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 at 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. 29:
No. 29 Ryan Kalich, OL
Why Kalich is No. 29: The 6-foot-3, 297-pound Kalick started all 12 games at left guard as a redshirt freshman, the lone offensive lineman to start every game at the same position for UF during the 1996 season. Kalich and the rest of UF’s offensive line protected Heisman-winning quarterback Danny Wuerrfel, who passed for an SEC-high 3,625 yards and 39 TDs during the 1996 season. He was named to the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s SEC all-freshman team, and his 771 plays ranked second among UF offensive linemen that season.
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. 29: OL Ryan Kalich
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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By Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
