1995 Florida Gators football team

1995 Florida Gators football
SEC champion
SEC Eastern Division champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 24–62 vs. Nebraska
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Eastern Division
Ranking
Coaches No. 3
AP No. 2
1995 record 12–1 (8–0 1st SEC)
Head coach Steve Spurrier
Defensive coordinator Bob Pruett
Captain
Home stadium Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
1995 SEC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
Eastern Division
#2 Florida x$ 8 – 0 – 0     12 – 1 – 0
#3 Tennessee 7 – 1 – 0     11 – 1 – 0
Georgia 3 – 5 – 0     6 – 6 – 0
South Carolina 2 – 5 – 1     4 – 6 – 1
Kentucky 2 – 6 – 0     4 – 7 – 0
Vanderbilt 1 – 7 – 0     2 – 9 – 0
Western Division
Arkansas x 6 – 2 – 0     8 – 5 – 0
#21 Alabama 5 – 3 – 0     8 – 3 – 0
#22 Auburn 5 – 3 – 0     8 – 4 – 0
LSU 4 – 3 – 1     7 – 4 – 1
Ole Miss 3 – 5 – 0     6 – 5 – 0
Mississippi State 1 – 7 – 0     3 – 8 – 0
Championship: Florida 34, Arkansas 3
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 1995 college 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 1911 team went 5–0–1).

The Gators used coach Spurrier's pass-heavy "fun 'n gun" offense".[1] Led by Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the offense set many school and conference offensive records, including passing touchdowns, passing yards per game, total yards per game, and points per game, among others.[2]

After finishing the regular season 12–0 (8–0 in the SEC), Florida defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 34–3 in the 1995 SEC Championship Game. As the No. 2 ranked team, the Gators were invited to play in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, which was the Bowl Alliance national championship game. In Tempe, Florida lost 24–62 to the No. 1 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers but remained No. 2 in the final AP poll.

Before the season

Prior to the season, the old grass was replaced with turf.[3]

Schedule and results

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 2 Houston* No. 5 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 45–21   84,672
September 9 Kentucky No. 5 Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY W 42–7   53,524
September 16 No. 8 Tennessee No. 4 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL ABC W 62–37   85,105
September 30 Mississippi No. 3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 28–10   85,174
October 7 No. 21 Louisiana State No. 3 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA JPS W 28–10   80,583
October 14 No. 7 Auburn No. 3 Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL ABC W 49–38   85,214
October 28 Georgia No. 3 Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA ABC W 52–17   86,117
November 4 Northern Illinois* No. 3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 58–20   84,922
November 11 South Carolina No. 3 Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC ESPN W 63–7   71,638
November 18 Vanderbilt No. 3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL JPS W 38–7   85,248
November 25 No. 6 Florida State* No. 3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL ABC W 35–24   85,711
December 2 No. 23 Arkansas No. 2 Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (SEC Championship) ABC W 34–3   71,324
January 2, 1996 No. 1 Nebraska* No. 2 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) CBS L 24–62   79,864
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[4]

Season summary

Houston

Houston vs #5 Florida
1 234Total
Houston 14 070 21
• Florida 14 2173 45

In the opener, Florida was off to a shaky start, but was able to defeat the 45-point underdog Houston Cougars 45–21.[5] The defense was suspect, surrendering 421 total yards to a Cougar team which won a single game the year before.[5][6]

"We managed to get away with a victory but Houston was probably better prepared than we were," said coach Spurrier.[7]

Kentucky

#5 Florida at Kentucky
1 234Total
• Florida 14 14140 42
Kentucky 0 007 7

In the second week of play, the Gators easily beat the Kentucky Wildcats 42–7. Third-team tailback Terry Jackson picked up the load when Elijah Williams and Fred Taylor were injured, rushing for 138 yards and three touchdowns.[8]

Wuerffel sat out after tossing a 13-yard touchdown to Chris Doering to go up 35–0.[9]

Tennessee

#8 Tennessee at #4 Florida
1 234Total
Tennessee 23 707 37
• Florida 7 142021 62

In the first major test of the season, the Gators routed the rival and eighth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers 62–37. On the first play from scrimmage, Volunteer quarterback Peyton Manning connected with receiver Joey Kent for a 72-yard gain. On the next play, Manning threw a touchdown pass to Marcus Nash, giving the Vols a 7–0 lead only 15 seconds into the game.[10] After another Manning touchdown pass and two Gator turnovers, the Vols held a 30–14 advantage late in the second quarter in front of a stunned Florida Field crowd.[11]

Sports Illustrated put Wuerffel on its cover instead of Manning.

'

External video
Tennessee game, YouTube video.

Wuerffel led the Gators to an answering score, cutting the lead to 30–21 with a touchdown pass in the last minute of the first half. That would be the beginning of a historic run, as Florida scored 48 straight points despite a torrential second half downpour and won 62–37. Many records were broken in the game: Wuerffel threw an SEC record six touchdown passes; Tennessee set school records for most points scored in a loss and most points given up in the modern era.[10][11] After the game, Sports Illustrated chose to put Wuerffel on its cover instead of Manning.[12][n 1]

Ole Miss

Ole Miss at #3 Florida
1 234Total
Ole Miss 3 070 10
• Florida 14 770 28

The next week was a lackluster performance versus Ole Miss. Though a 28–10 win for the Gators, the game involved just 59 offensive plays.[13]

Florida's first touchdown came with a 42-yard run on a reverse, by Jacquez Green on a 4th-and-2.[14] On Florida's next possession, Green went up against two defenders and snatched a pass for a 40-yard gain, setting up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Wuerffel to Ike Hilliard. An 8-yard pass to Chris Doering was his 101st career catch and gave Florida a 21–3 cushion early in the second quarter.[14]

LSU

#3 Florida at #21 LSU
1 234Total
• Florida 7 1470 28
LSU 0 1000 10

In Baton Rouge, Florida beat the LSU Tigers 28–10. The Gators mixed in the option into its normal offense to counter LSU and its eight-man front.[15][16] Wuerffel called it one of his worst games, and threw three interceptions in the first half.[17]

On the Gators' third possession, a crucial first down was had by an option pitch to Elijah Williams. Later on that same drive, the Gators scored on a third-and-goal from inside the 5-yard line using the same play to go up 7–0.[15] Fred Taylor had short runs for two more touchdowns. LSU's offense seemed to come awake shortly before the half, scoring its 10 points quickly.[15] LSU's touchdown came on a touchdown pass to defensive tackle Anthony McFarland. Florida scored its final touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Wuerffel to Reidel Anthony.[18]

Auburn

#3 Florida at #7 Auburn
1 234Total
• Florida 14 2177 49
Auburn 13 7612 38

Florida won against the Auburn Tigers 49 to 38, the first time Spurrier defeated Auburn coach Terry Bowden.[19] The Gators committed two turnovers early against Auburn,[20] which led 10–0 three minutes into the game.[21]

The game stayed close throughout the first half. After the early, 10–0 Auburn lead, Reidel Anthony returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.[19] Auburn added a field goal, and passes to Jacquez Green set up a Fred Taylor touchdown run to give Florida its first lead of the game, 14–13. Auburn then retook the lead, 20–14; and after a short touchdown run by Elijah Williams, it was 21–20 at the half.

Wuerffel threw a touchdown pass to Ike Hilliard and two to Chris Doering such that early in the third quarter it was already 42–20.[20] One more touchdown was had by Doering. Auburn scored thrice more since the half, each time failing on a two-point conversion. The Tigers' last score came on a long run by Stephen Davis.[22]

Georgia

#3 Florida at Georgia
1 234Total
• Florida 21 71014 52
Georgia 0 3014 17

Florida beat the Bulldogs 52–17,[23] becoming the first visitor in Sanford Stadium history to score more than 50 points.[24]

Florida was ahead 21–0 less than 12 minutes into the contest. Gators starting quarterback Danny Wuerffel threw for 242 yards and five touchdowns before leaving the game in the third quarter.[25] "Danny Wuerffel was near perfect in the game," Spurrier said. "He only had one bad throw."[24] With the Gators leading 38–17 in the fourth quarter, Gators backup quarterback Eric Kresser threw for two more touchdowns, one with 1:21 remaining, to make the final score 52–17.[25] After the game, Gators coach Steve Spurrier stated that he had wanted to be the first opponent to hang "half a hundred" on the Bulldogs in their own stadium because "we heard no one had ever done that before."[26][n 2] The Gators' fifty-two points remains the record for most scored against Georgia "between the hedges."[27]

Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois vs. #3 Florida
1 234Total
Northern Illinois 6 068 20
• Florida 17 20147 58

At homecoming the following week, backup quarterback Eric Kresser played in place of Wuerffel for the Northern Illinois game, a 58–20 defeat of the Huskies.[28] Kresser threw for a school record 458 yards, breaking the record Terry Dean set against Southwestern Louisiana in 1993.[28] Kresser passed for six touchdowns to six different players,[29] including a 96-yard pass to Jacquez Green on a crossing route.[28]

Despite the performance, Spurrier felt Kresser threw better in pre-game warmups.[29] The Gators improved to 8-0 for the first time since 1928.

South Carolina

#3 Florida at South Carolina
1 234Total
• Florida 14 28714 63
South Carolina 0 700 7

In Columbia, Florida clinched the SEC East title with a crushing 63–7 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Wuerffel threw for 304 yards including five touchdowns in the first half.[30]

After a blocked punt, Wuerffel hit Hilliard with an 18-yard touchdown to go up 21–0 early into the second quarter.[30] Florida used its substitutes after a 38-yard touchdown run by Elijah Williams midway through the third quarter.[30] Kresser hit Green on a 39-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.[30]

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt vs. #3 Florida
1 234Total
Vanderbilt 0 007 7
• Florida 7 10147 38

Returning home the next week, Florida triumphed over the Vanderbilt Commodores 38–7. Chris Doering was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week with a season-high 11 catches for 169 yards.[31] Elijah Williams had 128 yards rushing, including a 70-yard touchdown run.[32]

The Gators were plagued by sacks and poor play, but played aggressive defense.[32] In the second half, Vanderbilt wide receiver Fred Baker and Florida nickelback Ben Hanks were both ejected for fighting.[32] Hanks apologized afterwards, and was suspended for a half the next week.[33]

Florida State

#6 Florida State at #3 Florida
1 234Total
Florida State 6 0180 24
• Florida 7 2170 35

The rival Florida State Seminoles were beaten 35–24. Danny Wuerffel threw for 453 yards and four touchdowns as Florida held off a second-half rally by Florida State and erased the memories of the "Choke at Doak" from the previous season.[34]

A 42-yard pass to Ike Hilliard, who evaded multiple defenders on the run after the catch, made it 21–6. The Gators intercepted the Noles three times in the last quarter.[34] Florida tied the all-time school record for consecutive wins with 11.[34]

Postseason

Arkansas

SEC Championship
1 234Total
Arkansas 3 000 3
• Florida 14 3143 34

The Gators faced the Arkansas Razorbacks in the SEC Championship Game and ran away with it 34–3. The Razorbacks led 3-0 after a long, game-opening drive on which tailback Madre Hill suffered a knee injury.[35]

External video
1995 SEC Championship, YouTube video.

Following a 36-yard field goal from Arkansas, Florida drove 80 yards in seven plays, with Wuerffel completing a 22-yard touchdown pass to Chris Doering.[36] The Gators never looked back, scoring 34 unanswered points and securing a spot against Nebraska in the national title game.[35]

Tommie Frazier

Nebraska

National Championship: Fiesta Bowl
1 234Total
Florida 10 086 24
• Nebraska 6 291413 62

The Gators faced #1 ranked Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl for the Bowl Alliance national championship. Florida received the opening kickoff and drove to the Nebraska 5, before settling for a 23-yard Bart Edmiston field goal. Aided by good field position, the Huskers countered on their opening series with a 53-yard scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard cross-field throwback pass from Tommie Frazier to Lawrence Phillips. The Gators blocked the Huskers' extra point, and Nebraska led 6–3. Late in the period, Florida went back ahead on a short 1-yard sneak from Wuerffel and led 10–6. As the Gators scored, CBS' Terry Donahue stated, "Nebraska better not get too far behind." The Huskers then put the game out of reach with a 29-point explosion in the second quarter, making it 35–10 at the half.

External video
1996 Fiesta Bowl, YouTube video.

Florida continued to struggle against Nebraska's aggressive, blitzing defense. In the third period, on second down from the Nebraska 25, Cornhuskers quarterback Frazier ran an option play to the right, and decided to keep the ball rather than pitch. He gained 11 yards before being met by a group of Florida defenders at the 36-yard line, which he then dragged approximately 10 yards before shrugging them off and breaking free, streaking 75 yards down the sideline to give Nebraska a 49–18 lead. Frazier had broken no less than seven tackles on the play. The game ended 62 to 24.

For much of the summer of 1996, a common joke on ESPN was "Hey Gators, Nebraska just scored again." The Gators would use the Fiesta Bowl rout as a rallying point for the 1996 season, in which they won the first national championship in school history.[37] The 1995 Nebraska squad has been voted as the greatest college football team of all-time in many surveys, including the all-time Sagarin ratings.[38] An ESPN poll has them at #3, only behind the 1971 Huskers and 1972 USC Trojans.[39]

Notes

  1. ↑ Florida and Tennessee closed the season ranked #2 and #3, respectively.
  2. ↑ The previous highest score by a Bulldogs opponent in Sanford Stadium was forty-six points by the Tennessee Volunteers in 1936.

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun brought football evolution to the SEC".
  2. ↑ SEC Record book
  3. ↑ "Gainesville Sun - Google News Archive Search".
  4. ↑ 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 112–113 (2015). Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Gators Win, but Spurrier Not Happy : Nonconference: Coach criticizes pass defense after Florida's 45-21 victory over Houston.". latimes.
  6. ↑ Buddy Martin (September 4, 1995). "UF defense needs some remodeling". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 1D – via Google News Archive Search.
  7. ↑ Dwight Collins. "Shaky opener for Gators". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1C, 4C – via Google News Archive Search.
  8. ↑ Robbie Andreu (September 10, 1995). "Gators flatten Wildcats". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1C, 7C – via Google News Archive Search.
  9. ↑ "No. 5 Florida 42, Kentucky 7".
  10. 1 2 "For Gators, It's the Last 30 Minutes That Count". The New York Times. 17 September 1995.
  11. 1 2 Robbie Andreu (September 17, 1995). "Reversal of fortunes". Gainesville Sun. pp. 1C, 6C – via Google News Archive Search.
  12. ↑ "No Respect". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
  13. ↑ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Florida Wins in a Hurry : SEC: No. 3 Gators need only 2 hours 45 minutes and eight possessions to beat Mississippi, 28-10.". latimes.
  14. 1 2 Mike Cobb (October 1, 1995). "Green makes most of opportunity". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 6D – via Google News Archive Search.
  15. 1 2 3 "Wuerffel Forced To Run, Then Pass". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
  16. ↑ "Florida vs. LSU". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. October 8, 1995.
  17. ↑ "Winning Isn't Such A `Snap' For Uf Anymore". tribunedigital-sunsentinel.
  18. ↑ Robbie Andreu (October 8, 1995). "Gators escape from Bayou". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1C, 7C – via Google News Archive Search.
  19. 1 2 "Uf Forgets Past, Clobbers Auburn". tribunedigital-sunsentinel.
  20. 1 2 "Sports - SEC / No. 3 Florida 49, No. 7 Auburn 38 -- Florida Wins Some Respect -- Spurrier's Team Solves Auburn Jinx - Seattle Times Newspaper".
  21. ↑ Michael Oleszek. "Florida Vs. Auburn: Great Moments In the Underrated Rivalry". Bleacher Report.
  22. ↑ Dwight Collins (October 15, 1995). "Gators rip Auburn". Ocala Star-Banner – via Google News Archive Search.
  23. ↑ Barrett Sallee. "Classic SEC Football: Florida Hangs 'Half a Hundred' on Georgia in 1995". Bleacher Report.
  24. 1 2 "COLLEGE FOOTBALL : SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Wuerffel Helps Florida Humiliate Georgia". latimes.
  25. 1 2 Associated Press, "Florida Makes First Athens Trip in 63 Years Memorable", Waycross Journal-Herald (October 30, 1995). Retrieved August 20, 1995.
  26. ↑ Michael DiRocco, "SEC Extra: Payback's for the 'Dogs", The Florida Times-Union (September 9, 2005). Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  27. ↑ 2011 Georgia Football Media Guide, p. 129.
  28. 1 2 3 "Kresser Crushes N. Illinois". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
  29. 1 2 Mic Huber (November 5, 1995). "A reserved victory for the Gators". Ocala Star-Banner – via Google News Archive Search.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Florida 63, South Carolina 7". UPI. 12 November 1995.
  31. ↑ "Gators' Hanks Ok'd To Play After Scuffle Against Vandy". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
  32. 1 2 3 Robbie Andreu (November 19, 1995). "Gators: Bring on the 'Noles". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1C, 9C – via Google News Archive Search.
  33. ↑ Robbie Andreu (November 19, 1995). "Hanks's shove cost him a half vs. FSU". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 8C.
  34. 1 2 3 "NCAA Football - Florida St. vs. Florida - 11/25/1995 5:45PM ET". Usatoday.com. 1995-11-25. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  35. 1 2 Dwight Collins (December 3, 1995). "Gators blast Arkansas for SEC title & Shot at No. 1". Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 1C, 5C – via Google News Archive Search.
  36. ↑ "Ford Looks Back At 1995 SEC Title Game". Scout.com. 27 November 2006.
  37. ↑ Dickey, Pat (2013). 100 Things Florida Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Triumph Books.
  38. ↑ "All-time Sagarin ratings -- HuskerMax".
  39. ↑ "ESPN.com - Page2 - Best college football teams of all time".
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