2006 florida gators football roster

The Buckeyes came back on their next possession, trailing by a touchdown. Joe Haden. The Gators held Oden to 7 points and went on to win 86-60. Chris Leak struggled throughout the game, going 18 of 25 passing for 237 yards and one touchdown. With about 5minutes left in the 2nd quarter Auburn kicked another field goal to make the score 108. Both Gator PATs were blocked in the half. The Gators and the Bulldogs traded possessions, with the Gators getting the ball back with a little over three minutes in the game. Florida had great field position, following a personal foul penalty on Ohio State. Florida's defense continued to stifle Georgia throughout the second half, until late in the third quarter. Tennessee pulled ahead by six when James Wilhoit hit a 51-yard field goal early in the fourth. Of those 109, more have exited via the transfer portal (38) than remain (37). Georgia was unable to score on the following drive, but freshman Tim Tebow fumbled on Florida's 10-yard line to give Georgia a shot at drawing within seven points. Using their power running game, and a 13-yard scramble from Smith, the Buckeyes drove to the Gators' 18-yard line. The week prior to the game, it was announced that DT Marcus Thomas was indefinitely suspended after failing a drug test. 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. Florida fumbled. Do you have a blog? The Gators scored the last 34 points of the game after surrendering a touchdown with 12:40 to play in the 1st quarter. The season opened in the Swamp against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Tebow appeared to be running yet again, but pitched the ball to wide receiver 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 Ohio State-Florida game was a high anticipated match-up, featuring 3 of the top big men in the country (Horford, Joakim Noah, and Greg Oden ). Crawford Ker was another key member of the Great Wall of Florida who helped the Gators earn their first-ever SEC title (which would later be vacated). The Gators had their best pre-season ranking from College Football News, which listed them at No. On the next Florida drive, Leak found game MVP Percy Harvin on a perfectly thrown 37-yard touchdown pass. On third down, following a sack, the Gators blitzed, hit Smith as he threw the ball, and cornerback Reggie Lewis intercepted the pass. Florida reserve QB Tim Tebow led the game in rushing, with 61yards. Florida overcame the toughest schedule in the nation by opponent winning percentage[1][2][3][4] to become national champions. Donnie Young was considered the heart and soul of Floridas offensive line during the 1996 championship run but unfortunately was hobbled by injuries by the end of his collegiate career. Kyle Pitts became the highest-picked tight end in NFL draft history back in 2021 after being named a unanimous All-American and winning the John Mackey Award during his junior campaign. Assistant Coach Men's and Women's Swimming. In addition, with the men's basketball team 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. Coach Urban Meyer, who was coaching in his first national championship game, took a timeout to compose his team after the inauspicious start. However, Florida was unable to capitalize on the turnover, as Chris Hetland again missed a field goal. The Gators came into the game favored by three points. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The fourth ranked Gators took on the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2006 SEC Championship Game. There has been a critical error on this website. Florida (111) won its third straight against Florida State and improved to 60 against its three main rivalsTennessee, Georgia and Florida Statein Meyer's two seasons. 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.[7]. In the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Chris Leak to Ryan Williams the Gators took a 103 lead. The Tide added a field goal to take a 100 lead that held until just before the half. Tebow added two touchdowns rushing along with 47 yards. Sports, President Bush Welcomes the 2006 NCAA Football Champion Florida Gators to the White House, Gators hold football and basketball titles, "Spurrier still a crowd favorite" - St. Pete Times, September 3, 2006, http://web.archive.org/web/20060721002429/http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Rankings/PrePreSeason_NationalTitleContenders.htm, SEC East spring recap - College Football - ESPN, Broncos select Jarvis Moss, Denverpost.com, http://web.archive.org/web/20070928083725/http://www.gatorsports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060921/GATORS01/209210352, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=262730057, ESPN College Gameday heading to Gainesville, http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-128021209611956091, Blocked field goal keeps title hopes alive, "Chance Nearly Slips Away, but Florida Makes Its Case", http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/sports/ncaafootball/03sec.html, ESPN - Florida Gators vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Play-by-Play, January 8, 2007 - NCAA College Football, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL (, Prince Hall 50 yard fumble return (Jamie Christensen kick), Kregg Lumpkin 9 yard run (Andy Bailey kick), Antwain Robinson 40 yard interception return (Jeremy Davis kick), Wondy Pierre-Louis recovered blocked punt in end zone (Chris Hetland kick), Percy Harvin 67 yard run (Chris Hetland kick), Felix Jones 29 yard pass from Cedric Washington (Jeremy Davis kick), Tim Tebow 1 yard run (Chris Hetland kick). 1st Quarter ALA FLA; RUSH. With the Gators winning the 2007 national championship in men's basketball three months later (coincidentally beating Ohio State), the University of Florida holds the distinction of being the only school to ever hold both the unshared men's basketball national championship and unshared football championship in the same academic year (2006-07) and in the same calendar year (2007). The Gators trailed for nearly the entire first three quarters. ESPN's College GameDay was at Jordan-Hare Stadium to cover the critical SEC matchup between the number two ranked Gators and the number eleven ranked Tigers. Anthony Nesty. 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 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 run with :26 left in the half to take a 127 lead. Leak found Dallas Baker on a 21-yard touchdown pass to strengthen Florida's lead, and safety Reggie Nelson picked off John Parker Wilson's pass and took it 70yards for the score to put the game out of reach. 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 177 lead. Leading 3414 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. [10], The Gators celebrated the ten-year anniversary of winning their 1996 national championship in football during the opening game against Southern Miss. 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 70 lead 16seconds into the game. The Gators won their seventh SEC title by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 3828 in SEC Championship Game on December 2, 2006,[6] then defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 4114 in the BCS National Championship Game on January 8, 2007, beginning the SEC's streak of seven consecutive national championships. The Gators' roster listed 109 players for their 2021 SEC finale at Missouri UF's last game under Dan Mullen. Get a summary of the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators football game. Knowing this had sealed the win, Meyer began pumping his fist, and gesturing the Florida crowd to get noisy. Using the unusual "Wildcat Formation", All American tailback Darren McFadden threw a quick two-yard touchdown to fellow tailback Felix Jones. 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 267. The Gators came into the game favored by three points. Despite giving up four turnovers and forcing none, the Gators easily beat the spread for the second time this season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Gators won their seventh SEC title by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 38-28 in SEC Championship Game on December 2, 2006, [6] then defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 in the BCS National Championship Game on January 8, 2007, beginning the SEC's streak of seven consecutive national championships. Read more about the Orange and Blue at Gators Wire. Florida got very strong play from its defense and special teams, as they were able to block two punts and force an interception. On their next offensive possession, the Gators were determined to put the game out of reach. (); : Leak remained extremely sharp, going four of five passing on the drive, for 44 yards. Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Florida's defense, which had been touted as one of the best in the SEC, lived up to their billing, stifling the Georgia offense for the entire first half. The Tide kept it close, kicking a 26-yard field goal to make it a 1-point game in the fourth quarter. Conferences. All Rights Reserved. Record: 13-1 (2nd of 119) (Schedule & Results), Bowl Game: Won BCS Championship 41-14 versus Ohio State. Florida overcame the toughest schedule in the nation by opponent winning percentage[2][3][4][5] to become national champions. Do you have a sports website? Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 6:49AM. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Chris Leak rallied the Gators to within a field goal when he found Dallas Baker for a four yard touchdown. The Gators have now won fifteen of the last eighteen against their hated rivals from Georgia. Team punishment: Murphy was suspended for three games during the 2006 season. In one of the most anticipated games of the season, former Gator head coach and current Florida quality control assistant Steve Spurrier returned to The Swamp as South Carolina's head coach. Errict Rhett holds the all-time record for most career yards rushing in a Gators uniform. Knowing this had sealed the win, Meyer began pumping his fist, and gesturing the Florida crowd to get noisy. Ohio State ran a draw play on 3rd down, and punted on the following play. Overall, the Gators finished with more points(62) than the Catamounts had yards(59). After a botched snap between center Steve Rissler and quarterback Chris Leak, Alabama's Prince Hall returned the fumble for the Crimson Tide's only touchdown of the game. The fourth ranked Gators took on the eighth ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2006 SEC Championship Game. Perhaps the most impressive freshman on the day however, was Mon Williams, who rushed for 97yards on only nine carries. Sources: 2012 Florida Football Media Guide,[12] and GatorZone.com.[13]. 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. Number of All-Time NFL draft picks. Inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a Gator Great in 2009, Ike Hilliard was also honored as an SEC Legend in 2011. On the Ohio State 7-yard line, Tebow came into the game and powered his way to the Buckeye 2-yard line. Leak took a final knee on fourth down, ending his illustrious career as a Gator on top of the college football world. The season was the second for head coach Urban Meyer, who led the Gators to an SEC Championship, a BCS National Championship, and an overall winloss record of 131 (.929). The Tide added a field goal to take a 100 lead that held until just before the half. A terribly unfortunate story off the field, Aaron Hernandez played a large role in Meyers title-winning offense in 2008 and was unquestionably one of the best at his position. 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. The Tigers scored early, taking the opening drive to the Gators' 5-yard-line before being forced to kick a field goal. 2006 Florida Gators Roster Previous Year Next Year Record: 13-1 (2nd of 119) ( Schedule & Results ) Rank: 1st in the Final AP poll Conference: SEC (East Division) Conference Record: 7-1 Coach: Urban Meyer (13-1) Points For: 416 Points/G: 29.7 (24th of 119) Points Against: 189 More Team Info Florida School History 2006 Florida Statistics Leak found Dallas Baker on a 21-yard touchdown pass to strengthen Florida's lead, and safety Reggie Nelson picked off John Parker Wilson's pass and took it 70 yards for the score to put the game out of reach. In the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Chris Leak to Dallas Baker the Gators took a 103 lead. Most polls had Florida listed as one of the top 10 teams entering the season. Still, the Gator defense managed to put quarterback Troy Smith under heavy pressure. Chris Leak took a final knee on fourth down, ending his illustrious career as a Gator on top of the college football world. The Tigers scored early, taking the opening drive to the Gators' 5-yard-line before being forced to kick a field goal. As the Gators came into their annual rivalry game with Georgia, they were heavily favored. Brandon James also added a 77-yard touchdown from a punt return. On third down from the 5-yard line, Lumpkin took a draw play and fought his way for a Georgia touchdown to bring the Bulldogs to within seven points. Freshman sensation Tim Tebow took over for the majority of the second half, going 1012 passing, for 200yards, and two touchdowns. Florida had great field position, following a personal foul penalty on Ohio State. Record: 13-1 (2nd of 119) . Ohio State ran a draw play on 3rd down and punted on the following play. Freshman receiver Percy Harvin 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. Before the game, it was announced that star defensive lineman Marcus Thomas was kicked off the team for the remainder of the year. After the Tigers muffed on a Gator punt a drive later, reserve freshman QB Tim Tebow scored on a QB sneak from one yard out to tie the game. He did, however, kick a 22-yard field goal. [17] The attendance of 90,714 was two shy of the stadium record. Florida got very strong play from its defense and special teams, as they were able to block two punts and force an interception. Brandon James also added a 77-yard touchdown from a punt return. In desperation, Florida responded on the last play of the game with a failed hook and lateral play, which Auburn's defense was able to pick up and return for a score as time expired.[20]. It was the Gators' first shutout since blanking Mississippi State on September 29, 2001. The third ranked Gators had little trouble disposing of 1-AA Western Carolina. A roster on the university's Web site lists 121 players, 41 of whom have been arrested, either in college or afterward, and sometimes both. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos.