Believe it or not, there was a time when UGA owned Florida
A Dawg day: Tim Worley scores against No. 1 Florida in 1985. (Photo from www.dawgbone.net)
This will come as scant consolation to Georgia fans, but Florida folks were once like you. The Gators would arrive in Jacksonville fearing the worst, and they’d get it.
Here’s how completely this rivalry has turned: Vince Dooley, the best coach in Georgia history, worked against four different Gators coaches over a quarter-century and had a winning record against each; Mark Richt, the second-best coach in Georgia history, has worked against three different Florida coaches over the past decade and has a losing record against each.
From 1964 through 1989, Georgia beat Florida 18 times (and tied once) in 26 meetings. In the 21 games since, Florida has won 18 times. The Bulldogs can’t even rent the game they used to own. The series flipped when Dooley retired as coach after the 1988 season and Steve Spurrier took the Gators in 1990, but even after Spurrier left for the NFL after the 2001 season nothing much has changed.
Which isn’t to say what we’ve witnessed is unfamiliar. On the contrary, the feeling of dread that has descended on Georgia was once expressed rather poignantly by eminent Gators. The year was 1984. Florida arrived in Jacksonville with maybe its best team ever — although Charley Pell, its coach, had stepped down after three games amid an NCAA investigation — but no real confidence that it could beat Georgia.
Because Florida would always lose to Georgia. Bulldogs backers recall Belue-to-Scott as the greatest play in the history of collegiate football; Gators fans remember that the Florida defender with the best angle fell as Lindsay Scott turned upfield. Other Gators lowlights: Bill Stanfill rising from a sick bed to sack Spurrier, who would win the Heisman; Richard Appleby, a Bulldogs receiver, throwing an 80-yard touchdown pass off an end-around; Florida coach Doug Dickey failing on a gamble that became known as “fourth-and-dumb”; Georgia driving 99 yards behind John Lastinger to the touchdown that beat Florida 10-9.
That excruciating drive came in 1983 and was fresh on the minds of Gators this correspondent interviewed in November ‘84. Said Spurrier, then coach of the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits: “Twelve or so times we’ve played Georgia with the SEC on the line, and they were either better or tougher or luckier than we’ve been. Probably Georgia just expects to win big games more than Florida does.”
Said Ray Graves, the Gators’ coach from 1960 through 1969: “After all the strange plays Georgia has pulled off, with guys falling down and guys knocking each other down, there’s always a feeling that a team can start believing in a jinx. You keep losing and losing, and you say, ‘Ah, we’ll get you next year,’ and then the other side says, ‘Yeah, that’s what your grandpa said, too.’ ”
A Georgia fan born in early 1990 has reached adulthood knowing only three Bulldogs victories over Florida: In 1997 under Jim Donnan, when Robert Edwards ran wild; in 2004 under Richt, when Florida coach Ron Zook had already been rendered a lame duck, and again in 2007, the year Richt’s players danced in the end zone after their first touchdown.
Of Richt’s eight losses to the Gators, half have come when he appeared to have the more talented team. A true oddity: Richt has taken Georgia to the SEC championship game three times, but beat Florida in none of those seasons.
Loading ...Speaking 27 years ago, the former Gator Cris Collinsworth said: “Something would always happen to us to make us turn around and say, ‘Wait a minute – is there really a jinx?’ ”
Today Georgia will play as a favorite, having won its past five games. Florida, by way of contrast, has lost three in a row. But similar dynamics prevailed last year: Georgia had won three straight and Florida had lost three straight, and the Gators won in overtime.
Recent history in this series has driven this correspondent into a default position: I’ll believe Georgia can beat Florida only after I see Georgia beat Florida. Which, believe it or not, was a different correspondent’s position regarding a different team back in 1984.
Said Hubert Mizell, then of the St. Petersburg Times: “I’ve seen so many weird things happen in that [Georgia] game that if Florida led by 28 points going into the fourth quarter, I’d call it 50-50.”
For the record, Florida beat Georgia 27-0 in 1984, breaking a six-game losing streak against the Bulldogs. Was Gators domination finally at hand? Nope. Florida entered the 1985 game ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in its history. It lost to Georgia 24-3.
By Mark Bradley
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260 comments Add your comment
Joey
October 28th, 2011
3:54 pm
I vote Erin too, Beast.
Good luck tomorrow. Hope it’s a good game. Maybe no televised F-bombs by Todd or Will . . .
Joke
October 28th, 2011
3:55 pm
How about this one:
Ga wife and Fla husband both turned 60 on the day before the annual Ga-Fla game. God said to them I will grant you each one wish. Ga wife said I want Ga to beat Fla when we go to J-ville this weekend. God said your wish will be granted. The Fla husband said well if I have to watch Fla lose to Ga then I want to do it with a wife that is 30 years younger than me. God said your wish is granted….poof you are 90 years old.
Knowall Moreno
October 28th, 2011
4:00 pm
Tomorrow will be a DAWG DAY! 34-17 woof woof woof Run Isiah Run
Herschel Talker
October 28th, 2011
4:05 pm
DTC:
In no particular order:
Gary Patterson
Chris Peterson
Kevin Sumlin
June Jones
Urban Meyer
Mark Dantonio
Kirby Smart
Greg Schiano
David Shaw
Guz Mahlzan
HT
ARdawg
October 28th, 2011
4:10 pm
I bumped into Erin at a GA/Vandy game a few years ago when she was just the sideline girl. It was in the concourse and she was positioning for the camera. It was her fault and she was quite snippety about it. Maybe she thought she had a reason, she fell back into me and I grabbed her. But I got to say unequivocally, that is one beautiful woman. Even with a p!zz poor attitude
Bob LaBlah
October 28th, 2011
4:14 pm
If you stupid buttsniffers don’t beat them this year – - – you can FORGET IT!
GO DAWGS!
October 28th, 2011
4:15 pm
GO DAWGS!
TROUNCE THOSE JORTS WEARING HEATHENS!
DawgThis
October 28th, 2011
4:16 pm
What is this news from Athens about failed Drug Tests by GA players??
Anybody hearing news???
Troup Co. Dawg
October 28th, 2011
4:17 pm
Enter your comments here
phil
October 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
I was at that 1985 game and have never enjoyed a game more either before or since then.
The riot on the field afterwards was a good time as well….
Sadly, we have little chance again this year because of how lacking in discipline we are. Like Bradley, I’ll believe it when I see it.
srcromedawg
October 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
Spurrier as a player was 0-3 against the dawgs. Bill Stanfill kicked his hiseman a$$ all over jacksonville his sr year. Whatever happened to those junkyard dawgs???
phil
October 28th, 2011
4:21 pm
Dawgthis – oh yes….more than one apparently and it includes our latest 5 star running back soon to be bust like most of the others….
Troup Co. Dawg
October 28th, 2011
4:26 pm
It’s time to go dig up that bone that was buried back in the 80’s and 90’s baby !!! We gotta get back to treating them like a blown truck tire like you see on Florida interstates during the summer time…yeah if you run over one, it can be a tradgedy so they need to be discarded and sent back to Gainesville! I hope Tree rips somebody’s neck off and put JB on his backside! Get NASTY !!!! You J-U-N-K-Y-A-R-D<<>>D-A-W-G-S !!!!
prime time (redshirt me)
October 28th, 2011
4:28 pm
That was back when men were men and the sheep were afraid!!
FloridaForever
October 28th, 2011
4:40 pm
Come on Georgia fans, get real already! You know there is no way Georgia wins Saturday. The Gators probably do not have the offense to put up a very big score but they will win fairly easily. Our defense may well shut Georgia out. Then the rest of the year you will be arguing whether or not to fire Richt, making your program look unstable. It really is like winning twice in one game. Anyway, maybe one day you will become a real rival to us again but for now, have fun being a doormat
FloridaForever
October 28th, 2011
4:40 pm
Come on Georgia fans, get real already! You know there is no way Georgia wins Saturday. The Gators probably do not have the offense to put up a very big score but they will win fairly easily. Our defense may well shut Georgia out. Then the rest of the year you will be arguing whether or not to fire Richt, making your program look unstable. It really is like winning twice in one game. Anyway, maybe one day you will become a real rival to us again but for now, have fun being our doormat
FloridaForever
October 28th, 2011
4:41 pm
Come on Georgia fans, get real already! You know there is no way Georgia wins Saturday. The Gators probably do not have the offense to put up a very big score but they will win fairly easily. Our defense may well shut Georgia out. Then the rest of the year you will be arguing whether or not to fire Richt, making your program look unstable. It really is like winning twice in one game. Anyway, maybe one day you will become a real rival to us again but for now, have fun being the doormat
Doug
October 28th, 2011
4:45 pm
I am a die-hard UGA fan and graduate which is why I secretly hope the Gators win. If Richt loses to UF this year, of all years, there would be no stopping regime change. And without regime change we are doomed to another decade of mediocrity. The Ole Miss of the East.
tell me again
October 28th, 2011
4:45 pm
I love this – Tech fans on our board talking smack – wait till Clemson hangs 50 on your pathetic butts tomorrow. We’ll worry about Florida – you Tech nerds need to worry about what decade your next win over UGA will be and start putting your victory rings on layaway.
Nativebird
October 28th, 2011
4:51 pm
Florida doesn’t hate Georgia; Florida hates Florida State and Miami. Georgia is like a nice exciting game every year, but not hate.
cantondawg
October 28th, 2011
4:54 pm
Let me break down that genius (LOL) HT coaching prospects. It’s almost laughable..
Gary Patterson – No he turned down Michigan
Chris Peterson – No he turned down Washington…Western Guy dont’ see him coming here
Kevin Sumlin – Good team in weak conference. What makes you think he would win in SEC
June Jones – You gotta be kidding me..nobody in GA thinks he’s a good coach
Urban Meyer – Left Florida for health issues
Mark Dantonio – Northern guy don’t see him leaving
Kirby Smart – Zero Head Coaching experience
Greg Schiano – turned down Michigan job..rumored to be waiting for Penn State job
David Shaw – Who the hell is this?
Guz Mahlzan – Zero Head Coaching experience
Win by 20
October 28th, 2011
4:56 pm
Georgia wins this game early—florida’s terrible this year. Dawgs roll 33-13!!!
meh
October 28th, 2011
4:59 pm
Well the Dawgs had 2 decades and the gators had 2 decades so I guess its back to Dawgs for 2 decades. 70s and 80s to the Dawgs, 90s and 00s to the Gators and back to the Dawgs for the 10s and 20s.. GO DAWGS!!
SEC Fact Finder
October 28th, 2011
5:03 pm
Not going to say anything ground breaking here, just add a comment.
This is the key game UGA coaches, players and fans are needing more than any other game in a few years. The loss to USC placed doubt in the minds of pollsters, fans and media types and after a 5 game turn around these Bulldawgs have won games at home and on the road. And folks winning on the road in the SEC is much tougher than most observers think it is. Winning on the road with a young team is even tougher.
UF has suffered through some injuries that have played a major factor in their season. In reality no one expected UF to beat Alabama or LSU, but without Brantley or Demps against Auburn we saw what a bewildered Florida team looked like.
Well folks, outside of the suspensions and the Mitchell injury this game is made for CBS College football saturday. Very close betting line, one coach wanting to solidfy his footing in holding on to his job and the other one needing that signature win in his first season to gain support of his fans. The injury ridden Gators have their strong armed QB back along with arguably the fastest man in college football.
This is going to be a good one. Hoping the weather does not play a major role in the game and that both teams play a clean game and keep us SEC FANS proud of our conference brothers.
Saban
October 28th, 2011
5:04 pm
Dawgs lose by 50. Pitiful piece of work.
3rdN8
October 28th, 2011
5:10 pm
I’m predicting a close one in this game. UGA has improved all season. UF gets Brantley back. During the fist half against Bama, Brantley and UF moved the ball very well. UF had 10 points and 190 yds of offense until Brantley was injured. They had virtually zero anything after that.
Good luck in the game, hope Richt wins a big one.
Joey
October 28th, 2011
5:12 pm
SEC Fact Finder, good points, but this would really be a “signature win” for a UF coach?
I mean, UF’s last 3 coaches all lost to UGA only once, each. Hell, Zook beat our best team of the last decade (’02). Zook!
When I look at the coaches who have beaten Richt in the past 2+ seasons, I think that for a UF coach to beat UGA is not much of an accomplishment . . .
Buh Bye Mark Richt
October 28th, 2011
5:13 pm
Richts waterloo game. Book it!
Taco
October 28th, 2011
5:17 pm
There was also a time when we thought the world was flat? There was a time when UGA was relavent?
Taco
October 28th, 2011
5:18 pm
Is English even a language at UGA? Ebonics maybe!
B'dawg
October 28th, 2011
5:19 pm
Good article Mark. At least 1 of the writers for the ajc has a nice spin on the game.
Go Dawgs! Bring the swagger back to J’ville.
B'dawg
October 28th, 2011
5:21 pm
Tacos. Its whats for dinner.
BG
October 28th, 2011
5:29 pm
The DAWGS will always own the Gaytors!!!
Big Dawg
October 28th, 2011
5:29 pm
The history of this series from the very beginning has been one of streaks by both schools. The tide will turn again and Georgia will start dominating the Gators again. IMHO Coach Richt should be 7-3 against the Gators but has been too uptight going into this game so his teams have played tight in 9 out of the 10 games the exception being the 2007 game. If this team comes out and just plays and has fun they will beat this Florida team quite handily. All depends on Coach Bobo not calling the plays or going away from things that are working like he usually or most of the time does.
Go Dawgs
SEC Fact Finder
October 28th, 2011
5:34 pm
Joey,
I see your point Sir. However with the crazy departure of Coach Meyer from UF and the quick hire of Muschamp, many still have doubts about the hire and want him to win one of these rival games. If he does not beat UGA he will need to beat USC and or FSU. Losing to all three will make it hard for many UF faithful.
Rich Rod
October 28th, 2011
5:36 pm
You can all cry on my shoulder when it’s over.
Kim
October 28th, 2011
5:49 pm
“danced in the end zone”??? More like celebrated like they had just won the national championship. I was embarassed for you.
hop
October 28th, 2011
5:55 pm
Tarkenton’s pass to herron to beat auburn in the last seconds of the game earned the dawgs an SEC CHAMPIONSHIP was another big big one.
the real Kirby Smart
October 28th, 2011
5:57 pm
@canton dawg
Umm you’re not exactly a “genius” yourself. you think b/c Patterson or anybody else turned down Michigan they would automatically turn down UGA? Wake up dude. At UGA you can recruit top 10 talent(notice i said talent, you then have to develop it which CMR has no clue how to do) just by getting the majoity of players in your own state. Michigan is much like Tennessee, great tradition but you have to get the majoity of your players from out of state. When Patterson was offered Mich., Tressel had Ohio locked down. Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, etc. all Ohio guys. Just like UT won a NC in 98 with Lewis, Coleman, Deon Grant, all Ga. guys recuited when Goof was HC.
Felix
October 28th, 2011
6:09 pm
Well, now we may be getting some new insight on why Dan “I fell in love with a porn star” Uggla had such a lousy first half to the 2011 season. Seems he was getting past second base in the first half of the season……it was just a different kind of base.
Top Dawg
October 28th, 2011
6:13 pm
I am still trying to figure this quote out from the article:
“Which isn’t to say what we’ve witnessed is unfamiliar.”
Huh?
dawg4u
October 28th, 2011
6:30 pm
@Top Dawg – “Whick isn’t to say waht we’ve witnessed is unfamiliar.”
The way I understood that quote was that we have been witnessing a UF domination over the last 21 years but prior to that UGA was dominant in the Vince Dooley era albeit to a slightly lesser degree than the last 21 years and that the trend of one team being dominant is not an unfamiliar sight in this series to either team. Just my take though.
dawg4u
October 28th, 2011
6:32 pm
Forgive the “Whick” and “waht” spelling errors in my last post!
BroncoBilly
October 28th, 2011
6:45 pm
Go BooDawgs!….up here in Boise we’re really pulling for a Georgia win over those lowly Gators….need to keep up our SOS and all. Sic ‘em…woof woof
Hairy Dawg
October 28th, 2011
6:49 pm
I’ll operate on the assumption that the Gators will win it, but I certainly do not mind learning what it means to assume, Dawgs.
10/28/2011 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
October 28th, 2011
6:55 pm
[...] v.s. Evil HENDERSON: Plan To Provide Extra $2,000 To Athletes Should Be Based On Need BRADLEY: Believe It Or Not, There Was A Time When UGA Owned Florida BARNHART: Top 10, Can Spartans Get Up One More Time? MULHERN: Wisconsin V. Ohio St. – Who [...]
dtc
October 28th, 2011
7:01 pm
HT, if I could narrow that list to 3, I would choose from Patterson, Peterson and Jones. Peterson is probably the better planner of the 3. Cantondawg’s point would be valid if we were talking about Pro ball, but that same argument would disqualify Saban and Spurrier, who were failures in the pros, but good in college. Smart just doesn’t impress me to be what GA needs in a head coach. Not sure what it is.
dawg4u
October 28th, 2011
7:15 pm
@Canton Dawg- You were asking about David Shaw. He is the first year head coach at Stanford with a 7-0 record and may be coaching this year’s Heisman trophy winner in qb Andrew Luck.
icedawg
October 28th, 2011
7:27 pm
I remember the years when we dominated the Gators. One year we won 50 to some ridiculously low number. In fact as good as Spurrier was as a quarterback, and he was very good, we still owned him. So in any series there will be peaks and valleys, we’ve been in a valley for a long, long time now. Makes you wonder when we will get out. I don’t begrudged the Gators, they waited a long time, too, they’ve put together a long string of success. BUT NOTHING, IN THIS WORLD THAT IS, LASTS FOREVER.
red&black
October 28th, 2011
8:35 pm
I’ve attended the Ga-Fla games since the late 60’s. I remember owning them as well. From the days of John Reaves/Carlos Alverez to Galen Halls swan song (1989). My point is that this is and has been a “cyclable” thing. This may very well be the beginning of a new cycle (at least let us hope so). My feeling is it will take “Musch” a while to get “his” type of players into position in order to make his “scheme” workable. It’s my understanding he has already show the door to several players who did not buy into his ideology. Let’s hope (and pray) that we can feast on this transitional period and build a foundation for owning them again for a long, long while. But remember, this is a cyclable situation, and at some point it can start going the other way.
Unless you are Tech, and then you have absolutely no f’@#*ing hope of it ever getting any better. In fact it must be awful to realize that this is as good as it gets. That you’ve peaked/maxed out. That there is that very real possiblity, that it can actually get worse than that odd win every decade.
And so it goes………..