Football History
(As Of October 21, 1996)
SQUAD
- General
- UF has ranked first in both the AP and USA Today/CNN
polls in each of the past five weeks. The Gators were last No. 1 in seven
of the first nine weeks of the 1994 season.
- Seeking a fourth straight outright SEC title, something accomplished
only once in SEC history (Alabama, under Paul "Bear" Bryant, won five
consecutive titles from 1971-75).
- Aiming for a sixth straight final AP Top 10 Poll appearance.
UF is one of just two schools in the nation to finish in the Top 10 in
each of the last five years.
- Looking to extend its current school record for bowl appearances
to six.
- The Gators are outscoring opponents 366-94 (an avg. of 52.3
to 13.4), an average victory margin of 38.9 points, and have yet to trail
in a game all season.
- UF's average victory margin of 38.9 points is tops in the
nation.
- In five SEC games this season, the Gators have outscored their
opponents 249-59 (an average of 49.8 to 11.8), an average victory margin
of 38.0 points per game.
- The Gators have outscored their 1996 opponents 223-36 in the
first half (an average of 31.9 to 5.1).
- Florida's turnover margin (plus-8) of 1.14 per game (20 turnovers
forced and 12 turnovers lost over the first seven games) is tied for 10th
in the nation.
- UF's 50 total TDs this season (22 passing, 20 rushing, two
punt returns, six defensive) leads the nation, as does its 52.3 average
points per game.
- Florida and Ohio State are the only teams in the nation to
currently rank in the Top 10 in total offense AND Top 15 in total defense.
- Florida (along with Ohio State, Nebraska, Virginia and Army)
is one of five teams currently ranked in the Top 15 in both scoring offense
and scoring defense.
- UF has ranked first in both the AP and USA Today/CNN
polls in each of the past five weeks. The Gators were last No. 1 in seven
of the first nine weeks of the 1994 season.
- Schedule
- Florida is once again facing a demanding schedule in 1996.
- Has already defeated three top-ranked teams (at No. 2 Tennessee, vs. No. 12 LSU, vs. No. 16 Auburn) and still has to go to No. 3 Florida State. In addition, it would meet another ranked team if it advances to the SEC Championship Game
- Florida's schedule was ranked the 10th-toughest in the nation, according to the NCAA News. UF's 1996 opponents posted a record of 64-40-2 last season for a winning percentage of .613
- Has or will meet six '95 bowl teams (Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Georgia and Florida State) with only two of those games coming at home (LSU and Auburn)
- Florida was the only team in the AP Top 25 preseason poll that had to face two Top 5 preseason teams on the road (Tennessee and Florida State)
- Florida was one of only three teams (along with Colorado and Penn State) in the preseason Top 20 rankings to have to face four teams that also ranked in the preseason Top 20 (Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn and LSU)
- Florida is once again facing a demanding schedule in 1996.
- Top Starts
- Florida is off to a 7-0 overall start to a season for the
fourth time in school history (1928, 1966, 1995, 1996). The Gators have
opened a campaign with a 8-0 record just twice in school history (1928,
1995).
- Florida is a perfect 5-0 in SEC play after five league contests.
The Gators have opened a season with a perfect 6-0 mark in conference
play just twice (1991, 1995).
- The '96 squad is attempting to continue Florida's offensive
prowess in the 1990's. UF seeks to rank among the nation's top 10 teams
in passing offense for the seventh consecutive year and among the nation's
top 10 in total offense for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
The '96 Gators currently rank first in total offense (532.0 ypg), eighth
in passing offense (336.0 ypg) and first in scoring offense (52.3 ppg).
- After seven games the UF offense is:
- averaging 532.0 yards in total offense (196.0 rush and 336.0 pass)
- averaging 27 first downs per game
- gaining 7.3 yards per play
- averaging 16.4 yards per pass completion
- has posted a 166.32 team pass efficiency rating
- has scored 42 touchdowns (22 passing, 20 rushing)
- Florida is the only offensive unit in the nation to rank in
the top 10 in passing AND top 25 in rushing in the latest NCAA rankings.
- UF leads the nation in offensive TDs (42), yards per play
(7.3) and yards per completion (16.4, minimum of 150 atts.)
- The Gator offense has scored 42 TDs this season and the average
for those scoring drives has been just 2:01. It has scored 22 TDs in two
minutes or less and 16 TDs on TD drives of four plays or less.
- Reidel Anthony and Ike Hilliard have already
combined for 18 TD catches this fall (Anthony - 10, Hilliard - 8) to rank
one-two in the SEC and among the top three totals in the nation. A Gator
receiver has led the SEC in TD catches every year since 1990.
- UF has had a nice balance so far, rushing 271 times and passing
it 240, with 20 rushing and 22 passing TDs. The 20 rushing TDs is tied
for the third-top total in the nation and its 22 TD passes is the fourth-best
total nationally.
- The Gators have scored a touchdown on their opening drive
in each of the first seven games this season.
- In five SEC games this year the Gator offense is averaging
520.4 yards a game in total offense, including an average of 603 yards
in its last three league games versus Arkansas, LSU and Auburn.
- The Gator running game continues to be overshadowed by its
more renowned passing game but is making a name for itself this fall as
well. It is averaging 196 yards per game with an average per carry of
5.1. It has 20 rushing TDs, just five short of the school record of 25
(held by the 1975 and 1976 teams). The 20 rushing TDs ties Nebraska for
the third-top total in the nation. In its last two games against nationally-ranked
LSU and Auburn, UF has rushed for an average of 293 yards. Against LSU
both Fred Taylor and Elijah Williams rushed for over 100
yards marking the first time since 1984 that two Gators went over the
century rushing mark in the same game. The very next week vs. Auburn the
duo both went over 100 rushing yards again.
- Here are some offensive game highlights from this season:
- Gained 658 yards vs. Georgia Southern, third-best in UF history
- Scored 35 first-half points vs. second-ranked Tennessee
- 42 points vs. Arkansas was most ever vs. a Razorback team in Fayetteville since 1931
- 635 total yards vs. LSU, most ever for UF vs. a SEC foe and the most ever surrendered by LSU vs. a SEC team
- Had a school-record 36 first downs vs. LSU
- Against LSU had two backs rush for over 100 yards AND two receivers gain over 100 yards for the first time in school history
- 51 points vs. Auburn marked the first time since 1948 that a Tiger team had 50 points scored against it
- 625 total yards vs. Auburn was the most ever by any team vs. a Tiger squad
- Florida's 41% conversion rate on third down this season is
somewhat below recent seasons (49.7% in '95, 51.9% in '94 and 41.7% in
'93).
- UF has led the nation in TD passes since 1990. UF’s 48 TD
passes in 1995, 43 in 1994 and 41 in 1993 all were tops in that national
category. Its 22 TD passes so far in 1996 ranks as the fourth-top total
in the nation, trailing Wyoming (26 in eight games), BYU (25 in eight
games) and Louisiana Tech (24 in eight games).
TOUCHDOWN PASSES SINCE 1993
(as of October 19, 1996)
1. FLORIDA 154 2. Nevada 119 3. BYU 105 4. Florida State 104 5. Wyoming 95 6. San Diego State 94 7. Utah 83 8. Fresno State 82 9. Ohio State 81 Southern Cal 81 10. Tennessee 78
TOUCHDOWN PASSES SINCE 1990
(as of October 19, 1996)
1. FLORIDA 236 2. BYU 208 3. Florida State 175 4. Houston 172 5. San Diego State 167 6. Wyoming 151 7. Nevada 142 8. East Carolina 135 9. Fresno State 134 10. Miami 129
- Florida is off to a 7-0 overall start to a season for the
fourth time in school history (1928, 1966, 1995, 1996). The Gators have
opened a campaign with a 8-0 record just twice in school history (1928,
1995).
- MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
-
- Has thrown for at least one TD pass in 73 of the last 74 games, including
56 straight.
- Has thrown for 200 or more yards in 72 of the past 74 games.
- Since 1990 UF has thrown for 300 or more yards in a game in 49 of its 82 total contests. Prior to 1990 the Gators threw for 300 or more yards in a game just 14 times in the previous 83 seasons of play (1906-89).
- Scored 30 or more points in 37 of the past 46 games.
- Since 1990 the Gator offense has passed the ball 51.5% of the time and rushed it 48.5%.
Year Plays Rushes Passes 1990 855 440 (51.5%) 415 (48.5%) 1991 787 397 (50.5%) 390 (49.5%) 1992 926 423 (45.9%) 503 (54.1%) 1993 888 400 (45%) 488 (55%) 1994 851 416 (48.9%) 435 (51.1%) 1995 867 410 (47.3%) 457 (52.7%) 1996 511 271 (53.0%) 240 (47.0%) Total 5685 2757(48.5) 2928 (51.5)
- 43-1 record when it rushes for 150 or more yards in a game
and 25-12-1 when held under 150 yards.
- 61-3 record when it rushes for at least 100 yards in a game
and just 7-10-1 when held under 100 yards.
- 34-1 when a back rushes for 100 or more yards in a game.
- 32-1 record when UF rushes for more than 150 yards AND passes
for more than 250 yards in a game.
- 48-4 when UF scores first and 20-9-1 when opponent scores
first.
- 51-1 when UF outrushes its opponent and just 17-12-1 when
it is outrushed.
- UF has been outrushed in 12 of the 13 games it has lost since
1990.
-
Southwestern Louisiana
- Gained 464 yards in total offense (325 passing, 139 rushing)
- Averaged 5.8 yards per play
Georgia Southern
- Gained 658 yards in total offense (264 rushing, 394 passing),
the second best performance under Steve Spurrier and the third-best in
UF history
- Six rushing TDs, the most since UF had six vs. Auburn in 1990
- Averaged 10.8 yards per play and 13 different receivers caught
at least one pass.
Tennessee
- Gained 304 yards in total offense (149 rushing, 155 passing),
the third-lowest performance under Steve Spurrier
- Four passing TDs, all in the first half
Kentucky
- Gained 489 yards in total offense (146 rush, 343 pass)
- Averaged 6.8 yards per play and 12 different players caught
passes
- Scored on seven of nine possessions in the first half
Arkansas
- Gained 549 yards in total offense (462 pass, 87 rush)
- 462 yards passing was the most ever for UF vs. a SEC foe
- Averaged 8.0 yards per play and nine different players caught
at least one pass
- 42 points most scored vs. a Razorback team in Fayetteville
since 1931
LSU
- Gained 635 yards in total offense (308 rush, 327 pass), the
most-ever vs. a SEC opponent and the fifth-best overall (LSU entered game
yielding 281.3 per game)
- Set a school record with 36 first downs
- 308 rushing yards was also best in Spurrier era
- For the first time in school history, had two running backs
gain over 100 yards, as well as two receivers eclipse the 100-yard plateau
- Scored 42 points in the first half after LSU had given up
just 23 points in the first half of their first four games in '96
Auburn
- Gained 625 yards in total offense (279 rush, 346 pass), the
most ever vs. an Auburn team
- Scored 51 points, the most against Auburn since 1948
- Scored on eight of 14 possessions
- For the second straight week two running backs gain over 100
yards rushing
- Totaled 32 first downs and averaged 7.9 yards per play
- Four rushing and three passing TDs (Auburn had given up just
five TD passes all year)
- The Gators have already registered six defensive touchdowns
(two interception returns and four fumble returns) this year, a new single-season
UF record. The '95 unit had just one TD. Here is a breakdown of defensive
touchdowns since Steve Spurrier's arrival in 1990:
Year Defensive Scores (FR/IR) 1990 4 (1 FR/3 IR) 1991 2 (0 FR/2 IR) 1992 0 1993 1 (1 FR/0 IR) 1994 4 (1 FR/3 IR) 1995 1 (1 FR/0 IR) 1996 6 (4 FR/2 IR)
- UF's four fumble returns for TDs in 1996 ties a NCAA Division
I-A single-season record.
- UF currently ranks 13th in the nation in total defense (276.3
ypg), 15th in rushing defense (91.1 ypg) and 13th in scoring defense (13.4
ppg).
- Florida's defense has now forced 20 turnovers after the first
seven games of 1996, leading to 94 points (42 directly and 52 indirectly).
UF had forced 16 turnovers after seven games last season.
- Florida's 20 forced turnovers (12 INTs and eight fumble recoveries)
ranks tied for the fourth-best total in the nation.
- The Gators 12 interceptions ranks tied for the third-best
total in the nation.
- One of the goals of the '96 unit is "Big Plays". The unit
has received a good deal of attention in that regard this season for its
school record six TDs but that is just part of the picture. The unit is
awarded "Big Plays" in several categories: QB sacks, additional tackles
behind the line of scrimmage, forced QB hurries, forced fumbles, fumble
recoveries, pass deflections and interceptions. It has been credited with
176 "Big Plays" this season, an average of 25.1 per game. Here is how
the '96 defense has scored in that regard this season game-by-game.
OPPONENT BIG PLAYS Southwestern Louisiana 30 Georgia Southern 10 Tennessee 38 Kentucky 24 Arkansas 18 LSU 24 Auburn 32
- Here is a comparison after seven games of the 1996 Gator defense
vs. last year's unit:
STATISTIC 1996 1995 Turnovers 20 16 Touchdowns 6 0 Points off TO 94 62 "Big Plays" 176 149 3rd Downs 24-110 43-104 3rd Down % 21.8 41.3 Total Yards 1934 2456 Total Ypg 276.3 350.9 Rush Yards 638 876 Rush Ypg 91.1 125.1 Pass Yards 1296 1580 Pass Ypg 185.1 225.7 Pass Efficiency 102.0 106.7 Tackles for Loss 62 34 Average Plays/Drive 4.78 5.40 TDs against 12 15 Points against 87 123 Three and Out 43-100 26-87 Three and Out % 43.0 29.9 First Downs per game 14.1 19.4
- Seeking to rank among the nation's top 10 teams in rushing
defense for the sixth time in the past eight years. Currently ranked 15th
in the nation (91.1 ypg).
- The Gator rush defense has yielded an average of 91.1 yards
per game and just 2.3 per rush. In the last five games, all SEC contests,
it has been even better, yielding an average of just 47 yards per game
and 1.6 per rush (175 rushes for 279 net yards rushing). It held second-ranked
Tennessee to just nine net rushing yards and LSU to 28 yards rushing.
LSU entered the game leading the SEC in rushing with an average of 279.5
per contest.
- The Gator defense has vastly improved its third-down effectiveness.
Last year's unit after seven games was at 41.3% on third down but this
year's group is at a sparkling 21.8%. Over the last three games it has
permitted a third-down conversion just 11 of 65 times (16.9%).
- UF leads the SEC in QB sacks with 34, an average of 4.9 per
game. Last year's defense was credited with 29 QB sacks the entire year.
- UF has been credited with 62 total tackles for negative yardage
of 290, an average of 8.9 plays for negative yardage of 41.4 yards per
game this year. Last year's unit had 67 total tackles for loss the entire
year.
- The Gator secondary ranks among the nation's most experienced.
The starting unit of corners Anthone Lott (40) and Fred Weary
(19), along with safeties Lawrence Wright (31), Teako Brown
(11) and Shea Showers (8) have combined for 109 career starts.
Showers moved into the top spot at FS with Brown's knee injury, which
will sideline him for another 2-4 weeks.
- Defensive Highlights in 1996
- Four touchdowns vs. Southwestern Louisiana, the most defensive scores in a game in school history
- Two fumble returns for TDs vs. USL tied a NCAA single-game record
- Forced six turnovers (including four interceptions of Peyton Manning) vs. No. 2 ranked Tennessee and held the Volunteers to just nine net rushing yards
- Held Kentucky to 67 total yards, the second-best total defense effort in school history
- Held Kentucky to five total first downs, the lowest total vs. a SEC foe in Gator history
- Held 16th-ranked Auburn to just 173 yards in total offense
- This is a pretty young defensive unit overall as only six
seniors appeared on the two-deep depth chart for the Auburn game. Eight
freshmen/sophomores appeared on the two-deep.
- TThe Gators have posted a 41-1-1 record when they hold an
opponent to less than 100 team rushing yards.
- 57-0 when holding opponents to 21 or less points.
- 48-4 when the defense is not scored upon first. UF is just
20-9-1 when its opponent scores first.
-
Southwestern Louisiana
- Registered four defensive touchdowns (two interception returns
and two fumble returns), the most in a game in school history
- The two fumble returns for TDs tied a NCAA Division I-A single-game
record
- Forced six turnovers (4 interceptions and 2 fumbles), the
most since the 1993 season when it forced eight turnovers vs. Vanderbilt
- Credited with 30 "Big Plays" (nine tackles for lost yardage,
including six QB sacks; 11 QB hurries, four interceptions, two forced
fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections)
- Permitted just 48 rushing yards on 37 carries, an average
of only 1.3 per rush
Georgia Southern
- Registered its fifth defensive touchdown of the season on
a fumble return, setting a school record for most in a season
- Allowed 371 yards (60 passing, 311 rushing)
Tennessee
- Forced six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumble recoveries),
leading to 21 UF points, while also allowing just nine yards net rushing,
the eighth-best single-game effort in that category in school history.
UF recorded a season-high 38 "Big Plays" (four INTs, two FR, eight PD,
five TTFL, two FF and 17 FH)
Kentucky
- Permitted just 67 yards in total offense (24 rush, 43 pass),
just one yard short of tying the school record for fewest total yards
allowed in a game. The 67 yards is the lowest total by a SEC opponent
vs. UF in school history.
- Allowed just five first downs, the fewest against a SEC opponent
in school history
- Held UK to 0-16 on third downs and forced 13 punts
Arkansas
- Permitted 258 yards in total offense (127 rush, 131 pass)
- Gave up three first downs in the second half
- Allowed no points and just 93 yards in the second half, including
only 46 yards in the third quarter.
LSU
- Allowed 303 total yards (28 rush, 275 pass)
- 28 rushing yards came against a LSU team averaging 279.5 per
game coming in to the game
- Held LSU to 4-14 (28.6%) on third down conversions (LSU had
converted on 47% of third downs entering game)
- Forced two turnovers (interception and fumble), leading to
14 Gator points
- Recorded eight sacks and 18 "Big Plays"
Auburn
- Allowed just 173 yards (avg. of 2.54) in total offense (91
rush, 82 pass) after Auburn entered the game averaging 411.8 yards per
game
- Held Auburn to 82 passing yards after they had averaged 264.8
per game
- Gave up 10 points after the Tigers entered the game averaging
38 points per game
- Held Auburn to 4-18 (22.2%) on third downs (AU had league-best
51.0% rate)
- The Gators surpassed their punt return yardage total of 208
yards from a year ago in the fourth game this season. In fact, UF eclipsed
the entire season total in one game as it totaled 272 punt return yards
in the fourth game against Kentucky. The Gators have 373 punt return yards
thus far in 1996.
- Averaging 13.3 yards per punt return, a figure that ranks
21st in the nation. Jacquez Green ranks 11th with an average of
15.8.
- Jacquez Green's two punt returns for TDs vs. Kentucky
tied a NCAA single-game individual record and set a UF record. UF's two
punt return TDs this season ties the school single-season record.
- The Gators 272 punt return yards vs. Kentucky were the most
in a game for a SEC team in conference history.
- Averaging 21.5 yards per kickoff return this season, 36th-best
nationally and third in the SEC.
- UF has blocked four or more punts in each of the previous
two seasons (1994-95), but have not blocked one so far in 1996. Overall
the Gators have blocked five or more kicks (punts, PATs, FGs) in each
of the previous two seasons.
- Since 1990, UF is 14-0 in games in which it blocks a punt.
- Florida has registered touchbacks on 28 of its 62 kickoffs
in the first seven games.
- Here is a look at UF's top special teams performances this
year:
Tennessee
- Averaged 20.8 yards on kickoff returns
- Had seven punts for 306 yards (43.7 avg.), including a long
of 58 yards
Kentucky
- Returned two punts for TDs to set a UF single-game record
and tie NCAA and SEC single-game records
- Set a SEC record for most team punt return yards in a game
with 272
- 272 punt return yards also surpassed UF's total of 208 yards
for the entire 1995 season
- 11 kickoffs with nine in the end zone, including eight for
touchbacks.
Arkansas
- Had seven kickoffs, with all seven going into the end zone
and four being downed for touchbacks
Auburn
- Had nine kickoffs with seven going into the end zone and four
being downed for touchbacks
- Florida is one of only two teams in the nation to finish each
of the last five seasons (1991-95) ranked in the Top 10 in the final AP
Poll (FSU is the other).
- Florida is one of only four teams in the nation (Florida,
Florida State, Nebraska, Texas A&M) to win at least nine games in each
of the last six seasons (1990-95).
- UF has won four SEC titles in the past five years ('91,
'93, '94 and '95).
- The Gators own the SEC’s best league record since 1990,
49-6 (.891).
- Florida has appeared in each of the first four SEC Championship
Games.
- During this decade UF has become the first school in SEC
history to win eight or more conference games in a season three consecutive
years (1993-95) and just the second school in SEC history to win at least
six conference games for six consecutive years (Alabama did from 1961-66
and now UF from 1990-95) and the second to win seven SEC games for three
straight years (Alabama - 1971-73, UF - 1993-95).
- UF has a current streak of 20 straight wins vs. SEC Eastern
Division teams and has posted a 21-1 record vs. eastern opponents since
divisional play began in 1992.
- Won 18 straight SEC games and 30 of its last 32 league games.
- Has a current school record streak of 15 straight SEC wins
away from Florida Field and has claimed 17 of its last 18 SEC games away
from Gainesville.
- Has posted a 11-0-1 record in its last 12 true away games
(played at opponent campus stadium).
- Is 23-1 vs. SEC foes at Florida Field since 1990.
- Florida has made a school-record five straight appearances
in bowl games, including four major New Year’s Day Bowls.
- Florida’s 68-13-1 (.835) record ranks as the third-best
winning percentage and tied for the second-best win total in the nation
since 1990.
The best programs in the nation (based on winning percentage) since 1990:1. FSU 69-9-1 .880 2. Nebraska 68-10-1 .867 3. Florida 68-13-1 .835 4. Alabama 67-13-1 .833 5. Miami 64-13-0 .831
Most wins since 1990:1. Florida State 69 2. Florida 68 Nebraska 68 3. Alabama 67 4. Miami 64 Penn State 64 5. Texas A&M 62 Colorado 62
- Florida’s 29-3-1 (.894) record ranks as the second-best
winning percentage and the second-best win total in the nation since 1994.
The best programs in the nation (based on winning percentage) since 1994:1. Nebraska 30-1-0 .968 2. Florida 29-3-1 .894 3. FSU 25-3-1 .879 4. Alabama 27-4-0 .871 5. Colorado 26-4-0 .867
Most wins since 1994:1. Nebraska 30 2. Florida 29 3. Alabama 27 Penn State 27 4. Colorado 26 Ohio State 26 5. FSU 25 Kansas State 25
- Florida’s 19-1 (.950) record ranks as the best winning percentage
and the best win total in the nation since the beginning of the 1995 season.
The best programs in the nation (based on winning percentage) since 1995:1. Florida 19-1-0 .950 2. Nebraska 17-1-0 .944 3. Ohio State 17-2-0 .895 4. FSU 15-2-0 .882 5. Tennessee 14-2-0 .875
Most wins since 1995:1. Florida 19 2. Nebraska 17 Ohio State 17 3. Kansas State 16 4. Alabama 15 Colorado 15 Florida State 15 Michigan 15 Penn State 15
- UF is one of only two schools to finish the season in the
final AP Top 10 Poll in each of the past five years (1991-95).
- Florida has appeared in a school-record 109 consecutive Associated
Press polls, a streak that began the second week of the 1990 season.
- The Gators have also appeared in a current school-record 62
consecutive AP Top 10 polls, the second longest such streak in the nation.
- UF was number one in the polls in seven of the first nine
weeks of the 1994 season as well as each of the past five weeks.
- UF completed the 1995 season ranked second in the final AP
Poll, the highest finish in school history, and third in the final USA
Today/CNN poll.
- Since taking over the Gator program in 1990, Steve Spurrier
is 40-2 at "The Swamp."
- The Gators set a school record with a 23-game home winning
streak from 1990-93 before having the streak snapped versus Florida State
in the 1993 home season finale. The previous school record was 20 straight
wins from 1909-1915.
- Steve Spurrier is 23-1 vs. SEC opponents at Florida Field
since he arrived in 1990. The Gators are 10-0 vs. SEC East foes since
divisional play began in 1992.
- UF has defeated six teams at "The Swamp" who were ranked in
the AP Top 10 on gameday (in 1990 beat No. 4 Auburn, 48-7; in 1991 beat
No. 4 Tennessee, 35-18; in 1991 beat No. 3 Florida State, 14-9; in 1993
beat No. 5 Tennessee, 41-34, in 1995 beat No. 8 Tennessee, 62-37 and in
1995 beat No. 6 Florida State, 35-24).
- Since 1990, Spurrier’s squads have outscored their opponents
at home by a combined total of 1812-643 (an average of 43.1 to 15.3 for
an average victory margin of 27.8).
- In 42 home games under Spurrier, UF has scored 30 or more
points 34 times and has held its opponent to 14 or less points 21 times.
Florida has scored 24 or more points in 23 of the 24 home SEC games.
- Eight times in Gator history a UF team has posted a perfect
6-0 home record. Four of those times have come since Spurrier's arrival
in 1990 (1990, 1991, 1992, 1995), with the other four coming in 1952,
1974, 1981 and 1983.
- Here is a look at the Gators at Florida Field since 1981:
- 83-11-2 (.875) overall record
- 43-5-1 (.888) vs. non-conference foes
- 40-6-1 (.862) vs. the SEC
- Over the last six years (1990-95), Florida has had 77 honorees
named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, the top six-year total in school
history and its 19 honorees in 1994 was the top single-season total in
conference history. UF’s 14 selections in 1995 was the league’s second-top
total.
- Since 1980, Florida’s 137 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections
rank second only to Kentucky’s 151 among all league schools.
- UF was one of only four schools in the nation in 1994 to have
more than one player named to the Academic All-America Team (QB Terry
Dean and FS Michael Gilmore).
- Florida has had some of the nation's most honored scholar-athletes
the past few years. In 1991 DT Brad Culpepper was the recipient
of the Draddy Scholarship Trophy, presented annually by the National Football
Foundation and College Hall of Fame to the nation's top scholar-athlete.
Center David Swain was one of nine national recipients of the Honda
Scholar-Athlete Awards in 1992. In 1993 Michael Gilmore was a first-team
Academic All-American and was the state of Florida's lone national finalist
for the Rhodes Scholar program. In 1994 Gilmore and Terry Dean
were named first-team Academic All-America and Gilmore was a recipient
of a National Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation
and College Hall of Fame. In 1995, quarterback Danny Wuerffel was
named the GTE Academic All-American of the Year, as well as being selected
first-team Academic All-America and was also named to the CFA Scholar-Athlete
Team.
- In 82 games since Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville,
Florida has appeared on live network television 60 times. Thirty-nine
of those 60 have been national broadcasts. During that span, Florida is
47-12-1 on live network television.
- UF appeared on live network television a school-record 10
times in both 1992 and 1994.
- Fifty-two of UF’s last 70 games (30 national, 22 regional)
have been televised on live network television.
- Florida has ranked among the nation’s top 15 schools in average
home attendance in each of the last 12 seasons. Since the Ben Hill Griffin
Stadium expansion in 1991, bringing capacity to over 83,000, the Gators
have ranked in the top five in the nation for the last five years. In
1995, UF averaged 85,139 fans.
- Once again in 1996, the Gators sold all available season tickets
(72,000). That figure continues to rank as best in state history for any
sports team - collegiate or professional.
- Since 1991, UF has drawn crowds of more than 82,000 in each
of the last 34 games.
- The 20 largest crowds in the state of Florida history - collegiate
games, professional games, bowl games, Super Bowls - have all occured
since 1991 at Florida Field.
-
Several Gator players have some well-known relatives in the sports world:
- Tremayne Allen's cousin is Bryant Stith of the NBA's
Denver Nuggets.
- Reidel Anthony is the nephew of John Ford, who was
a wide receiver with the Detroit Lions and at the University of Virginia.
- Tyrone Baker is a cousin of Ricky Nattiel, a
Gator wide receiver in the mid 1980's who was a first-round pick in the
1986 NFL Draft by Denver.
- James Bates' father, Jim, was Florida's defensive coordinator
in 1990 and is now a linebacker coach with the Dallas Cowboys. His brother,
Jeremy, is a QB at Rice after transferring from Tennessee prior to the
season.
- Jayme Campbell and Fred Weary are cousins.
- Cooper Carlisle's brother, Will, is an offensive lineman
at Tulane, and his uncle, Duke Carlisle, was a standout QB at Texas who
also played in the NFL.
- Craig Dudley is the nephew of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
Michael Irvin.
- Jerome Evans is a cousin of former NFL linebacker Johnny
Rembert.
- Rod Frazier is the brother of former Nebraska quarterback
Tommie Frazier, the runner-up for the 1995 Heisman Trophy who led the
Cornhuskers to back-to-back national championships.
- Tony George is a second cousin of former Ohio State
running back and 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George.
- Ike Hilliard's brother, Ivory, was a starting DB at
LSU in 1994. Ike's uncle, Dalton, was a standout RB at LSU in the mid-1980's
who had several outstanding years with the New Orleans Saints.
- Terry Jackson's father, Willie Sr., played football
at UF from 1969-72 and his brother, Willie, from 1990-93. Willie Jr. caught
162 total passes, the second top total in UF history, and is currently
playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars after playing for Dallas in '94.
- Jevon Kearse is a cousin of former Gator Johnie Church,
who was a seventh-round pick of Seattle in the 1996 NFL Draft.
- Sean Ladd's brother, Tom, played at BYU and for the
NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
- Travis McGriff is the son of Lee McGriff, an All-SEC
WR at UF in the mid-1970's who was also an assistant coach with the Gators
in the early 1980's.
- Dwayne Mobley is a cousin of former NFL tight end Orsen
Mobley of the Denver Broncos.
- Brian Schottenheimer is the son of Marty Schottenheimer,
head coach of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
- Robby Stevenson's cousin, Mike Compton, played for
the Detroit Lions.
- Elijah Williams is the step-brother of Greg Allen,
a standout RB for Florida State in the mid-1980's.










