GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At first, Jarvis Moss could not recall the last time he was at Spurrier/Florida Field. Until, that is, he realized that last time actually doubled as his final home date as a Florida Gator. With that clarity, Moss had no trouble recalling every single, thunderous, glorious second of that last game.
More specifically, of the last play.
Anyone else out there in Gator Nation remember?
Moss, the former standout UF defensive tackle, will be back at "The Swamp" for the first time in nearly 20 years Saturday when the Gators (5-3, 3-3) face Oklahoma (4-4, 2-3) in a night that will double as Urban Meyer's induction into the program's hallowed Ring of Honor. Moss will be there not only to celebrate his former coach, but to take a turn as honorary "Mr. Two Bits."
The selection of Moss is fitting, given his hand – literally – in putting Meyer alongside Steve Spurrier, Jack Youngblood, Wilber Marshall, Emmitt Smith, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow in the prestigious ring.
"I'm so proud to be a part of that history," said Moss, a 2006 first-team All American and NFL first-round draft pick.
Defensiive lineman Jarvis Moss (94) elevates to block South Carolina's Ryan Succop's game-winningn field-goal attempt in 2006 game in one of the most memorable plays in Spurrier/Florida Field history. [Gettys Images]
Moss was asked to relive the moment, a.k.a., "The Cock Block." Not only was he delighted to oblige, his recall of Spurrier's first homecoming game as South Carolina's coach was crystal clear.
The date was Nov. 11, 2006. The sixth-ranked Gators needed a win over the unranked Gamecocks to clinch a spot in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game and keep their slim national-title hopes alive. Florida, thanks to a Tebow touchdown run and Chris Hetland point-after with three minutes remaining, led 17-16 with eight seconds to go. South Carolina, though, had driven into UF territory and placekicker Ryan Succop came on the field to try a walk-off 48-yard field goal for the win.
Take it away, Jarvis.
"I played every snap that game. I didn't come out for one play. As a competitor, I remember playing every play as hard as I could. Athletes take plays off sometimes, that's part of the game, but I emptied the gas tank that day. We had already blocked two kicks and I had blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter. Usually extra points are plays guys take off, but I got in the crease, got my right hand up and got the ball. I remember looking at the scoreboard and thinking, 'We're going to win because of that one point.' "
With Succop and the Gamecocks lined up, UF called a timeout to ice the kicker, with the defensive unit, in this case the field-goal block team, summoned to the sideline.
"Coach Meyer, Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison were there. I was bent over, trying to get my wind, hands on my knees. Coach Strong comes over to me and yells for Derrick Harvey to get in there for me. They wanted to take me out. There was no way. 'I'm not coming out of this game!' I looked at Urban, he looked back at me sent me back out there. He knew I had to be in the game. The plan was for Steve Harrison and Ray McDonald to bump their lineman, get some push and I would be the jumper. You know how a basketball player takes one step and dunks the ball? That's what I was going to do."
And he did it to perfection.
"It was like everything was in slow motion. I saw everything. The snap, his foot, the kick -- and the ball hitting my hand. As soon as my feet touched the ground, I was pointing to the crowd. It was the first game my family had ever been to there. It was incredible."
What ensued, some say, was the loudest moment ever in "The Swamp," with the reverberations representing the landscape of college football changing in an instant.
UF went to the SEC Championship and defeated Arkansas, while UCLA was upset No. 2 USC, with the Gators vaulting to No. 2 and securing a berth in the Fiesta Bowl national-championship game against No. 1 Ohio State.
Florida, of course, dominated the Buckeyes (and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith) 41-14 five weeks later, limiting them to a measly 82 yards of total offense. Moss was in the middle of it all. Two years later, with Moss in the middle of a five-year NFL career that took him to Denver and Oakland, the Gators won their second national crown under Meyer. Jarvis Moss and son Noah a few years ago
The past two decades, Moss has spent most of his time in Colorado and dedicated himself to helping raise his son, Noah, a decorated football player in his own right. Noah Moss is a freshman tailback at North Carolina State who rushed for a state-record 2,112 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior at Fairhope (Ala.) St. Michael Catholic.
"I've loved playing the role of a dad," he said.
Hopefully, he'll love being reunited with his former coach and teammates, as well as the vibe that has invigorated Florida football to the tune of 22 consecutive sellouts.
"Urban? Oh man," Moss said. "A winner. A champion. A great coach and culture-shifter. He was what we needed at that time to become better players and better student-athletes. What a run we had."
