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1977 Florida Gators football team

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

Before the season

Florida had several quarterbacks, with Terry LeCount starting.[2]

Schedule

[1][14]

Roster

Game summaries

Rice

Florida opened the season in Houston with a non-conference game against Rice. Former all-conference safety Terry LeCount started at quarterback in the Gators' wishbone offense, but the most notable play at the position came in the 4th quarter, when third-string freshman Cris Collinsworth tossed an NCAA record 99-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Gaffney on his first collegiate attempt.[1][15]

Mississippi State

In the second week of play, Florida edged Mississippi State 24–22.yepremian junior kicker comes through again keeping Florids hopes alive

LSU

Louisiana State beat Florida 36–14. Wes Chandler had 146 yards receiving, including an 85-yard reception from Terry LeCount.[1]

Pittsburgh

[16]

Florida and Pitt tied 17–17.

Tennessee

[17]

The Gators called a timeout in the final seconds of a 27–17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee coach Johnny Majors was furious, and the post-game handshake ritual became a shoving match between coaching staffs.[18]

Auburn

The Auburn Tigers upset Florida 29–14.[19]

Georgia

The Gators beat rival Georgia 22–17.[20]

Kentucky

The seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats defeated Florida 14–7.

Utah

The Gators ran over the Utah Utes for 531 yards and won 38–29.[21]

Miami (FL)

Florida defeated the Miami Hurricanes 31–14.[22]

Florida State

Bobby Bowden got his first win over the Gators, as Florida State beat Florida 37–9.[23]

Postseason

Four Gators made All-SEC.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 2016 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 110–111 (2015). Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Jim Smith (September 16, 1977). "John: Ready to go". Ocala Star-Banner – via Google News Archive Search.
  3. ^ "Wilder, LeCount direct Florida's rout of Rice". The El Paso Times. September 18, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Awakened LeCount rescues Gators". The Palm Beach Post-Times. September 25, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gators bagged by LSU, 36–14". Tallahassee Democrat. October 2, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Florida ties fumbling Pitt, 17–17". The Pittsburgh Press. October 9, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Florida's "I" disposes of Tennessee". St. Petersburg Times. October 23, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Auburn tops Florida 29–14 in upset win". The Tennessean. October 30, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Chandler Ace, Gators win". The Tennessean. November 6, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "UK Wildcats 'purrr...fect' against UF". The Pensacola News-Journal. November 13, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Gutsy Utes scare Gators in 38–29 defeat". The Salt Lake Tribune. November 20, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gators blow past Hurricanes 31–14". Fort Myers News-Press. November 27, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Seminole air attack swamps Gators". The Commercial Appeal. December 4, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Sports Publicity Department. "1978 University of Florida Press Guide" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  15. ^ "Gators Blitzkrieg Swamps Rice". Ocala Star-Banner. AP. September 18, 1977. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1977 Oct 9. Retrieved 2018-Nov-03.
  17. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1977 Oct 23. Retrieved 2018-Nov-03.
  18. ^ "The Weekly List: Florida-Tennessee Boils Blood Before and After Game".
  19. ^ "Auburn's Miamian gives boot to Florida (October 30, 1977)".
  20. ^ "What Furor? Gators Get It Together." Ocala Star-Banner. 1977 Nov 6.
  21. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1977 Nov 20.
  22. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1977 Nov 27.
  23. ^ Sentinel, Orlando. "1977 FSU team ended losing streak to Florida".
  24. ^ "Four Gators selected for all-SEC squad". Boca Raton News. November 29, 1977 – via Google News Archive Search.

External links