Gators legend officially inducted into Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

This Gators legend has had a heckuva career on the broadcast airwaves and was honored for his efforts recently.

Florida Gators legend, NFL star and pillar of televised sports [autotag]Cris Collinsworth[/autotag] was officially inducted into the 2023 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame class on Tuesday night during a ceremony in New York City.

Collinsworth was a three-time All-SEC and two-time All-American performer at wide receiver with the Gators from 1977-1980, catching 120 passes for 1,937 yards and 14 touchdowns while running for two and returning a kickoff for another score. His efforts in Gainesville earned him a spot in the UF Athletic Hall of Fame back in 1991.

After college, he earned the 1981 Rookie of the Year award and ended up playing eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, amassing 417 receptions for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns. Collinsworth made three Pro Bowl appearances during that span.

The UF alumnus’ broadcast career began in 1990 when he joined NBC Sports as a game analyst for NFL coverage and selected college football broadcasts. Collinsworth made a big jump in 2005 when he joined the NFL on Fox broadcast booth alongside play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and former quarterback Troy Aikman to form Fox’s lead broadcast team.

He is the only NFL analyst other than John Madden to receive a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Event Analyst, having earned the award nine times. He currently sits alongside Mike Tirico in the NBC Sunday Night Football TV booth.

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Gators legend Tim Tebow joins College Football Hall of Fame

On Tuesday, legendary Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Legendary University of Florida quarterback [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame Tuesday night during the 65th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.

“It means a lot not just for the accolade—which it’s humbling to be in the hall of fame, but it also represents the incredible young men that I got to play with because the special thing about football is that it’s never just about you,” Tebow said.

“It is about the band of brothers that you get to play with, train with, work with, sweat with, create a vision and a goal and strive for that. I wouldn’t be here without their talent, their hard posture, their skillset, and also the relationships, the camaraderie and the brotherhood. It means a lot to me for that and it also means a lot to me for the coaches that I got to play for.”

Tebow is the 13th Gator and 10th Florida player inducted into the Hall of Fame. He joins Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel as the third UF quarterback inducted and is the first member of the 2007 and 2009 BCS National Championship teams to receive the honor.

The football team honored Tebow on the field during the regular-season finale against Florida State.

The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class includes:

  • Eric Berry – DB, Tennessee (2007-09)
  • Michael Bishop – QB, Kansas State (1997-98)
  • Reggie Bush – RB, Southern California (2003-05)
  • Dwight Freeney – DE, Syracuse (1998-2001)
  • Robert Gallery – OT, Iowa (2000-03)
  • LaMichael James – RB, Oregon (2009-11)
  • Derrick Johnson – LB, Texas (2001-04)
  • Bill Kollar – DT, Montana State (1971-73)
  • Luke Kuechly – LB, Boston College (2009-11)
  • Jeremy Maclin – WR/KR, Missouri (2007-08)
  • Terance Mathis – WR, New Mexico (1985-87, 1989)
  • Bryant McKinnie – OT, Miami [FL] (2000-01)
  • Corey Moore – DL, Virginia Tech (1997-99)
  • Michael Stonebreaker – LB, Notre Dame (1986, 1988, 1990)
  • Tim Tebow – QB, Florida (2006-09)
  • Troy Vincent – DB, Wisconsin (1988-91)
  • Brian Westbrook – RB, Villanova (1997-98, 2000-01)
  • DeAngelo Williams – RB, Memphis (2002-05)
  • Coach Monte Cater – 275-117-2 (70.1%); Lakeland [WI] (1981-86), Shepherd [WV] (1987-2017)
  • Coach Paul Johnson – 189-99-0 (65.6%); Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-07), Georgia Tech (2008-18)
  • Coach Roy Kramer – 83-32-2 (71.8%); Central Michigan (1967-77)
  • Coach Mark Richt – 171-64-0 (72.8%); Georgia (2001-15), Miami [FL] (2016-18)

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Tom Petty to be given posthumous Doctor of Music degree from Florida

Tom Petty is getting a degree from UF!

One of the most famous names synonymous with the University of Florida is the late rock star Tom Petty, who hailed from Hogtown originally before hitting it big out west.

While the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member never attended the hallowed halls of the Orange and Blue, his influence remains omnipresent with the recent tradition of singing his signature tune, “Won’t Back Down” during its football games. As such, the Petty family and the school have some tight connections.

“I don’t think anyone in our family, including him, thought that he would be linked with the University of Florida this way,” Bruce Petty told Rolling Stone. “It’s such a powerful thing, it was his life-long dream, and I know he would just be over-the-top, crazy happy about it.”

And despite never matriculating on campus, Petty still holds a special place in the heart of the university’s school of music.

“We in the UF School of Music and College of the Arts are privileged to honor Tom Petty with an honorary doctorate degree in Music, celebrating not only his extraordinary achievements as an artist, but the ways in which his music has and continues to unite us as a community,” University of Florida School of Music director Kevin Orr said.

Orr added, “Tom Petty’s tireless defense of the rights of performing artists, and his compassionate advocacy for the wellbeing of his neighbors in every community where he lived, are embodied by the students and faculty of the UF School of Music: commitment to one’s artistic passions, even in the face of challenges; the safeguarding of creative work to ensure unique and lasting impact; and indeed, the power of music to advance causes for the greater good in society.”

Spanning across a three-decades-plus music career, Petty earned multiple Grammy awards, MTV Music Awards, the Billboard Century Award, Radio Music Awards “Legend” Award, and other top industry honors ultimately earning an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Gainesville native is also widely recognized for his philanthropy in both Los Angeles and his hometown, as well as his commitment to environmental advocacy. Petty’s accolades include the Midnight Mission’s Golden Heart Award in 2011 and MusicCares “Person of the Year” at the 2017 Grammy Awards — two of the highest honors in philanthropy.

The university is also partnering with Petty’s estate on what they are calling the Tom Petty Endowment for Guitars & Innovation, benefitting its School of Music’s Guitar and new Music Business & Entrepreneurship programs. Petty’s estate donated $100,000 to the new endowment. The family is also raising money for the endowment by selling reprints of Shepard Fairey’s An American Treasure poster.

The Cade Museum, located in Petty’s hometown of Gainesville, Florida, celebrated Petty’s doctorate by screening the 2021 documentary Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free on Thursday, with UF School of Music students presenting songs from Petty’s Wildflowers album arranged for a string quartet.

The Cade will also open a Wildflowers exhibit later this year in association with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Albert E. Gator sets Guinness World Record for most mascot fist bumps

The Florida Gators football team isn’t the only one setting records out on Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Who says mascots can’t break records?

It seems like Albert, one of two Florida Gators mascots, has decided to take matters into his own hands. Earlier this month, Albert broke the Guinness World Record for the most first bumps by a mascot inside three minutes.

The record-breaking event was organized by the university and saw hundreds of students wait in line for hours underneath the rain to be among the 340 fist bumps that Albert recorded. The previous record was 220 fist bumps. The event took place on Steve Spurrier field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, a location that has seen a fair share of records broken throughout the years.

Logistically, the students selected to participate ran around in a circle for three minutes while Albert stood on the field with his hand, or leg rather, extended to fist bump the students as they made history together.

A Guinness World Records official was on hand to witness the event in person, verify the record, and assure that the event was considered official.

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Florida reaching out more to Gator greats, Emmitt Smith opens up

He’s been invited back on campus many times, but legendary UF alum Emmitt Smith told the Pivot Podcast that this time, he was invited back in a unique way.

When having a conversation about the greatest players in Florida Gators’ football history, you won’t get too far before you mention Pro Football Hall of Fame running back [autotag]Emmitt Smith[/autotag]. Before he won the Offensive Player of the Year award, NFL MVP, three Super Bowls, a Super Bowl MVP, and was named a four-time first-team All-Pro player, the Pensacola native was tearing it up for the Orange and Blue.

In a recent appearance on the Pivot Podcast, Smith joined ESPN’s Ryan Clark and his co-hosts, former Florida Gators Channing Crowder and [autotag]Fred Taylor[/autotag], in a wide-ranging conversation. Notably, the first two minutes or so are dominated by Smith talking about how the University of Florida recently sent him a gift package that included four tickets to any home sporting event of his choice, among other things.

Once you get past the realization that three of the four members of the show are Gators, and two of the greatest running backs in Florida football history are sitting next to each other, the weight of the conversation starts to kick in. While Smith notes that it’s not the first time he’s been invited back to Gainesville, he did reveal that it is the first time they have made such an effort with the gift package. Crowder, Taylor, and Smith proceed to discuss how much effort the current regime is putting into the Gators’ storied history. Taylor even went so far as to say Smith deserves a statue outside The Swamp.

The more often a public discourse about the Gators occurs, the better. It’s even more powerful when three former Gator Greats are the ones holding up their alma mater, something head coach Billy Napier seems sware of if he’s making such an effort to bring the legends of Florida football’s past into the fold.

In his time playing for the Florida Gators, Smith broke 58 school records, scored 38 touchdowns, was named the 1989 SEC Player of the Year, finished top ten in the Heisman Trophy race, and was a three-time All-SEC pick. He was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent 13 of his 15 NFL seasons. He received his degree in Health and Human Performance in 1996 and is a member of the Gator Football Ring of Honor.

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Dooley’s Dozen: 12 most famous Florida Gators athletes right now

Here’s who Pat Dooley thinks are the most famous Gators athletes right now in 2023.

There are different ways to measure the popularity of athletes in this country. It could be Q-score or the Davie Brown Rating or jersey sales or commercials.

Whatever it is nationally, it certainly varies from state to state and from city to city within those states.

All we know is that there are former Florida athletes who are a big deal. You flash up the picture and every Gator who has a daily chomp requirement knows who it is.

Today the Dooley’s Dozen looks at the 12 most famous Gators — not of all time, but right here and right now. Today.

Here we go.

Gators legend Steve Spurrier being honored with street naming

Legendary Gators quarterback and coach Steve Spurrier is getting a street named after him outside of his restaurant in February.

Florida legend [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] is getting a street named after him on Feb. 10, according to the Alachua Chronicle.

A ceremony will take place to unveil Steve Spurrier Way at the Head Ball Coach’s restaurant, Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille. The event is scheduled to take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. EST at the Celebration Pointe Promenade. The Grille released a press statement through the Chronicle to announce the news on Jan. 17.

“Steve Spurrier Way will run through the heart of Celebration Pointe, just as the legend himself runs through the heart of Gator Nation,” according to the release. “On hand to celebrate the street unveiling will be local and state dignitaries, as well as many Gator legends, including Coach Spurrier. The event is open to the public.”

Spurrier’s presence in Florida has been undeniable for nearly six decades. He won the Heisman Trophy as the Gators’ quarterback in 1966 and returned to the Swamp to begin his coaching career 12 years later after a decade in the NFL. His 11-year run as Florida’s head coach began in 1990 and ended in 2001 after a national championship, six SEC championships, five SEC Coach of the Year Awards and the program’s second Heisman Trophy winner.

After coaching South Carolina to historic success (and a stint with the Orlando Apollos before the Alliance of American Football went under), Spurrier returned to Gainesville to create his restaurant in 2020. It has since become one of the most successful restaurants in the country. His success

“This is a great honor and I want to thank the Florida Gators, Celebration Pointe, and my team at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille for making it happen,” Spurrier said. “Only the best coaches, like Don Shula, Bobby Bowden, and Coach Fulmer in Tennessee, usually get this honor, and I’m glad to join them.”

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Tom Petty Day’s schedule of events ahead of the LSU game

The Florida Gators will celebrate the Gainesville native with “Tom Petty Day” on Saturday, October 15. The celebration will begin on Friday.

On Oct. 2, 2017, Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer and Gainesville native Tom Petty passed away due to cardiac arrest. He was 66 years old.

On Oct. 7, 2017, the Florida Gators lost a close matchup against LSU 17-16. While the game didn’t cause celebration, the Tom Petty tribute between the third and fourth quarters did. In remembrance of Petty, The Swamp sang “Won’t Back Down” after “We Are The Boys” in a tribute to Gainesville’s finest. What originated as a one-time thing, instantly turned into Florida’s newest tradition.

Saturday, the University of Florida Athletic Association will celebrate the first-ever “Tom Petty Day” to honor Petty’s contributions to the City of Gainesville and the University of Florida. Petty once worked as a groundkeeper for the University of Florida before he made it big in the music industry.

The university has also announced that it will award Petty an honorary posthumous Doctor of Music in May 2023.

Florida Collection has partnered with The Tom Petty Estate to create apparel licensed by Original Retro Brand and other gear available for purchase online at the Gator Sportshop and the UF Bookstore. They are also available at TomPetty.com.

The Tom Petty Estate is donating its full proceeds from the sales of Tom Petty Day X Florida Collection merchandise to give back to underserved communities in Gainesville. Kids Count and Family Promise will be the recipients this year.

Here is a full schedule of events for Tom Petty Day, beginning on Friday, Oct. 14, per the Florida Gators’ official website.

Tim Tebow confirms documentary on infamous 2008 Florida team is in the works

Former Gators QB Tim Tebow talks about an upcoming documentary on the 2008 Florida Gators.

One of the most famous, or infamous, depending on how you look at it, college football teams in the history of the sport is getting its close up. 

After months of speculation, Florida Gator legend Tim Tebow confirmed a documentary is in the works for the 2008 Florida national title team to Mackenzie Salmon on Sports Seriously. 

“I’m not sure what I’m allowed to say about it yet,” said a reluctant Tebow, trying to not spoil any of the details. “But I want to get a chance to actually see it.” 

Of course, the 08’ Gators are remembered for going 13-1 and defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the national championship game that season. But today, it’s mostly known as the Gators team that had the likes of Aaron Hernandez, Riley Cooper and Percy Harvin on the roster. 

Head coach Urban Meyer and Tebow are expected to be key figures interviewed in the documentary. The Gator legend didn’t want to give away too much but admitted it was fun to look back at this legendary season in college football.

“It was fun having the chance to be able to film it and I will tell you what those were some really fun years. It’s some of the most special times of my life and to be able to look back at it with some of my teammates will be really fun.”

Former Gator, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte auctioning off six medals

Ryan Lochte took home plenty of medals after competing in four Olympic Games, and now he’s ready to let a few of them go (for some cash, of course).

Behind Michael Phelps, [autotag]Ryan Lochte[/autotag] is the most decorated swimmer in Olympic history with 12 medals (six gold, three silver and three bronze). Six of those, the bronze and silver ones, are up for auction, according to the Associated Press.

This is no money-making grab, though. Lochte gave the medals to a third party and everything earned goes “straight to the charity.” The medals are being sold in three lots by RR Auction in Boston and bidding ends July 21. The charity selected is the Jorge Nation Foundation.

The first lot contains a silver medal, Lochte’s first individual Olympic medal, from the 200-meter individual medley at the 2004 Athens Games. Its estimated value is $10,000 or more.

Lot No. 2 is a pair of bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing Games where Lochte placed third in the 200 IM and 400 IM. The estimated value is $12,000 or more.

The third lot is valued at $60,000 or more and contains three medals from the 2012 London Games, two silvers (200 IM and 4×100 freestyle relay) and a bronze (200 backstroke). Also for sale is a 14k white gold Olympic ring and a Breitling watch with black diamonds that Lochte bought for himself after the London Games.

When asked why he was parting ways with the medals, Lochte admitted that they weren’t of much personal value to him.

“I’m not one to be all sentimental about medals,” Lochte told The Associated Press. “My medals are just sitting in my closet collecting dust. The memories that I have is what means the most.”

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