Florida to become first team to win multiple titles in football, basketball, baseball with CWS win over LSU
Florida is a large brand within the world of college athletics. Whether it’s their team’s play, their atmosphere down in The Swamp in Gainesville, or their logo, they’re near the top of the most recognizable programs in the NCAA.
However, if Florida comes back to win the College World Series over LSU in Omaha on Monday night, they would put their athletic department in a league of their own. That’s because, per Neil Blackmon of Saturday Down South, a title for the Gator baseball team would make them the only program in the nation with multiple titles in football, men’s basketball, and baseball.
Some of that history happened more recently than others. Even so, all three have at least accomplished those feats in the 2000s.
In the case of Florida football, they’re a three-time national title winner. While that does include Steve Spurrier’s win in 1996 that gave their program their first, the pair of titles in a three-year stretch from Urban Meyer, with a pair of teams that included one Tim Tebow, are likely more well-known.
As for Florida basketball, they are college basketball’s most recent repeat. They won their pair of national championships in 2006 and 2007. That also means they won a title in the same year that Meyer won his first on the gridiron. Still, Billy Donovan left a legacy of his own with his two teams that featured future NBA players like Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Marreese Speights.
We then reach the most recent champions in the Florida baseball program. This year’s club is the 13th group of Gators to reach the College World Series. They’re the third to reach the final series, alongside their 2005 and 2017 teams. Now, they could join the 2017 squad as the second to hoist a national championship for their school.
Florida made some history already with what they did on the diamond on Sunday afternoon. However, they could do even more for their athletic department as a whole if they manage to get the job done on Charles Schwab Field on Monday night.
College World Series Finals Game 3: Schedule, TV information released
LSU entered Game 2 of the College World Series Finals on Sunday with a chance to close things out. However, Florida wasn’t about to let that happen. With their backs against the wall after a loss Saturday, the Gators left no doubt in a dominant 24-4 win to force a winner-take-all Game 3 set for Monday.
That sets up Game 3 of the College World Series Finals for 7 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN. Karl Ravech, Chris Burke, and Kyle Peterson will be in the booth while Kris Budden reports from down on the field.
- Game 1 – LSU 4, Florida 3
- Game 2 – Florida 24, LSU 4
- Game 3 – Monday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN