James Bates is living a colorful life. As a broadcaster, an artist and all-around positive force, the 53-year-old Bates reflects back on his time as a Florida Gators standout linebacker with a mix of pride and humility.
Bates grew up bouncing from Texas to Tennessee with his dad, legendary college and NFL defensive coach Jim Bates, with dreams of becoming the next Brian Bosworth. Instead of going to Oklahoma or Tennessee, Bates was sold on the recruiting pitch he still remembers from Steve Spurrier.
“You’ve got all these people saving up their whole lives trying to turn 60 and move down to Florida,” Bates said. “And you’ve got a chance to come now and you’re 18.”
In 1996, as a senior middle linebacker, the 6-foot-1, 228-pound Bates amassed a whopping 137 tackles and was team captain of the first Florida football team to win a national title. Bates credited the selflessness of his teammates on the defensive line − led by Ed Chester and Reggie McGrew − and the scheme of defensive coordinator Bob Stoops, which freed him up to attack ballcarriers.
“I just owe so much to be a Gator and I was proud to be a leader of that team,” Bates said. “I just love to bring good energy to people. I always have and I think being voted the captain of that team and voted the leader of that team that my teammates saw the energy that I tried to bring to everything.”
Bates said the disappointment of losing 62-24 to Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title following the 1995 season fueled the Gators in 1996. The Cornhuskers dominated the game with their physicality.
“We needed to take that next step, and we certainly did that in the offseason in the weight room, and just rallied around each other,” Bates said.
Bates said the decision to attend Florida “changed my life in so many ways.” It was where he met his wife, Tina, when he was a freshman football player at UF and she was a freshman swimmer. They dated all through college and married shortly after they graduated.
Their three children − Jake, Talia and Georgia − all were born in Gainesville at Shands. Bates and his family moved to Colorado for a brief time when he was calling Mountain West football games. But the Bates family has spent most of the last 30-plus years in an around Gainesville. Bates’s artwork can also be found all around Gainesville − on murals, in galleries and even at his old coach’s restaurant, Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille.
Bates said the lessons learned from being part of a championship team have carried over into his adult life.
“I’d like to think that I carried that into my life as a dad and a husband, and an artist and a broadcaster,” Bates said. “I think that’s just what I strive for, to be a positive factor in people’s lives, especially those close to me.”
No. 7 James Bates
Why Bates is No. 7: Bates earned first-team, All-SEC honors as a senior in 1996, with 137 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, 3 sacks and 1 interception.
Florida football Top 30 player countdown from 1996 championship team
No. 30: Cooper Carlisle
No. 29: Ryan Kalich
No. 28 Shea Showers
No. 27 Demtric Jackson
No. 26 Travis McGriff
No, 25 Tim Beauchamp
No. 24 Cameron Davis
No. 23 Tremayne Allen
No. 22 Jevon Kearse
No. 21 Tony George
No. 20 Zach Piller
No. 19 Mo Collins
No. 18 Johnny Rutledge
No. 17 Teako Brown
No. 16 Reggie McGrew
No. 15 Terry Jackson
No. 14 Mike Peterson
No. 13 Fred Taylor
No. 12 Elijah Williams
No. 11 Donnie Young
No. 10 Fred Weary
No. 9 Anthone Lott
No. 8 Ed Chester
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players countdown from 1996 | No. 7 James Bates
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
