‘Swamp Kings’ Netflix documentary on 2006-09 Florida Gators set for August
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A week before Florida opens its 2023 season, Gator Nation will be glued to Netflix for a documentary about the Urban Meyer era at UF. The new series from Untold, entitled “Swamp Kings”, is set to launch on Aug. 23, Gators Online has confirmed.
The documentary will chronicle the 2006-2009 teams under Meyer, which included two national championships, two SEC titles, a Heisman Trophy winner and an undefeated regular season in that four-year span.
Multiple players who were interviewed have received a release date email from Netflix, which was first revealed this weekend by former UF linebacker Brandon Siler. The email also included information about promoting the series on social media with a “Swamp Kings” sweatshirt that will be sent out.
In addition to Meyer and Siler, the documentary will feature interviews with players such as Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Ahmad Black, Major Wright and Brandon James, former coaches and media members, along with behind-the-scenes footage from 2006-09.
After Meyer’s inaugural season, Florida won the SEC and national championship for the first time in 10 years. A young UF team went 9-4 in 2007 as Tebow became the starting QB and won the Heisman Trophy. Over the next two seasons, the Gators went 26-2 including two more titles in 2008.
The documentary will cover the on-field success of Meyer’s teams as well as some off-the-field issues his program had, including a few player arrests that made headlines. The late Aaron Hernandez, UF’s starting tight end later convicted of murder, will be discussed by some of his former teammates.
Urban Meyer on 2008 Gators
When Meyer first arrived at Florida, he made a statement about wanting to have the fastest team in America. Meyer recently told Gators Online that he fulfilled that goal with his 2008 squad.
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“We became the fastest,” Meyer said. “Speed breeds speed. That was in recruiting, the way we compete and practice, of course in the spread offense, how we played defense, and our special teams were filled with elite speed. I had a rule on our punt block team that you had to run 4.4 or better to play on that team.”
Meyer’s spring games would feature the fastest Gator on campus competition between Florida’s top speedsters and a group of UF students. He also kept a 40-yard dash board in the locker room.
Running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey had a legendary street race prior to the 2008 season (see below). And with players such as Percy Harvin, Louis Murphy and Deonte Thompson on the roster, the Gators had speed to burn.
“It was the fastest team I’ve coached or seen, certainly one of the fastest in college football history. Very rare to find that type of speed in athletes who also had the football skill,” Meyer said of his 2008 Gators.
