Best Gator Team That Didn't Win a Ring?

[StreetFightingGator]

When I think of great Gator teams that came up frustratingly short, I always go back to the 2001 squad. To this day, I believe that if 9/11 had never happened we would've beaten UToothless in September and gone to the Rose Bowl.

From a pure talent perspective, that team was loaded with future NFL players.

Of course, the 1984 team didn't officially win rings but was the most dominant in college football that season. The 1990 squad was also very, very good and obviously finished first in the SEC.

Of the four teams, I have to think that this 2012 team may be the best of the bunch. Even when you stack them up with the other four Gator teams to win 11 regular season games, 1995, 2006, 2008, and 2009. I think they would hold their own. This could be the most dominant defense we've ever had.

[Deuce Coupe]

Sorry but I get really tired of "What if" theories.

There is nothing definitive to judge.... just pages of stats and our memories, both of which are meaningless, just ask FSU.

[Maillot Jaune]

I've never totaled it, but that '84 team may have put more quality players in the NFL....Neal, John L., Lomas, Charlton, Criswell, Ker, Bromley, Lorenzo, Alonzo, Nattiel, Zimmerman, Jarvis, Adrian, Newton...
'01 was offensively dominant. One loss by a missed 2 point conversion. This year's team will not win the beauty contest, but they are easily the most resilient, opportunistic.

[DCflorida]

2001.

[G8RNGA]

I would agree that this team is in good company.

[murdamal86]

I always felt that our 2001 team was the best Gator team we've ever fielded. That would of been a game for the ages against Miami in the Rose Bowl.

Darn you Darnell Dockett.

[DCflorida]

The NFL'ers on that 2001 team were ridiculous:
Lito Sheppard
Marquand Manuel
Ernest Graham
Rex Grossman
Jabar Gaffney
Alex Brown
Reche Caldwell
Andra Davis
Bobby McCray
Mike Pearson
Ben Troupe
Taylor Jacobs
Max StarKs
Ian Scott

[Maillot Jaune]

Oh, also by Bama standards, the '84 team is a National Champion.

[BoomTown]

I hear you on the 2001 team without a doubt.

As for the order, I'd still have to give the nod to the 84 squad. That was the best team in the country; best that money could buy. Then I'd say the 01, 12 and 90 teams in that order. The 12 defense is better than the 01 but the 01 offense was far better than the 12.

When you look at talent, this is probably the least pure talent team of any that you mention. That speaks volumes about the coaching and also makes our future very bright.

[murdamal86]

The NFL'ers on that 2001 team were ridiculous:
Lito Sheppard
Marquand Manuel
Ernest Graham
Rex Grossman
Jabar Gaffney
Alex Brown
Reche Caldwell
Andra Davis
Bobby McCray
Mike Pearson
Ben Troupe
Taylor Jacobs
Max StarKs
Ian Scott

Don't forget good ole Aaron Walker at Tight End as well.
Kelvin Kight (undrafted but played in the league)
Keiwan Ratliff
Todd Johnson
Guss Scott
Ran Carthon (undrafted but played in the league)
Clint Mitchell

[Sasquatch Gator]

Gotta go with 2001, they were ridiculous on both sides of the ball.

[SavannahGator]

You're all probably waaay too young to remember this, but the 9-2 (regular season) 1975 team (my junior year at UF) lost just two regular season games by only four points. They improbably lost to Lou Holtz's NC State team in Raleigh (yes, that's right - Lou Holtz) 8-7, and then lost to Georgia (I know, I was there) on the infamous Appleby to Washington end-around pass, 10-7. THAT close to a national championship.

What did they get for their efforts? Another trip to the erector set in Jacksonville, the old Gator Bowl, where they lost to Maryland on a cold, damp night (I was there, too), 13-0.

That team had Gator Greats Wes Chandler, Don Gaffney, Jimmy Dubose (ran for over 1300 yds that year, setting the then UF record, and was SEC-leading rusher for that year), Tony Green, and I believe Burton Lawless (played for the Cowboys) on defense.

[GatorGrad74]

You're all probably waaay too young to remember this, but the 9-2 (regular season) 1975 team (my junior year at UF) lost just two regular season games by only four points. They improbably lost to Lou Holtz's NC State team in Raleigh (yes, that's right - Lou Holtz) 8-7, and then lost to Georgia (I know, I was there) on the infamous Appleby to Washington end-around pass, 10-7. THAT close to a national championship.

What did they get for their efforts? Another trip to the erector set in Jacksonville, the old Gator Bowl, where they lost to Maryland on a cold, damp night (I was there, too), 13-0.

That team had Gator Greats Wes Chandler, Don Gaffney, Jimmy Dubose (ran for over 1300 yds that year, setting the then UF record, and was SEC-leading rusher for that year), Tony Green, and I believe Burton Lawless (played for the Cowboys) on defense.

I was at that Gator Bowl game as well. Remember that great team very well.

[law98gator]

09 should also be on the good but didn't win shiiiiit list.

[gardnerwebbalumnigator]

2001, not even close.

Oh, and this just in, Jon Hoke still sucks donkey balls.

[Class of '78]

I'm surprised 2009 isn't getting more love. Though it grossly underachieved against Alabama in the SEC championship, I think that team when playing on all eight cylinders is possibly the best non-title UF team.

My top three:

1) 2009
2) 1984
3) 2001

Had the 2001 team played better run defense, I'd have ranked them higher.

[law98gator]

Yeah, 2001 was severely handicapped at the DC position.

[Class of '78]

Yeah, 2001 was severely handicapped at the DC position.

So handicapped that we got clipped from the championship game by a no-name running back named Travis Henry. That was awful run defense that day at the Swamp, to which I was witness.

[rogdochar]

I've never totaled it, but that '84 team may have put more quality players in the NFL....Neal, John L., Lomas, Charlton, Criswell, Ker, Bromley, Lorenzo, Alonzo, Nattiel, Zimmerman, Jarvis, Adrian, Newton...
'01 was offensively dominant. One loss by a missed 2 point conversion.

This year's team will not win the beauty contest, but they are easily the most resilient, opportunistic.

...... agree, "Merlot Wine", just alter to 'opportunmystic'.

[Gatorlaw92]

Oh, also by Bama standards, the '84 team is a National Champion.

By bama standards, we could lose our bowl game and be named national champ, as bama was voted in 1973, 1964 etc.!! LOL!! The 1984 Gator team was named national champ by the sporting news, ny times, and Sagarin. That was the best team other than 1996, 2006, 2008, maybe even better.