Florida wide receiver Carlos Alvarez has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, as Only Gators notes. Alvarez was a part of Florida's football team from 1969 to 1971 and set school records for receiving yards (2,563), receptions in a season (88), and receptions in a game (15) while catching passes primarily from John Reaves. He also left Florida with the SEC record for career receptions, with 176; that record stood until 1984, but has since been eclipsed multiple times, and is now held by Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett.
Both Jeremy Foley and Will Muschamp issued statements celebrating Alvarez's election.
"Carlos is a great example of all that is good in college athletics,’’ Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said Tuesday. "His tireless work and commitment to excellence translated into success both on and off the field. He has maintained his level commitment and success in his professional career as well.
"I've had the opportunity to see Carlos a number of times when he visits Gainesville and he remains a tremendous ambassador for our program. The honor is well-deserved."
Muschamp, slighly less connected to Alvarez, called his election a "tremendous honor" for both Alvarez and Florida football, and noted that "today all Gators should be proud of him."
I'm a little too young to remember Alvarez — neither of my parents had even made it through high school while he was playing for the Gators — but I want to know if you all have any other memories of him. And is Alvarez Florida's greatest receiver ever? The only competition he has, in my mind, is Percy Harvin, and that's a touch unfair.