1958 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1958 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 15 14 6–4–1 2–3–1 Bob Woodruff 9th Florida Field Gator Bowl L Lost 3–7 vs. Ole Miss The 1958 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1958 college football season. The season was the ninth of ten for Bob Woodruff as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Woodruff's 1958 Florida Gators finished with an overall record of 6–4–1 and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 2–3–1, placing eighth in the twelve-member SEC.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, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015. Schedule 1958 AP September 20 w Tulane Florida Field Gainesville, FL 34–14 26,641 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85640765/gators-romp-over-toothless-tulane-3414/ The Orlando Sentinel Gators romp over toothless Tulane, 34–14 September 21, 1958 September 19, 2021 Newspapers.com September 27 l 18 Mississippi State 11 Florida Field Gainesville, FL 7–14 31,102 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-stacey-sparks-maroon/133121306/ The Palm Beach Post-Times Stacey sparks Maroon rally to beat Gators September 28, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 w y y UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 21–14 31,175 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-florida-bowls-over-uc/133121433/ The Sacramento Bee Florida bowls over UCLA by 21 to 14 October 11, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 18 t y 18 Vanderbilt Florida Field Gainesville, FL 6–6 40,105 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-gators-tie-vandy-6/133114809/ Gators tie Vandy, 6–6, on last-second pass The Orlando Sentinel October 19, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 25 l y LSU 3 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry 7–10 62,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-lsu-trips-gators-1/133110592/ LSU trips Gators, 10–7 The Orlando Sentinel October 26, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 1 l Auburn 4 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 5–6 36,474 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-3rd-string-quart/133111805/ Chattanooga Sunday Times 3rd string quarterback Richard Wood is hero as Auburn edges Florida 6–5 November 2, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 8 w y 19 Georgia Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 7–6 38,234 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-florida-gators-nip/133121637/ The Bradenton Herald Florida Gators nip Georgis Bulldogs, 7–6 November 9, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 15 w y 18 Arkansas State Florida Field Gainesville, FL 51–7 19,030 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111330805/gators-slaughter-arkansas-state-517/ The Orlando Sentinel Gators slaughter Arkansas State, 51–7 November 16, 1958 October 14, 2022 Newspapers.com November 22 w y 12 Florida State Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 21–7 44,403 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-just-as-good-but-didnt/133121794/ St. Petersburg Times Just as good but didn't prove it, Ulmer says November 23, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 29 w y y 14 Miami (FL) Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 12–9 24,000–24,641 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-florida-edges-miami-12/133121885/ The Decatur Daily Florida edges Miami 12–9 to get bowl bid November 30, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com December 27 l y y 14 Ole Miss 11 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL Gator Bowl 3–7 41,312 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-reb-defense-saves-gator-v/133113577/ Reb defense saves Gator victory, 7–3 The Clarion-Ledger December 28, 1958 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com Department of Sports Publicity University of Florida 1959 Football Brochure https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2016/8/19/1959_fb_media_guide.pdf floridagators.com University Athletic Association, Inc. 15 March 2018 Before the season The prospects for the 1958 season were devastated by Bernie Parrish deciding to play baseball with the Cincinnati Reds.Golenbock, Go Gators!, p. 109 The Gators were led by quarterback Jimmy Dunn, defensive back Don Fleming, halfback and punter Bobby Joe Green and All-American tackle Vel Heckman. Game summaries Tulane The season opened with a 34–14 a conference win over the Tulane Green Wave Mississippi State The first disappointment of the season came in the second week, when the Gators lost, 14–7, to the 11-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs. UCLA In the third week of play, Florida had an intersectional victory over the UCLA Bruins team, 21–14, on the road in Los Angeles. Vanderbilt Florida tied Vanderbilt, 6–6. LSU Florida–LSU Florida 0 0 0 7 No. 3 LSU 0 7 0 3 October 25 Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana 62,000 Source:Mercer Bailey Eyes of SEC Focused on Tonight's Tigertown Tilt The Times-Picayune October 25, 1958 17Martinez Harry LSU 10-7 Winners – Davis' Boot is Difference The Times-Picayune October 26, 1958 1, 4 The Gators lost to the eventual consensus national champion LSU Tigers at the latter's homecoming. The Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak to the Gators with a 10–7 defensive struggle that came down to the last three minutes of play. http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/01fb296-306.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=5200 2001 LSU Football Media Guide February 6, 2016 LSUsports.net LSU Publications Office The game featured one of the strongest rushing teams in the nation against one of the league's best run defenses. The Tigers, led by halfbacks Billy Cannon and Johnny Robinson, averaged 220 yards rushing per game. The Gators had held their previous opponents to an average of 65 yards rushing per game. LSU was favored by two touchdowns. Bill Kastelz, the sports editor of the Jacksonville Times-Union, wrote that Heckman's play reached All-American levels against No. 3-ranked LSU on October 25, 1958.Florida Tackle Heckman Among All-America Candidates St. Petersburg Times November 7, 1958 5C https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19581107&id=DHdSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=63YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7270,3093780 Auburn In a 5–6 loss to fourth-ranked Auburn, an injury to a Florida tackles led Woodruff to employ the unorthodox strategy of shifting Heckman between right and left tackle.Heckman Lauded for Great Play Daytona Beach Morning Journal November 3, 1958 10 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19581103&id=cvknAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9ckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3877,511282 Bill Kastelz, the sports editor of the Jacksonville Times-Union, wrote: "Big, fast and tough, he outshone all of Auburn's great linemen." According to Auburn coach Shug Jordan, "There should be a law to prevent things like that. We were supposed to run plays where Heckman wasn't, and he's there now."Heckman Best Florida Lineman Since Barrow The Miami News November 25, 1958 4D https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19581124&id=160yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KewFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2489,4046854 November 17, 2015 July 11, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20151117040754/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19581124&id=160yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KewFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2489,4046854 dead Coach Bob Woodruff's Gators and coach Shug Jordan's Tigers played nine games against each other between 1951 and 1959, only three of which were decided by more than ten points. However, none was closer than the game between the unranked Gators and the defending national champions and fourth-ranked Tigers in 1958, a game in which neither team scored more than six points.2011 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20121111193306/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2011-fbguide.pdf 2012-11-11 , Auburn Athletics Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 178−189, 191 (2011). Retrieved August 16, 2011. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Tigers leading 6–3 on the strength of a single touchdown and a missed extra point, the stingy Gators defense pinned the Tigers offense behind their own three-yard-line.Tom McEwen, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). Rather than risk a turnover, Jordan ordered Tigers quarterback Johnny Kern to kneel in their own end zone, intentionally scoring a safety for the Gators, but earning a free punt for the Tigers. The Tigers kicked it away, and their defense held on to win 6–5.Norris Anderson, "Auburn Holds Desperately, Turns Back Florida 6 To 5July 2026 InternetArchiveBot ", The Miami News, pp. 1C & 5C (November 2, 1958). Retrieved August 17, 2011. Georgia The Gators beat the rival Georgia Bulldogs, 7–6. Arkansas State Florida beat Arkansas State, 51–7. Florida State Florida State 7 0 0 0 Florida 7 14 0 0 November 22 Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida 43,000 yes 1 11:42 FSU Fred Pickard 1 yard run (Johnny Sheppard kick) FSU 7-0 1 6:59 FLA recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick good) Tie 7-7 2 3:38 FLA Jimmy Dunn 9 yard run (kick good) FLA 14-7 2 0:57 FLA Jimmy Dunn 12 yard run (kick good) FLA 21-7 yes The Gators had a 21–7 victory in their meeting wit the new in-state rival Florida State Seminoles.NoleFan.org"FSU Played Well But Gators Played Better Says Nugent." Ocala Star-Banner. 1958 Nov 23. Miami (FL) The season included a 12–9 upset of the Miami Hurricanes. Ole Miss—Gator Bowl The Gators capped the year with a season-ending 3–7 loss to the 11th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels in a defensive struggle in the December 1958 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. Roster QB Jimmy Dunn, Sr. References Additional sources Golenbock Peter Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory Legends Publishing, LLC St. Petersburg, Florida 2002 0-9650782-1-3 Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football