Colleges

UF run back to glory ... maybe

When the running game disappeared, so did the titles. Now, the good old days may be back in the backfield.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published September 28, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Many of their names and faces adorn the walls of the stadium and other memorabilia as part of the 100 years of Florida football celebration.

Long before Florida was competing for SEC and national championships, it was among the league schools with a long list of storied runners including: Larry Smith, Jimmy DuBose, James Jones, Neal Anderson, John L. Williams, Emmitt Smith, Errict Rhett, Fred Taylor, Earnest Graham, Ciatrick Fason.

But as Florida fans have waited over the past decade for another shot at a national championship (five years for an SEC title), the Gators have been hampered by a serious problem: lack of a dominant rusher.

Once a prime concern in opponents' scouting reports, the Gators rushing attack searches for the glory of all-conference and All-American rushers.

Since 1997 when Taylor rushed for 1,292 yards, only twice have the Gators had 1,000-yard rushers: Graham (1,085 in 2002) and Fason (1,267 in 2004).

Only one SEC title has come through Gainesville during that time. And while the saying goes you can't win championships without defense, in the SEC a running game is just as much a necessity.

"You will not win the SEC if you can't run the ball," said Elijah Williams, a key running back on the Gators' 1996 national championship team and now offensive coordinator at Titusville Astronaut High. "Regardless of how good you think you can pass, you cannot win if you cannot run the ball. You've got to control the line of scrimmage and that's what we did. ... You've got to have a running game. You won't survive in the SEC without one."

The facts bear Williams out. In the SEC, champions run the ball well.

During Florida's national championship season, the Gators ran 323 times for 1,868 yards. In 1999, Shaun Alexander rushed for 1,383 yards, leading Alabama to the SEC title. In 2003, national champion LSU had Justin Vincent, who rushed for 1,001 yards, and teammate Joseph Addai, who added 520. Auburn's undefeated 2004 team had Cadillac Williams (1,165) and Ronnie Brown (748 yards).

And although the perception during former coach Steve Spurrier's reign is that the Gators were just pass-happy, the reality is Florida ran - well.

"We were really balanced and that's what gave a lot of teams problems," Williams said.

Undefeated and ranked No. 5, Florida hopes it may have found a missing link in its offense: senior tailback DeShawn Wynn.

A touted recruit out of Cincinnati, he spent the first four seasons of his career struggling to find his place, showing potential, but never reaching it. A fifth-year senior, Wynn is hoping to help Florida return to those glory days when opponents feared the run.

Over the past two games, he has had consecutive 100-yard rushing performances.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," said Wynn, who has 304 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in four games. "It's what a running back at Florida is supposed to do. But it hasn't been done around here in a while. Now we've just got to keep doing what we're supposed to do."

What Florida is supposed to do, second-year coach Urban Meyer said, is always have a running back who can take over a game.

"I'm well aware (of those Florida has had in the past), I've met most of those guys," Meyer said. "Ever since I've been the coach here I've really studied that. It's my job to know about it. When we send out recruiting cards, it has pictures of all those great running backs. That's an area where we need to continue to improve. ... The thing we have not had is a 1,000-yard rusher. We need a 1,500-yard rusher. ... And I'm hoping that we're starting to find that."

Not a moment too soon.

Wynn is finally showing signs of consistency, after years of up and down play.

"His back is against the wall," running backs coach Stan Drayton said. "DeShawn is a senior. He's playing his last college football. Every game is his last game. I think he's starting to feel that. I think he has ambitions to go to the NFL and going into this season, he knows he hasn't shown anything yet. Right now, he's out there playing with a little bit more purpose. ... He's not all the way there yet."

Challenged by his coaches and teammates to not let his potential go to waste, Wynn said he worked harder in the offseason than he ever has. He has worked his way out of "Meyer's doghouse" and he is slowly earning back the respect of his teammates. As for bringing back the legacy of great rushers? Wynn said time will take care of that. His biggest hope is to leave with a ring.

"There have been a lot of great running backs here and I don't think one year is enough to be considered in their league," Wynn said. "I'm just here to win a championship. I want to go out my senior year with a championship, then I can be remembered that way."

Like many other Gator championship runners.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 01:47:15]