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It was a breakthrough national championship, highlighted by the Fun' N' Gun offense, a Heisman-winning quarterback and a visor-wearing coach with swagger that stretched from Key West to Pensacola.
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here's a look at No.19:
Why Collins is No. 19: As a redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Collins started five games at tackle, including UF's 52-20 win over Florida State at the Sugar Bowl. Collins went on to declare for the NFL draft following his junior season at UF in 1997 and was taken in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played in 71 games with 64 starts for the Raiders from 1998-2003. After the end of his NFL career, Collins returned to his native Charlotte, N.C. to coach at West Charlotte HS. He died of kidney failure on Oct. 26, 2014, at just 38.
No. 30: Cooper Carlisle
No. 29: Ryan Kalich
No. 28 Shea Showers
No. 27 Demtric Jackson
No. 26 Travis McGriff
No, 25 Tim Beauchamp
No. 24 Cameron Davis
No. 23 Tremayne Allen
No. 22 Jevon Kearse
No. 21 Tony George
No. 20 Zach Piller
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996 | No. 19 Mo Collins
Continue reading...
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here's a look at No.19:
No. 19 Mo Collins, OL
Why Collins is No. 19: As a redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Collins started five games at tackle, including UF's 52-20 win over Florida State at the Sugar Bowl. Collins went on to declare for the NFL draft following his junior season at UF in 1997 and was taken in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played in 71 games with 64 starts for the Raiders from 1998-2003. After the end of his NFL career, Collins returned to his native Charlotte, N.C. to coach at West Charlotte HS. He died of kidney failure on Oct. 26, 2014, at just 38.
Florida football Top 30 player countdown from 1996 championship team
No. 30: Cooper Carlisle
No. 29: Ryan Kalich
No. 28 Shea Showers
No. 27 Demtric Jackson
No. 26 Travis McGriff
No, 25 Tim Beauchamp
No. 24 Cameron Davis
No. 23 Tremayne Allen
No. 22 Jevon Kearse
No. 21 Tony George
No. 20 Zach Piller
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996 | No. 19 Mo Collins
Continue reading...
