When offensive tackle Carlton Medder said he was the "last of a dying breed," he wasn't kidding.
UF's small, 14-member senior class has been through two head coaches and countless assistants, found the lowest of lows with a humbling, program-shaking upset at Mississippi State several years ago and reached the highest of highs with a national title in 2006.
Anything that could have happened has happened for this class. And it will all come to a close Saturday on Senior Day.
"Most of the guys that I came in with transferred or got kicked out of school," Medder said. "There's probably going to be some tears shed. It's a very emotional game."
While last year's championship squad was known for its veterans, this team is known for its youthful vigor.
The numbers of this class have certainly dwindled through the years, but that has also brought the opportunity for closeness.
"Twenty two people or more you expect to leave with," receiver and team captain Andre Caldwell said. "My whole class is gone. It made us a tight-knit group. We're like family, and they're my brothers."
For safety Tony Joiner, Senior Day is exceptionally important. Coach Urban Meyer said Monday that he is considering reinstating Joiner as a captain. The senior had the title stripped from him earlier this season after he was arrested on burglary charges. The charges were dropped soon thereafter.
"That's why I worked my tail off for the last four years," Joiner said. "To be recognized as a captain. I want it. I really want it."
Saying he wants it, however, is putting it lightly.
"When that was taken out, that hurt him the worst," senior safety and close friend Kyle Jackson said. "That's Florida football to TJ. He's got the memories of running through the tunnel, or eating victory meals, or doing stadiums, but walking through that little tunnel and seeing your face and seeing captain on it, that would mean the world to TJ."
But whether Joiner's title is reinstated, it will still be his last time running through that tunnel.
For most of the seniors, they'll never hear 90,000-some fans screaming for them again.
"It's tough to cope with," Joiner said. "There's nothing like playing in The Swamp. All the road games - that's fine and dandy. But to play in The Swamp, that means a lot to me."
With their families looking on while they play against their biggest rival, it's going to be a mixed bag of emotions.
"I don't know how the emotions are going to be that night," center and team captain Drew Miller said. "I don't know if I'm going to feel it before or after it's over."
This class has not had an easy act to follow after last season's seniors led the charge in the national-title run.
"For the few that are here, we've been through a lot," Joiner said. "Last year a lot of the older guys didn't get around all the young guys, but it's different this year."
