Gators in the NFL - Conference Championships
Monday, January 25, 2010 | Football
Defensive end Bobby McCray is the 52nd former Gator to make an appearance in the Super Bowl after New Orleans' 31-28 win overtime win vs. Minnesota on Sunday. McCray's appearance marks the eighth consecutive year a former Gator has advanced to the Super Bowl, the longest streak in school history. Eighteen Gators have walked away Super Bowl Champions.
Two other former Gators played for the right to go to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Minnesota's Percy Harvin and the New York Jets' Lito Sheppard.
Overall, 32 Gators appeared on NFL rosters during the 2009 season.
NFL Gator Stats
· WR Percy Harvin, Minnesota – started in his first conference championship appearance; had five catches for 38 yards in the game; gained 15 rushing yards on four attempts; had two kickoff returns for 33 yards; despite outgaining New Orleans 475 to 257 in total yards, Minnesota fell to the Saints 31-28 in overtime
· DE Bobby McCray, New Orleans – started at left end in the 31-28 win over the Vikings; accumulated two tackles, a quarterback hurry and one pass deflection in addition to putting heavy pressure on Bret Favre all game; the Saints defense forced four fumbles, recovered three, hurried the quarterback six times, deflected six passes and forced two interceptions; the Saints will make their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history
· CB Lito Sheppard, New York Jets – made two tackles in the 30-17 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC Championship; had nine starts on the season, totaling 31 tackles, eight pass deflections and one interception in 11 games with New York
Gators in the Super Bowl (52 Appearances)
Super Bowl I (1967) Don Chandler (Green Bay), P
Super Bowl II (1968) Don Chandler (Green Bay), P
Super Bowl X (1976) Burton Lawless (Dallas), OG
Super Bowl XII (1978) Larry Brinson (Dallas), RB
Burton Lawless (Dallas), OG
Super Bowl XIII (1979) Larry Brinson (Dallas), RB
Burton Lawless (Dallas), OG
Super Bowl XIV (1980) Jack Youngblood (L.A. Rams), DE
Super Bowl XVI (1982) Glenn Cameron (Cincinnati), ILB
Cris Collinsworth (Cincinnati), WR
Super Bowl XVII (1983) Nat Moore (Miami), WR
Super Bowl XIX (1985) Nat Moore (Miami), WR
Super Bowl XX (1986) Wilber Marshall (Chicago), OLB
Super Bowl XXI (1987) Tony Lilly (Denver), FS
Ricky Nattiel (Denver), WR
Super Bowl XXII (1988) Tony Lilly (Denver), FS
Ricky Nattiel (Denver), WR
Super Bowl XXIII (1989) Cris Collinsworth (Cincinnati), WR
Super Bowl XXVI (1992) Wilber Marshall (Washington), OLB
Super Bowl XXVII (1993) Emmitt Smith (Dallas), RB
Godfrey Myles (Dallas), OLB
Super Bowl XXVIII (1994) Emmitt Smith (Dallas), RB
Godfrey Myles (Dallas), OLB
Super Bowl XXX (1996) John L. Williams, (Pittsburgh), RB
Ernie Mills (Pittsburgh), WR
Emmitt Smith (Dallas), RB
Godfrey Myles (Dallas), LB
Super Bowl XXXIII (1999) Elijah Williams (Atlanta), DB
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000) Jevon Kearse (Tennessee), DE
Zach Piller (Tennessee), OG
Kevin Carter (St. Louis), DE
Super Bowl XXXV (2001) Lomas Brown (N.Y. Giants), OT
Ike Hilliard (N.Y. Giants), WR
Jeff Mitchell (Baltimore), C
Super Bowl XXXVII (2003) Lomas Brown (Tampa Bay), OG
Kenyatta Walker (Tampa Bay), OT
Mo Collins (Oakland), OT
Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) Jeff Mitchell (Carolina), C
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005) Jevon Kearse (Philadelphia), DE
Lito Sheppard (Philadelphia), DB
Super Bowl XL (2006) Darrell Jackson (Seattle), WR
Marquand Manuel (Seattle), S
Max Starks (Pittsburgh), OT
Super Bowl XLI (2007) Alex Brown (Chicago), DE
Rex Grossman, (Chicago), QB
Todd Johnson, (Chicago), S
Ian Scott, (Chicago), DT
Super Bowl XLII (2008) Jabar Gaffney (New England), WR
Chad Jackson (New England), WR
Super Bowl XLIII (2009) Dallas Baker (Pittsburgh), WR
Max Starks (Pittsburgh), OT
Super Bowl XLIV (2010) Bobby McCray (New Orleans), DE
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