1994 Florida Gators football team

1994 Florida Gators football
SEC champion
SEC Eastern Division champion
SEC Championship Game, W 24–23 vs. Alabama
Sugar Bowl, L 17–23 vs. Florida State
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 7
Record10–2–1 (7–1 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeFun and gun
Defensive coordinatorBob Pruett (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Captains
  • Terry Dean
  • Aubrey Hill
  • Ellis Johnson
  • Larry Kennedy
  • Henry McMillian
Home stadiumBen Hill Griffin Stadium
1994 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Eastern Division
No. 7 x$ 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 1
No. 22 Tennessee 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
South Carolina 4 – 4 – 0 7 – 5 – 0
Georgia 3 – 4 – 1 6 – 4 – 1
Vanderbilt 2 – 6 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Kentucky 0 – 8 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
Western Division
No. 5 Alabama x 8 – 0 – 0 12 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Auburn 6 – 1 – 1 9 – 1 – 1
No. 24 Mississippi State 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
LSU 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Arkansas 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Ole Miss 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Championship: Florida 24, Alabama 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1994 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was Steve Spurrier's fifth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Spurrier's 1994 Florida Gators posted an overall record of 10–2–1 and a 6–1 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), placing first among the six SEC Eastern Division teams and winning the SEC championship.[1][2]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 3New Mexico State*No. 1
W 70–2184,721[3]
September 103:30 p.m.KentuckyNo. 2
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ABCW 73–785,238[4]
September 176:30 p.m.at No. 15 TennesseeNo. 1
ESPNW 31–096,656[5]
October 1at Ole MissNo. 1
JPSW 38–1438,360[6]
October 812:30 p.m.LSUNo. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
JPSW 42–1885,385[7]
October 151:00 p.m.No. 6 AuburnNo. 1
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ABCL 33–3685,562[8]
October 297:00 p.m.GeorgiaNo. 5
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
ESPNW 52–1485,604[9]
November 5Southern Miss*No. 4
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
W 55–1785,448[10]
November 1212:30 p.m.South CarolinaNo. 4
  • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
  • Gainesville, FL
JPSW 48–1785,028[11]
November 19at VanderbiltNo. 3
PPVW 24–733,508[12]
November 2612:00 p.m.at No. 7 Florida State*No. 4
ABCT 31–3180,210[13]
December 33:30 p.m.vs. No. 3 AlabamaNo. 6
ABCW 24–2374,751[14]
January 2, 19958:30 p.m.vs. No. 7 Florida State*No. 5
ABCL 17–2376,244[15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

[1]

Rankings

Main article: 1994 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP1 (15)1 (14)2 (15)1 (27)1 (33)1 (31)1 (39)1 (44)554434657
Coaches1 (17)2 (23)2 (18)2 (20)2 (22)1 (34)1 (43)665554647

Before the season

The Gators were eyeing a national championship.[16]

Florida received verbal commitments the following recruits in 1994: Amp Campbell, Ed Chester, Jaquez Green, Isaac Hilliard, Michael Jackson, Nafis Kareem, Travis McGriff, Jamie Richardson, Dossy Robbins and Deak Story.[17] Amp Campbell was considered to be the best signing of the year as he was a top cornerback prospect and part of USA Today's All-America team.[17]

Game summaries

New Mexico State

New Mexico State at #1 Florida
Team 1 234Total
Aggies 7 1400 21
• Gators 28 28014 70
Scoring summary
Q1FLAHillard 6 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 7–0
Q1NMSL. Davis 73 yard pass from Ledbetter (Culin kick)Tie 7–7
Q1FLAJackson 13 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 14–7
Q1FLAJackson 8 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 21–7
Q1FLAHill 15 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 28–7
Q2NMSL. Davis 27 yard pass from Ledbetter (Culin kick)FLA 28–14
Q2FLAPalmer 10 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 35—14
Q2FLAJackson 8 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 42–14
Q2NMSL. Davis 7 yard pass from Ledbetter (Culin kick)FLA 42–21
Q2FLAJackson 3 yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 49–21
Q2FLAHillard 7 yard pass from Kresser (Davis kick)FLA 56–21
Q4FLATaylor 9 yard run (Davis kick)FLA 63–21
Q4FLAMalone 13 yard run (Davis kick)FLA 70–21

[18]

  • Terry Dean tied an NCAA record by throwing for seven touchdowns in the first half.[19]

Kentucky

Kentucky at #2 Florida
Team 1 234Total
Wildcats 0 700 7
• Gators 14 172121 73
  • Date: September 10
  • Location: Ben Hill Griffith Stadium
  • Game attendance: 85,238
Scoring summary
Q1FLAHill 16-yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 7–0
Q1FLAWilliams 15-yard run (Davis kick)FLA 14–0
Q2FLAHill 4-yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 21–0
Q2KENCurtis 36-yard pass from O'Ferral (Sivinski kick)FLA 21–7
Q2FLADavis 31-yard field goalFLA 24–7
Q2FLADoering 5-yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 31–7
Q3FLAWilliams 2-yard run (Davis kick)FLA 38–7
Q3FLAAnthony 65-yard pass from Dean (Davis kick)FLA 45–7
Q3FLAMcCray 33-yard fumble return (Davis kick)FLA 52–7
Q4FLAHillard 25-yard pass from Wuerffel (Davis kick)FLA 59–7
Q4FLABowen 15-yard pass from Kresser (Davis kick)FLA 66–7
Q4FLABaker 15-yard run (Davis kick)FLA 73–7
See also: 1997 Kentucky Wildcats football team
  • E. Williams 13 Rush, 115 Yds

[20]

Tennessee

Ole Miss

LSU

Auburn

Coach Terry Bowden's sixth-ranked 1994 Auburn Tigers entered the Swamp as 17-point underdogs to coach Steve Spurrier's top-ranked Gators, but, just like the year before, the Tigers offense kept pace with the Gators as its defense forced key turnovers by the Gators.[21] The Gators' starting quarterback, Terry Dean, threw four interceptions in the first half, and was replaced by Danny Wuerffel, who threw three touchdown passes but was intercepted by Tigers defensive back Brian Robinson with 1:20 left.[21] Tigers quarterback Patrick Nix engineered a quick drive, and threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Frank Sanders, winning the game for Auburn, 36–33.[21]

Georgia

Southern Mississippi

South Carolina

Vanderbilt

Florida State

#4 Florida at #7 Florida State
Team 1 234Total
Gators 7 1770 31
Seminoles 3 0028 31
Main article: Choke at Doak
See also: 1994 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry

In the greatest fourth-quarter comeback of the series, the Gators led the Seminoles 31–3 after three quarters. However, the Seminoles scored 28 points in the final fifteen minutes to tie the game at 31–31.

SEC Championship

Main article: 1994 SEC Championship Game

Florida State (Sugar Bowl)

#7 Florida State vs. #5 Florida
Team 1 234Total
• Seminoles 3 1730 23
Gators 3 707 17
Main article: 1995 Sugar Bowl (January)

The Seminoles then won a rematch in the Sugar Bowl, 23–17, referred to as "The Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter."

Roster

1994 Florida Gators football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 91 Tremayne Allen Jr
WR 15 Reidel Anthony Fr
QB 12 Terry Dean Sr
WR 28 Chris Doering Jr
WR 5 Jacquez Green Fr
WR 19 Ike Hilliard Fr
WR 1 Jack Jackson Jr
QB 10 Eric Kresser So
WR 3 Travis McGriff Fr
G 71 Jeff Mitchell So
OT 74 Jason Odom Jr
RB 21 Fred Taylor Fr
QB 7 Danny Wuerffel So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 67 Mark Campbell Jr
DE 57 Kevin Carter Sr
DT 61 Ellis Johnson Sr
SS 4 Lawrence Wright So
SS 20 Sammy McCorkle  Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

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. ^ "1994 Florida Gators Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Florida QB shows NMSU who's Dean". Albuquerque Journal. September 4, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Dean, No. 2 Florida overpowers Kentucky, 73–7". The Jackson Sun. September 11, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Gators add Vols to impressive wins list". The News and Observer. September 18, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Gators batter Rebels, 38–14". Hattiesburg American. October 2, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "LSU gains respect". Daily World. October 9, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Auburn 'upsets' Florida". Daily Press. October 16, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Gators gobble Georgia". Fort Myers News-Press. October 30, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Lots of QBs, lots of points: Gators swamps S. Miss, 55–17". The Miami Herald. November 6, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Gators out of Gamecocks' league". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. November 13, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sputtering Gators handle Vanderbilt". The Charlotte Observer. November 20, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Seminoles' rally a Gators letdown". The Fresno Bee. November 27, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "SEC-ond chance". The Tampa Tribune. December 4, 1994. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "'Noles east by Gators". The Commercial Appeal. January 3, 1995. Retrieved February 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "National title Gators' goal". Rome News-Tribune. August 17, 1994. p. 4-B.
  17. ^ a b King, Bill (1994), Florida out to catch best prep receivers, web: News-Press, retrieved March 13, 2023
  18. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1994 Sep 04. Retrieved 2018-Nov-17.
  19. ^ Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-Nov-17.
  20. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1994 Sep 11. Retrieved 2018-Nov-17.
  21. ^ a b c Rick Warner, "Undefeated Auburn swamps No. 1 Florida, 36−33," The Sunday Gazette, pp. 1E & 6E (October 16, 1994). Retrieved August 17, 2011.
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