The Rise Of Gator Nation

It seems like just this past weekend I was riding out of Tallahassee with a grin on my face (Florida had just upset No.8 Florida State and broke the nearly two decade streak in Doak Campbell Stadium). This was a very exciting moment, but one of the few during the Ron Zook era at Florida. This game, was Ron Zook's final game, and sure I, along with the rest of Gator Nation was happy for a change, but unsure of the future. I recently took time to reflect on where we have been, and where we are now, as Gator Nation.

Looking back through some old tapes last week I came across what I would normally consider a tape to be "taped over." When I turned it on, Miami had just came back from a 33-10 deficit to score 28 unanswered. Very disheartening to say the least, but upon further reflection, and my stumble across a few more tapes (03 LSU game, 03 Georgia, 04 Florida State) from the Zook era (02-04) I have come to appreciate this time period.

That three year era sit's in the middle of probably the best twenty year's of Florida Football. In these last twenty years Florida has produced 7 SEC titles, (91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 00, 06) 2 National Titles, (96, 06) 3 Heisman Winners (Spurrier, Wuerffel, Tebow) and 2 of the best coaches in the SEC and Nation (Spurrier & Meyer). Though Zook’s era may seem as a rough spot it’s really more of a time period we all grew stronger. 

Before Zook, Steve Spurrier led arguably one of the best 12 year spans in college football. Like him or not, he was and still is one of the top coaches in the SEC and Nation. An impressive stat other than his days at Florida included a 1989 ACC title with Duke. Spurrier, under his reign at Florida from 1990-2001, led the Gators to 6 SEC titles, along with the 1996 National Title. He also accumulated a gaudy record of 122-27-1 at Florida.

He was also quite the player at the University of Florida, winning 1 of only 3 Heisman Trophies in program history in 1966. He is the only coach in NCAA history to have won a Heisman Trophy, as well as to coach a Heisman winner (Danny Wuerffel 1996). Steve's name sits atop Ben Hill Griffin Stadium today, in the ring of honor, and even though he's not tossing his visor across the sidelines, and running up the score each Saturday, he will forever be "The ole ball coach."

Coincidentally, just three weeks ago Steve lost by the worst margin in his coaching career, to the new coach in Gainesville, Urban Meyer. Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks got humiliated (56-6) in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Who would have ever of thought Steve would have lost by “Half a Hundred” in the place he was so dominant and also the place he dubbed “The Swamp?” This obviously is just another reminder of how things have changed.

Urban Meyer is now in his fourth year at Gainesville, and is 3-1 against Spurrier, and has won an SEC & National title, as well as being on the verge of another this weekend. Urban Meyer began his head coaching career in 2001 at Bowling green, where he lead the Falcons to 17 wins in two years. In 2003, he took over at Utah, where in his second season led the Utes to an undefeated season. After Zook was fired at the end of the 2004 season, Urban Meyer accepted the job at the University of Florida, in his 4 years at Gainesville; the Gators are 42-9 at this point. His ability to turn around programs has made him one of the premier coaches in the NCAA.

Meyer just coached a Heisman winning quarterback quarterback himself, Tim Tebow. Tebow won the Heisman trophy last year and is in the top 3 again this year. Tebow, already arguably the best quarterback in Florida history, could possibly end up with 3 Heisman trophies and 3 BCS title trophies if the ball bounces right.

There's no doubt that Florida is on a current rise. The football program is now enticing the best talent in the nation. Urban Meyer, along with his staff have molded this program to excellence. It’s crazy to think that just yesterday Florida was coming off a 7-5 season, and now possibly being selected for a second BCS title berth in three years. All was thought lost at the end of the 2001 season, but now things seem to be back to normal.

Tonight at a gas station in Geneva, Alabama the cashier ran out the door (after seeing my Florida hat) and loudly screamed across the parking lot, “Go Gators!” to me, in front of a load of Alabama fans. It just goes to show how much pride there is to be a Gator again. It's amazing to observe the intensity, the pride, and the confidence we all share again. Florida is once again viewed as the pinnacle of success. Through this reflection, I believe I've learned to appreciate every game, every player, every coach, and every moment we pridefully share as Gator Nation.