The 30 for 30 We Deserve
How has ESPN not made a documentary about the 2008 Florida Gators team?
A team that dominated their way to win the 2008 National Title that was filled with felons. Out of 121 players on this Gator roster, 41 of them have been arrested and many of them played in the NFL.
Urban Meyer, who won a National Championship at Ohio State and is now the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach was the guy who built one of the greatest and most controversial rosters in college football history. The guy who was calling the shots on offense was Dan Mullen who is now the current head coach at Florida. Charlie Strong was the defensive coordinator for the ‘08 Gators and has since bounced from Louisville, Texas, and South Florida as a head coach and is now back with Urban Meyer on the Jags staff.
This squad had Tim Tebow at the helm of the offense who everyone knows is a super religious person. He was throwing the ball to a tight end that was found guilty of first-degree murder and a wide receiver that would throw the n-word around willy nilly. I am of course talking about Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper, who both played in the NFL for a few seasons.
Tebow was a Heisman finalist, the Maxwell Award winner, the Manning Award winner, and the Wuerffel Trophy recipient but, if he went down they had a solid back up. Maybe you’ve heard the name, Cam Newton. He would go onto transfer to a JUCO after he was booted from Gainsville for academic dishonesty, or that’s what has been reported. He would go onto winning a National Title and a Heisman Trophy at Auburn.
If you want to check out the guys who protected Tebow for the 2008 season, look no further than the twins on the interior of the line; the Pouncey brothers. Mike and Maurkice have been long time NFL vets and have made a number of Pro Bowls but, let’s not forget their odd pitch to free their former roommate, Aaron Hernandez. They were photographed at the time of the Hernandez trials rocking “Free Hernandez” merch.
One guy on the o-line that gets kind of washed away due to the other crazy personalities is Marcus Gilbert. Gilbert is another player that has had a long and productive career. He spent the majority of his NFL life in Pittsburgh before being traded to the Cardinals.
Flip to the defensive side of the ball, edge rusher Carlos Dunlap, was charged with a DUI while at Florida and served a suspension against Alabama. He’s another Gator that has made a pretty penny in the league. He started his career on the Bengals but, was dealt this season to the Seahawks to bolster their pass rush.
The star of the Gator defense was linebacker Brandon Spikes who has spent time on the Patriots and Bills. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award and a semi finalist for the Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award.
This Gator defense was full of guys that had an issue with the law but, were all ballers. Take Janoris Jenkins for example. He was arrested for a fight outside of a club in ‘09 but, had all charges dropped. The defensive back bounced around the league and is still active on the Saints roster.
One guy that didn’t have a fruitful career in the league but, had off the field issues was defensive lineman, Jermaine Cunningham. He was charged for misdemeanor battery in a Jimmy Johns while at UF but, had charges dropped.
ESPN needs to get to work on this documentary but, why not expand it to the other students on the Florida campus in 2007. Olympic gold medalist, Ryan Lochte was a student at the time and maybe, he had classes with actor and social media influencer, Dan Bilzerian.
How about 2014 FedEx Cup Champion, Billy Horschel and ESPN personality Laura Rutledge. Laura, you work at ESPN, please, when you read this, get the ball rolling on the documentary everyone wants. The Gators had a hell of a hoops team too with NBA All Star Al Horford, DPOY Joakin Noah, and guard Corey Brewer. A few more students that attended the University of Florida at this time were NFL receiver and returner Percy Harvin and MLB outfielder, Matt Laporta.
ESPN, please, for the love of God, get to work on this insane 30 for 30. Make it one part or twelve. I do not care, I just need it.