100. UF dubbed "The Alligators"
October 25, 1911
UF students weren't fortunate enough to have access to a daily newspaper in 1911, but instead the student body settled for the monthly Florida Pennant, the Alligator's predecessor. The December 1911 issue recaps each football game from the 1911 season, including the infamous 6-5 win against Clemson.
From the Pennant: "It was on the South Carolina trip that the Florida team was dubbed the 'Alligators,' and the battle that took place in South Carolina on this Wednesday afternoon between the Clemson Tigers and Florida Alligators is one long to be remembered!"
The Alligators finished the season 6-0-1, led by quarterback Earle "Dummy" Taylor, an early advocate of the new "forward pass."
The Pennant story doesn't explain why UF was named the Alligators, but UF historian Carl Van Ness wrote a compelling article about the naming.
Van Ness says in all likelihood, UF was named the Alligators after a club started by center Neal Storter. Storter, who came from a remote location in the Everglades, was nicknamed Bo Gator by the Pennant and soon the popular Bo Gator Club came into existence.
The 1910 UF yearbook made numerous references to the Gators, and it was only natural for the football team to adapt the nickname.
99. Football debut
October 27, 1906
The Gators' 6-0 win over Rollins is considered the first official game in school history.
Now, more than 100 years later it's safe to say starting a football program was a good idea. James Forsythe only coached the Gators for two more seasons, but UF never played more than eight games. Forsythe went 14-6-2 in his three seasons.
98. Lowe's shining moment
February 16, 2006
Senior guard Sarah Lowe stepped to the line with her shot at history.
The clock had 3 seconds left on it, and UF and LSU had already needed more than the 40 regulation minutes to decide a winner. The Gators trailed 78-77, and Lowe had just being fouled by Augustus. Two shots to earn probably the biggest win in program history? No problem.
On Senior Day, the Gators shocked the women's college basketball world by upending No. 2 LSU and National Player of the Year Seimone Augustus 79-78.
After the game Lowe sat silently in the postgame press conference blowing bluish-green bubbles.
"There was no doubt in my mind I was going to [make] it," said Lowe, who had 17 points." I just walked up there like it was just shooting a free throw in practice. I had to put myself in a different place and just not even worry about the score."
Then, 10 days later, in what's the greatest regular season week in UF women's basketball history, the Gators shocked the world again at Tennessee 95-93 - in overtime yet again.
However, those close games didn't translate into the postseason as the fifth-seeded Gators were thrashed 83-59 by New Mexico in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
97. Swindle in the Swamp
November 30, 2003
Bobby Bowden called it the best UF-FSU game of his tenure, and this is a man who was on the right end of The Choke at Doak. UF players, coaches and fans called it a nightmare.
Not only did the Gators watch Chris Rix connect with Dominic Robinson for an improbable fourth-and-14 first down, but moments later Rix found P.K. Sam for a 52-yard touchdown, giving FSU a 38-34 win.
Controversial referee calls "all going FSU's way " marred the outcome, leaving UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley to question the use of all-ACC refs.
96. In or Out? FSU's Lane Fenner denied
October 8, 1966
Nearly 40 years later, FSU still hasn't forgotten the controversial ruling that gave UF a 22-19 victory against the Seminoles. To this day, it's considered a FSU victory in the Seminoles media guide.
With 17 seconds remaining at Doak Campbell Stadium, FSU receiver Lane Fenner apparently caught the touchdown that would have likely propelled the Seminoles to victory.
But the referee ruled Fenner out-of-bounds, prompting a riot in Tallahassee and jubilation in the UF locker room.
On Sunday, photos in both the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune appeared to show Fenner in bounds.
In what seems to be a rare case of Alligator favoritism, photographer Carson Johntry was allowed to write a column stating that Fenner was indeed out-of-bounds. Johntry claimed he clearly saw Fenner land out-of-bounds, but his film was exposed, making it unable to develop.
A photographer writing a column? A riot in Tallahassee? Call it a classic moment.
95. A dominant SEC-title run
February 22, 1985
Even the football and men's basketball squads hope to have success like this. From 1981-1985, the UF gymnastics squad won the Southeastern Conference title every season. While the Gators never finished higher than third at nationals during that time, the rest of the SEC simply couldn't find a way to beat UF. The Gators went an insane 63-5 in dual matches during that time.
94. Pat McMahon hired
June 21, 2001
He only lasted five seasons, but McMahon brought the Gators baseball program farther than it had ever been as it made the national title series against Texas in 2005.
McMahon was liked by his players for his pleasant Southern drawl, and after taking the Gators to the national title match it appeared McMahon would take UF to the next level. But after two sub-par years, and watching the football and men's basketball teams win a combined three titles, McMahon was fired.
93. Fourth-and-Dumb
November 6, 1976
The Alligator's headline read "Thrown to the 'Dogs".
That headline couldn't have been more correct.
The Gators were up by 14 and 30 minutes away from their first SEC title.
But in those final 30 minutes the Gators got only four first downs and 65 yards of total offense. No. 10 UF never even got the ball out of its own territory.
But that isn't what hurt the most. That was when UF coach Doug Dickey decided to go for it on fourth and one from its own 29 early in the third quarter.
The Gators didn't make it.
"It was a miserable performance by our coaching staff in the second half," Dickey said. "I made some dumb calls. We did the worst coaching job we've done since we've been here."
Signs that said "We're number one" and "Today is what you have worked towards for 43 years" were ripped down and thrown to the floor.
"I would've done the same thing that Doug did," Georgia coach Vince Dooley said. "He had guts to make that call because he saw the momentum going our way, and he wanted to get it back."
92. Not a good decision
September 9, 1968
Coach Ray Graves had some shining moments while at UF, but this wasn't one of them.
Graves reversed the responsibilities of offensive and defensive coordinators, and UF fell to Georgia 51-0.
It was by far the worst loss of the Gators season, and it was more than one third of the total amount of points UF gave up that season.
91. The winless season
December 1, 1979
The highlight of the 1979 football season was a 7-7 tie against Georgia Tech.
That summed it up as the Gators completed Coach Charley Pell's first season with a miserable 0-10-1 record.
Even worse, UF lost its last game against rival Miami. The Gators allowed more than 24 points per game and averaged just less than 10 a game.
90. An easy SEC
December 2, 2000
For the first time since 1996, the Gators were able to celebrate a conference championship.
UF throttled Auburn 28-6 to win the 2000 SEC Title.
"I told the guys, 'This is a game you can carry me off the field,'" UF coach Steve Spurrier said. "This is the only one, none of the regular season games. This one or the National Championship game. It was nice to be carried off the field again."
Quarterback Rex Grossman finished with 238 yards through the air and running back Earnest Graham had 169 on the ground.
89. Wuerffel to Doering
September 11, 1993
Welcome to Gainesville, Danny Wuerffel.
The humble freshman quarterback, who came off the bench in replacement of the elder Terry Dean, and led the Gators to two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in the 24-20 near-upset at Kentucky. Before Wuerffel came in, UF was down 17-9 in the fourth quarter.
He was officially indoctrinated in when he hit receiver Chris Doering for a 19-yard touchdown with 7:36 remaining, tying the game at 17.
"Danny, the kid with the golden arm, found the kid with the golden hands," senior offensive guard Jim Watson said.
88. The man with the Golden Touch
March 16, 1992
Jeremy Foley has hired Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier and Billy Donovan. Enough said.
Sure, he hasn't made great hires every time (see Carolyn Peck and Ron Zook), but who has? Foley has an eye for young names in the coaching profession, and he's helped built perhaps the best athletics department in the nation.
"This is certainly a goal I've set for myself for a long, long time," Foley said on being hired on March 16, 1992. "I've had opportunities to interview for this position elsewhere, but I didn't want to be an AD just anywhere. I wanted to do it here at UF."
87. 75-0
November 7, 1942
The Gators got Spurrier-ed, big time.
In the worst loss in UF history, the Gators were humbled, to say the least, by No. 1 Georgia 75-0. That was more than 40 percent of the points UF allowed that season, but the Gators still finished the season just 3-7. The Thomas J. Lieb-coached Gators did not allow more than 26 points in any other game that season.
86. Volleyball claims first of 17 straight SEC titles
November 22, 1991
On this date, the UF volleyball team won its first SEC Championship.
It's won every one since.
Nobody expected the Gators to win it in Mary Wise's first season, but nobody really expects you to win 17 in a row, either. The Gators lost 3-1 at LSU in their last game, but still won a share of the title. It was UF's highest ever finish in the conference.
"It's like everything is in fast forward," Wise said before the match. "I had hoped that in three or four years there would be crowds and we'd be winning. We're doing that now."
85. Tennis champs yet again
May 18, 2003
Rack up another national title for an esteemed program.
For the first time since 1998, the UF women's tennis team won the national championship on their home court.
"It's something every one of us has dreamed about since we were young," junior Julie Rotondi said. "I had the whole crowd behind me, and I had my team dying every single point."
84. Lacrosse introduced as a sport
June 14, 2006
If Jeremy Foley has his way, the northeast won't be dominating the collegiate lacrosse landscape much longer.
At the time of instituting a team, Vanderbilt was the only other Southeastern Conference school to field a lacrosse squad. Of the 80 programs, 75 are in the southern or eastern U.S.
The Gators will make their debut in the 2009-10 season.
Foley hired former Yale coach Amanda O'Leary as the team's first coach on June 22, 2007. When hired, O'Leary ranked as No. 7 all-time in collegiate wins.
"To have the opportunity to start a program from scratch and build it and hopefully achieve a great deal of success down the road, that is why we do what we do," Foley said.
83. The Young and the Restless - Gymnasts take SEC
March 31, 2007
The 18-year drought was over.
For the first time since 1989, the Gators gymnastics squad was SEC Champions. They snatched the crown away from Georgia, who had held it since 2004.
"It's wonderful because once again - showing what we have been saying all along as a coaching staff - it's a changing of the guard," UF coach Rhonda Faehn said. "We feel what we are doing here in Gainesville is something special."
While the Gators had senior leaders, the difference in the 2007 squad came from a ragtag group of freshmen in Amanda Castillo and Melanie Sinclair. Castillo was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and Sinclair - who tore her ACL the previous season - earned a perfect 10 on the uneven bars earlier in the season.
UF - who was the favorite going in - finished a disappointing fifth at NCAAs, but it was still a step in the right direction for a young Gators team.
82. Soccer reels off 14 straight
October 7, 2007
41 days. 14 games. Two goals.
That's how long the Gators went unbeaten, and how many goals they allowed in that span.
After starting the season with national championship aspirations, this veteran Gators squad had only four wins through their first 10 games. Then they breezed through the rest of their SEC schedule, won the regular- and postseason SEC titles and went into the NCAA Tournament as hot as any team in country. After an easy 3-0 win against Miami in the first round, UF squeaked by UCF two days later 4-3 on penalty kicks to make it to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season.
But without one of its top goal scorers, KeLeigh Hudson, who fractured her ACL against the Golden Knights, the Gators still couldn't get any offensive rhythm as they last 1-0 to Southern Cal in Los Angeles.
But the run still ranks as one of the best all-time by a UF squad.
81. UF Trapps Georgia
November 11, 1967
One against eight isn't good odds.
But, for one play, it was more than enough for UF split end Richard Trapp.
Down 16-7, the Gators had the ball on their own 48-yard line. Then-quarterback Larry Rentz tossed a short pass to Trapp, and UF coach Ray Graves called what followed "the greatest individual effort I've ever seen on a football field.
Cutting back to the left, Trapp wiggled out of eight defenders' - yes, eight - grasp and sprinted into the endzone to make the score 16-14.
Then, after a Bulldogs 3-and-out, Rentz drove UF down the field - including a 23-yard completion to Trapp - for the winning 31-yard field goal by Wayne Barfield with 34 seconds left as the Gators won 17-16 against Georgia in Jacksonville.
Outside on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house there was a sign that read "Trapp 17, Georgia 16."
"The players voted me the game ball," Graves said. "but I gave it to Trapp."
After the game, a group of 500 to 1,000 students celebrated like it was 2007 at the corner of 13th Street and University Avenue. They screamed, threw toilet paper, climbed over moving cars and even packed themselves into the car and drove done the street yelling. Two students ended up being arrested, one for petty theft and the other for destroying city property.
80. Saved by a finger tip
November 11, 2006
The Gators might have never won their second national championship had Jarvis Moss' hand not been in the way.
UF's junior defensive end, who would go on to be the No. 17 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, blocked South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop's 48-yard field goal attempt as time expired and preserved the crucial 17-16 win. The win kept Urban Meyer's perfect record in The Swamp.
But, more importantly, it kept UF alive in the mix of the BCS.
"This team has the potential to get to [the national championship game]," Moss said. "There is no doubt about it. Tonight, we just felt it. Everybody on this team just has to believe. I feel it. Hopefully you guys can feel it.
Even Steve Spurrier admitted there was something out of the ordinary going on.
"This could be the year of the Gators," he said.
79. Zook's Last Stand
November 22, 2004
FSU's stadium was renamed Bobby Bowden Field but the already-fired Ron Zook stole the show. Nobody gave UF much of a chance in Tallahasssee, but the embattled Zook lead UF to a surprising 20-13 victory against the Seminoles.
In the process, Zook did what Steve Spurrier never could - win in Tallahassee. After the game, Zook was carried off the field a hero.
78. UF scores 144 points…in football
October 6, 1913
If you thought Steve Spurrier could fill up a scoreboard, you've never heard of G.E. Pyle. On one insane day in Gainesville nearly 100 years ago, Pyle's Gators crushed Southern College (now Florida Southern), scoring 22 touchdowns in what the Alligator called the highest scoring game ever for a game played in the South.
Believe it or not, it doesn't even touch the national record of 222 points scored by Georgia Tech in a shutout trashing of Cumberland.
After the infamous Southern game, the Gators finished just 4-3 including losses to Auburn, Georgia Tech and South Carolina and a big victory against the Citadel.
77. Kentucky at last
January 23, 1965
UF actually defeated Kentucky in the 1934 SEC Tournament, but it was considered a fluke win - basketball was still a relatively new sport, and the old rules were in play meaning the ball was jumped at halfcourt after every made basket.
So when the Gators finally scored a shocking 84-68 victory against the Wildcats in 1965, it was jubilation for a program desperate to defeat the beast of the SEC.
The Alligator photo features UF's Tom Baxley guarding none other than Kentucky star Pat Riley. Also, you'll find a photo of a TV camera as well as a cartoon from the previous Friday revolving around a TV camera.
No Gators game had ever been broadcasted on television, so it was considered a huge triumph when UF's first TV game was perhaps its best to date.
76. Tebow goes for 20 and 20
November 17, 2007
Never before had a player in college football history ever rushed for 20 touchdowns and passed for 20.
That's until college football met Tim Tebow. UF's sophomore quarterback got his 20th rushing score of the year against Florida Atlantic in the Gators' 59-20 romp. That score put him at the unbelievable 20 and 20 mark, completely changing the way a quarterback can play the game.
75. So long, Christian Drejer
February 18, 2004
In the grand scheme of UF basketball, Christian Drejer's shocking mid-season departure to Spain meant little.
Drejer, a highly sought prospect out of Denmark, turned out to be a talented but underachieving forward at UF.
Late in the 2003-04 season, Drejer shocked the college basketball world by departing his team less than a month before March Madness to sign a lucrative contract in Barcelona.
While the Gators would move on, Drejer's landmark exodus was felt all over the NCAA, making teams much more weary of signing European players.
74. Milton, Gators make Elite 8
March 24, 1997
With three seconds, guard Dana Smith's jumper fell off the rim. Before that, All-America center DeLisha Milton and junior forward - both future WNBA players - missed layups.
That cost UF what would've been its first ever trip to the Final Four. After holding Old Dominion without a field goal in the final 6:35, the Gators fell in the Elite Eight 53-51.
"I can tell you I didn't even hear the final buzzer sounding," UF coach Carol Ross said. "I didn't want the game to end. I wanted to will more time on the clock, or another basket, and I couldn't do it."
Still, with this NCAA run, Carol Ross established herself as one of the nation's best coaches and it appeared the Gators were on the verge of becoming a major program.
But Smith's shot delayed those plans.
"Fate had it that the ball just wasn't supposed to go in," Milton said.
73. Hoops finally takes title
March 4, 1989
It sounds a lot like UF's SEC Tournament championship season of 2005 - UF starts the season 5-7 and 0-2 in the SEC before winning 11 consecutive games and ending the season on top of the SEC.
This championship was for the regular season only - UF fell in the SEC Tournament. But for the first time in school history, the basketball team won some sort of title.
It was an interesting way to clinch a title because UF fell to Alabama 83-63 in the season finale but not before the Gators discovered earlier in the afternoon that Tennessee's victory against Vanderbilt clinched the title for UF.
UF finished the season 19-11 and 13-5 in the conference but the loss to Alabama in the season finale put the Gators in a downward spiral.
The Gators fell to Alabama again in the SEC Championship Game and were crushed by Colorado State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 68-46.
It also marked the end of a semi-successful era for UF. The Gators would be placed on probation and wouldn't return to the NCAAs until 1994.
72. Rocky Top Comeback
September 16, 1995
When you have Steve Spurrier as your coach and Danny Wuerffel as your quarterback, being down 30-14 isn't so bad.
The No. 4 Gators not only came back from that 16-point deficit in Knoxville, they sprinted all the way back to Gainesville. UF went on a 48-0 run and beat the No. 8 Volunteers 62-37, and Wuerffel accounted for seven touchdowns - the most ever in an SEC game.
"In the second half, everything seemed to click," Wuerffel said. "The more I think about it, the more I'll probably realize just how phenomenal the second half was."
71. No. 1 goes down
February 18, 2006
Senior All-SEC outfielder Lindsey Cameron strode to the plate and stared down Michigan relief pitcher Lorilyn Wilson. Jennie Ritter, the Wolverines' ace and future USA Softball star, had been taken out after the Gators had already plated a run to bring the cut the deficit to 3-1.
Then, it was all up to Cameron: Senior Leader. All-SEC player. Full Count. Bases loaded against the defending champions and No. 1 team in the nation.
No pressure, Lindsey.
Apparently there wasn't as Cameron smacked a single down the left side to bring in the winning two runs.
"It's the situation that every player who has ever picked up a ball or glove dreams about," Cameron said.
Throwback freshman pitcher Stacey Nelson, who pitched a complete game, said she was spooked from just a glance from Samantha Findlay - who hit the game-winning home run in last season's championship game.
"I was a little star struck," Nelson said. "Samantha Findlay looked at me, and I was like 'Oh, no, she looked at me.'"
Later that weekend freshman pitcher Lindsay Littlejohn pitched the seventh no-hitter in UF history in the Gators' 6-0 win against Longwood.
70. No Fear of the Turtle
January 2, 2002
Steve Spurrier certainly went out with a bang.
Before announcing he was leaving Gainesville for the NFL's Washington Redskins, Spurrier's Gators crushed Maryland 56-23 in the Orange Bowl. Quarterback and future NFL first-round pick Rex Grossman led UF to touchdowns on its first six drives as he finished with 248 yards and four touchdowns.
"I'm not proud of the way we played tonight," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I'm embarrassed. It's my fault. I'm embarrassed for the state of Maryland."
69. The first time's the sweetest - First SEC Title
December 4, 1993
A year after losing the inaugural SEC Championship game, the Gators got their revenge the next year. They defeated Alabama 28-13 to capture UF's first SEC title game win.
The Gators went on to throttle West Virginia 41-7 in the Sugar Bowl.
Four years later, that freshman class would win UF's first national championship.
Quarterback Terry Dean, before handing over the torch to Danny Wuerffel, won the game's MVP with two touchdown passes and 256 yards.
68. The Golden '60s
1959 offseason
It's hard to imagine a former Volunteer being successful in Gainesville.
But Ray Graves didn't get that memo. Hired during the 1959 offseason, Graves brought the Gators to five bowl appearances and coached Heisman winner Steve Spurrier and future NFL Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.
Graves greatest accomplishment, however, was beating Bear Bryant's Alabama squad. The Crimson Tide did not lose at home again for another 20 years. Graves also had Dr. Robert Cade start experiments to help his players, and Cade eventually invented Gatorade.
After stepping aside for Doug Dickey, Graves served as Athletics Director until 1980.
67. A tragic loss
March 21, 2007
For 15 years, Tom Jones called Gainesville home and many athletes called him their coach.
After 35 years of coaching and 62 years of life, Jones lost his battle with cancer. He had taken a break from coaching for a short period of time as his health began to decline. He was the NCAA Coach of the Year three times and SEC Coach of the Year seven times.
"Tom gave his heart and soul to coaching and mentoring his athletes," UF AD Jeremy Foley said in a statement. "I'm at a loss for words how to describe what he's meant to the University of Florida. You can measure what he accomplished on the track - all the SEC titles and the All-Americans he coached. What you can't measure is the quality of individuals, the student athletes that Tom helped shape and mold into tremendous people. No one did that better than Tom."
66. A Sweet first trip
March 15, 1987
Why would anyone expect the Gators to give the NCAA much of a scare in the tournament?
Historically UF didn't even participate in the Tournament, and the runners-up in the SEC weren't nationally recognized. It all changed when No. 7 Purdue met Vernon Maxwell and Dwayne Schintzius.
The duo combined for 45 points and sixth-seeded UF shocked three-seeded Purdue 85-66 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Sweet 16 trip turned out much less memorable for the Gators - UF fell to Syracuse 87-81.
65. Alabama Getaway
November 19, 1923
The experts gave UF absolutely no chance. Playing Alabama in Birmingham was the equivalent of suicide in those days, and when the oddsmakers made the Tide 10-to-1 favorites, it was considered generous towards the Gators.
Up to this point, many of UF's wins came against teams like Oglethorpe and Rollins.
More than 7,000 showed up to watch Alabama, the top team in the South, score another big win. But UF, down 6-0 early, wouldn't give up another point, escaping Birmingham with a shocking 16-6 victory.
The Alligator read: "[The victory] will place the Florida aggregation first among all football teams in the south."
64. A UF All-American
December 7, 1928
UF's 13-12 season finale loss to Tennessee was the Alligator's headline story, but not far below is the story of defensive end Dale Van Sickle, the first All-American in UF history.
From the Alligator: "Consolation for the Gator defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers came in the form of the 1928 All-American selection announced last night by the Associated Press, with Dale Van Sickle earning a first team berth at end."
Van Sickle helped lead the Gators to an 8-0 record before being upset by the Volunteers.
Had UF won the game, the Gators likely would have earned a trip to the Rose Bowl and a chance at the national championship.
For the season UF outscored its opponents 324-31.
Van Sickle would eventually discover acting. He appeared in two episodes of the Superman TV series in the 1950s and served as a stunt man and stand-in to Superman George Reeves.
63. Run, Lindsay Run!
November 8, 1980
On the 165th play of the game, Georgia quarterback Buck Belue dropped back, rolled right and threw a dart to future first-round pick Lindsay Scott.
Then 92 yards later, the Bulldogs came away with a miracle finish in the World's Largest Cocktail Party with 1:03 left.
"It seems like somebody made it up," UF receiver Cris Collinsworth said. "There's no way it could end a game like that."
Added a subdued UF coach Charley Pell:
"It was just a simple curl pattern - there was nothing fancy about it."
After the play, TV announcer Larry Munson, after breaking his chair, promptly said, "Man, is there going to be some property destroyed tonight."
62. Unbeaten no more
November 30, 1996
The Gators waltzed into Doak Campbell Stadium with an undefeated record and national title hopes on the line. They left with a humbled ego and in need of a miracle to even be considered in the title conversation. Led by tailback Warrick Dunn, the Seminoles defeated the Gators 24-21.
After the game, FSU coach Bobby Bowden had this to say:
"I hope there is no way that Florida can go to the Sugar Bowl," he said. "If they go, I ain't going. The Sugar Bowl is supposed to be a reward, but playing a state rival for the second time is no reward."
Dadgummit, Bobby, Texas wasn't listening. The Longhorns upset defending champion No. 3 Nebraska the next week in the Big 12 title game, helping pave the way for a UF-FSU rematch in the national championship game.
61. Track takes first ever title
March 14, 1992
The Alligator couldn't afford to send any of its own writers, but when a national championship happens, it's big news.
The women's track team won its first ever national title, led by Leah Kirklin's triple jump victory as she leapt 43 feet, 11 inches.
"This is something you work for all through your career," UF coach Beverly Kearney said. "It's just indescribable."
60. Alvarez blasts Dickey in basement
March 1, 1972
Today it would air live on ESPN, but even in 1972, Carlos Alvarez's press conference blasting football coach Doug Dickey received plenty of press.
Alvarez - a two-time All-SEC receiver who broke numerous UF receiving records from 1969-71 - called a press conference in the Reitz Union basement to back up statements he made to the Miami News claiming Dickey didn't know how to handle player relationships.
Alvarez also claimed that Dickey made numerous coaching errors that led to disappointing seasons in 1970-71.
Most of the state newspapers actually criticized Alvarez, including the Gainesville Sun, which made harsh statements questioning Alvarez's loyalty.
In a bold move, the Alligator defend Alvarez: "[Alvarez will] remember the UF football program - Dickey especially - for helping him to learn that even when you're right some people will never listen."
59. Not enough Sugar
January 1, 1965
Trailing No. 6 Missouri 20-0 heading into the fourth quarter, UF's first trip to the Sugar Bowl was quickly becoming an embarrassment.
Just when it seemed over, there came, as the Alligator put it, "[Steve Spurrier] - the slow speaking junior All-America." Spurrier let it fly, firing three touchdown passes and putting UF right back in contention. But the Gators kept going for the two-point conversion, failing each time.
In the end there just wasn't enough time, and UF fell 20-18.
Spurrier set five Sugar Bowl records and was named MVP of the game despite the loss.
58. Swimming's Golden Age
1982-1984
Three national titles in two years.
The women took the first in 1982, and the men took the next two in '83 and '84.
In the inaugural season for women's collegiate swimming, the Gators were the best as they crushed second-place Stanford 505-383 at the O'Connell Center. The women were led by freshman Tracy Caulkins (five event wins) and sophomore Kathy Treible. Coach Randy Reese was named the NCAA Coach of the Year.
Then the next season, the men - although not as convincingly - took the crown. Four underclassman clinched the title on the last event, the 400-meter freestyle relay. After trailing Southern Methodist and Texas the first day, the Gators came back and edged out SMU 238-227.
The next season UF did the same thing, winning the title on the 400-free relay.
57. Maxwell nets the record
January 23, 1988
When Vernon Maxwell passed Ronnie Williams to become the all-time leading basketball scorer, it wasn't mentioned in the Alligator's basketball headline. The record had just been set several years earlier and Maxwell still had plenty of scoring to do.
But just two years later, UF athletics director Bill Ansparger stripped Maxwell of his scoring title. The move was extremely controversial and many people involved with UF basketball believe Maxwell's records should be restored.
The Alligator continues to recognize Maxwell as UF's all-time scoring and steals leader.
56. Gators Bowl bound for first time
November 22, 1952
A Gator Bowl bid was far from assured on October 18, 1952, when the Gators fell to Vanderbilt 20-13. Having already lost to Georgia Tech early in the season, the Gators were 3-2 and needed to win two of their final four games to reach the bowl.
A determined UF squad came out the following week and crushed Georgia in Jacksonville 30-0.
Two weeks later the Gators would fall to Tennessee, but wins against Kentucky, and the clincher - a 43-6 home drubbing of the Hurricanes - sent UF to its first bowl game.
The Gators would earn a New Year's Day bowl appearance, narrowly defeating No. 12 Tulsa in Jacksonville, 14-13.
55. Every named top golfer
May 13, 2006
Matt Every won the Heisman of college golf. For the first time in UF history, one of its own won the Ben Hogan award, given annually to the top amateur golfer.
"Whenever you're in an award ceremony like that, you always expect to hear the other guy's name called," Every said. I was just listening for the first letter of the name called, and when I heard the 'M,' I knew it was me. To be honest, it's a relief that it's over."
Throughout his time at UF, Every was named to several All-American and All-SEC Teams.
54. Softball almost makes series
May 26, 2007
The Gators didn't have problems scoring runs during the season. They even plated an impressive 18 runs in three games to get to the Super Regional.
But, when push came to shove, they couldn't get the job done when they were one game away from UF's first trip to the College World Series.
The Gators lost the best of three series in the third game to Texas A&M at College Station, and they only scored three runs (all in one game) in the series.
Even though UF lost, it validated Jeremy Foley's hiring of Coach Tim Walton as one of the sport's top young coaches. It was just Walton's second year in Gainesville as he led the team to its first ever finish in the Super Regional.
"Our team deserves a lot of credit," Walton said. "They played their hearts out. They gave everything they had. Today wasn't good enough, but to get to where we have this season, we have accomplished a lot with this program."
53. Final what?
April 1, 1994
After winning the NCAA Regionals and advancing to the Final Four, the Gators didn't know what to do. Shocked, surprised and unprepared, the Gators broke tradition and cut down just one net - it turns out you have to cut down both.
Led by unheralded players like Andrew DeClercq and Dan Cross, UF defeated James Madison, Penn, UConn and Boston College before falling to Duke 80-75 in Charlotte.
52. Emmitt Explodes
September 19, 1987
It was his first career start. In the third game of the season. On the road against the No. 11 team in the nation. Good luck. But you don't exactly need luck when your name is Emmitt Smith. Smith shocked the Gator Nation by exploding against Alabama, rushing for a UF-record 224 yards - a record he would later break.
In the process, UF walked away with an unlikely 23-14 victory and the 18-year-old freshman quickly became a legend.
51. B-C-YES!
December 3, 2006
It started on Saturday when the Gators downed Arkansas 38-28 to take the SEC Title. That alone was an accomplishment, but the Gators needed unranked UCLA to take down No. 3 Southern California to make a BCS Championship Game appearance. In a weekend as topsy-turvy as there had ever been in college football (until the 2007 season), the Bruins pulled a shocker, and opened up a window of opportunity for one-loss teams like Michigan and UF.
Then news broke late Sunday, and it appeared the BCS computers gave the Gators the edge against the Wolverines. By a margin of .9445 to .9344, UF was going to play Ohio State for the national title.
UF wide receiver Percy Harvin said he felt spoiled.
"I was on the phone probably every 6 1/2 minutes," UF coach Urban Meyer said. "I was talking to Jeremy [Foley] and I was driving myself crazy. But I told my players the same thing I told him: It looks good, but just hang in there."
50. Simply the best
August 8, 1998
Brad Wilkerson could hit. Brad Wilkerson could pitch. And the NCAA decided Brad Wilkerson was the best player in college baseball for the 1998 season.
After batting .347 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI, Wilkerson won the Rotary Smith Award given annually to the best player in the nation.
Wilkerson was the first player at UF, and the first in the entire state of Florida, to ever win the award.
Wilkerson led UF to the College World Series in his final season. Wilkerson is still playnig in the major leagues for the Texas Rangers, though he is a free agent after the 2007 season.
49. A shocking departure
March 22, 2002
Carol Ross brought the UF women's basketball programs to heights it had never seen before. She even led them to the Elite Eight in 1998.
However, they never reached the Final Four and she shockingly stepped aside following the 2001-02 season.
But, surprisingly, everything appeared to be alright. AD Jeremy Foley nabbed Carolyn Peck from the WNBA's now defunct Orlando Miracle on April 3. Peck appeared to be a promising choice after she had coached Purdue to a national championship and was one of the game's youngest and biggest names. You'd think her bright and charismatic persona would be able to bring in big-time recruits, right? It didn't.
Peck went just 72-76 in her tenure, and was fired one day after her 13-straight loss in her fifth and final season. That loss tied the longest losing streak in program history, which Peck's squad also set earlier in her tenure.
Current coach and UF alum Amanda Butler took over for Peck.
48. Walk outguns the Pistol
January 6, 1968
Imagine being Neal Walk. You're the second pick in the NBA Draft but no matter how hard you played, you're never the best player in the SEC.
That was the fate of Walk, who was always second pistol to, well, the Pistol.
But for one night, Walk showed LSU's "Pistol" Pete Maravich that he too could dominate the SEC.
On January 6, 1968, the Gators upset LSU at Florida Gym, and Walk scored a career-best 39 points and grabbed 21 rebounds. Maravich was held to 32 points, nearly 14 below his ridiculous 46 points per game average.
Walk, a center, and Maravich, a guard, weren't matched up against each other but it was still a huge message from Walk.
A month later the two teams would meet again in Baton Rogue. Walk poured in 38 points but Maravich scored the normal 47 in LSU's 93-92 overtime victory.
A year later Walk would find himself as UF's first ever All-American basketball player.
But in typical fashion, the Alligator ran the headline: "Pumpin' Pete - SEC's MVP"
A smaller, second headline read: "Walk Named All America"
47. Men's golf No. 1 once again
June 2, 2001
When the other spring sports had disappointing seasons, the men's golf team came to the forefront. The Gators won the national championship as they shot a school-record 18 strokes better than runner-up Clemson.
"We kept talking about how there is going to be something special at the end of the season," freshman Camilo Villegas said. "It came in a nice way."
It was the Gators' fourth NCAA Championship.
46. Footloose
October 29, 1966
"Those goal posts are plenty wide," UF star quarterback Steve Spurrier said with a swagger. "If you kick them right, they'll go through."
In the closing minutes of a tight game against Auburn, Heisman candidate Spurrier decided simply throwing touchdowns - and scoring one on the ground - wasn't enough.
So with the game tied and UF needing a 40-yard field goal for the victory, Spurrier told Coach Ray Graves to keep the kicker on the bench. Steve was going for the win.
Spurrier hadn't kicked a field goal since the season opener against Northwestern, but sure enough, the field goal was good and UF walked away with a 30-27 victory.
"I can't award Spurrier the Heisman Trophy, I know, but if I could I'd give him 45," Graves said.
45. UF meets Big Apple
March 13, 1969
Today the NIT is second-tier, but in '69, when only one team per conference made the NCAAs (see: Kentucky), it was a big deal.
The UF campus went nuts over the Gators' first-ever postseason appearance. After reaching No. 10 at one point during the season, the Neal Walk-led Gators were upset by Temple in the first round of the Tournament.
44. A taste of their own medicine
November 12, 2005
For the first time since leaving UF, Steve Spurrier defeated the Gators. It was the Gamecocks' first win against UF since 1939, and the former UF coach made sure everyone knew it.
"They don't own our asses anymore," he said of the 30-22 upset win.
Coach Urban Meyer, in his first season, called the loss a "speed bump" on its growth.
South Carolina has not defeated UF since.
43. Emmitt rushes for record books
October 18, 1987
Too small, too slow, not a premiere running back.
Despite an extremely successful high school career in Pensacola, Emmitt Smith still had doubters when he arrived at UF.
Just seven games into his career, nobody doubted Emmitt's greatness.
There was little drama in UF's 34-3 Homecoming victory against Temple, but Smith made sure the fans left Florida Field satisfied.
Smith ran for 175 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries but it was his final carry that put him in the record books.
Gaining 25 yards on his final carry, Smith ended the game with 1,011 yards on the season, becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards in seven games.
Smith leaped ahead of Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker, who both ran for 1,000 yards in their first eight games.
But the record wouldn't stand forever - Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson also did it in seven games in 2004, but technically ended ahead of Smith because his 1,000th yard came earlier in the game.
42. Gold Rush
Summer 1984
Maybe they were swimming in Gatorade.
UF swimmers exploded in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, capturing a total of 13 gold medals.
Mike Heath and UF swimming legend Tracy Caulkins led the way with three gold medals each.
41. Oh so close to the title
December 20, 2003
Mary Wise is still searching for her first national title, but she came close in 2003.
The Gators only lost twice in 2003, but both times were against No. 1 Southern California - including the national championship match. UF took the first game in the national title match, but dropped the final three, 30-27, 30-19, 30-26.
"This is a team that will be remembered for advancing to the national championship," Wise said.
In that season Wise became the fastest Division I female coach to reach 500 career wins.
40. Becky Burleigh Hired
June 28, 1994
You don't usually strike gold the first time out.
But when Jeremy Foley hired Becky Burleigh to start the UF soccer program, that's exactly what he did. Three seasons later, the Gators were national champions.
UF hasn't had that type of success recently, but for a program that's been around for just more than 10 years, it's as decorated as you could hope. Taking over the job when she was just 26, she was the National Coach of the Year before she was 30 in 1998.
39. 10 Years of Perfection
November 18, 1994
While the United States went through two presidents, watched Britney Spears rise and fall and entered into a Reality TV fad, the UF volleyball team was busy being perfect.
Starting on November 18, 1994 through November 11, 2004 the Gators never lost a SEC regular-season match.
Throughout that period, a UF player was named SEC Player of the Year every season except for 1994.
38. Rocky Top Will Always Be…Second in the SEC
September 22, 1996
It was another game of Peyton Manning vs. Danny Wuerffel. At least that's what was expected. Instead, as put in the Alligator, Steve Spurriers Fun 'N' Gun turned into the "Fun 'N' Run." The Gators grinded out a 35-29 victory as running for 39 times and passing for just 22.
"We were doing basically whatever we wanted to do," UF tailback Elijah Williams said. "They couldn't stop us."
There was talk before the game, too, as the Gators criticized Manning and the Vols. At least UF backed up its words.
37. Ring My Bell
November 1, 1986
You're not suppose to come back when you're down 17-0 in the fourth quarter against an undefeated team.
Apparently Kerwin Bell didn't care.
UF's quarterback - who was the backup before - started the game against the Tigers but then left with a little time left in the first half. When original starter Rodney Brewer struggled, Bell limped off the bench and guided the Gators to an 18-0 fourth quarter run. Bell won the game on a 2-point conversion when he outran Auburn defensive tackle Tracy Rocker with 36 seconds left.
"This is the biggest win of our lives," Bell said. "It is time to start here and build on. We are going to make something out of this year."
The win kept UF's slim bowl hopes alive.
36. The Florida Flop
November 27, 1971
It left UF fans thrilled, Miami fans outraged and John Reaves a legend.
UF quarterback Reaves needed 14 yards for the NCAA career passing yards record, but Miami, down 45-8, had the ball with 1:10 remaining. It seemed unlikely UF would get the ball back, so Coach Doug Dickey ordered the Gators defense to fall to the ground and allow Miami to enter the end zone untouched.
UF did get the ball, Reaves broke the record and Miami fans are still angry to this day.
35. New York Times names Gators champs
November 30, 1984
Senior strong safety Roger Sibbald put it best.
"We're the best team in the nation, without a doubt," he said.
Those were his words after the Gators thumped the Seminoles 27-17 and finished their season 9-1-1, the best in school history. But not everything was good. The SEC declared the Gators ineligible for a bowl game and wouldn't have a shot in the Sugar Bowl against No. 5 Nebraska. Unranked Louisiana State went instead.
While the New York Times named UF its national champion, the sting was still there for the Gators. Sibbald later he said he didn't want to watch any bowl games.
Even UF coach Galen Hall - who refrained from saying the Gators deserved a No. 1 ranking before - said that UF was the best team in the nation.
34. Miller Time
March 17, 2000
A year after making it to the Sweet 16, the Gators were about to bow out in the first round to lowly Butler.
Down 68-67 in overtime and with the clock about to expire, Mike Miller hit a driving jumper off the glass to give UF the win that would eventually propel them into the NCAA championship game.
ESPN Classic still airs the game, and SportsCenter recently ranked it the ninth-best shot in NCAA Tournament history.
33. Dickey replaces Graves
December 27, 1969
What was the bigger story on December 27, 1969?
Not only did the Gators upset SEC champion Tennessee in the Gator Bowl, but after the game UF coach Ray Graves resigned and was replaced by none other than Tennessee coach Doug Dickey, a former UF quarterback.
The 14-13 upset made UF unofficial SEC champions but the headlines in the Alligator revolved around the coaching controversy.
The Alligator blasted UF president Stephen O'Connell for not being truthful about the coaching vacancy. Supposedly, the deal was done days before O'Connell made it official.
Dickey announced at his press conference that UF was on its way to SEC and national championships. However, he racked up mediocre a 58-43-2 record from 1970-78, not equaling the success of Graves who went 70-31-4.
32. The Swamp arrives
November 8, 1930
After UF's breakout season of 1928, the Gators needed a large stadium to accommodate the ever-growing fan base.
The Alligator writers seemed saddened that Fleming Field's "long and colorful history" was coming to an end, though many great moments would be waiting at the state-of-the-art Florida Field.
But some things never change, because the Alligator's headline a week before read: "Campus Aroused Over Seating." It seems the students weren't happy with their allotted seats.
31. Tennessee crushes championship hopes
December 1, 2001
It was the perfect scenario. Defeat Tennessee in a rare season finale against the rival Volunteers, steamroll through the SEC championship game and then face in-state foe Miami for the national championship.
Sometimes it doesn't work out as planned.
After the September 11th terrorist attacks forced the UF-Tennessee match to be rescheduled for December, the Gators found themselves in a nice spot.
Ranked No. 1 much of the year, the Gators were upset by Auburn in October, seemingly ending hopes of a national titles.
But after a slew of teams fell late in the season, UF was in the driver's seat for the No. 2 spot in the BCS. A home game against Tennessee seemed like a formality - the Volunteers hadn't won in Gainesville in 30 years.
While UF quarterback Rex Grossman passed for 362 yards, it wasn't enough and the Gators lost. Steve Spurrier would resign a month later.
30. Running for Glory
March 12, 2005
Five words: Kerron Clement, new world record
UF sophomore Kerron Clement broke sprinter Michael Johnson's time by .06 seconds at the Indoor Championships to set the new world record in the 400-meter dash.
"I can't describe how I feel," Clement said. "When I crossed the line, I wanted to cry. That was my first reaction. It was so overwhelming - breaking Michael Johnson's record."
After the season, Clement left UF to turn pro. He still is one of UF Track and Field's poster children.
29. Probation
October 24, 1984 & September 21, 1990
UF went on probation not once, but twice in a six-year span for various NCAA violations. The result?
Two missed SEC championships ('84 and '90), Emmitt Smith never playing in a big bowl game and Vernon Maxwell's scoring record stripped.
28. Debut Party
November 3, 1990
Talk about a good first impression.
Steve Spurrier showed what kind of offense he was going to offer in Gainesville, and it was impressive. The Gators trounced Auburn 48-7 to give the Tigers their first loss of the season. It was the most points UF had scored against Auburn in 67 games with a Florida Field record crowd 75,459 cheering them on a nationally televised ESPN game. The Gators had racked up just 13 points total in their last three meetings with the Tigers.
27. Tennis removes "Monkey," wins title
May 17, 1992
For four consecutive years the UF women's tennis team had come so close to winning the national championship, but the Gators always seemed to fall apart.
In 1992, UF finally won a national title and, as coach Andy Brandi put it, got the "monkey off our backs."
The Gators didn't lose a match in '92, finishing 30-0.
In the championship match in Palo Alto, Calif., UF defeated Texas 5-3 behind Kristin Osmond's come-from-behind victory.
26. A National Champion
June 22, 1968
In the 62 years since UF opened in Gainesville, the Gators had won several SEC championships in various sports, but never a national title.
On the final day of the NCAA men's golf championship in Las Cruces, N.M., an eight-stroke lead over Houston seemed to secure a NCAA title for UF.
The lead quickly shrank to just two strokes on the back nine, but Houston couldn't make up the deficit. The Gators left New Mexico with the long-awaited title of national champions.
25. Lady golfers take title
May 25, 1985
In the three NCAA Championships prior to 1985, UF finished no lower than fifth.
Four years after women's golf became an official NCAA sport, UF won its first of two consecutive national titles.
If the Gators won the championship today, it would be front-page Alligator news. But in 1985 women sports were still fresh on the scene, and the women's golf team had to settle for page 16.
Senior Deb Richard led the way for UF, although a final round 80 didn't allow her to capture the individual title - Richard finished second.
24. Mary Wise hired
March 25, 1991
At the time, Mary Wise's hiring as the new volleyball coach warranted just a blurb in the sports section.
Now, 17-straight SEC titles later, Wise deserves more than a blurb. She was the first coach in NCAA History to win 100-straight games and she's a disgusting 522-54 in 17 seasons here in Gainesville.
But Wise still hasn't won a national championship - the team's best finish to date was the national runner-up season of 2003.
If she ever brings home the big crown, she can be listed up there with the likes of Billy D, Urban and Spurrier.
23. Choke at Doak
November 28, 1994
The FSU players hid their faces in disgust, the misery too hard to bear.
Both UF and FSU entered the season finale at Doak Campbell Stadium 9-1. UF was looking for a comeback. A 31-3 fourth quarter lead made the Gators seem like true championship contenders.
And never before had a game that appeared to be over and done ended in such a shocking comeback. The Seminoles stormed back scoring 28 unanswered points.
The game entered in an embarrassing tie.
UF's national title hopes? Dead.
22. A Woman's World
Spring 1972
If you were trying to find an Alligator story about women's sports pre-1972, good luck. With the exception of an occasional blurb about women's intramurals, women's sports received virtually no press. Right around the time the Title IX legislation passed, which made it mandatory for universities to have an equal number of male and female athletes, the Alligator coverage increased, although the common story was still ones of a female tennis player doubling up as a cheerleader.
But eventually women's sports would help UF become one of the best all-around sports schools in the nation. Women's tennis, golf and soccer would all win national championships, and volleyball became top-notch sports.
21. Equal Playing Field
1969
The late 1960s were a stunning time, and the Alligator pages were filled with stories of racial wars, protests and a new age in the South.
The SEC was one of the last conferences to integrate, and in 1969, UF finally signed its first black football player, Leonard George. Willie Jackson would soon follow, and Jackson became the first black athlete to actually play a down.
20. One win away
December 7, 1996
One week after a humbling 24-21 loss against FSU - and with all national title hopes seemingly dashed - Danny Wuerffel and the Gators came back and won the SEC Championship 45-30 against Alabama.
Even more important, they then earned a second chance against the Seminoles to play for the national title.
Tailback Elijah Williams called it a "miracle."
"A lot of people in church, who are real religious, told me they had a vision we were going to play FSU again," running back Fred Taylor said.
His vision turned out better than he could imagine, as the Gators got the comeback and throttled the 'Noles for their first ever national title.
19. Get a kick out of this
December 6, 1998
UF did the unthinkable to the unbeatable team in 1998, winning a national championship in one of the most surprising moments in UF sports history.
Just four seasons into the program's existence, the soccer team had already won three SEC championships.
But in 1996 and '97 the Gators bowed out in the NCAA tournament to North Carolina, one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.
North Carolina headed into the 1998 season winning 14 of 17 national championships since soccer became an NCAA sport.
UF entered the game in Greensboro, N.C., as huge underdogs.
The Gators finished the game 1-0 winners, bringing UF a surprising national title.
UF senior forward Danielle Fotopoulos scored the game's only goal and was made national player of the year.
"We set a goal, we accomplished it," Fotopoulos said. "It's a great way to go out. The senior class, the chemistry, the coaches, everything - this has been wonderful. We well deserved the national championship."
18. Golden Boy
February 17, 2005
Before the match started, Ryan Lochte's competitors would approach him during warm-ups and ask for pictures with him. They just wanted to shake the Olympic gold medalist's hand.
Then, once the match started, Lochte would just toy with them - and then break record after record. In just one night during the SEC Championships, Lochte shattered the 200-yard individual medley American record with a time of 1:41.76, besting the old record by just over 1 second. Lochte also broke the SEC 100-meter backstroke record and led the charge in the 400-meter medley relay, breaking the SEC record.
"It was a goal of mine," Lochte said. "I was just focusing on getting there and racing tough. We have to keep pounding at everyone. I want to try to get my hand on the wall first."
The next night he broke the U.S. 200-meter backstroke record, and UF's swimming golden boy finished his career a ridiculous 24-time All American. He still holds 11 of the 18 SEC Championship records, and 12 of the 18 school records.
17. Texas Holds 'Em
June 26, 2005
As Stephen Barton swung his bat at the 2-2 pitch, the Gators last hope hung on his shoulders.
Barton struck out, and UF fell to Texas in the finals of the College World Series. But there's no doubting the significance of the best run ever for the UF baseball team.
"We played with tremendous heart," Coach Pat McMahon said. "A lot of things go through your mind right now, but these guys are champions."
The Gators only scored four runs in their two-game series with the Longhorns, but they plated 19 in their three wins throughout the rest of the World Series. It was a season where Matt LaPorta won the national home run title with 26 and also had 79 RBIs, which ranks second in UF history.
16. The Fiasco Bowl
January 2, 1996
After so many years of trying to win a national title, UF finally was a win away from an NCAA Championship. So what happened?
Nebraska, led by Heisman winner Tommie Frazier, demolished the Gators in the Fiesta Bowl, 62-24.
For weeks the joke was "I think Nebraska just scored again."
15. Urban Renewal
December 4, 2004
Urban Meyer inherited a team full of top recruits and attitude problems.
The Gators had vanished from the national stage, and they never went to a BCS bowl under former coach Ron Zook. Wherever Meyer had gone before, he changed the program immediately. He even led Utah to a 35-7 Fiesta Bowl drubbing of Pittsburgh before coming to UF.
Just three seasons after arriving in Gainesville, the Gators were national champions. Since Meyer's arrival, he's brought in mega-recruits and UF is back among the top teams in the country.
14. Comeback Danny…sort of
December 3, 1994
Down 23-17 with just less than 9 minutes left, Steve Spurrier got creative - even for his standards. After a five-play drive to the Gators 42-yard line, quarterback Danny Wuerffel limped off the field.
In reality, though, the future Heisman winner could've won an Oscar.
"I got hit, but I wasn't hurt at all," Wuerffel said. "I saw [backup Eric Kresser] put on his helmet. That's a signal. (I limped off) just to make it look like a planned play. And maybe the defense thinks a new quarterback will be a little timid."
If the Crimson Tide thought Kresser would be intimidated, they were wrong.
The backup immediately threw 25-yard strike to receiver Ike Hilliard, setting up the eventual Wuerffel to Chris Doering winning touchdown.
The Crimson Tide's undefeated season was trashed and their national championship hopes were gone.
13. King Steve Crowned
November 22, 1966
Spurrier passes, Spurrier kicks, Spurrier runs and Spurrier put UF on the map.
Partly due to the heavy media publicity by the UF sports department and partly thanks to a legendary field goal kick less than a month earlier, Spurrier became UF's first Heisman Trophy winner.
Purdue's Bob Griese was considered the favorite much of the year, but Spurrier came on strong in the end and took home the coveted award.
Due to a hoarse voice, Spurrier could barely give the acceptance speech.
"Not because I had to talk loud," Spurrier said. "but it was a matter of talking distinctly. The New Yorkers couldn't understand my Southern drawl."
12. It's official…Gators win SEC
November 16, 1991
An uneventful 35-26 win against Kentucky clinched the SEC Championship for UF.
It was the first time the Gators could officially call themselves kings of the SEC.
The Gators actually finished first in the conference in 1984, 1985 and 1990, but probation left the Gators out of the championship picture.
11. Alabama Stunner
October 12, 1963
After UF's shocking 10-6 victory against No. 3 Alabama, one of the headlines in the Alligator read "Gamblers Head for the Hills." Forget the gamblers - what about Bear Bryant and quarterback Joe Namath?
Amazingly, from 1958-1982, legendary coach Bryant lost just one game in Tuscaloosa, and somehow it was an unranked UF team that accomplished the feat.
It had been nearly three years since Alabama had given up more than seven points in any game. The Gators scored just three more, but it was UF's defensive effort that completely shut down Namath.
Coach Ray Graves called it the greatest win in UF history at the time - nearly 42 years later, it's still a top-10 victory.
10. Wunderffel
December 14, 1996
Quarterback Danny Wuerffel wasn't the biggest football story of 1996 - the national championship topped all plots. But Wuerffel did walk away the nation's top prize, winning just the second Heisman Trophy in school history.
Wuerffel passed for 3,625 yards and 39 touchdowns.
"Everyone knew Danny was going to win," said Ohio State offensive lineman Orlando Pace, who finished fourth. "Anyone who didn't, they're a fool."
9. Championship Contenders?
April 3, 2000
Nobody saw it coming. UF was a solid team, but the fifth-seeded Gators were considered Sweet 16 hopefuls, not championship contenders.
Then the men's basketball team stunned the basketball world, defeating Oklahoma State, Duke and North Carolina.
For the first time, Gainesville went hoops-crazy. After the Final Four win that sent UF to the Finals, police had to shut down University Avenue between the Swamp and the Purple Porpoise because ecstatic fans flooded the street.
But the end was anti-climatic. The Gators, led by Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller and Teddy Dupay, fell to Michigan State 89-76.
8. Goodbye to a Legend, Welcome a…Who?
January 4, 2002
The circus finally left town. Steve Spurrier Fun 'n' Gun was leaving Gainesville for the Washington Redskins.
"I guess I'm supposed to cry a lot because that's what the FSU people say I do," Spurrier said. "But I'm not much of a crier really. I don't get all choked up."
