Gators Have a Long History in the Super Bowl
Sunday, February 5, 2012 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- You could say the Gators have been a part of the Super Bowl from the start.
In Super Bowl I, the first points scored in Green Bay's 35-10 win over Kansas City came on Bart Starr's 37-yard pass to Max McGee. That's when the Gators made their Super Bowl debut as Packers kicker Don Chandler came in for the extra point.
Chandler booted the kick between the uprights at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that day in January 1967. Long before the Super Bowl was even a thought, Chandler showed off his versatility for the Gators during the 1954 and '55 seasons, playing running back and serving as the team's punter/kicker.
Chandler passed away in August at the age of 76, but his contributions at Florida and his place in Super Bowl history endure. Chandler's four field goals in Green Bay's 33-14 win over Oakland in Super Bowl II remain a record he shares with three others.
More famous Gators have had big moments in the Super Bowl, none bigger than running back Emmitt Smith starring in three Super Bowl wins for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s.
Five former Gators have an opportunity to win their first Super Bowl ring on Sunday when the Patriots and Giants meet in Super Bowl XLVI.
New England's Gerard Warren, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham all played at Florida, with Hernandez, Spikes and Cunningham winning a national championship together at Florida in 2008.
Meanwhile, another Gator on the 2008 team, defensive tackle Justin Trattou, is a rookie on the Giants' roster.
Regardless of Sunday's winner, a former Gator is expected to impact the game in some way.
Thanks to research from Florida's sports-information department, here is a look at the Gators' rich history on the sports world's biggest stage:
Florida's Super Bowl Starters - A Gator has started in six of the last eight Super Bowls and seven of the last 10. Overall, a Gator has started in 18 Super Bowls. Twenty-five Gators have made 31 starts.
Super Bowl X: (1976): Burton Lawless
Super Bowl XIV (1980): Jack Youngblood
Super Bowl XVI (1982): Glenn Cameron, Cris Collinsworth
Super Bowl XX (1986): Wilber Marshall
Super Bowl XXII (1988): Tony Lilly, Ricky Nattiel
Super Bowl XXVI (1992): Wilber Marshall
Super Bowl XXVII (1993): Emmitt Smith
Super Bowl XXVIII (1994): Emmitt Smith
Super Bowl XXX (1996): John L. Williams, Ernie Mills, Emmitt Smith
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000): Jevon Kearse, Kevin Carter
Super Bowl XXXV (2001): Lomas Brown, Ike Hilliard, Jeff Mitchell
Super Bowl XXXVII (2003): Kenyatta Walker, Mo Collins
Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004): Jeff Mitchell
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): Jevon Kearse, Lito Sheppard
Super Bowl XL (2006): Darrell Jackson, Marquand Manuel, Max Starks
Super Bowl XLI (2007): Alex Brown, Rex Grossman, Ian Scott
Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Max Starks
Super Bowl XLIV (2010): Bobby McCray
Super Bowl XLVI (2012):
All-Time Scoring Super Bowl Scoring by College:
School Points
1. Miami 78
2. Penn State 73
3. Notre Dame 64
4. Florida 56
5. Georgia 55
6. Nebraska 54
7. California 48
7. Miss. Valley State 48
9. Illinois 45
10. Michigan State 43
Florida 56 (Don Chandler, Green Bay, I, II, 20; Ricky Nattiel, Denver, XXII, 6; Emmitt Smith, Dallas, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX, 30)
National Champs and Super Bowl Champs
Brandon Spikes, Aaron Hernandez, Jermaine Cunningham and Justin Trattou are hoping to join a duo of former Gators to win a National Championship and a Super Bowl Ring. Jeff Mitchell ('96 UF National Championship and Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore Ravens) and Dallas Baker ('06 UF National Championships and Super Bowl XLIII with Pittsburgh Steelers)
Gators in the Super Bowl
35 players have made 51 appearances prior to Sunday's game between the Giants and Patriots.
Super Bowl I (1967) Green Bay: Don Chandler (P)
Super Bowl II (1968) Green Bay: Don Chandler (P)
Super Bowl X (1976) Dallas: Burton Lawless (G)
Super Bowl XII (1978) Dallas: Larry Brinson (RB), Burton Lawless (G)
Super Bowl XIII (1979) Dallas: Larry Brinson (RB), Burton Lawless (G)
Super Bowl XIV (1980) L.A. Rams: Jack Youngblood (DE)
Super Bowl XVI (1982) Cincinnati: Glenn Cameron (LB), Cris Collinsworth (WR)
Super Bowl XVII (1983) Miami: Nat Moore (WR)
Super Bowl XIX (1985) Miami: Nat Moore (WR)
Super Bowl XX (1986) Chicago: Wilber Marshall (LB)
Super Bowl XXI (1987) Denver: Tony Lilly (FS), Ricky Nattiel (WR)
Super Bowl XXII (1988) Denver: Tony Lilly (FS), Ricky Nattiel (WR)
Super Bowl XXIII (1989) Cincinnati: Cris Collinsworth (WR)
Super Bowl XXVI (1992) Washington: Wilber Marshall (LB)
Super Bowl XXVII (1993) Dallas: Emmitt Smith (RB), Godfrey Myles (LB)
Super Bowl XXVIII (1994) Dallas: Emmitt Smith (RB), Godfrey Myles (LB)
Super Bowl XXX (1996) Pittsburgh: John L Williams (RB), Ernie Mills (WR)
Dallas: Emmitt Smith (RB), Godfrey Myles (LB)
Super Bowl XXXIII (1999) Atlanta: Elijah Williams (DB)
Super Bowl XXXIV (2000) Tennessee: Jevon Kearse (DE), Zach Piller (OG)
St. Louis: Kevin Carter (DE)
Super Bowl XXXV (2001) N.Y. Giants: Lomas Brown (OT), Ike Hilliard (WR)
Baltimore: Jeff Mitchell (C)
Super Bowl XXXVII (2003) Oakland: Mo Collins (OG)
Tampa Bay: Kenyatta Walker (OT), Lomas Brown (OT)
Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) Carolina: Jeff Mitchell (C)
Super Bowl XXXIX (2005) Philadelphia: Lito Sheppard (CB), Jevon Kearse (DE)
New England: Gus Scott (S, Injured Reserve)
Super Bowl XL (2006) Seattle: Darrell Jackson (WR), Marquad Manuel (S)
Pittsburgh: Max Starks (OT)
Super Bowl XLI (2007) Chicago: Alex Brown (DE), Rex Grossman (QB), Todd Johnson (S), Ian Scott (DT)
Super Bowl XLII (2008) New England: Jabar Gaffney (WR), Chad Jackson (WR)
Super Bowl XLIII (2009) Pittsburgh: Dallas Baker (WR), Max Starks (OT)
Super Bowl XIV (2010) New Orleans: Bobby McCray (DE)
Super Bowl XLV (2011) Pittsburgh: Maurkice Pouncey (C), Max Starks (OT) (both were injured and unable to play)
Super Bowl XLVI (2012) New England: Brandon Spikes (LB), Aaron Hernandez (TE), Gerard Warren (DT), Jermaine Cunningham (LB, injured reserve)
NY Giants: Justin Trattou (DE)
