1969 Florida Gators football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

Houston

In the opening game against the seventh-ranked Houston Cougars, the unranked Gators debuted a new passing offense which set the tone of success for the rest of the season and upset the Cougars, 59–34. Carlos Alvarez had 6 catches and 182 yards receiving.

Mississippi State

In the second week of play, the Gators beat Mississippi State, 47–25. Alvarez had 12 catches and 180 yards receiving.

Florida State

The Gators won the matchup over Florida State 21–6 on the back of a defensive surge that was unparalleled in Gator history. The Gators defense, led by junior defensive lineman Jack Youngblood, and sophomore defensive lineman Robert Harrell, sacked FSU quarterback Bill Cappleman eleven times for 91 yards leaving FSU with a total of negative 18 yards rushing in the game. Youngblood had been shifted to defensive end, with Harrell at tackle. Harrell earned National Defensive Lineman of The Week honors.

In addition to the pass rush, the FSU offense fumbled the ball eight times, losing five. Two other Gator Sophomores starred in the game as well, All-American wide out Carlos Alvarez and quarterback John Reaves. Alvarez had seven catches for 134 yards.

Tulane

On "Super Saturday" in Tampa, the Gators came from behind and went for two to beat winless Tulane by an 18–17 score.

North Carolina

The Gators defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 52–2 and Alvarez caught 4 passes for 122 yards.

Vanderbilt

Florida won over the Vanderbilt Commodores 41–20. Reaves threw 5 touchdowns and Alvarez had 11 catches for 112 yards.

Auburn, Georgia

A Southeastern Conference (SEC) loss to the Auburn Tigers and a tie with the rival Georgia Bulldogs cost the Gators a share of their elusive first SEC football championship.

Kentucky

In a 31–6 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, Alvarez had 10 catches for 105 receiving yards.

Miami (FL)

Florida beat the Miami Hurricanes, 35–16, as Carlos Alvarez had a then-record 237 receiving yards on 15 receptions.

Tennessee—Gator Bowl

In a strange twist, the Gators were invited to play coach Doug Dickey's SEC champion Tennessee Volunteers in the December 1969 Gator Bowl. In a game dominated by a Gators defense led by linebacker Mike Kelley (the game's MVP), defensive back Steve Tannen and defensive end Jack Youngblood, the Gators upset the Volunteers 14–13 to cap their 9–1–1 season—the Gators' best ever single-season record to that time. After the Gator Bowl, Ray Graves resigned as the head coach of the Gators football team, but continued as the athletic director of the Florida Gators sports program until 1979.

During the 1960s, Graves compiled an overall record of 70–31–4 (.686) during the decade, making Graves the winningest coach in the history of the Gators football program until that time.

Roster

• Ray Graves

References

References

1. ''[http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/gatorzone.com/documents/2016/8/4/2016_Florida_Gators_Media_Guide_web.pdf?id=15687 2016 Florida Gators Football Media Guide]'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 110–111 (2015). Retrieved August 14, 2015.
2. Buddy Martin. (December 18, 1969). "Mac Steen: HeIs Gators Answer To jerry Kramer". Ocala Star-Banner.
3. (September 21, 1969). "Florida bombards Houston, 59 to 34". Pensacola News Journal.
4. (September 28, 1969). "Gators outscore Mississippi State in 47–35 slugfest". The Commercial Appeal.
5. (October 5, 1969). "Gator defenders muscle into act". St. Petersburg Times.
6. (October 12, 1969). "Gators bite off brash Tulane challenge 18–17". The Tampa Tribune.
7. (October 19, 1969). "UNC killed by angry Gators, 52–2". The Charlotte Observer.
8. (October 26, 1969). "Gators smash Vandy, 41–20". The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
9. (November 2, 1969). "Auburn hands Florida first defeat of year". The Opelika-Auburn News.
10. (November 9, 1969). "Florida, Georgia tie, 13–13". The Bradenton Herald.
11. (November 16, 1969). "Bowl-hungry Gators nab 31–6 win over Kentucky". Tallahassee Democrat.
12. (November 30, 1969). "Florida beats Miami 35–16; Reaves No. 1". The Danville Register.
13. (December 28, 1969). "Florida upsets Vols in Gator". The El Paso Times.
14. "1970 University of Florida Football Brochure". University Athletic Association, Inc..
15. "Florida State Football - 1969 Year In Review".
16. "Great Teams and Eras: The Super Sophs".
17. (October 10, 1969). "Florida, Tulane Clash in Tampa". Sarasota Journal.
18. (October 12, 1969). "What Writers Said About Gators". Ocala Star-Banner.
19. Nash, ''The Gainesville Sun Presents'', pp. 73–76.