CFB Most Influential Programs
#23 Florida Gators
School: Florida Gators
First Game: November 22nd, 1901
Winning Percentage: .627 (17th)
Appearances in AP/Rank: 644 (12th)
Average AP Ranking: 10.3
National Titles: 3
Claim to Fame: When you think of Florida Gators football, for most people 3 names will immediately come to mind. Head Ball Coach and former Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow, and Urban Meyer.
Why I have them in my Collection: A theme one can say happened with a lot of SEC Schools especially. Florida’s lack of national titles, given the fact that they’re in the same state as Florida State and Miami has a lot to do with the very slow way in which the school eventually integrated their football team. If you don’t believe me, look at which teams embraced integration the quickest and then look how a shift to more southern dominance happened once those teams finally went all in.
That said, since the 90s/the invention of the SEC Conference Championship, Florida has usually been a major factor. From playing in the World’s Biggest Cocktail Party against Georgia to their battles with Tennessee, the Gators have usually been a frontrunner in the SEC East or right there. Furthermore, their stadium, the Swamp, was and still is one of the most hostile in college football to try and win at.
From 2006-2009 or so, it could be argued that Florida was undisputedly the best team in the country, or right there. They won 2 national championships in this time, and Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy. There was also a ton of turmoil happening with those teams, but that is something that may be more suited for a book than a quick hit.
Don’t bother watching that Netflix documentary. You won’t learn anything.
Florida has some of the most well-known names in the sport and a famous venue that it calls home. That and their continuous impact on both SEC and national title implications make them impossible to ignore as an influential program, especially since 1990.
Thank you for reading Preston’s Sports Musings. If you enjoy the sports thoughts that fly through my mind on a wide range of subjects, consider becoming a free subscriber.
If a subscription is not in the cards at the moment, consider clicking the link below for a one time donation with “Buy Me A Coffee”. Anything is always appreciated, and you can click the button below as well:
More than anything if this piece moved you, share it far and wide with friends! I love reaching new people and learning new perspectives:
If you believe the writing I do here would be a beneficial read for the people in your life, please consider sharing my publication: