1953 Florida Gators football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1953 Florida Gators football Southeastern Conference SEC 3–5–2 1–3–2 Bob Woodruff 4th Florida Field The 1953 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1953 college football season. The season was the fourth for Bob Woodruff as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. The 1953 season was a year of rebuilding and backsliding after the graduation of All-American Charlie LaPradd and the loss of star back Rick Casares to the U.S. Army. The squad's lack of quality depth was further exacerbated by the NCAA's reintroduction of restrictive substitution rules which limited use of the two-platoon system, requiring players to play both offense and defense.Associated Press, "Football in for Big Reorganization: Coaches Must Chop Their Squads Down to 'Iron Men,'" Pomona Progress–Bulletin, Jan. 15, 1953; p. 22. Florida came into the season with few players who could effectively play both ways, so Coach Woodruff choose to use his best defensive players on the first team and run a conservative ball-control offense.Golenbock Peter Go Gators: An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory 2002 Legends Press 0965078213 The highlight of the season was the Gators' second consecutive victory over the Georgia Bulldogs, but the Gators began a pattern of agonizingly close losses to the Rice Owls (20–16), Auburn Tigers (16–7), Tennessee Volunteers (9–7) and Miami Hurricanes (14–10), as well as two ties with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (0–0) and LSU Tigers (21–21). Woodruff's 1953 Florida Gators finished with a 3–5–2 overall record and a 1–3–2 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), placing ninth of twelve SEC teams. Schedule 1953 AP September 19 l y y 15 Rice 12 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 16–20 55,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-gator-rally-fails-a/110712110/ Fort Lauderdale News Gator rally fails as Rice wins, 20–16 September 20, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com September 26 t Georgia Tech 3 Florida Field Gainesville, FL 0–0 41,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-georgia-tech-ti/132963222/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Georgia Tech tied by 'Gators September 27, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 3 l y Kentucky rivalry McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 13–26 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-selma-times-journal-kentucky-stops-f/132965154/ The Selma Times-Journal Kentucky stops Florida Gators in 26–13 clash October 4, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 1953 Stetson Hatters Stetson Florida Field Gainesville, FL 45–0 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-gator-underclassmen-over/132979937/ St. Petersburg Times Gator underclassmen overpower Stetson, 45–0 October 11, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 17 w y y The Citadel Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL 60–0 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-florida-rips-wildly/132980076/ The Greenville News Florida rips wildly over Citadel, 60–0 October 18, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 24 t y LSU 14 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 21–21 39,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-florida-wrestles-ls/132979181/ Tallahassee Democrat Florida wrestles LSU to tie, 21–21 October 25, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com October 31 l y Auburn Cliff Hare Stadium Auburn, AL rivalry 7–16 25,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-press-auburn-plainsmen-trample-gato/132977321/ Fort Myers News-Press Auburn Plainsmen trample Gators 16–7 November 1, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com November 7 w y Georgia Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL rivalry 21–7 36,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/panama-city-news-herald-florida-gators-w/132980230/ Panama City News-Herald Florida Gators wallop Georgia in 21–7 game November 8, 1953 October 5, 2023 Newspapers.com November 14 l Tennessee 18 Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 7–9 29,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98675882/late-tennessee-field-goal-nips-florida/ The Tampa Tribune Late Tennessee field goal nips Florida, 9–7 November 15, 1953 March 29, 2022 Newspapers.com November 28 l y y Miami (FL) Burdine Stadium Miami, FL rivalry 10–14 55,530–65,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-late-miami-score/132980319/ Pensacola News Journal Late Miami score sinks Florida, 14–10 November 29, 1953 October 5, 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. References Florida Category:Florida Gators football seasons Florida Gators football