David Nelson - Count On Me
Monday, September 14, 2009 | Football
By Kate Manly, UF Communications
Those close to the Florida football program often hear head coach Urban Meyer, assistant coaches and staff and even the players use two special words when describing the program and the expectations placed upon the members of the Florida football team. It's not 'relentless effort' or 'core values,' although Meyer presses his players on the importance of both. The term is 'competitive excellence' and it has a lot to do with the success that the Gators have experienced in recent years.
According to Meyer, demonstrating competitive excellence is being that player who can step up and make a play when his number is called. The theme of competitive excellence is drilled into the players' minds and, as a result, they have bought into the concept. Several players showed competitive excellence throughout the 2008 season and without them, the National Championship run may have been cut short. However, no player embodies that ideal of stepping up and making a big-time play in a big-time situation as redshirt senior wide receiver David Nelson.
Not many people will forget the visual of Nelson sprinting the length of the end zone, pointing to the fans and being engulfed by his teammates after making one of the most crucial plays of the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game. However, many people may not realize that his first touchdown - not just of the season, but of his three-year career – had occurred only seven games earlier against Kentucky.
As one of only four remaining members of Meyer's first recruiting class, Nelson has had to earn every minute of playing time and every ounce of his coaches and teammates' trust the hard way. An Army All-American and four-sport athlete at Rider High School in Wichita, Texas, Nelson was heavily recruited by Texas, Notre Dame and Iowa in addition to Florida. After much consideration, Nelson and his family believed that Florida and rookie head coach Meyer would provide him with the best opportunities, both athletically and academically. However, Nelson would be the first to admit that he arrived in Gainesville as many highly-touted high school players do, overly confident with high expectations of individual success.
“I wasn't ready to play when I got here … not mentally and certainly not physically,” Nelson admitted. “I could always catch the ball but I wasn't physically ready to take the hits that you take in the SEC.”
Although he has always found success in the classroom, being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each year, reality came quick for Nelson, who appeared in only one game as a freshman, leading to an obvious redshirt. His playing time increased as the years went on and as his coaches and teammates began to realize how hard of a worker he was. After appearing in five games in the Gators' 2006 National Championship campaign, Nelson earned his first career start in 2007 against Ole Miss. However, playing behind Gator Greats such as Andre Caldwell, Louis Murphy and Percy Harvin, the amount of available playing time was scarce. However, Nelson was rarely discouraged and he kept reminding himself that one day his number would be called and he would be ready to step up.
The 2008 season began with impressive and convincing wins over Hawaii, in-state rival Miami and Tennessee; however, the Gators were dealt a shocking blow on Sept. 27, when they were narrowly defeated by Ole Miss, 31-30, at The Swamp. What could have been a demoralizing and potentially season-ending loss for the Gators turned into perhaps the greatest turnaround, character-building moment in school history.
By now, everyone knows about quarterback Tim Tebow's promise to his teammates and The Gator Nation to be the hardest-working player in college football, but many outside of the football program are unaware of the stories of several Gators who stepped up and made the same pledge. Not surprisingly, Nelson was one of them.
“I'll be honest with you … I felt pretty selfish,” Nelson said. “Here he was the best player in college football and he's taking the blame to himself for that loss. He was ready to give everything for the team and take all the heat for what happens in the future and I thought 'Wow,' and then I started doing some soul searching, like what have I done since I've been here? What am I willing to do for the team?”
The following day, Nelson pledged to Meyer that he would do whatever he could to help the team. Whether that be to step up and be more of a vocal leader, focus more on blocking or devote his time to special teams, Nelson stood before his head coach and vowed to help his team, referring back to Meyer's age-old concept of competitive excellence.
"No matter what, you have to be ready whether you're a superstar or a backup," Nelson said. "You never know when they're going to call on you."
Nelson may have had no idea, but not only was his number about to be called, but it was going to be called in one of the biggest games in Florida football history.
He knew that there was a great possibility that the “Big Mustang” package would be called on that fateful Thursday night in Miami and when it was, Nelson took a second to remind himself that this was what it has all been about. This was what Coach Meyer had always talked about. He had practiced the route all week and now was his chance to step up and make the play.
A play that will live in Gator history forever, a four-yard reception from a Tebow jump pass with 3:07 to play, sealed the 24-14 victory for the Gators in the 2009 FedEx BCS National Championship Game and gave Nelson one of the best moments in his life.
“You dream about making the big play in the big games,” Nelson said. “After the Ole Miss game, I never would have dreamed of something like that. Everything changed after that. My whole career turned completely around.”
Although Nelson may have never dreamed of experiencing a moment like that, his coaches and fellow teammates were confident that it would only be a matter of time before Nelson would break through.
"It was David's time to shine," strength and conditioning coordinator Mickey Marotti said. "He's been through three off-seasons, three summers and he just got his chance. It just took him a little bit longer. Sometimes when guys don't get their chance right away they get discouraged a little bit. But I knew his time would come, we all did.”
Although that night in Miami may seem like just yesterday for some Gator fans, it may as well have been years ago for Nelson. He has taken time to soak in the experience and all that comes along with being a two-time National Champion, but his sights are set on the 2009 season and a trip to Atlanta in December.
Gator fans can rest assured that if Coach Meyer ever finds himself in a tight spot, he will have one senior leader ready and capable to put the game in his hands.
-UF-
