RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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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 an 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, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF ranked 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 is counting down the top 30 players from the team. Here's a look at No. 3:
No. 3 Lawrence Wright
Why Wright is No. 3: The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Wright was the anchor of the Florida defense in 1996, winning the Thorpe Award as the top defense back in college football that season. In 13 starts at safety, Wright recorded 83 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 6 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. Wright went on to latch on with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, where he appeared in 18 games from 1997-99. He's returned to his native Miami, where he's working in construction and real estate development.
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
No. 7 James Bates
No. 6 Jeff Mitchell
No. 5 Jacquez Green
No. 4 Ike Hilliard
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players countdown from 1996 | No. 3 Lawrence Wright
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