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The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The University of Florida fielded its first official varsity football team in the fall of 1906, and has fielded a team every season since then, with the exception of 1943. During the 1970s, the Gators competed in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and played their home games at Florida Field on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

This article includes a game-by-game list of the Florida Gators' ten football seasons from 1970 to 1979. During the 1970s, the Gators were coached by Douglas A. "Doug" Dickey (1970–1978) and Charles B. "Charley" Pell (1979–1984). Dickey and Pell compiled an overall record of 58–53–3 (.522) during the decade.

Contents: 1970  · 1971  · 1972  · 1973  · 1974  · 1975  · 1976  · 1977  · 1978  · 1979


1970[]

1970 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1970 record7–4 (3–3 T-3rd SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainMike Kelley
Donny Williams
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1969
1971 →
1970 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#7/6 LSU 5 0 0     9 3 0
#4/4 Tennessee 4 1 0     11 1 0
#10/9 Auburn 5 2 0     9 2 0
#20 Ole Miss 4 2 0     7 4 0
Florida 3 3 0     7 4 0
Georgia 3 3 0     5 5 0
Alabama 3 4 0     6 5 1
Mississippi State 3 4 0     6 5 0
Vanderbilt 1 5 0     4 7 0
Kentucky 0 7 0     2 9 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


Season overview[]

The 1970 college football season was Florida alumnus Doug Dickey's first of ten as the new head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey had been the starting quarterback for the Gators under coach Bob Woodruff in 1952 and 1953, and had previously served as the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers before returning to his alma mater in 1970. Dickey's 1970 Florida Gators finished with a 7–4 overall record and a 3–3 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for third among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–12–1970* Duke #15 Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida W 21–19  
9–19–1970 Mississippi State #14 Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 34–13  
9–26–1970 Alabama #13 Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, Alabama L 15–46  
10–3–1970* North Carolina State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 14–6  
10–10–1970* Florida State Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida W 38–27  
10–17–1970* Richmond Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 20–0  
10–24–1970 #11 Tennessee Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee ABC L 7–38  
10–31–1970 #12 Auburn Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) L 14–63  
11–7–1970 Georgia Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida ABC W 24–17  
11–14–1970 Kentucky Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida W 24–13  
11–28–1970* Miami Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 13–14  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.


1971[]

1971 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1971 record4–7 (1–6 T-8th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainHarvin Clark
Tommy Durrance
John Reaves
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →
1971 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#4/2 Alabama 7 0 0     11 1 0
#7/8 Georgia 5 1 0     11 1 0
#12/5 Auburn 5 1 0     9 2 0
#15/20 Ole Miss 4 2 0     10 2 0
Tennessee 4 2 0     10 2 0
LSU 3 2 0     9 3 0
Vanderbilt 1 5 0     4 6 1
Florida 1 6 0     4 7 0
Kentucky 1 6 0     3 8 0
Mississippi State 1 7 0     2 9 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


Season overview[]

The 1971 college football season was Doug Dickey's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1971 Florida Gators finished with a 4–7 overall record and a 1–6 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for eighth among ten SEC teams.[1]

The season ended on a controversial note. With the Gators leading the Miami Hurricanes 45–8 late in the fourth quarter, Dickey agreed to permit the Gators defense to allow the Hurricanes to score, thus returning the ball to the Gators offense. Dubbed the "Florida Flop" or "Gator Flop," the move enabled senior quarterback John Reaves to break the NCAA career passing yardage record in his last college game. After the game, Miami coach Fran Curci was so angry that he refused to shake Dickey's hand, and several Gators jumped in the pool at the Orange Bowl's east end zone used by the Miami Dolphins' live mascot, Flipper.[2]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–11–1971* Duke Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida L 6–12  
9–18–1971 Mississippi State Verterans Memorial StadiumJackson, Mississippi L 10–13  
9–25–1971 #8 Alabama Florida FieldGainesville, Florida L 0–38  
10–2–1971 #12 Tennessee Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 13–20  
10–9–1971 #16 Louisiana State Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana L 7–48  
10–16–1971* #19 Florida State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 17–15  
10–23–1971* Maryland Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 27–23  
10–30–1971 #5 Auburn Cliff Hare StadiumAuburn, Alabama L 7–40  
11–6–1971 #7 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida L 7–49  
11–13–1971 Kentucky Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 35–24  
11–27–1971* Miami Orange Bowl StadiumMiami, Florida          W 45–16  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.


1972[]

1972 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1972 record5–5–1 (3–3–1 6th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainFred Abbott
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#7/4 Alabama 7 1 0     10 2 0
#5/7 Auburn 6 1 0     10 1 0
#11/10 LSU 4 1 1     9 2 1
#8/11 Tennessee 4 2 0     10 2 0
Georgia 4 3 0     7 4 0
Florida 3 3 1     5 5 1
Ole Miss 2 5 0     5 5 0
Kentucky 2 5 0     3 8 0
Mississippi State 1 6 0     4 7 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0     3 8 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


Season overview[]

The 1972 college football season was the third for Doug Dickey as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1972 Florida Gators finished with a 5–5–1 overall record and a 3–3–1 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, tying for sixth among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–23–1972* Southern Methodist Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida L 14–21  
9–30–1972 Mississippi State Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 28–13  
10–7–1972* #13 Florida State Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida W 42–13  
10–14–1972 #3 Alabama Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, Alabama L 7–24  
10–21–1972 Mississippi Hemingway StadiumOxford, Mississippi W 16–0  
11–4–1972 #11 Auburn Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 20–26  
11–11–1972 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC L 7–10  
11–18–1972 Kentucky Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 40–0  
11–25–1972 #8 Louisiana State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida T 3–3  
12–2–1972* Miami Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 17–6  
12–9–1972* #16 North Carolina Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida L 24–28  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1973[]

1973 Florida Gators football
Tangerine Bowl, L 7–16 v. Miami (Ohio)
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
1973 record7–5 (3–4 T-5th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainDavid Hitchcock
Vince Kendrick
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#4/1 Alabama 8 0 0     11 1 0
#13/14 LSU 5 1 0     9 3 0
Ole Miss 4 3 0     6 5 0
#19/NR Tennessee 3 3 0     8 4 0
Georgia 3 4 0     7 4 1
Florida 3 4 0     7 5 0
Kentucky 3 4 0     5 6 0
Auburn 2 4 0     5 6 0
Mississippi State 2 4 0     4 5 2
Vanderbilt 1 5 0     5 6 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


Season overview[]

The 1973 college football season was Doug Dickey's fourth as the Florida Gators football team's head coach. Dickey's 1973 Florida Gators finished with a 7–5 overall record and a 3–4 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, tying for fifth among ten SEC teams.[1]

The Tangerine Bowl was moved up the Turnpike from Orlando to Gainesville as the then 17,000-seat Citrus Bowl was too small to accommodate the Florida crowd. The fans were greeted by a record cold snap, with gametime temperatures at 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius); the cold weather benefited the visiting Miami (Ohio) team which won 16-7.

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–15–1973* Kansas State #14 Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 21–10  
9–22–1973* Southern Mississippi #15 Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida W 14–13  
9–29–1973 Mississippi State #16 Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, Mississippi L 12–33  
10–6–1973 #10 Louisiana State Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana L 3–24  
10–13–1973 #3 Alabama Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 14–35  
10–20–1973 Mississippi Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) L 10–13  
11–3–1973 #19 Auburn Cliff Hare StadiumAuburn, Alabama W 12–8  
11–10–1973 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC W 11–10  
11–17–1973 Kentucky Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 20–18  
11–24–1973* Miami Orange Bowl StadiumMiami, Florida W 14–7  
12–1–1973* Florida State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 49–0  
12–22–1973* #15 Miami (Ohio) Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Tangerine Bowl) MTN L 7–16  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.


1974[]

1974 Florida Gators football
Sugar Bowl, L 10–13 v. Nebraska
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 12
APNo. 15
1974 record8–4 (3–3 T-4th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainLee McGriff
Ralph Ortega
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#5/2 Alabama 6 0 0     11 1 0
#8/6 Auburn 4 2 0     10 2 0
Georgia 4 2 0     6 6 0
#17/17 Mississippi State 3 3 0     9 3 0
#15/12 Florida 3 3 0     8 4 0
Kentucky 3 3 0     6 5 0
#20/15 Tennessee 2 3 1     7 3 2
Vanderbilt 2 3 1     7 3 2
LSU 2 4 0     5 5 1
Ole Miss 0 6 0     3 8 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches Poll


Season overview[]

The 1974 college football season was Doug Dickey's fifth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1974 Florida Gators finished with an 8–4 overall record and a 3–3 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for fourth among ten SEC teams.[1] Powered by a strong backfield that included Tony Green and Jimmy DuBose, Dickey employed the wishbone offense for the first season in the Gators' history.[3]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–14–1974* California Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 21–17  
9–21–1974* #14 Maryland Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida W 17–10  
9–28–1974 Mississippi State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 29–13  
10–5–1974 Louisiana State #13 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 24–14  
10–12–1974 Vanderbilt #8 Dudley FieldNashville, Tennessee L 10–24  
10–19–1974* Florida State #14 Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida W 24–14  
10–26–1974* Duke #12 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 30–13  
11–2–1974 #5 Auburn #11 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida ABC W 25–14  
11–9–1974 Georgia #6 Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida L 16–17  
11–16–1974 Kentucky #9 Commonwealth StadiumLexington, Kentucky ABC L 24–41  
11–30–1974* Miami Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 31–7  
12–31–1974* #8 Nebraska #18 Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, La. (Sugar Bowl) ABC L 10–13  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1975[]

1975 Florida Gators football
Gator Bowl, L 0–13 v. Maryland
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1975 record9–3 (5–1 T-2nd SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainJimmy DuBose
Sammy Green
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1974
1976 →
1975 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#3/3 Alabama 6 0 0     11 1 0
Florida 5 1 0     9 3 0
#19/19 Georgia 5 1 0     9 3 0
Ole Miss 5 1 0     6 5 0
Tennessee 3 3 0     7 5 0
Vanderbilt 2 4 0     7 4 0
Mississippi State 1 4 1     6 4 1
Auburn 1 4 1     3 6 2
LSU 1 5 0     4 7 0
Kentucky 0 6 0     2 8 1
† – Conference champion
  • Mississippi State later forfeited all 1975 wins and one tie due to NCAA violations.
    Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches Poll


Season overview[]

The 1975 college football season was Doug Dickey's sixth and most successful season as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1975 Florida Gators finished with a 9–3 overall record and a 5–1 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, tying for second among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–13–1975* Southern Methodist #19 Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 40–14  
9–20–1975* North Carolina State #13 Carter-Finley StadiumRaleigh, North Carolina L 7–8  
9–27–1975 Mississippi State #19 Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, Mississippi W 27–10  
10–4–1975 Louisiana State #20 Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana W 34–6  
10–11–1975 Vanderbilt #18 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 35–0  
10–18–1975* Florida State #14 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 34–8  
10–25–1975* Duke #12 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 24–16  
11–1–1975 Auburn #11 Jordan-Hare StadiumAuburn, Alabama W 31–14  
11–8–1975 Georgia #11 Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC L 7–10  
11–15–1975 Kentucky #14 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 48–7  
11–29–1975* Miami #13 Orange Bowl StadiumMiami, Florida W 15–11  
12–29–1975* #17 Maryland #13 Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, Fla. (Gator Bowl) CBS L 0–13  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.


1976[]

1976 Florida Gators football
Sun Bowl, L 14–37 v. Texas A&M
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1976 record8–4 (4–2 4th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainDarrell Carpenter
Alvin Cowens
Jimmy Fisher
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#10/10 Georgia 5 1 0     10 2 0
#11/9 Alabama 5 2 0     9 3 0
#20/NR Mississippi State 4 2 0     9 2 0
Florida 4 2 0     8 4 0
#NR/19 Kentucky 4 2 0     8 4 0
Ole Miss 3 4 0     5 6 0
LSU 2 4 0     6 4 1
Tennessee 2 4 0     6 5 0
Auburn 2 4 0     3 8 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0     2 9 0
† – Conference champion
  • Mississippi State later forfeited all 1976 wins due to NCAA violations.
    Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches Poll


Season overview[]

The 1976 college football season was the seventh for Doug Dickey as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1976 Florida Gators finished with an 8–4 overall record and a 4–2 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), placing fourth among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–11–1976* North Carolina #18 Tampa StadiumTampa, Florida L 21–24  
9–18–1976* Houston Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 49–14  
9–25–1976 Mississippi State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 34–30  
10–2–1976 #11 Louisiana State #19 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 28–23  
10–16–1976* Florida State #12 Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida W 33–26  
10–23–1976 Tennessee #11 Neyland StadiumKnoxville, Tennessee W 20–18  
10–30–1976 Auburn #12 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 24–19  
11–6–1976 #7 Georgia #10 Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC L 27–41  
11–13–1976 Kentucky #15 Commonwealth StadiumLexington, Kentucky L 9–28  
11–20–1976* Rice Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 50–22  
11–27–1976* Miami Citrus BowlOrlando, Florida W 19–10  
1–2–1977* #10 Texas A&M Sun Bowl StadiumEl Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl) CBS L 14–37  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1977[]

1977 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1977 record6–4–1 (3–3 5th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Offensive coordinatorJimmy Dunn
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainWes Chandler
Scott Hutchinson
Charlie Williams
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#2/2 Alabama 7 0 0     11 1 0
#6/NR Kentucky 6 0 0     10 1 0
LSU 4 2 0     8 4 0
Auburn 4 2 0     5 6 0
Florida 3 3 0     6 4 1
Georgia 2 4 0     5 6 0
Mississippi State 2 4 0     5 6 0
Ole Miss 2 5 0     5 6 0
Tennessee 1 5 0     4 7 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0     2 9 0
† – Conference champion
  • Kentucky ineligible for SEC championship due to NCAA probation. Mississippi State later forfeited all 1977 wins due to NCAA violations.
    Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll


Season overview[]

The 1977 college football season was Doug Dickey's eighth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1977 Florida Gators finished with a 6–4–1 overall record and a 3–3 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, placing fifth among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–17–1977* Rice #19 Rice StadiumHouston, Texas W 48–3  
9–24–1977 #12 Mississippi State #13 Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, Mississippi ABC W 24–22  
10–1–1977 Louisiana State #9 Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana L 14–36  
10–8–1977* #15 Pittsburgh #20 Florida FieldGainesville, Florida T 17–17  
10–22–1977 Tennessee #19 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 27–17  
10–29–1977 Auburn #18 Jordan-Hare StadiumAuburn, Alabama L 14–29  
11–5–1977 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC W 22–17  
11–12–1977 #7 Kentucky Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 7–14  
11–19–1977* Utah Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 38–29  
11–26–1977* Miami Orange Bowl StadiumMiami, Florida W 31–14  
12–3–1977* #19 Florida State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida ABC L 9–37  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.


1978[]

1978 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1978 record4–7 (3–3 T-4th SEC)
Head coachDoug Dickey
Defensive coordinatorDoug Knotts
CaptainMike DuPree
Don Swafford
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1977
1979 →
1978 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Alabama 6 0 0     11 1 0
#16 Georgia 5 0 1     9 2 1
Auburn 3 2 1     6 4 1
LSU 3 3 0     8 4 0
Tennessee 3 3 0     5 5 1
Florida 3 3 0     4 7 0
Mississippi State 2 4 0     6 5 0
Ole Miss 2 4 0     5 6 0
Kentucky 2 4 0     4 6 1
Vanderbilt 0 6 0     2 9 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Season overview[]

The 1978 college football season was Doug Dickey's ninth and last year as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1978 Florida Gators finished with a 4–7 overall record and a 3–3 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, tying for fourth among ten SEC teams.[1] After leaving Florida, Doug Dickey later became the long-time athletic director of the University of Tennessee's Volunteers sports program, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2003.[4]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–16–1978* Southern Methodist Citrus BowlOrlando, Florida L 25–35  
9–30–1978 Mississippi State Florida FieldGainesville, Florida W 34–0  
10–7–1978 #11 Louisiana State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 21–34  
10–14–1978 #7 Alabama Bryant-Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, Alabama L 12–23  
10–21–1978* U.S. Military Academy Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) W 31–7  
10–28–1978* Georgia Tech Grant FieldAtlanta, Georgia ABC L 13–17  
11–4–1978 Auburn Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida W 31–7  
11–11–1978 #11 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida L 22–24  
11–18–1978 Kentucky Commonwealth StadiumLexington, Kentucky W 18–16  
11–25–1978* Florida State Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida L 21–38  
12–2–1978* Miami Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 21–22  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

1979[]

1979 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
1979 record0–10–1 (0–6 10th SEC)
Head coachCharley Pell
Offensive coordinatorDenny Aldrich
Defensive coordinatorDwight Adams
CaptainBill Bennek
Nap Green
Chuck Hatch
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 SEC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Alabama 6 0 0     12 0 0
Georgia 5 1 0     6 5 0
#16 Auburn 4 2 0     8 3 0
LSU 4 2 0     7 5 0
Tennessee 3 3 0     7 5 0
Kentucky 3 3 0     5 6 0
Ole Miss 3 3 0     4 7 0
Mississippi State 2 4 0     3 8 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0     1 10 0
Florida 0 6 0     0 10 1
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Season overview[]

The 1979 college football season was Charles B. "Charley" Pell's first of six as the new head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Pell arrived in Gainesville with a new plan for building the Gators football program—new offensive and defensive schemes, new assistant coaches, a new attitude and new boosters fund-raising model to support the program and improve the stadium and training facilities. Pell's plan would produce many on-the-field victories over the next five years, but his first campaign as the Gators coach produced the most losses in any single season in Gators football history, ending with a winless 0–10–1 overall record and a 0–6 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and placing dead last among ten SEC teams.[1]

Schedule and results[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result
9–15–1979* #13 Houston Jeppesen StadiumHouston, Texas L 10–14  
9–22–1979* Georgia Tech Florida FieldGainesville, Florida T 7–7  
9–29–1979 Mississippi State Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, Mississippi L 10–24  
10–6–1979 #17 Louisiana State Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana L 3–20  
10–13–1979 #2 Alabama Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 0–40  
10–27–1979* Tulsa Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida (Homecoming) L 10–20  
11–3–1979 #20 Auburn Jordan-Hare StadiumAuburn, Alabama L 13–19  
11–10–1979 Georgia Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, Florida ABC L 10–33  
11–17–1979 Kentucky Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida L 3–31  
11–24–1979* #5 Florida State Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida ABC L 16–27  
12–1–1979* Miami Orange Bowl StadiumMiami, Florida L 24–30  
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2012 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–116 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. Paul Lukas, "The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop," ESPN.com (September 16, 2010). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  3. Tom Cornelison, "Florida Wishbone Here To Stay," Sarasota Journal, p. 3C (September 16, 1974). Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  4. College Football Hall of Fame, Hall of Famers, Doug Dickey. Retrieved September 17, 2010.

Bibliography[]

  • 2010 Southeastern Conference Football Media Guide, Florida Year-by-Year Records, Southeastern Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, p. 60 (2010).
  • 2012 Florida Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 107–116 (2012).
  • Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.
  • Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). ISBN 0-9650782-1-3.
  • Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). ISBN 1-58261-514-4.
  • McCarthy, Kevin M., Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football, Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). ISBN 978-0-7385-0559-6.
  • McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
  • Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). ISBN 1-57167-196-X.
  • Proctor, Samuel, & Wright Langley, Gator History: A Pictorial History of the University of Florida, South Star Publishing Company, Gainesville, Florida (1986). ISBN 0-938637-00-2.

External links[]

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