University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

MARSHALL KEYS UF DEFENSE IN 1982 r Ivory Curry is tackled following a punt return in the LSU contest. Freshman John L. Willaims calls for a fair catch in the homecoming game against the West Texas State Buffaloes. W. McNeill It was a typical afternoon at Florida Field. A sign hanging over the north end zone wall read " This field is under Marshall Law. " Indeed it was, as linebacker Wilber Marshall roamed the astroturf in pursuit of unsuspecting quarterbacks. It wasn ' t long before the Titusville, Fla. native earned the respect of coaches, players and media throughout the country. Number 88 was the only junior in the nation named as a finalist for the Lombardi Award, given to college football ' s best lineman. He also earned first team All-American honors from the football writers and Associated Press. Perhaps Marshall ' s widest came early in the season when the Gators shocked USC 17-9 in the third W. McNeill game of the season. An ABC television crew was on hand to see " Marshall Law " the Gator way. Wayne Peace wasn ' t the only Gator to get recognition from Sports The nation ' s leading sports as well as Associated Press named Marshall Defensive Player of the Week for his 14 tackles against the Trojans. The 6 ' 1, 230 lb. junior has been the Gators leading tackler the past two seasons. He finished 1982 in All-America fashion with 123 tackles on the season, 70 of them individual. Marshall stopped opponents for minus yardage 17 times last season and also had to his credit six quarterback sacks. With one more year left in a Gator uniform, football fans will be treated to ten more games under Marshall Law.