BowlBrother85
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...is really extensive when you break them down individually. I could be wrong but I don't think any two college football programs have had more ties among both coaches and players than Tennessee and Florida and it makes for an interesting history... and why, in spite of the lopsided nature of the series since 1993, I still consider it a rivalry. Here's a look (it's lengthy!)
Ray Graves- Born in Knoxville and played for Tennessee from 1940-1941 (team captain in '41). He also coached the OL at UT from 1944-1945. Graves is best known for being Florida's Head Coach from 1960-69 and having a nice tenure (70-31-4). He was hired by fellow UT alum Bob Woodruff... which brings us to:
Bob Woodruff- Easily the most complicated legacy among the two programs. He played for Tennessee from 1936-38 and was an assistant from 1939-1941. He was both Head Coach and AD at Florida from 1950-59 but departed on bitter terms. He returned to Tennessee as AD in 1963 and served until 1985. He was instrumental in having Florida retroactively stripped of the 1984 SEC title. He lobbied to have Doug Dickey succeed him as AD in 1985... which brings us to:
Doug Dickey- Played for Woodruff at Florida from 1951-53. Head Coach at Tennessee from 1964-69 where his last game was a loss to Florida. Head Coach at Florida from 1970-78 where he was a disappointment after having great success at Tennessee. Returned to Tennessee as AD in 1985 where he remained until 2003.
Steve Spurrier- He has no ties to UT but he was raised in Johnson City and graduated from Science Hill High School. He has mentioned that his relationship with Ray Graves was a factor in his choosing UF after not being recruited hard by Tennessee. Played at UF from 1963-66 and was the HC from 1990-2001.
Ron Zook- DB coach from 1984-86 for UT where he was a valuable assistant on one of Tennessee's best ever defenses. Served as an assistant under Spurrier from 1991-95 and was later unsuccessful as UF's Head Coach from 2002-04. He was a central figure in the infamous Kinko's fax incident that took place in 1991 when a disgruntled former UT assistant named Jack Sells faxed him copies of Tennessee's playbook. Zook lied to the media about receiving the faxes from Sells... which brings us to:
Dale Jones- A great LB at Tennessee from 1983-86. He also served one year as an assistant at Florida in 1991 where he sent Tennessee's staff copies of Florida's playbook.
The Bates family- Jim: Played at Tennessee and was a GA in 1968. He was later an assistant in 1989 at UT and then a DC at Florida in 1990. His sons: James- played LB at Sevier County HS (graduated 1992) but then went to Florida where he played from 1993-96. Jeremy- played one season at UT as a reserve QB in 1995. They were briefly on the field at the same time near the end of the game.
The Leak Brothers- CJ: Played backup QB at Tennessee from 2002-03. Chris: A highly touted QB who appeared to be a lock for UT but became upset when CJ didn't get much playing time when Casey Clausen was injured vs Georgia in '02. He started for Florida from 2003-06.
The Riggs Brothers- Gerald- Played RB at Tennessee from 2002-05. Cody- Played DB at Florida from 2011-13 before transferring to Notre Dame.
Jimmy Ray Stephens- Played TE at Florida under Dickey from 1973-76 and was an assistant under Spurrier from 1993-01. He was an assistant under Fulmer at UT from 2002-05.
Stan Drayton- RB coach at Florida from 2003-07, 2010 and an RB coach at Tennessee in 2008.
Robert Gillespie- Played RB at Florida from 1998-2001. Has been the RB coach at Tennessee since 2013.
Sorry, it was long but basically the point is these two programs have an incredible history for two teams that didn't start playing annually until 1990... THIS IS A RIVALRY. For those who say otherwise please show me two programs with more ties to each other than this.
Ray Graves- Born in Knoxville and played for Tennessee from 1940-1941 (team captain in '41). He also coached the OL at UT from 1944-1945. Graves is best known for being Florida's Head Coach from 1960-69 and having a nice tenure (70-31-4). He was hired by fellow UT alum Bob Woodruff... which brings us to:
Bob Woodruff- Easily the most complicated legacy among the two programs. He played for Tennessee from 1936-38 and was an assistant from 1939-1941. He was both Head Coach and AD at Florida from 1950-59 but departed on bitter terms. He returned to Tennessee as AD in 1963 and served until 1985. He was instrumental in having Florida retroactively stripped of the 1984 SEC title. He lobbied to have Doug Dickey succeed him as AD in 1985... which brings us to:
Doug Dickey- Played for Woodruff at Florida from 1951-53. Head Coach at Tennessee from 1964-69 where his last game was a loss to Florida. Head Coach at Florida from 1970-78 where he was a disappointment after having great success at Tennessee. Returned to Tennessee as AD in 1985 where he remained until 2003.
Steve Spurrier- He has no ties to UT but he was raised in Johnson City and graduated from Science Hill High School. He has mentioned that his relationship with Ray Graves was a factor in his choosing UF after not being recruited hard by Tennessee. Played at UF from 1963-66 and was the HC from 1990-2001.
Ron Zook- DB coach from 1984-86 for UT where he was a valuable assistant on one of Tennessee's best ever defenses. Served as an assistant under Spurrier from 1991-95 and was later unsuccessful as UF's Head Coach from 2002-04. He was a central figure in the infamous Kinko's fax incident that took place in 1991 when a disgruntled former UT assistant named Jack Sells faxed him copies of Tennessee's playbook. Zook lied to the media about receiving the faxes from Sells... which brings us to:
Dale Jones- A great LB at Tennessee from 1983-86. He also served one year as an assistant at Florida in 1991 where he sent Tennessee's staff copies of Florida's playbook.
The Bates family- Jim: Played at Tennessee and was a GA in 1968. He was later an assistant in 1989 at UT and then a DC at Florida in 1990. His sons: James- played LB at Sevier County HS (graduated 1992) but then went to Florida where he played from 1993-96. Jeremy- played one season at UT as a reserve QB in 1995. They were briefly on the field at the same time near the end of the game.
The Leak Brothers- CJ: Played backup QB at Tennessee from 2002-03. Chris: A highly touted QB who appeared to be a lock for UT but became upset when CJ didn't get much playing time when Casey Clausen was injured vs Georgia in '02. He started for Florida from 2003-06.
The Riggs Brothers- Gerald- Played RB at Tennessee from 2002-05. Cody- Played DB at Florida from 2011-13 before transferring to Notre Dame.
Jimmy Ray Stephens- Played TE at Florida under Dickey from 1973-76 and was an assistant under Spurrier from 1993-01. He was an assistant under Fulmer at UT from 2002-05.
Stan Drayton- RB coach at Florida from 2003-07, 2010 and an RB coach at Tennessee in 2008.
Robert Gillespie- Played RB at Florida from 1998-2001. Has been the RB coach at Tennessee since 2013.
Sorry, it was long but basically the point is these two programs have an incredible history for two teams that didn't start playing annually until 1990... THIS IS A RIVALRY. For those who say otherwise please show me two programs with more ties to each other than this.
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