Where I Come From: My All-Time Favorite Florida Gators
This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
We continue our series celebrating the start of college football season with EA Sports' NCAA Football 2011. Today, we want to hear about your favorite Gators. It is easy to say, "Tim Tebow, because he was awesome!" No, you have to be a bit more creative than that. Was there a funny story about the player that made you like him? Maybe there was a volleyball player who became a favorite of yours because she looked good in those blue shorts? Here are mine. Drop yours in the comments.
Lee Humphrey, Basketball: He was the first guy at pre-game shootaround and would throw the ball into the student section for someone to make a three-pointer from the bleachers. And he started doing that as a freshman.
Joakim Noah, Basketball: The personification of the New Generation of Florida Students; Northerner, mixed heritage, has smoked weed, upper to middle class, everyone outside Gainesville hates him but he wants to destroy anyone who challenges him.
Brian Jeroloman, Baseball: I have a soft spot in my heart for catchers who work counts and hit line drives.
Brandon McArthur, Baseball: He nearly died after being sucker punched on University Avenue as a freshman. A few brain surgeries later, McArthur came back and played on the 2005 College World Series team. McArthur also had other serious injuries, but never quit. He might not have been a star, but he was an example of someone who wouldn't let outside forces determine his fate.
Tate Casey, Football: He always has two-beers with him, even when catching a jump pass.
Percy Harvin, Football: He played a National Championship game with a broken leg and was the reason why we won.
Cornelius Ingram, Basketball/Football; Gavin Dickey, Baseball/Football: The two best athletes I saw at UF. Ingram was built like a G.I. Joe man and I saw Dickey break an aluminum bat.
Drew Miller, Football: We are playing a summer 2006 intramural softball game, with Miller playing catcher on a team that includes several football players. I am on 2nd base when there is a base hit into right field. I come around 3rd thinking I can beat the throw or the throw would be wide. Instead, it was on the money and beats me by about four steps. I can't run over Miller (he has about 150 pounds and six inches on me; also I'd get ejected), so I decide to slide feet first to get under him. I also throw up my arms to hit his glove as I slide in. The ball lands on my leg, making me safe. Miller is convinced I'm out for hitting him and I keep yelling he dropped the ball, I can't be out. The ump is right and calls me safe. Miller is now pissed. The next batter also gets a base hit, easily scoring our runner from 3rd. But as the runner comes to the plate, Miller trips him, sending him sprawling into the dirt. A few of our players leave the dugout to go after Miller and the other team responds to defend Miller. The ump does not eject anyone, but our player leaves the game with a sprained wrist. Miller ends up writing an apology email to the kid for tripping him. So, why would Miller be a favorite all-time Gator after that? Because he is exactly what an offensive lineman should be; a mean SOB.
Jarvis Moss, Football: This.
Tim Tebow, Football: I think he likes being Evil.
Francesca Enea, Softball: She played through injuries and is engaged to a guy who once said on live radio, "The speed limit at UF is 20 because it's the perfect speed to check out girls."
Ali Gardiner, Softball: Talked with my friends for almost an hour at a bar after the 2009 Tennessee game. Not only was she a great girl to talk to (about sports, her game winning homer against Alabama, going to school at UF), she was wearing a t-shirt she made specifically for the game and had blue spray paint in her hair. You have to love any girl who chooses fandom over getting dolled up. (For the record, Gardiner was still very cute.)
Ryan Lochte, Swimming: Olympic Champion and Grog House bartender. Men want to be him and women want to be with him.
Jennifer Magley, Tennis: Magley was about 6-foot-1 and five of that was legs. She wasn't just looks. She was tough as nails. Her doubles partner for most of her career was Zerene Reyes, who was more than a foot shorter. Opposing doubles teams would target Reyes, who was a good player but limited in power. Magley would retaliate by slamming returns at the opposing net player.
Jane Collymore, Volleyball: Collymore was a very good player and easy on the eyes. (I don't think UF has ever had an unattractive volleyball player.) My friend and I were out at Grog one night when Collymore was there. Then this happens;
Friend: starts buzzed white person dance
Collymore: Hey! leans towards friend, about three feet away
Friend: continues dancing, sips beer
Collymore: You wanna dance?
Friend: has no idea someone is talking to him, sips beer
Collymore: Hey!
Friend: finally realizes a good looking girl is yelling at him
Collymore: Are you gay?
I started laughing so hard, I had to lean on my ex-girlfriend for support. My friend is still confused, but manages to defend his heterosexuality. They did not dance, which was for the best, because my friend is intimidated by tall girls.
That's my list. Leave yours below.
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Comments
all time
Hard to argue with McArthur for baseball, class act in all facets of life…
In football, Leak was and is my all-time. He was my first (qb when I began UF) and i still believe he was underrated during his UF career. I will defend that he was as important an asset as our defense during that ‘06 run… He never really fit in under any of his coaches, and believe Meyer would be much more able to utilize him now. When he was boo’d (it was him not Meyer) I almost went apeshit on everyone in the lower North endzone…
Basketball would most likely be Hump. Just a regular white guy who was automatic if given 2 feet of separation…
Know my picks are based on recent history, but you go from being a fan to a fanatic when you enroll (’04)… Try to catch classic games on SUN/FSN, but know few more than the big names and guys from the hometown…
Hmmm...
Again, I’m a “Big Two” sports guy, but I’ll do what I can! I loved the National Championship basketball teams, but I’d rank the individual starters as follows: Humphrey, Horford, Brewer, Noah and Green. I also liked Mike Miller back in his day. As for football, I have a much more diverse list. Reggie Nelson is my all-time favorite Gators football player. I’d also rank among the most memorable: Tebow, Harvin, Moss, Ike Hilliard, Fred Taylor, Lito Shepard… oh man, there’s just too many! As for other sports, Matt LaPorta was the first UF player that I’ve followed as such, and it was cool to learn that Ryan Lochte and Heather Mitts went to UF. Oh, and Stacey Nelson was all sorts of awesome!
MileHighReport.com member since 02/06/07, promoted to "Position Coach" (i.e. new staff writer) on 02/16/10!
LaPorta baseball
Corey Brewer basketball
Ciatric Fason football
DeShawn Wynn football
Joakhim Noah basketball
Al Horford basketball
Drew Miller football (great pick i thought i was the only one who loved Drew he was the man!)
Lee Humphrey basketball
Reggie THE ERASOR Nelson football
Fred Taylor football
Emmitt Smith football
Danny wuerfull (spelling?) football
Ryan Lochte swimming
Tim Tebow football
Chris Leak football
Percy Harvin football
Brandon Spikes football
Ryan Stamper football
Dallas Baker touchdown maker
Riley Cooper touchdown maker
Corny Ingram football
Joe Haden football
Major Wright football
Nick Calathes basketball
Thats about it, since i live in NY i cant really name anyone outside of the sports that are actually televised here. plus i became a fan in 96 and dont really remember much between then and 03 (who would want to, thanks alot Zook.)
funny story - collymore does music now and volleyball
my fav players -
lee humphreys – seemed as though he was the only player not recognized by non-florida fans, but he had a lot of heart and made big shots when he had too
danny wuerffel – the reason i started to follow the gators
tim tebow – the reason i could brag to all my friends i was a gator fan
ronnie brewer – i thought he was the over-all best player on the team (in terms of shooting, passing, steals, and such)
riley cooper – seemed like a hard worker, and being a two sport athlete like that its tremendously hard, also gave up his money to play football for the gators for his last year….dedication
reggie nelson – just a playmaker
and chris leak – talk about class, and heart of a champion
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5
Ronnie Brewer was a good player. For the Razorbacks.
mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
http://www.alligatorarmy.com
ugh
sorry, corey brewer. i dont know why i thougth his name was ronnie…..
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5
by silverstreak3k on Jul 8, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm in random order but Tebow ranks #1!
Tim Tebow
Al Horford
Percy Harvin
Brandon Spikes
Chris Leak
Danny Wurferrel
Jeff Demps
Carlos Dunlap
Steve Spurriur(before USC)
Riley Cooper
Luis Murphy
and I think that’s it
...in dixie land i'll take my stand to root for Atlanta
It's hard to pick but...
… in football it has to be the OBC. As I have grown older I have learned to appreciate different playing and coaching styles, especially has I have learned to better understand what’s actually going on out on the field. Just the same, a sizable chunk of my perception of how a football team should just LOOK is very much influenced by having grown up watching SOS and the old Fun ‘N’ Gun.
And no I don’t give a rats ass that he isn’t officially a Gator currently. Neither does he apparently, given his tendency to use words like “us” and “we” when referring to the Gators, continued ownership of a house in G’ville, and frequent appearances being honored for one Gator rated event or another.
Player wise… Reggie F’n Nelson was probably the most fun player I have ever watched, hands down. Just the passion he had for the game and being a Gator, combined with his ability to alter games just by being there in that secondary watching QB’s like a hawk.
If I were to pick an offensive player to go with… Ricky the Rocket. I was just a little kid when he came though, so my memories are a bit muddled… but I grew up with replays of the pass and dash from Bell when they upended the Bulldogs in ’84.
For basketball, I’ll have to second Hump. My favorite NCAA memory has to be of playage stopping while they went out and replaced the net after he shot a 3-ball right through it.
Tough question, but here's who comes to mind for me
Football – Spurrier. He was before my time, but he was our first Heisman winner and he is the basis for everything that is Florida football.
Football – Lawrence Wright. Not only was he great on the field, but he embraced the saying “If you aint a Gator, you must be Gator Bait.”
Basketball – Corey Brewer. Of all the 04s, he was the only one who couldn’t financially afford to stay in school and really needed the NBA money for his family. He stayed anyway. I loved that kid – he was like plasticman on the court too.
Basketball – Demetri “Da ’Meat Hook” Hill. How can you not love a 290LB forward with a soft unstoppable baby hook shot?
Baseball – David Eckstein. He was that guy that you usually hate because he is on someone else’s team (kind of like Matt Bonner in hoops). Thankfully, he was that pesky little guy playing FOR the Gators. Being named World Series MVP ain’t bad either!
Swimming – Dara Torres. I can’t believe she’s still going….
Soccer – Heather Mitts. Gorgeous and talented is a great combo.
Tennis – Jill Craybas. She led the Gators to a 31-0 perfect season and a national championship in 1996, when she was also the individual singles national champion. She also went on to beat Serena in Wimbledon as a pro.
Golf – Chris Couch, who clinched the 1993 national title for the Gators with a 4’ putt to finish ahead of David Duval and Georgia Tech,
Softball – Stacey Nelson. She made the Gators the favorite to win basically every single game.
Gymnastics – Ashanee Dickerson. Most of you don’t follow gymnastics, but Dickerson just finished her freshman year as the Gators top gymanst and I predict that before she graduates, will lead the Gators to our first national title in the sport.
Track – Jeff Demps. That kid is amazing to watch – on the track and on the gridiron!
Volleyball – Aury Cruz – led the Gators to their only national title game appearance in 2003 before falling to an undefeated USC
by skigator93 on Jul 8, 2010 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
finally someone who makes sense
I am at a loss as a Gator how Lawrence Wright is rarely if ever mentioned. Two memories stand out that should stand out for all of us—one, when joey kent met Mr. Wright, and two, that indelible image of Lawrence Wright on the Sugar Bowl floor, waving the Gator flag, telling the world to look at the score, fifty two to twenty, and to tell him who the true National Champion is, and then reminding the world again, that if you ain’t a Gator, you must be Gator Bait. I applaud skigator for being one of the few who have a memory, and I applaud Mr. Lawrence Wright for always bleeding orange and blue.
by yourgatoroverlord on Jul 9, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Keiwan Ratliff
Most of my favorite Gators have already been mentioned, so I thought I’d throw some love at Keiwan. It was in the before time; in the long, long ago. Steve Spurrier had just departed for the NFL, and Urban Meyer was starting his second season at Bowling Green. The week after an improbable win at Tennessee, the Gators found themselves trailing Kentucky 28-25 in the third quarter after squandering a 19-0 halftime lead.
Rex Grossman drove the Gators down to retake the lead, but Kentucky was driving in the 4th quarter, when Keiwan Ratliff intercepted a Jared Lorenzen pass and took it 62 yards to the house. Derek Abney returned a punt to cut the Florida lead to 39-34, when Keiwan intercepted the pass on the two-point conversion and returned it for a safety, keeping the Gators then 16-game win streak over the Wildcats intact. The next day I bought a #1 Florida jersey, the first Gator jersey (and the second jersey of any kind) I purchased.
Ben Troupe probably also deserves some love, as one of the best tight ends in Gator history.
As a kid, my first Florida impression was the Ron Zook error
Urban Meyer is my favorite Gator. He took us to the top.
All -around Gator
I would have to say Emmitt Smith, who was under appreciated by the ’ol ball coach, but performed on the field and off – returning to UF to complete his education and earn his degree while setting records in the NFL. Emmitt is a classy Gator.
i am not sure what underappreciated means here
emmitt never played for coach spurrier. emmitt finished his junior year in 89, galen hall was fired midseason 89, and the program was hit with sanctions, including ineligibility for the sec championship in 1990(I still claim that title). coach spurrier was hired around new years, the perception was that spurrier’s offense would not feature much of a running game, and emmitt chose to go pro. this was not underappreciation by spurrier. of course, we all know now how crucial the running game was to coach spurrier. i apologize if i am being petty. the bottom line however both are glorious gators.
by yourgatoroverlord on Jul 10, 2010 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

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