College Football 2011: 5 Facts You May Not Know About New Florida Coaching Staff

There is a lot that is going to be new about the 2011 Florida Gators.

New coaching staff. New offensive system. New leaders on the field.

Before UF kicks off its season on Sept. 3 against visiting Florida Atlantic, there is a lot to learn about these Gators.

Here are five facts about the new coaching staff you might not know.

1. Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Dan Quinn was a four-time letter winner and two-time co-captain at Salisbury (Md.) State. He also lettered in track and held the school record for the hammer throw when he departed. Salisbury State inducted Quinn into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

2. Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Frank Verducci has a tie to an all-time Gator great. Verducci was on the Dallas Cowboys' staff as the offensive line coach in 2002, the year Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time rushing leader.

3. In the spring of 2008, Charlie Weis, UF's new offensive coordinator, traveled to the Middle East with a group of college football coaches who were visiting U.S. soldiers stationed in the region.

4. Two members of the staff are Miami natives. Defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson played prep football for Coral Park High School before signing a national letter of intent with Auburn, and receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill played for Carol City High School before signing on to play for the Gators. Hill and Robinson will be utilized in a major way to help UF gain a strong foothold in south Florida, which traditionally produces some of the nation's best talent.

5. In the history of the San Francisco 49ers, only Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice has made more starts than new Gator defensive line coach Bryant Young. Rice started 224 games for the 49ers, while Young, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, started 208.