A case for Titletown USA.

TTBHG · Post by **TTBHG** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:39 am

Titletown USA. ESPN is going around the country giving each of its finalists for Titletown USA to make one last statement. Erin Andrews and an ESPN crew will be on hand Thursday at 1:30 in the North End Zone at The Swamp and it will be Gainesville’s chance to tell the world. If you go by the numbers, then Gainesville has a real shot at it.

Let’s start with national championships. Everybody knows about the historic basketball-football-basketball sandwich of 2006-2007, that 366 days when the Gators did what no other school in NCAA history has done by winning the NCAA basketball championship (2006), the BCS national football championship (2006) and then adding one more NCAA basketball championship (2007).

Only Michigan State (football 1962 AP, 1965 UPI; basketball 1979, 2000) and Florida (football 1996, 2006; basketball 2006, 2007) have multiple championships in basketball and football. Michigan State also has four other football championships (1951, 1954, 1956, 1966) awarded by minor (non-AP, UPI/Coaches) organization while Florida has one (1984).

Football and basketball get most of the attention, but there have been 17 other teams that have brought home an NCAA championship with women’s tennis and men’s golf bringing home four each.

On an individual basis, the Gators have produced their share of national champions. Women’s swimming, which has produced two of the most prolific swimmers in NCAA and Olympic history --- Tracy Caulkins and Dara Torres --- has produced 52 national champions. Men’s swimming, which produced world record breaker Ryan Lochte, has produced 27 national champions.

Speaking of the Olympics, since 1968, the University of Florida has produced 105 Olympic athletes who have represented 24 countries, 69 medalists and 35 gold medalists. If the University of Florida had been a country in the 2000 Olympiad in Sydney, the Gators would have tied for 24th with their 10 medals.

When it comes to conference championships, there isn’t a more dominant school in the history of the SEC than the University of Florida. Recently, the Birmingham News declared the University of Florida the all-time best sports program in the history of the Southeastern Conference. Florida’s 180 SEC team championships are the most in the history of the league.

The Gators have claimed the men’s all-sports championship in the SEC 12 times while the women’s program has claimed the title 13 times. In the overall standings, Florida has won the SEC All-Sports Championship a record 17 times. Florida is one of only two schools to finish in the top 10 nationally in all 23 years there has been an All-Sports championship awarded.

And once they are finished at UF, Gator athletes just keep on winning.

Torres will become the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics in Beijing next month. She’s won nine medals including four golds. Tracy Caulkins won three golds as did Nicole Haislett.

Emmitt Smith won three Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys and retired from the National Football League as its all-time rushing leader. Wilber Marshall won a Super Bowl ring with the Chicago Bears and two with the Washington Redskins.

David Eckstein has two World Series rings, one with the Los Angeles Angels in 2002 and another with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. He was the MVP of the 2006 World Series.

Andy North is on the short list of golfers who have won multiple U.S. Open titles. North won in 1978 and then came back to win again in 1985. Tommy Aaron won the 1973 Masters while Bob Murphy won the U.S. Amateur in 1965 and then came back in 1966 to win the NCAA championship. Steve Melnyk won the 1971 British Amateur.

In women’s soccer, Danielle Fotopoulos set the NCAA record for points in a career while teaming up with Heather Mitts to lead the Gators to the 1988 NCAA championship. Fotopoulos helped the US win the 1999 World Cup while Mitts has a 2004 Olympic Gold Medal along with former UF All-American Abby Wambach.

In women’s tennis, two-time NCAA singles champ Lisa Raymond is one of the greatest doubles players in professional tennis history. She has teamed up to win nine major (Australian, French, Wimbledon, US) open championships in her career.

Here are Florida national and SEC championship teams along with the athletes that have won NCAA individual championships.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (21):

Men’s Golf (4): 1968, 1973, 1993, 2001
Women’s Swimming (2): 1979; 1982
Gymnastics (1): 1982
Men’s Swimming (2): 1983, 1984
Women’s Golf (2): 1985, 1986
Women’s Track (1): 1992 (indoor)
Women’s Tennis (4): 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003
Football (2): 1996, 2006
Soccer (1): 1998
Men’s Basketball (2): 2006, 2007

INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Boxing (1): John Joca, 1940 (135-pound weight class)

Men’s Golf (2): Bob Murphy 1966, Nick Gilliam 2001

Women’s Golf (1): Page Dunlap 1986

Gymnastics (5): Maria Anz, 1984 (Floor); Betsy Hamm, 1998 (Beam); Susan Hines, 1997-98 (Vault); Lynn McDonnell, 1982 (Beam); Ann Woods, 1982 (All-Around, Floor, Bars)

Men’s Swimming (27): Craig Beardsley, 1981-82 (200 Butterfly); Eric Boyer, 1983 (800 Freestyle Relay); Greg Burgess 1993 (200 IM, 400 IM), 1994 (200 IM, 400 IM); Matt Cetlinski, 1986 (500 Freestyle); Matt Cole, 2000 (200 Backstroke); Troy Dalbey, 1987 (800 Freestyle Relay); Keith Dickson, 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Duffy Dillon, 1984, 1987 (800 Freestyle Relay); Geoff Gaberino, 1981 (800 Freestyle Relay), 1983 (800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay), 1984 (800 Freestyle Relay); Donald Gibb, 1983 (400 Freestyle Relay); Brian Hartley, 2005 (800 Freestyle Relay); Mike Heath, 1983 (400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle), 1984 (800 Freestyle Relay); John Hillencamp, 1979, 1981 (800 Freestyle Relay); David Larson, 1979, 1981 (800 Freestyle Relay); Ryan Lochte, 2004 (400 IM), 2005 (200 IM, 200 Backstroke, 800 Freestyle Relay); 2006 (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Backstroke); Albert Mestre, 1983 (800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay), 1984 (800 Freestyle Relay); Brent Mitchell, 1991 (400 Medley Relay); Anthony Nesty, 1990 (100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly), 1991 (100 Butterfly, 400 Medley Relay), 1992 (100 Butterfly); Paul Robinson, 1987 (800 Freestyle Relay); Bill Sawchuck, 1981 (800 Freestyle Relay); Adam Sioui, 2002 (200 Freestyle), 2005 (800 Freestyle Relay); Chris Snode, 1978 (3-Meter Diving); Darian Townsend, 2005 (800 Freestyle Relay); Bob Utley, 1991 (400 Medley Relay); David Zubero, 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Martin Zubero, 1991 (200 IM, 400 Medley Relay)

Women’s Swimming (52): Suzanne Ackum, 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Judy Anderson, 1978 (800 Freestyle Relay); Theresa Andrews, 1982 (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay), 1983 (400 Medley Relay); Laura Booth, 1993 (400 Freestyle Relay); Brenda Borg, 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Bonnie Broyles, 1976-77 (50 Backstroke); Tami Bruce, 1986 (500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle), 1987 (1650 Freestyle); 1988 (200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle Relay); Caroline Burckle, 2008 (500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle); Amy Caulkins, 1982 (200 IM), 1983 (200 Medley Relay); Tracy Caulkins, 1982 (100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 Medley Relay), 1983 (100 IM, 200 IM, 400 Medley Relay), 1984 (200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay); Carmen Cowart, 1986 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1988 (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1989 (800 Freestyle Relay); Andrea Cross, 1982 (200 Medley Relay); Debbie Daniel, 1988 (800 Freestyle Relay); Kim Dunson, 1978 (50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke); Joan Franz, 1985 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay); Carol Goeke, 1978 (800 Freestyle Relay); Julie Gorman, 1988 (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Butterfly, 400 Medley Relay), 1989 (200 Butterfly, 400 Medley Relay); Holly Green, 1985-86 (400 Freestyle Relay); Nicole Haislett, 1991 (200 Freestyle), 1992 (200 Freestyle), 1993 (200 IM, 200 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay), 1994 (200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 400 Medley Relay); Sue Halfacre, 1973 (400 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay), 1974 (400 Freestyle Relay); Whitney Hedgepeth, 1990 (200 Freestyle, 200 Medley Relay); Elene Jones, 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Jane Kerr, 1989 (800 Freestyle Relay); Michele Kurtzman, 1982-83 (400 Medley Relay); Renee Laravee, 1978 (100 IM, 200 IM, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1979 (800 Freestyle Relay); Kristen Linehan, 1989 (100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 400 Medley Relay), 1990 (100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, 200 Medley Relay); Mimosa McNerney, 1993 (1650 Freestyle), 1995 (500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle), 1996 (1650 Freestyle); Melanie Morgan (400 Freestyle Relay); Renie Mullen, 1978 (800 Freestyle Relay); Megan Neyer, 1982 (1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving), 1983 (1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving); 1984 (1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving); 1986 (1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving); Cindy Ounpuu, 1986 (100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke); Laura Paternak, 1984 (400 Freestyle Relay); Lorraine Perkins, 1988 (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley relay), 1989-90 (200 Medley Relay); Shannon Price, 1994 (400 Medley Relay); Jennie Sawyer, 1985 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1986 (800 Freestyle Relay); Gemma Spofforth, 2007 (200 Backstroke), 2008 (100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke); Vicki Stemper, 1993 (400 Freestyle Relay); Karen Stotlemeyer, 1974 (400 Freestyle Relay); Ashley Tappin, 1994 (400 Medley Relay); Barbara Thomas, 1973-74 (400 Freestyle Relay); Kathy Thomas, 1973 (400 Freestyle Relay); Dara Torres, 1986 (400 Freestyle Relay), 1988 (50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay), 1989 (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay); Kathy Treible, 1981 (50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke), 1982 (50 Breaststroke, 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay), 1983 (400 Medley Relay), 1984 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay); Allison Wagner, 1995 (400 IM); Janie Wagstaff, 1994 (400 Medley Relay); Laura Walker, 1989 (800 Freestyle Relay); Mary Wayte, 1984 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1985 (400 IM, 100 Freestyle, 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1986 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay); Laureen Welting, 1984 (400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay), 1985 (800 Freestyle Relay); Jackie White, 1973 (400 Freestyle Relay); Paige Zemina, 1986 (800 Freestyle Relay), 1988 (800 Freestyle Relay), 1989 (800 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay); Stephanie Zunich, 1988 (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay), 1989 (100 Breaststroke, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay), 1990 (100 Breaststroke, 200 Medley Relay)

Men’s Tennis (3): David Blair and Mark Merklein, 1993 (Doubles); Mark Merklein, 1994 (Singles); Jeff Morrison, 1999 (Singles)

Women’s Tennis (9): Jillian Alexander and Nicole Arendt, 1991 (Doubles); Dawn Buth and Stephanie Nickitas, 1996-97 (Doubles); Jill Craybas, 1996 (Singles); Whitney Laiho and Jessica Lehnhoff, 2001 (Doubles); Lisa Raymond, 1992-93 (Singles); Shaun Stafford, 1988 (Singles)

Men’s Track (36): Ahmad Jasmine, 2004 (4X100 Relay); Stephen Adderly, 1992 (4X800 Relay); Wimpy Alexander, 1975 (Mile Relay); Aaron Armstrong, 1975 (4X100 Relay); Beaufort Brown, 1973 (600 Yards), 1975 (Mile Relay); John Capel, 1999 (200 Meters); Daymon Carroll, 2000 (4X100 Relay); Sekou Clarke, 2004 (4X100 Relay), 2005 (4X400 Relay); Kerron Clement, 2005 (400 Meters, 4X400 Relay, 400 Meter Hurdles); Earl Diamond, 1989 (55 Hurdles, 4X400 Relay); Scott Dykehouse, 1975 (Javelin); Mark Everett, 1988 (4X400 Relay), 1990 (800 Meters Indoor, 800 Meters Outdoor); Kyle Farmer, 2004 (4X100 Relay); Noel Gray, 1975 (Mile Relay); J. Lewis Hall, 1951, 1953 (High Jump); Rickey Harris, 2001 (400 Meters), 2002 (400 Meter Hurdles); Timmy Johnson, 1988 (4X400 Relay); Dedric Jones, 1992 (4X800 Relay); Ron Jourdan, 1969 (High Jump); Tyrone Kemp, 1989 (400 Meters, 4X400 Relay); Kerron Kerron, 2004 (400 Meter Hurdles); Lewis Lacey, 1992 (4X800 Relay); Calvin Long, 1988-89 (4X400 Relay); Bernard Middleton, 2005 (4X400 Relay); Dennis Mitchell, 1998 (200 Meters, 4X400 Relay), 1989 (200 Meters); Mike Morrison, 2004 (4X100 Relay); Tom Nohilly, 1989; Eamon O’Keefe, 1972 (1000 Yards); Stafan Pastor, 2005 (4X400 Relay); Scott Peters, 1992 (4X800 Relay); Earl Poucher, 1954 (Pole Vault); Jim Pringle, 1979 (High Jump); Horace Tuitt, 1975 (Mile Relay); Josh Walker, 2004-05 (110 Meter Hurdles); Aaron Wallace, 1989 (4X400 Relay); Geno White, 2000 (4X100 Relay); Bernard Williams, 2000 (100 Meters, 4X100 Relay)

Women’s Track (20): Nekita Beasley, 1991 (800 Meters), 1992 (4X400 Relay Indoors, 800 Meters, 4X400 Meter Relay Outdoors); Sandra Braasch, 1986 (4X800 Relay); Sonja Braasch, 1986 (4X800 Relay); Hazel Clark 1988 (800 Meters Indoors and Outdoors), 1989 (800 Meters Indoors and Outdoors); Chris Crowther, 1986 (4X800 Relay); Tasha Downing, 1990 (4X400 Relay); Michelle Freeman, 1992 (4X400 Relay Indoors, 100 Meter Hurdles, 4X400 Relay Outdoors); Erin Gilreath, 2003 (Weight Throw); Heidi Hertz, 1976 (Pentathalon); Anita Howard, 1990 (4X400 Relay), 1992 (4X400 Relay Indoors and Outdoors, 400 Meters); Miriam Kevkhishvili, 2008 (Shot Put); Leah Kirklin, 1991-92 (Triple Jump Indoors); 1992 (Triple Jump Outdoors); Kim Mitchell, 1990 (4X400 Relay), 1992 (4X400 Relay Indoors and Outdoors); Susan Nash, 1986 (4X800 Relay); Tiandra Ponteen, 2005 (400 Meters); Candice Scott, 2002 (Weight Throw); 2003 (Hammer); 2004 (Weight Throw, Hammer); Monifa Taylor, 1993 (55 Meter Hurdles); Dorchelle Webster, 1990 (4X400 Relay); Becki Wells, 1997 (Mile Run)

SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS BY SPORT (180):

Men’s Swimming and Diving (33)
Women’s Tennis (23)
Volleyball (17)
Women’s Swimming and Diving (16)
Men’s Golf (14)
Baseball (10)
Men’s Tennis (9)
Soccer (8)
Football (7)
Gymnastics (6)
Women’s Indoor Track and Field (5)
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field (4)
Men’s Basketball (4)
Men’s Cross Country (3)
Women’s Cross Country (3)
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field (3)
Softball (2)

SEC ALL-SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS (17):

Men’s Sports (12)
Women’s Sports (13)
Overall (17)

UFgirlfan07 · Post by **UFgirlfan07** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:53 pm

SportsCenter is doing a segment of their show from each of the 20 "finalist" cities. They will be in Gainesville on Monday, July 14.

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:08 pm

SportsCenter is doing a segment of their show from each of the 20 "finalist" cities. They will be in Gainesville on Monday, July 14.

wrong. They are in Gainesville today. The taping will air on Monday.

UFgirlfan07 · Post by **UFgirlfan07** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:09 pm

Geez. My bad!

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:33 am

LOL. Just read my own post. Sorry - didn't mean to come off harsh.

G8rMom7 · Post by **G8rMom7** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:03 pm

I seriously think the ESPN thing will end up with some town like Boston or Chicago as Titletown...simply because of the pro sports...they always seem to favor the pros to the college sports. IMO. If it were about college sports, UF would definitely be right up there.

TheTodd · Post by **TheTodd** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:37 am

completely agree alli

TTBHG · Post by **TTBHG** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:51 pm

New York should win. If you are looking at it in an all-time point of view. New York teams have won many championships in every sport imaginable.

G8rMom7 · Post by **G8rMom7** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:09 pm

^^^Yeah, that's true. Plus, they have two of almost every pro team...ups their odds too. LOL

a1bion · Post by **a1bion** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:12 pm

You know what city will never make it into this competition? Buffalo.

nicker:

MinGator · Post by **MinGator** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:24 pm

nicker:

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:13 pm

I don't think they are judging this purely on number of championships, but the sports atmosphere and fan following as well.

UFgirlfan07 · Post by **UFgirlfan07** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:16 pm

Vote now: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/titletown/index

You can vote more than once.