1971 Florida Gators football team

Schedule

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Personnel

• Doug Dickey

Game summaries

Duke

Mississippi State

Alabama

Gainesville, Florida

• Sources: Against the Gators, Alabama's Johnny Musso scored four rushing touchdowns en route to a 38–0 shutout at Florida Field. 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. All four came on the ground with a pair from one-yard out, a three-yard run and a five-yard run. Alabama then closed the game with an 11-yard Billy Sexton touchdown pass to Dexter Wood that made the final score 38–0.

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.

Tennessee

First quarter

• TENN – George Hunt 33-yard field goal. ''Tennessee 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
• TENN – George Hunt 34-yard field goal. ''Tennessee 6–0. '''Drive:'''''
• TENN – Curt Watson 8-yard run (George Hunt kick). ''Tennessee 13–0. '''Drive: 74 yards.'''''
• FLA – Willie Jackson 23-yard pass from John Reaves (kick failed), 2:12. ''Tennessee 13–6. '''Drive:'''''
• FLA – Hank Foldberg 7-yard pass from John Reaves (Richard Franco kick). ''Tie 13–13. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
• TENN – Stan Trott 20-yard pass from Phil Pierce (George Hunt kick). ''Tennessee 20–13. '''Drive: 99 yards.''''' ;Top passers
• TENN
• FLA – John Reaves – 19/40, 213 yards, 2 TD, INT ;Top rushers
• TENN
• FLA – Mike Rich – 9 rushes, 80 yards ;Top receivers
• TENN
• FLA – Willie Jackson – 7 receptions, 93 yards, TD

LSU

Florida State

Second quarter

• FLA – Mike Rich 1-yard run (kick failed), 14:58. ''Florida 6–0. '''Drive: 75 yards.'''''
• FLA – Jimmy Barr 26-yard fumble return (pass good), 14:40. Florida 14–0. Fourth quarter
• FSU – Paul Magalski 3-yard run (Frank Fontes kick), 13:57. ''Florida 14–7. '''Drive: 73 yards.'''''
• FLA – Richard Franco 42-yard field goal, 9:19. ''Florida 17–7. '''Drive:'''''
• FSU – Rhett Dawson 6-yard pass from Gary Huff (pass good), 3:02. ''Florida 17–15. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
• FSU – Gary Huff – 22/40, 198 yards, TD
• FLA – John Reaves – 4/11, 44 yards ;Top rushers
• FSU – Art Munroe – 17 rushes, 79 yards
• FLA – Tommy Durrance – 15 rushes, 60 yards ;Top receivers
• FSU – Rhett Dawson – 7 receptions, 90 yards, TD
• FLA – Willie Jackson – 1 reception, 28 yards

Maryland

Auburn

Georgia

Kentucky

Miami (FL)

;Top passers

• FLA – John Reaves – 33/50, 348 yards
• MIA – ;Top rushers
• FLA – Tommy Durrance – 9 rushes, 29 yards
• MIA – ;Top receivers
• FLA – Tommy Durrance – 9 receptions, 106 yards
• MIA –

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."

References

References

1. ''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive. link. (2015-12-08 '', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.)
2. (September 12, 1971). "Duke kicks favored Florida in face, 12–6". The Palm Beach Post.
3. (September 19, 1971). "Ellis connects on field goal to nip Gators". Daily Press.
4. (September 26, 1971). "Musso scores four times as Tide manhandles Gators 38–0". The Selma Times-Journal.
5. (October 3, 1971). "Tennessee sidesteps Florida's bid for an upset, 20–13". The Palm Beach Post.
6. (October 10, 1971). "LSU begins SEC chase with 48–7 win". Daily World.
7. (October 17, 1971). "Gators stun Seminoles on Franco's field goal". St. Lucie News Tribune.
8. (October 24, 1971). "Reaves, Alvarez lead Gators over Terps". The Palm Beach Post.
9. (October 31, 1971). "Sullivan-led Tigers drub Gators, 40–7". The Bradenton Herald.
10. (November 7, 1971). "'Dogs bury UF by 49–7". Tallahassee Democrat.
11. (November 14, 1971). "Gators skin 'Cats as Alvarez sparkles". The Bradenton Herald.
12. (November 28, 1971). "Reaves: Wow!". St. Petersburg Times.
13. "1972 University of Florida Football Brochure". University Athletic Association, Inc..
14. "Duke Boots Top Gators." ''Ocala Star-Banner''. 1971 Sept 12.
15. ''Ocala Star-Banner''. 1971 September 19.
16. Reed, Delbert. (September 26, 1971). "High Tide in Florida". Google News Archives.
17. Tucker, Tommy. (September 26, 1971). "Musso leads Alabama romp by hapless Florida, 38–0". Google News Archives.
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, "[https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/100916_gators_hurricanes_florida_flop&sportCat=ncf The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop]", ESPN.com (September 16, 2010). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
23. Randall Mell, "[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2000-12-20/sports/0012191024_1_gators-florida-s-8-yard-line-john-reaves It was humiliating] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-03-30 ", ''Orlando Sun-Sentinel'' (December 20, 2000). Retrieved March 30, 2014.)
24. "Contemporary TV coverage of Florida Flop (youtube)".