2009 Florida Gators football
SEC Eastern Division champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 51–24 vs. Cincinnati
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record13–1 (8–0 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Addazio (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread option
Defensive coordinatorCharlie Strong (7th season)
Base defense3–3–5
MVPTim Tebow
Joe Haden
CaptainBrandon James
Joey Sorrentino
Brandon Spikes
Ryan Stamper
Tim Tebow
Home stadiumBen Hill Griffin Stadium[1]
2009 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 3 Florida x%  8 –0   13 –1  
Georgia  4 –4   8 –5  
Tennessee  4 –4   7 –6  
Kentucky  3 –5   7 –6  
South Carolina  3 –5   7 –6  
Vanderbilt  0 –8   2 –10  
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#  8 –0   14 –0  
No. 17 LSU  5 –3   9 –4  
No. 20 Ole Miss  4 –4   9 –4  
Arkansas  3 –5   8 –5  
Auburn  3 –5   8 –5  
Mississippi State  3 –5   5 –7  
Championship: Alabama 32, Florida 13
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2009 college football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. They were led by fifth-year head coach Urban Meyer, who coached the Gators to a first-place finish in the SEC East, a 51–24 Sugar Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats, and an overall win–loss record of 13–1 (.929).

With senior quarterback Tim Tebow and eleven defensive starters returning, the Gators had hoped to repeat as back-to-back national champions following their BCS National Championship at the end of the 2008 season. They finished with an undefeated 12–0 regular season, their first since 1995, but the Gators' 32–13 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game derailed their national title hopes, and forced them to settle for a berth in the Sugar Bowl. At the conclusion of the 2009 season, the Gators were ranked No. 3 in both major polls.

On December 26, 2009, Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley announced that Urban Meyer would step down as the team's head coach for health and family reasons.[2] The following day, Meyer stated that he would instead take an indefinite leave of absence, allowing him to resume his position as the head coach. Meyer returned to coach the Gators in spring practice in March 2010.

Pre-season

On January 11, 2009, during the national championship celebration at the University of Florida, quarterback Tim Tebow announced his intention to return for his senior season,[3] followed on January 15 by linebacker Brandon Spikes intention to return as well. With Spikes' return, the entire two-deep of the Gators defense was set to return for the 2009 season. One major loss was All-America wide receiver Percy Harvin, who opted to leave the University of Florida to enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Gators also lost offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Dan Mullen, who became the head coach at Mississippi State following Sylvester Croom's resignation. Former offensive line coach Steve Addazio was named as Mullen's replacement, with Scot Loeffler hired to take on the role of quarterback coach.

The Gators played their spring scrimmage on April 18, 2009, with the Orange winning.

Florida was voted #1 in both the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll and the AP Poll. The Gators received the highest ever percentage of preseason #1 votes in the history of the AP Poll, which began in 1950.[4][5]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 57:00 p.m.Charleston Southern*No. 1
FSNW 62–390,621
September 1212:00 p.m.Troy*No. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
SECNW 56–690,349
September 193:30 p.m.TennesseeNo. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
CBSW 23–1390,894
September 266:00 p.m.at KentuckyNo. 1
ESPN2W 41–771,011
October 108:00 p.m.at No. 4 LSUNo. 1
CBSW 13–393,129
October 172:30 pmArkansasNo. 1
CBSW 23–2090,508
October 247:30 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 2
ESPNW 29–1957,178
October 313:30 p.m.vs. GeorgiaNo. 1
CBSW 41–1784,604
November 77:15 p.m.VanderbiltNo. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
ESPN2W 27–390,694
November 143:30 p.m.at South CarolinaNo. 1
CBSW 24–1479,297
November 2112:30 p.m.FIU*No. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
PPVW 62–390,473
November 283:30 p.m.Florida State*No. 1
CBSW 37–1090,907
December 54:30 p.m.vs. No. 2 AlabamaNo. 1
CBSL 13–3275,514
January 1, 20108:30 p.m.vs. No. 4 Cincinnati*No. 5
FOXW 51–2465,207
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Sources: 2012 Florida Gators Football Media Guide,[6] and GatorZone.com.[7]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
( ) = First place votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP1 (58)1 (56)1 (56)1 (55)1 (55)1 (54)1 (50)2 (20)1 (30)1 (38)1 (39)1 (36)1 (36)1 (46)53
Coaches1 (53)1 (56)1 (56)1 (59)1 (58)1 (57)1 (53)1 (49)1 (46)1 (50)1 (48)1 (48)1 (47)1 (53)53
HarrisNot released1 (99)1 (97)1 (99)1 (77)1 (75)1 (83)1 (82)1 (78)1 (78)1 (82)5Not released
BCSNot released11111115Not released

Game summaries

Charleston Southern

Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 3 003
#1 Gators 14 28 13762

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 5, 2009
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 90,621
  • Referee: Matt Moore
  • TV: Sun/FSN
Game information

In the season opener, the Gators met the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in Gainesville. In a game that was never close, the Gators won 62–3. John Brantley threw for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Troy

Period 1 2 34Total
Trojans 3 0 306
#1 Gators 7 28 14756

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 12, 2009
  • Game time: 12:20 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C) (Light rain)
  • Game attendance: 90,349
  • Referee: Tom Ritter
  • TV: SEC Network
Game information

The Florida Gators met the Troy Trojans in Gainesville, Florida. After a slow start, the Gators scored four times in the second quarter before cruising to a 56–6 victory.

Tennessee

Period 1 2 34Total
Volunteers 3 3 0713
#1 Gators 3 10 10023

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 19, 2009
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C) (Partly cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 90,894
  • Referee: Penn Wagers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Game information

In what may have been the most talked about game all pre-season, the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers met in Gainesville, Florida. Most of the pre-game talk surrounded comments made by Volunteer's head coach Lane Kiffin. The game remained close until the end with the Gators holding on for a 23–13 victory.

Kentucky

Period 1 2 34Total
#1 Gators 31 0 3741
Wildcats 0 7 007

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 26, 2009
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C) (Mostly cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 71,011
  • Referee: Steve Shaw
  • TV: ESPN2

Pregame Line: -20.5

In their first road game of the season, the Florida Gators traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to face the Wildcats. The Gators quickly took at 31–0 lead in the first quarter before going on to win 41–7. The biggest news story to come out of the game was a concussion suffered by Tim Tebow during the third quarter. Tebow spent the night in a Lexington hospital;[8] returning two weeks later for Florida's 13–3 win at LSU.

LSU

Period 1 2 34Total
#1 Gators 3 7 0313
#4 Tigers 0 3 003

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • Date: October 10, 2009
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C) (Clear)
  • Game attendance: 93,129
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Game information

Arkansas

Period 1 2 34Total
Razorbacks 0 10 3720
#1 Gators 0 3 101023

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: October 17, 2009
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 90,508
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Game information

Mississippi State

Period 1 2 34Total
#2 Gators 3 10 31329
Bulldogs 3 7 3619

at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi

  • Date: October 24, 2009
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) (Clear)
  • Game attendance: 57,178
  • Referee: Penn Wagers
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color commentator) & Erin Andrews (sideline reporter)

Pregame Line: -22

Georgia

Period 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 10 7017
#1 Gators 14 10 71041

at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Pregame Line: -16

Vanderbilt

Period 1 2 34Total
Commodores 0 0 303
#1 Gators 3 10 7727

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: November 7, 2009
  • Game time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C) (Clear)
  • Game attendance: 90,694
  • Referee: Steve Shaw
  • TV: ESPN2

Pregame Line: -35

South Carolina

Period 1 2 34Total
#1 Gators 10 7 0724
Gamecocks 7 7 0014

at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina

  • Date: November 14, 2009
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 79,297
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)

Pregame Line: -17.5

Florida International

Period 1 2 34Total
Golden Panthers 0 3 003
#1 Gators 14 21 141362

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: November 21, 2009
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 90,473
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV: PPV

Pregame Line: -45

Florida State

Period 1 2 34Total
Seminoles 0 0 3710
#1 Gators 7 17 6737

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: November 28, 2009
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) (Partly cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 90,907
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Game information

In the regular season finale, the Gators blew by the Seminoles 37–10. A new attendance record at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was set with 90,907 present.[9]

SEC Championship Game vs. Alabama

Period 1 2 34Total
#1 Gators 3 10 0013
#2 Crimson Tide 9 10 7632

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

  • Date: December 5, 2009
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: None (Domed stadium)
  • Game attendance: 75,514
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play), Gary Danielson (color commentator), Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)
Game information

In a rematch of last year's SEC Championship Game, the Crimson Tide handed the Gators their only loss of the season. Alabama running back Mark Ingram II scored three touchdowns in the 32–13 win.

Sugar Bowl vs. Cincinnati

Period 1 2 34Total
#5 Gators 9 21 14751
#4 Bearcats 0 3 71424

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: January 1, 2010
  • Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Game weather: None (Domed stadium)
  • Game attendance: 65, 207
  • Referee: Jack Folliard (Pac-10)
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman (play–by–play), Brian Billick (color commentator)

Personnel

Depth chart

(revised 12-2–09)

Roster

2009 Florida Gators roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 3 Chris Rainey – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 21 Emmanuel Moody – Redshirt Junior
  • 23 Mike Gillislee – Freshman
  • 29 Christopher Scott – Redshirt Junior
  • 37 Vincent Brown – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 44 Ean McQuay – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 48 Marquis Hannah – Redshirt Junior

Athlete

Fullbacks

  • 37 Marcus Nemeth – Freshman
  • 42 Steven Wilks – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 45 T.J. Pridemore – Redshirt Freshman
  • 48 Rick Burgess – Senior

Wide receivers

  • 3 Brandon Frazier – Redshirt Junior
  • 4 Andre Debose – Redshirt Freshman
  • 6 Deonte Thompson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 7 Justin Williams – Redshirt Junior
  • 9 Carl Moore – Senior
  • 11 Riley Cooper – Senior
  • 18 T.J. Lawrence – Redshirt Freshman
  • 22 Cade Holliday – Redshirt Senior
  • 39 Joey Sorrentino – Redshirt Senior
  • 82 Omarius Hines – Redshirt Freshman
  • 83 David Nelson – Redshirt Senior
  • 85 Frankie Hammond Jr. – Redshirt Freshman
  • 89 Stephen Alli – Freshman

Tight ends

  • 80 Desmond Parks – Freshman
  • 81 Aaron Hernandez – Junior
  • 84 Christopher Coleman – Redshirt Senior
  • 87 Josh Postell – Redshirt Freshman

Offensive line

  • 50 Sam Robey – Redshirt Freshman
  • 55 Mike Pouncey – Junior
  • 56 Maurkice Pouncey – Junior
  • 57 Carl Johnson – Redshirt Junior
  • 58 Nick Alajajian – Freshman
  • 58 Christopher Guido – Freshman
  • 60 William Steinmann – Sophomore
  • 61 Gary Beemer – Redshirt Junior
  • 62 Hayden Chance – Freshamn
  • 63 Cole Gilliam – Freshman
  • 64 Kyle Koehne – Freshman
  • 66 James Wilson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 67 Jon Halapio – Freshman
  • 70 Shawn Schmieder – Redshirt Junior
  • 71 Matt Patchan – Sophomore
  • 72 Jonotthan Harrison – Freshman
  • 73 Xavier Nixon – Freshman
  • 74 Maurice Hurt – Redshirt Junior
  • 76 Marcus Gilbert – Redshirt Junior
  • 78 David Young – Redshirt Freshman
  • 79 Corey Hobbs – Redshirt Junior

Defensive line

  • 6 Jaye Howard – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 8 Carlos Dunlap – Junior
  • 34 Lerentee McCray – Sophomore
  • 44 Duke Lemmens – Junior
  • 47 Brandon Antwine – Redshirt Junior
  • 49 Jermaine Cunningham – Senior
  • 57 Samuel Johnson – Redshirt Freshman
  • 62 Lamar Abel – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 65 Glen Watson – Redshirt Freshman
  • 90 Lawrence Marsh – Redshirt Junior
  • 91 Earl Okine – Redshirt Freshman
  • 93 Kedric Johnson – Freshman
  • 94 Justin Trattou – Junior
  • 95 Gary Brown – Freshman
  • 96 William Green – Sophomore
  • 97 Edwin Herbert – Junior
  • 98 Troy Epps – Senior
  • 99 Omar Hunter – Redshirt Freshman

Linebackers

  • 16 A.J. Jones – Redshirt Junior
  • 26 Lorenzo Edwards – Junior
  • 30 Chris Pintano – Redshirt Junior
  • 32 Dustin Doe – Senior
  • 33 Scott Peek – Redshirt Freshman
  • 40 Brandon Hicks – Junior
  • 41 Ryan Stamper – Redshirt Senior
  • 43 Jelani Jenkins – Freshman
  • 46 Michael Ross – Redshirt Freshman
  • 51 Brandon Spikes – Senior
  • 52 Jon Bostic – Freshman
  • 54 Brandon Beal – Sophomore

Defensive backs

  • 23 Corey Henderson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 24 Josh Evans – Freshman
  • 34 Reginald Hopkins – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 42 Miguel Carodine – Redshirt Junior

Cornerbacks

  • 1 Janoris Jenkins – Sophomore
  • 4 Wondy Pierre-Louis – Senior
  • 5 Joe Haden – Junior
  • 14 Markihe Anderson – Senior
  • 27 Adrian Bushell – Redshirt Freshman
  • 28 Jeremy Brown – Freshman
  • 36 Moses Jenkins – Junior

Safeties

  • 10 Will Hill – Sophomore
  • 13 Dee Finley – Freshman
  • 20 Dorian Munroe – Redshirt Senior
  • 21 Major Wright – Junior
  • 35 Ahmad Black – Junior
  • 46 Cody Worton – Redshirt Junior

Punters

  • 17 Chas Henry – Junior
  • 40 David Lerner – Redshirt Freshman

Kickers

Long snappers

  • 47 John Crofoot – Freshman
  • 50 Cody Hampton – Redshirt Freshman
  • 53 Mike Williamson – Redshirt Senior
  • 58 Christopher Guido – Freshman
  • 59 John Fairbanks – Redshirt Junior

Coaching staff

2009 Florida Gators coaching staff

Head Coach: Urban Meyer

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

[10]

Statistics

Team

GatorsOpponents
Scoring502174
Points per game35.912.4
First Downs314208
Rushing15884
Passing142103
Penalty1421
Total Offense64103536
Avg per play7.04.2
Avg per game457.9252.6
Fumbles–Lost17–1119–3
Penalties–Yards95–73578–638
Avg per game52.545.6
GatorsOpponents
Punts–Yards34–1,47681–3,253
Avg per punt43.440.2
Time of Possession/Game30:4529:15
3rd Down Conversions87/17758/194
4th Down Conversions11/1711/22
Touchdowns scored6318
Field Goals–Attempts22–3117–21
PAT–Attempts58–6315–16
Total Attendance634,446300,615
Games/Avg per Game7/90,6357/75,131

Scores by quarter

Period 1 2 34Total
Opponents 25 63 2227137
Gators 112 164 8791454

Offense

Rushing

NameCARYDSYPCLongTD
Tebow2179104.25514
Demps997457.5627
Rainey895756.5765
Moody583786.5323
Gillislee312678.6521
James201095.4250
Brantley13675.2230
Scott9262.9130
Hernandez11616.0160
Cooper11414.0140
Blaylock461.590
Brown310.320
Thompson1-2-2.000
Total5553,1055.67630
Opponents4491,3973.1426

Passing

NameGP-GSCmp-Att-IntPctYdsTD
Tebow14–14213-314-567.8%2,89521
Brantley7–036–48–075%4107
Cooper14–00-1-00%00
Total249-364-568.4%3,30528
Opponents208-396-2052.5%2,13910

Receiving

NameRECYDSYPRLongTD
Hernandez6885012.5645
Cooper5196118.8809
Nelson2529111.6302
Thompson2434314.3774
James242159.0321
Hines1417212.3251
Rainey1016116.1331
Demps8526.5110
Moody8455.6180
Holliday610217.0331
Williams6508.3162
Hammond45714.2311
Gillislee166.061
Total2493,30513.38028
Opponents2082,13910.37510

Players drafted into the NFL

Round Pick Player Position NFL club
17Joe HadenCBCleveland Browns
118Maurkice PounceyCPittsburgh Steelers
125Tim TebowQBDenver Broncos
253Jermaine CunninghamDENew England Patriots
254Carlos DunlapDECincinnati Bengals
262Brandon SpikesLBNew England Patriots
375Major WrightSChicago Bears
4113Aaron HernandezTENew England Patriots
5159Riley CooperWRPhiladelphia Eagles

References

  1. ↑ University of Florida Sports Information Department. "Florida 2009 Media Guide" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "UF's Urban Meyer Steps Down as Head Football Coach". Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Tebow wants to do it all over again". ESPN.com. January 11, 2009. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  4. ↑ Gators are No. 1 in AP preseason Top 25 poll
  5. ↑ "Gators shrug off top ranking in preseason coaches' poll". Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  6. ↑ 2012 Florida Football Media Guide Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 114 & 116 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  7. ↑ GatorZone.com, Football, History, Florida Football 2009 Archived 2012-05-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow taken to hospital after hard sack". ESPN.
  9. ↑ "Gatorzone.com: No. 1 Florida Defeats FSU, 37–10, on Senior Day". Archived from the original on December 2, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  10. ↑ "2009 University of Florida Football Roster and Coaches". Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
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