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