It was a breakthrough national championship, highlighted by the Fun’ N’ Gun offense, a Heisman-winning quarterback and a visor-wearing coach with swagger that stretched from Key West to Pensacola.
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at No. 21:
No. 21 Tony George, DB
Why George is No. 21: As a sophomore, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound George played a key role in UF’s secondary and on special teams in 1996. George’s 15 special teams tackles led UF in 1996 and as a nickel back recorded one interception, one sack, one pass breakup and three QB hurries in 12 games. George went on to earn honorable mention All-American honors as a senior for UF in 1998 and was drafted in the third round of the 1999 draft by the New England Patriots, where he played for two seasons (1999-2000). George played three more seasons in NFL Europe before going on to a career as a strength and conditioning specialist.
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 from 1996 | No. 21 Tony George
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
