Gator Football Ring of Honor
Encyclopedia
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 coaches who have contributed greatly to the Florida Gators football
team. It was created in 2006
in commemoration of 100 years of Florida Football and was unveiled before the kickoff of the Alabama
game that season. The four initial inductees to the Ring of Honor
were Emmitt Smith
, Steve Spurrier
, Danny Wuerffel
, and Jack Youngblood
.
For 2007, the University of Florida Athletic Association
announced that former Gator and NFL Pro Bowl
linebacker
, Wilber Marshall
would be the next inductee. The ceremony for that induction took place before the September 29, 2007 Florida-Auburn
football game.
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To be considered for induction into the Ring of Honor, a person must have been removed from UF for five seasons, be in good standing with the University, and meet at least one of the following criteria:
Two other individuals have met all of the criteria for induction except for not having been five seasons removed from Florida:
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...
, displaying the names of the players and coaches who have contributed greatly to the Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team. It was created in 2006
2006 Florida Gators football team
The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season...
in commemoration of 100 years of Florida Football and was unveiled before the kickoff of the Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
game that season. The four initial inductees to the Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor (disambiguation)
Ring of Honor is an independent professional wrestling promotion.Ring of Honor can also refer to:*Ring of Honor Wrestling, the primary television show of the Ring of Honor promotion*Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor...
were 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
.
For 2007, the University of Florida Athletic Association
University of Florida Athletic Association
The University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...
announced that former Gator and NFL Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
linebacker
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...
, Wilber Marshall
Wilber Marshall
Wilber Buddyhia Marshall is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s...
would be the next inductee. The ceremony for that induction took place before the September 29, 2007 Florida-Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
football game.
Criteria to merit consideration
- Heisman Trophy Winners (Steve SpurrierSteve SpurrierStephen 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...
, Danny WuerffelDanny WuerffelDaniel 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...
) - Former UF All-Americans Inducted into Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
for Accomplishments as Players (Jack YoungbloodJack YoungbloodHerbert 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...
, Emmitt SmithEmmitt SmithEmmitt 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...
) - Former UF All-Americans Who Are NFL Career Category Leaders (Emmitt SmithEmmitt SmithEmmitt 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...
– rushing) - Collegiate Career Category Leaders
- Coaches with at least 1 National ChampionshipNCAA Division I FBS National Football ChampionshipA college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
(Steve SpurrierSteve SpurrierStephen 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...
) - Coaches with at least 3 SEC Championships (Steve SpurrierSteve SpurrierStephen 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...
) - Players with 2 or more consensus All-American honors (AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, AFCA, FWAA, UPI) who have also been named National Offensive/Defensive Players of Year (AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, ABC, AFCA, FWAA, UPI) (Wilber MarshallWilber MarshallWilber Buddyhia Marshall is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s...
)
Two other individuals have met all of the criteria for induction except for not having been five seasons removed from Florida:
- Tim TebowTim TebowTimothy 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...
– 20082008 NCAA Division I FBS football seasonThe 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
Heisman Trophy winner; final season at Florida was 20092009 Florida Gators football teamThe 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season... - Urban MeyerUrban MeyerUrban 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...
– Coached the Gators to national titles in 2006 and 2008; final season at Florida was 20102010 Florida Gators football teamThe 2010 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2010 college football season...
Inductees
| Name | Years at UF | Year of Induction |
| 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... |
1987–1989 | 2006 |
| 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... |
1963–19661990–2001* | 2006 |
| 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... |
1993–1996 | 2006 |
| 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... |
1967–1970 | 2006 |
| Wilber Marshall Wilber Marshall Wilber Buddyhia Marshall is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s... |
1980–1983 | 2007 |
* As head coach
External links
- Ring of Honor – Qualifications and history at GatorZone.com.