January 9, 2007

Gainesville, FL (CSTV U-WIRE) -- GLENDALE, Ariz. - On a glitter-covered field, Derrick Harvey sprinted amid the madness, searching for teammates and coaches to share the moment with.

After the chaos settled, Harvey walked the four steps up the stage erected on the field. Smiling and pointing to teammates, he raised his trophy for the defensive player of the BCS National Championship Game.

Finishing with 3 sacks, 4 tackles and a recovered fumble in UF's 41-14 rout of No. 1 Ohio State on Monday night, Harvey helped secure the school's second football national championship.

An unknown before the season, Harvey said he never envisioned the moment, even in his wildest dreams.

"You just go out, work hard every day and hope it pays off," Harvey said, putting on his white national championship hat. "All those two-a-days and workouts paid off tonight. I never would have thought this could happen to me."

OSU Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith was never able to get in rhythm against the Gators. UF's defensive line, anchored by Harvey, constantly pressured him into errors. Smith finished 4-14 passing with one interception, the worst performance of his career.

"He was trying to keep a smile on his face the whole time but I knew he was rattled," said junior defensive end Jarvis Moss. "We got to him, we got to him a lot and then I didn't see any more smiling after that."

It wasn't just Harvey's sacks or tackles, either.

His constant pressure, forced double-teams, freeing up teammates, and allowed UF defensive backs to play at the line of scrimmage.

"Derrick Harvey is the most underrated player in the nation," senior defensive tackle Steven Harris said. "He came out of nowhere this year. People need to recognize what he has done."

Harvey would put the game out of reach with less than two minutes left in the first half. After junior defensive end Jarvis Moss jarred the ball lose from Smith, Harvey recovered, taking the ball 9 yards to the OSU 5-yard line.

Three plays later, the Gators would stretch their lead to 34-14.

"He showed everybody he's the best end in the country tonight," senior defensive lineman Ray McDonald said.

Upon losing senior defensive tackle Marcus Thomas to suspension, the Gators defense needed someone who could fill the void.

Monday night, that player was Harvey, a 6-foot-5, 262-pounder from Greenbelt, Md.

Putting together a season like Harvey has-11 sacks and 35 tackles-and having perhaps his best performance on college football's biggest stage, Harvey may now face the same decision Thomas had to make-stay for his senior season, or opt for the NFL.

Having the fourth-highest single-season sack total in UF history might be hard to top, too, and there's no guarantee he avoids injury next year.

Soaking in the moment, the NFL Draft was the last thing on Harvey's mind. He said after the game that he would never think twice about leaving this season.

"The only thing on my mind right now is the Gators," he said. "We're national champs-that's all that matters."

Not wanting to take credit for the defensive pressure, Harvey had the stage-the whole nation watching-but he chose to give credit to his teammates.

"Everybody stepped up tonight," he said. "It took a lot of time and preparation to be able to stop a team as good as Ohio State. Everybody came out and played as hard as they could, and that is why we are national champions."

An unknown before the season, Harvey surely will be remembered for what he did here.

As he faded into the locker room, Harvey-a quiet, soft-spoken player-let his play speak volumes for him tonight.

Surely now, Gators fans will always praise his name for what he did here-a foregone conclusion for a player who entered the season with only six tackles and one sack.

"It just shows with hard work anything's possible," Harvey said. "This is the best moment of my life."

(C) 2007 Independent Florida Alligator via CSTV U-WIRE