The Original Fade
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Well, here is one theory. We always played Florida early. Our secondary had not truly cut it's teeth on anything even remotely as good as the Gator's WR's. During the Spurrier years, Florida was stacked at WR. Add to that, Spurrier was great at finding the weakest link. He also never abandoned the run game. He established it, early, and used it to fool LB's and safeties.receivers running around open against UT's defense with no one within 5 yards of them and catching the ball? In another thread, I was involved in discussing Felipe Franks and with horror recall a few of his game winning antics against us. Then I caught a few other memories where Spurrier somehow had receivers consistently running wide open with no Vol defender in the tv screen catching balls against the Chiefs Ds. Then watched Myer do the same things during his stint there.
Different HCs for UF & UT, different coordinators, same results though, UF receivers running wide open through our defenses, how the %$#@ does that happen over and over and over again for years seemingly unending?? Frustrated crusty old guy that is becoming a day drinker over crap like this. We literally made Wuerffel who couldn't break a pane of glass floating the ball up the Heisman winner single handedly. Pruitt, save me! lol
receivers running around open against UT's defense with no one within 5 yards of them and catching the ball? In another thread, I was involved in discussing Felipe Franks and with horror recall a few of his game winning antics against us. Then I caught a few other memories where Spurrier somehow had receivers consistently running wide open with no Vol defender in the tv screen catching balls against the Chiefs Ds. Then watched Myer do the same things during his stint there.
Different HCs for UF & UT, different coordinators, same results though, UF receivers running wide open through our defenses, how the %$#@ does that happen over and over and over again for years seemingly unending?? Frustrated crusty old guy that is becoming a day drinker over crap like this. We literally made Wuerffel who couldn't break a pane of glass floating the ball up the Heisman winner single handedly. Pruitt, save me! lol
Spurrier had WR’s running wide open against everyone. He brought in a revolutionary offense during a time when defenses had lumbering safeties and LB’s trying to cover speedy WR’s and RB’s.
Meyer was similar, early days of the true spread option offense, coupled with generationally great players like Tebow, Percy, Rainey, Demps, etc.
Mullen is arguably the best offensive coach and playcaller in the SEC right now, with possibly Jimbo Fisher being the only one better. Mullen was the brains behind UF’s record-setting offenses under Meyer. When Mullen left, the downfall began.
How the hell UF was getting people open during the Muschamp and Mac eras remains a complete mystery. The idea that UT went 1-6 against that combo of coaches is amazing.
Well, here is one theory. We always played Florida early. Our secondary had not truly cut it's teeth on anything even remotely as good as the Gator's WR's. During the Spurrier years, Florida was stacked at WR. Add to that, Spurrier was great at finding the weakest link. He also never abandoned the run game. He established it, early, and used it to fool LB's and safeties.
Traditionally, UF used their first two games to work on their offensive identity, and UT used them to hide their identity from Spurrier. By the time we played them, they were a well-greased machine, and we were still finding ourselves.
The 2001 game exposed many things that people suspected all along. UT was just as talented, just as deep and just as good as UF. But, we had been in some tough games, and we knew who and what we were. Florida couldn't intimidate us, or make us panic. Either on the field, nor the sidelines. We played physical and fast, and rolled out of there with a hard fought victory, over a very good Gator team.
Receivers were open, alot. Gus had a good game, stat-wise. But he and his receivers took a physical beating. The run game was a non-factor. Florida was forced to throw way more than they liked, and were relegated to short passes. UT's offensive line ruled the day, and Travis Stephens wore down the Gator defense. UT's forced its will on the Gator defense.
Don't forget, UT battled back, after a few turnovers that resulted in Florida points, to go ahead, late. All of this......IN THE SWAMP. Sorry, I was reminiscing. I still have that game on VHS. lol. I'd love to see the UT vs UF game moved to later in the season, along with UGA.
2001 was the toughest defeat I recall as a Gator fan, along with 93 FSU and of course the 95 disaster against Nebraska. 2001 was probably Spurrier’s best team, certainly the best team not to win a championship, and I remain convinced that if a playoff were around back then, Spurrier would have won his second national title. That Gator team was LOADED. That UT team was awesome too, best game I’ve ever seen a UT team play. And it was an outstanding game, very well played by two teams loaded with NFL players.
Regarding those 90’s games during the Spurrier era, if you go back and watch some of those, Spurrier would go 4 or 5 wide, which nobody was doing back then, and some poor LB with the huge over-sized shoulder pads, built for SEC run-game ground and pound offenses, would be trying to cover a Florida WR. The only kryptonite to those Spurrier offenses was a fierce, unrelenting pass rush. FSU was the first to figure that out. The had elite DE’s and would blitz like crazy. Tennessee sacked UF a bunch of times in 97 too. Spurrier eventually adjusted by implementing the shotgun. Most people don’t know that Spurrier’s first 5 or 6 Florida teams NEVER operated out of the shotgun.
In essence, UF was designed to beat UT. UT was designed to beat the rest of the SEC. Alabama, Auburn and UGA in particular.2001 was the toughest defeat I recall as a Gator fan, along with 93 FSU and of course the 95 disaster against Nebraska. 2001 was probably Spurrier’s best team, certainly the best team not to win a championship, and I remain convinced that if a playoff were around back then, Spurrier would have won his second national title. That Gator team was LOADED. That UT team was awesome too, best game I’ve ever seen a UT team play. And it was an outstanding game, very well played by two teams loaded with NFL players.
Regarding those 90’s games during the Spurrier era, if you go back and watch some of those, Spurrier would go 4 or 5 wide, which nobody was doing back then, and some poor LB with the huge over-sized shoulder pads, built for SEC run-game ground and pound offenses, would be trying to cover a Florida WR. The only kryptonite to those Spurrier offenses was a fierce, unrelenting pass rush. FSU was the first to figure that out. The had elite DE’s and would blitz like crazy. Tennessee sacked UF a bunch of times in 97 too. Spurrier eventually adjusted by implementing the shotgun. Most people don’t know that Spurrier’s first 5 or 6 Florida teams NEVER operated out of the shotgun.