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UF Standout Reidel Anthony

A decade ago, the Florida Gators ruled the college football world, winning the 1996 National Championship behind the arm of Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel and the hands of All-American receiver Reidel Anthony.

We've already caught up with Weurffel, who is now the Executive Director of the Desire Street Ministries. Today we met his favorite target, Anthony, a Receivers Coach at Division II powerhouse Valdosta State.

Anthony's Wildcats have a big game with 3rd-ranked North Alabama this weekend, so he'll be concentrating on that, but I'm sure the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will be on his mind.

"I experienced it from a fan's standpoint about three years ago, and just to enjoy it," Anthony said. "I was staying downtown, so I just walked to the game, and, I mean, I walked about three, four miles, and there were just people lined up out there tailgating and just getting ready for the game, having a good time. It's an experience."

Florida faces Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fl to continue the tradition of playing the big game at a neutral site. Half the stadium will wear blue and orange. Half will wear black and red. There is no home team, but Jacksonville has been a home for this rivalry every year since 1933.

With two exceptions, 1994 and 1995. Those were Anthony's freshman and sophomore seasons. Interestingly enough, he is one of only a handful of players since 1933 to play in this game at three different stadiums. The Gators won in '94, '95, and in their '96 National Championship season as well.

Winning that title is Anthony's proudest memory.

"That was one of the better days of my life," Anthony said.

Not bad beating your archrival, Florida State, to win it all, is it?

"We hung 52 up on 'em," he said.

After five productive NFL seasons with the Buccaneers, he has ended up in a small Southern Georgia town working under one of the bright young coaches in football, Chris Hatcher.

"I actually was looking around for a place to start my coaching career, and I got in contact with Coach (Sean) Bostick, which is our O-line Coach, first, and talked to Coach Hatcher," Anthony said. "And my interview consisted of coming to their golf tournament. And then he asked me, would I like to come work, and I said, 'sure.'"

Not many people get to interview for jobs on a golf course. Then again, not many people are NFL wide receivers with a National Championship ring. So he's taken the knowledge he has gained over the years, and brought it to Valdosta Sate to teach young pass catchers the fundamentals of football.

"Same old stuff that their middle school coach taught them, and same thing that their high school coach taught them," he said. "But now it's a little bit more advanced."

You can't talk to a former Florida Gator without asking him about Steve Spurrier. Outsiders might see him as a coach with a bit of a temper. I know I'd be scared to screw up around Spurrier. But Anthony painted a different picture of the Ol' Ball Coach.

"He's a players' coach," Anthony said. "You love to play for him. He's gonna, especially on the offensive side of the ball, he's gonna get you the ball, and that's one of the reasons you will attend the University of Florida and now at South Carolina."

Anthony isn't worried about Spurrier's return to The Swamp.

"They'll welcome him," he said of the Gators fans. "Won't welcome the team, but they'll probably welcome him...They love Steve Spurrier. He's a Florida guy first and a Gamecock second."

Speaking of Florida fans, they'll be making half the noise at Alltel Stadium on Saturday, cheering for guys like Dallas Baker and Percy Harvin. Receivers who were in elementary school when Anthony, Ike Hilliard, and Jacques Green dominated The Swamp.

"One thing I'll say to Florida," Anthony said, "we live and die football."

Anthony lives football now in a much milder environment. Instead of playing in front of more than 80,000 fans in The Swamp, he now coaches in front of a little more than 10,000 at a high school stadium in Valdosta, albeit a beautiful high school stadium for one of the best high school teams in the country. Anthony hopes to maybe become a Head Coach, though he acknowledges he has a lot to learn, such as defensive fronts and coverages, before taking that step.

Watching him today on the practice field, joking around with his receivers, yelling, "Nice. Good job," to his guys, he seemed content to be where he is right now.

"This has always been a dream of mine. I always knew if I was successful at football and had a chance to play pro, that once I was finished, I know I can't see myself doing 9 to 5 with a suit and tie on every day. I'm an outdoors guy. So I knew I was going to get into coaching."

Comments

IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT REIDEL IS DOING GREAT. I WENT TO GLADES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL WITH REIDEL AND FRED TAYLOR AND I WAS THOGHT HE WOULD ACCOMPLISH HIS DREAMS IN WHAT EVER HE PUT HIS MIND TO DO. FOOTBALL IS REIDEL AND REIDEL IS FOOTBALL. I AM VEY HAPPY FOR HIM. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SEEN HIM. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND CONTINUE TO TO MAKE GLADES CENTRAL/UF AND REST OF THE GLADES COMMUNITIES PROUD.

I AM SO PROUD OF REIDEL. THIS GOES TO SHOW NO MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM OR WHERE YOU'VE BEEN DREAMS DO COME TRUE. REIDEL IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT HE DOES AND THAT MEANS ALOT WHEN YOU ARE A MAJORITY. REIDEL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YOU REALLY MAKE US ALL PROUD HERE IN THE MUCK, MUCH LOVE.

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