From: Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> Date: January 18, 2020 at 3:58:44 PM CST To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com> Subject:[gatornews] [SUN]: Florida routs No. 4 Auburn, 69-47 Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com
Florida routs No. 4 Auburn, 69-47
Florida sophomore guard Noah Locke drains a 3-point basket Saturday against Auburn at Exactech Arena. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]
It wasn't quite at the Michael Jordan level, but Andrew Nembhard had a flu game of his own.
The sophomore guard played 26 minutes despite missing two practices and the Saturday shootaround with the flu and helped Florida get a huge one against fourth-ranked Auburn, 69-47.
Nembhard only had six points and five assists, but he guided the Gator attack for much of the game.
Auburn (15-2) lost its second straight game in part because of a lousy shooting performance (25.5 percent for the game).
And the Tigers had no answer for UF sophomore Omar Payne, who had 19 points to lead the Gators and 11 rebounds. Senior Kerry Blackshear Jr. had 16 rebounds and 11 points for Florida.
Florida (12-5, 4-1 in the SEC) shot 50 percent and never allowed Auburn to have the lead in the entire game.
Florida's next game will be Tuesday at LSU at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network. LSU entered Saturday night's game at Ole Miss with a 12-4 record and the Tigers were 4-0 in SEC play.
Auburn made only 6-of-29 shots in the first half, but hung around because of 10-for-10 free throw shooting and 12 Florida turnovers.
Still, the Gators were able to carve out a 28-23 lead as Blackshear had 11 rebounds in the half.
The Gators increased that lead to 12 midway through the second half on a 3-point shot by Noah Locke. Florida led 58-44 with 4:27 to play when Payne converted a 3-point play after a rebound.
From there, Florida could do little wrong and Auburn could do little right. The Gators only had three turnovers in the second half.
Sent from my iPhone
Go Gators!
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatornews/47281E54-BB2E-45C9-86D9-A66DDE68339D%40gmail.com.
From: gatornews@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Shane Ford Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 8:15 AM To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com> Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Gators get much-needed win, rout Rebels
Gators get much-needed win, rout Rebels
January 14, 2020. (Pat Dooley
Florida sophomore guard Andrew Nembhard shoots over Ole Miss guard Devontae Shuler (2) during Tuesday's game at the O'Connell Center. [Brad McClenny/Staff photographer]
Forget for a moment that the best player on Mississippi's team (Breein Tyree) couldn't play because of a back injury and another starter (Khadim Sy) didn't make the trip because Rebels coach Kermit Davis decided to leave him home.
Forget that this was coach Mike White's 100th win at Florida (against his alma mater no less) and forget that undefeated Auburn is coming to town Saturday.
All that really mattered Tuesday night in the O-Dome was that Florida got its defensive mojo back after an awful performance in Columbia, Mo., three nights ago.
"It makes me feel better about our team," said White. "If our last defensive effort became the norm, we might not win any more games."
Instead, Florida ramped up the defense, deflecting 28 balls and forcing 18 turnovers in an easy 71-55 win over Mississippi.
There was a bad defensive stretch that allowed Ole Miss to take the lead midway through the first half, but the rest of the game was all Florida.
"Deflections were big for us," said Kerry Blackshear Jr. "Our defense gave us a lot of energy on the offensive end."
Keyontae Johnson led Florida with 15 points, as Florida had balance throughout the lineup. Ole Miss got 20 points from KJ Buffen and 18 from Blake Hinson but only 19 points from the rest of the team.
"For the most part," Davis said, "we competed."
Tyree was fifth in the SEC in scoring coming into the game. But he was a late scratch after getting injured in a fall in Monday's practice.
"We didn't even bring it up," White said. "They aren't the same team without Tyree, but we had to play correctly on the defensive end regardless."
Florida jumped out to a 17-6 lead, but Ole Miss (9-7, 0-3 in the SEC) responded with a 16-2 run to take the lead. The Gators (11-5, 3-1) went on a run hitting nine straight shots to lead by 12 at the half.
The game was basically in UF's hands then, up 40-28, and the Gators didn't back off, extending the lead to as many as 23 points.
They limited Ole Miss to 29-percent shooting in the second half.
"Our focus coming into the game was defense," said sophomore guard Andrew Nembhard, who had 10 points and six assists. "We needed to recuperate (from the Missouri game)."
Blackshear added 13 points for Florida to go with nine rebounds.
But the story of this game was a defense still reeling from allowing 91 points Saturday. Missouri couldn't miss that night, but Florida only allowed Ole Miss to make three shots from behind the arc, only one in the second half.
Florida also scored 26 points off turnovers and dominated in the paint 44 to 18.
"We had to show our toughness," said Johnson. "We didn't want to play like we did at Missouri."
It was fitting for a coach who preaches defense daily to win his 100th game at Florida (second fastest behind Billy Donovan) with a stellar defensive effort.
"I think we got more into character, into who we are," said Blackshear.
The Gators will need that kind of effort and more Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when they play an Auburn team that goes into Wednesday night's game at Alabama.
But for a night, White could order a pizza on his drive home and enjoy No. 100.
"I don't know what to say," he said. "It's pretty cool. I've had really good players. I never would have imagined. Blessed to be at a terrific program. Hopefully we can win some more."
Notes: White attained the milestone in 158 games, just four games behind Donovan's pace (154). No Florida coach has reached the mark sooner than 170 games.
*Noah Locke made multiple 3-pointers for the 13th straight game, the longest such streak by a Gator during the White/Donovan era (since 1996).
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatornews/13C0B06B-5EB5-4200-BA68-674ADC3FA0F7%40gmail.com.
This game was frustrating to watch. Every time we would do something, get a stop, hit a three, or begin to close the gap a little, they would hit a three or take away and slam dunk.
Letting them get up and get confident at the start of the game seemed to give them confidence.
We were almost destined to lose.
At the end I flipped over to watch the Titans pull off an incredible win over Baltimore. That didn't help. But, it was better than nothing.
I'm less and less happy we invited them into the SEC! Whose fault was that, anyway?
Oliver Barry CRS, GRI
Real Estate Broker
PARKS Real Estate Services
305 B Indian Lake Blvd
Suite 220
Hendersonville TN 37075
Office: 615-826-4040
Mobile: 615-972-4239
barryo@realtracs.com
Begin forwarded message:
From: Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> Date: January 12, 2020 at 11:43:23 AM CST To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com> Subject:[gatornews] [SUN]: Hot-shooting Missouri routs Florida, 91-75 Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com
Hot-shooting Missouri routs Florida, 91-75
Missouri's Tray Jackson, right, and Florida's Scottie Lewis, left, battle for a loose ball during the first half Saturday in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri has made scoring points look very hard this season. In Saturday's 91-75 victory over Florida, the Tigers made it look easy.
"When you start seeing the ball go in for everybody, it's easy to get rolling," said Dru Smith, who finished with 22 points, six assists and five steals. "The crowd gets into it, and it gives you a little more energy."
Missouri (9-6, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) entered the game next-to-last in the league in scoring at 66.7 points per game. The Tigers tied a season-high for points and shot 61.5% from the field and 63.2% from 3-point range. Mark Smith and Javon Pickett scored 14 points each, and Mitchell Smith added 10 points.
"As a staff, we felt helpless," Florida coach Mike White said. "We couldn't find a way to get stops. It wasn't our best effort, but Mizzou had a lot to do with that. I thought Dru Smith was fantastic. That was one of the better performances of anyone we've played against this year."
Kerry Blackshear led Florida (10-5, 2-1) with 22 points, Noah Locke scored 12 and Scottie Lewis finished with 11.
Mark Smith sank a 3-pointer on the game's opening possession, and the Tigers were off and running. They led 51-36 at halftime. The second half started the same way, as Mitchell Smith sank a 3-pointer, causing White to call a timeout just 40 seconds after intermission.
The Gators cut an 18-point deficit to 10 when Tre Mann hit a 3-pointer with 14:50 left, but they couldn't get enough defensive stops to get any closer.
Missouri has failed to reach 60 points four times this season, including their first two SEC games. The Tigers were noticeably more aggressive driving the ball than previously this season. Missouri had a 40-14 advantage in points in the paint.
Dru Smith was especially effective at muscling into the lane and finishing.
"He does a great job of shot-faking, and he knows how to use angles with bigger guys on him," Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said. "And he's a good passer, so it gives him an advantage. So when he gets in the lane, he can make plays."
BIG PICTURE
Florida: The Gators lengthened the game and made a run early in the second half by beating a path to the free throw line. They had Missouri in so much foul trouble they were shooting free throws in the bonus at the 13:20 mark. Florida made 25 of 32 free throws.
Missouri: The Tigers pushed the pace more than usual against the Gators. Missouri created transition chances with 11 steals. For a team that often struggles to score in halfcourt sets, any easy basket is welcome. "Our first key written on the board before the game was, 'Push the ball in transition,'" Dru Smith said.
THUNDEROUS DUNK
Missouri sophomore point guard Xavier Pinson said Martin had stern words for him after he struggled in Tuesday's loss to Tennessee. Pinson responded against Florida, scoring eight points and dishing three assists with no turnovers.
"My whole anger and hunger today on the court was all because of him," Pinson said of his coach. "I can't thank him enough."
Pinson drew one of the biggest roars of the season from the Mizzou Arena crowd when he led a fast break, faked a pass to the right corner and threw down a dunk over Omar Payne to give Missouri a 13-5 lead. Pinson called it one of his top five all-time dunks.
"To me, it was just getting the crowd involved, giving the crowd something worth their time for coming," Pinson said.
MISSOURI SUSPENDS GUARD
Missouri announced before the game it has suspended freshman guard Mario McKinney indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. McKinney had played in seven games and was averaging 2.6 points.
EXTENDED STAY
The Gators usually fly back to Gainesville right after road games, but White decided before the trip to spend an extra night in Missouri because ice and snow was in the forecast. White said he was concerned that flight delays might cost his players valuable sleep.
UP NEXT
Florida: The Gators play Mississippi at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home.
Missouri: The Tigers visit Mississippi State on Tuesday.
Note: The Gators played without reserve forward Dontay Bassett, who stayed back in Gainesville because of an illness. Missouri had junior forward Jeremiah Tilmon sit out again with a stress fracture in his left foot. Tilmon, a preseason second-team All-SEC pick, is out indefinitely.
The Gators had one of their better 3-point shooting nights this season (10/23, .435) outdone by Missouri's even better performance (12/19, .632). … Noah Locke hit 4 3-pointers, matching a season high and marking his 12th straight game with multiple made 3-pointers. It matches Brett Nelson's UF record for the longest such streak (2000-01). … Blackshear led the Gators with 22 points, including 10-for-11 from the free throw line. It was Blackshear's 6th 20-point game of the season and his 4th in the past 5 games.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatornews/9350A27B-FE1B-444B-8DCB-5728906A6D16%40gmail.com.
From: gatortalk@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of jbowers4@cfl.rr.com Sent: Monday, January 06, 2020 12:51 PM To: 'gatornews@googlegroups.com' <gatornews@googlegroups.com>; 'gatortalk@googlegroups.com' <gatortalk@googlegroups.com> Subject: [gatortalk] Bowl Pick 'Em results
Congratulations to Troy Williams, who was all alone at 9-3 to take top honors in Bowl Game Pick 'Em. A bunch of people were 8-4: Charlie Simpson, Clint Carver, Ed Kling, Jess Damoth, Joe Leavell, Ken Kirkley, Larry Clark, Mary Lynn, Oliver Barry, Robert Rieders, Roy Wright, and Tim Ebaugh.
Once again thanks for playing, it was a great season for the University of Florida, and the future looks bright. Happy New Year! See y'all in September.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/6b3af4e508e9b1135849a571231b4926504b432c%40webmail.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/04bb01d5c4c9%24d33c6980%2479b53c80%24%40realtracs.com.
From: gatortalk@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of jbowers4@cfl.rr.com Sent: Monday, January 06, 2020 12:51 PM To: 'gatornews@googlegroups.com' <gatornews@googlegroups.com>; 'gatortalk@googlegroups.com' <gatortalk@googlegroups.com> Subject: [gatortalk] Bowl Pick 'Em results
Congratulations to Troy Williams, who was all alone at 9-3 to take top honors in Bowl Game Pick 'Em. A bunch of people were 8-4: Charlie Simpson, Clint Carver, Ed Kling, Jess Damoth, Joe Leavell, Ken Kirkley, Larry Clark, Mary Lynn, Oliver Barry, Robert Rieders, Roy Wright, and Tim Ebaugh.
Once again thanks for playing, it was a great season for the University of Florida, and the future looks bright. Happy New Year! See y'all in September.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/6b3af4e508e9b1135849a571231b4926504b432c%40webmail.
Congratulations to Troy Williams, who was all alone at 9-3 to take top honors in Bowl Game Pick 'Em. A bunch of people were 8-4: Charlie Simpson, Clint Carver, Ed Kling, Jess Damoth, Joe Leavell, Ken Kirkley, Larry Clark, Mary Lynn, Oliver Barry, Robert Rieders, Roy Wright, and Tim Ebaugh.
Once again thanks for playing, it was a great season for the University of Florida, and the future looks bright. Happy New Year! See y'all in September.
I'm glad I kept watching. It always felt like the Gators would come back.
Oliver Barry CRS, GRI
Real Estate Broker
PARKS Real Estate Services
305 B Indian Lake Blvd
Suite 220
Hendersonville TN 37075
Office: 615-826-4040
Mobile: 615-972-4239
barryo@realtracs.com
Begin forwarded message:
From: Shane Ford <goufgators01@gmail.com> Date: January 4, 2020 at 11:01:58 PM CST To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com> Subject:[gatornews] [SUN]: Updated: Florida digs out of 21-point hole to beat Alabama 104-98 in double OT Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Dickey's 1969 loss to Florida changed fortunes of two programs
January 1, 2020
Doug Dickey.
By Knoxville News Sentinel
JACKSONVILLE — The 25th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl was significant in several ways.
Mainly, it was the precursor to a changing of the guard that impacted the fortunes of the University of Florida and University of Tennessee for years.
When Tennessee (7-5) and Indiana (8-4) kick off on Thursday in the 75th Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field, it will be 50 years and five days since the 1969 game in which the Volunteers and coach Doug Dickey lost to his alma mater, the Florida Gators, 14-13.
Two days later, Dickey bolted from Knoxville and accepted the coaching job with the Gators, replacing Ray Graves.
The lure of coaching where you played is strong. Steve Spurrier jumped at the chance and Florida went to heights never before attained. Kirby Smart has turned Georgia fortunes around, though not yet to that success level.
Scott Frost (Nebraska), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) and Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) are other current examples.
It didn't work out for Mark Richt (Miami), Matt Luke (Ole Miss) or Barry Odom (Missouri).
But there's no doubting the powerful pull. After coaching at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M, Bear Bryant took the Alabama job because "Mama called."
Dickey knows the feeling.
"You always have that in the back of your mind when you're coaching somewhere else," Dickey said earlier this week before watching Tennessee practice at UNF's Hodges Stadium. "I think a lot of guys who go into coaching want to eventually return to where they played."
Dickey also has a long history with the Gator Bowl, in his adopted hometown of Jacksonville.
"Played in this game, coached with three teams in this game and was an athletic director in this game," he says with considerable pride. "This has always been a big game for the teams who play here and I'm very fortunate to have been involved as much as I have."
Dickey was a Gator quarterback in 1953 and completed 4 of 5 passes for 65 yards in a 14-13 victory over Tulsa, the Gators first-ever bowl victory.
After serving in the Army, Dickey joined the Arkansas staff under Frank Broyles, and coached in the 1960 Gator Bowl, a 14-7 victory for the Razorbacks over Georgia Tech.
Dickey coached at Tennessee from 1964-69 and won two SEC titles. The second, the year the Volunteers were invited to the Gator Bowl, was the last time the SEC champion played in Jacksonville.
He went on to coach the Gators in the 1975 Gator Bowl, a 13-0 loss to Maryland, and was the Tennessee AD in 1994 when the Vols beat Virginia Tech 45-23, when the game was played in Gainesville due to the stadium renovation in Jacksonville.
But it's the 1969 Gator Bowl that carries the most significance for Dickey. In addition to being his third Gator Bowl, it marked a key change in his career.
After the Vols wrapped up the SEC title that year, Dickey began wondering about his next move.
"I had done pretty much everything you could do there," he said. "Won two SEC titles, was recognized for winning a national championship [in 1967, by Litkenhous] … I was looking forward to another challenge."
Dickey heard that Graves was planning to retire, and contacted UF president Stephen C. O'Connell a few weeks before the Gator Bowl — which had invited two SEC teams because Florida and Tennessee had not played that season.
Contrary to public belief — and the rumors that swirled throughout game week — Dickey said he was not offered the job on an official basis until two days after the game.
"Nothing was done before the game," he said.
However, UT athletic director Phil Fulmer, who played for the Vols that season and was eventually hired to coach UT by Dickey in 1992, said the chatter was there.
"We all heard that it was possible coach Dickey would leave," Fulmer said last month during a visit to Jacksonville. "But I can tell you from personal experience, it's tough to turn down a chance to coach where you played."
Dickey said coaches didn't have agents in those days. All communication was done either on the phone or face-to-face meetings between him and O'Connell.
"We didn't need an agent to get in the middle of things," Dickey said.
Dickey went on to compile a 53-48-2 record with the Gators and went 0-4 in bowl games.
"We won a few games, lost a few we would have liked to have had," he said. "But I was glad for the opportunity."
He was replaced by Bill Battle, who never came close to Dickey's success in seven seasons with the Vols. And it wasn't until Johnny Majors took over in 1985 that UT won another SEC title.
Dickey left Florida after the 1978 season and seven years later took the athletic director job at Tennessee, coinciding with Majors' hiring.
Dickey oversaw the expansion of Neyland Stadium to more than 100,000 seats and the construction of new basketball and baseball facilities before retiring in 2002.
Since moving to Jacksonville, Dickey has spent most of his days enjoying golf at the San Jose Country Club, where he shoots his age (87) or better with frequency.
He said he's enjoying Gator Bowl week as a fan. Dickey attended a Tennessee practice wearing a hat in Tennessee's orange with the numbers "1969" on the front and will be one of the many past players and coaches who will appear on game day for an autograph session at Daily's Place Flex Field and to be honored before the game.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl unveils Diamond Anniversary team
HIDE CAPTION
Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Lawrence Taylor, who played for North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, is one of six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be on the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [AP File)
HIDE CAPTION
Larry Csonka was part of one of the best offensive displays of rushing in Gator Bowl history when he gained 114 yards in the 1966 game. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Jack Youngblood waves to the crowd in 2006 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when he was recognized for joining the University of Florida's football Ring of Honor. Youngblood is one of three Gator players on the Gator Bowl's 75th anniversary team. [Bob Mack/The Times-Union]
HIDE CAPTION
Donovin Darius waves to people during the 2013 Gator Bowl parade. Darius is one of two former Jaguars to make the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Wilber Marshall brings down a Vanderbilt ball carrier during a 1983 game. Marshall joined teammate Tony Lilly in making the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Florida State wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff attempts to catch a pass during the 1965 Gator Bowl. Biletnikoff was named Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Florida State University Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, pictured in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn, was named to the All-Gator Bowl Team Tuesday. [Auburn Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Lawrence Taylor, who played for North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, is one of six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be on the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [AP File)
HIDE CAPTION
Larry Csonka was part of one of the best offensive displays of rushing in Gator Bowl history when he gained 114 yards in the 1966 game. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Jack Youngblood waves to the crowd in 2006 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when he was recognized for joining the University of Florida's football Ring of Honor. Youngblood is one of three Gator players on the Gator Bowl's 75th anniversary team. [Bob Mack/The Times-Union]
HIDE CAPTION
Donovin Darius waves to people during the 2013 Gator Bowl parade. Darius is one of two former Jaguars to make the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Wilber Marshall brings down a Vanderbilt ball carrier during a 1983 game. Marshall joined teammate Tony Lilly in making the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
HIDE CAPTION
Florida State wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff attempts to catch a pass during the 1965 Gator Bowl. Biletnikoff was named Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Florida State University Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, pictured in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn, was named to the All-Gator Bowl Team Tuesday. [Auburn Athletics]
HIDE CAPTION
Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
Hall of Fame members and All-Americans dominated the 75th Anniversary TaxSlayer Gator Bowl team, released on Tuesday.
Six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ten members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Eleven All-Americans.
Those are just some of the honors shared by the 22 members of the 75th Anniversary TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Hall of Fame team, which was announced on Tuesday during a news conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jacksonville.
The team is led by three offensive players and two on defense who received the highest honors in football by being both the Pro and College Halls of Fame and being consensus All-Americans: running backs Floyd Little and Larry Csonka of Syracuse, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff of Florida State, defensive end Jack Youngblood of Florida and safety Ed Reed of Miami.
Little and Csonka combined for one of the most impressive displays of power running in Gator Bowl history in a losing effort to Tennessee in 1966. Little gained 216 yards and Csonka had 114 as the Orange piled up 348 yards in all.
Little's game and Syracuse's team total stood as the Gator Bowl records until last year, when Texas A&M rushed for 401 yards, 236 by Traveon Williams.
Biletnikoff caught 13 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns in the 1965 game, a 36-19 victory over Oklahoma for the Seminoles.
Youngblood had nine tackles and forced a fumble in the 1969 Gator Bowl to help UF beat Tennessee 14-13.
Reed had seven unassisted tackles, two for losses, and one sack in Miami's 28-13 victory over Georgia Tech in the 2000 game.
None of the five Heisman Trophy winners to play in the game made the 75th anniversary team. But game chairman Rich Thompson said that was reflective of the depth of talent that has competed over the eight-decade history of the game.
"You look at the history of this game and there's a remarkable consistency in the quality of the teams and players in the game," Thompson said. "It would have been easy to just pick the Heisman winners and the All-Americans but not all of them actually played well in the games. The media panel clearly took this seriously."
Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett also said going on to NFL fame wasn't necessarily a final consideration.
"The voters made their decisions on what happened in the Gator Bowl games," he said. "They really did their homework."
The quarterback on the all-time Gator Bowl team is Archie Manning, who threw for 180 yards and one touchdown, and gained 95 yards rushing and scored once in a 35-28 loss to Auburn and Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan in 1971. Joining Biletnokoff at wide receiver is Michigan's Andre Rison, who set a Gator Bowl record that still stands with 252 receiving yards on nine catches in Michigan State's 34-27 loss to Georgia in 1987.
Also on the team is one of the most feared defensive players in football history, linebacker Lawrence Taylor of North Carolina.
Two other former Gators joined Youngblood on defense, linebacker Wilber Marshall and safety Tony Lilly.
Two members of the All-time Gator Bowl team went on to play for the Jaguars, safety Donovin Darius of Syracuse and Rison.
Nine of the players were Gator Bowl MVPs. Based on the current makeup of Power 5 conferences, players were represented by 16 teams in the ACC, SEC and Big Ten, plus Notre Dame.
The 75th Anniversary team was selected by a media panel. The team will be recognized during the week of the 75th Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field (7 p.m., ESPN), which will match an SEC team against a Big Ten or ACC team.
75th Anniversary Gator Bowl Team
Offense
QB Archie Manning, Ole Miss (1971)
RB Floyd Little, Syracuse (1966)
FB Larry Csonka, Syracuse (1966)
WR Fred Biletnokoff, Florida State (1965)
WR Andre Rison, Michigan State (1989)
TE Ken McAfee, Notre Dame (1976)
OT Mark May, Pittsburgh (1980)
OT Greg Skrepenak, Michigan (1991)
C Maxie Baughn, Georgia Tech (1960)
OG Dean Dingman, Michigan (1991)
OG Zeke Smith, Auburn (1955)
Defense
DE Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (1980)
DE Jack Youngblood, Florida (1969)
DT Matt Millen, Penn State (1976)
DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (2009)
LB Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (1979)
LB Wilber Marshall, Florida (1983)
LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State (2012)
DB Donovin Darius, Syracuse (1996)
DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State (2017)
DB Tony Lilly, Florida (1983)
DB Ed Reed, Miami (2000)
Media voters: Pat Dooley, Frank Frangie, Gene Frenette, Dan Hicken, Junior Skepple, Sam Kouvaris, David Lamm, Brent Martineau, Cole Pepper, Chris Porter, Garry Smits.
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-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatornews/C7707B52-EBA5-4072-B295-EACAEAE8AE73%40gmail.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/BF1D521B-009D-4310-8E60-53D853CCB1DD%40gmail.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/430E6058-7D60-4C28-B340-0CA85D314FD6%40realtracs.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Dickey's 1969 loss to Florida changed fortunes of two programs
January 1, 2020
Doug Dickey.
By Knoxville News Sentinel
JACKSONVILLE — The 25th TaxSlayer Gator Bowl was significant in several ways.
Mainly, it was the precursor to a changing of the guard that impacted the fortunes of the University of Florida and University of Tennessee for years.
When Tennessee (7-5) and Indiana (8-4) kick off on Thursday in the 75th Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field, it will be 50 years and five days since the 1969 game in which the Volunteers and coach Doug Dickey lost to his alma mater, the Florida Gators, 14-13.
Two days later, Dickey bolted from Knoxville and accepted the coaching job with the Gators, replacing Ray Graves.
The lure of coaching where you played is strong. Steve Spurrier jumped at the chance and Florida went to heights never before attained. Kirby Smart has turned Georgia fortunes around, though not yet to that success level.
Scott Frost (Nebraska), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) and Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) are other current examples.
It didn't work out for Mark Richt (Miami), Matt Luke (Ole Miss) or Barry Odom (Missouri).
But there's no doubting the powerful pull. After coaching at Maryland, Kentucky and Texas A&M, Bear Bryant took the Alabama job because "Mama called."
Dickey knows the feeling.
"You always have that in the back of your mind when you're coaching somewhere else," Dickey said earlier this week before watching Tennessee practice at UNF's Hodges Stadium. "I think a lot of guys who go into coaching want to eventually return to where they played."
Dickey also has a long history with the Gator Bowl, in his adopted hometown of Jacksonville.
"Played in this game, coached with three teams in this game and was an athletic director in this game," he says with considerable pride. "This has always been a big game for the teams who play here and I'm very fortunate to have been involved as much as I have."
Dickey was a Gator quarterback in 1953 and completed 4 of 5 passes for 65 yards in a 14-13 victory over Tulsa, the Gators first-ever bowl victory.
After serving in the Army, Dickey joined the Arkansas staff under Frank Broyles, and coached in the 1960 Gator Bowl, a 14-7 victory for the Razorbacks over Georgia Tech.
Dickey coached at Tennessee from 1964-69 and won two SEC titles. The second, the year the Volunteers were invited to the Gator Bowl, was the last time the SEC champion played in Jacksonville.
He went on to coach the Gators in the 1975 Gator Bowl, a 13-0 loss to Maryland, and was the Tennessee AD in 1994 when the Vols beat Virginia Tech 45-23, when the game was played in Gainesville due to the stadium renovation in Jacksonville.
But it's the 1969 Gator Bowl that carries the most significance for Dickey. In addition to being his third Gator Bowl, it marked a key change in his career.
After the Vols wrapped up the SEC title that year, Dickey began wondering about his next move.
"I had done pretty much everything you could do there," he said. "Won two SEC titles, was recognized for winning a national championship [in 1967, by Litkenhous] … I was looking forward to another challenge."
Dickey heard that Graves was planning to retire, and contacted UF president Stephen C. O'Connell a few weeks before the Gator Bowl — which had invited two SEC teams because Florida and Tennessee had not played that season.
Contrary to public belief — and the rumors that swirled throughout game week — Dickey said he was not offered the job on an official basis until two days after the game.
"Nothing was done before the game," he said.
However, UT athletic director Phil Fulmer, who played for the Vols that season and was eventually hired to coach UT by Dickey in 1992, said the chatter was there.
"We all heard that it was possible coach Dickey would leave," Fulmer said last month during a visit to Jacksonville. "But I can tell you from personal experience, it's tough to turn down a chance to coach where you played."
Dickey said coaches didn't have agents in those days. All communication was done either on the phone or face-to-face meetings between him and O'Connell.
"We didn't need an agent to get in the middle of things," Dickey said.
Dickey went on to compile a 53-48-2 record with the Gators and went 0-4 in bowl games.
"We won a few games, lost a few we would have liked to have had," he said. "But I was glad for the opportunity."
He was replaced by Bill Battle, who never came close to Dickey's success in seven seasons with the Vols. And it wasn't until Johnny Majors took over in 1985 that UT won another SEC title.
Dickey left Florida after the 1978 season and seven years later took the athletic director job at Tennessee, coinciding with Majors' hiring.
Dickey oversaw the expansion of Neyland Stadium to more than 100,000 seats and the construction of new basketball and baseball facilities before retiring in 2002.
Since moving to Jacksonville, Dickey has spent most of his days enjoying golf at the San Jose Country Club, where he shoots his age (87) or better with frequency.
He said he's enjoying Gator Bowl week as a fan. Dickey attended a Tennessee practice wearing a hat in Tennessee's orange with the numbers "1969" on the front and will be one of the many past players and coaches who will appear on game day for an autograph session at Daily's Place Flex Field and to be honored before the game.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl unveils Diamond Anniversary team
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Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
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Lawrence Taylor, who played for North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, is one of six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be on the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [AP File)
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Larry Csonka was part of one of the best offensive displays of rushing in Gator Bowl history when he gained 114 yards in the 1966 game. [File]
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Jack Youngblood waves to the crowd in 2006 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when he was recognized for joining the University of Florida's football Ring of Honor. Youngblood is one of three Gator players on the Gator Bowl's 75th anniversary team. [Bob Mack/The Times-Union]
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Donovin Darius waves to people during the 2013 Gator Bowl parade. Darius is one of two former Jaguars to make the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
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Wilber Marshall brings down a Vanderbilt ball carrier during a 1983 game. Marshall joined teammate Tony Lilly in making the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
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Florida State wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff attempts to catch a pass during the 1965 Gator Bowl. Biletnikoff was named Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Florida State University Athletics]
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Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, pictured in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn, was named to the All-Gator Bowl Team Tuesday. [Auburn Athletics]
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Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
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Lawrence Taylor, who played for North Carolina in the 1979 Gator Bowl, is one of six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be on the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [AP File)
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Larry Csonka was part of one of the best offensive displays of rushing in Gator Bowl history when he gained 114 yards in the 1966 game. [File]
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Jack Youngblood waves to the crowd in 2006 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium when he was recognized for joining the University of Florida's football Ring of Honor. Youngblood is one of three Gator players on the Gator Bowl's 75th anniversary team. [Bob Mack/The Times-Union]
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Donovin Darius waves to people during the 2013 Gator Bowl parade. Darius is one of two former Jaguars to make the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
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Wilber Marshall brings down a Vanderbilt ball carrier during a 1983 game. Marshall joined teammate Tony Lilly in making the 75th anniversary Gator Bowl team. [File]
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Florida State wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff attempts to catch a pass during the 1965 Gator Bowl. Biletnikoff was named Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Florida State University Athletics]
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Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning, pictured in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn, was named to the All-Gator Bowl Team Tuesday. [Auburn Athletics]
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Miami safety Ed Reed, pictured in the 2000 Gator Bowl, was selected Tuesday to the All-Gator Bowl Team. [Miami Athletics]
Hall of Fame members and All-Americans dominated the 75th Anniversary TaxSlayer Gator Bowl team, released on Tuesday.
Six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ten members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Eleven All-Americans.
Those are just some of the honors shared by the 22 members of the 75th Anniversary TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Hall of Fame team, which was announced on Tuesday during a news conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jacksonville.
The team is led by three offensive players and two on defense who received the highest honors in football by being both the Pro and College Halls of Fame and being consensus All-Americans: running backs Floyd Little and Larry Csonka of Syracuse, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff of Florida State, defensive end Jack Youngblood of Florida and safety Ed Reed of Miami.
Little and Csonka combined for one of the most impressive displays of power running in Gator Bowl history in a losing effort to Tennessee in 1966. Little gained 216 yards and Csonka had 114 as the Orange piled up 348 yards in all.
Little's game and Syracuse's team total stood as the Gator Bowl records until last year, when Texas A&M rushed for 401 yards, 236 by Traveon Williams.
Biletnikoff caught 13 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns in the 1965 game, a 36-19 victory over Oklahoma for the Seminoles.
Youngblood had nine tackles and forced a fumble in the 1969 Gator Bowl to help UF beat Tennessee 14-13.
Reed had seven unassisted tackles, two for losses, and one sack in Miami's 28-13 victory over Georgia Tech in the 2000 game.
None of the five Heisman Trophy winners to play in the game made the 75th anniversary team. But game chairman Rich Thompson said that was reflective of the depth of talent that has competed over the eight-decade history of the game.
"You look at the history of this game and there's a remarkable consistency in the quality of the teams and players in the game," Thompson said. "It would have been easy to just pick the Heisman winners and the All-Americans but not all of them actually played well in the games. The media panel clearly took this seriously."
Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett also said going on to NFL fame wasn't necessarily a final consideration.
"The voters made their decisions on what happened in the Gator Bowl games," he said. "They really did their homework."
The quarterback on the all-time Gator Bowl team is Archie Manning, who threw for 180 yards and one touchdown, and gained 95 yards rushing and scored once in a 35-28 loss to Auburn and Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan in 1971. Joining Biletnokoff at wide receiver is Michigan's Andre Rison, who set a Gator Bowl record that still stands with 252 receiving yards on nine catches in Michigan State's 34-27 loss to Georgia in 1987.
Also on the team is one of the most feared defensive players in football history, linebacker Lawrence Taylor of North Carolina.
Two other former Gators joined Youngblood on defense, linebacker Wilber Marshall and safety Tony Lilly.
Two members of the All-time Gator Bowl team went on to play for the Jaguars, safety Donovin Darius of Syracuse and Rison.
Nine of the players were Gator Bowl MVPs. Based on the current makeup of Power 5 conferences, players were represented by 16 teams in the ACC, SEC and Big Ten, plus Notre Dame.
The 75th Anniversary team was selected by a media panel. The team will be recognized during the week of the 75th Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field (7 p.m., ESPN), which will match an SEC team against a Big Ten or ACC team.
75th Anniversary Gator Bowl Team
Offense
QB Archie Manning, Ole Miss (1971)
RB Floyd Little, Syracuse (1966)
FB Larry Csonka, Syracuse (1966)
WR Fred Biletnokoff, Florida State (1965)
WR Andre Rison, Michigan State (1989)
TE Ken McAfee, Notre Dame (1976)
OT Mark May, Pittsburgh (1980)
OT Greg Skrepenak, Michigan (1991)
C Maxie Baughn, Georgia Tech (1960)
OG Dean Dingman, Michigan (1991)
OG Zeke Smith, Auburn (1955)
Defense
DE Hugh Green, Pittsburgh (1980)
DE Jack Youngblood, Florida (1969)
DT Matt Millen, Penn State (1976)
DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (2009)
LB Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina (1979)
LB Wilber Marshall, Florida (1983)
LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State (2012)
DB Donovin Darius, Syracuse (1996)
DB Mark McLaurin, Mississippi State (2017)
DB Tony Lilly, Florida (1983)
DB Ed Reed, Miami (2000)
Media voters: Pat Dooley, Frank Frangie, Gene Frenette, Dan Hicken, Junior Skepple, Sam Kouvaris, David Lamm, Brent Martineau, Cole Pepper, Chris Porter, Garry Smits.
Sent from my iPhone
Go Gators!
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatornews/C7707B52-EBA5-4072-B295-EACAEAE8AE73%40gmail.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/BF1D521B-009D-4310-8E60-53D853CCB1DD%40gmail.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/430E6058-7D60-4C28-B340-0CA85D314FD6%40realtracs.com.
-- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatortalk+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/gatortalk/CADrWSXu-bFNbEAswkJZMTMcOaOf6vu7%3D1Rz4qQQSX0MfOTjDqw%40mail.gmail.com.
