Carlos Alvarez (American football)
Havana, Cuba | |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
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Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
Career history | |
College | Florida (1969–1971) |
Bowl games |
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High school | North Miami Senior |
Career highlights and awards | |
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College Football Hall of Fame (2011) |
Carlos Alvarez Vazquez Rodriguez Ubieta (born April 1, 1950) is a former American football college player who was a consensus All-American wide receiver for the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida from 1969 to 1971.
Early life
Alvarez was born in
He was raised in
He was highly recruited by multiple universities, including the hometown University of Miami and the University of Florida, but he ultimately chose Florida where his older brothers Arturo and Cesar were already enrolled.[1][2] It was reported that his brother Arturo was the best athlete in the family and could cover Carlos one-on-one. Alvarez graduated from North Miami High School in 1968.[1]
College career
After graduating from high school, Alvarez accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the
Alvarez was known for his speed on the football field, and the media dubbed him the "Cuban Comet."[7] He was also the Gators' leading receiver in 1970 and 1971, marking three straight seasons as the Gators' top offensive weapon.[4] Alvarez was also a first-team Academic All-American in 1969 and a second-team Academic All-American in 1970 and 1971,[4] and was chosen for the Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1991.[8]
In the last game of that 1969 season against the
Florida Gators receiving records
Although Florida has fielded many prolific offenses including 17 All-American receivers and three
The only SEC player in the last 50 years to hold at time of graduation all but one SEC career, season, and game record. Only record not held was career receiving touchdowns – held by College Football Hall of Famer Terry Beasley, Auburn. Only Gator receiver in the last 50 years to hold all Gator career, season and game pass receiving records at time of graduation. Alvarez still holds some individual game, season and career records and is in the top five of almost all other Gator receiving categories. The 88 catches in 1969 had been exceeded up to that season by only three players in the history of college football (Howard Twilley -Tulsa, Glen Meltzer – Wichita State, Jerry Hendren – Idaho). The 88 catches and 1329 yards in his sophomore season remain 50 years later the highest numbers by any sophomore player in SEC history. This was done in a 10-game season. Was in the top 5 in the SEC for season receiving yards in 1969 (1), 1970 (5) and 1971 (4) despite severe knee injuries in 70 and 71 and a coaching change that led to a more run oriented offense. At the time in 1969, first consensus All-American sophomore since Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker (SMU) in 1947. One of only two Gator players (Danny Wurfell is the other) to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Academic All-American Hall of Fame. The Gators have produced 17 All-Americans at the wide receiver position and two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks (Steve Spurrier played before Alvarez) since Alvarez’ graduation in 1972.
His career record of 176 receptions was broken by Andre Caldwell in 2007,[4] and he ranks second in Gator history (and third in SEC history) in receiving yards in a single season (1,329 yards in 1969) and second on the receiving yards charts in a single game (237 against Miami in 1969).[4] He ranks ninth among all-time Gators receivers in career touchdown receptions (26), seventh in touchdown receptions in a single season (18), and is tied for third for most touchdown receptions in a single game (3).[4] His 133 yards per-game average in 1969 is still the all-time single-season best among Gators, and has only been exceeded once in the SEC.[7]
Alvarez ranks second among Gators receivers with thirteen games for 100 yards or more receiving, one behind career leader Jabar Gaffney.[4] He ranks first among Gators for most 100-yard receiving games in a season, also tied with Gaffney and Travis McGriff, all with eight.[4] Alvarez achieved this in 1969 when six of those 100-yard games were achieved consecutively—also a team record he shares with two other Gators.[4]
Life after football
Alvarez graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in political science, with honors, in 1972. The
Following in the family legal tradition of his father and older brothers, Alvarez became a practicing attorney. He is a member of
Alvarez was inducted into the
In October 2020, ESPN SEC Storied series broadcast a documentary on Carlos Alvarez titled, "The All-American Cuban Comet". It was directed and produced by Gaspar Gonzalez. It covers approximately the first 22 years of Alvarez' life and his desire to become an American citizen after leaving Cuba at the age of 10 and how football became part of that struggle. It includes a perspective of that struggle during the socially turbulent times of the 60's and Alvarez' political activism during that time.
See also
- 1969 College Football All-America Team
- Florida Gators football, 1960–69
- Florida Gators football, 1970–79
- List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (players, A–K)
- List of College Football Hall of Fame inductees (players, L–Z)
- List of Duke University alumni
- List of Florida Gators football All-Americans
- List of University of Florida alumni
- List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
References
- ^ a b c d Hubert Mizell, "Twenty years later, Alvarez is still a winner," St. Petersburg Times, p. 1C (September 30, 1989). Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ a b "Pioneers' Alvarez A Gator," The Miami News, p. 3-C (December 22, 1967). Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Charlie Nobles, "'Florida's Best 15 Football Prospects'," The Miami News, pp. 1-D & 4-D (November 2, 1967). Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 2014 Florida Football Media Guide Archived September 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 76, 80, 87, 90, 91, 93, 102, 104, 121, 141–143, 150–152, 154, 157, 165, 176, 187 (2014). Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ a b Norm Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 82–84 (2007).
- ^ 2012 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 7 & 14 (2012). Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Kelly Reynolds, "Carlos Alvarez—Walk Proud Archived September 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine," GatorZone.com (September 29, 2008). Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ Franz Beard, "Carlos Alvarez: Meyer is the right coach Archived 2006-05-17 at the Wayback Machine," GatorCountry.com (March 14, 2006). Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ "NFF Announces 2011 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class," College Football Hall of Fame (May 17, 2011). Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c "SEC Sends Three to College Hall of Fame," SECSports.com (May 17, 2011). Retrieved July 10, 2011.
- ^ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
- ^ Jack Hairston, "Alvarez returns to enter Hall," The Gainesville Sun, p. 1B & 3B (April 11, 1986). Retrieved July 24, 2011.
- ^ Edward Aschoff, "Carlos Alvarez inducted into HOF," ESPN.com (May 17, 2011). Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ^ Pat Dooley, "Florida's Alvarez elected to College Hall of Fame Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine," The Gainesville Sun (May 17, 2011). Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ College Football Hall of Fame, Hall of Famers, Carlos Alvarez. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- ^ Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "No. 7 Carlos Alvarez," The Gainesville Sun (August 27, 2006). Retrieved March 31, 2013.
Bibliography
- Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.
- Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). ISBN 0-9650782-1-3.
- Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). ISBN 1-58261-514-4.
- McCarthy, Kevin M., Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football, Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). ISBN 978-0-7385-0559-6.
- McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
- Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). ISBN 1-57167-196-X.
External links
- Carlos Alvarez – College career statistics from Sports-Reference.com
- Carlos Alvarez at the College Football Hall of Fame