50 Things You Should Know About the FSU/UF Series
*source: TAMPA TRIBUNE

1 The Florida Senate voted in 1955 on a bill to mandate a football game between Florida and FSU. It failed 19-15. After back-room prodding by Gov. LeRoy Collins, the schools finally scheduled a series, beginning in 1958.

2 Only two Pro Football Hall of Famers have scored points in the series -- FSU's Fred Biletnikoff on a 55-yard pass reception in 1964 and Florida's Jack Youngblood on a 30-yard field goal in 1968.

3Before the first game in 1958, FSU coach Tom Nugent made the Seminoles warm up at a Gainesville high school because he didn't want his players to hear, "Gator Bait! Gator Bait!" With a minute to go before kickoff, the Seminoles finally arrived and sprinted onto Florida Field.

4 Current FSU president T.K. Wetherell, a former Seminole receiver, caught six passes for 74 yards in two games (1965-66) against the Gators.

5 Former Seminole Brad Johnson, the only quarterback from either school to play in the Super Bowl, attempted only one pass in the FSU-Florida series.

6 In 1960, the starting centers were brothers -- senior Bill Hood of Florida, sophomore Larry Hood of FSU.

7 Three days before the 1959 game, FSU's Perry Moss confirmed he was leaving to coach the CFL's Montreal Alouettes for $40,000, twice his salary with the Seminoles. FSU lost to the Gators 18-8.

8 Before his first Florida-FSU game in 1960, Gators coach Ray Graves said, "I expect an offensive game." The final: Florida 3, FSU 0 on a 35-yard field goal by Billy Cash (of Tallahassee).

9 FSU athletic director Vaughn Mancha once denied a sideline pass to Albert the Alligator. Said Mancha: "I just don't think we should have an alligator, whoever he happens to be, or a wildcat or a bear down there within snipping distance of toes and fingers."

10 With Florida leading the series 5-0-1, the 1964 Gators taped the words, "Never-FSU-Never" on their practice helmets and stitched "Go For Seven" on their jerseys. The final in Tallahassee: FSU 16, Florida 7.

11 Ray Graves in 1966, prior to the return trip to Tallahassee: "We have no slogans for this game."

12 In 1974, with FSU riding a 17-game losing streak, a plane showered leaflets on the Seminole practice in Tallahassee. They read: "Never-FSU-Never."

13 Shortly after catching the winning touchdown pass from Steve Spurrier in 1965, Gators receiver Charley Casey left for New York and an appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" as part of the coaches' All-American Team.

14 FSU place-kicker Pete Roberts, son of a Florida professor, hit two field goals for a Seminole advantage in 1966. But Roberts' final-play, 48-yard attempt fell short, and Florida won 22-19.

15 Florida receiver Carlos Alvarez, who was turned down by FSU coaches because of bad knees, caught two touchdown passes in the 1969 game.

16 In 1969, Florida led 7-0 late in the first half. FSU scored a touchdown but opted for a 2-point conversion. The pass was incomplete. Said FSU coach Bill Peterson, "We wanted to get momentum." The final: Florida 21, FSU 6.

17 Doug Dickey's Gators beat the Seminoles 17-15 in 1971 for Florida's first victory on artificial turf. The surface is nicknamed "Doug's Rug."

18 In 1972, University of Florida president Stephen O'Connell and Gov. Reubin Askew were all smiles as they opened the locker-room door and offered congratulations to the Gators. One problem: O'Connell and Askew had accidentally entered the deathly quiet locker room of FSU, which had lost 42-13.

19 FSU assistant Don James once accepted a job offer from UF coach Ray Graves. "No way!" FSU coach Bill Peterson said. The next day, FSU's president called UF's president. The deal was off.

20 Florida's David Posey made field goals of 50 and 51 yards in the 1975 game. No other Gator kicker in school history has had a pair of 50-yard field goals in one game.

21 FSU coach Bobby Bowden drew up his first six plays at breakfast in 1977. Five passes, one draw -- touchdown. The final: FSU 37, Florida 9.

22 In 1980, Coach Charley Pell made his Gators spend five minutes per day meditating on the FSU game. The deep thoughts become known as the "Hate Florida State sessions."

23 Both of 1984's starting quarterbacks, Florida's Kerwin Bell and FSU's Kirk Coker, were walk-ons.

24 From 1982 to 1986, the FSU-Florida games in Tallahassee were played in torrential downpours on three consecutive occasions.

25 In 1986, with FSU facing its sixth consecutive loss in the series, Seminoles running back John Merna criticized Stan Shiver and Gerald Nichols for not being motivated enough to face the Gators. A fistfight broke out on the practice field.

26 In 1987, with FSU facing its seventh consecutive loss in the series, the Osceola, an FSU fan publication, offered free one-year subscriptions to registrants if the Gators won again. The final: FSU 28, Florida 14. The Osceola avoided a $6,000 loss.

27 FSU's victory against Florida in 1987 was Bobby Bowden's 100th win with the Seminoles.

28 Three days before kickoff in 1988, Florida coach Galen Hall received his second vote of confidence in three weeks. The final: FSU 52, Florida 17 (the most points surrendered by the Gators in 18 years).

29 The Gators and Seminoles each entered the 1990 game ranked in the nation's top 10, a first for the series. Florida was ranked No. 6 and FSU No. 8. It begins a string of 11 consecutive seasons in which the Gators and Seminoles have top 10 rankings heading into their game.

30 At the 1995 Sugar Bowl, two nights before a rematch against FSU, Gator linebackers Darren Hambrick (Pasco High) and Anthony Riggins are suspended for a bloody altercation during a team function. The Gators stay on schedule and attend a team movie: "Dumb And Dumber."

31 In 1982, Burt Reynolds gave a pep talk to FSU, bringing along Hollywood buddy Charles Nelson Reilly, who was decked out in Seminole gear. The final: Florida 13, FSU 10.

32 After the 1982 game in Tallahassee, Gator fans rushed the goal posts. FSU police turned on Doak Campbell Stadium's sprinkler system for crowd control.

33 In the early days of the rivalry, the Florida-FSU winner took home the Makala Trophy, depicting an Indian and alligator in fierce battle.

34 Doug Johnson sent a pass whizzing past Bobby Bowden's head during a pregame brawl in 1998. Johnson was so erratic on one interception, Seminoles defensive back Sean Key later remarked, "Man, whose side is he on?"

35 FSU's first victory against Florida in 1964 was led by the "Seven Magnificents" defense, four down linemen and three linebackers with shaved heads.

36 One family accounted for eight Gator touchdowns in the series. Florida receiver Willie Jackson Sr. scored twice in the early 1970s against FSU. His sons, Willie Jr. and Terry, topped their old man's exploits by each scoring three TDs in the 1990s against the Seminoles.

37 Another father-son scoring combination: Florida receiver Lee McGriff caught a touchdown pass in the 1973 game. His son, Travis, caught TD passes in 1997 and '98.

38 In 1973, winless FSU started freshman Billy Prescott at quarterback. Prescott fumbled the opening center snap. The Seminoles didn't get a first down until 5:20 remained in the third quarter. Florida won 49-0, and Prescott, 5-for-21 passing, never started again.

39 The 1997 FSU team entered the game with a nation-best 64 sacks but had none (in 36 passing attempts) against Noah Brindise and Doug Johnson. The Seminole defense was No. 1 nationally against the run but was shredded for 162 yards and four touchdowns by Fred Taylor.

40 After the Seminoles upset the Gators 23-12 in 1998, the FSU band played "Rocky Top," fight song of the only other team (Tennessee) to defeat Florida that season.

41 In 1969, FSU defensive lineman Frank Vohun said, "From what I've seen, John Reaves hasn't really been tested. We're going to see what Reaves is made of." The Gators sacked FSU quarterback Bill Cappleman 11 times for 91 yards in losses. Reaves (Robinson High) was not sacked.

42 The Gators were 0-9-1 coming into the game with FSU in 1979. ABC allowed the Seminoles (10-0) to run onto Florida Field first, before the Gators entered. "The television people insulted us," Florida's Tim Golden said. "Our day is coming."

43 In the 1970s, FSU expanded Doak Campbell Stadium in part because the Tampa Sports Authority inquired about occasionally hosting the Gators-Seminoles series.

44 FSU quarterback Danny Kanell passed for 232 yards in the fourth quarter of the "Choke at Doak," the 31-31 tie in which the Seminoles rallied from a 31-3 deficit.

45 Final-game emotions: In 1973, Florida defeated FSU to clinch an 0-11 season. In 1979, FSU defeated Florida to clinch an 0-10-1 season. In 1997, Florida upset FSU to prevent a Seminoles' unbeaten season. That was one year after FSU had beaten Florida to prevent a Gators' unbeaten season.

46 Former Gators tight end Mike Mularkey, now coach of the Buffalo Bills, is the only player to score a touchdown in the series who became an NFL head coach. In 1982, he caught two touchdown passes, including a 27-yarder on fourth-and-inches. The play was called by Gators offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, now head coach of the Denver Broncos.

47 Gators running back Larry Dupree was the difference in the 1963 game. He scored a 2-yard touchdown in Florida's 7-0 victory. He rushed for 138 yards on 31 carries, breaking the school record of 29 carries by Rick Casares, set against Miami in 1952.

48 Seminoles running back Sammie Smith played three games against the Gators, surpassing the 100-yard mark each time (116 in 1986, 116 in 1987, 109 in 1988).

49 Florida entered the 1993 game with a 23-game home winning streak but was an 11-point underdog. Final at the Swamp: FSU 33, Florida 21.

50 When did this series begin anyway? Reporters have uncovered records of Florida playing games with Tallahassee's Florida State College in the early 1900s before football became an official sport at Florida and before the Buckman Act turned Florida State College into Florida Female College. Just for the record, Florida State College won 23-0 in 1904, and a Lake City newspaper described it as "the finest article of football ever seen on the local gridiron." The game resumed in 1958.

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