Gators Glory: Great Eras in Florida Football
by Wilton Sharpe
Two national championships in the last decade, seven SEC championships in the last 16 years, two Heisman Trophy winners, the fourth winningest team in the 1990s—in retrospect, it seems astounding that such a football powerhouse did not register its first Southeastern Conference title until 1991. But the Steve Spurrier regime was quick to make up for lost time, logging five SEC crowns in six seasons and claiming the national title in 1996.
Entering its 101st season, the Florida Gators—the reigning national champions—have rolled out the greats for almost eighty years, beginning with its first All-American, Dale Van Sickel, in 1928. Since then it's been the likes of Charlie LaPradd, Haywood Sullivan, Rick Casares, Larry Dupree, Steve Spurrier, Carlos Alvarez, John Reaves, Jack Youngblood, Wes Chandler, Cris Collinsworth, Lomas Brown, Emmitt Smith, John L. Williams, Errict Rhett, Danny Wuerffel, Ike Hilliard, Fred Taylor, Jevon Kearse, Alex Brown, Rex Grossman, Chris Leak—Gator legends all.
Gators Glory is the story of University of Florida football as told by the players, coaches, opponents, fans, and the media. It salutes the great stars, teams, moments, rivalries, venues, fans, and tradition of the Gators, and includes the all-time Florida team plus complete national champion rosters.
From Rhett to Rex, Weary to Wuerffel, Marshall to Matthews, and Lawless to Leak, it's all Gators.
 | WILTON SHARPE is a freelance writer and former copy editor for The (Nashville)Tennessean sports department. His articles have appeared in Athlon Sports publications, NFL Insider and GAMEDAY magazines, Athletic Administration, the Cleveland Browns’ yearbooks, (Tennessee) Titans Exclusive, and on NFL.com. A former columnist for The Nashville City Paper, the one-time Connecticut native currently syndicates a weekly sports content package to community newspapers. |
$12.95, Paperback
ISBN-10: 1-58182-621-4 (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-621-0 (Paperback)
Paperback Available August 2008
