The Buckeyes are second in most January bowl games since 1993 with 16 appearances.
» UF is 19-19 all-time in bowl games and 6-2 in the Gator Bowl but has not participated in this event since 1992. Florida is 7-6 in bowl games against current Big 10 teams.
» Ohio State has not played in the Gator Bowl since 1978 and has not played a bowl game in the state of Florida since 2002. The Buckeyes are 19-22 all-time in bowl games and 15-19 in those played in January.
» The Gators are 4-0 this season when rushing for more than 150 yards and 6-2 when gaining more than 100 yards on the ground. Florida, however, is 1-5 when being outrushed and 0-5 when tied or trailing at the half.
» UF had 18 players make their first career start in 2011 and the 15 true freshman that have seen the field is tied for seventh-most nationally.
» The Gators have half as many upperclassmen (14 seniors, 11 juniors) as they do underclassmen (27 sophomores, 24 freshmen) seeing action this season.
» Florida offense has struggled as of late, and the Gators have had major problems putting the ball in the end zone. Florida has scored points in just 33 of 48 quarters this season and touchdowns in only 25 of those quarters.
» UF’s 13.42 yards per pass completion is No. 1 in the SEC and 16th nationally.
» The Gators are only converting 49 percent (17-of-35) of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns but have scored at least a field goal when the offense has a possession inside the 20-yard-line 86 percent of the time.
» Florida is No. 9 nationally and fifth in the SEC in total defense (299.6 yards per game). The Gators are also No. 25 nationally and fifth in the SEC in scoring defense (20.6 points per game).
» The Gators’ defense is second in the nation in preventing third-down conversions, allowing just 27.7 percent of those attempted to be successful. However, UF is 66th nationally in preventing fourth-down conversions, allowing a 52.0 percent success rate.
» The Buckeyes have allowed the third fewest 100-yard rushers among all teams nationally since 2007, giving up just 11 such performances.
» Florida was one of the least disciplined teams in the country during the regular season, ranking 114th (out of 120 teams) nationally in penalties, committing 93 in 12 games for 699 total yards lost. Ohio State ranks 45th in that category, committing 66 in 12 games for 547 total yards lost.
» The Gators have a +1 turnover margin in six victories but a -12 margin in six losses.
» Florida’s defense has forced the most turnovers in the SEC (315) since 2000. UF also has the most interceptions in the nation (76) since 2008.

LAST TIME OUT

On the way to the team’s second national title, Florida defeated Ohio State 41-14 in the 2007 BCS National Championship the last time these two teams squared off. The No. 2 Gators, led by quarterback Chris Leak (25/36 for 212 yards, touchdown), routed the No. 1 Buckeyes by outscoring them 41-7 after OSU wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Florida led 34-14 at halftime and stifled Ohio State’s offense, holding the team to just 82 yards over the course of four quarters. UF linebacker Earl Everett’s helmet-less sack on OSU QB Troy Smith is one of the most memorable moments from the game and the 2006 season.

FLORIDA’S PRE-GAME THOUGHTS

Muschamp on the team’s improvement: “We’ve made some progress, and I think a lot of that has to do with not having to get ready for a game in a game-week situation, being able to go back to a lot of fundamentals, a lot like training camp or spring practice to be able to work on a lot of those things.”

Muschamp on his team this year: “Coaching at the University of Florida is a dream of mine to be in this opportunity that I’ve been presented. I’m excited about work every day. I’m frustrated at the results maybe at times, but from the standpoint of how our players have worked, how they’ve committed themselves and these guys up here I think have done a good job. Is it the results we want? No. Are we where we want to be? No. But have I seen improvements and improvements within our program sometimes inside the building that maybe people don’t see? We’ve made tremendous strides as a team. It was a tough situation what we inherited, quite honestly. We’ve made tremendous strides.”

Muschamp on if the perception of being sub-.500 is worse than the reality: “It would be disappointing, obviously. It’s not something that we want to have happen. These players and myself and us as a staff don’t want to be saddled with that. Certainly is that a motivating factor? It certainly should be.

Redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley on playing his last game: “I grew up as a Gator. Now that I’ll be exiting this program after this game, I’ll always be a Gator. Through thick and thin. I’ll always be wearing the orange and blue and watching them on Saturdays for years to come.”

Brantley on if he would have done things differently: “I’m just fortunate enough to wake up every day and put on the Gator uniform. To be able to have this opportunity to play major college football at such a great university and one that I’ve loved my entire life was a dream come true, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

INJURIES / ABSENCES
Click to expand and view the injury report and who to keep an eye on.

11 » JOHNSON, BRANTLEY, KITCHENS SUFFER SCARY INJURIES
Plenty of Florida student-athletes suffered injuries in 2011 but three in particular caused fans to gasp and remain worried about the future of said player. Participating in the semifinals of the 2011 SEC Tournament, Gators baseball wound up dropping a close game 4-3 to Georgia, a loss that forced an elimination game which Florida would later win. However, UF sophomore right-handed pitcher Brian Johnson was taken off a stretcher in the top of the first inning after giving up two earned runs and accidentally being beaned in the back of the head with the baseball by sophomore catcher Mike Zunino. Trying to pick off a runner stealing second, Zunino got his leg tangled with the batter, tripped and flung the ball into the head of a crouching Johnson. He was quickly stabilized, brought to the hospital and deemed responsive though he had a massive headache and was diagnosed with a minor three concussion (no skull fractures or bleeding). Johnson missed the entire Gainesville Regional but returned to action in the Super Regional after being sidelined for more than two weeks.

Redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley was in the middle of playing the best game of his collegiate career (despite throwing a costly pick-six) when he went down with an ugly lower leg injury at the end of the first half against Alabama. Brantley had thrown a pretty 65-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Andre Debose on the first play of the game and was in the middle of driving Florida in for another score before being sacked twice and having his lower leg contorted the second time. Brantley was nearly immediately ruled out of the team’s next game against powerhouse LSU with a high-ankle sprain, and UF was forced to start a true freshman who had not even taken a snap in the team’s first five games in consecutive road contests against LSU and Auburn. Needless to say, the Gators lost both of those contests.

Brantley was never the same after the injury. He nearly helped Florida beat Georgia but was pretty much immobilized in the pocket and threw three interceptions in the team’s first five possessions against Florida State before being knocked out of the game with a head injury that was equally painful to watch. However, that was not the Gators’ only major injury in that game. Perhaps the scariest incident of the year came on kickoff coverage when sophomore linebacker Darrin Kitchens was hit hard from his blindside and laid motionless on the field while trainers attended to him. To this day Kitchens does not remember anything about being hit. Lucky for him, he was cleared that evening with “just” a concussion, released from the hospital and allowed to return to practice with the team just before Christmas. He is expected to play in the 2012 Gator Bowl.

10 » LACROSSE WINS FIRST CONFERENCE TITLE, REACHES ELITE EIGHT

The Florida lacrosse program has been making history since the day it signed the nation’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class prior to the team’s inaugural season in 2010. The Gators were a young but talented group and won over the school even if falling short of some of their goals one year ago. Florida took the next step in 2011, ending the regular season with an 11-0 record at home and on a 13-game winning streak. The Gators capped their stellar regular season by defeating Northwestern for the 2011 ALC Championship just 419 days after the team played its first game in school history. Florida would fall to Northwestern just over three weeks later in the finals of the 2011 ALC Tournament, splitting the season’s conference title down the middle, but took home a number of awards from the league. Sophomore midfielder Kitty Cullen won Player of the Year honors while head coach Amanda O’Leary was named Coach of the Year in just her second season. Two more players were All-ALC first team selections and three others earned spots on the second team. The ladies made it all the way to the Elite Eight of the 2011 NCAA Tournament as well before being taken down 13-9 by Duke, their only loss at home on the season. The Gators were the first program in the history of the sport to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament in only their second year of existence and defeated some of the top teams in the country on the way to an unforgettable season that sets Florida up as a favorite heading into 2012.

9 » 10 NAIL-BITER FINISHES FOR GATORS BASKETBALL
Florida basketball had some struggles at the start of the 2010-11 season, dropping two games to unranked non-conference opponents but things appeared to be heading in an upswing for the team when UF defeated Tennessee 81-75 in overtime on Jan. 11 even after allowing UT to score the last four points in regulation and force the extra period. However, just four days later, the Gators suffered another upset by blowing a six-point lead at home and allowing South Carolina to earn a 72-69 win on the back of Bruce Ellington. Instead of getting down on themselves, Florida regrouped and pulled off three close victories (two against ranked opponents) in 12 days against some of the best competition in the SEC. The Gators started with a nail-biter on the road against Georgia that was forced into a second overtime after junior point guard Erving Walker hit a three-pointer from about 30 feet out at the end of the first extra period (UF wound up dominating the second OT and winning 104-91). Florida then hosted Vanderbilt at home and was forced into another overtime; sophomore guard Kenny Boynton‘s heavily contested trey with 1:04 left gave the Gators another win. UF was forced into another tight spot at home against Kentucky, down one with just under four minutes to play. Florida hit three clutch free throws in the waning seconds and senior forward Alex Tyus made a nice hook shot to give the Gators a 70-68 win over their SEC East rivals. UF did not have to wait too long for another opportunity to stun their fans, utilizing a go-ahead layup from Walker with 14 seconds remaining to defeat Tennessee 61-60 on Feb. 12.

Florida had a bit of a break from nailbiters until the NCAA Tournament, which saw them go into overtime against BYU for the second-straight year. This time the Gators got a measure of revenge as Tyus led them with 19 points and 17 rebounds as UF triumphed 15-6 in extra time and 83-74 in the game. Florida, however, would suffer its most crushing defeat of the season in the very next game, blowing a late lead against Butler in regulation and missing three shots at the end of overtime to be eliminated from the Elite Eight. With the new season still young, the Gators have already seen two close calls. Florida beat Arizona 78-72 in overtime after a questionable foul call gave their opponent a chance to tie the game at the end of the second half (they did). UF also suffered a shocker on Dec. 29, losing in two overtimes on the road at Rutgers. The Gators had a seven-point lead with 2:06 to play but turned the ball over twice in under 30 seconds, allowing RU to keep the pressure on and eventually pull out a win. With the entire SEC slate ahead of them in 2012 and high expectations once again, Florida basketball is sure to provide plenty of breathtaking moments in the new year.

8 » BASEBALL, SOFTBALL REACH CWS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES; TEAMS PRODUCE PLENTY OF EXCITING MOMENTS, BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS
So much happened in 2011 that the baseball and softball teams are forced to share a spot here on the countdown but that should not at all lessen the achievements of both squads this past year. The regular season saw its share of prime performances. Senior pitcher Stephanie Brombacher tossed the second perfect game of her career in just 67 pitches on Feb. 14 as the softball team won an astounding five games in three days. Almost one month later to the day, Gators baseball rallied back from a four-run deficit as a walk-off single by junior left fielder Daniel Pigott propelled Florida to a 5-4 extra innings win against in-state rival Florida State. Gators baseball also swept LSU on the road for the first time in school history in March and swept Alabama on the second-to-last weekend of April though something else even more notable occurred over the course of a two-day stretch. Senior LF Kelsey Bruder, leading a scorching hot softball team, hit a walk-off three-run homer that Saturday against No. 3 Alabama and followed it up with a walk-off infield single in extra innings the next day to send her squad to consecutive wins.

Florida cleaned up the annual SEC awards to end the regular season. For softball, Bruder earned Player of the Year honors, while head coach Tim Walton was named Co-Coach of the Year. Three Gators earned spots on both the All-SEC first and second team, while two more made the Freshman All-SEC team and a pair earned SEC All-Defensive team honors. Zunino captured Player of the Year honors for baseball and was one of three placed on the first team. Three more Florida players made the second team with a pair each being placed on the freshman and defensive teams. It was the first time in school history that student-athletes representing the school won Player of the Year honors in baseball and softball. Baseball began its postseason by blanking Vanderbilt 5-0 to win UF’s first SEC Tournament title since 1991. It was then softball’s turn to shine, staving off elimination in the 2011 Women’s College World Series with a 5-2 victory over California. The Gators went on to stun the Crimson Tide 16-2 and 9-2 in consecutive wins on June 5 to advance to the WCWS Championship Series, reigning victorious in three consecutive elimination games on their way to the title series. Unfortunately things did not go swimmingly for Florida after that. The Gators were left questioning the officiating in their first game against Arizona State and wound up being swept in consecutive games to lose the championship for the second time in three years. Florida’s path on the baseball diamond was a bit more dominant but nonetheless ended with the same result. The Gators walked off in the bottom of the ninth with a 5-4 win over rival Miami in the Gainesville Regional and crushed the Canes 11-4 the next day to advance to the Super Regional. Florida then fought off Vanderbilt 6-4 to advance to the 2011 College World Series Championship Series but was similarly silenced when playing for the title. SEC rival South Carolina swept UF in consecutive games, giving the Gamecocks 16-straight NCAA Tournament victories and their second national championship in as many seasons. The Gators head into the 2012 campaign considered the No. 1 team in the country but have the ‘Cocks firmly nipping on their heels hoping to square off once again late in June.

7 » RYAN LOCHTE SETS WORLD RECORD IN 200-METER IM

Already gaining the upper hand on 14-time Olympic gold medalist and U.S. teammate Michael Phelps at the World Swimming Championships in China earlier in the year, former Gators standout Ryan Lochte continued his efforts to become the face of USA Swimming with a world record performance on July 28. Previously the owner of four world records, Lochte added a fifth by topping Phelps for the second-straight race and finishing the 200-meter individual medley with a world-best time of 1:54.00 in Shanghai, China. Lochte shaved 0:00.10 off his previous best and set the first world record since high-tech bodysuits were banned at the beginning of the year. “I wanted to do something that everyone thought was impossible,” he said after the race. “Since they banned those suits, everyone thought a world record would never get touched again. I just wanted to show everyone that can happen. That’s why we have records — they’re meant to get broken. Hopefully everyone now can start realizing that, ‘Hey it’s possible,’ so hopefully a lot more records will fall.” Lochte will represent his country and Gator Nation at the 2012 London Olympics next summer and will have plenty of opportunities to win more gold medals and set additional world records.

6 » MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD WINS NCAA, SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ranked as the top team in the country all season and attempting to continue dominating both their league and the nation, the Gators men’s track and field team captured their sixth conference title and first since 2004 in February, winning the 2011 SEC Indoor Championship. Sophomore sprinter Jeff Demps won the SEC 60-meter dash championship with a 6.55 (one-hundredth of a second faster than his record-setting time a year ago), and seven other Florida athletes captured individual titles, too. Junior Gray Horn won the first heptathlon title in school history, junior Christian Taylor earned his third-straight triple jump crown, and junior Dumisane Hlaselo won the 3,000-meter run for the first time since 1993. (Florida also finished 1-2-3 in the triple jump with Gators taking home the silver and bronze). Just over two weeks later, Florida went on to win the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championship and became just the fourth different program in event history to win back-to-back national titles. Demps (60 meters) and junior Will Claye (triple jump) each won individual titles, while Taylor ended up grabbing the silver in the latter event. Though Demps may not compete in 2012 and Hlaselo was dismissed from the team after the season, the Gators have a number of seniors looking to make it three-straight national championships for Florida next year.

5 » BASKETBALL TAKES HOME SEC TITLE, LONG OVERDUE YEAR-END AWARDS; BILLY DONOVAN WINS CAREER GAME NO. 400

The storybook season for Florida basketball had its share of bumps in the road but in the end the Gators still captured their first SEC regular season title since 2007 by dominating Alabama 78-51 on Senior Night. Fittingly, Florida’s trio of senior forwards – Tyus, Chandler Parsons and Vernon Macklin combined to score 50 of the team’s 78 points in the game. The Gators won the SEC title outright just a few days later and earned a No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament by taking down No. 20 Vanderbilt 86-76 on the road. All five of Florida’s starters scored in double figures in the game and the team was obviously motivated to prove their worth with an impressive 11-3 offensive rebounding margin. Florida’s impressive – and to many somewhat unexpected play – landed head coach Billy Donovan the first SEC Coach of the Year award of his career despite the fact that he had coached in three national championship games, won two titles and been victorious in three prior SEC Tournaments. The Gators’ team leader in rebounding and assists as well as a double-digit point scorer, Parsons became the first UF men’s basketball play to ever win the SEC Player of the Year award, learning about the honor the same day Donovan received his. Though the 2010-11 season ended in disappointment, Donovan has already gotten Florida out to a hot start in the 2011-12 campaign. Two of the Gators’ three non-conference losses have come to two of the top three teams in the country, and the Florida coach added another notch to his quickly expanding belt. On Nov. 28, Donovan picked up the 400th victory of his head coaching career as UF routed Stetson 96-70 in Orlando, FL. He became the youngest active coach with at least 400 Division I victories but lauded his players for his success. The Gators were sure to reward Donovan with a Gatorade shower in the locker room and hope to thank him further as they try to win another conference and national title in 2012.

4 » TEBOWMANIA DOMINATES THE NFL, ESPECIALLY ON THE FIELD

A Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion with the Gators, Florida fans already knew what quarterback Tim Tebow could do and hoped that the Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL would realize the same as the year went on. Tebow was the talk of the league all year long for plenty of off-the-field reasons. His religion is always a topic of conversation, his legions of fans posted billboards trying to get him to replace Kyle Orton as Denver’s starting quarterback, his book became a New York Times’ bestseller and his pre-darft documentary was well-received both on ESPN and DVD. However, Tebow’s on-the-field accomplishments were undeniable as well and are what landed him on this particular list. Finally named the Broncos’ starter on Oct. 11, Tebow had a tall task ahead of him trying to rescue Denver from a 1-4 start. He started that journey by leading an improbable come-from-behind 18-15 victory against the Miami Dolphins on the road in his first game at the helm. Tebow’s team was down 15-0 when he engineered an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. After the Broncos recovered an onside kick, he led a 10-play, 56-yard scoring drive that ended in a two-point conversion to tie the game. Denver eventually won with a field goal in overtime. All of this occurred, ironically enough, as Miami hosted Gator Day at Sun Life Stadium. After a tough loss to Detroit the following week, Tebow led the Broncos on a six-game winning streak including five-straight close victories. A fourth-quarter touchdown pass led Denver over Kansas City 17-10 on Nov. 13, and Tebow really became the talk of the sports landscape the following week after his 20-yard rushing touchdown with just 58 seconds left sent the Broncos to an upset victory over the New York Jets. Tebow kept Denver in a shootout against Minnesota and led consecutive field goal drives in the fourth quarter for a 35-32 win, and his kicker again helped him lead another victory after a fourth-quarter touchdown pass and two 50+ yard kicks gave the Broncos an overtime win at home versus Chicago. Tebow ended 2011 with back-to-back losses including the worst performance of his career against Buffalo but can begin 2012 on a high note by beating Kansas City and sending Denver to the playoffs.

3 » BLACK’S PICK-SIX ENDS OUTBACK BOWL, SENDS MEYER OUT SMILING; GAME BALL PRESENTED TO LOCKWOOD IN PRESS CONFERENCE

A play, victory and moment that occurred on Jan. 1, 2011 stood for months as the likely No. 1 moment of 2011; in fact it took two pretty amazing accomplishments to knock it all the way down to No. 3 on this list. With former Florida head coach Urban Meyer looking to go out with a bang and the Gators in desperate need of a victory to end an underwhelming 2010 season, senior safety Ahmad Black truly came through in the clutch. With Penn State threatening to score a potential game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the 2011 Outback Bowl, Black intercepted QB Matthew McGloin and returned the ball 80 yards for a touchdown to ice a 37-24 win for Florida. The Gators celebrated on the field, Meyer got a Gatorade shower prior to his wife joining him to cheer the team on and chants of “Urban Meyer, Urban Meyer” rained down from Florida’s side of the stadium during the post-game interview and as the team walked off the field.

Black, the team’s leader all season and Meyer’s favorite player on the squad, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Meyer said after the game that he felt it was “rather appropriate that Ahmad Black, the best safety in college football, won that award.” He also called Black “one of my closest friends” and a “family” member who has “turned into a grown man, a grown man who is going to pay taxes some day, a grown man who is going to have a family some day. He’s going to be a great father and a great husband because Ahmad Black is a grown man now.” Meyer continued to wax poetic about Black after the game, again calling him the “best safety in college football,” and Black responded in kind saying that the most important thing about the game was Meyer going out with a victory. “I just wanted to go out there and do it for him,” he said. In perhaps an even more touching moment following the bowl win, Meyer and Black presented the game ball to Ian Lockwood, a high school football player who had to stop playing on Oct. 8 and became patient at Shands Hospital who was receiving treatment for brain cancer. Black gave Lockwood the very ball he intercepted to ice the game and said “it was our goal and objective to win the game for Ian.” Lockwood embraced Meyer and Black after saying a few words, capping a day that could not have gone any more perfect for either of the three men or any member of Gator Nation. Lockwood passed away later that month at the all too young age of 18.

2 » EMBREE’S LATE-MATCH HEROICS PROPEL WOMEN’S TENNIS TO NCAA TITLE

Florida women’s tennis, from a national standpoint, is the most accomplished program in school history, and sophomore Lauren Embree ensured that the Gators added a school-high fifth national championship to their catalog with a heroic and historic performance on May 24. After four hours of action between No. 1 Stanford and No. 2 Florida, the Gators defeated the Cardinal 8-6 following Embree’s third-set come-from-behind victory against Mallory Burdette. Florida defeated Stanford on their home court and served the Cardinal a loss for the first time in 12 years; Stanford had been undefeated at home over 184 matches dating back to Feb. 27, 1999. The Gators took the doubles point right away but fell behind 2-1 with a pair of singles defeats. The Cardinal then brought UF to the limit in three matches that all advanced to a third set. Each took one victory and Stanford held a 3-2 lead but as Embree and Burdette were doing battle, freshman Olivia Janowicz won her match to tie the contest up 3-3.

No. 22 Burdette had fought back from a 5-1 deficit in the first set to win 7-3 but gave up the second set 6-3 to No. 17 Embree. The former had a 4-0 advantage on the latter in the third, but Embree turned the tide by winning five-straight games to take a 5-4 lead. Attempting to break Burdette’s serve and win the match, Embree had double match point with a 40-15 lead but gave it up as Burdette powered her way to deuce and then to victory tying the third set 5-5. Embree answered back to take a 6-5 lead, but Burdette responded by winning the next game to once again tie the match 6-6 and force a tiebreaker. Burdette started with two quick points but the duo kept trading pairs of makes and found themselves knotted up at 6-6. With the home crowd and history against her, Embree forced Burdette into consecutive errors and watched the ball sail long as she won the third set 6-6 (8-6) and clinched the title for the Gators. Not only did Embree pull out the victory for UF, she also earned a measure of revenge for former teammate Marrit Boonstra, who was in a similar situation as Embree one year ago facing Burdette with the national title on the line. Boonstra fell to Burdette 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5 and was devastated by the loss but was on the court as a student coach that Tuesday, smiling as Embree redeemed her failure one year prior. Florida finished 31-1 on the season and handed Stanford (28-1) their first loss of the year, all while winning a national title and completing a mesmerizing match that will be remembered for years to come.

1 » WAMBACH SHOCKS WORLD, LEADS U.S. IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

There is only one way to a pair of moments that make an entire fan base scream in delight and cry in happiness – making an entire nation (and most of the world) do the same. That is why former Gators striker Abby Wambach’s run with the U.S. Women’s National Team in the 2011 Women’s World Cup is OGGOA’s top moment of 2011.

On the brink of the earliest elimination from a World Cup in U.S. history, the Americans were snatched from the jaws of defeat on July 10 as Wambach directed a sharp header into the net two minutes into injury time during extra time to tie the match with Brazil 2-2 and force a penalty kick finish. The USA made all five PKs to complete the incredible come-from-behind victory and remain alive in the World Cup, and Wambach (along with teammate and fellow former Florida player Heather Mitts) celebrated with Gator Chomps after the match. Wambach, however, was far from done.

Just three days later with the United States facing elimination once again in a 1-1 match with France, Wambach again saved the day with a deft header from the far post to give the Americans a 2-1 lead and propel her team to a 3-1 victory that sent the U.S. to the finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1999. Later that evening, Wambach’s header against Brazil from three days prior won the ESPY award for Best Play. A late entry into the category, the play was voted by sports fans as the winner, immediately jumping all of the other accomplishments that year.

Four days later, Wambach nearly did it all again. For the third time in as many matches she appeared to be the savior for the United States, heading in a goal 14 minutes into extra time to put the Americans ahead 2-1 on Japan in the World Cup finals. Unfortuantely, for the second time in the match, the U.S. squandered its lead and allowed Japan to score an equalizer. The Americans eventually fell 3-1 to the Japanese in a highly-contested penalty kick finish, losing the World Cup in Germany. Wambach earned both the Bronze Boot and Silver Ball Awards for her amazing effort and left the event with 13 World Cup goals, more than any other American in the history of the sport.

The United States’ run was fueled by Wambach’s passion and desire, and she took the entire nation on a roller coaster of emotions as she did everything she possibly could to help bring a victory home to the U.S. No one had as many “I can’t believe that just happened” moments on the field in the whole year as Wambach did in the month of July and there is no denying that her efforts in Germany placed her firmly at No. 1 on this list.

Photo Credits (in order): Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun, USA Swimming, University of Florida, Associated Press, Rob C. Witzel/Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun, University of Florida, Unknown, Martin Meissner/Associated Press

11 » LEGAL ISSUES/EMBARRASSMENTS HANG OVER PROGRAM
Like 2009 and 2010, Florida could not escape its share of unfortunate arrests and embarrassing incidents in 2011. It started simply enough early in February when a pair of Gators swimmers – Lily Ramirez and Daniela Victoria – were arrested and indefinitely suspended from the team after being accused of shoplifting from Nordstrom at the Orlando Mall. Next up was Florida senior outfielder Bryson Smith, who was picked up on March 13 for driving under the influence. Oakland Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy was arrested in Gainesville, FL three weeks later and charged with a trio of misdemeanors for failing to obey a police officer, possession of a drug (Viagra) without a valid prescription and resisting arrest without violence. The month of April was a tough one for the basketball team. Forwards Erik Murphy and Cody Larson were arrested in St. Augustine, FL and charged with third-degree felony burglary charges after allegedly breaking into a car, and team manager Josh Adel was also arrested for principal to burglary for allegedly serving as a lookout. Charges against the players were eventually reduced and each settled their respective case, while Adel had all charges against him dropped. Additionally, former Florida F Dan Wener was charged with a DUI even though he blew below the legal limit (0.08) on the Breathalyzer twice. The State Attorney’s Office eventually dropped his charges due to insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.

Unfortunately the year of brushes with the law was just getting started for the Gators. It surfaced on April 24 via a news report that both linebacker Chris Martin and defensive end Kendric Johnson were cited with misdemeanors for possessing approximately two grams of marijuana each in their respective vehicles on separate occasions. Former Florida WR Reche Caldwell was arrested one month later for possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license. Gators runner Andries Dumisane Hlaselo had the darkest arrest of the year, being picked up in June after being accused of rape and sexual assault. He was immediately dismissed from the team. The Florida football team had the remainder of the year’s arrests. Sophomore safety Matt Elam was cited for underage drinking for the second time in as many years in July, and an August report noted that freshman defensive back De’Ante Saunders was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana in May. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Dee Finely was arrested on Sept. 13 on a first-degree misdemeanor for driving a scooter with a suspended license as well as a third-degree felony for resisting arrest without violence, and freshman cornerback Marcus Roberson was served with a written arrest for underage drinking just one day later. Sophomore defensive tackle Dominique Easley had the last brush with the law of 2011 as he was accused of attacking a former Alabama player early in October but was cleared of the charges one month later. All-in-all, for every positive thing accomplished by the Gators in 2011, there always seemed to be something negative about the program just around the corner.

10 » SIX BECOME A PART OF THE GATOR NATION IN THE SKY; THREE SUFFER SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES DURING THE YEAR
It would be difficult to recount everything that Gator Nation has gone through in 2011 without remembering those close to the University of Florida who left us for a better place or suffered through serious medical issues in the past year. Young and old, these Gators departed too soon or had plenty to deal with as the year went on. Jimmy Carnes (76), a former Gators track and field coach, passed away in March after losing a four-year battle with prostate cancer. Former linebacker/safety and three-time Super Bowl winner Godfrey Myles (42) suffered a massive heart attack in June and, while in the hospital on life support, had a stroke that took his life. Former punter and 12-year NFL veteran Don Chandler (76) also lost a long battle with cancer in August. Mike Heimerdinger (58), who was diagnosed with cancer early in the year, passed away in October. He was a former graduate assistant and wide receivers coach at Florida and won consecutive SEC titles with the team from 1984-85. Ending the year on a sad note, beloved Gainesville, FL businessman and former Gators long snapper Harold Monk III (42) died suddenly in December. OGGOA once again sends our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these men.

Florida freshman linebacker Neiron Ball was the first of three members of the Gators family to suffer serious health issues during the year. He was rushed to the hospital in February after a blood vessel in his brain ruptured as part of a congenital vascular condition. The doctors were able to stop the bleeding and Ball was released from the hospital four days later, but he was forced to miss the entire season for recovery purposes. In the middle of the year, Miami Heat guard/forward Mike Miller was lucky enough to have his wife give birth to a daughter named Jaylen. Unfortunately for the family, she was forced to spend two weeks in a pediatric intensive care unit after doctors found that she had five holes in her heart upon being born. The Millers eventually brought Jaylen home with them in a bit of a coincidence considering they actually donated $1 million to a pediatric intensive care unit at children’s hospital in his home town in 2007. Later that month, former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which he is currently still recovering from and will continue to do so over the next few months.

9 » 10 FOOTBALL PLAYERS TRANSFER IN EIGHT MONTHS
There is bound to be attrition with any major coaching change, and that is exactly what happened to head coach Will Muschamp and the Gators football team this season. A total of 10 players decided at some point this year to try their hand at playing elsewhere. The first two defections were wide receivers redshirt freshman Chris Dunkley and freshman Javares McRoy, who both left the team in April. Dunkley was suspended from team activities during the spring for academic reasons and wanted to leave the program, while McRoy realized he made a wrong decision committing to Florida and instead wanted to play with his brother at Texas Tech. One month later, freshman running back Mike Blakely also decided to leave the program. He enrolled early and had shoulder surgery in the spring but realized he should not have committed because he wanted to play in a spread offense. Redshirt freshman transfer Chris Martin was the next to go. After being arrested on Jan. 29 for misdemeanor possession of marijuana (and having a number of other off-the-field issues), he decided to transfer out of Gainesville in June before ever officially suiting up for the Gators. Just one week later, redshirt freshman tight end Michael McFarland also chose to try his luck elsewhere. Muschamp said the decision was mutual, and McFarland also never stepped on the field for Florida.

The Gators began the season without further defections, but redshirt sophomore linebacker Dee Finley decided to pursue another opportunity on Oct. 12 after appearing in 14 games over two seasons. Another duo transferred just two weeks later as former high school teammates and sophomores TE Gerald Christian and WR Robert Clark decided to head elsewhere over concerns about playing time and future opportunities. Florida announced three days after its final regular season game that redshirt freshmen safety Joshua Shaw and DE Lynden Trail would also be leaving the team. Shaw said he wanted to be closer to his family, while Trail said he loved the Gators but realized he would not be playing anytime soon. Additionally, redshirt junior offensive lineman David Young, who played in 12 games, told the team he would choose to graduate and not return for 2012. The lacrosse team was also hit with a transfer shocker as midfielder Janine Hillier, their fourth-leading scorer from a year ago, left the program in order to head to Stony Brook where her sister is an assistant coach.

8 » FLORIDA ATHLETIC PROGRAM WINS 200TH SEC TITLE
It may have occurred with an on-field victory as the men’s golf team won the 2011 SEC Championship on April 17, but the milestone is a huge off-the-field accomplishment for the Gators athletic program, which this year won its 200th league title. The SEC started awarding league titles in 1933, and Florida currently leads the conference in total league championships won. “The 200th SEC title is a testament to the dedication and drive shown by Gator student-athletes and coaches over these many seasons. Every title is celebrated because winning a championship in any of the league’s sports is a truly an accomplishment because of the strength of the SEC,” UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said. The Gators have double-digit SEC titles in seven sports (both swimming and diving programs, women’s tennis, volleyball, men’s golf, baseball and soccer) and have won five or more in every sport except three.

7 » HEISMAN STATUES UNVEILED; GATOR GREATS IN HALLS OF FAME

At halftime of the Gators’ 2011 Orange & Blue Debut, UF officially unveiled a trio of statues to commemorate the school’s three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks – Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Tim Tebow (2007). The statues, each of which is 15 percent larger than life-sized and features the players in different stances, cost approximately $550,000 to construct – all funded by private donations. Spurrier sent in a pre-recorded message for the occasion because South Carolina’s spring game was the same day, but Wuerffel and Tebow stood at midfield as the statues were unveiled and expressed their appreciation to the fans, administrators and donors that paid for the project. Former Florida WR Carlos Alvarez also received a special honor this year when the National Football Foundation announced that he would be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Alvarez was one of 16 inductees honored in a Dec. 2011 dinner, but he will not be officially inducted until July 2012. He will be the third former Gators player to be inducted since 2006 and the ninth in school history. Seven letterwinners were inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in April with LB Mike Peterson, punter Judd Davis and basketball’s Bob Emrick leading the way. Peterson spoke with OGGOA in an exclusive interview about his career and how honored he was to be included honored by his alma mater.

6 » GATORS SELECTED IN NFL, NBA, MLB DRAFTS

It is a far cry from last year’s amazing accomplishment of having nine players selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, but the Gators did quite well this year when you look at how many players were picked in the drafts for all three major professional leagues. Four former Florida players – center Mike Pouncey (Round 1, Pick 15 to the Miami Dolphins), tackle Marcus Gilbert (Round 2, Pick 63 to the Pittsburgh Steelers), safety Ahmad Black (Round 5, Pick 151 to the Tamp Bay Buccaneers) and guard Maurice Hurt (Round 7, Pick 217 to the Washington Redskins) were all picked in the 2011 NFL Draft but were unable to sign with their respective teams until the NFL lockout was lifted in July. At that time, eight additional former Gators were signed as undrafted free agents though only punter Chas Henry (Philadelphia Eagles) and DE Justin Trattou (New York Giants) made it out of training camp, onto practice squads and eventually onto the active rosters of their respective teams. Pouncey and Henry have started every game this year, while Gilbert and Hurt have each started the majority of games this season.

The Florida basketball program had two players picked in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft with forwards Chandler Parsons (Pick 38) and Vernon Macklin (Pick 52) headed to the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons, respectively. Like the football players, neither was able to report or sign with their team right away due to the NBA lockout but each has since agreed to a deal and made the roster. Parsons spent part of the fall playing overseas for Cholet Basket in France, while Macklin stayed in the United States and worked out. Gators F Alex Tyus, who also graduated last season, signed in June with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israel Loto League. Joining all the football and basketball players was a school record 11 Florida baseball players picked in the 2011 MLB Draft. Though three wound up returning to the team, junior LHP Nick Maronde (Round 4, Pick 104), junior LHP Anthony DeSclafani (Round 6, Pick 199), junior LHP Alex Panteliodis (Round 9, Pick 282), junior RHP Tommy Toledo (Round 11, Pick 341), senior infielder Josh Adams (Round 13, Pick 403), junior catcher Ben McMahan (Round 23, Pick 701), senior RHP Matt Campbell (Round 24, Pick 751) and senior outfielder Bryson Smith (Round 34, Pick 1,045) chose to sign with the teams that drafted them. The Gators roster is so loaded, however, that Florida baseball was given a preseason No. 1 ranking heading into the 2012 season.

5 » FRED TAYLOR, JASON WILLIAMS, CHANNING CROWDER RETIRE

With so many former Gators finding success in the professional ranks, each of their respective careers inevitably has to come to an end, and that is exactly what happened for three former Florida players this year. Point guard Jason Williams announced his retirement on April 18 after playing in the NBA for 12 years. Williams, the No. 7 overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft, spent his entire career with five teams and finished with totals of 8,266 points, 4,611 assists, 1,810 rebounds and 933 steals. He averaged 10.5 points, 5.9 assists and 2.3 rebounds for his career while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three-point range and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. Williams had previously retired for one season but returned to the court last year before finally calling it quits. He also won a NBA title during the 2005-06 season with the Miami Heat. After being cut by the Miami Dolphins in August, LB Channing Crowder announced live on the air that he would be retiring from the NFL. At just 27-years-old, Crowder amassed 469 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in 82 career games after being selected with the No. 70 overall pick in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He made his mark in Miami as a locker room and on-field leader but chose to hang up his cleats mostly because his son was about to be born and he did not want to be far away playing in another state. There are some who believe Crowder will attempt a return to the field in 2012.

Not taking anything away from Williams or Crowder, the retirement of running back Fred Taylor after a 13-year NFL career was undoubtedly the most important one of the year. Taylor, who signed a one-day contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars (the team that picked him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft), is the team’s all-time leader in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. His final stat sheet includes 11,695 rushing yards, 66 rushing touchdowns, 2,384 receiving yards and eight receiving scores. Taylor is also one of just 30 NFL players who have run for more than 10,000 yards in a career and one of three to average at least 4.5 yards per carry over eight seasons (Jim Brown, Barry Sanders). A member of the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame and University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, Taylor will be inducted into Jacksonville’s hall in the near future and will likely get consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the time comes.

4 » CHARLIE WEIS HIRED, LEAVES 11 MONTHS LATER
Just 364 days ago (from the day this is published), ESPN’s Chris Mortensen had Gator Nation in a stir when he reported that then-Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Charlie Weis had been contacted by Muschamp and offered the same job with Florida. The Gators still had their bowl game to play the next day and were concentrating on sending Meyer out in style with a victory, but hours after Florida’s game ended on Jan. 1, a second report surfaced that Weis would officially be hired that Monday. Before the Gators had the chance to make the official announcement, Weis told the Kansas City Star that the chance to coach at UF and spent so much additional time with his son was “almost a dream” for a number of reasons. That dream became a reality one day later when Muschamp announced his decision to hire Weis, calling him a “perfect fit for what I was looking for in an offensive coordinator.” Weis brought both college and professional experience with him on his resume and many believed he was the perfect person to almost be the head coach of the offense while Muschamp concentrated on running the team and especially the defense. The hire immediately paid dividends as Weis convinced then-redshirt junior QB John Brantley to return for his senior season, explaining that his pro-style offense and opportunity to be his personal QB coach would help him improve.

Fast forward 10 months to just days before Florida’s final game of the 2011 regular season against Florida State when Weis told the media that he planned to serve as the Gators offensive coordinator “for a long time.” It was undoubtedly a surprise to everyone when, just over two weeks later, Weis was plucked from Florida to be Kansas’ next head coach in a whirlwind 24-hour period that went from inquisition to contract offer to acceptance. Muschamp said that he understood and supported Weis’s decision, and Weis himself said that it was “one of those unique situations” that he could not turn down but neither opinion changes how much of a shock it was to Gator Nation to see Weis leave less than a year after being hired.

3 » JANORIS JENKINS RETURNS, DISMISSED THREE MONTHS LATER

Arguably the Gators best player in 2010, junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins was expected to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft shortly after the team’s bowl game. Instead Jenkins, who played the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder and had surgery to correct the injury prior to the 2011 Outback Bowl, announced that he would return for his senior season. “After careful consideration, I’ve made the decision to return to school for my senior year. I spent some time with my family and Coach Muschamp and came to the conclusion it was in my best interest to return to school,” he said in a school release. “Coach Muschamp was very supportive throughout the whole process, regardless of my decision, but he wanted to make sure I had all of the facts. I’m looking forward to working towards my degree, completing my rehab and getting back on the field with my teammates.” Florida fans were ecstatic about the announcement and overjoyed that the team’s shutdown defender would give the Gators a level of consistency with so much change going on around him.

As it turns out though, Jenkins never suited up for Florida again. Two weeks after his announcement, he was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana when police caught him rolling a joint in a nightclub bathroom. It was his second legal incident in less than two years (Jenkins was arrested in May 2009 on misdemeanor charges of affray and resisting arrest without violence). He was punished internally but allowed to remain on the team. However, Muschamp’s hand was forced as Jenkins was arrested again on April 23 (less than 90 days later) when police caught him smoking a marijuana “cigar” in his car in a parking lot at 12:35 a.m. Three days following his third arrest in less than two years, Jenkins was dismissed from the team by Muschamp, who claimed that it was a mutual decision between the two parties. Jenkins made it clear the next day that it was the coach’s decision. “I was dismissed as soon as I walked in the room. He washed his hands of me,” he said. He wound up transferring to North Alabama and having a nice senior season as a cornerback and kick returner. In fact, if he can convince teams that his legal issues are behind him, Jenkins may even be picked in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, which would have otherwise been a sure thing if he never got in trouble and remained at UF for his senior season.

2 » FLORIDA SWEEPS SEC ALL-SPORTS AWARDS; MEN WIN CAPITAL ONE CUP

There were up and downs for Florida throughout the entire year, but the Gators received a pair of major honors in May and June that gave fans plenty to cheer about in 2011. Any doubt that UF had the dominant athletic program in the SEC during the 2010-11 school year was put to rest on May 22 when the university was named the unanimous SEC All-Sports champion for the third-straight season. Florida swept all three titles – overall, men’s and women’s – by staggering numbers and literally dominated the competition, continuing to be the only school to sweep all three titles in a single season. The Gators in 2011 accomplished that for the 11th time in school history, fourth time in the last five years and third-in-a-row (2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10). Florida learned one month later that the men’s athletic program was the winner of the first-ever Capital One Cup, awarded annually to each of the top men’s and women’s Division I college athletic programs. The Gators (93 points) won by an 11-point margin over Virginia (82) and finished 23 points above the next SEC team, Auburn (70). Though Florida did not place in the top 10 in any fall sports, the Gators found much greater success in the winter and spring with the performances of indoor track & field (first), baseball (second), outdoor track & field (third), swimming & diving (fifth), tennis (ninth) and basketball (10th) earning the school the honor. The women’s team wound up finishing No. 4 in their respective category but was first among SEC schools. Recognized regionally and nationally for its excellence, the Gators had plenty to be proud of this year.

1 » URBAN MEYER LEAVES WITH A WIN, TAKES ON-AIR GIG WITH ESPN, SEVERS TIES WITH FLORIDA, AGREES TO COACH OHIO STATE

Just one year ago, the resignation of Meyer and hiring of Muschamp captured the No. 1 spot on the Top 10 for 2010, so it should not come as much of a surprise that Meyer’s moves in 2011 landed him back here 12 months later. Announcing that he would leave Florida for the second time on Dec. 8, 2010, Meyer exited on a positive note as UF defeated Penn State 37-24 in the 2011 Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 (check out Saturday’s post). However, just 30 days removed from his last game with the Orange and Blue, Meyer agreed to begin a new form of employment by signing to work as an on-air college football analyst with ESPN for the 2011 season and beyond.

He explained that the job would not cut into his decision to spend more time with his family because it would only keep him away from home for sport periods of time each week. As part of Meyer’s separation from the Gators, Foley said that he would retain an office inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and would continue to work with Florida in some capacity. As it turns out, ESPN and Florida quickly realized that situation would create a conflict of interest (including a perceived bias as well as potential NCAA recruiting violations), and Meyer was forced to sever ties with the school on Feb. 2. Despite Foley’s efforts to ensure that Meyer remained a part of the program even though his tenure as a coach had ended, Meyer’s decision to take another job essentially forced his hand. While Meyer excelled in his role with ESPN, rumors persisted all year that he would eventually take over the Ohio State Buckeyes job vacated when head coach Jim Tressel was forced to resign while under immense pressure from numerous NCAA violations. He scoffed at most of these comments and reports but was forced to address the situation in late November after numerous reports had him heading to Columbus, OH sooner than later. He again denied rumors on Nov. 23, saying that he had neither been offered the job or nor reached any deal with Ohio State just before Thanksgiving.

However, Meyer wound up accepting that very job just five days later, and was officially announced as the Buckeyes’ next head coach after signing a six-year, $24 million contract. Though Foley wished Meyer the best of luck at his new job, most Gators fans were enraged that he agreed to coach another team just 10 months after coaching his last game for Florida amidst concerns about his health and time with his family. OGGOA took an in-depth look at Meyer’s move to Ohio State in a 3,400-word post that included sections about his health and family issues as well as a number of other issues like the Gators fan base, media scrutiny, state he left the program in and the timing of the move. Though he may have only been employed by Florida for one month in 2011, Meyer’s actions were once again the most notable and memorable ones that occurred this year.

Photo Credits (in order): Associated Press, Unknown, ESPN, Cleveland Plain-Dealer

PLAYER UPDATES AND EVLAUATIONS

Despite both missing the first day of Gator Bowl practice, senior running back Jeff Demps (personal issue) and redshirt senior wide receiver Deonte Thompson (illness) were on the field on Wednesday. Additionally, White said that redshirt senior quarterback John Brantley is completely healthy and has even been routinely taking snaps under center during practice.

White also noted that, with 2012 being the offense’s second year in the pro-style system, he expects to see some major improvements and is already seeing players doing much better in these practices.

“There’s always a learning curve your first year in any program. Once you flatten that learning curve, you see an exponential jump, and certainly that’s what we’re hoping for,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of progress with our young players – Chaz Green being one of those players, Andre Debose being another one of those players, Hunter Joyer invaluable time and reps for a player like Hunter, Mike Gillislee. There are a lot of players that have improved dramatically and hopefully they can put the performance on the field and really use it as a springboard to 2012.”

Quinn spoke about five players in particular, praising three and providing some evaluations on two others. He said that redshirt junior defensive tackle Omar Hunter has been playing great in bowl practices, being strong and square and really jumping out with his technique. Quinn also noted that there are two players who have continued to get better as the year has gone on and should make a big impact next Monday.

“[De’Ante] Pop Saunders has been one that’s really come on and done some good things,” he said. “At linebacker, [Michael] Taylor has improved from where I saw him in the spring to training camp to now playing some meaningful and valuable reps for us. Those guys at those two spots would be two that have shown up and [I can tell] are coming on and doing a good job.”

He also spoke about sophomore Sharrif Floyd’s participation going forward and how redshirt senior DT Jaye Howard will fare in the NFL.

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FLOYD DID “WHAT’S BEST FOR THE TEAM”

A career defensive tackle, sophomore Sharrif Floyd moved to defensive end before the season began at the request of head coach Will Muschamp, who was searching for a capable starter and depth at a very shallow position. “It was good on my part because it shows that I can do more than just what I’m here for. I can do what’s best for the team and learn things the best I can. I think it was a good fit for my resume this year,” Floyd said, putting a positive spin on the move.

With redshirt senior Jaye Howard and sophomore Dominique Easley manning the inside, Floyd played out of position on the end but still finished sixth on the team (and second on the defensive line) in tackles with 44 (18 solo, five for loss). “As I started to progress at D-end, I started noticing more teams just not coming my way. It was frustrating but at the end of the day it was make a play however it happens,” he said. “It was frustrating at the beginning until I started talked to my coaches about it. They told me to just hang in there and work with them. I did what was best for the team and came out as one of the leaders in tackles.”

That is exactly what Floyd did and though the plan was always for him to move back inside in 2012, Easley tearing his ACL has prompted that move to occur one game earlier. “[I’m] definitely more comfortable,” Floyd said of moving back to tackle. “Don’t like the way it happened or the reason why I went back in[side], but it happens in the game of football. I can’t be more excited. Three-technique is definitely my position now and until I’m done. Since I’ve been playing over eight-nine years now, I’ve been at D-tackle. I know it. I know all the blocks. I know what’s coming at me. There’s no thinking, there’s just going. I understand it a little more and there’s no need to be patient at D-tackle.”

PLAYERS ONLY SLIGHTLY FAZED BY DEPARTURES
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