1996 Florida Gators football team

Last updated

1996 Florida Gators football
Florida Gators script logo.svg
Consensus national champion
SEC champion
SEC Eastern Division champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl (BA NCG), W 52–20 vs. Florida State
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record12–1 (8–0 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Carl Franks (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Fun and gun
Defensive coordinator Bob Stoops (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Ben Hill Griffin Stadium [1]
Seasons
  1995
1997  
1996 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Florida x$  8 0   12 1  
No. 9 Tennessee  7 1   10 2  
South Carolina  4 4   6 5  
Kentucky  3 5   4 7  
Georgia  3 5   5 6  
Vanderbilt  0 8   2 9  
Western Division
No. 11 Alabama xy  6 2   10 3  
No. 12 LSU x  6 2   10 2  
No. 24 Auburn  4 4   8 4  
Mississippi State  3 5   5 6  
Ole Miss  2 6   5 6  
Arkansas  2 6   4 7  
Championship: Florida 45, Alabama 30
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 1996 season was the team's seventh under head coach Steve Spurrier. The Gators competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

Contents

The Gators posted a 12–1 record and won their fifth consecutive SEC Eastern Division title, their fourth straight SEC Championship Game, and their first national championship in team history, with a 52–20 Sugar Bowl rout of their in-state rivals, the Florida State Seminoles.

The Gators used coach Spurrier's pass-heavy "fun 'n gun" offense". [2] Quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman Trophy. Wuerffel as well as his wide receivers Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony were consensus All-Americans.

The Gators outscored their opponents 612–221.

Before the season

The Gators started the season ranked fourth [3] as they aimed for a fourth consecutive SEC title. [4]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 31 Southwestern Louisiana *No. 4W 55–2185,050 [5]
September 7No. 14 (I-AA) Georgia Southern *No. 4
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
SS W 62–1484,963 [6]
September 21at No. 2 Tennessee No. 4 CBS W 35–29107,608 [7]
September 28 Kentucky No. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
CBSW 65–085,422 [8]
October 5at Arkansas No. 1 JPS W 42–752,318 [9]
October 12No. 12 LSU Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
CBSW 56–1385,567 [10]
October 19No. 16 Auburn No. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
CBSW 51–1085,697 [11]
November 2vs. Georgia No. 1CBSW 47–784,103 [12]
November 9at Vanderbilt No. 1JPSW 28–2140,249 [13]
November 16 South Carolina No. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
ESPN W 52–2585,701 [14]
November 30at No. 2 Florida State *No. 1 ABC L 21–2480,932 [15]
December 7vs. No. 11 Alabama No. 4ABCW 45–3074,132 [16]
January 2, 1997vs. No. 1 Florida State*No. 3ABCW 52–2078,344 [17]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[18]

Game summaries

Southwestern Louisiana

1234Total
SW Louisiana0014721
Florida72871355
  • Date: August 31
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 85,050

In the season opener at the Swamp, Florida beat Southwestern Louisiana 55–21. [19]

Bob Stoops's Gator defense held the Cajuns scoreless in the first half, and scored four touchdowns (as much as the offense). [19] Cornerback Fred Weary himself accounted for two touchdowns. [19]

Georgia Southern

1234Total
Ga. Southern707014
Florida142120762
  • Date: September 7
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 84,962

In the second week of play, the Gators romped with a 62–14 defeat of Georgia Southern. [20] The offense was back after misfiring in the opener as Danny Wuerffel had a near perfect game, completing 15 of 16 passes for and two touchdowns. [20]

The defense underperformed, giving up 311 yards to Georgia Southern's flexbone attack. [20]

Tennessee

1234Total
Florida14210035
Tennessee06101329

The third game was a showdown between No. 4 Florida and No. 2 Tennessee. Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning had not beaten the Gators in two previous attempts, and after a second-half meltdown a year earlier in Gainesville, the Volunteers were looking to exact revenge on their SEC East rival in Knoxville. The game featured two of the top quarterbacks in college football, Manning and Florida's Danny Wuerffel. Both teams featured strong aerial attacks, but Florida's Fred Taylor and Tennessee's Jay Graham were among the SEC's best tailbacks. ESPN's College Gameday was on hand to broadcast their pregame show live from Knoxville. [21]

The tone for the game was set on Florida's first drive, as Spurrier spurned the punt team on a 4th and 10 from the UT 35, and Wuerffel connected with Reidel Anthony for a touchdown to put the Gators up 7–0. Teako Brown intercepted Manning on the Volunteers' first drive, and it took Wuerffel only one play to find the end zone again, hitting Terry Jackson from out to extend the lead to 14–0. [22] Florida doubled their lead in a 52-second stretch early in the 2nd quarter, as Ike Hilliard and Jacquez Green became the third and fourth different receivers with touchdown receptions on the afternoon, sandwiched around a James Bates interception of Manning. Anthone Lott's fumble return stretched the lead to 35–0, before Manning finally got the Vols on the scoreboard before halftime on a strike to Peerless Price. [22]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Tennessee game, YouTube video.

With Florida switching to a more conservative offensive game plan in the second half, Manning cut the lead to 35–22 with 8 minutes left with 2 more touchdown tosses, including a second to Price. Andy McCellough's reception brought the Vols within 35–29 with 10 seconds to play, but Florida recovered the ensuing onside kick to hang on for a six-point win on a rainy Knoxville afternoon. [22] [n 1] Florida limited tailback Jay Graham to on 12 carries, while Manning threw for a school-record . [23]

Kentucky

1234Total
Kentucky00000
Florida212017765
  • Date: September 28
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 85,422

Coming off a big win in Knoxville the week before and being ranked #1 for the first time since 1994, the Gators were looking for somewhat of an easy home game against the Kentucky Wildcats. This would prove true as the Gators posted their first shutout since a 31–0 drubbing of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1994, with Florida defeating Kentucky 65–0. [24]

The Gators scored just 63 seconds into the game with a touchdown pass from Danny Wuerffel to Ike Hilliard. Wuerffel would have 3 touchdown passes in all, but the day belonged to Jacquez Green. In the 3rd quarter, Green took a punt back for a touchdown. On Kentucky's next possession, they would punt again and Green, who was still breathing heavy from his first return, weaved his way for another score. In all, the Gators amassed over 300 return yards from punts and kickoffs. [24] Fred Taylor made his season debut with 45 yards on six attempts. [25]

Arkansas

1234Total
Florida140141442
Arkansas07007

Florida traveled to Fayetteville and beat Arkansas 42–7. The Gators had an abysmal second quarter, but recovered and Danny Wuerffel threw for a then-school record of 462 yards. [26]

A defensive stand and missed field goal by Arkansas to start the second half "jolted the Gators back to life." [26] Wuerffel then passed for three touchdowns. [26]

LSU

1234Total
LSU060713
Florida142801456
  • Date: October 12
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 85,567

With Florida winning so convincingly all season, the next two weeks might have proved a challenge for the Gators, with #12 LSU and #16 Auburn coming to town. It was business as usual for the Gators. The Gators proved themselves worthy of the #1 ranking as they first thumped the LSU Tigers 56–13. [27]

LSU came in undefeated on the campaign and featured an offense that scored 38 points per game. Florida, however, was not thinking upset, as Danny Wuerffel threw three touchdowns, two of them to Ike Hilliard, and ran for another score as the Gators proved to have the better offense. [27] Fred Taylor had a breakout game, running for 107 yards on 16 carries. [25]

Their defense came to play as well as they forced two turnovers and recorded 7 sacks and held the LSU offense to just 28 rushing yards. [27]

Auburn

1234Total
Auburn730010
Florida714161451
  • Date: October 19
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game start: 3:30 p. m.
  • Game attendance: 85,697

Next was another ranked team, as 16th ranked Auburn came to Gainesville. The first half may have been closer than most would have expected, as Auburn kicked a field goal late to trail just 21–10. But that would be it for the Tigers as the Gators reeled off 30 unanswered points en route to a 51–10 win. [28]

Like the LSU game, the Gators scored quick and often, amassing over 600 yards of offense and holding Auburn to just 173 yards. Danny Wuerffel again threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another for the red-hot Florida offense. [29] Taylor ran for 110 yards on 14 carries. [25]

Georgia

#1 Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Quarter1234Total
Florida201401347
Georgia00077

at Alltel StadiumJacksonville, Florida

  • Date: November 2
  • Game attendance: 84,103
  • USA Today
Game information

Top ranked Florida was coming in looking to win its 7th consecutive game against Georgia in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. At the end of the day, Alltel Stadium was half teal (teal seats in the stadium representing the primary color of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars) and half orange and blue as the Gators won 47–7. By this point in the season, Florida was bruising their opponents by an average score of 52–12. [30]

Danny Wuerffel again would have an outstanding game, bolstering his Heisman Trophy candidacy, with 279 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. The Gators also amassed over 200 yards rushing. The Gator defense held the Dawgs to just 272 yards and one touchdown on the day. [30]

Vanderbilt

1234Total
Florida7147028
Vanderbilt3011721
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Game attendance: 40,249

Hampered by penalties throughout, the Gators survived a scare with the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville 28–21. [31]

After an injury to tackle Zach Piller, Vanderbilt sacked and stripped Danny Wuerffel, and Jamie Duncan returned the fumble for a touchdown. [31] A 2-point conversion on a pass to Todd Yoder brought the score to 28–14 and inspired the Commodores. [31] Early in the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt back Jason Dunnavant broke off a 34-yard touchdown run and the score was 28–21. [31] Vanderbilt missed a field goal, and one final drive was stopped at its own 47-yard line. [31]

Overcoming five sacks, Wuerffel passed for 283 yards and four touchdowns. [31]

South Carolina

1234Total
South Carolina697325
Florida141471752
  • Date: November 16
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 85,701

The Gators struggled despite a 52–25 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. [32] Wuerffel had an off-day, especially late, and never failed to find a passing rhythm; [33] but was helped by Fred Taylor to lift Florida over the Gamecocks. [25] Spurrier became the Gators' all-time winningest coach, surpassing Ray Graves' 70 career wins. [34] Spurrier gave Graves a game ball, who gave a talk to the team. [35]

Early on in the game, Wuerffel threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Jacquez Green and a 52-yard touchdown pass to Reidel Anthony. [32] Taylor ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries on the day. [25]

Florida State

1234Total
Florida0140721
FSU1700724
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
  • Game attendance: 80,932

The rival Florida State Seminoles defeated the Gators 24–21, seemingly ending Florida's chance at a national title. For the first time in series history, both squads were an undefeated 10–0. [36] The Seminoles scored 17 straight points in the first quarter and Warrick Dunn rushed for a career-best 185 yards. [36]

"We just hit to the echo" said FSU coach Bobby Bowden (pictured) Bobby Bowden.jpg
"We just hit to the echo" said FSU coach Bobby Bowden (pictured)

The Seminoles also had one of the best defenses in the nation, with a savage pass rush which included All-Americans Peter Boulware and Reinard Wilson. [37] The Seminoles had been flagged for roughing the passer twice during the game, and Spurrier had the UF video staff compile footage which he claimed showed FSU players tackling Wuerffel late a half-dozen additional times. [38] Gator receiver Reidel Anthony still managed career bests in receptions (11) and yards gained (193). "If Danny would have had more time, we would have killed them. I was getting past them all the time with all kinds of routes." [39] Florida had 443 yards of offense, but Wuerffel threw three interceptions and was sacked six times. [36]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg FSU game, YouTube video.

The third quarter was scoreless as both teams played well on defense. [40] FSU's "Pooh Bear" Williams got the ball into the endzone to put the Seminoles up 24–14 midway through the fourth quarter. [36] Down late, Florida went 80 yards in eight plays, including a 31-yard pass to Anthony, down to the 3-yard line. [36] A short pass to Anthony brought Florida within a field goal with just over a minute left. [36] The subsequent onside kick went out of bounds, and the game was sealed when Dunn ran for a first down. [36] Spurrier continued to complain to the press about the late hits while FSU coach Bobby Bowden responded that he thought the hits in question were clean while admitting that "we just hit to the echo (of the whistle), instead of the whistle." [41]

Postseason

Alabama

SEC Championship
1234Total
Alabama7714230
Florida61814745
  • Date: December 7
  • Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
  • Game attendance: 74,132

The Gators beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 4530 in the SEC Championship, as Wuerffel passed for six touchdowns. [42] A 94-yard touchdown pass from Alabama to pull within 3 was answered by an 85-yard touchdown to Jacquez Green. [42]

Texas also upset Nebraska in the inaugural Big 12 Championship, securing the Gators a spot in the Sugar Bowl. To have a shot at a national title, the Gators needed Ohio State to beat second-ranked Arizona State—the only team to go through the regular season undefeated—in the Rose Bowl, which they did with seconds left, setting up the Sugar Bowl as the Bowl Alliance national championship game.

Florida State

Sugar Bowl
1234Total
Florida1014141452
FSU3143020

The Gators used the shotgun formation to give Wuerffel more time to throw [43] and defeated FSU in a rematch 5220, for their first national title. [44]

Hilliard scored once on a "stop and pop" where he stopped on a dime to avoid Seminole defenders, then ran into the endzone. [45] A 42-yard Terry Jackson touchdown run sealed the victory. [46]

Awards and honors

National award winners

Along with a national title, quarterback Danny Wuerffel was awarded the Heisman Trophy, annually awarded to college football's top player. [47] He was also awarded the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award, [48] Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, as well as the Draddy Trophy, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar, and College Football Association Scholar-Athlete Team. Lawrence Wright won the Jim Thorpe Award, [49] and was on the College Football Association Scholar-Athlete Team. Jeff Mitchell was an Outland Trophy semi-finalist.

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg 1997 Sugar Bowl, YouTube video.

Wuerffel, Ike Hilliard, and Reidel Anthony all were consensus All-Americans. [50]

NFL draft

Ike Hilliard was selected 7th overall by the New York Giants, and Reidel Anthony was selected 16th by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers [51]

Personnel

Depth chart

Offense
WR WR
Reidel Anthony Jamie Richardson
Nafis Karim Travis McGriff
 
LT LG C RG RT
Zach Piller Ryan Kalich Jeff Mitchell Donnie Young Mo Collins
Donnie YoungDeac StoryCorey YarbroughCheston BlackshearScott Bryan
 
TE
Tremayne Allen
Teras Ross
Erron Kinney
WR
Ike Hilliard
Jacquez Green
 
QB
Danny Wuerffel
Brian Schottenheimer
Doug Johnson
Noah Brindise
FB
Dwayne Mobley
Jerome Evans
Terry Jackson
TB
Fred Taylor
Elijah Williams
Terry Jackson
Eugene McCaslin
Defense
CB
Fred Weary
Shea Showers
DE DT DT DE
Tim BeauchampEd Chester Reggie McGrew Anthony Mitchell
Willie RodgersKeith CouncilMike MotenCameron Davis
CB
Anthone Lott
Tony George
Ronnie Battle
FS
Shea Showers
Teako Brown
Mike Harris
WLB MLB SLB
Johnny Rutledge James Bates Mike Peterson
Keith KelseyDwayne Thomas Jevon Kearse
SS
Lawrence Wright
Demetric Jackson

[52]

Roster

1996 Florida Gators roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 6 Daymon Carroll – Freshman

Tailbacks

Fullbacks

  • 34 Jerome Evans – Senior
  • 35 Ernie Dubose – Junior
  • 36 Jayme Campbell – Freshman
  • 40 Rod Frazier – Freshman

Tight ends

  • 80 Shawn Nunn – Senior
  • 82 Dwight Edge – Freshman
  • 88 Taras Ross – Junior
  • 89 Erron KinneyFreshman
  • 91 Tremayne AllenSenior

Wide receivers

  • 3 Travis McGriffSophomore
  • 5 Jacquez GreenSophomore
  • 8 Nafis Karim – Sophomore
  • 15 Reidel AnthonyJunior
  • 18 Jamie Richardson – Freshman
  • 19 Ike HilliardJunior
  • 20 Tyrone Baker – Junior
  • 31 Craig Dudley – Freshman
  • 83 Jason Dean – Senior
  • 84 David Nabavi – Senior
  • 85 Ian Skinner – Freshman
  • 67 Henry Kupczyk – Senior

Offensive line

  • 51 Ryan Kalich – Freshman
  • 57 Scott Bryan - Freshman
  • 59 Wyley Ritch – Junior
  • 62 Corey Yarbrough – Freshman
  • 65 Sean Ladd – Sophomore
  • 69 Zach PillerSophomore
  • 70 Cooper CarlisleFreshman
  • 71 Jeff MitchellSenior
  • 72 Deac Story – Sophomore
  • 73 Pat Browning – Sophomore
  • 74 Zac Zedalis – Freshman
  • 75 Donnie Young – Senior
  • 77 Cheston Blackshear – Freshman
  • 78 Todd Holland – Junior
  • 79 Mo CollinsSophomore

Defensive line

  • 53 Thaddeus BullardFreshman
  • 54 Willie Rodgers – Junior
  • 55 Willie Cohens – Sophomore
  • 56 Cameron Davis – Senior
  • 61 Buck Gurley – Freshman
  • 64 Derrick Chambers – Freshman
  • 66 Keith Council – Junior
  • 90 Mike Moten – Junior
  • 92 Reggie McGrewFreshman
  • 93 Tim Beauchamp – Sophomore
  • 94 Ed Chester – Sophomore
  • 96 Ernie Badeaux – Freshman
  • 98 Anthony Mitchell – Freshman
  • 99 McDonald Ferguson – Senior

Linebackers

  • 22 Terry Jackson – Sophomore
  • 29 Mike PetersonSophomore
  • 30 Daryl Owens – Freshman
  • 39 Teddy Sims – Freshman
  • 41 Keith Kelsey – Freshman
  • 42 Jevon KearseSophomore
  • 44 James Bates – Senior
  • 46 Xavier McCray – Junior
  • 49 Zuri Buchanan – Freshman
  • 50 Kavin Walton – Junior
  • 52 Dwayne Thomas – Junior
  • 58 Johnny RutledgeSophomore
  • 64 Jason Perry – Sophomore

Cornerbacks

  • 2 Shea ShowersSenior
  • 9 Anthone Lott – Senior
  • 10 Ronnie Battle – Junior
  • 24 Fred WearyJunior
  • 28 Dock Pollard – Freshman
  • 48 Cedric Warren – Freshman

Defensive backs

  • 38 Demetrius Lewis – Freshman

Safeties

  • 1 Tony GeorgeSophomore
  • 4 Lawrence WrightSenior
  • 13 Mike Harris – Junior
  • 26 Jon Xynidis – Junior
  • 27 Demetric Jackson – Senior
  • 33 Teako Brown – Sophomore
  • 37 Reggie Davis – Freshman
  • 47 Rod Graddy – Freshman
  • 38 James Gray – Sophomore

Punters

  • 43 Matt Teague – Senior
  • 87 Robby Stevenson – Sophomore

Kickers

  • 14 Bart Edmiston – Senior
  • 43 Matt Teague – Senior

Long snappers

  • 76 Mike Younkin – Freshman
  • 68 Scott Wise – Freshman
  • 60 Fred Hagberg – Junior

Coaching staff

[53]

Team statistics

UFOPP
Scoring559201
Points per Game46.616.8
First Downs303192
Rushing11881
Passing16787
Penalty1824
Total Offense60473373
Avg per Play7.14.1
Avg per Game503.9281.1
Fumbles-Lost16-727-14
Penalties-Yards125-109590-748
Avg per Game91.362.3
UFOPP
Punts-Yards38-147586-3477
Avg per Punt38.840.4
Time of Possession/Game28:4231:18
3rd Down Conversions59/14549/189
4th Down Conversions12/198/23
Touchdowns Scored7626
Field Goals-Attempts10-187-11
PAT-Attempts71-7520-22
Attendance512424281107
Games/Avg per Game6/854044/70277

Scores by quarter

1234Total
Opponents57456660228
Gators148220117127612

Player statistics

Offense

Rushing
Name#GPAttGainLossNetAvgTDLongAvg/G
Wiliams, E.2512106690196716.344655.9
Taylor, F.219104650216296.053069.9
Jackson, T.221279398103884.983432.3
McCaslin, E.32941301112907.146332.2
Baker, T.201116800805.00187.3
Hilliard, I.19114330338.30133.0
Anthony, R.15124270276.80212.3
Green, J.5126243213.51101.8
Mobley, D.23122170178.50101.4
Evans, J.34122110115.5090.9
Dubose, E.351229094.5060.8
Schottenheimer, B.169710730.4130.3
Richardson, J.18910000.0000.0
Johnson, D.1273212-10-3.301-1.4
Brindise, N.1731010-10-10.000-3.3
Wuerffel, D.71263126226-100-1.6218-8.3
Team Total12442237833820404.62563170.0

Passing

Name#GPEfficAtm-Cmp-IntPctYdsTDLngAvg
Wuerffel, D.712170.61360-207-1357.536253985302.1
Johnson, D.12799.8727-12-344.417122724.4
Schottenheimer, B.169155.2221-13-061.919413421.6
Brindise, N.53114.273-2-066.7170155.7
Jackson, T.22120.001-0-00.00000.0
Team Total12164.37412-234-1656.840074285333.9

Receiving

Name#GPNo.YdsAvgTDLongAvg/G
Anthony, R.151272129318.01856107.8
Hilliard, I.19114790019.1104681.8
Green, J.5123362619.098552.2
Williams, E.25121425318.114521.1
McGriff, T.381416711.902720.9
Jackson, T.22121316312.514313.6
Taylor, F.219812015.003813.3
Allen, T.9112711816.91329.8
Richardson, J.18957515.01348.3
Ross, T.881249323.31457.8
Mobley, D.231245112.80194.3
Karim, N.8934715.70275.2
McCaslin, E.3934013.31194.4
Kinney, E.831134013.30153.6
Dubose, E.3512199.0090.8
Dean, J.835155.0051.0
Nabavi, D.849155.0150.6
Schiralli, N.814122.0020.5
Total12234400717.14285333.9

Defense

Name#GPTacklesSacksPass DefenseFumbles
SoloAstTotalTFL-YdsNo-YdsBrUpQBHInt.-YdsTDRcv-YdsFFBlkd Kick
Bates, J.441151741256.0-232.0-14161-9
Rutledge, J.581140599912.0-585.0-3951-04
Wright, L.4114031712.5-15.52.5-15.5332-12 1TD1
Showers, S.2115216681.0-131-01
Peterson, M.2992718453.5-10.50.5-1.523
Lott, A.911368441.0-61.0-662-252-26 1TD1
Kearse, J.42102716438.5-38.52.5-11.52421
Chester, E.94102120419.0-355.0-28191-01
McGrew, R.92112315383.0-41.0-2171-0
Weary, F.241122103265-11711-64 1TD
Harris, M.1391614301
Moten, M.90111116272.0-71.0-56
Mitchell, A.98101312253.0-143.0-1415
Rodgers, W.5410139228.0-33.54.0-24.5191-02
Jackson, D.2711137201.0-1411-01-0
Kelsey, K.418910194.0-171.0-92
Thomas, D.521112719
Beauchamp, T.9310711187.0-436.0-4091-61
Davis, C.561068149.5-455.5-3871-40 1TD1
Brown, T.336741133-731
Council, K.66103692.0-91.0-7131-0
Ferguson, M.998156
George, T.1115271.0-71.0-7111-2
Sims, T.3921451
Owens, D.30221311
Cohens, W.553221.0-41.0-42
Jackson, T.22111121
McCray, X.461122
Perry, J.64422
Walton, K.50622
Badeaux, E.96611
Xynidis, J.2610111
Battle, R.10111
Lewis, D.3810
Pollard, D.2861-0
Baker, T.209
Total1146738685385-37243-266379314-226214-148 4TD153

Defense statistics reflect regular season games only

Special teams

Kicking
Name#PuntingKicking
No.YdsAvgLongBlkdFGXP
Cooper, C.701-17-9
Edmiston, B.149-1764-66
Stevenson, R.8735147542.1640
Teague, M.43
Total38147538.864310-1871-75
Returns
Name#Punt ReturnsKick Returns
No.YdsAvgTDLongNo.YdsAvgTDLong
Green, J.52532413.02791021621.6040
Anthony, R.189011.3030711316.1022
Richardson, J.1844611.502037926.3028
Hilliard, I.1911010.0010514428.8040
Xynidis, J.2612828.0028
Jackson, T.2212525.002511515.0015
Lott, A.9100.000
Peterson, M.29090.019
Dubose, E.352189.0016
Total4153213.03792858520.9036

Notes

  1. Tennessee bounced back to stay in the national title picture at 6–1 before being stunned on the road at Memphis, and finished 10–2, defeating Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Wuerffel</span> American football player (born 1974)

Daniel Carl Wuerffel is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he was a prolific passer under head coach Steve Spurrier. Wuerffel led the NCAA in touchdown passes in 1995 and 1996 and set numerous school and conference records during his career. During his senior year in 1996, he won the Heisman Trophy while leading the Gators to their first national championship. In 2013, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Hilliard</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Isaac Jason Hilliard is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played primarily with the New York Giants.

Reidel Clarence Anthony is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 to 2001. He played college football for the Florida Gators, and received consensus All-American honors in 1996. Anthony was a first-round pick in the 1997 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida–Florida State football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Florida–Florida State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the teams of the two oldest public universities of the U.S. state of Florida: the University of Florida (UF) Gators and Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles. Both universities participate in a range of intercollegiate sports, and for the last several years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has sponsored a "Sunshine Showdown" promotion that tallies the total number of wins for each school in head-to-head sports competition. However, the annual football game between the Gators and Seminoles has consistently been the most intense and notable competition between the in-state rivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Florida Gators football team</span> American college football season

The 2001 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2001 college football season. The Gators competed in Division I-A of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), playing their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

Christopher Paul Doering is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1990s and 2000s. Doering played college football for the Florida Gators, earning second-team All-American honors in 1995. He played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver Broncos, the Washington Redskins, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida–Tennessee football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Florida–Tennessee football rivalry, also called the Third Saturday in September, is an American college football rivalry between the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida and Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee, who first met on the football field in 1916. The Gators and Vols have competed in the same athletic conference since Florida joined the now-defunct Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1910, and the schools were founding members of the Southeastern Conference in 1932. Despite this long conference association, a true rivalry did not develop until the early 1990s due to the infrequency of earlier meetings; in the first seventy-six years (1916–91) of the series, the two teams met just twenty-one times. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) expanded to twelve universities and split into two divisions in 1992. Florida and Tennessee were placed in the SEC's East Division and have met on a home-and-home basis every season since. Their rivalry quickly blossomed in intensity and importance in the 1990s and early 2000s as both programs regularly fielded national championship contending teams under coaches Phil Fulmer of Tennessee and Steve Spurrier at Florida.

The 1964 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. The season was the fifth for Ray Graves as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Graves' 1964 Florida Gators posted an overall record of 7–3 and a 4–2 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, tying for second among the eleven SEC teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 Florida Gators football team</span> American college football season

The 1966 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. The Gators competed in the University Division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In their seventh season under head coach Ray Graves, the Gators compiled a 9–2 overall win–loss record, finished 5–1 and placed third among the SEC's ten teams. Led by quarterback Steve Spurrier, the Gators outscored their opponents by a combined total of 265 to 147 and concluded their 1966 season with a 27–12 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 1967 Orange Bowl. The Gators were not ranked in the final AP Poll, but finished No. 11 in the final UPI Coaches Poll.

The 1971 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The season was Doug Dickey's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1971 Florida Gators finished with a 4–7 overall record and a 1–6 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for eighth among ten SEC teams.

The 1977 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The season was Doug Dickey's eighth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1977 Florida Gators finished with a 6–4–1 overall record and a 3–3 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, placing fifth among ten SEC teams.

The 1990 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season marked the return of the Gators' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Steve Spurrier to his alma mater as the new head coach of the Florida Gators football team.

The 1991 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was Steve Spurrier's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators were led by quarterback Shane Matthews and first-team All-American defensive tackle Brad Culpepper.

The 1993 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was the fourth for Steve Spurrier as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators compiled a 10–2 overall record.

The 1995 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 1995 season was the Florida Gators' sixth year under head coach Steve Spurrier and was one of the most successful in school history, as the Gators finished the regular season unbeaten and untied for the first time.

The 1998 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season was the Florida Gators football team's ninth under head coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier's 1998 Florida Gators compiled an overall record of 10–2 and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 7–1, placing second among the six teams of the SEC Eastern Division.

The Choke at Doak was a 1994 college football game between the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles. The game is one of the most memorable in the heated Florida–Florida State football rivalry and tied the NCAA record for the biggest fourth-quarter comeback. In the matchup of 9–1 cross-state rivals at Florida State's Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida squandered a 28-point fourth quarter lead and allowed the Seminoles to tie the score at 31 in the final minutes. Because the game occurred before the advent of overtime in college football, it ended in a tie that would be regarded very differently by each team's fan base. The post season Sugar Bowl featured a rematch of the Seminoles vs Gators. Before the game commenced, the score board indicated 5th quarter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auburn–Florida football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Auburn–Florida football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University and Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida which was first played in 1912. The schools have been members of the same athletic conference for over a century and were founding members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) when it was established in 1933. The contest was an annual tradition from 1945 until 2002, when the SEC expanded and the rivalry became part of a rotation of other conference games. Since then, the teams have met only four times.

The 1996 All-SEC football team consists of American football players selected to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) chosen by various selectors for the 1996 NCAA Division I-A football season.

The history of Florida Gators football began in 1906, when the newly established "University of the State of Florida" fielded a football team during its first full academic year of existence. The school's name was shortened to the University of Florida in 1908, and the football team gained the nickname "Gators" in 1911. The program started small, usually playing six to eight games per season against small colleges and local athletic club teams in north Florida and south Georgia. The Orange and Blue developed early rivalries with the Stetson Hatters from nearby Deland and Mercer Bears from Macon. During the 1910s, Florida began playing a wider range of opponents from more established football programs across the southeastern United States and faced off against several future rivals - such as Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and Auburn - for the first time.

References

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