2001 Florida Gators football team

2001 Florida Gators football
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 56–23 vs. Maryland
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Eastern Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 3
2001 record	10–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach	Steve Spurrier (12th year)
Defensive coordinator	Jon Hoke (3rd year)
Captain	4 Andra Davis Marquand Manuel Robert Gillespie Rob Roberts
Home stadium	Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Seasons ← 2000 2002 →

2001 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Eastern Division
#4 Tennessee x		7	–	1					11	–	2
#3 Florida  %		6	–	2					10	–	2
#13 South Carolina		5	–	3					9	–	3
#22 Georgia		5	–	3					8	–	4
Kentucky		1	–	7					2	–	9
Vanderbilt		0	–	8					2	–	9
Western Division
#7 LSU xy$		5	–	3					10	–	3
Auburn x		5	–	3					7	–	5
Ole Miss		4	–	4					7	–	4
Alabama		4	–	4					7	–	5
Arkansas		4	–	4					7	–	5
Mississippi State		2	–	6					3	–	8
Championship: LSU 31, Tennessee 20
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

Marshall at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Marshall 0 0 6 8 14 • Florida 21 14 0 14 49 Date: September 1 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Game start: 7:15 p.m. EST Game attendance: 85,445 Television network: ESPN2

Scoring summary 1 7:02 FLA Earnest Graham 7-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 7-0 1 5:49 FLA Earnest Graham 6-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 14-0 2 1:33 FLA Reche Caldwell 28-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 21-0 2 4:18 FLA R. Gillespie 27-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 28-0 2 0:32 FLA Taylor Jacobs 64-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 35-0 3 6:30 MAR Darius Watts 62-yard pass from Byron Leftwich (Curtis Head kick failed) FLA 35-7 4 14:13 FLA Earnest Graham 1-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 42-7 4 5:53 MAR C. Rodgers 2-yard run (Darius Watts pass) FLA 42-14 4 2:42 FLA Carlos Perez 25-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Brendt Talcott kick) FLA 49-14

Scoring summary
1	7:02	FLA	Earnest Graham 7-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 7-0
1	5:49	FLA	Earnest Graham 6-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 14-0
2	1:33	FLA	Reche Caldwell 28-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 21-0
2	4:18	FLA	R. Gillespie 27-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 28-0
2	0:32	FLA	Taylor Jacobs 64-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 35-0
3	6:30	MAR	Darius Watts 62-yard pass from Byron Leftwich (Curtis Head kick failed)	FLA 35-7
4	14:13	FLA	Earnest Graham 1-yard run (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 42-7
4	5:53	MAR	C. Rodgers 2-yard run (Darius Watts pass)	FLA 42-14
4	2:42	FLA	Carlos Perez 25-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Brendt Talcott kick)	FLA 49-14

Louisiana-Monroe at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total La.-Monroe 6 0 0 0 6 • Florida 7 31 14 3 55 Date: September 8 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Game start: 6:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 85,011 Television network: PPV

Scoring summary 1 13:30 ULM Brown, Ivory 2-yard run (Francis, Daniel kick failed) ULM 6-0 1 2:53 FLA Earnest Graham 12-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 7-6 2 14:20 FLA Reche Caldwell 16-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 14-6 2 11:15 FLA Jabar Gaffney 10-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 21-6 2 9:18 FLA Jabar Gaffney 24-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 28-6 2 7:58 FLA R. Gillespie 1-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 35-6 2 0:00 FLA Jeff Chandler 29-yard field goal FLA 38-6 3 6:21 FLA Earnest Graham 3-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 45-6 3 0:11 FLA Rob Roberts 3-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 48-6 4 3:23 FLA Brendt Talcott 28-yard field goal FLA 55-6

Scoring summary
1	13:30	ULM	Brown, Ivory 2-yard run (Francis, Daniel kick failed)	ULM 6-0
1	2:53	FLA	Earnest Graham 12-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 7-6
2	14:20	FLA	Reche Caldwell 16-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 14-6
2	11:15	FLA	Jabar Gaffney 10-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 21-6
2	9:18	FLA	Jabar Gaffney 24-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 28-6
2	7:58	FLA	R. Gillespie 1-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 35-6
2	0:00	FLA	Jeff Chandler 29-yard field goal	FLA 38-6
3	6:21	FLA	Earnest Graham 3-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 45-6
3	0:11	FLA	Rob Roberts 3-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 48-6
4	3:23	FLA	Brendt Talcott 28-yard field goal	FLA 55-6

Florida at Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida 7 9 14 14 44 Kentucky 0 3 7 0 10 Date: September 22 Location: Commonwealth Stadium Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 66,126 Television network: JP

Scoring summary 1 9:47 FLA Jabar Gaffney 29-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 7-0 2 14:38 UK S. Scaldaferri 41-yard field goal FLA 7-3 2 9:48 FLA Taylor Jacobs 6-yard pass from Rex Grossman (UF Team rush failed) FLA 13-3 2 0:00 FLA Jeff Chandler 39-yard field goal FLA 16-3 3 3:27 FLA Jabar Gaffney 4-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 23-3 3 1:30 UK Chase Harp 2-yard pass from Shane Boyard (S. Scaldaferri kick) FLA 23-10 3 0:28 FLA Earnest Graham 50-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 30-10 4 8:47 FLA R. Gillespie 52-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 37-10 4 6:42 FLA Reche Caldwell 64-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 44-10

Scoring summary
1	9:47	FLA	Jabar Gaffney 29-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 7-0
2	14:38	UK	S. Scaldaferri 41-yard field goal	FLA 7-3
2	9:48	FLA	Taylor Jacobs 6-yard pass from Rex Grossman (UF Team rush failed)	FLA 13-3
2	0:00	FLA	Jeff Chandler 39-yard field goal	FLA 16-3
3	3:27	FLA	Jabar Gaffney 4-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 23-3
3	1:30	UK	Chase Harp 2-yard pass from Shane Boyard (S. Scaldaferri kick)	FLA 23-10
3	0:28	FLA	Earnest Graham 50-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 30-10
4	8:47	FLA	R. Gillespie 52-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 37-10
4	6:42	FLA	Reche Caldwell 64-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 44-10

Mississippi State at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total Miss St 0 0 0 0 0 • Florida 21 14 7 10 52 Date: September 29 Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 85,579 Television network: CBS

Scoring summary 1 11:05 FLA Rex Grossman 1-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 7-0 1 5:09 FLA Reche Caldwell 20-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 14-0 1 1:54 FLA Aaron Walker 5-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 21-0 2 6:37 FLA Reche Caldwell 14-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 28-0 2 2:24 FLA Taylor Jacobs 60-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 35-0 3 5:04 UK Ben Troupe 16-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 42-0 4 12:02 FLA Jeff Chandler 46-yard field goal FLA 45-0 4 1:45 FLA Kelvin Kight 23-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick) FLA 52-0

Scoring summary
1	11:05	FLA	Rex Grossman 1-yard run (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 7-0
1	5:09	FLA	Reche Caldwell 20-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 14-0
1	1:54	FLA	Aaron Walker 5-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 21-0
2	6:37	FLA	Reche Caldwell 14-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 28-0
2	2:24	FLA	Taylor Jacobs 60-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 35-0
3	5:04	UK	Ben Troupe 16-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 42-0
4	12:02	FLA	Jeff Chandler 46-yard field goal	FLA 45-0
4	1:45	FLA	Kelvin Kight 23-yard pass from Brock Berlin (Jeff Chandler kick)	FLA 52-0

The 2001 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2001 college football season. The Gators competed in Division I-A of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), playing their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

They were coached by Steve Spurrier, who posted an overall win-loss record of 10–2 (.833) for his twelfth and final season before departing to the National Football League (NFL). Spurrier led the Gators to a 56–23 Orange Bowl victory over the Maryland Terrapins in his final game.

Sophomore quarterback Rex Grossman threw for over 4,000 yards and was Heisman Trophy runner-up. Grossman, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and defensive end Alex Brown were consensus All-Americans. Brown's 33 sacks is still a school record for a career.

The Gators were ranked preseason No. 1.

Sources: 2012 Florida Football Media Guide, and GatorZone.com.

September 11 impact The annual rivalry game with Tennessee scheduled for September 15, was rescheduled to the final week of the regular season as a result of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

The season opened at night in the Swamp on September 1 with a 49–14 triumph over quarterback Byron Leftwich and the Marshall Thundering Herd.

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