Tampa, Fla. ? When Urban Meyer talks about Florida football, he singles out Vernell Brown.

“If there’s a poster or something out there that says ‘Florida Gators,’ I want his mug right there,” Meyer said after Brown, who broke his leg two months ago, came back Monday and scored on an interception to help Florida beat No. 25 Iowa, 31-24, in the Outback Bowl.

“I want people to see Vernell Brown,” the coach said of his cornerback. “He’s what we stand for.”

Chris Leak threw for 277 yards, while Dallas Baker scored on passes of 24 and 38 yards and finished with 10 catches for 147 yards for the 16th-ranked Gators (9-3). With the victory, Meyer matched Ray Graves (1960) and Steve Spurrier (1990) for most victories for a coach in his first season at Florida.

Brown, who broke his left leg against Vanderbilt on Nov. 5 and missed the last two games of the season, picked off an overthrown pass and returned it 60 yards. Tremaine McCollum ran six yards with a blocked punt for another TD to help the Gators build a 24-7 halftime lead.

“Vernell Brown’s a guy who was told, ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that.’ Broke leg. Told he won’t be back,” Meyer said. “He looked them in the eyes, and with tears in his eyes, said, ‘I’ll be back for the bowl game.’ He was back for the bowl game and played his heart out.”