The Back Alley Archives

Driving around town, running errands, I had Fox Sports Radio on. One of the national shows had Chris Leak on to talk about the Heisman and other stuff.

They started out by asking him about what it's like preparing to play in the National Championship game and he talked about what the coaches did to keep them focused in practice and how they had enough seniors with a lot of big game experience that they didn't really feel any pressure going into the game.

They then asked him if he was going to watch the Heisman. Man, you should've heard Chris--it was like, "Are you kidding me?" He says of course he's going to be watching it because he really wants to see Tim win it. The host says, "So you're hoping Tebow wins it." Chris says, "Of course, I'm a Gator." It was priceless.

He went on to talk about how he felt like he'd played a role in putting Tebow in this position, because of all the time they spent together helping Tebow learn the offense, so it makes him even more proud of what Tebow's done.

That's why I'm always going to love Chris--kid is the ultimate team player and loves being a Gator. Kid's a champ.

hear, hear....i'll drink to #12

Chris Leak, let it not be forgotten, said the day he announced for UF, y'all come on down to Florida with me and win a national championship. And, unlike most, he delivered.

Can't spit on that.

Chris went through so much change around him while at UF. You really have to admire how he stuck though it and persevered.

I am still baffled at those Gator fans that denounce Chris Leak, the guy was all class and ultimately QB'd the team to an SEC and National Championship...what more do you want from the guy?

Four national championships?

Not speaking for myself here, but for the great rabid hordes. I'm not sorry to have left Gator Country.

One of my favorite Gators. All class and a Gator through and through. i'm with Hater, never understood the Gator fans that thought he should be pulled for Tebow at the first bad play last year. No way we win the NC last year without him and IMO no way the filipino superman Tebow wins the Heisman this year without the lessons he learned from Chris last year.

back when we were all on GC, i never understood the leak bashing as well...if you thought the 'chris is soft', 'chris dances too much', 'i hate when chris does the pirouette', 'chris is a pussy cause he slides' threads were rampant and unwarranted, i've got news for you - you only read the stuff either i never caught or the higher ups told me to leave....there were much more on the cutting room floor that you've never seen...stuff that was just too vile and just too critical.

why would the higher ups want me to leave such smut on that board?

you would NOT believe.

Unfortunately, I think Chris took the brunt of the bashing that came with the turmoil of the Zook years. I remember a game against Arkansas where Christ scrambled for a first down, leaped head first to get it, and got nailed by the defender. He got bashed for that because people were worried he'd hurt himself. Then he got bashed for being soft. Then he got bashed for playing through a possible concussion.

Some people were just looking to bash someone for something and as the QB, Chris was a convenient target. Personally, I've always loved the kid and what he went through for the team, through all the changes that happened under his tenure. He was always a steady presence and obviously loves being a Gator. You could see it on his face at the celebration of the national championship win, when Wuerffel came out to present him with the MVP trophy.

i loved seeing Chris last december on the turf in the georgia dome after winning the SEC. watching him celebrate made me a little teary eyed, i have to admit. the kid sacrificed himself, worked his ass off, didn't EVER complain, always toed the line, kept a cool head. he made his mistakes. plenty of them. but i can't even begin to imagine the true extent of the difficulties he faced through his eligibility.

Pure Gator Class right there, folks. Can't believe the shit he faced, either, considering them rings he's got.

I agree with all the posts here. Well said, all of you! Chris Leak is a class act, for sure!

love him. always have, always will. honestly, i was irritated when people were calling for tebow last year. it was leak's team and i'm glad he finally got his championship.

I remember him being bashed for starting. In front of a true freshman.

Only time I spoke ill of him was when he would slide short of a first down on 3rd down. That really bugged me.

Chris Leak and Billy Lastko will go down as probably my 2 favorite Gators of all time. Both gave everything they had and neither got the recognition they really deserve. I can see why CHris would get some sh*t though. I did cuss him once or twice for sliding before securing the first down but he will be a great representative for the Gator Nation.

Chris Leak and Billy Lastko will go down as probably my 2 favorite Gators of all time. Both gave everything they had and neither got the recognition they really deserve. I can see why CHris would get some sh*t though. I did cuss him once or twice for sliding before securing the first down but he will be a great representative for the Gator Nation.

I love "favorite Gators" discussions.

I grew up on Chicago Bears defensive brutality, and so my favorite Gators (with apologies to Mr. Lawrence My-Bitch-Is-Named-Joey Wright) are named Rutledge, Peterson, and Kearse.

I still have the pic of Chris holding up the trophy last year as the backdrop on my cell phone. And there it will remain
unless Tebow holds up that trophy.