Colleges

Season of memories

Gator players look back at the year and the National Championship.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published January 14, 2007

JUNIOR RECEIVER ANDRE CALDWELL

First person you called after the championship?

My brother Reche (New England Patriots and former Gator receiver). I called as soon as we got on the bus leaving the stadium. I said "I told you we were going to blow them out and they weren't ready for us." And then I talked some stuff about (him) not winning a (BCS) championship. I was just talking some noise to him about it.

Point you knew you were going to win?

Really, when I knew it was when it was 21-7. I saw the look in everybody's eyes. They were hungry and I knew then we were not letting them come back.

Your biggest individual contribution?

Coach told us before the game we had to block the perimeter if we wanted to win. I feel like I made some good blocks. And just being there (he had a 1-yard touchdown reception from Tim Tebow), helping my teammates, getting them hyped and ready to play.

Toughest game of the season?

LSU. (The Tigers) are one of the fastest teams in the country and they play man to man and really get after you.

Preseason drill you most hated?

Mat drills. It's the hardest and longest hour ever. It's just constant drills on the guys.

SENIOR KICKER CHRIS HETLAND

First person you called after the championship?

My mom, when we were leaving the stadium. I told her, "I love you."

Point you knew you were going to win?

When they ran the touchdown back (16 seconds into the game). When they ran it back, I was like, "They are too cocky. We got this."

Your biggest individual contribution?

Finally making a field goal, finally helping the team out. I feel like more than anything hitting my first one (for a 24-14 lead with six minutes left in the second quarter), it was a motivator. It kind of kept everybody going, kept everybody in the game.

Toughest game of the season?

The ones I missed in. All the ones I missed kicks in.

Preseason drill you most hated?

Mat drills. It's 6 in the morning and they are hard. Very, very hard.

FRESHMAN RECEIVER SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAYER JARROD FAYSON

First person you called after the championship?

My mother, Carla. I was in the locker room. As soon as I picked up the phone, she was like. "Congratulations." And from then, we just went to screaming and yelling in the phone.

Point you knew you were going to win?

After we scored our third touchdown when it was 21-7.

Your biggest individual contribution?

I'd have to say doing what I've always been doing on special teams, and then coming in and giving the guys a rest on offense.

Toughest game of the season?

LSU. (The Tigers) have some of the best athletes in the country.

Preseason drill you most hated?

Running. We run a lot. Really. A lot.

SENIOR RECEIVER JEMALLE CORNELIUS

First person you called?

My girlfriend. I called her and she was like, "I told you it was going to happen."

Point you knew you would win?

When (Jarvis) Moss got the fumble and (Derrick) Harvey picked it up and we got the ball inside the 5-yard line (leading to a touchdown just before halftime).

Your biggest contribution?

In the second or third drive of the game I helped keep the drive going.

Toughest game of the season?

South Carolina. It was so tight and we needed a field-goal block at the end to win it.

Preseason drill you hated the most?

Mat drills. It was real early in the morning and it was too long. I hated it.

SOPHOMORE TIGHT END CORNELIUS INGRAM

First person you called?

My brother. I told him it feels great.

Point you knew you would win?

Actually, we knew going into the game we could play with anybody in the country. That whole four weeks of preparing did us great. We had a lot of guys nicked up and injured. We were able to get a lot of guys back.

Your biggest contribution?

I've never really been about myself.

Toughest game of the season?

We had a lot of tough ones. That's what great teams do is win tough games.

Preseason drill you hated the most?

Mat drills. There's a lot of running, falling and it's at 4 or 5 in the morning.

FRESHMAN RECEIVER PERCY HARVIN

First person you called?

My mama. I told her we finally did it. All week I kept calling and she kept saying, "Do ya'll got it?" I said, "We finally got it."

Point you knew you would win?

Going into halftime you could see their heads down. We were still juiced. Our defense hadn't been on the field much. We pretty much knew we had them.

Your biggest contribution?

Just being able to be another weapon. For years you had Dallas Baker and Bubba (Andre) Caldwell. You pretty much could double-team them, but when you add a third or a fourth it's hard to double-team.

Toughest game of the season?

Probably LSU. That's a must-win for us and (it) had us on the ropes. We lose that game and we have no chance at the SEC championship.

Preseason drill you hated the most?

The five-cone drill. It's kind of a speed drill, but coming out to practice you don't feel like doing it off right off the bat.

SENIOR RECEIVER DALLAS BAKER

First person you called?

I couldn't call out, I was too busy listening to the 56 voicemails I had and (reading) 48 text messages.

Point you knew you would win?

I would say once the score was 41-14 and there was zero seconds left on the clock.

Your biggest contribution?

Graduating.

Toughest game of the season?

Auburn.

Preseason drill you hated the most?

Mat drills.

Compiled by Times staff writers Antonya English and Izzy Gould.

[Last modified January 14, 2007, 08:06:15]