2006 Florida Gators football team - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida

University of Florida

The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...

in the sport of American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

during the 2006 college football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

(NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference

Southeastern Conference

The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...

(SEC), and played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...

on the university's Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...

campus. The season was the second for head coach Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer

Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

, who led the Gators to an SEC Championship

2006 SEC Championship Game

The 2006 SEC Championship Game was played on December 2, 2006, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game matched SEC Western Division champion Arkansas against SEC Eastern Division champion Florida. The second meeting between the two schools in the championship game, it led to a 38–28...

, a BCS National Championship

2007 BCS National Championship Game

The 2007 BCS National Championship Game, sponsored by Tostitos, was an American football game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, 2007. The BCS No. 2 Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, 41–14. The Buckeyes secured a spot by finishing...

, and an overall win-loss record of 13–1 (.929).

The Gators overcame arguably the toughest schedule in the nation to become national champions. The combined record of the their opponents was 100–49, a winning percentage of 0.671 that was the highest for any team's schedule in the nation for that year. They won their seventh SEC title by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...

38–28 in SEC Championship Game

2006 SEC Championship Game

on December 2, 2006. The Gators then defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes

2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team representing the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium...

41–14 in the BCS National Championship Game on January 8, 2007.

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.

In addition, with the men's basketball team

Florida Gators men's basketball

The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...

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.

Ten-year national championship anniversary

The Gators celebrated the ten-year anniversary of winning their 1996 national championship

1996 Florida Gators football team

The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. This was the team's seventh season under head coach Steve Spurrier...

in football during the opening game against Southern Miss

The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...

. Among the attendees was Steve Spurrier

Steve Spurrier

Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...

, who coached the team to its only championship that season but now coaches at South Carolina

University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...

. Many people had speculated that because of Spurrier's defection, he would be booed, but that was not the case, as he received a very loud ovation during the ceremony.

Pre-season

Most polls had Florida listed as one of the top 10 teams entering the season. The Gators had their best pre-season ranking from College Football News

College Football News

College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...

, which listed them at #2, behind only defending champion Texas

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

.

Most of the starters returned from a 2005 team that went 9-3 and they were bolstered by a top-rated recruiting class the previous February. The Gators' schedule included a four-game stretch against teams likely to be in the top-15 teams, starting with Alabama

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....

on September 30.

Schedule and results

Sources: 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, and GatorZone.com.

Associated Press All-SEC

All-SEC First Team

Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

, DB
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith (American football)
Ryan Smith is an American football player who currently plays cornerback and is a free agent. He played for the Florida Gators in college.- College career :Raised in Diamond Bar, Smith attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, CA...

, CB

All-SEC Second Team
Earl Everett Earl Everett Earl Everett is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Florida.... , LB Brandon Siler, LB

SEC Freshman of the Year
Percy Harvin Percy Harvin William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League... , WR

Coaches All-SEC

All-SEC First Team

Steve Rissler, C
Dallas Baker
Dallas Baker
Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...

, WR
Ray McDonald
Ray McDonald
Raymondo Antoine "Ray" McDonald is an American professional football player who is a defensive end in the National Football League . McDonald played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.- Early years...

, DT
Earl Everett
Earl Everett
Earl Everett is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Florida....

, LB
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

, DB

All-SEC Second Team

Drew Miller

Drew Miller (American football)

Drew Miller is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for the University of Florida....

, OL

Phil Trautwein

Phillip Charles "Phil" Trautwein is an American professional football player who is an offensive tackle in the National Football League . Trautwein played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the St...

, OL

Chris Leak

Christopher Patrick Leak is an American professional football player who is currently a quarterback for the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League. He played college football for the University of Florida, and led the Florida Gators to victory in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game...

, QB

Derrick Harvey

- Jacksonville Jaguars :Harvey was drafted 8th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was the first defensive end chosen by the Jaguars in the first round in franchise history. Was one of four defensive ends chosen in the first round of 2008 draft and third overall...

, DE

Brandon Siler, LB

Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith (American football)

Ryan Smith is an American football player who currently plays cornerback and is a free agent. He played for the Florida Gators in college.- College career :Raised in Diamond Bar, Smith attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, CA...

, CB

SEC Freshman of the Year:
Percy Harvin Percy Harvin William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League... , WR

Freshman All-SEC Team

Percy Harvin

William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...

, WR

Brandon James

Brandon Keith James is an American professional football wide receiver and kick returner for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League...

, KR

Tim Tebow

Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...

, QB

AP All-America

All-America First Team: Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

, FS
All-America Second Team: Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith (American football)
Ryan Smith is an American football player who currently plays cornerback and is a free agent. He played for the Florida Gators in college.- College career :Raised in Diamond Bar, Smith attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, CA...

, CB
All-America Third Team: Brandon Siler, LB

First round draft picks

Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson
Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

, 21st pick to Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Jarvis Moss
Jarvis Moss
Jarvis Jaray Moss is an American football defensive end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . Moss was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Florida Gators.-High school career:Moss was born in Denton, Texas...

, 17th pick to Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

Southern Miss

Pregame Line
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...

: Florida -20.5

The Gators scored the last 34 points of the game after surrendering a touchdown with 12:40 to play in the 1st quarter. Chris Leak

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. Leak rebounded to finish 21-of-30 for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns. DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn is an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League. Wynnn played college football for the University of Florida. He was drafted by the NFL's Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and has also played for the New...

and Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

each rushed for a touchdown for the Gators.

Central Florida

Pregame Line: Florida -23

Despite giving up four turnovers and forcing none, the Gators easily beat the spread for the second time this season. By forcing a safety in the third quarter, the Gator defense outscored the blanked Golden Knights offense. It was the Gators' first shutout since blanking Mississippi State on September 29, 2001. Visiting Central Florida averaged just 2.6 yards per play and 153 total yards in the game.

Florida quarterback Chris Leak

Chris Leak

was 19-of-29 for 352 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman receiver Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin

William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...

had a coming-out game with a 58-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring, en route to a 4-catch, 99-yards receiving day. Andre Caldwell

Andre Caldwell

Andre Jerome "Bubba" Caldwell is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver in the National Football League . Caldwell played college football for the University of Florida, and currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL.-Early years:Caldwell was born in Tampa,...

caught two touchdowns, and Dallas Baker added one more for the Gators. Florida reserve QB Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

led the game in rushing, with 61 yards.

Tennessee

Pregame Line: Florida -3.5

Florida jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Volunteers quickly took the momentum back when wide receiver Lucas Taylor threw a 47 yard touchdown pass to LaMarcus Coker. 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 17-7 lead. Chris Leak

Chris Leak

rallied the Gators to within a field goal when he found Dallas Baker

Dallas Baker

Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...

for a four yard touchdown. Tennessee pulled ahead by six when James Wilhoit hit a 51 yard field goal early in the fourth. Leak again rallied the team, but it was freshman Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

who made a huge play when he converted a crucial fourth down inside Tennessee territory. Leak came back into the game, and continued his strong play, finding Dallas Baker again for a 21 yard touchdown pass which would eventually prove to be the game winning score. The following drive, Junior quarterback Erik Ainge

Erik Ainge

Erik Douglas Ainge is a retired American football quarterback formerly of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...

threw an interception to Reggie Nelson to seal a Gator victory. The win made them #5 in the AP and Coaches polls.

Kentucky

Pregame Line: Florida −23

The Gators quickly jumped out to a 6–0 lead on a trick play that led to a Chris Leak

Chris Leak

pass to Jemalle Cornelius

Jemalle Cornelius

Jemalle Cornelius is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver. Cornelius played college football for the University of Florida, and was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007.- Early years :Cornelius was born in Fort Meade, Florida...

for a touchdown just over two minutes into the game. From there, the Gators offense stagnated for most of the first half. 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

DeShawn Wynn

run with :26 left in the half to take a 12–7 lead. Both Gator PATs were blocked in the half.

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 26–7. Freshman Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

—the backup quarterback—led the Gators in rushing for the second time in four games with 73 yards on 6 rushes.

The week prior to the game, it was announced that DT Marcus Thomas was indefinitely suspended

Suspension (punishment)

Suspension is a form of punishment that people receive for violating rules and regulations.- Workplace :Suspension is a common practice in the workplace for being in violation of an organization's policy...

after failing a drug test

Drug test

A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen – for example urine, hair, blood, sweat, or oral fluid / saliva – to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites...

. He appealed the suspension, but missed the Kentucky game while awaiting word on the appeal.

Alabama

Pregame Line: Florida -13

Florida went with a throwback

Throwback

The Throwback, a 1978 satirical novel written by Tom SharpeChicago Throwbacks, a member of the basketball teamThrowback may also refer to:* Evolutionary throwback, a reversion to ancestral type* Throwback, Vol...

uniform style for the game, wearing uniforms from the mid-1960s as a part of the 100-year celebration of Florida Football. Prior to the game, Florida also unveiled its four initial entries into the Gator Football Ring of Honor

Gator Football Ring of Honor

The Gator Football Ring of Honor is the University of Florida's alternative to retiring a player's number and pays homage to the greatest former players and coaches. Physically, it is a ring displayed on the North Endzone façade of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, displaying the names of the players and...

—Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith

Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...

, Danny Wuerffel

Danny Wuerffel

Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...

, Steve Spurrier

Steve Spurrier

, and Jack Youngblood

Jack Youngblood

Herbert Jackson "Jack" Youngblood, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl...

.

Florida entered the game hoping to avenge a 31-3 loss in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...

the previous season

2005 Florida Gators football team

The 2005 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2005 college football season...

, and end a rare 3-game skid against a conference opponent.

The Gators trailed for nearly the entire first three quarters. After a botched snap between center Steve Rissler and quarterback Chris Leak

Chris Leak

, Alabama's Prince Hall returned the fumble for their only touchdown of the game. The Tide added a field goal to take a 10–0 lead that held until just before the half. Late in the first half, Chris Leak had a career-long 45-yard run. Three plays later, a Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

designed sneak scored from 2 yards out, putting the Gators on the board with 1:45 left in the half.

The Gators took their first lead with 2:39 left in the third quarter on a Leak pass to Andre Caldwell

Andre Caldwell

, making it 14–10. The Tide kept it close, kicking a 26-yard field goal to make it a 1-point game in the fourth quarter. Leak found Dallas Baker

Dallas Baker

Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...

on a 21-yard touchdown pass to strengthen Florida's lead, and safety Reggie Nelson

Reggie Nelson

Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

picked off John Parker Wilson

John Parker Wilson

John Parker Wilson is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. college football at the University of Alabama, he went undrafted during the 2009 NFL Draft, before signing with the Falcons as a free agent.-Freshman:After leading Hoover High School to...

's pass and took it 70 yards for the score to put the game out of reach.

LSU

Pregame Line: Florida +2½

ESPN's College GameDay was on campus for the Top-10 tilt between the Tigers and Gators. The attendance of 90,714 was two shy of the stadium record.

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. After the Tigers muffed on a Gator punt a drive later, reserve freshman QB Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

scored on a QB sneak from one yard out to tie the game. 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. Tebow added a more conventional touchdown pass to Louis Murphy early in the third quarter. 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. Starting QB Chris Leak

Chris Leak

, despite going 17-of-26 passing, was held without a touchdown for the first time this season.

Auburn

Pregame Line: Pick 'em

ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

's College GameDay was at Jordan-Hare Stadium

Jordan-Hare Stadium

Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...

to cover the critical SEC matchup between the number two ranked Gators and the number eleven ranked Tigers. Both Lee Corso

Lee Corso

Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...

and Kirk Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit

Kirk Herbstreit is an Emmy Award-winning analyst for ESPN's College GameDay, a television program covering college football and a provider of color commentary during college football games on ESPN and ABC. He appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football. He was a quarterback on...

picked the Gators to defeat the Tigers. The game was broadcast on ESPN Full Circle

ESPN Full Circle

ESPN Full Circle is the branding used for multi-network simulcasts of a single sporting event across multiple ESPN networks and serviceswith each feed providing a different version of the telecast making use of different features or functions...

.

The Tigers scored early, taking the opening drive to the Gators' 5-yard-line before being forced to kick a field goal

Field goal (football)

A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...

. The Gators responded with a field goal, their first of the season for a 3–3 tie at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Chris Leak

Chris Leak

to Dallas Baker

Dallas Baker

Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...

the Gators took a 10–3 lead. Soon thereafter, the Gators seemingly averted danger when they stripped the ball from the Tigers at the goal line. One play later, however, a Jim Tartt holding penalty in the end zone forced a safety, giving Auburn the ball back and 2 points. With about 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter Auburn kicked another field goal to make the score 10–8. The Gators strengthened their lead to 17–8 on a Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

run. Auburn kicked one additional field goal with 30 seconds in the quarter to cut the Gator lead to 17–11 at the half.

The second half belonged entirely to the Tigers, as they shut Florida out in the half and blocked a punt for a score to take the lead by 1 in the third quarter. The Gators threatened to take the lead midway through the fourth until a controversial Chris Leak fumble caused by Tray Blackmon of the Tigers gave Auburn the ball. A late field goal put Auburn up 4 with just over 30 seconds to go in the game. In desperation, Florida responded on the last play of the game with a failed hook and lateral

Hook and lateral play (American football)

The hook and lateral or hook and ladder is a trick play in American or Canadian football. It starts with the hook, which is where a wide receiver runs a predetermined distance, usually 10 yards down the field, and along the sideline, and "hooks in" towards the center of the field to receive a...

play, which Auburn's defense was able to pick up and return for a score as time expired.

Georgia

Pregame Line: Florida -13

As the Gators came into their annual rivalry game with Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...

, they were heavily favored. Florida scored on their first possession of the game, moving the ball very effectively with a blend of running and passing. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell

Andre Caldwell

capped off the drive with a 12 yard touchdown run off a reverse. Florida's defense, which had been touted as one of the best in the SEC

Southeastern Conference

The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...

, lived up to their billing, stifling the Georgia offense for the entire first half. The Gators added another touchdown before halftime, when Chris Leak

Chris Leak

threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell for his second touchdown of the game. Florida's defense again came up huge in the 2nd half, when on the first play of the half, Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin fumbled the ball and defensive tackle Ray McDonald recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Gators a commanding 21-0 lead. Florida's defense continued to stifle Georgia throughout the 2nd half, until late in the third quarter. After a Chris 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 14. Florida's offense was stuffed on the following drive but got a muffed punt by Georgia to regain the ball. However, Florida was unable to capitalize on the turnover, as Chris Hetland again missed a field goal. Georgia was unable to score on the following drive, but freshman Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

fumbled on Florida's 10 yard line to give Georgia a shot at drawing within 7. On 3rd down from the 5, running back Kregg Lumpkin took a draw play and fought his way for a Georgia touchdown to bring the Bulldogs to within 7. The Gators and the Bulldogs traded possessions, with the Gators getting the ball back with a little over 3 minutes in the game. Florida needed a first down on 3rd and 5 to seal their victory and elected to give Andre Caldwell a carry off a reverse. The play was stopped well short, but Georgia was called for a controversial face mask penalty which gave Florida a first down. Running back DeShawn Wynn

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 Gators have now won 15 of the last 18 against their hated rivals from Georgia. The win also moved the Gators into fourth place in the BCS

Bowl Championship Series

The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...

rankings.

Vanderbilt

Pregame Line: Florida -17
The Gators clinched their trip to the SEC Championship Game

SEC Championship Game

The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...

with a sloppy win over Vanderbilt. Chris Leak struggled throughout the game, going 18 of 25 passing for 237 yards and one touchdown. Leak threw three interceptions, all of which came with the Gators controlling the flow of the game. Florida got very strong play from its defense and special teams, as they were able to block two punts and force an interception. Before the game, it was announced that star defensive lineman Marcus Thomas was kicked off the team for the remainder of the year. Coach Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer

Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

stated during the game that "Marcus did not meet his responsibilities and obligations to remain on the team."

South Carolina

Pregame Line: Florida -12.5
In one of the most anticipated games of the season, former Gator coaching legend and current South Carolina

University of South Carolina

coach Steve Spurrier

Steve Spurrier

returned to The Swamp

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

. Spurrier had made two well-received public visits to the stadium earlier in the year as a part of the national championship anniversary celebration and to be enshrined in the Gators' Ring of Honor. In a thrilling game, Jarvis Moss blocked an extra point, and a potential game winning 48 yard field goal with only eight seconds remaining in the game. Leading the Gators on offense was Chris Leak, who with 258 yards passing in the game, eclipsed Danny Wuerffel

Danny Wuerffel

as the All-Time passing yards leader in Gators history. DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn

added 86 yards on the ground to help the Gators maintain a steady attack. Freshman Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

continued his strong season, rushing for a 13 yard touchdown which proved to be the game winning score. Tebow also converted a critical fourth down play inside Gator territory. Kicker Chris Hetland continued to struggle, missing a 28 yard field goal. He did, however, kick a 22 yard field goal. Defensive lineman Jarvis Moss blocked an extra point and two field goals to ensure a Gator victory.

Western Carolina

Pregame Line: Florida -48

The third ranked Gators had little trouble disposing of lowly 1-AA Western Carolina. Chris Leak, who played in his final game at The Swamp, played in the first half, going 9-12 for 98 yards and one touchdown. Freshman sensation Tim Tebow took over for the majority of the second half, going 10-12 passing, for 200 yards, and two touchdowns. Tebow added two touchdowns rushing along with 47 yards. The Gators used the game to give young players some playing time. A slough of freshman played, including Jarred Fayson, who saw time at quarterback and wide receiver. Riley Cooper, yet another freshman, added three receiving touchdowns in the game. Perhaps the most impressive freshman on the day however, was Mon Williams, who rushed for 97 yards on only 9 carries. Brandon James also added a 77 yard touchdown from a punt return. Overall, the Gators finished with more points(62) than the Catamounts had yards(59).

Florida State

Pregame Line: Florida -9.5
Chris Leak

Chris Leak

threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns, Percy Harvin ran for a score and the fourth-ranked Gators beat struggling Florida State 21-14 on Saturday to stay in the national title hunt.

Florida (11-1) won its third straight against Florida State and improved to 6-0 against its three main rivals — Tennessee

2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2006–2007. Tennessee entered the 2006 season coming off an 5–6 record in 2005...

, Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs football

The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...

and Florida State

2006 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2006 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2006 college football season. Florida State entered the 2006 season as the defending ACC Champion, coming off an 8-5 record in 2005...

— in Meyer's two seasons.

The victory did not help much in the Bowl Championship Series standings, leaving the Gators looking for assistance to get to the title game, which would come the following weekend.

Arkansas (SEC Championship Game)

The fourth ranked Gators took on the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2006 SEC Championship Game

SEC Championship Game

. Both teams were looking to end their respective SEC Championship droughts, with Florida having not won the title since 2000, and the Razorbacks losing in their previous two title game appearances. The Gators came into the game favored by three points. Both teams traded three and outs before Florida exploded in the second quarter. Up 3-0, Chris Leak

Chris Leak

was called for a rare quarterback draw which he converted by fighting into the endzone, giving the Gators a 10-0 lead. On the next Florida drive, Leak found game MVP Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin

William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...

on a perfectly thrown 37-yard touchdown pass. However, the Razorbacks came back with a touchdown of their own. Razorbacks quarterback Casey Dick, who had struggled mightily in the past few games, threw a perfect pass to Marcus Monk who caught the pass for a 47-yard touchdown. The Gators led 17-7 heading into the half.

At half time, in a stunning development, the second ranked USC Trojans

USC Trojans

The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...

lost in a shocking upset to rival UCLA. With this turn of events, Florida could give themselves a strong chance to overtake No. 2 Michigan and play in the BCS National Championship Game with a win. However, Arkansas came out firing in the second half. Using the unusual "Wildcat Formation", All American tailback Darren McFadden threw a quick two yard touchdown to fellow tailback Felix Jones. 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 21-17 lead. Florida regained the ball, but was stuffed by the Arkansas defense. Coach Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer

Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

decided to run a fake punt on his own 15-yard line, which proved to be a good call, as receiver Jemalle Cornelius scampered for a 16-yard gain. Even with this swing of momentum, the Gators were unable to capitalize and elected to punt from midfield. The momentum changed yet again, this time in Florida's favor. Punt returner Reggie Fish muffed the punt after trying to field it over his shoulder; the ball was recovered in the endzone by freshman Wondy Pierre-Louis, giving the Gators a 24-21 lead.

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

BCS National Championship Game

The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...

. Explosive freshman Percy Harvin gave Florida a ten point lead when he bolted through the Arkansas defense for a 67-yard touchdown. 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.

Knowing the field goal lead wouldn't be enough, the Gators came out firing on their offensive series. Florida drove to the Arkansas five yard line, when freshman sensation Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

came into the game. Tebow appeared to be running yet again, but pitched the ball to wide receiver Andre Caldwell

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.

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.

Ohio State (BCS Championship Game)

The Florida Gators

Florida Gators

The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...

ended their season with a stunning 41-14 upset of the number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...

, giving them the school's second national championship in ten years. The national championship win also gives the University of Florida

University of Florida

the distinction of being the only school to ever hold both the men's basketball national championship and football championship simultaneously.

The game did not start well for the Gators however. Florida won the toss and elected to defer the option to the second half, giving Ohio State the ball first. 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 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game. However, Ginn injured his foot celebrating the touchdown, leaving the Buckeyes without his deep threat for the rest of the game.

Coach Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer

Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

, who was coaching in his first national championship game, took a timeout to compose his team after the inauspicious start. It appeared to work, as senior Chris Leak went 5-5 on the first drive of the game. Leak found three different receivers on the drive, which culminated with a lob pass to fellow senior Dallas Baker

Dallas Baker

Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...

.

The Buckeyes then got their first offensive possession of the game. Led by Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith

Troy Smith

Troy James Smith is an American football quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.Smith has also played for the San Francisco 49ers. He...

, the Buckeye offense was widely considered to be the best offense in college football. The Gators, however, had one of the top defenses in the nation. The Gators blitzed Smith a number of times on the first drive, leading to a three and out, forcing Ohio State to punt.

Florida had great field position, following a personal foul penalty on Ohio State. Chris Leak led the Gators back on the field, starting from the Ohio State 35 yard line. Florida again used a variety of offensive looks to keep the Ohio State defense off balance, which also included using freshman phenom Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

as a power rusher. On second down and goal, from the Ohio State four yard line, Florida ran an option play, in which Chris Leak pitched the ball to freshman star Percy Harvin who fought his way in for a four yard touchdown. Harvin appeared to be down at the one yard line, but after further review, it was determined that Harvin did reach the endzone. The score gave the Gators a surprising 14-7 lead.

The Buckeyes came back on their next possession, trailing by a touchdown. Still, the Gator defense managed to put quarterback Troy Smith under heavy pressure. On third down, following a sack, the Gators blitzed, hit Smith as he threw the ball, and cornerback Reggie Lewis intercepted the pass.

Following the interception, the Gators continued to use unorthodox formations and plays to keep Ohio State off balance. Chris Leak remained extremely sharp, going four of five passing on the drive, for 44 yards. On the Ohio State 7 yard line, Tim Tebow came into the game and powered his way to the Buckeye 2 yard line. On the following play, running back DeShawn Wynn

DeShawn Wynn

rumbled in for a two yard touchdown, giving the Gators a stunning 21-7 lead.

The Buckeyes however, remained composed. Using their power running game, and a 13 yard scramble from Troy Smith, the Buckeyes drove to the Gators' 18 yard line. 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.

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. Troy Smith and the Buckeyes marched back on the field, hoping to tie the game. However, Florida's stifling defensive line continued to put heavy pressure on Smith, forcing bad throws and incompletions, ultimately leading to a three and out.

The Gators got the football back, hoping to restore their two touchdown lead. Florida did move the ball successfully, but was unable to move the ball inside the redzone. Much to the displeasure of many Gator fans, Florida elected to send kicker Chris Hetland on to attempt a 40 yard field goal. Hetland had missed 9 of 13 attempts on the season, but split the uprights, giving the Gators a 24-14 lead.

Ohio State was now in a deep hole, trailing by ten with 6 minutes to go in the half. The Buckeyes attempted to establish a power running game with Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells, but the Gator defense was up to the task. 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. The decision backfired, and Chris Wells was stopped short of the first down, giving the Gators great field position.

With the swing in momentum, the Gators were again unable to score a touchdown and settled for another Chris Hetland 40 yard field goal, pushing the Gator lead to 27-14. The game changed for good, on the next Ohio State possession. Under extreme pressure yet again, Troy 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. Defensive game MVP Derrick Harvey recovered the fumble and returned it for 9 yards, to the Ohio State five yard line. After two Tim Tebow runs up the middle, Florida faced a third down and goal on the Ohio State one yard line. Florida used a timeout to draw up a play for Tebow, who remained in the game. 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

Andre Caldwell

. This score gave the Gators a shocking 34-14 halftime lead.

Leading 34-14 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. The Gator defense, however, remained their brilliant play, in suffocating Troy Smith and pressuring him relentlessly and forcing him into bad decisions. The teams traded three and outs, and punts, throughout the third quarter, which gave the Gators a 20 point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Fifteen minutes from a national championship, the Gators were determined not to have a defensive lapse, like many had so often seen under former coach Ron Zook

Ron Zook

Ron Zook is a former American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Florida from 2002 to 2004 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2005 to 2011. Zook is a native of Ohio and an alumnus of Miami University, where he...

. The Gators again continued their relentless pressure on Troy Smith, sacking him several times, and pressuring him into bad throws.

On their next offensive possession, the Gators were determined to put the game out of reach. Urban Meyer again used a balanced attack of rushing and passing to drive the Gators down to the Ohio State one yard line. Faced with a fourth and 1 on the Ohio State 1 yard line, many fans knew what was coming. Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

was again brought into the game and powered his way off the right side for a touchdown, giving the Gators a commanding 41–14 lead.

Troy Smith continued to have the worst game of his Buckeye career, as he was sacked for a 14 yard loss on the drive, putting Ohio State into a 3rd and 29 hole. Ohio State ran a draw play on 3rd down, and punted on the following play.

With 8 minutes remaining in the game, the Gators were determined to end the game and give the school a national championship. DeShawn Wynn

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. However, Wynn was stopped on a 3rd and 8 play, for only 2 yards. Coach Urban Meyer elected to go for it, and Chris Leak passed to Percy Harvin, who barely made the first down. Knowing this had sealed the win, Meyer began pumping his fist, and gesturing the Florida crowd to get noisy. Chris Leak took a final knee on fourth down, ending his illustrious career as a Gator on top of the college football world. Leak would later be named the game's most valuable player.

Scores by quarter

Depth chart

{| style="w>dth:100%"
|+
| align="left" |

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! WR

Wide receiver

A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

!! WR

Wide receiver

|-
| Jemalle Cornelius

Jemalle Cornelius

Andre Caldwell

>-
| Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin

William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...

|

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:cent>r"
! LT !! LG

Guard (American football)

In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....

!! C

Center (American football)

Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...

!! RG

Guard (American football)

In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....

!! RT
|-
| Phil Trautwein

Ronnie Wilson

Steve Rissler

Drew Miller

Carlton Medder

Carlton Kabaka Medder is a Canadian football guard for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2008...

>-
| Jim Tartt

Maurice Hurt

Eddie Haupt

Simon Codrington

{| style="w>dth:100%"
|+
| align="left" |

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! CB

Cornerback

A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...

|-
| Reggie Lewis
|-
| Markihe Anderson
|}

| align="center" |

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! DE

Defensive end

Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...

!! DT !! DT !! DE

Defensive end

|-
| Derrick Harvey

Derrick Harvey

Ray McDonald

Raymondo Antoine "Ray" McDonald is an American professional football player who is a defensive end in the National Football League . McDonald played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.- Early years...

Steven Harris

Steven Harris (defensive tackle)

Steven Harris is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League for a single season in 2007...

Jarvis Moss

Jarvis Jaray Moss is an American football defensive end for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . Moss was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Florida Gators.-High school career:Moss was born in Denton, Texas...

>-
| Ray McDonald

Ray McDonald

Joe Cohen

Joe Cohen is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League . Cohen played college football for the University of Florida, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...

Javier Estopiñan
| align="right" |

{| class="wi>itable" style="text-align:center"
! CB

Cornerback

|-
| Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith (American football)

|-
| Tremaine McCollum
|}

|-
| align="right" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! FS

Defensive back

In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...

|-
| Reggie Nelson

Reggie Nelson

Reggie Nelson is an American professional football player who is a safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League...

|-
| Kyle Jackson
|}

| align="center" |

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Will LB

Linebacker

A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...

!! Middle LB

Linebacker

!! Sam LB

Linebacker

|-
| Earl Everett

Earl Everett

Earl Everett is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Florida....

Brandon Siler >-
| Ryan Stamper Brandon Spikes

Brandon Spikes

-2010 season:Spikes was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract on July 26, 2010. Spikes quickly became a starter at inside linebacker in the Patriots 3–4 defense, alongside Jerod Mayo. Against Baltimore in Week 6 of his rookie...

Pre-season Unofficial Depth Chart: http://www.gatorzone.com/football/media/2006/pdf/42.pdf

Roster

2006 Florida Gators roster

Quarterbacks

3 Michael Guilford - Freshman
4 Matt Anderson - Freshman
12 Chris Leak - Senior
14 Andrew Blaylock - Freshman
15 Tim Tebow - Freshman
16 Butch Rowley -
Sophomore

Running Backs

2 Markus Manson -
Sophomore
21 DeShawn Wynn -
Senior
25 Brandon James - Freshman
27 Mon Williams - Freshman
28 Chevon Walker - Freshman
33 Kestahn Moore - Sophomore

H-Backs

29 Eric Rutledge - Junior
42 Billy Latsko -
Senior

Fullbacks

45 Bo Howard - Freshman
49 David Baker -
Freshman

Wide Receivers

5 Andre Caldwell -
Junior
6 Jamalle Cornelius-
Senior
8 Percy Harvin - Freshman
9 Kenneth Tookes -
Senior
11 Jarred Fayson - Freshman
17 Nyan Boateng - Sophomore
23 Cade Holliday -
Freshman
37 Tim Higgins - Senior
39 Joey Sorrentino -
Freshman
81 Dallas Baker -
Senior
82 Louis Murphy - Sophomore
83 David Nelson -
Freshman
86 Riley Cooper - Freshman
87 Justin Williams - Freshman
88 Cam Brewer - Sophomore

Tight Ends

7 Cornelius Ingram -
Sophomore
80 Trent Pupello - Freshman
84 Tate Casey - Junior
89 Derek Baldry -
Sophomore

Offensive Line

57 Carl Johnson - Freshman
63 Jim Tartt -
Sophomore
64 Kyle Newell -
Freshman
65 Brad Heirs -
Freshman
67 Drew Miller - Junior
68 Jim Barrie -
Freshman
69 Eddie Haupt -
Freshman
70 Ronnie Wilson -
Freshman
71 Corey Hobbs - Freshman
73 Carlton Medder -
Junior
74 Maurice Hurt - Freshman
75 Phil Trautwein - Junior
76 Marcus Gilbert
Marcus Gilbert (American football)
-Professional career:Gilbert was drafted 63rd overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the first Florida player at his position to be drafted since Max Starks was a third-round selection by Pittsburgh in 2004. Gilbert joined former Florida center Maurkice Pouncey, who was...

- Freshman
77 Jason Watkins -
Sophomore
78 Simon Codrington -
Freshman
79 Steve Rissler - Senior

Defensive Line

20 Joe Cohen - Senior
47 Brandon Antwine - Freshman
48 Javier Estopiñan -
Sophomore
49 Jermaine Cunningham - Freshman
52 Darryl Gresham Jr. -
Freshman
59 John Fairbanks - Freshman
61 Vernon Shelton -
Sophomore
90 Lawrence Marsh - Freshman
91 Derrick Harvey -
Sophomore
92 Terron Sanders - Freshman
93 Steven Harris -
Senior
94 Jarvis Moss -
Junior
95 Ray McDonald -
Senior
98 Clint McMillan -
Junior
99 Lutrell Alford - Junior

Linebackers

13 Brian Crum -
Senior
16 A.J. Jones - Freshman
30 Earl Everett - Senior
32 Dustin Doe - Freshman
35 Eric Sledge -
Freshman
40 Brandon Siler - Junior
41 Ryan Stamper -
Freshman
50 Chris Pintado - Freshman
51 Brandon Spikes - Freshman
53 Jamaal Deveaux -
Freshman
54 Roderick Blackett -
Freshman
55 Jon Demps - Sophomore
56 Darryon Robinson - Senior

Defensive Backs

1 Reggie Nelson - Junior
27 Telly Concepcion -
Sophomore
42 Miguel Carodine - Freshman

Cornerbacks

4 Wondy Pierre-Louis - Freshman
18 Tremaine McCollum -
Senior
22 Reggie Lewis -
Senior
23 Jacques Rickerson - Freshman
26 Jermaine McCollum -
Senior
28 Ryan Smith - Junior
33 Moise Paul -
Junior
34 Lamont Sheppard -
Sophomore
36 Nick Brooks -
Senior
37 Markihe Anderson - Freshman

Safeties

3 Kyle Jackson - Junior
7 Jamar Hornsby - Freshman
12 Cody Worton - Freshman
17 Curtis Carr - Sophomore
19 Tony Joiner - Junior
24 John Curtis -
Sophomore
31 Bryan Thomas - Freshman
34 Dorian Munroe -
Freshman

Punters

10 Eric Wilbur - Senior

Kickers

14 Eric Nappy -
Senior
38 Jonathan Phillips - Sophomore
39 Chris Hetland -
Senior
85 Andrew Fritze -
Freshman
92 Bobby Kane -
Freshman
98 Joey Ijjas -
Junior

Long Snappers

16 Butch Rowley -
Sophomore
43 James Smith -
Sophomore
58 Mike Williamson -
Freshman

Coaching staff

Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...

- Head Coach - 1 year at UF
Steve Addazio
Steve Addazio
Steve Addazio is an American college football coach and former player, and is head coach of the Temple Owls football team that represents Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...

- Tackles/Tight Ends - 1 year
Stan Drayton
Stan Drayton
-Biography:Drayton was born on March 11, 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Allegheny College where he played running back on the football team. Drayton is married to Monique Fuller and has two children.-Career:...

- Running Backs - 1 year
Billy Gonzales - Wide Receivers - 1 year
Chuck Heater
Chuck Heater
Chuck Heater is an American football coach and former player. He was a running back for the University of Michigan from 1972 to 1974 and finished his playing career as the fifth all time leading rusher in Michigan Wolverines football history. Heater has been an assistant football coach at ten...

- Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks - 1 year
John Hevesy - Centers/Guards - 1 year
John "Doc" Holliday - Associate Head Coach/Safeties - 1 year
Greg Mattison
Greg Mattison
Greg Mattison is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He is the current defensive coordinator for the University of Michigan football team....

- Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line - 1 year
Dan Mullen
Dan Mullen
-External links:** on Bulldog Junction's website* article on Coach Mullen as new MSU head coach* Dan Mullen goes from Trinity star QB to Mississippi State head coach...

- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks - 1 year
Charlie Strong
Charlie Strong
Charlie R. Strong is an American college football coach and former player. Strong is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where he played college football...

- Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers - 6 years

Team statistics

	UF	OPP
class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;">
Scoring	416	189
Points per Game	29.7	13.5
First Downs	285	216
Rushing	117	81
Passing	152	114
Penalty	16	21
Total Offense	5545	3576
Avg per Play	6.3	4.3
Avg per Game	396.1	255.4
Fumbles-Lost	25-10	21-8
Penalties-Yards	116-888	81-595
Avg per Game	63.4	42.5

class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;"> UF OPP Punts-Yards 55-2244 77-2904 Avg per Punt 40.8 37.7 Time of Possession/Game 31:08 28:49 3rd Down Conversions 74/167 61/186 4th Down Conversions 9/18 6/18 Touchdowns Scored 57 23 Field Goals-Attempts 6-15 10-19 PAT-Attempts 50-54 19-20 Attendance 632866 316000 Games/Avg per Game 7/90409 4/79000 Neutral Site Games 3/77525

Scores by quarter

Rushing

Name	#	GP	Att	Gain	Loss	Net	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Wynn, D.	21	14	143	721	22	699	4.9	6	26	49.9
Tebow, T.	15	14	89	478	9	469	5.3	8	29	33.5
Harvin, P.	8	13	41	437	9	428	10.4	3	67	32.9
Moore, K.	33	14	54	289	7	282	5.2	2	28	20.1
Fayson, J.	11	13	14	126	0	126	9.0	1	27	9.7
Caldwell, A.	5	14	21	126	24	102	4.9	1	27	7.3
Williams, M.	27	8	13	101	0	101	7.8	0	25	12.6
Leak, C.	12	14	77	238	208	30	0.4	3	45	2.1
Cornelius, J.	7	14	4	27	7	20	5.0	0	17	1.4
Manson, M.	2	12	4	17	2	15	3.8	0	9	1.2
Rowley, B.	16	14	1	3	0	3	3.0	0	3	0.2
James, B.	25	13	3	4	3	1	0.3	0	4	0.1
Higgins, T.	37	1	1	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0
Wilbur, E.	10	13	1	0	2	-2	-2.0	0	0	-0.2
Team Total		14	476	2567	327	2240	4.7	24	67	160.0

Passing

Name	#	GP	Effic	Cmp-Atm-Int	Pct	Yds	TD	Lng	Avg/G
Leak, C.	12	14	144.94	232-365-13	63.6	2942	22	66	210.1
Tebow, T.	15	14	201.73	22-33-1	66.7	358	4	55	25.6
Caldwell, A.	5	14	472.00	1-1-0	100.0	5	1	5	0.4
Team Total		14	150.46	255-399-14	63.9	3305	29	66	236.1

Receiving

Name	#	GP	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Baker, D.	81	14	60	920	15.3	10	33	65.7
Caldwell, A.	5	14	57	577	10.1	6	66	41.2
Cornelius, J.	6	14	34	523	15.4	3	34	37.4
Harvin, P.	8	13	34	427	12.6	2	58	32.8
Ingram, C.	7	14	30	380	12.7	1	38	27.1
Moore, K.	33	14	8	58	7.2	1	16	4.1
Casey, T.	84	14	6	58	9.7	2	22	4.1
Wynn, D.	21	14	6	58	9.7	0	15	4.1
Nelson, D.	83	4	5	76	15.2	0	23	19.0
Cooper, R.	86	13	4	92	23.0	3	55	7.1
Tookes, K.	9	13	4	55	13.8	0	20	4.2
Latsko, B.	42	14	4	38	9.5	0	18	2.7
Murphy, L.	82	12	2	42	21.0	1	35	3.5
Fayson, J.	11	13	1	1	1.0	0	9	0.1
Total		14	255	3305	13.0	29	66	236.1

Defense

Name	#	GP	Tackles				Sacks	Pass Defense				Fumbles
	#	GP	Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	No-Yds	BrUp	QBH	Int.-Yds	TD	Rcv-Yds	FF	Blkd Kick	Saf

Everett, E.	30	13	50	35	85	6.0-11	1.0-5	2	4
Siler, B.	40	13	50	27	77	10.0-40	3.0-21	3	3			1-0	1
Joiner, T.	19	14	31	28	59	4.5-9		6		2-0			1		1
Moss, J.	94	13	42	14	56	11.0-68	7.5-60	4	12				4	2
Smith, R.	28	14	43	11	54	3.5-11		8		8-44				2
Nelson, R.	1	14	34	17	51	2.0-6		5		6-70	1	1-0		2
McDonald, R.	95	14	19	17	36	4.5-16	3.0-15	5	2			1-9 1TD		1
Harvey, D.	91	14	24	11	35	13.0-95	11.0-89		8			3-9	1
Crum, B.	13	14	13	18	31	3.0-7	0.5-4	1	1
Lewis, R.	22	14	18	9	27	1.5-3		6	1	4-35
McCollum, T.	18	14	16	10	26			1	1	1-1
Cohen, J.	20	14	10	16	26	2.0-11	0.5-8	1	1				1
Thomas, M.	44	5	13	13	26	5.5-32	4.0-31	1
Doe, D.	32	14	14	8	22	1.0-1
Munroe, D.	34	14	11	5	16	1.0-2
Spikes, B.	51	9	9	6	15	1.0-2		2
Harris, S.	93	13	6	9	15	4.5-17	1.5-11	2
Brooks, N.	36	14	8	5	13
Jackson, K.	3	14	7	4	11
Smith, J.	43	14	5	3	8
Anderson, M.	37	13	7	1	8			1
McCollum, J.	26	13	4	4	8										1
Pierre-Louis, W.	4	12	3	4	7							1-0 1TD
Estopinan, J.	48	6	1	4	5				1
Antwine, B.	47	8	1	3	4			1
Curtis, J.	24	6	2	2	4			1
Stamper, R.	41	2	3	1	4	1.0-2
Cooper, R.	86	13	2	2	4								1
Blackett, R.	54	10	3	1	4
Robinson, D.	56	13	2	1	3	1.0-1
Alford, L.	99	10	3		3	2.0-9	1.0-6					1-0
Murphy, L.	82	12	3		3
Phillips, J.	38	4	1	1	2
Williams, M.	27	8		2	2
Fritze, A.	85	3	2		2
Ijjas, J.	98	12	1	1	2
Cunningham, J.	49	7	2		2
McMillan, C.	98	14	1	1	2	1.0-8	1.0-8
Miller, D.	67	14	1		1
Gresham, D.	52	1		1	1
Leak, C.	12	14	1		1
Brewer, C.	88	1	1		1
Fayson, J.	11	13	1		1									1
Rissler, S.	79	14	1		1
Harvin, P.	8	13	1		1
Baker, D.	81	14	1		1
Total		14	472	295	767	79-351	34-258	50	34	21-150	1	8-18 2TD	9	8	2

Kicking

Name	#	Punting								Kicking
Name	#	No.	Yds	Avg	Long	TB	FC	I20	Blkd	No.	Yds	Avg	TB	OB	FG	XP
Wilbur, E.	10	53	2244	42.3	64	5	12	22	1
Ijjas, J.	98									65	3755	57.8	11	2
Phillips, J.	38									13	770	59.2	2	0		5-5
Hetland, C.	39														6-15	43-45
Nappy, E.	14															2-4
Total		55	2244	40.8	64	5	12	22	2	78	4525	58.0	13	2	6-15	50-54

Returns

Name	#	Punt Returns					Kick Returns
Name	#	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
James, B.	25	33	363	11.0	1	77	21	383	18.2	0	38
Nelson, R.	1	12	93	7.8	0	21
Fayson, J.	11	3	30	10.0	0	16
Smith, R.	28	1	13	13.0	0	13
Moore, K.	33						4	63	15.8	0	26
Cornelius, J.	6						1	9	9.0	0	9
Total		49	499	10.2	1	77	26	455	17.5	0	38

Statistics as of Jan 31, 2007 http://gatorzone.com/football/history/2006/team.pdf

External links

College Football Data Warehouse, Florida Yearly Results: 2005–2010. Retrieved August 23, 2011.

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Ten-year national championship anniversary

Pre-season

Schedule and results

Associated Press All-SEC

Coaches All-SEC

AP All-America

First round draft picks

Southern Miss

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Tennessee

Kentucky

Alabama

LSU

Auburn

Georgia

Vanderbilt

South Carolina

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Ohio State (BCS Championship Game)

Scores by quarter

Depth chart

Roster

Coaching staff

Team statistics

Scores by quarter

Rushing

Passing

Receiving

Defense

Kicking

Returns

See also

External links