Even with all the resources of an affluent athletic program, the Gators' rapid success has been a surprise to those involved.
Dan Mullen, Florida's offensive coordinator, has faced both teams in the past year and said that the Gators had success by spreading out the defense.
Rivers, a 6-foot-4 guard from Winter Park, Fla., verbally committed to Florida in 2008 but reopened his search after the Gators struggled to sustain their success.
It has been the most unlikely of seasons for the Gators, but the root of their success this season can be traced to the family trees of three starters.
Fortunately, conservationists intervened, and the gator became an Endangered Species Act success story.
Meyer said Addazio's promotion ensured that the Gators would "keep it going" with their success on offense.
The trip to Birmingham was such a success, a trip to Jacksonville for Tech's Gator Bowl appearance against Penn State was organized as well.
Tim Tebow's tenure at Florida was defined by team greatness and individual excellence, a stretch of success epitomized by his final game with the Gators, when he completed 31 of 35 passes for 482 yards in a Sugar Bowl victory against Cincinnati.
Dale Personette, general manager of Gator's Dockside, told The Huffington Post the president's visit was a success.
Parlaying that success into a head coaching job at Florida, Meyer cleaned up the mess left by Ron Zook and whipped the Gators into a juggernaut, going 65-15 over six seasons.
