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Gators Stun Opponents With Block Shock

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

GAINESVILLE - There is no sound in football quite like the thump-thump of a kick being blocked.

"It crushes you," Florida coach Urban Meyer says. "I'm not sure there's a worse sound, and if you're in the other team's stadium, boy, wow. It's hard to equate another play that's as significant."

And Meyer knows blocked kicks. Going into Saturday's game against South Carolina, the Gators have blocked five punts and two field-goal attempts this season, a total of seven that is two shy of the school record.

In four seasons under Meyer, the Gators have 24 blocked kicks. They are 11-0 when slapping down a punt and 17-1 when blocking any kick.

South Carolina has been their favorite victim; Florida has five blocked kicks in the past three games against USC. One of those was particularly important.

Block That Kick

In 2006 at Florida Field, the Gators were clinging to a 17-16 lead when South Carolina's Ryan Succop lined up for a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds left.

Ranked No. 6, a loss would have eliminated the Gators from the SEC title hunt and the national championship picture.

Jarvis Moss, a 6-foot-6 defensive end who played every down on defense, leapt to block it and preserve the victory.

UF would go on to smash Ohio State and claim the national championship.

"If I have a vote, I think that's the greatest play in the history of Florida football," Meyer said. "It was certainly a monumental moment in my life and our program's life."

It Starts With Talent

When asked if the Gators' propensity for blocking kicks is the result of something they do that frees up a defender, or the talent employed, Meyer's answer is "a little bit of both."

No question, Florida loads the deck on kick-block teams.

This isn't the place for walk-on receivers to get some playing time. Starters and players hoping to become starters are the nucleus - fast, physical talents who are aggressive and hungry.

It doesn't hurt that when opponents do get off a punt, waiting to carry it back is Brandon James, averaging 19 yards per return with two for touchdowns.

What To Do?

At South Carolina this week, special teams coach Ray Rychleski called the Florida punt-block team the best he has seen in many years.

"Not only can they block it, the kid back there is the Devin Hester of college football," he said. "We've got enough problems with Brandon James on the return, and then if we let them block one, we're really up the creek."

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