Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a year that includes the deaths of two popular former Gators receivers in Reche Caldwell and Aubrey Hill, the UF football program has lost several other members in recent months.

Some we have documented here on FloridaGators.com such as Robert Morgan, Big Jim Hadley and Jimmy Jordan. Meanwhile, several others we have not. Let's take time to remember these four former Gators who have passed away in 2020:
 

NAPOLEON "NAP" GREEN JR.

A standout two-way player at Gainesville High in the fall of 1974, Napoleon Green earned first-team All-State honors as a defensive back his senior season. Reports of the day say Green finished his senior season with 12 interceptions and 683 rushing yards. In a game against Winter Haven High that season, Green returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown.
 

He was the Hurricane that made it happen, boosted by his ability to run a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. Born and raised in Gainesville, Green never strayed far, signing with the Gators in February 1975 as other schools in the Southeastern Conference made their pitches.

Green had his moments with the Gators, scoring a touchdown as a freshman running back for UF's junior-varsity team against Florida State in 1975. In a 49-14 win over Houston in 1976, Green caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Terry LeCount to cap the Gators' offensive outburst at Florida Field.

Like so many before and since, injuries, academics and life took their toll and choked off his production on the field. Green spent time at running back and defensive back for the Gators, but later in life No. 32 was known more for the man he became than the player he was.

"Nap was a great guy, a great teammate,'' former UF kicker Brian Clark posted on Facebook. "Such a nice guy that [he] would knock you into next week in tackling drills with us lowly kickers … Then apologize! Always smiling. A good, good man."  After his eligibility ran out as a player in 1979 and without a degree, Green found his way back to campus with the help of a program established by former head coach Charley Pell. He earned a degree in recreation therapy in December 1983 and embarked on a four-decade career as a counselor and recreation specialist in his hometown.

His large family referred to him as "Uncle Nap," the man who taught so many of his nieces and nephews to drive over the years. They considered him a gentle giant and mentor. So did many others.

Napoleon Green Jr., 63, died on Sept. 16 and a memorial service, attended by several of his former teammates and college pals, was held about a mile from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium a few days later at CampusView Church.

For more on Green, here is his obituary.
 

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BOB KURZU

Each of the Big Three wanted him. Recruiters from Florida, Florida State and Miami made their way to Fort Walton Beach High in the fall of 1978 to persuade multi-talented Bob Kurzu that their program was the one for him.

On Christmas Eve, Kurzu delivered a gift to then-Gators coach Charley Pell. He told Pell he planned to sign with the Gators. Kurzu was a star running back in high school but also played linebacker, tight end and kicker. At Florida, he started his career at tight end and made a memorable catch his second season on campus. With starting tight end and future NFL head coach Mike Mularkey getting a breather, quarterback Wayne Peace connected with Kurzu for a 5-yard touchdown pass in 49-3 home win over Ole Miss in 1981.

"They didn't even pay any attention to me,'' Kurzu told reporters after the game. "When I saw it [the ball] coming, I was scared to death. This was the first time in my career anyone has thrown the ball to me in the game. I was numb after the catch."
 

Back surgery after his sophomore season sidelined him the following season, but Kurzu returned to the field in 1983 during a UF playing career that spanned from 1979-84. He earned a business degree from UF and later an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

According to his obituary, Kudzu dedicated his professional life to advancing what he called "the greater good" and his work supported the scientific discovery efforts of four Nobel Laureates. He began his career as a business manager for the Howard Hughes Medical Research Foundation and opened research centers in New York, Dallas, St. Louis, and San Francisco. He also worked for Washington University in the St. Louis School of Medicine (Department of Molecular Biology & Pharmacology and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics) as well as the University of Southern California Institute for Genetic Medicine & Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Robert Wayne Kurzu died Sept. 26 at the age of 59. For more on Kurzu, here is his obituary.
 

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MARK HEWITT

A talented receiver at Norland High in Miami, Mark Hewitt gained the attention of Gators assistant coach Lindy Infante for his sure hands and athletic ability. Hewitt signed with the Gators in 1969 and soon found himself competing for playing time with receivers such as All-American Carlos Alvarez, Andy Cheney, Willie Jackson and Leonard George.
 

A 6-foot-3 split end, Hewitt spent his first season playing for the Baby Gators freshman team. Swayed to Florida by the prospect of catching passes from quarterback John Reaves, Hewitt made his mark later in life the way Infante did: as a coach.

Hewitt eventually settled in Texas and as a longtime baseball coach at Alamo Heights High in San Antonio, he won more than 200 games. On the night of April 28, 1999, Hewitt won the 200th game of his career with a victory over Tivy High. He was honored by the school district afterward.

"It's a special night for me,'' he told a newspaper reporter. "I just didn't know so many people knew about it."

Hewitt later retired to Palacios, Texas, and in recent years had returned to his home state and lived in Babson Park. Mark R. Hewitt, 68, died in his sleep on June 20.

To read his obituary, click this link.
 

LARRY "MUDPUPPY" DOUGLAS

Pensacola Escambia High, the school that produced Gators receiver Jacob Copeland and former Gators and NFL star Emmitt Smith, was the training ground for defensive tackle Larry "Mudpuppy" Douglas before they came along.
 

A 6-foot, 250-pound road block along the defensive line, Douglas earned Class 4A All-State honors as a senior, making a squad that included notables such as Hassan Jones, Jamie Dukes, Kenny Flowers and future Gators punter Ray Criswell.

Douglas' high school coach was former Gators offensive line coach Jimmy Haynes, who raved to anyone that asked about Douglas as Florida, Alabama, Florida State and LSU competed to sign him.

"When he plays, he dominates things,'' Haynes said during the 1981 state playoffs. "He's a player. He's going to make somebody a good one.''

Douglas chose Florida and was a backup defensive lineman in 1982 and '83. He ran into off-the-field troubles during the 1983 season and was soon no longer part of the program. Larry Varnell Douglas, 57, died in March and a memorial service was held at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Pensacola.