SUPER SOPHS AND SUPER SENIORS



#7 QB John Reaves and #45 WR Carlos
Alvarez, famed Super Sophs of the '69 Gators
(This photo was taken before a game in the '71 season.



Captains of the '69 Gators; Sr OT Mac Steen and Sr LB Tom Abdelnour. The leadership of a large class of Senior linemen and defensive players provided the backbone of Florida's greatest season ever to that point in Gator histoy.

Carlos Alvarez recent election to the College Football Hall of Fame re-focuses attention on one of the Greatest Gator teams of all-time, the 1969 Gators. The '69 Gators established the best record in Florida football history to that point, 9-1-1, and upset both a team (Houston) ranked No 1 (in at least one poll) and the SEC regular season Champion (Tennessee, 14-13 in the '69 Gator Bowl).

Sophomore QB John Reaves, WR Carlos Alvarez, RB Tommy Durrance, FB Mike Rich and other precocious Sophomores (DL Robert Harrell and others) were dubbed the Super Sophs for the over-the-top excitement and drama they unexpectedly brought to the '69 season, while shattering the Gator and SEC offensive record books.

The team was undergirded with a large class of outstanding, but un-herald Seniors led by Captains OT Mac Steen and LB Tom Abdelnour and other outstanding SRs including C Kim Helton, LB David Ghesquiere, All-American DB Steve Tannen.

The '69 Gators also had exceptional Juniors, too, including  JR DE Jack Youngblood (a future NFL and College Football Hall of Famer) and Gator Bowl MVP Mike Kelley.

In fact, not just one of the Greatest teams in Florida history; one of the Greatest, and most exciting, teams in College Football History!



ALVAREZ', REAVES' FEATS WERE EXTRAORDINARY

Last week's announcement of Gator Great Carlos Alvarez election to the College Football Hall of Fame has unleashed a flood of fond memories for "old school" Gators and introduced newer Gators to an extraordinary year of Florida football history; the exceptional (and lovable) 1969 Gators. In recent days Gator Gridiron has reflected on that truly unique, endearing and OUTSTANDING team. Today, we will reflect on some of the specific highlights of Carlos Alvarez (and the outstanding QB to which his career is inextricably linked, Alvarez partner in demolishing the Florida and SEC record book, fellow Gator Great John Reaves).

For current Gators who are used to balls routinely clanking off of the hands of  wanna-be Wide Receivers Deonte Thompson and Riley Cooper, Carlos Alvarez will be literally hard to comprehend. Since no adjectives or superlatives could ever fully describe the indescribable MAGIC that the appropriately nicknamed (by Norm Carlson) Cuban Comet brought to the football field (in concert with his equally gifted QB Reaves) we will present  A FEW of his/their achievements in "old school", "just the facts, ma'am) style:

* Carlos Alvarez first reception as a Gator was the most dramatic TD in Florida Gator football history, a 70 yard bomb from Reaves on the first pass of their respective careers.

That play also sparked the biggest upset in Gator history, the 59-34 win over No. 1 (by at least one major publication) ranked Houston Cougers.

That 70 yard TD also was the catalyst for the best ever season in Gator history to that point, a 9-1-1..
..which ended with a 13-12 victory over SEC regular season Champion Tennessee.... and where Alvarez scored the winning TD......on a pass for Reaves.

* In addition to scoring the most dramatic TD in Gator history, Alvarez also shattered the Florida record for single game receiving yardage in that opening day route over Houston as well; 182 yards on 6 catches.

Reaves threw for 342 yards (an SEC record...in his first game, no less), an astounding number in that era, while tying the all-time SEC record for TD passes in a game and was named National Back of the Week, the first time ever that a player received that honor in their first game.

* In his second game, Alvarez tied Richard Trapp's all-time Gator record for pass receptions in a game;12 receptions good for another 180  yards). Every yard and catch were crucial as the Gators outlasted Mississippi State in a shoot-out in Jackson, Miss, 47-35. Reaves completed 24 of 33 for 329, posting unheard of for that era back to back 300 yard games.

....to be continued

ALVAREZ/ '69 GATORS MAGICAL SEASON CONTINUES TO AMAZE

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

In the wake of last week's announcement that Gator Great Carlos Alvarez had been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, Gator fans, old and new, are re-discovering the amazing feats of the speedy WR known as the "Cuban Comet" AND his teammates on the 1969 "Cinderella" Florida Gators.

The  unheralded '69 Gators began the eventful summer of '69 ( man's first journey to the moon, Woodstock, intense Viet Nam combat on the nightly news, etc,) as a group that was widely ridiculed by the national sports press---picked last in the SEC by Playboy magazine and rated in the Bottom 10 by another group of so-called "experts".

By the time the season ended in late December 1969 with a stirring 14-13 upset over SEC regular season Champion Tennessee in the Gator Bowl (with Alvarez scoring the winning TD on a 3rd quarter pass from fellow Super Soph John Reaves) the upstart '69 Gators had:

 established the best record in Florida Gator football history to that point, 9-1-1;

won the title of unofficial "Best Team in the SEC" by beating regular season Champion Tennessee in the Gator Bowl;

 captured only the 5th bowl victory in Gator history;

 pulled off the biggest upset in Florida history, and one of the biggest in college football history (59-34 over powerful Houston, ranked pre-season No. 1 by at least one ratings service);

and shattered literally scores of Florida and SEC offensive records (not to mention many defensive and special teams records) on the way to scoring more points than any other Gator team since the legendary 1928 Gators and leaving a tail of offensive, defensive and special teams highlights that haven't been seen before or since; in Gainesville, the SEC or college football.

 (the '69 crew also avenged the '28 Gators controversial 12-13 loss to Tennessee in Knoxville, which, according to legend, was played on a hopelessly soaked, muddy quagmire, which was kind of funny since Knoxville hadn't had rain for weeks.....and, according to legend, knocked the Gators out of a trip to the Rose Bowl that year).

In the wake of the long overdue recognition of Carlos Alvarez, Gator Gridiron will present highlights (the above mentioned don't even scratch the surface) of that magical 1969 season in the days to come.....

REAVES TO ALVAREZ. PURE MAGIC!

  Gator Greats John Reaves and Carlos Alvarez.

Reaves hits Alvarez for the all-time NCAA career passing yardage record in the Orange Bowl vs Miami on Nov. 27, 1971, for the final connection of their Gator careers. The Gators won 45-16 and Reaves also set the all-time SEC record for TD passes, 54, in this game.

The first Reaves to Alvarez connection also made history---a 70 yard TD bomb vs No 1 ranked (by one major publication) Houston on the third play of their first game as Gators. Florida went on to beat highly touted Houston 59-34, on opening day 1969 in one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Alvarez set a new Florida record for single game receiving yardage with 182 yards on 6 receptions for 2 TDs; Reaves broke the Gator and SEC record for single game passing yardage with 343 and tied the SEC record for single game TD passes with 5. Alvarez was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame last Wednesday May 18th.

REAVES TO ALVAREZ....FLORIDA'S GREATEST PASSING COMBINATION

CARLOS ALVAREZ, COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMER

Carlos Alvarez hauls in spectacular touchdown bomb from John Reaves just before half to put Florida up 14-6 over FSU at Florida Field on October 4, 1969. Gators went on to win 21-6. Gator Defense caused 10 turnovers and registered 11 sacks. Soph DL Robert Harrell was named Southeast Lineman of the Week
The 15 point margin was the largest in the history of the series to that point.

'69 GATORS CONTINUE TO AMAZE, ALVAREZ NAMED TO COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

Those amazing 1969 Gators continue to rack up extraordinary achievements. The most recent is yesterdays' announcement of the election of Gator Great Carlos Alvarez, WR #45, to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Old School Gators will remember Alvarez from the legendary and lovable 1969 Gators, a team that began the 1969 season in the Bottom 10 in the nation and finished the season with a stirring 14-13 Gator Bowl win over heavily favored 9-1 Tennessee (the SEC regular season Champion) to finish with the best record in Florida football history to that point, 9-1-1 (as well as unofficial Best Team in the SEC).  Appropriately the winning points came on a third quarter Carlos Alvarez  touchdown which brought Florida from behind 13-7 to 14-13. The QB, of course, was Alvarez partner in shredding Gator and SEC record books that magical season, fellow Super Soph, Gator Great John Reaves.

The season that ended in such dramatic fashion began, literally, with a bomb---a 70 yard touchdown bomb from Reaves to Alvarez on the third play of the season opener vs another heavily favored opponent, the Bill Yeoman Houston Cougars, the most explosive offensive team in college football in that era (for example, they put 100 on Tulsa in '68, over 70 on two opponents, over 50 on two others and beat Miss ST 74-0 two weeks after playing the Gators). Houston began the '69 season a consensus Top 10 team and ranked No. 1 by at least one major publication. The Gators began '69 ranked in the Bottom 10 and picked last in the SEC by Playboy magazine. Well, by halftime it was 38-6 Gators. The final was Gators 59-34. Alvarez had established a new Florida record for receiving yards; Reaves, with 342 yards passing---an unheard of number in those days---and 5 td passes, had shattered every Gator and SEC single game passing record on the books.

From there the season only got better....Alvarez and Reaves put on a passing show unlike any ever seen in the history of the SEC, SOPH TB Tommy Durrance broke the SEC record for Touchdowns. SOPH FB Mike Rich emerged as a powerful inside running threat and brutal blocker for Durrance, SOPH WR Andy Cheney developed as a key weapon in the passing game and SOPH Bill Dowdy set a record for Gator TEs with over 30 catches. On defense, SOPHs Jimmy Barr, Harvin Clark and Doug Sorenson made big plays at crucial times, such as Barr's TD interception against Houston just before half and Clark's opening game KO return for a TD at Kentucky. SOPH Robert Harrell made huge plays all season long on the D-line and SOPHs Dale Hutcherson and Jim Yancey added depth at the OG and TE postions, respectively. Oh yeah, SOPH  K Richard Franco established a new record for PATs with 33. The Legend of the Super Sophs was born.

One long overlooked aspect of the '69 Gators is the fact that the team was undergirded by a core of talented, mature, veteran players, led by Co-Captains OT Mac Steen and LB Tom Abdelnour, who provided extraordinary leadership and hard-nosed, fundamental play.  Other veteran SR and JR players who provided the backbone of the '69 Gators include, but is not limited to, SR C Kim Helton, SR G Skip Amelung, SR WR Paul Maliska, SR OT Wayne Griffith, SR OT Jim Kiley, SR LB David Ghesquiere, All-American SR DB Steve Tannen, SR DBs Skip Albury, Mark Ely and Ted Hager, Gator Bowl MVP JR LB Mike Kelley,  JR OG Donnie Williams,  SR DL Bob Coleman, JR DB Jack Burns, D-linemen Robbie Rebol, Danny Williams, Britt Skrivanek and Alan Cole, DB Larry Williamson, LBs Brad Powell, Eric Taggert and Mike Palahach and, of course future NFL and College Football Hall of Famer JR DE Jack Youngblood.
After breaking the Gator single game yardage record in his first game on varsity in the rout against Houston, 182 yards on 6 receptions, Alvarez followed up in the second game of the season by tying Richard Trapp's single game reception record of 12 catches (180 yards) in a 47-35 shootout on the road at Mississippi State. (Reaves was 24-33 for 329). In the third game, the Cuban Comet scored 2 TDs on passes from Reaves, which provided the winning margin in a hard fought 21-6 win over FSU on Florida Field. One of those TD catches, a finger tip grab in stride running full speed toward the South end zone was featured in Sports Illustrated, won numerous national awards and is now a famed example of iconic sports photography. The next week the Gators spoiled a gallant upset bid by unheraled Tulane in Tampa. The Green Wave took a 17-10 lead into the final two minutes of the game. A dramatic end of game TD drive led by Reaves closed the gap to 16-17 Tulane. The game ended with an extraordinary leaping catch (his 11th of the game) by Alvarez in the back of the end zone for an 18-17 last second Gator victory.

Are you beginning to see why they called these guys Super Sophs?

Florida continued to blow through the schedule---a 52-2 revenge win over North Carolina for Homecoming and a 41-20 shootout at home over upset-minded Vandy with Reaves throwing for an SEC record tying 5 TDs once again and Carlos snagging 11 for 112 yards. After a 2 game stumble with a road loss to Auburn and a 13-13 tie with Ga, Florida spanked Kentucky 31-6 on the road, a game that began with Harvin Clark returning the opening kick off for a Gator TD and where Coach Graves called off the dogs after a 31-0 halftime lead.

On a hot, muggy South Florida night in the Orange Bowl, Alvarez, and his fellow Super Soph's, brought the regular season to fitting end with their best night of all---the Cuban Comet caught 15 passes for 237 yards, breaking all Gator single game records for receiving and leading Florida to a spectacular 35-16 win over hated rival Miami. Touchdown Tommy Durrance scored 3 in this game with 117 yards rushing and Reaves threw for over 340 yards once again.

Carlos Alvarez finished the '69 season with an astounding 88 receptions, 1,329  receiving yards and 12 TDs and was named consensus All-American. From 1969-71, in concert with All-American QB Reaves, Alvarez put up numbers never before seen in the SEC, some of which still stand as all-time Gator records including 2,563 career receiving yards, most receptions in a game (15), most receptions in a season (88) and most consecutive games with a pass reception (25); his 1329  yards in '69 is still second all-time at Florida.

And today, in May 2011, he has added one more well deserved credential to both his resume and to the Legend of the 1969 Florida Gators; Hall of Fame.

GATOR GRIDIRON STILL OPTIMISTIC FOR 2011

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

While musing about the upcoming season with some fellow Gators, Gator Gridiron made the point that the ingredients are in place for a surprisingly good year. Since my friends, like many clear thinking Gators, did not quite see things the same way, I'll share a few of the reasons today:

1. New coaches with a fresh set of eyes. Let's face it, the 2010 Gators were one of the worst coached football teams in the nation last year and one of the worst coached Gator teams since the early Doug Dickey years---when he and his Tennessee staff were dismantling the '69 Gators. Obviously, the Urban Meyer of 2005-2009 never returned, turning things over to Steve Addazio to serve as de-facto Head Coach. And when Steve Addazio is running your program.....well, we saw what happens when Steve Addazio is running your program.....

With a new set of coaches, led by Will Muschamp's youthful optimism and Charlie Weis' experienced, innovative mind a new spirit of energy has a chance to take hold.

2. The Gators are LOADED with talent. Florida underachieved last year...no, Florida underachieved dramatically last year. Memories of the 2010 Gators overshadow the fact that many of the players who were responsible for the lofty pre-season top-10 and SEC East Champion predictions of last summer are back for 2011.

3. The RB position is stocked with excellent backs---Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Mike Gillislie, Mack Brown to name a few.

4. There are a stable of talented and under-utilized WR's---Omarius Hines, Frankie Hammond, Jr, Andre DuBose, Robert Clark, Stephen Ali, Quentin Dunbar---and, most importantly, a new OC with the knowledge to first, get the right players on the field, and then put them in a scheme to take advantage of their immense, untapped talents.

5. Defense could be a real strength. Once again, the defense is loaded with players with ability and experience. The defensive line boasts 3 potential stars to go along with returning SR leader DT/DE Jaye Howard, a top NFL prospect; Florida returns 2 starting LB's and even with the departure of CB Janoris Jenkins the secondary returns several talented players with game experience, including starter Jeremy Brown and up and comer Matt Elam. When you consider that HC Will Muschamp made his reputation in college football as one of the top D-Coordinators in the game it is resonable to expect the Gator defense to be strong in 2011.....and when the defense is strong, you could be looking at a real good year....Good teams are built on good defense.

Of course there are major question marks as well----the QB position is unsettled and the depleted O-Line has the look of a real problem area.

However, we "Old School" Gators remember that some of Florida's greatest teams---the Legendary '69 Gators, the '84 Gators--Florida's first on-the-field SEC Champion and the 1984 Sporting News and NY Times National Champion, and even Urban Meyer's 2006 National Champions began the season as unheraled and even, in the case of the '69 Gators, ridiculed, only to emerge as outstanding teams that provided fans with extraordinary achievements and  cherished memories that live on to this day.

Will the 2011 Gators be one of those teams?

NEWTON A BETTER PROSPECT THAN TEBOW? NO WAY!

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

The 2011 NFL draft has been completed and former Auburn spread option, and former Gator backup QB, Cam Newton has been crowned the new  "Greatest Quarterback Ever" not to mention "NFL Franchise Savior".  I find this to be more than a bit curious, since only a year ago we were told by the so-called NFL draft experts that Tim Tebow was a "reach" as an NFL QB at best and actually a more likely TE or H-Back in the NFL-----largely because he was a spread formation QB. Gee,  playing in the spread didn't seem to be much of a negative for Cam Newton (in the eyes of the "experts" aka know-nothings , aka Tebow Haters).

Putting aside for a moment Gator Gridiron's opinion that the spread formation had little or nothing to do with the attacks on Tim Tebow--- the spread formation was just a convenient smokescreen, we find it incredible that Cam Newton would be considered a better NFL prospect than Tim Tebow.

So much misinformation has been spread about Tebow, his accomplishments and his abilities (especially by critics with malicious intent) I don't even know quite where to start to defend him....but here goes.....

First and foremost, Tim Tebow is an outstanding passer....no, not just an outstanding passer ONE OF THE GREATEST PASSERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY! Almost 10,000 career yards passing(more than Dan Marino, by the way), over 80 career touchdowns, 3,200 yards his Sophomore year alone, AND the 3rd highest career efficiency rating in NCAA HISTORY! Cam Newton, on the other hand, in the one year he was a Divison I starting QB, was a pure product of the spread option offense---look down the field, find a receiver or take off running.

In addition to superior passing skills--- particularly efficiency and accuracy, Tebow towers over Ncwton in other vital criteria that are critical to success for an NFL QB. Does leadership count? The impact of Tebow's leadership in the Gator program has already become college football legend. Newton, on the other hand, has been dogged by cheating, law breaking and financial scandal for his entire college career. Newton, reportedly, was also un-impressive in his pre-draft interviews with at least some NFL teams.

Even in running style Tim Tebow's style is more suited to success at the next level than Newton's; Tim can go between the tackles and grind out first downs and TD's, whereas Newton is more of a "scrambler" who has a tendency to take off and run when, at the next level, it is more preferred to stay in the pocket and look for a receiver. Plus, Tim can scramble just as good as Newton when he chooses to do so.

And let's not forget that Tim Tebow had 3 of the best first 3 game starting performances by a QB in NFL history.

Therefore, with Tim Tebow the superior prospect, by judging on the field performance, as well as off-the-field "intangibles", why is Cam Newton being lauded as the official "Greatest Thing Ever" and Tebow has been the object of over-the-top criticism and ridicule?

The answers are multiple and complex. Gator Gridiron will address that issue in the days ahead.

Until then, remember this....Gator Gridiron declares that TIM TEBOW is not only the better NFL QB prospect, but that when it is all over, Tim Tebow will have the vastly superior NFL career.
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