1984 Florida Gators football team

Schedule

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Personnel

• Charley Pell (first three games)
• Galen Hall (remaining eight games)
• Galen Hall (OC)
• Joe Kines (DC)
• Mike Heimerdinger (WR)
• Charlie Strong (GA)
• Gunnar Paulson (GA)

Game summaries

Vs. Miami (FL)

The Florida Gators opened the 1984 season with a neutral site clash at Tampa Stadium against their in-state rival and defending national champion Miami Hurricanes. The game was nationally televised by ESPN as the second game of a double-header on the network's first day broadcasting live college football.

Redshirt freshman Kerwin Bell unexpectedly became Florida's starting quarterback four days before the game when senior Dale Dorminey suffered a serious knee injury in practice. Supported by an effective rushing attack, Bell played well in his first collegiate appearance, and the game was close throughout. With his team down by six points late in the fourth quarter, Bell led the Gators on a long drive that culminated with a touchdown pass that gave them a 20-19 lead with under a minute remaining. However, Miami senior quarterback Bernie Kosar quickly led the Hurricanes down the field and threw a responding touchdown pass with six seconds left, putting Miami back ahead 26-20. The Gators lined up for one last play deep in their own territory with one second left. Bell threw a Hail Mary pass that was intercepted by Miami defensive back Tolbert Bain and returned for touchdown as time expired, giving Miami a 32–20 victory and covering the point spread, as the Hurricanes had been a 6.5 point favorite.

At Tennessee

First quarter

• UT – Tim McGee 52-yard pass from Tony Robinson (Fuad Reveiz kick). ''Tennessee 7–0. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Frankie Neal 50-yard pass from Kerwin Bell (Bobby Raymond kick), 1:28. ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:'''''

• UT – Fuad Reveiz 26-yard field goal. ''Tennessee 10–7. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Neal Anderson 80-yard run (kick failed). ''Florida 13–10. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter

• UT – Fuad Reveiz 40-yard field goal. ''Tie 13–13. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Chris Perkins 51-yard field goal. ''Florida 16–13. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Ricky Nattiel 8-yard run (Bobby Raymond kick). ''Florida 23–13. '''Drive: 16 plays.''''' Third quarter

• UT – Fuad Reveiz 35-yard field goal. ''Florida 23–16. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter

• FLA – Bobby Raymond 42-yard field goal. ''Florida 26–16. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Bobby Raymond 41-yard field goal. ''Florida 29–16. '''Drive:'''''

• UT – Joey Clinkscales 48-yard pass from Tony Robinson (Fuad Reveiz kick). ''Florida 29–23. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – Ray McDonald 13-yard pass from Kerwin Bell (Bobby Raymond kick). ''Florida 36–23. '''Drive:'''''

• UT – Johnnie Jones 4-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick), 7:23. ''Florida 36–30. '''Drive:'''''

• FLA – John L. Williams 47-yard run (Bobby Raymond kick), 0:54. ''Florida 43–30. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers

• FLA – Kerwin Bell – 9/12, 201 yards, 2 TD, INT

• UT – Tony Robinson – 29/43, 371 yards, 2 TD, INT ;Top rushers

• FLA – Neal Anderson – 23 rushes, 178 yards, TD

• UT – Johnnie Jones – 17 rushes, 94 yards, TD ;Top receivers

• FLA – John L. Williams – 4 receptions, 96 yards

• UT – Tim McGee – 10 receptions, 157 yards, TD

• John L. Williams led the team in receiving and added 100 yards on the ground.

• The game featured 1,060 total yards and 47 first downs.

Vs. Georgia

After suffering several defeats to the Bulldogs with a conference championship at stake, the Gators entered the rivalry game in Jacksonville undefeated in the SEC. The Gators dominated early, building a 17–0 lead by early in the second half. Georgia seemed to come alive in the third quarter, mounting a long time-consuming drive into Florida territory. However, they were stopped near Florida's goal line on a fourth down play, giving the Gators the ball inside their own one yard line. On the third play following the change of possession, Gator quarterback Kerwin Bell dropped back into his own end zone and lofted a long pass down the sideline to wide receiver Ricky Nattiel, who went 96 yards for a touchdown. Florida regained the momentum and went on to win 27–0, their largest margin of victory in the series at the time.

Kentucky

Postseason

Despite winning the SEC title, the Gators were barred from going to the 1985 Sugar Bowl due to the violations committed under Pell; runner-up LSU went in their place. On May 30, 1985, the presidents of the ten SEC-member universities voted 6–4 to vacate the Gators' 1984 SEC title and declared the team ineligible for the SEC championship during the upcoming 1985 and 1986 seasons because of the rule violations committed under Pell. The retroactive vacating of the 1984 championship, six months after the 1984 football season ended, drew an angry response from University of Florida president Marshall Criser, as well as Gators coaches, players and fans due to the retroactive nature of the decision and its perceived unfairness.

References

References

1. White Jr., Gordon S.. (January 3, 1985). "Brigham Young Is Voted Top Team in Major Polls — Times Places Cougars 10th". [[The New York Times]].
2. "The Great Wall of Florida". University of Florida Athletic Association.
3. "1984 Southeastern Conference Year Summary".
4. (November 20, 2009). "Do not forget 1984, UF football's first SEC title". Gainesville Sun.
5. (September 2, 1984). "Kosar colossal in 32–20 UM win over Gators". The Bradenton Herald.
6. (September 9, 1984). "Florida, LSU scrap to 21–21 tie". The Tennessean.
7. (September 16, 1984). "Gators wipe out Green Wave". The Orlando Sentinel.
8. (September 30, 1984). "Gators drop Mississippi St., 27–12". The Miami Herald.
9. (October 7, 1984). "Florida dejuices the Orange, 16–0". The Sunday Press.
10. (October 14, 1984). "Bombs away! Gators burn Vols 43–30". News-Press.
11. (October 21, 1984). "Gators cool, confident during 48–17 victory". The Palm Beach Post.
12. (November 4, 1984). "Gators take giant step, 24–3 over Auburn". St. Petersburg Times.
13. (November 11, 1984). "Bulldogs' missed opportunity ends Florida's frustrations". Anderson Independent-Mail.
14. (November 18, 1984). "Gators get the glory". The Messenger-Inquirer.
15. (December 2, 1984). "Hall: We are the best team in the nation". St. Lucie News Tribune.
16. [http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive. link. (December 8, 2015 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.)
17. Paul Jenkins, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O79OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7vsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4794%2C903423 Dale Dorminey: guy who made Kerwin Bell famous]," ''Lakeland Ledger'', p. 1D (September 13, 1987). Retrieved February 13, 2016.
18. (September 2, 1984). "LAST-MINUTE RALLY LIFTS MIAMI, 32-20". New York Times.
19. (August 21, 2019). "Miyagi’s wisdom, Kerwin Bell’s fearlessness highlighted memorable day". Tampa Bay Times.
20. Gainesville Sun. 1984 Oct 14. Pg. 8F. Retrieved 2020-Dec-05.
21. ''Gainesville Sun''. 1984 Nov 18. Retrieved 2017-Sep-03.
22. "Commentary : What's Florida's Problem? Give the Title Back". latimes.
23. Associated Press, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KGkeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ycgEAAAAIBAJ&dq=1984%20sec%20title%20florida%20hall%20vacate%20football&pg=4222%2C7996257 SEC Presidents swipe Florida of football title]", ''Times Daily'', p. 5B (May 31, 1985). ''See also'' "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jx0jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FM8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5682,7668798&hl=en Gators Stripped of SEC Title]", ''The Palm Beach Post'', pp. A1 & A5 (May 31, 1985). Both retrieved May 5, 2011.