I miss the Florida-Tennessee game
I’ve never been one of these people who spends a lot of time looking back and longing for the “Good Old Days.”
But having said that, I sure do miss the Florida-Tennessee game.
Tennessee is going to Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday as a four-touchdown underdog. That just ain’t right.
Children, gather round and let me tell you about a time in the 1990s—you know, back in the 20th Century—when the Gators and Volunteers were always in the Top 10 and most of the time were both in the top five. The winner of this game had a leg up for the SEC East championship which meant they also had taken a major step towards the national championship.
We used to live for these games because the winner would be launched into the top 2 or 3 and the loser knew they could still play their way back up the polls and be right there if the other guy stumbled late.
Steve Spurrier was the head coach at Florida and, as a native of East Tennessee, loved to torment the Volunteers. When Tennessee was fielding some of its greatest teams, Spurrier and his “Fun N’ Gun” offense led the Gators to five SEC champions (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) in a six-year span. So many memories:
**–Peyton Manning, Tennessee’s greatest player, left Knoxville with one SEC championship (1997) but he was 0-4 against the Gators. He should have won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 and I know for a fact some voters held his inability to beat the Gators against him.
**–Tennessee finally did break through, winning (20-17) in 1998 on a missed Florida field goal in overtime. The press box at Neyland Stadium literally shook and the Vols used it as a springboard to the national championship.
**–Jabar Gaffney’s catch/non-catch on the goal line from Jesse Palmer that gave Florida a 27-23 win in Knoxville in 2000. The catch was so controversial that referee Al Matthews, a Vanderbilt grad who made the call to give Florida the winning score, never worked a game in Knoxville again.
**—In 2001 the game had to be postponed to Dec. 1 due to the horrific events of Sept. 11. Florida was ranked No. 2 and thinking national championship, but Tennessee dominated the line of scrimmage and won 34-32 in what would become one of Phillip Fulmer’s sweetest wins ever. The next week, however, Tennessee lost a shot at the national championship by falling to LSU in the SEC title game. And little did we know it at the time, but it would be Spurrier’s last home game as the coach of the Gators.
Now Spurrier, who said “You can’t spell Citrus without a UT,” has gone to South Carolina, where he’s not tormenting anybody anymore. Fulmer has gone to the broadcast booth here he looks back fondly at his clashes with Spurrier.
Today we are left with a Florida-Tennessee rivalry that may not ever be so competitive again. Under Urban Meyer, the Gators have run off and hid from the rest of the field in the SEC East. History says Georgia and Tennessee will eventually close the gap but you wonder, as long as Meyer is in Gainesville, if that will really happen. Right now it looks like the rest of the league is holding on, waiting for Meyer to get bored and want another challenge. And if Charlie Weis keeps calling plays like he did last Saturday against Michigan, the Notre Dame job is going to be open soon. I’m just saying.
So Saturday we are left with just a curiosity factor. We know Florida is going to win the game. The only question is how lopsided Meyer will let it become before he calls off the Gators. Kiffin will have something to build on when he tells his players after the game: “Remember how you feel right now. We don’t ever want to feel this way again.”
It was a great rivalry while it lasted.
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220 comments Add your comment
Capt Caveman
September 15th, 2009
4:13 am
wow !! I’m first at 4 in the morning??? LOL
Capt Caveman
September 15th, 2009
4:14 am
Tennessee SUX and the Gators can “kiss my grits” !!!!
GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA_2001
September 15th, 2009
4:50 am
This rivalry was good for about 8 years. Both have bigger rivalries with the Dawgs as UGA is 2nd in the East between them.
warhorse
September 15th, 2009
5:07 am
Tony, nice lament for the death of a heavyweight. But UT will be back. After they suffer in the depths for a couple of years under Lame Kitten, the destruction of trailers and abuse of family members in Tennessee will become such a severe social problem that politicos will intervene to insist that the AD hire an adult as football coach.
Then the poodles return to their accustomed third spot in the East.
It is a rivalry that produced the concept Volsheimer; any fan can remember hnow the the Vols would rebound (generally by trouncing the pups) from an early loss to the Gators and contend at season’s end that they were the best ___ (fill in the blank) loss team in the country.
#2 BAMA FAN
September 15th, 2009
5:30 am
I hope the gators beats the vols 70-0!! Boy Blunder will learn to SHUT UP next time!!
m
September 15th, 2009
5:32 am
We know floriduh is going to win???
If that is true it is just because the sec has become floriduh and the 11 dwarfs.
Not only in tennerrrrsee just a smidgen of its former self…the entire league is that way now.
Only floriduh is any good….and we don’t even know that for sure because their non-conference schedule is mainly high school teams ( I guess that is better preparation for the sec now.)
Bottom line is this….okie state couldn’t beat houson but they dang sure beat ugag…..and ucla (no powerhouse by any means) comes into knoxville and beat tennersseee.
The sec is the most overhyped and overrated conference ever. No one is scared of the sec. In fact, Tech is voluntarily playing 3 teams from the sec…maybe they will wake up and play some real teams and not some sec overrated wannabees.
hop
September 15th, 2009
5:37 am
who cares!!
Coach Mark Richt
September 15th, 2009
6:09 am
BOO HOO ! I’m gonna whip both their arses1
zinoDawg
September 15th, 2009
6:36 am
Good point m, the SEC IS overrated. Two straight National Championships and complacency sets in.
You dumba@@.
Joe
September 15th, 2009
6:38 am
Be careful here…ask Oklahoma a few years back the last time they said a “team could not be beat” ….it was a 35- something loss followed by a loss the next week. I will give Fla their due- they are good BUT no team is unbeatable. The media has all jumped in bed with Urban and Teblow and have a total disrespect for other teams. That UT is a 28 point underdog show how utterly stupid some people are. UT may be down, but I would be willing to bet UF doesnt win by 28. Face it folks- UF is one play away from a disaster. Lose Teblow and then lets chat how great the mighty gaytors are. I actually dislike both teams….
ED-Covington
September 15th, 2009
7:00 am
Again I ask: Does the scoreboard at The Swamp go to 3 digits? Meyer will notcare how lopsided the score is, he won’t call off the Gators. Besides, what difference would it make? Florida’s depth is such that they would need to go to their cheerleaders before their talent dropped off. Even if he pulls Tebow (which he will), Brantley is still better than any other QB in the SEC except Sneed. Same goes for every other position for the Gators. Does anyone realize what returning the entire 2-deep on a national championship defense means?
BTW, I’m a Tech fan; so I’ve got no dog in this fight, (apologies to mv7) I just agree with Tony that it is a shame that some of the traditional rivalries in the SEC have died; and Kiffen’s antics have made even the casual fan anti-Vol.
Atlanta Gator
September 15th, 2009
7:06 am
Florida-Tennessee series facts:
(1) The series is currently tied at 19-19.
(2) In the 19 games played before 1990, the Volunteers led 13-6. In the 19 games played from 1990 forward, the Gators lead 13-6.
(3) The first Gators-Volunteers game was played in 1924; the Vols won 24-0. The Gators lost the first 10 games in the series, winning 14-0 in 1954 for their first series win. The Gators coach in 1954 was Bob Woodruff, a former Tennessee player under Robert Neyland.
(4) During the 1960s, Ray Graves was the coach of the Gators and Doug Dickey was the coach Vols. Gator head coach Graves was a former Tennessee team captain who played for Robert Neyland. Volunteers head coach Doug Dickey was a former Gators quarterback who played for Bob Woodruff.
(5) In 1969, Tennessee won the SEC with a record of 9-1 (5-1 SEC); Florida finished 8-1-1 (3-1-1 SEC). The Vols and Gators played in the 1969 Gator Bowl, with the Gators pulling off the “upset” 14-13. The Gators finished with a 4-1-1 SEC record (.750), conference champion Tennessee finished with a 5-2 SEC record (.714),
(6) After the 1969 season, Ray Graves retired and Doug Dickey became the new Gators head coach in 1970. When Dickey was forced to resign after a 4-7 record in 1978, he returned to Knoxville to become the UT athletic director, where he was responsible for hiring both Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer.
(7) Home field advantage matters, but is not determinative: Since 1990, the Gators are 6-4 in Knoxville and 7-2 in Gainesville.
(8) The Gators’ fourth consecutive win over the Vols in 1997 probably cost Peyton Manning the 1997 Heisman. The Vols’ win over the Gators in the 9/11-delayed 2001 game probably cost Rex Grossman the 2001 Heisman.
(9) Since the SEC began divisional play in 1992, Florida and Tennessee have combined to win the Eastern Division 14 of 17 years, and have won the SEC championship game 10 of the 14 years in which they were the division winners.
(10) After winning the SEC East and conference championship game, the Gators have played for national championships in 1995, 1996, 2006 and 2008 (winning in 1996, 2006 and 2008); the Volunteers played for national championships in 1997 and 1998 (winning in 1998).
TampaGator
September 15th, 2009
7:07 am
m….you are an idiot blogger. SEC won big in the bowls last year. Won the National Title yet again (3 out of 4 years) and the SEC is overrated. Georgia is not overrated this year. They are in the bottom 20 and they are very young. When their young QBs get experience (when???), then Georgia will return to the top 10 or top 5. Florida, Bama (steamrolled a top 10 team in Va Tech this year), and Ole Miss are all top teams in the country this year. Either one of those teams could beat any of the other two teams…or any other team in the country. And LSU will continue to get better as the year goes on. When you have 3 or 4 potential national title teams in one conference, that conference is NOT overrated, dude.
TampaGator
September 15th, 2009
7:11 am
Joe…when are you people going to wake up to the fact that Florida has the third best QB in the SEC…and he backs up Tim Tebow. His name is John Brantley. The Gators could lose every starter on both sides of the ball and they still might win the SEC title. That is how good they are and how deep they are in talent…including QB.
Atlanta Gator
September 15th, 2009
7:14 am
Joe—-I don’t think anyone has suggested that the Gators are “unbeatable.” The Gators have the talent and coaching to repeat, but there’s a very fine line between finishing 14-0 and winning the national championship and being just another 11-2 BCS bowl team.
Ed—-As I understand it, the Florida Field scoreboard is stuck on double digits. If needed, however, the scorekeepers can always borrow some old number cards from the old baseball scoreboard closet.
MiltonDawg
September 15th, 2009
7:18 am
Watch for the upset- If Kiffin could win 1 SEC game this year- it would be this one. Although Crompton looks horrible so it may just be a pipe dream.
TampaGator
September 15th, 2009
7:27 am
One final comment for the day…Tennessee will be as good as their QB this year and their QB is not very good. The Vols have top 10 talent and many postions, especially on defense, except at QB. I fully expect a close game in Gainesville during the first half and then the Gators will break it open in the second half when their QB begins to break down and the depth and overall talent of the Gators takes over. I hope the Vols do develop back into a top 10 team soon. It will make the SEC more fun, and I think Kiffin (dispite his antics) will accomplish turning the Vols into a powerhouse again…and sooner than a lot of people think.
G Force
September 15th, 2009
7:34 am
Some of the desk-perts would have you believe that Florida has beat Tennessee already. We’ve seen enough from teams from all conferences to remind us that anyone can win on any given Saturday. Just last year Ole Miss caught the Gators napping. I’m not saying the Vols are going to win, but I’m not saying they’re not. That’s why they play the game.
ED-Covington
September 15th, 2009
7:45 am
MiltonDawg:
Yes, we will watch for the upset: It will be an upset if UT scores.
ED-Covington
September 15th, 2009
7:47 am
Atlanta Gator:
Great info on the history of the series and all the UT-FLA connections.
Vol fan
September 15th, 2009
7:49 am
Although he’s a moron Coach Kiffin is good recruiter. I’m hoping that after he’s fired the cupboard will be full for the next coach, as it was for Urban Meyer when Ron Zook was fired.
OrangeBlood
September 15th, 2009
7:49 am
Watch out Gators . . . don’t be so sure you’re going to blow away Monte’s defense. His guys’ blood runs ORANGE in their veins and you are making them very MAD . . . you may indeed have the best team and the most depth which usually translates into wins but sometimes weird things happen to those who ignore David and Goliath . . . just saying . . . Vols could turn into a savage hunting party! Watch it!
VolsnGoBlue
September 15th, 2009
7:50 am
Im a vols fan for sure but Kiffin deserves the whoopin he will get this weekend. You take over for a truly great man/coach/mentor/leader in Fulmer and hire a young kid who runs his mouth. Gators will drop 80 and Kiffin will get what he deserves. However, this rivalry will get hot in two years once kiffins recruiting classes come to town and then it goes Bama, FL, UT, Michigan, USC, Texas all back on top of the heap as it should be
johnny reb
September 15th, 2009
8:02 am
Gator’s show no mercy. The Rebels will do the same later this year to Coach “O” Sh$t!
Mikey
September 15th, 2009
8:08 am
Eric Berry cant win this game on his own…
ED-Covington
September 15th, 2009
8:08 am
UT fans:
Do you really want the kind of recruits that clowns like Kiffin and Obgeron(?) attract? Losing to a poor UCLA team IN KNOXBURG was a statement game for Kiffin and his staff. At least Fulmer lost last year in LA.
Spike
September 15th, 2009
8:13 am
If Kiffen is such a great coach Vol fans, why did he not call time out whenUT had the ball on the three yard line on fourth down and dial up a better play thatn the one that was callled? Just a boring run up the middle that got stoned. UT loses a game they could have won. How does “Vol Nation” like this smarty pants coach now?
Tom M
September 15th, 2009
8:15 am
Back to the REAL story here- I COMPLETELY agree with Mr. Barnhart- I MISS the rivalry of this game. I’m a Gator and was at many of those great games of the 90’s and now it just isn’t the same.
I HATE UTenn, but sure miss having something to truly argue about with fans from UTenn. Games are more fun when they truly are in question. Yes Spurrier had the better record in the series, but really you never were sure who was going to win. Now this weekend most everyone (except for diehard UTenn fans) folks just want to know how many points will UF beat UTenn by? 20+? 30+? >40+???
That just isn’t fun. (Okay it will still be fun to me…did I mention I HATE UTenn?!)
I hated losing to UGA 2 years ago, but thrilled Richt put some fun back in the rivalry with that BS celebration.
Problem is Kiffin talks a lot- he just now has to back it up with coaching. Maybe in a few years…
David
September 15th, 2009
8:16 am
TampaGator
(The Gators could lose every starter on both sides of the ball and they still might win the SEC title. That is how good they are and how deep they are in talent…including QB.)
PLEASE!!!! The Gators are good and deserve to be ranked #1, and I hope they drop a 100 on Tenn. , but all that being said to make the statement above is just plain stupid…..
David
September 15th, 2009
8:20 am
If Ole Miss could beat UF at the swamp last year then I say Tennessee has a chance. Shoot… #3 and #5 already lost a game this year. Not likely to happen but just sayin’…
Spike
September 15th, 2009
8:27 am
M.. Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Ryno
September 15th, 2009
8:31 am
Whatever the point spread is – lay it. Urban Meyer is gonna cover that spread and gonna do it easily.
MIke
September 15th, 2009
8:35 am
Yes, Kiff called out Urban and was wrong about the recruiting violation. But if ANYONE would watch Kiffin’s press conference, he made a JOKE! All the media fails to report the part following Kiff saying “singing Rocky Top all night long after beating Florida”. He then goes on to say ” Kidding Urban, Mike (Hamilton) asked me to say that”. I have yet to see anyone report on that.
UF has beat TN 72-20 the last 2 years. I dont think Fulmer ran his mouth before any of those thrashings so I dont see how this year is any different. UF has more talent than TN hands down and has had more talent in teh past 4-5 years.
JP
September 15th, 2009
8:49 am
I am a die-hard Gator fan, but just can’t see UF winning by 4 TDs. I actually think this game will be close for at least the 1st half, and then UF pulls away.
Don’t underestimate what the Vols have planned for Saturday…………………..
CharlotteGator
September 15th, 2009
8:51 am
Some good observations Tony. I was a student and at that 2001 debacle. That was definitely a hard one to take. Night game, the swamp was crazy, and we were looking at a potential Nat’l Title game appearance. All I remember was UT consistently running the ball up the middle whenever they wanted, and there was nothing the Gator D could do about it. Truly demoralizing as a fan, can’t imagine how it felt for the players. That said though, not sure the Gators wanted any piece of Miami that year in the Rose Bowl. Might have been fun, but I don’t think anyone was stopping that freight train. Especially since the previous year, they got robbed of a bowl appearance (w/ FSU getting the nod) and spanked the Gators in the Peach I believe as a consolation prize.
Not sure I agree with the rivalry being dead or UT and UGA lying down since Meyer is here now. I mean we’re having a great run right now, but we’ve got to come back down to earth at somepoint. I’d love to be wrong, but I can definitely see the East becoming a dogfight between these 3 squads in a couple years. UF get’s very young next year (extremely talented, but still young), hopefully UGA will get some of their coaching/mentality issues straightened out, and UT will definitely upgrade their talent. What happens on the field remains to be seen obviously, but it feels like it’s setting up for these 3 schools to really go at each other over the next couple of years.
Eric
September 15th, 2009
8:54 am
Anything can happen in a football game. Who knows, UT may even score. Maybe they’ll hold UF to under 40 points. It’ll be a moral victory.
Joe
September 15th, 2009
8:54 am
Big difference between Tampa Gator and Atlanta Gator. Atlanta Gator has some sense. Tampa Gator is full of smack- dude, trust me you lose Teblow and the season looks alot different. What a croc to think you could lose all your starters and win the SEC. I will be LMAO at some point this season- Fla will not go unbeaten-
CrazyVol
September 15th, 2009
8:56 am
Unreal all the trash coming from bammers, rebels, dawgs and so forth. Did Kiffin sleep with your mom? Yes we are going to get beat like a drum this year. Did any real football fan with any game knowledge think something else. New coach, new scheme, very bad QB. Did Kiffin talk trash, yes. And guess what we like it.
Fulmer was booorrrriinnggg. I for one enjoyed the banter back and forth. Who doesnt enjoy Spurrier with his wise ass comments. What did you want Kiffin to do? “Well guys I am new, and we are going to get beat like a drum this year, but it will be okay.”
Most of the smack seems to be coming from the Oakland Raiders of the SEC, BAMA. How soon we forget, What was Sabans record the 1st year? You guys need to worry more about rich old men taking your players our for fishing trips then Tennessee.
One final thing, this is the SEC and to say on any given day that one team CAN’T beat another is foolish! Because I know every one of you braniacs pick Ole Miss last year over Fla.
Gators
September 15th, 2009
8:56 am
“The Notre Dame job will be open…just saying” seriously? you are gonna bring that one up again? Correct me if im wrong but wasn’t the Notre Dame job both open and offered to Meyer BEFORE he turned them down for UF?? Seriously find something else to talk about this is just pathetic that you “journalists” have to keep bringing out the same tired statements to try to stir the pot a little. Here’s an idea…try being creative for once.
Jeff
September 15th, 2009
8:57 am
What a complete idiot Tampa GayTor is making a statement like that. Thats why everyone in the SEC cheers for whoever Fl is playing- even out of conference- you dont know how to be graceful winners…maybe its because your the only team in the SEC it took 60 years to win anything. You will get humbled quick Gaytors- remember nebraska???? hahahah
Ron Mexico
September 15th, 2009
8:58 am
Every time you mention Peyton being “robbed” of the Heisman, you sound like an 8 year old sore loser. History is history, deal with it.
Wayne
September 15th, 2009
8:59 am
I remember Nebraska and all of their 64 points……what a laugher that was. they sure did humble Stevie. The same will be done to Upchcuk and Teblow
gdawginkalamazoo
September 15th, 2009
9:10 am
I don’t understand the “we have the third best QB in the SEC and he backs up Tebow”. Where does that come from? Has he played any significant time in the SEC? You just don’t come off the bench and replace or come close to replacing Tebow.
What if Florida doesn’t beat the spread on this one? BTW I think they will. If they don’t does USC and new media darling Barkley jump the Gators?
I still say that you have to play the game first. Things happen.
LOL
September 15th, 2009
9:11 am
The SEC did not win the national championship last year…FLORIDA won the national championship. Florida is a great team. Alabama is a very good team. The rest of the SEC is a joke, regardless of what ESecPN says.
TommyJack
September 15th, 2009
9:13 am
No team, NO TEAM, anywhere, needs an azz whoopin like the gators.
parker
September 15th, 2009
9:13 am
ED- does anyone actually live in Covington? Or is just you and your single wide? Get real… the pups are just know sniffing success… by the way what are you gonna do when florida hangs anouter 50 on the great WuWuWillie Marrrtinez as you would say Ed…. go get your teeth… crack open another PBR and keep the pup pipe dream alive!
parker
September 15th, 2009
9:14 am
ED- does anyone actually live in Covington? Or is it just you and your single wide? Get real… the pups are just know sniffing success… by the way what are you gonna do when florida hangs anouter 50 on the great WuWuWillie Marrrtinez as you would say Ed…. go get your teeth… crack open another PBR and keep the pup pipe dream alive!
parker
September 15th, 2009
9:14 am
ED- does anyone actually live in Covington? Or is it just you and your single wide? Get real… the pups are just now sniffing success… by the way what are you gonna do when florida hangs anouter 50 on the great WuWuWillie Marrrtinez as you would say Ed…. go get your teeth… crack open another PBR and keep the pup pipe dream alive!
ReptilesRule
September 15th, 2009
9:14 am
Tony, if you’re missing the rivalry that much then I would suggest you “come on down” to this Saturdays game! I don’t really know how “competitive” it will be (I happen to be one of those that believe this could be a much closer game than many think), but I can assure you that ALL the passion will be there. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb a bit and predict that this could be the loudest and most hostile enviornment EVER witnessed at the Swamp. Will you be there?……..Also, a question……Could the Vols have the most vile fans in America?? Apparently, the same fan base who last year sent death threats to their starting QB are now celebrating the fact that since they couldn’t beat UCLA, at least they broke Bruins QB Prince’s jaw in two places. Have also been reading some of the KNS and VolNation blogs and comments this week, and many of their fans want to do the same…or worse…to Tebow. Many have expressed a desire to see a season ending injury to him. If you can’t believe it, go read them for yourself. WOW, whether you love him or hate him, we are talking about a college student, a young man, somebodys son here. It seems the Vile Nation has now, out of frustration or whatever, stooped to that level. Good luck in the Swamp, Vol fans, I’m just sayin’…I guess if you can’t beat them, break their jaw!
ED-Covington
September 15th, 2009
9:20 am
Everyone keeps bringing up the Ole Miss game last year as proof the Gators can be beaten. That loss was the worst thing that could happen for any team playing the Gators this year; Tebow and Pope Urban won’t let anyone forget it. You don’t think that there are reminders of that Ole Miss game all over the locker room at The Swamp?