2002 Florida Gators football team

American college football season

2002 Florida Gators football

Outback Bowl, L 30–38 vs. Michigan

Conference| Southeastern Conference
Division| Eastern Division
Ranking
Coaches| No. 24
Record| 8–5 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach|

* Ron Zook (1st season)

Offensive coordinator| Ed Zaunbrecher (1st season)
Offensive scheme| Spread
Defensive coordinator| John Thompson (1st season)
Base defense| Multiple
Captains|

* Earnest Graham
* Rex Grossman
* Byron Hardmon
* Taylor Jacobs
* Todd Johnson

Home stadium| Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Seasons

← 2001

2003 →

2002 Southeastern Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team |   | W |   | L |   |  |  |   | W |   | L |
Eastern Division
No. 3 Georgia x$  |   | 7  | – | 1  |   |  |  |   | 13  | – | 1  |
Florida |   | 6  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 5  |
Tennessee |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 5  |
Kentucky |   | 3  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 5  |
South Carolina |   | 3  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 5  | – | 7  |
Vanderbilt |   | 0  | – | 8  |   |  |  |   | 2  | – | 10  |
Western Division
Arkansas xy  |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 5  |
No. 14 Auburn x  |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 9  | – | 4  |
LSU x  |   | 5  | – | 3  |   |  |  |   | 8  | – | 5  |
Ole Miss |   | 3  | – | 5  |   |  |  |   | 7  | – | 6  |
Mississippi State |   | 0  | – | 8  |   |  |  |   | 3  | – | 9  |
No. 11 ^Alabama |   | 6  | – | 2  |   |  |  |   | 10  | – | 3  |
Championship: Georgia 30, Arkansas 3

* $ – BCS representative as conference champion
* x – Division champion/co-champions
* y – Championship game participant
* ^ – Alabama had the best division record, but did not participate in postseason play due to NCAA probation.

Rankings from AP Poll

The 2002 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida as a member of the Eastern Division in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Ron Zook, the Gators compiled an overall record of 8–5 with mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the SEC's Eastern Division title. Florida was invited to the Outback Bowl, where the Gators lost Michigan. The team played home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

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August 31| 7:00 p.m.| UAB*| No. 6|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL

| PPV| W 51–3| 85,575
September 7| 5:15 p.m.| No. 1 Miami (FL)*| No. 6|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL (rivalry, College GameDay)

| CBS| L 16–41| 85,777
September 14| 6:00 p.m.| Ohio*| No. 12|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL

| PPV| W 34–6| 84,002
September 21| 3:30 p.m.| at No. 4 Tennessee| No. 10|

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN (rivalry, College GameDay)

| CBS| W 30–13| 108,722
September 28| 3:30 p.m.| Kentucky| No. 7|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL (rivalry)

| CBS| W 41–34| 85,333
October 5| 12:00 p.m.| at Ole Miss| No. 6|

* Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
* Oxford, MS

| CBS| L 14–17| 61,140
October 12| 7:45 p.m.| No. 18 LSU| No. 16|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL (rivalry)

| ESPN| L 7–36| 85,252
October 19| 6:45 p.m.| Auburn| |

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL (rivalry)

| ESPN| W 30–23 OT| 85,135
November 2| 7:45 p.m.| vs. No. 5 Georgia| |

* Alltel Stadium
* Jacksonville, FL (rivalry, College GameDay)

| ESPN| W 20–13| 84,433
November 9| 2:00 p.m.| at Vanderbilt| No. 23|

* Vanderbilt Stadium
* Nashville, TN

| PPV| W 21–17| 28,881
November 16| 6:00 p.m.| South Carolina| No. 20|

* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Gainesville, FL

| ESPN| W 28–7| 85,222
November 30| 8:00 p.m.| at No. 23 Florida State*| No. 15|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)

| ABC| L 14–31| 83,938
January 1, 2003| 11:00 a.m.| vs. No. 12 Michigan*| No. 15|

* Raymond James Stadium
* Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl)

| ESPN| L 30–38| 65,101

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[1][2]

## Game summaries

[edit]

### UAB

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### Miami (FL)

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### Ohio

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### At Tennessee

[edit]

Florida Gators (2–1) at Tennessee Volunteers (1–1)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Florida | 0 | 24 | 0| 6| 30
Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 13| 0| 13

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

* Date: September 21
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Light rain, 71 °F (22 °C)
* Game attendance: 108,722
* Referee: Rogers Redding
* TV: CBS
* Box Score

Game information

First quarter

* No scoring

Second quarter

* FLA – Earnest Graham 1-yard run (Matt Leach kick), 4:55. Florida 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards, 3:20.
* FLA – Carlos Perez 28-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Matt Leach kick), 3:40. Florida 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards, 1:12.
* FLA – Taylor Jacobs 7-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Matt Leach kick), 0:35. Florida 21–0. Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 0:52.
* FLA – Matt Leach 41-yard field goal, 0:00. Florida 24–0. Drive: 1 play, 0 yards, 0:02.

Third quarter

* TENN – Derrick Tinsley 15-yard pass from Casey Clausen (Alex Walls kick), 9:51. Florida 24–7. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 2:28.
* TENN – Jabari Davis 1-yard run (kick failed), 0:28. Florida 24–13. Drive: 14 plays, 64 yards, 6:27.

Fourth quarter

* FLA – Taylor Jacobs 21-yard pass from Rex Grossman (kick failed), 10:49. Florida 30–13. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 4:32.

Top passers

* FLA – Rex Grossman – 20/34, 324 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
* TENN – Casey Clausen – 30/44, 285 yards, TD

Top rushers

* FLA – Ran Carthon – 9 rushes, 51 yards
* TENN – Troy Fleming – 9 rushes, 42 yards

Top receivers

* FLA – Taylor Jacobs – 9 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TD
* TENN – Kelley Washington – 7 receptions, 102 yards

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### Kentucky

[edit]

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Kentucky | 0 | 0| 28| 6 | 34
• Florida | 6 | 13| 13| 9 | 41

* Date: September 28
* Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
* Game start: 3:30 p.m.
* Elapsed time: 3:38
* Game attendance: 85,333
* Game weather: Sunny; 86 °F (30 °C); wind 9 mph (14 km/h) W
* Referee: Steve Shaw

Scoring summary

Q1| 2:08| FLA| Graham 1-yard run (kick blocked)| FLA 6–0
Q2| 11:55| FLA| Carthon 19-yard run (pass failed)| FLA 12–0
Q2| 2:54| FLA| Carthon 6-yard run (Leach kick)| FLA 19–0
Q3| 11:05| UK| Abney 14-yard pass from Lorenzen (Begley kick)| FLA 19–7
Q3| 7:21| FLA| Jacobs 4-yard pass from Grossman (kick blocked)| FLA 25–7
Q3| 6:59| UK| Abney 100-yard kickoff return (Begley kick)| FLA 25–14
Q3| 3:21| UK| Pinner 1-yard run (Begley kick)| FLA 25–21
Q3| 3:03| UK| Boone 39-yard pass from Lorenzen (Begley kick)| UK 28–25
Q3| 0:18| FLA| Jacobs 35-yard pass from Grossman (Leach kick)| FLA 32–28
Q4| 9:25| FLA| Ratliff 62-yard interception return (Leach kick)| FLA 39–28
Q4| 5:24| UK| Abney 49-yard punt return (pass failed)| FLA 39–34
Q4| 5:24| FLA| Ratliff PAT return| FLA 41–34

[3]

### At Ole Miss

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### LSU

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### Auburn

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### Vs. Georgia

[edit]

Team | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Florida | 0 | 12| 0| 8 | 20
Georgia | 7 | 6| 0| 0 | 13

* Date: Saturday, November 2
* Location: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
* Game start: 7:45 p.m.
* Elapsed time: 3:25
* Game attendance: 84,433
* Game weather: Clear, 58 °F (14 °C)
* Referee: Penn Wagers
* Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary

1| 6:59| UGA| J.T. Wall 10-yard pass from David Greene (Billy Bennett kick) (3-48, 0:49)| UGA 7-0
2| 9:39| FLA| Aaron Walker 5-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick failed) (13-58, 5:21)| UGA 7-6
2| 3:56| FLA| Guss Scott 47-yard interception return (pass failed)| FLA 12-6
2| 1:20| UGA| Billy Bennett 47-yard field goal (8-48, 2:36)| FLA 12-10
2| 0:03| UGA| Billy Bennett 25-yard field goal (4-(-2), 1:08)| UGA 13-12
4| 11:32| FLA| Ben Troupe 10-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Grossman run) (10-89, 3:49)| FLA 20-13

[4]

### At Vanderbilt

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### South Carolina

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### At Florida State

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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### Outback Bowl (vs. Michigan)

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (October 2021)

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## Roster

[edit]

2002 Florida Gators football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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WR | `2` | Kelvin Kight | Jr
RB | `5` | Earnest Graham | Sr
WR | `6` | Taylor Jacobs | Sr
QB | `8` | Rex Grossman | Sr
QB | `10` | Ingle Martin | Fr
WR | `11` | O. J. Small | So
OL | `54` | David Jorgensen | Sr
G | `75` | Shannon Snell | Jr
TE | `82` | Aaron Walker | Sr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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CB | `1` | Keiwan Ratliff | Jr
LB | `42` | Byron Hardmon | Sr
LB | `59` | Mike Nattiel | Sr
DE | `86` | Darrell Lee | Jr
DT | `98` | Tron LaFavor | Sr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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K | `` | Matt Leach

Head coach

* Ron Zook

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Ed Zaunbrecher\- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
* John Thompson – Defensive Coordinator
* Mike Woodford – Defense
* Jerry "Red" Anderson – Defensive
* Joe Wickline – Offensive Line
* Dwayne Dixon – Wide Receivers
* Larry Fedora – Running Backs
* Jerry Odom – Inside Linebackers
* Tyke Tolbert – Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

* * *

Roster

## Players drafted into the NFL

[edit]

See also: 2003 NFL draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | NFL club

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1 | 22 | Rex Grossman | QB | Chicago Bears
2 | 44 | Taylor Jacobs | WR | Washington Redskins
4 | 100 | Todd Johnson | S | Chicago Bears
4 | 116 | Ian Scott | DT | Chicago Bears
5 | 161 | Aaron Walker | TE | San Francisco 49ers
5 | 171 | Tron LaFavor | DT | Chicago Bears
6 | 190 | Mike Nattiel | LB | Minnesota Vikings
7 | 227 | Clint Mitchell | DE | Denver Broncos

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 2012 Florida Football Media Guide Archived May 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 113 & 116 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.
2. ^ GatorZone.com, Football, History, Florida Football 20032 Archived September 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
3. ^ GatorZone.com Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Sep-06.
4. ^ "Gators Upend No. 5 Georgia, 20-13". Gatorzone.com. Retrieved 02-May-2012.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* 2009 Southeastern Conference Football Media Guide, Florida Year-by-Year Records, Southeastern Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, p. 60 (2009).
* 2012 Florida Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–116 (2012).
* Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.
* Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). ISBN 0-9650782-1-3.
* Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). ISBN 1-58261-514-4.

* v
* t
* e

Florida Gators football

Venues|

* The Baseball Park (1906–1910)
* University Athletic Field / Fleming Field (1911–1930)
* Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (1930–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Alabama
* Auburn
* Florida State (Florida Cup)
* Georgia
* Kentucky
* LSU
* Miami (Florida Cup)
* Tennessee

Culture & lore|

* History
* The Pride of the Sunshine
* Gator Chomp
* Mr. Two Bits
* Gatorade
* I Won't Back Down
* 1961 gambling scandal

People|

* Head coaches
* Ring of Honor
* All-Americans
* UF Athletic Hall of Fame
* Starting quarterbacks
* Statistical leaders
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1906
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National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number