1991 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1991 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 8 7 10–2 7–0 Steve Spurrier 2nd Fun and gun Ron Zook 1st 4–4–3Tampa Bay Times https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/12/02/zook-s-defense-was-offensive-to-foes/ Zook's defense was offensive to foes December 2, 1991 September 20, 2023 Brad Culpepper Cal Dixon Tim Paulk Ben Hill Griffin Stadium SEC champion Sugar Bowl L Lost 28–39 vs. Notre Dame The 1991 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. The season was Steve Spurrier's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The Gators were led by quarterback Shane Matthews and first-team All-American defensive tackle Brad Culpepper.Carlson, University of Florida Football Vault, pp. 107–108. Spurrier's 1991 Florida Gators compiled the first-ever ten-win season in program history, an overall record of 10–2 and a perfect SEC record of 7–0. Schedule 1991 AP Eastern September 7 w y 6 San Jose State Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 59–21 83,067 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-floridas-air/135100030/ The San Francisco Examiner Florida's air attack too much for San Jose September 8, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.comBig West The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California September 8, 1991 C18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10432845/1991_0908_big_west/ Newspapers.com April 21, 2017 September 14 7:30 p.m. w 6 Alabama 17 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry ESPN 35–0 85,069 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71593904/gators-pummel-tide-350/ The Tampa Tribune Gators pummel Tide 35–0 September 15, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 21 3:30 p.m. l y y 5 Syracuse 18 Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY ABC 21–38 49,823 Dame Mike Orange Crush Gators, 38-21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67785155/ 16 January 2021 The Orlando Sentinel 22 September 1991 31 Newspapers.com Sari Linn Debra Orangemen Offer Gators an Option https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67785029/ 16 January 2021 The Orlando Sentinel 22 September 1991 39 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 14 Mississippi State 21 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL TBS 29–7 69,328 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-gators-run-to-win/135093554/ The Pensacola News-Journal Gators run to win over Miss. St. September 29, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 5 8:00 p.m. w y 13 LSU Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry PPV 16–0 72,019 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-czyzewskis-fgs-def/135091427/ The Palm Beach Post Czyzewski's FGs, defense help UF beat LSU 16–0 October 6, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 12 7:30 p.m. w 10 Tennessee 4 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry ESPN 35–18 85,165 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-floridas-revenge-tennes/135099289/ The Tennessean Florida's revenge, Tennessee falls 35–18 October 13, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 19 1:00 p.m. w y y 6 Northern Illinois Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 41–10 83,708 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-florida-struggles-but-w/135100192/ Chicago Tribune Florida struggles, but whips NIU October 20, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 2 3:30 p.m. w y 6 Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry ABC 31–10 83,714 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-gators-a-step-closer/135089426/ St. Petersburg Times Gators a step closer November 3, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 9 4:00 p.m. w y 6 Georgia 23 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry ESPN 45–13 81,679 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-gators-win-4513-cl/135094978/ The Palm Beach Post Gators win 45–13, clinch tie for SEC November 10, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 16 w 5 Kentucky rivalry Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL 35–26 84,109 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-how-sweet-gators-rule/135086131/ The Miami Herald How sweet! Gators rule SEC November 17, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 30 12:00 p.m. w y 5 Florida State 3 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Gainesville, FL rivalry ABC 14–9 85,461 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-florida-finally/135100390/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Florida finally solves slumping Florida State December 1, 1991 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com January 1, 1992 Wednesday 8:00 p.m. l y y 3 Notre Dame 18 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 28–39 76,477 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-irish-thwart-flo/135100487/ Wisconsin State Journal Irish thwart Florida January 2, 1992 November 12, 2023 Newspapers.com 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. Rankings 1991 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 15 5 (1) 6 6 (1) 5 (1) 14 13 10 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 3 7 Coaches 0 15 7 6 7 5 (1) 15 13 10 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 8 Game summaries San Jose State 1991 San Jose State Spartans football team The season opened with a 59–21 victory over the San Jose State Spartans. Alabama The Gators defeated Alabama, 35–0. 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 Syracuse The 1991 season also included a disappointing 38–21 road loss to the seventeenth-ranked Syracuse Orangemen in the Carrier Dome. Mississippi State The Gators had a dominating confidence win over the twenty-first-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs, 29–7. LSU Florida blanked the LSU Tigers 16–0. Tennessee #4 Volunteers at #10 Gators Tennessee 2 10 3 3 Florida 7 14 7 7 Saturday, October 12 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida 85,165 ESPN yes 1 TENN C. Smith tackles Matthews for a safety TENN 2-0 1 FLA T. Jackson 2 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 7-2 2 FLA Everett 29 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 14-2 2 TENN Fleming 4 yard pass from Kelly (Becksvoort kick) FLA 14-9 2 FLA Rhett 4 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 21-9 2 TENN Becksvoort 43 yard field goal Florida 21-12 3 FLA Rhett 3 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 28-12 3 TENN Becksvoort 23 yard field goal Florida 28-15 4 TENN Becksvoort 23 yard field goal Florida 28-18 4 FLA Kennedy 44 yard interception return (Czyzewski kick) Florida 35-18 yes The Gators defeated the fourth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers 35–18.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9SgxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QQcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1583,1646212 Ocala Star-Banner Google News Archive Search Florida drops UT 35-18 October 13, 1991 Northern Illinois Florida beat Northern Illinois 41–10 . Auburn The Auburn Tigers fell to Florida 31–10. Georgia #6 Florida vs. #23 Georgia Florida 7 21 3 14 Georgia 3 3 7 0 Saturday, November 9 Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida 81,769 yes 1 FLA W. Jackson 4 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 7-0 1 UGA Parkman 41 yard field goal FLA 7-3 2 FLA Rhett 13 yard run (Czyzewski kick) FLA 14-3 2 FLA Houston 36 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 21-3 2 FLA Sullivan 61 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 28-3 2 UGA Parkman 25 yard field goal FLA 28-6 3 FLA Czyzewski 25 yard field goal FLA 31-6 3 UGA Hastings 5 yard pass from Zeier (Peterson kick) FLA 31-13 4 FLA W. Jackson 9 yard pass from Matthews (Czyzewski kick) FLA 38-13 4 FLA W. Jackson 24 yard pass from Fox (Czyzewski kick) FLA 45-13 yes 1991 Georgia Bulldogs football team The Gators defeated rival and twenty-third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 45–13.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=55QxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RAcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3546,8079499 Ocala Star-Banner Google News Archive Search No. 6 Florida rules SEC November 10, 1991 Larry Savage Kentucky Florida clinched its first SEC title with a hard-fought win over the Kentucky Wildcats, 35–26. "The Gators appeared on their way to a comfortable victory with a 28-6 lead in the third quarter. That's when the UF band started playing the song "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard and students began throwing little sugar packets into the air. Then UK quarterback Pookie Jones went wild, almost spoiling the party. "http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100921/ARTICLES/100929892 Gators' streak vs. 'Cats filled with close calls 2016-07-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20160529165120/http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100921/ARTICLES/100929892 2016-05-29 dead Florida State 1991 Florida State Seminoles football team Florida–Florida State football rivalry Florida Gators 2; text-align:center collapsed #3 Florida State Seminoles (10–1) at #5 Florida Gators (9–1) November 30 Florida St 0 3 0 6 Florida 0 7 7 0 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida 85,461 ABC Keith Jackson and Bob Griese Recap/Box First quarter No scoring Second quarter FSU – Gerry Thomas 19-yard field goal, 8:31. Florida St 3–0. Drive: UF – Errict Rhett 3-yard run (Arden Czyzewski kick), 3:11. Florida 7–3. Drive: Third quarter UF – Harrison Houston 72-yard pass from Shane Matthews (Arden Czyzewski kick), 7:32. Florida 14–3. Drive: Fourth quarter FSU – Amp Lee 25-yard pass from Casey Weldon (pass failed), 5:24. Florida 14–9. Drive: Top passers FSU – Casey Weldon – 24/51, 305 yards, TD, INT UF – Shane Matthews – 13/30, 208 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers FSU – Amp Lee – 9 rushes, 24 yards UF – Errict Rhett – 24 rushes, 109 yards, TD Top receivers FSU – Kez McCorvey – 6 receptions, 89 yards UF – Harrison Houston – 2 receptions, 76 yards, TD Among the Gators' 1991 victories, the 14–9 defensive upset of the Florida State Seminoles was a particularly memorable victory played in front of a record home crowd (the previous record set only five weeks earlier vs. Tennessee). The Gators scored touchdowns on a first-quarter run by tailback Errict Rhett, and a 72-yard bomb from Shane Matthews to wide receiver Harrison Houston in the third quarter, and held on to win. Gators defensive ends Darren Mickell and Harvey Thomas kept Seminoles quarterback Casey Weldon off balance and on the run in the second half, and, in the fourth quarter, Gators safeties Will White and Del Speer combined to break up a fourth-down pass to the end zone by Weldon with two minutes remaining§, thus saving the victory for Florida.Gainesville Sun. 1991 Dec 1. Sugar Bowl Fighting Irish 0 7 10 22 Gators 10 6 0 12 September 14 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA 76,447 Indoors Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf ABC 1992 Sugar Bowl 1991 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The Gators closed out their season with their first New Year's Day bowl appearance since 1974, a 39–28 defeat by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl, and were ranked seventh in the final Associated Press Poll. Florida won the team's first official SEC championship, 59 seasons after joining the conference as a charter member. Quarterback Shane Matthews repeated as SEC Player of the Year in 1991.https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/sec-poy.html SEC Player of the Year Winners College Football at Sports-Reference.com Roster 1991 Florida Gators y Brady Ackerman RB Chris Bilkie RB 69 Brian Fisher OL Charlie Dean TE 12 For Terry Dean QB y 59 Sr Cal Dixon C Monty Duncan WR Tre Everett WR Lester Ferdinand WR Jim Franklin TE Kevin Glenn WR Aubrey Hill WR y 84 Harrison Houston WR Sr Hesham Ismail OL y Terrell Jackson TE Willie Jackson WR y Willie Jackson (American football) G. A. Mangus QB y 9 Jr Shane Matthews QB y Willie McClendon RB Dexter McNabb RB Kelvin Randolph RB Ted Reynolds WR 33 So Errict Rhett RB y Tony Rowell OL George Rushing TE Alonzo Sullivan WR Jim Watson OL Mark White OL Myrick Anderson DB Ephesians Bartley DB Kevin Carter DL y Kevin Carter (American football) 50 Sr Brad Culpepper DL y William Gaines DL Lawrence Hatch DB Larry Kennedy CB Tony McCoy DL Darren Mickell DE Carlton Miles LB Marquette Oliver DB Tim Paulk LB Ed Robinson LB Jr Del Speer CB y Harvey Thomas DE 2 Jr Will White S y Will White (American football) 20 Fr Sammy McCorkle FS y Arden Czyzewski K Shayne Edge P Steve Spurrier Ron Zook (DC) Charlie Strong (DE) NFLdraft The following Gators were selected in the 1992 NFL draft after the season.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1992/draft.htm 1992 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com November 20, 2023 Florida Gators 2 Round Pick Player Position NFL team 4105Tony McCoyDefensive tackleIndianapolis Colts5119Dexter McNabbFullbackGreen Bay Packers5127Cal DixonCenterNew York Jets6156Tony RowellCenterLos Angeles Raiders7182Tim PaulkLinebackerAtlanta Falcons8206Hesham IsmailGuardPittsburgh Steelers9241Ephesians BartleyLinebackerPhiladelphia Eagles10264Brad CulpepperDefensive tackleMinnesota Vikings12309Mike BrandonDefensive endIndianapolis Colts References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Category:Southeastern Conference football champion seasons Florida Gators football