re: Does the number of championships make one program more “elite” than others?

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Florida didn't even field a team in 1943

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During the World War II years of 1942 to 1945, most of the university's able-bodied students withdrew and enlisted in the U.S. military.

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The Bulldogs, on the other hand, still had many veteran players thanks to the draft deferments of the players who were enrolled in the University of Georgia's ROTC program


Florida did not field a team in 1943 due to the lack of available players, for the first and only autumn since the modern University of Florida opened its Gainesville campus in 1906. Florida was one of seven Southeastern Conference schools that did not field a squad during the 1943 season.[119] The 1945 backfield was made up entirely of freshmen.[95] During the war, Tiger Mayberry's fighter plane was shot down over the Pacific and he died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp; Fergie Ferguson was seriously wounded leading an infantry assault during the D-Day landings in France and died from complications of his injuries ten years later.[120]

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Dude. there were no National Championship games back then.

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ALL of them were retroactive

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Florida didn't even field a team in 1943

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Hilariously, 1942 is the year that the entire country was fighting a war except for Georgia, who managed to get draft deferments.

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Yeah, most Georgia pussies wouldn't know anything about dying on hills since they stayed to play football instead.

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In Belgium near the Hürtgen Forest on November 24, 1944, Ruark volunteered to lead a patrol to engage German snipers who were inflicting casualties on American soldiers in the area. Taking the lead of the patrol so as to not expose his men needlessly to danger, Ruark was killed by one of the snipers he and his men were tasked with eliminating. For his selflessness and bravery, he was awarded the Silver Star. His death at the age of 26 left his wife, Hazel Bracket Ruark, a University of Georgia student, a widow. Their daughter, Pat, was born after ‘Chief’ had gone off to war and never met her father.

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After all of VMA-211’s planes had been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, Elrod organized ground troops for a defense of a stretch of Wake Island’s shoreline. He was killed in combat with Japanese troops invading the island on December 23, 1941.

For his heroism, Maj. Elrod was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military honor. The award was presented to his widow on November 8, 1946.

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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 211, during action against enemy Japanese land, surface and aerial units at Wake Island, 8-23 December 1941. Engaging vastly superior forces of enemy bombers and warships on 9 and 12 December, Capt. Elrod shot down two of a flight of 22 hostile planes and, executing repeated bombing and strafing runs at extremely low altitude and close range, succeeded in inflicting deadly damage upon a large Japanese vessel, thereby sinking the first major warship to be destroyed by small-caliber bombs delivered from a fighter-type aircraft. When his plane was disabled by hostile fire and no other ships were operative, Capt. Elrod assumed command of one flank of the line set up in defiance of the enemy landing and, conducting a brilliant defense, enabled his men to hold their positions and repulse intense hostile fusillades to provide covering fire for unarmed ammunition carriers. Capturing an automatic weapon during one enemy rush in force, he gave his own firearm to one of his men and fought on vigorously against the Japanese. Responsible in a large measure for the strength of his sector's gallant resistance, on 23 December, Capt. Elrod led his men with bold aggressiveness until he fell, mortally wounded. His superb skill as a pilot, daring leadership, and unswerving devotion to duty distinguished him among the defenders of Wake Island, and his valiant conduct reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

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You played in 1942

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During the World War II years of 1942 to 1945, most of the university's able-bodied students withdrew and enlisted in the U.S. military.

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Having lost most upper-class players to service in World War II, the 1942 Florida Gators brought an inexperienced 3–4 squad into Jacksonville for the 1942 contest with Georgia.[9][10][34] The Bulldogs, on the other hand, still had many veteran players thanks to the draft deferments of the players who were enrolled in the University of Georgia's ROTC program, and brought a 7–0 record and No. 1 ranking to Jacksonville

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Having lost most upper-class players to service in World War II, the 1942 Florida Gators brought an inexperienced 3–4 squad into Jacksonville for the 1942 contest with Georgia.

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