Florida-Tennessee rivalry back in the National Spotlight

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Growing up in the ’90s the weekend the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers played was appointment television. Phil Fulmer and Steve Spurrier matched wits and two of the best teams in the country battled in a game that typically would send the winner of the game to the SEC Championship.

There is a lot of history between the two schools. Florida coach Ray Graves was born in Knoxville in 1918 and played for the Volunteers from 1939-1941. He would take over as Florida’s head coach in 1960. Graves coached the Gators’ to their second win over Tennessee in 1969, a 14-13 win in the Gator Bowl. He stepped down as head coach while remaining the Athletic Director and poached Tennessee head coach Doug Dickey.

The “T” that the Tennessee band forms and the team runs through and the T on their helmets were both traditions started by Dickey. Vols fans were livid that Dickey left. However, he couldn’t find the same success at Florida, his alma mater. He was replaced by Charley Pell. Florida would begin to get the upper hand in the series in the ’70s but true dominance was just around the corner.

The series swings

The series has been marked by long stretches of dominance. The Vols won the first 10 matchups before the Gators were able to notch a win in 1954. The rivalry gained national attention in the ’90s. But it was the decade of the Gators.

During Spurrier’s 12 years as head coach, Florida went 122-27-1. They finished in the top-10 in 10 different seasons. Inside the top 5 eight times. They won seven of the first nine SEC championship games, all to the chagrin of Vol Nation.

Every year the teams met from 1992-2001 each was ranked inside the top 15. Only three times was the matchup not between teams ranked inside the top 10. The two Titans of the SEC would decide the league in September.

25 years ago this week Steve Spurrier famously uttered the phrase, “You can’t spell Citrus without UT,” to mock the Volunteers who played in the game in 1994, 1996, and 1997 after losing to Florida. Meanwhile, Spurrier and the Gators were dominating the conference and about to win the school’s first National Championship.

The two teams have met 24 times since Spurrier eviscerated Tennessee. Florida has won 19 of those games. There have been Tennessee meltdowns. A 10-9 win in 2014 where Will Muschamp channeled Spurrier, waxing poetic about enjoying watching the disappointed sellout crowd leaving the stands. There was Grier to Callaway — “Train Right Jill Big Ben In”, as McElwain called the play. Feleipe Franks and Tyrie Cleveland stunned Tennessee in 2017. Blowouts, classics, it’s been mostly Florida since 1990. In fact, the Gators hold a 29-7 record in the series since 1976

There hasn’t been much parity, which Tennessee is looking to change this weekend.

Gators and Vols back on a National stage

This season pits No. 11 Tennessee against No. 20 Florida. The Vols have had just one victory over the Gators since 2005. That’s nearly two decades of dominance in a rivalry with no love lost. To say this game means everything to Tennessee would be an understatement.

This is a game the Tennessee faithful have been pining for. They believe the Vols have the upper hand. Florida is reeling from a loss to Kentucky and a nailbiter against an under-matched USF team. Tennessee is 3-0. They beat two MAC opponents by a combined score of 122-16. They also beat a top-20 opponent in Pittsburgh in week two.

This is the year, or so they’re saying in Knoxville. This is the year to exercise nearly 20 years of close calls, busted plays, hail mary’s, and heartbreak.

Unless it isn’t.

Unless this is just another year where the Gators will find a way. Perhaps Anthony Richardson looks like he did against Utah. He’s due for a breakout game after struggling in his last two. This rivalry has seen Florida steal wins while Tennessee has found ways to lose.

Whatever the outcome on Saturday, it’s great to see Florida and Tennessee back in the national spotlight.