Photo by Gainesville Sun
A Tennessee fan wearing a Peyton Manning jersey sits on top of what’s left of a goalpost at Neyland Stadium after jubilant fans stormed the field to celebrate the Vols’ 20-17 overtime victory over Florida in 1998.
Photo by United Press International
Tennessee coach Doug Dickey, right, shakes handles with Florida's Ray Graves after the Vols lost 14-13 in the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla., in 1969.
Photo by Associated Press
Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, right, congratulates Florida defensive end Thaddeus Bullard after the Gators’ 33-20 win on Sept. 20, 1997.
Event Details
- What: Tennessee at Florida
- When: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Gainesville, Fla.
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Florida by the numbers
As college football rivalries go, this one is short some of the standard trappings.
It has neither the history of Ohio State-Michigan nor the forced coexistence of Alabama-Auburn.
There is no barrel, bowl, jug or ax to go home with the winner.
Yet whatever it lacks in tradition or geography, Tennessee-Florida makes up for in immediacy and ramifications.
Though charter members of the SEC, the Vols and Gators played only sporadically until 1992, once going 13 years between tackles.
While UT has battled Kentucky 102 times and Alabama 89, Saturday in the Swamp will be only the 37th meeting with Florida.
However, in the 21st Century, this is the rivalry that matters most in the standings to the Vols. It's also the one that lights the hottest fire under their fans.
Here's a look at 10 milestones in the relatively brief but colorful series between Tennessee and Florida.
Dickey Shuffle (1969)
Doug Dickey revived UT football from 1964 through '69. It was one thing to leave for his alma mater, Florida. It was another to do so immediately after the Gators nipped the Vols 14-13 in the '69 Gator Bowl, a game he coached knowing the move was in the works.
Some UT fans never forgave Dickey, even after he returned to UT as athletic director 1985-2003.
Hammer Time (1984)
The NCAA lowered the boom on the Gators in 1984, citing 59 rules violations. In 1985, both Florida and Tennessee finished 5-1 in the SEC, but the Gators handed UT its only loss, 17-10. With Florida ineligible, Tennessee claimed its first SEC title in 16 years.
In essence, without Florida's probation, there would have been no "Sugar Vols" blasting Miami, revered as one of the great games in the program's history.
Enter Spurrier (1990)
Florida hired Steve Spurrier, its Heisman Trophy quarterback, in 1989, cleaning house after another NCAA investigation. His first team was routed 45-3 at Tennessee but finished with an SEC-best 6-1-1 record. The Gators were again on probation so Tennessee (5-1-1) went to the Sugar Bowl as SEC champs.
The needle-tongued Spurrier, however, made Florida the SEC's premier program and won consecutive titles 1993 through '96.
Faxgate (1991)
This sounds like a plot device from a bad football movie script, but it really happened. Days before the Vols were to play at Florida, a Kinko's employee on Cumberland Avenue called UT officials when he recognized former assistant coach Jack Sells faxing diagrams (believed to be from the Vols' playbook) to Florida assistant coach Ron Zook.
Florida won 35-18. Vol fans were outraged. Sells sued Kinko's and agreed to a settlement in 1995 before the case went to trial. Zook was a surprise choice to succeed Spurrier as head coach in 2002.
Landscape Changes (1992)
SEC divisional play began when the league added South Carolina and Arkansas. UT's 31-14 victory over the Gators was a step in the chain reaction that led to interim head coach Phillip Fulmer replacing Johnny Majors.
Florida and Tennessee were joined as annual Eastern Division rivals and it soon became apparent the Gators, not Alabama or Auburn, were Tennessee's biggest conference game.
Gutsy Call (1996)
On Florida's opening possession at Neyland Stadium, the Gators faced fourth-and-11 at the UT 35. Spurrier gambled and got a stunning 35-yard touchdown pass from Danny Wuerffel to Reidel Anthony. No. 2 Florida raced to a 35-0 lead, and held on to win 35-29 over No. 4 UT.
The Gators jumped to No. 1 in the polls and were crowned national champions after a Sugar Bowl win over Florida State. Wuerffel took home the Heisman Trophy.
Heisman Killer (1997)
The Gators' 33-20 victory left senior Peyton Manning 0-for-Florida. Worse, Tony George's interception off Manning and 89-yard return for a Florida touchdown was the game's definitive SportsCenter highlight.
In December, Heisman voters awarded the statuette to Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson. Manning's perceived inability to "win the big one" was commonly cited as a reason.
Long Time Coming (1998)
Jeff Hall made his field goal in overtime. When Florida's Collins Cooper missed his, Tennessee had a 20-17 win that brought down the goal posts at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols beat Spurrier for the first time since '92. More important, another hurdle was cleared on the road to a 13-0 season and a national championship.
Great Win, But ... (2001)
Tennessee, a 17-point underdog, stunned No. 2 Florida with a 34-32 win, its first in The Swamp since 1971. The game was postponed until Dec. 1 because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The victory sent UT to the SEC title game, which, had it won, would have put the Vols in the national championship game. Didn't happen. LSU rallied for a 31-20 upset.
The Vols didn't know it at the time, but it was Spurrier's last game at Florida. When he resigned to go to the Washington Redskins, Tennessee was poised to become top dog in the SEC, or at least the East. Didn't happen, either. Georgia won three of the next four East titles.
Urban's Legend (2006)
The Gators had numerous clutch moments in claiming a national championship in their second season under coach Urban Meyer.
One was the fourth-quarter scoring drive that delivered a 21-20 victory in Knoxville. Florida erased a 17-7 third-quarter UT lead and unveiled battering-ram freshman quarterback Tim Tebow.
To Be Continued (2007)
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 31
footballfan writes:
Kinda makes you a little sick reading this, doesn't it? I can't think of a program in all of sports I hate more than the Florida Gators. It would not upset me in the least if they never won another game. I wish someone would just completely dismantle that program. I try to show good sportsmanship, but it's beyond my ability to have a single good thought about that school. Here is to hoping the Vols beat them so badly that FL never wants to play football again.
Go Vols.
VolMoment writes:
They all talk about the fist win since 1971 when we won in 2001. We hadn't played that many games in that period.
pabashia#208095 writes:
People forget the 1990 game - perhaps the single greatest quarter of Tennessee football: 28 points in a myriad of ways. Dale Carter returns the second half kickoff for a TD; TE Von Reeves throws a TD pass; Freshman Reggie Ingram returns an INT for a score and the Vols score on a run.
thevol writes:
You took the words right out of my mouth footballfan. Go Big Orange!
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
The Gators have won 15 of the last 21 meetings between the schools, including 10 of the last 14
cksauereisen#208215 writes:
Wrong caption of Clausen directing the band in daylight...must have been the 2003 game.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
make that stat 15 of the last 22 meetings and 10 of the last 15
Go Vols
bloodrunsorange writes:
I have 3 UT daughters at UT, 1 Lady Vol, 1 keeping Cumberland rolling at night, and the 3rd on The Pride of the Southland Band. It’s hard for me to put any school on the level with the hate for Bama, but Florida is trying real hard to get there. NO CLASS! On more than one occasion over the years my family has had cups of urine thrown at and on us at Florida games. Even my daughter in her UT Band uniform, performing at the game, has had this disgusting act done to her during a game, NO CLASS. Again, it’s hard for any school to get to BAMA’s disgust level, but Florida makes a valid case and really must achieve this status in a timely matter. It’s just hard to hate any one or anything more or even as much as BAMA, no matter what they do!
OldNumber7 writes:
The sad thing is, hate'em or not, Tennessee self destructed in many of these Gator wins. Last year was a fine example. And the offensive play calling chokes along the way. For example, Wilhoit hit a 50 yarder last year and on UT's final drive only had to get single digit yards to get him in range with 1st and ten. Why UT didn't line up and bull-rush to get those yards priority one still isn't clear to me. A field goal would have won it - and UT didn't even give itself an attempt. The stupid bug comes out for this game.
FLVol writes:
Great article nice change of pace Mike. A couple of things I wanted to point out that are mistakes. In the picture of Casey Clausen leading the band it mistakenly states 2001 when it was actually 2003. The 2003 game was a 12 pm kick off and the 2001 game was a later afternoon/night game. Also, the Vols were 11 point under dogs in 2001 not 17 points.
CoverOrange writes:
Rocket, agree with the self destruction comment but disagree about the final drive in last year's game. There were over two minutes left in the game when we had first and 10 at the Fl 40, Ainge was on a roll starting the drive from deep in TN territory, the run game had amassed something like 20-30 yards the whole game (not including yardage lost on sacks), 50 yard FGs are not automatic for anybody. Would have been stupid if they did what you suggest, run the ball three times then attempt another 50-55 yard field goal. It was the right play, the mistake was Michael Frogg not watching his area for the delayed blitz from the MLB.
DadwasaVol writes:
I remember every one of these games. Yes, it used to be Bama, but now I've just had it with the Gators. Can't stand losing to them.
mloaks#222092 writes:
'Bama will always be The Game.
I respect UF not only for their unmatched athletic excellence, but for their scholastic and research standing. They elevate the SEC like Vandy does. Just my $.02; go Vols! And go Chargers, beat the spies...
westennvol writes:
I don't like losing to Bama on the rare occasion it occurs, but I HATE LOSING TO FLORIDA. I have heard stories from people like bloodrunsorange before. Makes me sick. I have never really had a bad experience w/ BAMA fans, and i have seen them play twice at home an twice in Alabama. Florida on the other hand are disgusting jerks who take pride on how crude they can possibly be. At the 96' game, a Florida van had tons of perverted comments about our players written all over it, too crude to mention here. I hope we drain the swamp tommorrow. 24-21 UT! GO VOLS!
utnutt writes:
I LOVE UT. GO BIG ORANGE! BUT IT SEEMS YEAR END AND YEAR OUT THE GATORS ARE JUST BETTER ATHLETS THAN WE ARE. I THINK THERE IS A BIGGER GAP NOW THAN THERE HAS BEEN. THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD BETTER COACHES THAN US. EXCEPT FOR ZOOK. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN OUT COACHED. HOPE IM WRONG AND WE CAN PULL THIS OUT. FLA 38 UT 31
snowvol writes:
Over the years, irrespective of the importance of the game or the intensity of the rivalry between the Vols and both Bama and Florida, I have had nothing but great experiences in Knoxville and Birmingham/Tuscaloosa with Tide fans. I loathe Bama but their fans, at least the many I've met, have been absolutely terrific. It's been quite common to join them for a beverage or two after the game, win or lose. Now, Florida...a completely different story. I've seen the urine containers tossed, I've had fans boldly charge up to me -- and I'll tell you what, I'm 6'2", 210 so I'm not exactly tiny -- and flat-out try to sucker-punch me while I'm standing there with my family. I've been to nearly every stadium in the major conferences (about 60 or so) and I have never..never...seen a fan-base as vile and dispicable as that of the Gators. The Gainesville police officers and Ben Hill Griffin "security" folks, I'm sorry to say, are all equally part of the problem. I've watched them do nothing...NOTHING...when an incident develops between a Gator fan and a Vols fan (or any fan, as I've been there for other Gators games). Wait, let me amend that: They will expeditiously remove the Vols/other fan but pay no mind to the Gators fan. I've written letters of complaint to the highest levels there and have not once gotten a response. The University of Florida is a wonderful academic institution and has become the UCLA of the eastern half of the country when it comes to athletic accomplishments. But their fans leave a great deal to be desired. And it seems to have started when Steve Spurrier arrived. For all of his greatness as a coach, his willingness to consistently add verbal fuel to the fire was something Gators fans took to heart and ran with in ways I never saw in the decades before he got there. And to be fair, we have our fair share of idiots that filter into Neyland on home games...every fan base does. But no one, not even Georgia, reaches the level of disgusting behavior that Gators fans have achieved. Nothing would please me more than to see us dismantle that team, in that stadium, tomorrow afternoon.
99gator writes:
my experience is that every school has its "idiotic" fans. some are stupid, some are students, most are drunk, some are all three. i can tell you many a tale about stories i have heard about tenn fans, lsu fans, auburn fans, gaeorgia fans, etc. part of the problems may be that florida assigns visiting fans seats near their students. but, please, with this holier than thou attitude about fan behavior. i am ashamed of those fans of florida who happen to behave like morons. i apologize for those folks, but they are everywhere. there are also fans at every school that invite you on over to their tailgate area and offer you some bar-b-q or what have you. i have heard horror stories from a lot of folks about lsu fans. i have never had anything but a pleasant experience in baton rouge. it's the nature of the beast. some people are stupid.
knoxtenor writes:
Where are they now?
Manning - Led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory last year; touted as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game; holds numerous NCAA and NFL records; many, many Pro Bowl appearances; many MVP awards, including regular season (twice), Pro Bowl, and last year's Super Bowl.
Woodson - A solid defensive player for the Green Bay Packers; started with the Oakland Raiders, where he was Defensive Rookie of the Year; has been to a few Pro Bowls.
vol88 writes:
with apologies to 99gator, I will say this: the difference b/t Bama and Florida fans is simple. Bama's tradition of winning goes back to the 60s...the Bear, Namath, Rutledge, Musso, etc. (unfortunately, the list goes on and on!). Therefore Bama fans have had it instilled in them for generations. UF, on the other hand, wasn't even on the radar until 15 years ago. A big part of their fanbase was created instantly when they started winning under St. Steve. His cocky attitude trickled down to these fans, and that attitude is what the UF fans are inheriting. It's like old money vs. new money; pride vs. arrogance. However, as far as experience with fans goes, once anybody gets a couple of pints in them, the jerk factor rises tenfold, regardless of the color of their shirt. So, go Vols, and remember to always drink responsibly!!! Now, where did I put that bottle? :)
greg.williams#345024 writes:
I love reading these comments before the Florida- Tennessee game each year. If your commemts are any reflection of what is going through your players and coaches minds, you will loose this game. It is absolutely amazing and at the same time a good read.
I have been to several SEC venues. You are the only fans who have accused Florida fans of this type of behavior. I believe it is more of an urban...or should I say...a Knoxville myth. BTW, I have never read any of these so-called accounts in either the Knoxville newspaper or the Gainesville Sun. However, if these stories are true, I want to apologize on behalf of Florida fans everywhere. Moreover, this type of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. But of all the times I hear these stories about Florida fans throwing urine on Tennessee fans, I never hear of Tennessee fans talking about or apologizing about the time in 1998 when one of your own, threw a Florida fan (a nerosurgeon at Shands Hospital in Gainesville) from the upper deck of Neyland Stadium which caused him to become a cripple. AND THAT WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER!!!! Attue incident of a Tennessee fan against a Florida fan! So don't take the high and mighty road and claim misbehavior bylorida fans when your own are guilty of even worse behavior!
Afterall, this is nothing more than entertainment on a Saturday. Its a football game! I enjoy the rivialry and I pride myself on saying that I have never been drunk at a football game. I never speak with disrespect to other fans and I always congratulate the opposing fans when their team beats my Gators. If you can say this, then you have the right to complain about the behavior of other fans!
As for tomorrow's game,I hope it will be a good game ....one for the books....to see on ESPN Classics. I hope the fans on both sides will be on their best behavior.
But my prediction is that once again, UF will beat UT because you, your coaches and players will work themselves into a "Choke" mode and give the Gators the opportunity to beat you.
Prediction: UF 33-UT 17
99gator writes:
i may be wrong but some of this may be due to the win loss record. i do not think florida people have the level of hate that tenn folks have for florida. who knows? i hope those coming to the game enjoy themselves and do not run into the kind of problems described in other posts.
99gator writes:
to echo the one sentiment of greg williams...i have heard people complain about florida fan behavior, as i have heard complaints of every school's fans. however, the whole cups of urine thing. apparently this is something extra special done for tenn. i have never heard ga, fsu, sc, etc., fans complain about having urine thrown at them. to me, this is one of things that may have happened to a few people (regretably) during a game and thousands claim it has happened to them. keep in mind there is more drunk and unruly behavior at a fl-ga game than any other game all year and never has a ga fan told a tale of being doused with a cup of urine. but i can't imagine fl fans would throw urine at tenn people and not extend the same courtesy to other schools, especially fsu.
doctorvol#211700 writes:
Actually, I had the VOLS +18 in 2001!
OldNumber7 writes:
WD40, I didn't make my point well. It was not suggesting that they should have run all three plays but rather focused on achieving a minimum of about 2-3 yards per down. Wilhoit was on target from 50 which means at around the 33 he had already hit once (and he hit it well). With 1st and 10 at the 40, Tennessee was going for homerun plays to get the 1st and more (low percentage) instead of short, goal-line formations and small pickups (high percentage). The priority at that point in the game is to give yourself a chance to win first, then go for the homerun (touchdown) second. Had the Vols opted for 7 yards and a chance to win, the SEC Champion and National Champ might have been different.
CoverOrange writes:
Rocket, I understand your point. And I remember my thought process at that point in the game too. I thought the momentum was on our side and the clock wasn't. Greg, appreciate your sentiment, but I do remember reading some in the paper about urine being thrown. No tangible evidence. Like 99gator relates, probably one of those happenings like Woodstock where it happens to a few and years later millions remember it personally. Oranges being thrown are well documented though. As for the person being thrown from the upper deck, I do remember reports saying they fell and severly injured several fans below. don't remember which fan was which, the "fallee" or the "landee", but I don't recall any report of a Florida fan being "thrown". Fans across the nation are just as varied as people you meet on the street. Some are loudmouths, some are saints, most are in between. But everybody has a good memory of one or two jerks. Even on this website, all are UT fans (except a couple guest visitors), most I would enjoy a beer with, some I would not. 99gator, I hope you will comeback and visit after this weekend's game. You have knowledge, perspective and temperment that is refreshing. As for rivals, I'm sure Kentucky feels toward us the same as we did toward Bama in the 70's and vice versa. The rivalry with Fla may have come to fruition in the 90s but it was stewing long before as they always seem to beat us even when their program was mediocre.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Sorry vol fans, but you must realize that the team with the best athletes most always win. It does not matter that much who the coaches are. Speed and better athletes win the big games. We had our shot before the nation and we flopped at Cal.
Colliervol writes:
You can have all the speed and athletes you want but line play generally determines the winners and losers. If you can't control the line of scrimmage, you're done. Simple as that. And if coaches aren't important, why are we paying them $2 million a year? (Seems to me we could just get 2 or 3 great recruiters and then hire a middle school staff to coach them if that were the case.)
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Respect your opinion Marc-, but better players win vastly more games...Football is still blocking and tackling. I am a big Vol fan...but for many decades, their record indicates they lose the real big games on the road. It has been especially heart breaking to a long time fan like me...I know one can point out several big games that we have won...but not a great deal. hate to s ay this.
jedtrdvols writes:
The urine incidents were reported in the gainesville sun paper on the day of the 2003 game there. I know because I was there and read it. Also,security was very heavy for that game(noted as well in the paper) as there were 3 officers between us and the florida fans in the upper deck corner above the ut band. Here is a stat of interest. According to a study done by the SEC conference back in 2001 around the time of the delayed ut/fla game florida had the highest number of fans aged 25-40 of any sec team that attended their games. I know many fans of other sec schools (GA, ALA, LSU etc..) and when we talk about going to the swamp or FLA fans one theme instantly comes up "lack of maturity". Do the other sec schools have fans who are unmature, ABSOLUTELY, but FLA is more prevalent because of the age base that is more apt engage in immature activities. It does have an advantage however and to FLA credit the swamp is the loudest stadium I have ever been in even though we outnumber them by 15000+. As far as the game goes if UT will "commit" itself to run the football and have success then FLA is in trouble, if we cannot it may be hard to watch and my heart will go out to the UT fans attending the game.
VOLgirls_BESTintheWorld writes:
In response Florida fans thinking their comments were harmful or effective in any way....
personally, I would just like to say that even though our team may not be the best, [but there's no convincing me, I was raised on the Tennessee Vols], we can most certainly boast of having some of the most loyal fans. There are always crazed fans, and hey, it's football... and that's half of the fun... but I think Vol fans have the best and in most cases most hospitable attitudes out of all the fan bases I've interacted with.
Pretty much at the end of the day, No matter what the vols do on the field... They're my team. Orange and White are the colors I wave when fall rolls around (and even when fall's not even close). I'm not here to throw stats or point the finger... all I'm saying is we both love our teams... and follow them wherever they go... whether it's the outback bowl (still bitter. very bitter) or the toilet bowl... so STOP BEING BABIES.
thanks :]
**American by Birth.... VOLUNTEER BY THE GRACE OF GOD!**
footballrules writes:
START BOYCOTTING ALL HOME GAMES!!!
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