Bear-Gators want to add to Florida's run

The Bears roster is a veritable swamp, chockfull of Gators. There's Alex Brown at defensive end, Ian Scott at defensive tackle, Todd Johnson on special teams and Rex Grossman at quarterback.

In another year, Gator Haters could overlook that. But not now when the Gators are No. 1 wherever you look.

Their football team just won the national championship. Their defending national champion basketball team is No. 1 in the polls. Their football recruiting class could be No. 1, too.

That's not all.

Ex-Gator David Eckstein was MVP of the last World Series with St. Louis. Ex-Gators Udonis Haslem and Jason Williams played on the Miami Heat's 2005-06 NBA championship team. And ex-Gator Emmitt Smith won "Dancing with Stars" in November.

None of this success is lost on the Bear-Gators.

"It's the year of the Orange and Blue, what else can you say?" said Johnson, a backup safety for the Bears.

"People in the locker room probably get sick of us talking how proud we are of (the Gators). We had a lot of bets against us in the locker room (for the Florida-Ohio State national championship game)."

Brown sounded offended when asked if he already had a Florida football national championship T-shirt.

"He don't know how much I love Florida," Brown said to his media audience. "Of course I (have a T-shirt). Basketball championship, football championship, hats, shirts, medallions, key chains, everything."

To which, second-year Florida football coach Urban Meyer might say: "Mission accomplished."

Since his hiring, Meyer has made a point of reaching out to former Gators. He wants them to feel a part of the program.

"I've been really impressed at how he's trying to get the former players involved," Johnson said. "I'm really appreciative of that."

And the Bear-Gators know how to show their appreciation.

"We practiced at the University of Miami facilities Monday," Johnson said. "And we all hung our Florida national championship T-shirts on the lockers."