Florida Flashback: Carter's 10 Memorable Moments of the 2011-12 Athletic Year
Monday, July 9, 2012 | Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Some of us remember scores. Others remember the play that won the game. But moments are what we remember most.
That's why, years later, sports fans can remember exactly where they were when so and so did this or that. We all have those kinds of memories about our favorite team or favorite player.
The Gators provided those kinds of moments during the 2011-12 athletic year. You can click here to share some of your most memorable moments of Gator athletics in the last year.
Meanwhile, here are 10 moments that remain vivid in my mind:
1. Brantley's TD Pass to Debose
The Gators were 4-0 when Alabama visited The Swamp on an electric Saturday night. The game featured the subplot of Gators coach Will Muschamp facing one of his mentors, Alabama's Nick Saban, for the first time as a head coach.
And then, boom! The Gators led 7-0 when John Brantley opened the game with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Andre Debose. It was the loudest Ben Hill Griffin Stadium got all season.
Of course, not much else went right for the Gators as they lost Brantley to an ankle injury before halftime and the game, 38-10.
2. Final Out of Crawford's No-Hitter
The final out of any no-hitter is special. You know what's coming next: a rush to the mound to celebrate and usually a dog pile.
That's exactly what happened when Florida sophomore Jonathon Crawford threw a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman in the Gators' NCAA Tournament opener.
But before the celebration ensued, Gators second baseman Casey Turgeon leapt high off the ground to snag a line drive headed for a base hit. Instead, it was the final out of Crawford's masterpiece.
3. Wambach and Mitts Return
Former Gator soccer players Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts spent last summer playing for Team USA in the World Cup. Wambach turned into the star of the tournament as the Gators won silver.
Still riding the emotional wave of the U.S. team's memorable run through the tournament, Wambach and Mitts were greeted by chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” when they were introduced at The Swamp at halftime of the season opener.
4. Murphy and Jaeckel's Goodbye
Kelly Murphy and Kristy Jaeckel were the heart and soul of the Florida volleyball team.
Murphy was the quiet star and Jaeckel the outgoing leader. With a berth to the Final Four on the line, the Gators lost to Illinois at the O'Dome.
It was the final game for Murphy and Jaeckel and both seniors were overcome by raw emotion in the wake of their disappointment. It was a reminder how much the games we watch mean to those who play them.
5. MLB Draft Day
There was little doubt that the Florida baseball team would have several players taken in June's amateur draft. But nine players in the first 10 rounds? I can't say I saw that coming.
Everyone knew catcher Mike Zunino was a lock to go high in the first round, but pitcher Brian Johnson was selected later in the first round and shortstop Nolan Fontana went to Houston with the first pick of the second round.
Steven Rodriguez, Austin Maddox, Hudson Randall, Preston Tucker, Greg Larson and Daniel Pigott were all off the board by the time the 10th round rolled around, prompting analysts to praise Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan's recruiting.
6. Holloway's Hold on Trophy
After it was over, after the Gators men's track team had won that elusive outdoor national championship, Florida coach Mike Holloway joked how his friends ribbed him for finishing second so many times.
Now that he was first, Holloway had no plans to let go of the NCAA Championship Trophy. If you have seen the photos of Florida celebrating the title, you've seen two things: Holloway's wide smile and his grip on the title trophy.
Holloway was second no longer.
7. The Lead Up to Florida-Louisville
The Gators bounced Marquette in the Sweet 16 in Phoenix. The victory earned them a ticket to face Louisville for a berth to the Final Four.
Immediately after Florida's win over Marquette, the attention turned to the Billy Donovan-Rick Pitino bench battle. Donovan played for Pitino at Providence, served as his assistant at Kentucky and considers him a mentor and close friend.
It was a fun couple of days in Phoenix leading up to the game as both coaches handled the storyline with class. In the end, the mentor won to end the Gators' season.
8. Beal's Big Night
Bradley Beal arrived at UF a year ago and lived up to the hype of being one of the nation's top freshmen.
Beal's outside shot and all-around game – not to mention a maturity beyond his years – helped the Gators reach the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season.
Beal opted to enter the NBA Draft as only the second UF freshman under Donovan to do so. Turned out to be a good move as Beal was selected with the third overall pick last week by the Washington Wizards – on his 19th birthday.
9. Muschamp's Debut
There's always a little extra buzz in the air at the season opener. Throw in the fact a new coach is in town and the buzz is even more palpable.
That was the feeling when the Gators opened the 2011 season against Florida Atlantic in Muschamp's first game as a head coach.
The Gators took care of business in a 41-3 win over the Owls.
10. Gator Bowl Postgame
The prospect of the program's first losing season since 1979 hung over Florida's Gator Bowl matchup against Ohio State on New Year's Day.
The stakes were high – at least in the court of public opinion – for Muschamp and the Gators. A mixture of relief and joy flooded the field after Florida's 24-17 win to conclude a 7-6 season.
Players dumped Gatorade on Muschamp. Debose carried his Gator Bowl MVP Trophy around the field. Coaches took pictures with their families. It was as good as it got in Muschamp's first season.
