Colleges

Hauling in history

Andre Caldwell's best route? The one life led him on, resulting in a UF career record.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 21, 2007

Andre Caldwell catches a pass against Tennessee, one of his school-record 177 that surpassed Carlos Alvarez's 173.
	[Getty Images]

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Andre Caldwell, affectionately known as Bubba, has 48 catches for 665 yards this season. He enters his final regular-season game this weekend with 2,253 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he hasn't played the full season. [Brian Cassella | Times] Andre Caldwell originally thought he would only stay three years, but fate kept him at UF.

GAINESVILLE - On the day he sat in front of a national television audience in 2003 and committed to play football at Florida, Andre Caldwell had a clear plan for his future.

"I was going to be here three years and then I was out of here (for the NFL)," he said. "Three and out. That was my plan."

But fate has a way of changing even the best-laid plans, sometimes for the better.

Two years after a season-ending broken leg against Tennessee - one that required nearly a year of recovery - Caldwell on Saturday became Florida's all-time receptions leader with 177.

"I'm a big believer in fate," he said. "I believe everything happens for a reason. It's like I tell a lot of people, the injuries, nicks and bruises that held me back, it was like a blessing in disguise. Now I'm happy for everything that I've been through."

After Saturday's record-breaking performance in a 59-20 victory over Florida Atlantic, Caldwell was presented a game ball in the locker room by Carlos Alvarez (1969-71), the record-holder with 173.

"It's a great feeling after you have time to sit back and look at what you've accomplished," Caldwell, 22, said Monday. "There have been a lot of great receivers here. When I think about it, I'm grateful and happy for what I accomplished. But my teammates know I couldn't do it without them. My name may be on the top of the list, but without all those other teammates, that couldn't be accomplished."

Caldwell, affectionately known as Bubba, has 48 catches for 665 yards this season. He enters his final regular-season game this weekend with 2,253 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he hasn't played the full season. Caldwell, scheduled to graduate in December with a degree in sociology, sprained an MCL Sept. 8 against Troy, missed the next two games, then played sparingly against Auburn and LSU. But since his return, he has 30 receptions for 380 yards in the past four games.

"After all he's been through, I'm just so happy for him," coach Urban Meyer said. "He deserves it."

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen said it's talent - along with extreme confidence - that makes the 6-foot, 200-pound receiver out of Jefferson so good.

"I'll be looking at the other side of the field and I'll say, 'Hey, ask Bubba was he open on the other side of the field with the coverage they were running?'" Mullen said. "And he'll say, 'Yeah, I was wide open, there was nobody covering.' Then you'll go watch it on film and there were three guys covering him. Like any good receiver, he wants the ball, he's always open and he's a confident player. And now that he's back healthy, he plays with that confidence."

He has earned the admiration of his teammates with his work ethic and perseverance.

"You have to admire someone like Bubba who has gone through a lot of injuries, and severe injuries, not just bruises and nicks," quarterback Tim Tebow said. "But he's fought back and he's become a great player. He's a phenomenal player."

Caldwell, whose brother, Reche, also was a standout receiver at UF and is a Washington Redskin, will play his final game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday afternoon, closing out his career against rival Florida State.

When he walks out and hands his mother her flowers and hugs his father, don't expect to see tears from Caldwell. He has no regrets.

"It's going to be a great night, but it's a long time coming," he said.

"It ain't going to be emotional, it's going to be a happy moment. And I'm planning on leaving with a victory and my head held high. I appreciate all the fan support throughout my time here. It'll be a great day for me. It's the beginning of something else. It's my last game here and I appreciate it, but it's time for me to move on now."

He'll leave the record behind, at least for a while.

[Last modified November 20, 2007, 23:53:25]