By Ben Troupe
SouthernPigskin.com

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Ben Troupe’s thank you note to Feleipe Franks for his contributions at Florida.

Feleipe, thanks for the memories.

Thanks for making sure that Coach Mullens return to Gainesville and the SEC East was a smooth transition. You grew a lot in a short period of time, my guy. You overcame a lot while never losing sight of the team goals. You came in with out of this world expectations placed upon you, not just because of the position you play, but, more importantly, where you chose to play.

Lets be honest, most guys would have taken the easy route and went to a school where the demand, the constant scrutiny, and never ending criticism didn’t exist. You said 8no, Im built for this and I want all the smoke.

When everybody wrote you off after your first year as a starter, you simply smiled and winked because you knew your best was yet to come. Boy did it come.

Feleipe, I want to say personally that you are a class act that wears your emotions on your sleeves, and uses those same emotions to fuel your game. I watched you scramble for over 70 yards against Texas A&M. No one will ever forget that fourth down against the Vols when you threw that bomb to Cleveland.

You went from people questioning if should you be the starter to being a part of the prestigious 24/7 club, which is 24 passing touchdowns and 7 rushing touchdowns. You took the Gators from four wins to ten wins, all while earning a Peach Bowl Offensive MVP. You did your thing on the gridiron and, in the process, earned the respect of the coaches, your peers, opponents, and, while they’ll never admit it, even your critics.

But your greatest accomplishment is not the many incredible memories you’ve given us over the years, it’s the teammate that you were, especially after your injury. As you know, injuries that sideline you cause you to become something different because your contributions through your physical gifts and talents are no longer being utilized. Therefore, selfishness and that 8woe is me attitude can take over, but for you, that didn’t happen.

You didn’t let your injury become a distraction. You got to showcase your team first mentality. It’s how you served as center, snapping the ball to the QBs, pregame. Its being that extra set of eyes during each offensive series. Its giving guys that much needed pep talk before, during, and after the game. Its celebrating during the game with your brothers and showing appreciation to the fans by signing autographs, taking pictures, or even throwing the football with them.

Your injury didn’t stop you from being you. In some respects, it kind of paved the way for your teammates, fans, and all lovers and supporters of Gator Nation to get to know the man behind the facemask. You did your thing, my brother. You have nothing to feel bad about and everything to look forward to as far as your future is concerned.

Feleipe, your legacy is set at UF and you sir have given it your all. You accepted the standard. You met the standard. You upheld the standard.

In the words of a great Florida QB, stop playing with me, I do this. Yes you do, big time. You will be missed. Go Gators.