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1971 Florida Gators football
Conference Southeastern Conference
Record4–7 (1–6 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts (2nd season)
CaptainHarvin Clark
Tommy Durrance
John Reaves
Home stadium Florida Field
Seasons
←  1970
1972 →
1971 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Alabama $ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 7 Georgia 5 – 1 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 12 Auburn 5 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 0
No. 15 Ole Miss 4 – 2 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Tennessee 4 – 2 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 11 LSU 3 – 2 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Vanderbilt 1 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Florida 1 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Kentucky 1 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Mississippi State 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1971 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The season was Doug Dickey's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1971 Florida Gators finished with a 4–7 overall record and a 1–6 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for eighth among ten SEC teams. [1]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11vs. Duke*
L 6–1251,477 [2]
September 18at Mississippi State
L 10–1333,500 [3]
September 25No. 8 Alabama
L 0–3861,832 [4]
October 2No. 12 Tennessee
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL ( rivalry)
L 13–2061,112 [5]
October 9at No. 16 LSU
L 7–4867,055 [6]
October 16No. 19 Florida State*
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL ( rivalry)
W 17–1565,109 [7]
October 23 Maryland*dagger
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL
W 27–2353,021 [8]
October 30at No. 5 Auburn
L 7–4063,500 [9]
November 6vs. No. 7 Georgia
L 7–4967,383 [10]
November 13 Kentucky
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL ( rivalry)
W 35–2445,268 [11]
November 27at Miami (FL)*
W 45–1637,710 [12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1] [13]

Personnel

1971 Florida Gators football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G 68 Fred Abbott Jr
WR Larry Adams
WR 45 Carlos Alvarez Sr
OT 74 Kris Anderson So
WR 89 Hollis Boardman So
G 79 Bill Dowdy Sr
RB 33 Tommy Durrance (C) Sr
TE 81 Hank Foldberg So
QB 10 Chan Gailey So
WR 21 Bruce Gunter Sr
G 69 Dale Hutcherson So
WR 22 Willie Jackson Jr
FB 20 Vince Kendrick So
C 55 Richard Kensler Sr
C 51 Mark King So
RB 36 Lenny Lucas So
WR 44 Joel Parker So
OT 76 David Peek Sr
QB 7 John Reaves (C) Sr
FB 40 Mike Rich Sr
QB 9 John Schnelby Sr
G 62 Joe Sheppard So
TE 87 Jim Yancy Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 16 Jimmy Barr Jr
ILB 50 Ricky Browne So
DE 88 Richard Buchanan Sr
CB 38 Harvin Clark (C) Sr
S 34 John Clifford Jr
DB 43 John Faix Sr
MG 72 Len Fuller Sr
CB 23 Leonard George Jr
LB Jan Gowland
DT 77 Robert Harrell Sr
MG 65 David Hitchcock So
DL 75 Eddy Moore Jr
DE 85 Mike Moore So
OLB 57 David Poff Jr
DB 35 John Silman Jr
CB 28 Doug Sorensen Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 8 Richard Franco Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

Game summaries

Duke

1 234Total
• Duke 6 303 12
Florida 0 060 6
Scoring summary
1DUKEWright 44 yard field goalDUKE 3-0
1DUKEWright 22 yard field goalDUKE 6-0
2DUKEWright 34 yard field goalDUKE 9-0
3FLAParker 7 yard pass from Reaves (kick blocked)DUKE 9-6
4DUKEWright 43 yard field goalDUKE 12-6

[14]

Mississippi State

1 234Total
Florida 0 1000 10
• Mississippi State 3 073 13
Scoring summary
1MSUEllis 29 yard field goalMSU 3-0
2FLAYancey 5 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 7-3
20:00FLAFranco 52 yard field goalFLA 10-3
3MSUJones 21 yard run (Ellis kick)Tied 10-10
4MSUEllis 35 yard field goalMSU 13-10

[15]

Alabama

1 234Total
• #8 Alabama 10 1477 38
Florida 0 000 0
  • Date: September 25
  • Location: Florida Field
    Gainesville, Florida
  • Game attendance: 61,832

Against the Gators, Alabama's Johnny Musso scored four rushing touchdowns en route to a 38–0 shutout at Florida Field. [16] [17] After Bill Davis gave the Crimson Tide a 3–0 lead with his first quarter field goal, Musso scored Alabama's next four touchdowns and extended their lead to 31–0. [16] [17] All four came on the ground with a pair from one-yard out, a three-yard run and a five-yard run. [16] [17] Alabama then closed the game with an 11-yard Billy Sexton touchdown pass to Dexter Wood that made the final score 38–0. [16] [17]

The four touchdowns scored by Musso on the ground set a new school record for rushing touchdowns. Additionally, the shutout was the first for the Crimson Tide defense since their 17–0 victory in 1967 over South Carolina. [17]

Tennessee

See also: 1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry
#12 Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators
Period 1 2 34Total
Tennessee 3 10 7020
Florida 0 13 0013

at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: October 2, 1971
  • Game attendance: 61,112
  • New York Times, 1971 Oct 03.
Game information

LSU

Florida State

See also: 1971 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry
Florida State Seminoles at Florida Gators
Period 1 2 34Total
Florida St 0 0 01515
Florida 0 14 0317

at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: October 16, 1971
  • Game weather: Overcast
  • Game attendance: 65,109
  • Recap/Box Score
Game information

Maryland

1 234Total
Maryland 0 13100 23
• Florida 7 677 27
Scoring summary
1FLADurrance 7 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 7-0
2MDBehbahani 23 yard field goalFLA 7-3
2FLABoardman 24 yard pass from Reaves (kick failed)FLA 13-3
2MDBehbahani 36 yard field goalFLA 13-6
2MDBungori 4 yard pass from Neville (Behbahani kick)Tied 13-13
3MDBehbahani 31 yard field goalMD 16-13
3FLAAlvarez 16 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 20-16
3MDBungori 10 yard pass from Neville (Behbahani kick)MD 23-20
4FLADurrance 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 27-23

[18]

Auburn

1 234Total
Florida 0 700 7
• Auburn 12 0721 40
Scoring summary
1AUBSullivan 8 yard run (run failed)AUB 6-0
1AUBSullivan 1 yard run (run failed)AUB 12-0
2FLAJackson 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)AUB 12-7
3AUBBeasley 19 yard pass from Sullivan (Jett kick)AUB 19-7
4AUBUnger 4 yard run (Jett kick)AUB 26-7
4AUBHenley 1 yard run (Jett kick)AUB 33-7
4AUBBeasley 14 yard pass from Sullivan (Jett kick)AUB 40-7

[19]

Georgia

1 234Total
• Georgia 7 13227 49
Florida 0 700 7
Scoring summary
1UGAPoulos 1 yard run (Braswell kick)UGA 7-0
2UGALake 2 yard run (Braswell kick)UGA 14-0
2UGARobinson 38 yard interception return (kick failed)UGA 20-0
2FLAYancey 9 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)UGA 20-7
3UGARay 5 yard run (Ray to Shirer pass)UGA 28-7
3UGAShirer 38 yard pass from Ray (Braswell kick)UGA 35-7
3UGALake 2 yard run (Braswell kick)UGA 42-7
4UGABurns 25 yard pass from Watson (Braswell kick)UGA 49-7

[20]

Kentucky

1 234Total
Kentucky 0 3714 24
• Florida 0 7721 35
Scoring summary
2FLALucas 1 yard run (Franco kick)FLA 7-0
2KYKirk 21 yard field goalFLA 7-3
3KYClymer 11 yard run (Kirk kick)KY 10-7
3FLAReaves 1 yard run (Franco kick)FLA 14-10
4FLAYancey 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 21-10
4FLAAlvarez 56 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 28-10
4KYFanuzzi 3 yard run (pass failed)FLA 28-16
4FLADurrance 19 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick)FLA 35-16
4KYStephans 47 yard pass from Fanuzzi (Fanuzzi run)FLA 35-24

[21]

Miami (FL)

See also: 1971 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida–Miami football rivalry
Florida Gators at Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Period 1 2 34Total
Florida 7 10 141445
Miami (FL) 0 0 8816

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: November 27, 1971
  • Game attendance: 37,710
  • Box Score

The disappointing season ended on a controversial note. With the Gators leading the Miami Hurricanes 45–8 late in the fourth quarter of the last game of the season, senior quarterback John Reaves was just 14 yards short of the NCAA career record for passing yardage, but Miami had the ball and seemed destined to run out the clock. At the urging of Florida defensive captain Harvin Clark, Dickey agreed to permit the Gators defense to allow the Hurricanes to score, thus returning the ball to the Gators offense and giving Reaves a chance to break the record. Dubbed the " Florida Flop" or "Gator Flop", the move worked. When Miami snapped the ball from the Florida 8-yard line, the Gators instantly flopped to the turf, allowing Miami quarterback John Hornibrook to walk uncontested into the endzone. Florida's offense got one more possession, and Reeves promptly broke the record with a pass to favorite target Carlos Alvarez. After the game, many Gator players celebrated by jumping into the pool at the Orange Bowl's east end zone used by the Miami Dolphins' live mascot, Flipper.

Miami coach Fran Curci was so angered by the turn of events that he refused to shake Dickey's hand. In a post-game interview, he called the actions "bush league" and declared that "what Doug Dickey did shows absolutely no class." [22] [23] [24]

References

  1. ^ a b 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Duke kicks favored Florida in face, 12–6". The Palm Beach Post. September 12, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Ellis connects on field goal to nip Gators". Daily Press. September 19, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Musso scores four times as Tide manhandles Gators 38–0". The Selma Times-Journal. September 26, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tennessee sidesteps Florida's bid for an upset, 20–13". The Palm Beach Post. October 3, 1971. Retrieved May 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "LSU begins SEC chase with 48–7 win". Daily World. October 10, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Gators stun Seminoles on Franco's field goal". St. Lucie News Tribune. October 17, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Reaves, Alvarez lead Gators over Terps". The Palm Beach Post. October 24, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Sullivan-led Tigers drub Gators, 40–7". The Bradenton Herald. October 31, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "'Dogs bury UF by 49–7". Tallahassee Democrat. November 7, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Gators skin 'Cats as Alvarez sparkles". The Bradenton Herald. November 14, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Reaves: Wow!". St. Petersburg Times. November 28, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Sports Publicity Department. "1972 University of Florida Football Brochure" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  14. ^ "Duke Boots Top Gators." Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Sept 12.
  15. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 September 19.
  16. ^ a b c d e Reed, Delbert (September 26, 1971). "High Tide in Florida". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1B. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Tucker, Tommy (September 26, 1971). "Musso leads Alabama romp by hapless Florida, 38–0". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Google News Archives. p. 1C. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  18. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct. 24.
  19. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 31.
  20. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Nov 7.
  21. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Nov 14.
  22. ^ Paul Lukas, " The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop", ESPN.com (September 16, 2010). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  23. ^ Randall Mell, " It was humiliating Archived 2014-03-30 at the Wayback Machine", Orlando Sun-Sentinel (December 20, 2000). Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  24. ^ "Contemporary TV coverage of Florida Flop (youtube)". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
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