His best were legendary. In a backhanded slap at Tennessee’s inability to play in a major bowl (before the Vols won the 1998 national championship), Spurrier once said you couldn’t spell Citrus (as in the Citrus Bowl) without UT. Then there was the time Auburn’s library caught fire. Spurrier allowed as how that was a waste of good books, some of which probably hadn’t even been colored in yet.
Spurrier -- who won six SEC championships and the 1996 NCAA title in his 12 years at Florida -- gave no indication he was ready to leave. Just days earlier, the Gators had dusted ACC champion Maryland in the Orange Bowl. When he placed a call to Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley to tell him the news, Spurrier had to ask if Foley was still on the line. Foley was still there, but in a state of stunned disbelief. He later said he thought Spurrier was joking.
Gator fans across the state mourned Spurrier’s passing. And fans of other SEC schools were sorry to see him go, too. Spurrier was the guy everybody loved to hate. When that rare SEC team had the opportunity to stick it to the Gators -- as Tennessee did in Gainesville late last season -- the victory was that much sweeter.
Next to Spurrier’s departure, the second-most shocking occurrence to hit the Florida program last January was Foley’s struggle to hire a coach. It seemed a no-brainer that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, a former assistant to Spurrier at Florida, would have wanted to return to Gainesville. But Stoops had won the national championship the previous season, and had turned Oklahoma into a cushy, high-paying gig. Thanks, Stoops told Foley, but no thanks.
The same was true for Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
Undaunted after his 0-for-2 start, Foley quickly latched onto New Orleans defensive coordinator Ron Zook, a former Florida assistant (1991 to 1995). It didn’t take Zook long to decide he’d had enough of the pros.
Zook proved he belonged immediately, salvaging a recruiting class despite the defection of several star players who had considered Florida only because Spurrier was there.
Zook also made some astute hiring decisions when he put together his staff. He raided Arkansas for defensive coordinator John Thompson, whose defenses are predictable only in that they are unpredictable. Suffice to say a Thompson-coached defense is hard to prepare for.
Zook reached out to Marshall offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher to run the Gators’ offense. That was a great move because Zaunbrecher’s philosophy mirrors that of Spurrier’s, which seemed to work fairly well. Zaunbrecher developed several outstanding quarterbacks at Marshall, including current star Byron Leftwich, who has been mentioned in the same breath with Zaunbrecher’s new protégé, Rex Grossman .
QUARTERBACKS
Grossman (6-1, 220) briefly considered giving up his final two seasons of eligibility and jumping to the NFL last season, but he stayed put. That means the Gators’ offense, given that Zaunbrecher’s philosophy is basically the same as Spurrier’s, will again make liberal use of the strong-armed junior, who last season finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Nebraska’s Eric Crouch. Grossman was just the fifth sophomore in the history of the award to finish in the top two.
Where to start talking about the monster year Grossman put together in 2001? Try this: Grossman completed 259-of-395 passes for 3,896 and 34 touchdowns. That’s an average of 354 yards per game. Grossman was intercepted 14 times, but his passing efficiency rating was an unbelievable 173.79. He’s the NCAA’s career leader (167.63) in that statistic.
There’s more. Much more. Grossman holds the NCAA record for most touchdown passes thrown (55) in combined freshman and sophomore seasons. He already ranks 11th in SEC history in that department. He threw for 300 or more yards in 10-of-11 regular-season games, including nine straight, a school record. Grossman led the nation in both passing efficiency and total offense per game, the first time that’s been done since BYU’s Steve Young accomplished the same rare feat in 1983.
Grossman’s great season convinced Brock Berlin, a talented quarterback in his own right, that he didn’t stand much chance to play a great deal if he stayed around. So Berlin transferred to state rival Miami.
That leaves red-shirt freshman Ingle Martin (6-2, 220) as Grossman’s backup.
Martin was considered one of the nation’s top prep quarterbacks in 2000, when he was chosen to the Parade All-America and PrepStar’s All-America Dream Team. Martin was a two-time Division II Player of the Year in Tennessee and led Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville to three consecutive Tennessee state championships with 32 consecutive wins and final USA Today national Top 25 rankings in 1999 and 2000. In his senior season, Martin completed 62-of-137 passes for 964 yards and seven touchdowns and also rushed for 935 yards.
RUNNING BACKS
Senior Earnest Graham ’s value to the Gators was underscored last season. When Graham (5-9, 215) played, Florida was 10-0. In the two games Graham missed because of injury, the Gators lost to Auburn and Tennessee.
Last season, Graham made second-team All-SEC after rushing for 650 yards and nine touchdowns on 125 carries. Graham was sixth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (72.2). He ran for more than 100 yards in two games, against Georgia and Maryland in the Orange Bowl. Graham carried the ball 16 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns against the Terps. It was his second straight plus-100 effort in a bowl game (after gaining 136 versus Miami in the 2001 Sugar Bowl).
Graham figures to get a lot of work because Florida will use one-back sets most of the time. It helps that he’s adept at catching passes out of the backfield. A year ago, he hauled in 12 passes for 129 yards.
Florida has another solid back in junior Ran Carthon (6-0, 212). He played in all 12 games a year ago and came up with 162 rushing yards on 36 carries and 145 receiving yards on 13 catches.
Florida signed two exceptional running backs in Parade All-Americans Deshawn Wynn (6-0, 210) of Cincinnati and Ciatrick Fason (6-1, 200) of Neptune Beach, Fla.
Wynn rushed for 2,283 yards and 30 touchdowns in his senior season at Reading High School. Fason also gained more than 2,000 yards as a senior at Fletcher High School and piled up more than 7,400 in his career, making him the fifth all-time leading rusher in Florida prep history.
When the Gators do use two running backs, they can employ sophomore Ray Snell (6-0, 240) at fullback. He started twice last season against Marshall and Louisiana-Monroe but didn’t have any carries. He caught one pass for nine yards.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
This unit took a huge hit with the early departures to the NFL of Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell. Both were chosen in the second round of the NFL draft, Gaffney going to the Houston Texans and Caldwell to the San Diego Chargers.
Fortunately for the Gators, a premier receiver returns in senior Taylor Jacobs (6-1, 198), who caught 38 balls for 712 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He led Florida in yards per catch (18.7).
Jacobs gave an indication of the kind of senior season he could have with a monster performance in the Orange Bowl win over Maryland, catching 10 passes for a bowl record 170 yards. Jacobs showed up on every preseason All-SEC team.
"We’re impressed with Taylor’s work ethic, his speed and the ability he has to produce big plays," Zook said. "He had a great spring for us and was a guy who was learning the system and just getting better and better. He’ll have a chance to be an awfully good football player for us."
After spring practice, sophomores O.J. Small (6-1, 211) and Reggie Vickers (5-11, 175) were listed as the other starting wide receivers. Neither contributed heavily last season. Small made only one catch, for 24 yards against Louisiana-Monroe. Vickers played in three games.
Juniors Carlos Perez (5-11, 203), Kelvin Kight (6-0, 198) and Matt Jackson (5-10, 194) will all figure heavily into the Gators’ receiver rotation.
Senior Aaron Walker (6-6, 261), who started last season, and junior Ben Troupe will handle the tight end position. Walker caught 16 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns last season and was also an SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. Troupe caught nine balls for 98 yards and one touchdown.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Florida lost three starters from its offensive line, seniors Zac Zedalis and Tommy Moody and junior tackle Mike Pearson, who left school early and declared for the NFL draft. He was taken in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This season, the line will be anchored by junior left tackle Max Starks (6-8, 345) and junior left guard Shannon Snell (6-5, 301).
The monstrous Starks started all 12 games at right tackle last season. His 752 plays were second among Florida offensive linemen.
Snell also started 12 games last season. He logged 715 plays, third among Gator linemen.
"We finished the spring with two starters from last year, left tackle Max Starks and right guard Shannon Snell," Zook said. "They need to be the two guys who lead this offensive line."
Senior center David Jorgensen (6-4, 288) missed spring practice because of an injury. Jorgensen is Florida’s most experienced lineman, having played in 33 career games and made 19 starts. He was one of only five Gators to start every game in 2000 despite playing most of the season with a bad wrist, an injury that later required surgery. Jorgensen missed the Auburn and Tennessee games last season.
In Jorgensen’s absence, red-shirt freshman Mike Degory (6-6, 315) won the center job.
Other starters on the line are sophomore right guard Jonathan Colon (6-7, 311) and sophomore right tackle Mo Mitchell (6-7, 350).
KICKERS
Florida has to replace two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist Jeff Chandler, the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Sophomore Matt Leach (6-1, 199), who punted last season, took over the kicking job in the spring. A year ago, he punted 26 times for a 40.2 average and downed seven punts inside the 20. He booted a 54-yarder against Marshall on his first collegiate kick and was chosen Florida’s most outstanding freshman in 2001.
Leach was a prep All-American as a kicker in 2000 while playing for Booker High School in Sarasota. He was 12-for-16 on field goals that season and 35-for-44 (79.6 percent) in his career. He kicked three field goals of 50-yards or longer during his time at Booker with a career long of 53.
Sophomore Matt Piotrowicz (5-11, 190) will handle kickoffs.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Two-time All-American Alex Brown is gone, having taken his act to the Chicago Bears, and 2001 starter Kennard Ellis has also departed, meaning Florida will have to find two new defensive ends. But both tackles, preseason All-SEC pick Ian Scott (6-3, 307), a junior, and senior Tron LaFavor (6-2, 288) return. And senior Arpedge Rolle (6-1, 278) was a force in the spring.
"Tron LaFavor and Arpedge Rolle both had excellent springs, as well as Ian Scott, who led the inside front last year and had a great spring," Zook said. "We expect him to continue right on where he left off."
Scott started 10 times in 2001 and came up with 49 tackles and 27.5 big plays, second on the team. He took part in 538 plays, second among Florida linemen.
LaFavor has played at end and tackle in a career that spans 33 games and 11 starts. A year ago, he came up with 42 tackles, third among Florida’s linemen, and 11 big plays. He’s made the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll the last two years.
Given Rolle’s previous contributions -- 14 career tackles, including two in 2001 -- his handiwork in the spring was a delight for the Florida staff.
"Arpedge Rolle probably had the most surprising spring," Zook said. "He wreaked havoc all spring."
Florida has several players competing for time at the two outside positions.
Junior Bobby McCray (6-6, 248) laid claim to one of the jobs with some impressive spring performances. Last season, he played in nine games and earned three starts. McCray finished with 12 tackles and 4.5 big plays.
"Bobby McCray probably had the best spring at the outside position, showing his speed and range, being a guy who can come off the corner and hopefully put a lot of pressure on the quarterback," Zook said.
Junior Darrell Lee (6-4, 255) is listed No. 1 at the other end spot, but junior Clint Mitchell (6-7, 245) and freshman Sylvester McGrew (6-4, 270) will play. Marcus Oquendo - Johnson (6-4, 215), a senior, was listed as McCray’s backup.
LINEBACKERS
The Gators lost two experienced middle linebackers in Andra Davis (chosen in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns) and Travis Carroll. But two starters return.
Senior Byron "Bam" Hardmon (6-1, 234), who starts on the weak side, has played in every game of his Florida career, 35 in all with 12 starts. He’s taken part in 1,256 plays. Hardmon has 89 tackles and 18 big plays in his career.
In 2001, Hardmon started nine times and made 42 tackles.
Hardmon is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.
On the strong side, senior Mike Nattiel (6-0, 229) has played in 38 games, with 17 starts, and has taken part in 1,103 plays.
Last season, Nattiel started eight times and came up with 66 tackles, fourth on the team and second among Gator linebackers.
Junior Matt Farrior (6-2, 232) was listed as the starter in the middle after spring practice. Last season, Farrior accounted for 29 tackles, a team-high 17 of them on special teams.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Florida’s secondary lost three starters from 2001: cornerback Lito Sheppard, chosen in the first round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, cornerback Bennie Alexander and safety Marqaund Manuel, who was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round.
One stalwart remains, however, in senior free safety Todd Johnson (6-1, 201), a two-time first-team All-SEC pick. Johnson was chosen Florida’s outstanding defensive back the last two years, and he’ll bring needed experience this season. He’s played in all 38 games of his career with 25 starts. Johnson has been a part of 2,054 plays and has 198 career tackles.
In 2001, Johnson made 72 tackles, third on the team, and tied for the team lead with two interceptions.
Johnson is smart and has great awareness and a knack for following the play.
Junior Guss Scott (5-11, 191) will handle the strong safety job. Last season, he led Florida defensive backs and was second overall with 75 tackles. He made 20.5 big plays and an impressive 7.5 sacks.
Junior Keiwan Ratliff (5-10, 181) and senior Robert Cromartie (5-8, 190) locked down the starting cornerback jobs in the spring.
Ratliff played in every game and earned two starts in 2001. He came up with 17 tackles and two interceptions. Ratliff also returns kickoffs and punts.
Cromartie returns after missing all of last season after tearing his right pectoral during fall drills. He started the final eight games in 2000, making 35 tackles and eight big plays.
RECRUITING CLASS
Zook and his staff managed to sign 20 players. It was Florida’s lowest-regarded recruiting class in years, but the recruits will fill some needs.
Foremost among the signees were running backs Wynn and Fason and quarterback Dickey. Other players who will help on offense are wide receivers Terrence Holmes (5-10, 188) of Glassboro, N.J. and Jemalle Cornelius (6-1, 180) of Fort Meade, Fla. and linemen Brian Carter (6-3, 300) of Claremont, Fla. and Randy Hand (6-4, 315) of Fort Myers, Fla.
Some holes were filled on defense, too, particularly at linebacker and defensive back. Florida went to Georgia for two quality linebackers in Brian Crum (6-3, 211) of Woodbine and Channing Crowder (6-2, 225) of Atlanta and also signed Taurean Charles (6-1, 220) of Miami.
Miami also provided brothers Jermaine and Tremaine McCollum , a pair of 5-9, 165-pound cornerbacks.
BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Spurrier won’t be patrolling the sideline in Gainesville any more, but Gator fans shouldn’t worry about the program falling to shambles. Ron Zook might not have been anyone’s first choice to succeed the colorful, successful Spurrier, but by all accounts he is a fiery, intense personality who asks for and receives the most from his players. Zook had never been a head coach before taking over at Florida, but the long-time NFL assistant, say league insiders, was on pace to eventually take a top job.
Zook, who had previously served on Spurrier’s staff in Gainesville, made some astute hires when he chose Zaunbrecher and Thompson. That assured Florida would continue to play an exciting brand of football. Zaunbrecher, plucked off the staff at Marshall, prefers a wide-open attack as Spurrier did, but he’ll seek to diversify a bit more. And Thompson, as SEC offensive coordinators can attest, caused headaches with his defensive schemes at Arkansas and will do so again. He’ll have plenty of talented young athletes to unleash on the rest of the league.
Zaunbrecher, too, has some ammunition as his disposal. He left behind a great quarterback in Leftwich at Marshall, but he gains an even more heralded one in Grossman, who finished runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2001. Grossman isn’t just a thrower; he’s accurate and can find receivers. He’ll get that chance as Zaunbrecher, like Spurrier, will spread the field.
A brutal schedule that includes games against Miami and at Tennessee in the first month and at Florida State in the season finale might keep the Gators out of national championship contention this season, but they won’t be for long. Florida will miss Steve Spurrier, but the program isn’t going to suffer a serious drop-off without him.
