Favorite Win Over the Gators

#27
#27
ToptheTerrible said:
2001. No brainer. UF favored by 20 and expecting to play for the NC but no dice. It also ended up being Spurrier's last game in the Swamp - and he left the venue tasting some of Fulmer's crack sweat instead of the sweet taste of victory. Def 2001...
Click to expand...

That was a great win, but I never understood how Vegas determined that Florida should have been such a prohibitive favorite in that game to begin with. After all, we were 10-1 going into that game with our only loss of the year being a heartbreaking last second loss to Georgia. Additionally nothing in the recent history if that series suggested the game would be anything other than close. The prior four games of the season had all been decided by 6 points or less.
 
#28
#28
1992. Had a blast! Was loose and expected to win. Was also at the 98 game. That was a different feeling. The stadium was electric! 92 probably because I was a student and lived in Andy Holt. The party lasted hours and hours. 98 I already graduated.
 
#29
#29
1998 was without a doubt the biggest for me. We had been on the cusp of winning a national title for years, but until 1995 Bama got in our way, and then when we finally began beating Bama, Florida Started getting in our way. When we won, I knew that it was finally our time and we were destined to win the national championship.
 
#31
#31
2001 in Gainesville. I was there and had just turned 21 not long before. Was a fun trip.
 
#34
#34
1970 sweet sweet sweet


Tennessee had dominated Florida during all of the rivalry dating back to 1916. Even though we were both SEC teams we hadn't played that often because of the long schedule rotations the SEC used to have.

Fact is, Florida wasn't just our doormat. They were the bugs crawling in the dust of our doormat.
Between 1916 and up to 1969 we had only met 12 times. The VOLS lead 11 games to 1. No one considered the Gators a threat. In fact, no one considered the Gators much of anything at all.

So, in 1969, the 9-1 SEC Champion Volunteers and the 8-1-1 Gators who didn't face each other during the regular season played each other in the
1969 Gator Bowl.

Florida won 14 to 13 with only one offensive touchdown. I was a senior in high school watching with my family just days before Christmas totally expecting a beatdown as we always delivered to the swamplizzards .... but their LB, an absolute demon in this game, Mike Kelly was everywhere all the time.

He had SEVENTEEN tackles, and interception, a sack, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt carried in for the Gators only other score, a defensive touchdown.

Here's where it gets interesting.
Florida's head coach and part time athletic director was none other than Ray Graves. The Captain of the Tennessee Volunteer's 1941 squad under Coach John Barnhill when General Neyland had been called back into active duty for WWII. Leading up to the Gator Bowl game it was all the news that Graves was retiring from coaching to become full time AD and one of his assistants would take over.

Now Doug Dickey was coach of Tennessee. Well beloved for bringing UT out of the slump Bowden Wyatt had put us in by his refusal to modernise his offense with a passing game. He steadfastly clung to his mentor Neyland's single wing, which had to have a "triple threat" passing, running, drop kicking QB. And THAT is the single greatest reason Steve Spurrier from Science Hill in Johnson City left the state to play for Florida and win their first Heisman. Well, Dickey's got Tennessee the SEC Championship and the Litkenhouse NC in 1967, won the SEC in 1969, and lost to the lizzards in the Gator Bowl.

Just a few days later Doug Dickey took off for the Head Coaching job at Florida. So we used to say, without Tennessee, Florida wouldn't know how to find a football, much less find their own azz.

1970's 38-7 frog stomp under new head coach Bill Battle was a sweet sweet revenge. His 11 win season was not an omen of things to come as his winning went steadily downhill to a 4 win 1976 season and Johnny came Marching Home. Battle? He is now AD at Ala damn bama.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#35
#35
but Florida tried a tying field goal and John Ward said "It's no good, no sirree!!!!"

I think the final score was 20-17 UT.
 
#36
#36
I agree with 1970 game. May be the loudest Neyland has ever been. The Reaves to Alvarez connection was derailed! The revenge was sweet. I never forgave Dickey for his 1969 treachery.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#43
#43
Volosaurus rex said:
I would probably give the 1990 victory my vote as well. Indeed, the third quarter of that game may have been the best single quarter by a Tennessee football team that I have ever witnessed (see 1990 Tennessee 45 Florida 3 - YouTube). In a battle of top-10 teams, Tennessee entered the third quarter, leading 7-3. At the end of that period, Tennessee had reeled off 28 unanswered points, initiated by Dale Carter's 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Von Reeves later hit Carl Pickens in stride on a perfectly thrown 47-yard touchdown pass off of a reverse. Tony Thompson and the Tennessee Valley Authority absolutely gashed Florida with the running game and the defense intercepted two passes, including one returned for a touchdown.

Obviously, the 2001 game also deserves serious consideration. There probably has never been a more exciting and hard-fought game between two evenly matched teams in the history of the series. And, given the context and stakes associated with that game, there probably has not been a more important game played between the two teams. Obviously, it was a team win but Travis Stephens turned in a Herculean performance, one that was every bit the equal of Al Wilson's in the 1998 game. Speaking of which, I am surprised that thebjd is the only person to reference the '98 game, given the fact that it was a streak-ending victory and was the first major conference hurdle that catapulted us to the national championship.

For those of us who have followed the Big Orange for a long time, the 1970 game was almost as rewarding. In Doug Dickey’s return to Tennessee as Florida’s coach, Bobby Scott passed for a then-school record 385 yards and the Big Orange give the lizards a world-class butt-kicking, 38-7.
Click to expand...

1990 is my favorite as well. Do you remember how hard it was to get tickets back in those days? You just couldn't go buy a ticket for a game much less season tickets. Go Big Orange!
 
#44
#44
For you fellow old-timers, here is a 30-minute trip down memory lane to the era of "tear-away" jerseys and our 38-7 victory over Florida in 1970: 1970 Tennessee 38 Florida 7 - YouTube. What a defense: Conrad Graham, Tim Priest, Bobby Majors, All-American linebacker Jackie Walker and Jamie Rotella, who would achieve All-American status at the same position in 1972. Offensive notables included Curt Watson, quarterback Bobby Scott, Lester McClain, Joe Thompson, Steve Wold and Chip Kell, a two-time All-American guard (1969, 1970). Also note George Hunt, who probably was our last non-soccer style kicker.

Incidentally, 1970 was the year in which "Tennessee's daunting defense collected 36 interceptions for a seemingly untouchable school record. Walker led the Vols with 82 tackles and 42 assists. He finished his career with 11 interceptions, more than anyone who wasn't a defensive back during his time. He returned those picks for 281 yards and a then-NCAA record five touchdowns. The 281 interception return yards ranked fourth at the time on Tennessee's all-time chart behind three defensive backs - all his teammates" (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football). Furthermore, Jackie Walker recorded interception returns for touchdown in the 1970 Alabama game and, the following week, against Florida (see 28:00 mark of this video clip).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#45
#45
Volz4lif3 said:
My favorite Gator win was 1990 45-3.. Dale Carter.. But Travis Stephens 200 yd + gm in 2001 was spectacular also.. Made The OBC leave and go pro.. What was yours? I know we don't have too many lately.

Also Tennessee leads with a 10 gm win streak all time but right now I believe Florida has a 9 gm win streak now.. Let's stop the bleeding Vols!
Click to expand...
Agree with 1990. When I saw the look in Coach Majors and the players eyes when they were in the tunnel about to run out through the T, I said these guys are gonna romp tonight!
 
#49
#49
My favorite win was in 2004. I was there with my dad and it's the last UT-FL game I have been to with him. We've been to plenty of others since then, but not Florida.

My God was it loud in 2004 when Wilhoit kicked the game-winner.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top