1990 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1990 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 13 9–2 6–1 Steve Spurrier 1st Fun and gun Jim Bates 1st 4–3 Chris Bromley Ernie Mills Godfrey Myles Glenn Neely Huey Richardson Ben Hill Griffin Stadium The 1990 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season marked the return of the Gators' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Steve Spurrier to his alma mater as the new head coach of the Florida Gators football team.Norm Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, pp. 104–126 (2007). Spurrier's 1990 Florida Gators, while ineligible to win the SEC title or receive a bowl bid because of lingering NCAA probation, nevertheless posted a best-in-the-SEC record of 6–1 and an overall record of 9–2, and laid the foundation for the Gators' run of six SEC championships and a national title during the next decade. They finished thirteenth in the season's final AP Poll. Before the season Just before Spurrier's Gator coaching debut, the Gainesville campus was rocked by the murders committed by Danny Rolling.https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/a-uf-summer-of-joy-and-horror-still-resonates-25-years-later/2243476/ When UF's Summer of Steve collided with terror Pat Dooley During Spurrier's first season, he was able to build on the strong talent recruited by departing Gators coach Galen Hall, but the Gators also reaped the benefits of Spurrier's "there are no excuses for losing" mantra.Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault, pp. 105–109. Even as Spurrier's new "fun 'n' gun" offensive scheme led by quarterback Shane Matthews, wide receiver Ernie Mills and tight end Kirk Kirkpatrick was breaking team scoring and yardage records, defensive coordinator Jim Bates coached one of the best defensive squads in team history, including two first-team All-Americans, defensive end Huey Richardson and safety Will White. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143532/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2015/media_guide.pdf 2015-12-08 , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 112–113 (2015). Retrieved August 14, 2015. Schedule 1990 AP September 8 w y Oklahoma State Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 50–7 75,428 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-gators-507-crushing-of-pok/135063583/ Tulsa World Gators' 50–7 crushing of Pokes a wonder September 9, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 15 w y 24 Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry TBS 17–13 70,123 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71577592/gatorball-rally-humbles-tide/ The Tampa Tribune Gatorball rally humbles Tide September 16, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 22 w y 19 Furman 1 (I-AA) Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 27–3 71,868 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98442341/win-brings-no-joy-to-gators/ The Miami Herald Win brings no joy to Gators September 23, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 29 w 17 Mississippi State Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL TBS 34–21 72,943 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-gators-have-way-w/135063719/ The Pensacola News-Journal Gators have way with Bulldogs September 30, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 6 w 10 LSU Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry ESPN 34–8 75,039 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-florida-dominates-l/135063788/ Tallahassee Democrat Florida dominates LSU 34–8 to stay unbeaten October 7, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 13 l y 9 Tennessee 5 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry ESPN 3–45 96,874 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-volunteers-explode-p/135063870/ The Greenville News Volunteers explode past Gators, 45–3 October 14, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 20 w y y 17 Akron Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 59–0 74,558 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal-akron-us-pain/135063939/ The Akron Beacon Journal Akron U's pain goes far beyond its 59–0 defeat October 21, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 3 w 15 Auburn 4 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry ESPN 48–7 75,459 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-florida-whips-auburn/135064027/ The Courier-Journal Florida whips Auburn 48–7 November 4, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 10 w y 10 Georgia Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL rivalry TBS 38–7 81,529 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-florida-destroy/135064128/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Florida destroys Dogs 38–7 November 11, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 17 w y 6 Kentucky rivalry Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY TBS 47–15 55,140 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-matthews-passes/135064267/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Matthews passes for 4 TDs in Florida's romp November 18, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com December 1 l y y 6 Florida State 8 Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL rivalry ESPN 30–45 63,190 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-no-8-florid/135064386/ The Knoxville News-Sentinel No. 8 Florida St. rips No. 6 Florida December 2, 1990 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Personnel 1990 Florida Gators y Brady Ackerman RB Terence Barber WR Chris Bromley OL Michel Cohen QB Cal Dixon OL Monty Duncan WR Tre Everett WR Brian Fisher OL Aubrey Hill WR y Harrison Houston WR Jr Hesham Ismail OL y Terrell Jackson RB Greg Keller TE Kirk Kirkpatrick TE Kedra Malone RB 9 So Shane Matthews QB y Willie McClendon RB Dexter McNabb RB Ernie Mills WR y Kyle Morris QB Kelvin Randolph RB Errict Rhett RB y Tony Rowell OL Alonzo Sullivan WR Chuck Wabbersen RB Jim Watson OL Mark White OL Ephesians Bartley LB Mike Brandon DL Brad Culpepper DL y 28 Richard Fain DB William Gaines DL Monty Grow DB Darren Mickell DL y Carlton Miles LB Mark Murray DL Jerry Odom LB Tim Paulk LB Huey Richardson DL y Ed Robinson LB So Del Speer DB y Jimmy Spencer DB 2 So Will White DB y Will White (American football) Arden Czyzewski K Jason Hailey P Ryan Ruland K Steve Spurrier Jim Bates Game summaries Oklahoma State Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed Oklahoma State Cowboys at Florida Gators September 8 Cowboys 0 7 0 0 Gators 14 12 14 10 Ben Hill Griffith Stadium, Gainesville, Florida 75,428 Recap/Box Score First quarter UF – Dexter McNabb 2-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 13:18. Florida 7–0. UF – Shane Matthews 1-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 3:20. Florida 14–0. Second quarter OSU – Curtis Mayfield 14-yard pass from Chris Smith (Cary Blanchard kick), 13:35. Florida 14–7. UF – Arden Czyzewski 33-yard field goal, 10:59. Florida 17–7. UF – Safety, Chris Smith tackled by Huey Richardson in end zone, 5:20. Florida 19–7. UF – Willie McClendon 1-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 3:24. Florida 26–7. Third quarter UF – Tre Everett 50-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Arden Czyzewski kick), 7:45. Florida 33–7. UF – Willie McClendon 3-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 3:14. Florida 40–7. Fourth quarter UF – Arden Czyzewski 40-yard field goal, 11:34. Florida 43–7. UF – Darren Mickell 14-yard interception return (Arden Czyzewski kick), 9:21. Florida 50–7. Top passers OSU – Chris Smith – 11/22, 81 yards, TD UF – Shane Matthews – 20/29, 332 yards, TD Top rushers OSU – Gerald Hudson – 14 rushes, 86 yards UF – Errict Rhett – 7 rushes, 63 yards Top receivers OSU – Curtis Mayfield – 7 receptions, 110 yards, TD UF – Tre Everett – 5 receptions, 123 yards, TD Combating the gloom, the Gators opened the season with a no-huddle, 80-yard touchdown drive in six plays to defeat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 50–7."Spurrier Debut a Doozy: 50-7." Gainesville Sun. King, Bill. 1990 Sept 9. right Full game (first half) Full game (second half) At Alabama Alabama–Florida football rivalry Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed No. 24 Florida Gators at Alabama Crimson Tide September 15 No. 24 Gators 0 0 10 7 Crimson Tide 7 0 3 3 Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 70,123 TBS Recap/Box First quarter UA – Craig Sanderson 15-yard pass from Gary Hollingsworth (Philip Doyle kick), 3:55. Alabama 7–0. Second quarter No scoring Third quarter UA – Philip Doyle 41-yard field goal, 11:21. Alabama 10–0. UF – Terence Barber 6-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Arden Czyzewski kick), 7:48. Alabama 10–7. UF – Arden Czyzewski 23-yard field goal, 1:28. Tie 10–10. Fourth quarter UF – Richard Fain recovered blocked punt in end zone (Arden Czyzewski kick), 14:45. Florida 17–10. UA – Philip Doyle 46-yard field goal, 7:22. Florida 17–13. In their second game, the Gators came from behind to beat Alabama, a confidence-building, 17–13 signature road win, which set the tone for the remainder of the season,. Spurrier treasured the wins against the Crimson Tide: "Those victories early – '90, '91 – really got us started there at Florida ..."http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/09/steve_spurrier_says_early_90s.html Steve Spurrier says early '90s wins over Alabama 'got us started there at Florida' AL.com Alabama quarterback Gary Hollingsworth threw three interceptions to Florida safety Will White, and the Gators scored the winning touchdown on a blocked punt."Loaded For Bear", S. Looney, Douglas. Sports Illustrated, September 24, 1990 right Game highlights Furman 1990 Furman Paladins football team Florida then beat Furman 27–3. Mississippi State 1990 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team Building on the Alabama win, the Gators had a 34–21 conference victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. LSU 1990 LSU Tigers football team Florida–LSU football rivalry Next, the Gators blew out the LSU Tigers 34–8. At No. 5 Tennessee 1990 Tennessee Volunteers football team Florida–Tennessee football rivalry The Gators suffered a disappointing 45-3 road loss to the fifth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tennessee. In yet another link between the programs, Spurrier had been a star quarterback at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee during the early 1960s. Although Knoxville is nearby, he did not seriously consider attending UT because he was an excellent passer and the Vols ran a single-wing offense at the time which featured a running quarterback.“The Spurrier Sweepstakes” – The Lakeland Ledger, Nov. 12, 1996 Instead, he choose to return to the state of his birth (Spurrier was born in Miami BeachSpurrier bio, St. Pete Times), eventually becoming the Gators' first Heisman Trophy winner in 1966. Spurrier's first Gator squad was 5–0 and ranked No. 9 coming into the matchup with Johnny Majors' 3–0–2 and No. 5 Vols, marking the first time in series history that both rivals were ranked in the AP top-10 when they faced off. (It was not Spurrier's first visit to Knoxville as an opposing coach; his 1988 Duke Blue Devils had upset the Vols 31–26.http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/d/duke/yearly_results.php?year=1985 Duke Game by Game Results 2016-07-13 2016-01-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20160121081126/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/d/duke/yearly_results.php?year=1985 dead ) The 1990 game began as a defensive struggle, with UT holding a slim 7–3 lead at the half. However, the Vols' Dale Carter returned the second half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, igniting the home crowd at Neyland Stadium.“Gators Seeking Special Play from Special Teams” – The Gainesville Sun, October 11, 1991 On their ensuing possession, the Gators fumbled for what would be the first of six UF turnovers in the second half. The opportunistic Vols took full advantage, turning Spurrier's homecoming (and, coincidentally, UT's homecoming game) into a dominating 45–3 rout, the largest margin of victory for either team in the series."Tennessee Domination Was Total", The Gainesville Sun, October 14, 1990 Akron 1990 Akron Zips football team Florida blanked Akron 59–0. Auburn 1990 Auburn Tigers football team Auburn–Florida football rivalry No. 4 Tigers 7 0 0 0 No. 15 Gators 7 27 7 7 November 3 Ben Hill Griffith Stadium 75,459 Ron Franklin and Gary Danielson (play-by-play), Kevin Kiley (sideline reporter) ESPN yes Q1 FLA McNabb 1 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 7–0 Q1 AUB Casey 55 yard pass from White (Von Wyl kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 FLA McClendon 1 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 14–7 Q2 FLA Czyzewski 42 yard field goal FLA 17–7 Q2 FLA McClendon 3 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 24–7 Q2 FLA Rhett 29 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 31–7 Q2 FLA Czyzewski 42 yard field goal FLA 34–7 Q3 FLA McClendon 1 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 41–7 Q4 FLA Rhett 4 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 48–7 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1990 Nov 4. Retrieved 2018-Nov-25. Coach Pat Dye's 1990 Auburn Tigers were the defending three-time SEC champions, had built an undefeated 6−0−1 record, and were ranked fourth in the nation in the AP Poll.Associated Press, " College Football: South; Auburn Routed for First Loss," The New York Times (November 4, 1990). Retrieved August 16, 2011. Notwithstanding the fact that first-year coach Steve Spurrier's fifteenth-ranked Gators were three-point favorites, Dye had been publicly dismissive of Spurrier's pass-oriented offense before the game. The Gators and Tigers were tied 7–7 after the first quarter, but Spurrier's Gators exploded for twenty-seven points in the second quarter, resulting in a 34–7 halftime lead and a 48–7 victory for the Gators, which was the Gators' biggest margin of victory in the series, and the worst loss of Dye's career.Gregg Dewalt, " Gators maul Tigers," Times Daily, pp. 1B & 6B (November 4, 1990). Retrieved August 16, 2011. Vs. Georgia 1990 Georgia Bulldogs football team Florida–Georgia football rivalry Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party: Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs November 10 Bulldogs 7 0 0 0 No. 10 Gators 14 10 14 0 Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida 81,529 Gainesville Sun Georgia Greg Talley6/12, 93 Yds, TD, 2 INT Dupree8 Rush, 32 Yds Hummings3 Rec, 33 Yds Florida Shane Matthews26/39, 344 Yds, 3 TD Willie McClendon16 Rush, 58 Yds, TD Kirk Kirkpatrick8 Rec, 112 Yds Florida's first win against Georgia since 1986, the Gators beat the Bulldogs 38–7 ."Gators Pound 'Dawgs, 38-7." King, Bill. Gainesville Sun. 1990 Nov 11. UGA FLA collapsed 1 Florida RushTD Willie McClendon 2 good Arden Czyzewski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 Florida IntTD Tim Paulk 36 good Arden Czyzewski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 1 Georgia RecTD Andre Hastings Greg Talley 23 good John Kasay run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 14 2 Florida FG 23 Arden Czyzewski 7 17 2 Florida RecTD Ernie Mills Shane Matthews 6 good Arden Czyzewski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 24 3 Florida RecTD Terence Barber Shane Matthews 51 good Arden Czyzewski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 31 3 Florida RecTD Ernie Mills Shane Matthews 16 good Arden Czyzewski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 38 7 38 At Kentucky 1990 Kentucky Wildcats football team Florida beat the Kentucky Wildcats 47–15. At No. 8 Florida State 1990 Florida State Seminoles football team Florida–Florida State football rivalry Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed No. 6 Florida Gators at No. 8 Florida State Seminoles December 1, 1990 No. 6 Gators 3 7 6 14 No. 8 Seminoles 17 7 14 7 Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida 63,190 Clear Recap/Box Score First quarter FSU – Lawrence Dawsey 76-yard pass from Casey Weldon (Richie Andrews kick), 14:03. Florida St 7–0. Drive: FSU – Richie Andrews 47-yard field goal, 12:57. Florida St 10–0. Drive: FLA – Arden Czyzewski 41-yard field goal, 8:35. Florida St 10–3. Drive: FSU - Amp Lee 8-yard pass from Casey Weldon (Richie Andrews kick), 2:36. Florida St 17–3. Drive: Second quarter FLA – Shane Matthews 1-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 5:12. Florida St 17–10. Drive: FSU – Edgar Bennett 2-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 1:11. Florida St 24–10. Drive: Third quarter FSU – Edgar Bennett 2-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 10:59. Florida St 31–10. Drive: FLA – Ernie Mills 14-yard pass from Shane Matthews (kick blocked), 4:03. Florida St 31–16. Drive: FSU – Amp Lee 16-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 3:08. Florida St 38–16. Drive: Fourth quarter FLA – Shane Matthews 1-yard run (pass good), 12:38. Florida St 38–24. Drive: FSU – Amp Lee 2-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 11:56. Florida St 45–24. Drive: FLA – Kirk Kirkpatrick 9-yard pass from Shane Matthews (pass failed), 8:50. Florida St 45–30. Drive: Top passers FLA – Shane Matthews – 29/48, 351 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT FSU – Casey Weldon – 13/23, 325 yards, 2 TD Top rushers FLA – Errict Rhett – 14 rushes, 57 yards FSU – Amp Lee – 26 rushes, 147 yards, 2 TD Top receivers FLA – Ernie Mills – 7 receptions, 126 yards, TD FSU – Lawrence Dawsey – 4 receptions, 172 yards, TD The game was dubbed by some as the "Seminole Bowl" due to Florida's postseason ban. Postseason Matthews finished the season with 2,952 passing yards and twenty-three touchdowns—then the most passing yards in Gators history. He was SEC Player of the Year.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/sec-poy.html SEC Player of the Year Winners College Football at Sports-Reference.com Before Spurrier returned to Gainesville, the Gators had never won an officially sanctioned Southeastern Conference (SEC) or national football championship (Florida's first SEC championship was in 1984, but was retroactively vacated by the SEC for infractions incurred by former head coach Charley Pell). Before Spurrier resigned to seek a coaching position in the National Football League in January 2002, the Gators would win six SEC titles, play for two national championships, and win one in 1996. References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football