It was a breakthrough national championship, highlighted by the Fun’ N’ Gun offense, a Heisman-winning quarterback and a visor-wearing coach with swagger that stretched from Key West to Pensacola.
Florida football won its first national title 30 years ago, capping a 12-1 season in 1996 with a 52-20 win over rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
Two of the three statues erected in front of The Swamp played a key role in the championship season. Heisman winner Steve Spurrier, in his sixth season as UF coach, guided a UF offense that lit up scoreboards like a pinball machine. With Spurrier calling the plays, the Florida Gators led the nation in total offense (503.9 ypg) while leading the SEC in scoring offense (47.0 ppg, an SEC record that still stands).
Starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy in the 1996 season, passing for 3,625 yards and 39 TDs.
Defensively, Florida transformed into a more aggressive, blitzing unit under first-year coordinator Bob Stoops. UF wound up ranking third in the conference in total defense (250.2 yards per game allowed) and third in turnovers forced (2.2 per game).
To honor the 30th anniversary of 1996 national title team, the Gainesville Sun will count down the top 30 players from the team in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at No. 25:
No. 25 Tim Beauchamp, DE
Why Beauchamp is No. 25: The 6-2, 262-pound Beauchamp, from New Smyrna Beach, was a pass-rush threat as a sophomore on UF’s 1996 defensive line. Beauchamp started 11 games at defensive end and one game at defensive tackle, recording seven sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Beauchamp went on to earn second-team, All-SEC honors on the defensive line in 1997 and had a brief pro career in NFL Europe, the XFL and CFL before retiring from football in 2001. He currently works in law enforcement in Daytona Beach.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football Top 30 players from 1996: No. 25: Tim Beauchamp
