Percy Harvin was one of the standouts on the 2008 Gators football team that won the national championship. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Coming Home, Part I: 2008 Gators to be Saluted Saturday
Monday, October 1, 2018 | Football
The 2008 Gators went 13-1 and outscored their opponents by an average of 30.7 points per game.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It's been 10 years since 2008 captains Louis Murphy, James Smith, Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow and Phil Trautwein helped guide the Gators on a magical run that ended with a 24-14 win over Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Florida posted an 11-1 record during the regular season, defeated Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and then beat the Sooners to win the program's second national title in three seasons.
Individually, the Gators had 16 players total 40 All-American honors. The 2008 Gators extended and continued to set the "Gators Standard" that Coach Mullen and his players talk about now.
Embedded within those words is the tradition and foundation for success that has created the brand for this special program.
That standard carries on with anyone who dons the Gators uniform and to everyday life on and off the field.
Thirty-seven student-athletes were named to the 2008-09 Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll after the 2008 season, which tied Vanderbilt for the top total in the league.
Prior to that season, Florida's previous high for football student-athletes named to the honor roll came in 2004 when 26 earned recognition.
On the field, multiple players from that squad went on to have very successful careers in the NFL.
All of the accolades, honors, awards and trophies are great, but the bonds and brotherhood that the student-athletes built here are what makes this the premier program in the country.
Florida posted an 11-1 record during the regular season, defeated Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and then beat the Sooners to win the program's second national title in three seasons.
Individually, the Gators had 16 players total 40 All-American honors. The 2008 Gators extended and continued to set the "Gators Standard" that Coach Mullen and his players talk about now.
Relive our amazing 2008 championship run.
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 16, 2018
Complete Recap: https://t.co/PR3E4d5p1U#GatorsAlways pic.twitter.com/DSGjuBjMZV
Embedded within those words is the tradition and foundation for success that has created the brand for this special program.
That standard carries on with anyone who dons the Gators uniform and to everyday life on and off the field.
Thirty-seven student-athletes were named to the 2008-09 Southeastern Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll after the 2008 season, which tied Vanderbilt for the top total in the league.
Prior to that season, Florida's previous high for football student-athletes named to the honor roll came in 2004 when 26 earned recognition.
On the field, multiple players from that squad went on to have very successful careers in the NFL.
- Tim Tebow
- NFL Career:
- Tebow was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (25th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
- As a member of the Broncos, he started the last three games of his rookie season and became the team's full-time starting quarterback beginning in the sixth game of 2011. The Broncos were 1–4 before he became the starter, but began winning with him on the field, often coming from behind late in the fourth quarter, until they won their first AFC West title and first playoff game since 2005, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime.
- NFL Career:
- Brandon Spikes
- NFL Career:
- Spikes was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with 61 tackles, one interception, and three passes defensed.
- At the end of the 2011 season, Spikes and the Patriots appeared in Super Bowl XLVI, where he started at linebacker.
- NFL Career:
- Percy Harvin
- NFL Career:
- Harvin was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
- After not playing in the 2014 NFC Championship game due to a concussion, Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII 87 yards for a touchdown, helping the Seahawks win their first ever Super Bowl.
- NFL Career:
- Joe Haden
- NFL Career:
- The Cleveland Browns selected Haden in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
- Haden is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and entered the 2018 season with 101 passes defensed, which ranks second since he entered the NFL in 2010.
- Has spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- NFL Career:
- Carlos Dunlap
- NFL Career:
- The Cincinnati Bengals selected Dunlap the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
- Spent his entire career in Cincinnati and has totaled 64.5 sacks in 118 games played entering the 2018 season.
- NFL Career:
- David Nelson
- NFL Career:
- Played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets after going undrafted in 2010. Totaled 130 receptions for 1,465 yards and 10 touchdowns in the NFL.
- NFL Career:
- Louis Murphy
- NFL Career:
- The Oakland Raiders selected Murphy in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
- He has played with five teams over the course of his nine-year career. He recorded 170 catches for 2,443 yards and 11 touchdowns.
- NFL Career:
- Riley Cooper
- NFL Career:
- Cooper played six seasons in the NFL and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft where he played his whole career.
- NFL Career:
- Major Wright
- NFL Career:
- The Chicago Bears selected Wright in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
- Wright played five seasons with the Bears and Bucs and totaled 226 tackles, nine interceptions and scored three touchdowns.
- NFL Career:
- Mike & Maurkice Pouncey
- Mike:
- Pouncey was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2011 draft with the 15th pick overall.
- After spending his first seven seasons with the Dolphins, he now plays for the L.A. Chargers.
- Maurkice:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Pouncey in the first round (18th pick overall). He has been the starting center for them since.
- Mike:
All of the accolades, honors, awards and trophies are great, but the bonds and brotherhood that the student-athletes built here are what makes this the premier program in the country.
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Jon Sumrall Postgame Press Conference 4-11-26
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