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Florida-Florida State rivalry



Teams	Florida Gators Florida St. Seminoles
Originated	1958
Series	Florida leads, 31-19-2
Current Champion	Florida
Trophy	None

Florida (31) 1958 1959 1960 1962 1963 1965 1966 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1991 1995 1997* 1997 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007	Florida St. (19) 1964 1967 1977 1978 1979 1980 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1995* 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003
Ties (2) 1961, 1994

*Sugar Bowl

The Florida-Florida State rivalry, sometimes called "The Battle for the Governor's Cup" or the "Sunshine Showdown", is an athletic rivalry between the two flagship universities of the state of Florida: the University of Florida and Florida State University. Although both schools participate in a range of intercollegiate sports, the competition between the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles has tended to focus on football.

Florida dominated the early contests, but the series has been more even since then. While the Gators lead the overall series 31-19-2 , the Seminoles lead by a slim 17-16-1 margin since Bobby Bowden became FSU’s head coach in 1976. Since 1990, one or both squads have often been highly ranked coming into the game, adding national championship implications to an already heated rivalry.

History

Roots of a rivalry

The University of Florida has been fielding an officially sanctioned football team since 1906. Though Florida State University (then known as “Florida State College”) played football for several years around 1900, it became a women’s college in 1905 and remained so until 1947, when the football team was re-established.

Almost immediately, pressure began building for the Gators to play the new team in-state. Some believe that it took an act of the state legislature to force the contest to take place. This is not exactly true – a bill demanding a UF vs. FSU football series was proposed in 1955 but was voted down. However, the schools bowed to pressure from state leaders and agreed to schedule a yearly series starting in 1958.

One of the conditions that the University of Florida put on the agreement was that the contest must always be held in their home stadium; Florida Field in Gainesville. Since 1964, however, the game site has alternated yearly between the Gators’ field and the Seminole’s home turf of Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

Early Contests

After the Florida State College for Women was integrated as Florida State University, the newly formed football team was struggling. Though it had some success early on, by the late 50's the FSU football teams were constantly having horrible seasons. The two teams first played each other on 1958 in Gainesville with Florida winning 21-7. The Seminoles would not win a game in the series until the first game in Tallahassee that was played in 1964. The Gators would dominate the rivalry in its formative years, the Gators were a remarkable 16-2-1 against the Seminoles from 1958 until 1976.

One particularly poor stretch in the 1958-76 slump for the Seminoles was from 1969-72 when wide receiver Barry Smith was playing for Florida State. He didn't play in the 1969 contest since freshmen were not eligible then but recalled the 1970-72 games in a recent Tampa Tribune article,

". . . My sophomore year . . . I ran a reverse . . . and I remember being nailed by Jack Youngblood. I remember watching the ball being pitched to me and thinking, when the ball was about halfway, that it was kind of race to see whether he was going to get to the ball first or me. He was foaming at the mouth. I still have nightmares from the hit he gave me . . . My junior year, we were 5-0 and Florida was 0-5. There is no question that we were the much better team, and they beat us . . . My senior year, we're playing Florida at home and we're 4-0. They had a decent team, but it wasn't like the year before . . . Chan Gailey was their quarterback, and he had a big game. That game was a blowout. They torched us. It got so bad, I had to throw a touchdown pass . . ."

The arrival of Bowden & The rise and fall of Pell

Bobby Bowden arrived at Florida State in 1976 and began to turn around the anemic program. Though he lost his first game against Florida in 1976, the Seminoles would win the next four in the rivalry, their first wins in the series since 1967.

The Gators changed leadership as well, hiring Coach Charlie Pell from Clemson University to replace Doug Dickey in 1979. After a dismal 0-10-1 first season, Pell quickly turned around the Florida program, fielding championship-contending teams by 1983. The Gators dominated the rivalry from 1980-1986, including 53-14 victory in 1983. However, an NCAA investigation of Florida's football program revealed multiple violations of rules in the early years of Pell's tenure. Pell was fired and the program put on probation beginning in 1985.

For the next 3 seasons, Florida played with a reduced number of scholarship players and Gator football games could not appear on television, setting the program back considerably. In 1986, the Gators pulled off a 17-13 upset victory over Florida State in Tallahassee. However, FSU then began a long run of domination over their in-state foes; between 1987 and 1994, the Seminoles went 7-1-1 against the Gators.

1990-2000

The 1990s would prove to be the most meaningful decade in the Florida-Florida State rivalry. Each time the two teams met, they were both ranked in the top ten of the nation. Because of the Sugar Bowl rematches in 1994 and 1996, they met 12 times throughout the decade. Florida State was led by Bobby Bowden, and Florida was led by Steve Spurrier, arguably the greatest coaches the universities have ever had.

The decade started with a 45-30 rout of Florida by the Seminoles.

In 1991, the #3 ranked Seminoles faced off against the #5 ranked Gators. The week before were polar opposites for both teams. The Gators had clinched their first SEC Championship since coming off probation, while the Seminoles were still feeling the sting of a defeat at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes. The game was a defensive struggle that culminated in a Gator defensive stand late in the 4th quarter to preserve a 14-9 Gator win.

1993 brought about a collection of talent perhaps unequaled in the history of the rivalry. Two future Heisman trophy winners in Charlie Ward and Danny Wuerffel were starting at quarterback. The #1 ranked Seminoles won 33-21 to go on to win the National Championship.

1994 was 31-3 Florida lead at the start of the 4th quarter. Ended in a 31-31 tie in the Choke at Doak, an incredible fourth quarter comeback by Florida State. The teams were given a rematch in the Sugar Bowl, which the Seminoles won 23-17. Florida came up victorious in 1995, a 35-24 win in Gainesville.

In 1996, Florida came in ranked #1 and Florida State was #2, the Seminoles won the game 24-21. However, the season belonged to Florida, as their 52-20 win in the Sugar Bowl rematch gave them their first national title. UF then won again in 1997, 32-29, known as the greatest game ever Played in the Swamp.

The Seminoles won 23-12 in 1998, the next two seasons also belonged to Florida State, thanks to Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke. 30-23 victory in 1999, and a 30-7 blowout win in 2000. Between 1991 and 2000, FSU and UF totaled up for 14 conference championships and 3 national championships.

2001-Present

After 10 straight games where both teams were ranked in the Top 10 of the polls, in all of the past 6 match ups, at least one team has been ranked outside the Top 15. The 2001 game was played in Gainesville on Saturday, November 17, at 8:00, televised nationally on CBS. This would turn out to be Steve Spurrier's final victory in The Swamp. Florida was 8-1 and ranked #3 and Florida State was 6-3 and ranked #17. The Gators opened up a 20-3 lead, and cruised to a 37-13 victory behind Rex Grossman's 290 yards passing. Florida would go on to finish 10-2 and defeat Maryland in the Orange Bowl, while Florida State would finish 8-4, winning the Gator Bowl over Virginia Tech.

The 2002 game was played in Tallahassee on Saturday, November 30, at 8:00, televised regionally on ABC, with the majority of the country getting the Notre Dame-USC game. Florida entered the game 8-3, while Florida State came in at 7-4. The Seminoles dominated on the ground, finishing with 225 rushing yards, while their defense held Rex Grossman and the Florida offense to only 14 points, in a comfortable 31-14 win. This was Florida State's 8th straight game without a loss against the Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida would go on to lose the Outback Bowl to Michigan, and Florida State would drop the Sugar Bowl to Georgia.

ESPN's College Gameday was on hand for the 2003 game, played Saturday, November 29, in Gainesville at 3:30, televised nationally on CBS. Florida State came in 9-2 while Florida was 8-3. This game was marked by controversy, as many questionable calls went the Seminoles' way. Chris Rix completed a 52-yard touchdown pass, his last of four on the day, to P.K. Sam with less than a minute to play, giving the Seminoles a 38-34 lead. Florida freshman quarterback Chris Leak would lead the Gators inside the Seminoles' 20-yard line before time ran out, giving the Seminoles their fourth win in 5 tries over the Gators. Florida State would lose the Orange Bowl to Miami, while Florida would return to the Outback Bowl, where they lost to Iowa.

The 2004 game was the first to not air on a broadcast network in over a decade, as ESPN carried the game from Tallahassee at 7:45 on Saturday, November 20. This game marked the first game on Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida entered the game at 6-4, with coach Ron Zook having already been fired. Florida State was 8-2. The Gators controlled much of the game, getting 103 yards rushing from Ciatrick Fason. The Seminoles had a chance to tie the game late, but Chris Rix's fourth down pass was intercepted by Jarvis Herring, sealing the Gators' 20-13 win. The Gators carried Ron Zook off the field after their first win in nine tries in Tallahassee. Florida State would rebound to win the Gator Bowl over West Virginia, while Florida, under interim coach Charlie Strong, would fall to Miami in the Peach Bowl.

A pair of 7-3 teams entered the 2005 contest in Gainesville. The game was played on Saturday November 26, at 3:30, televised nationally by CBS. Florida led 14-0 at halftime behind a Chris Leak touchdown pass to Chad Jackson and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Reggie Lewis. The Gators would cruise in the second half, winning handily, 34-7. Florida would complete their first season under coach Urban Meyer with a win in the Outback Bowl over Iowa, while Florida State won the inaugural ACC Championship Game over Virginia Tech, and lost in triple overtime to Penn State in the Orange Bowl.

In 2006, Florida came into the game at 10-1, needing a win to remain in contention for a national title. Florida State was simply looking to salvage a winning season at 6-5. The game was televised to a regional audience at 12:00 on ABC from Tallahassee. This was the first Florida-Florida State game to kick off at noon since 1996, when the Gators won their only national championship. The Seminoles kept the game close, rallying from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. Florida quarterback Chris Leak then found Dallas Baker for a 25-yard touchdown to seal the Gators' 21-14 win, their second consecutive seven-point win over the Seminoles in Tallahassee. Florida would go on to win the SEC Championship Game over Arkansas and, despite much controversy regarding BCS selection, would rout Ohio State in the first ever BCS Championship Game, 41-14, to claim their second national championship, tying Florida State's championship count. Florida State would salvage a winning record by defeating UCLA in the Emerald Bowl, 44-27.

The 2007 game was played on Saturday, November 24, in Gainesville's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Tim Tebow led Gator offense proved to be too much to handle for the Seminole defense and, despite the fact that the rebuilding Seminoles did not turn the ball over once, the Gators still romped 45-12. Early in the game, the Seminole offense would move the ball well under the command of Drew Weatherford. However, every drive would sputter once the Seminoles would move into Florida territory. As a result, the Seminoles would settle for a field goal on every drive into the Gator side of the field. The final field goal to end the half was a 60-yard attempt by Gary Cismesia. This broke the Florida State school record, the ACC record, and the record for longest field goal in the Swamp. It was also the longest field goal kicked in 2007, professional or college. The Gator offense, on the other hand, had no trouble finding the end zone, partially as a result of non-existent tackling by Seminole defenders. It was revealed afterwards that Heisman candidate Tim Tebow broke his non-throwing hand early in the second half of the game.

Game Results

Florida victories are shaded ██ blue. Florida State victories shaded in ██ red.

*Sugar Bowl

Notable Games

1969 - Cappleman Crunch

Both Florida and Florida State were 2-0 when the teams met in 1969. The Gators had defeated number one ranked University of Houston two week prior and FSU was off to a good start as well. The Gators won this matchup 21-6 on the back of a defensive surge that was unparalleled in Gator history. The Gator defense, led by junior defensive lineman Jack Youngblood (5 sacks) and sophomore defensive lineman Robert Harrell, sacked Cappelman 11 times for -91 yards leaving FSU with a total of -18 yards rushing in the game. In addition to the pass rush, the FSU offense fumbled the ball eight times, losing five. Two other Gator Sohopmores starred in the game as well, All-American wide out Carlos Alvarez and quarterback John Reeves. The Gators went on to a 9-1-1 record including a victory over the University of Tennessee in the Gator Bowl.

1993 - Ward to Dunn

The Seminoles came into The Swamp ranked #1 and looking to play for the national championship. Florida had clinched the SEC championship and were themselves ranked in the top 5. Early on it looked to be a Florida State rout, as the Seminoles took a 27-7 lead into the 4th quarter. However, Florida scored two quick touchdowns to make the score 27-21. With 6 minutes remaining, the Seminoles faced 3rd down at their own 21 with a Florida crowd so loud the stadium was registered as an earthquake. Unfazed, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Charlie Ward hit freshman Warrick Dunn up the sideline for a game clinching touchdown and a 33-21 FSU win.

1994 - The Choke at Doak

One of the greatest fourth quarter comebacks of all time. The Gators led the Seminoles 31-3 at the start of the 4th quarter. However, the Seminoles scored 28 points in the final quarter to tie the game 31-31. The Seminoles then won a rematch in the Sugar Bowl 23-17, referred to as, "The Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter."

1996 - #1 vs #2

The #1 ranked Gators came in to Tallahassee heavily favored against the #2 ranked Seminoles. The Noles got off to a quick start when Peter Bouleware blocked Florida's first punt of the game, resulting in a touchdown. By the end of the 1st quarter, FSU led UF 17-0. Although the Gators eventually narrowed the margin, the Seminoles still won 24-21.

1997 Sugar Bowl - Rematch for a title

Because of the upsets to both the previous #3 Nebraska, losing to Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, and #2 Arizona State losing to #4 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, the #3 Gators played the #1 Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl for the National Title. Though the game was close in the first half, Danny Wuerffel and the Gator offense got going after halftime against the highly-ranked Seminole defense and won going away, 52-20.

1997 - The Greatest Game Ever Played in the Swamp

The Seminoles came in ranked #1 while UF came in #10 with a record of 8-2. However, Gator senior tailback Fred Taylor would have a monster day, scoring four touchdowns as the Gators upset the Seminoles 32-29. Down 25-29 with 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Gators began a drive from their own 20 yard line. The first play was a 63 yard pass from Doug Johnson to Jacquez Green to the Seminoles 17 yard line. Taylor then ran the ball to down the two yard line, and scored his fourth touchdown on the next play. The Gators drove 80 yards in 44 seconds on three plays. On the ensuing Seminoles' drive, Linebacker Dwayne Thomas intercepted Thad Busby's third down and eleven pass with 1:06 remaining to seal the win for Florida.

1998 - Not In Our House

Florida State's defense came in the ballgame rated #1 in the nation, Florida's defense was rated #1 in the SEC, so the game was set to be a defensive battle. Florida struck first with a 50 yard Doug Johnson touchdown pass, but Seminoles Peter Warrick and Travis Minor put the Seminoles in scoring position twice and Placekicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked two field goals to make the game 7-6. After a Florida punt the seminoles were at their own 5 yard line and Florida forced a safety. And then Doug Johnson drove Florida deep into Florida State territory after the Safety Kick, but Florida State's defense stiffened and forced Florida to settle for 3 points. At halftime, the game was 12-6, Florida. In the second half Florida State's defense held Florida scoreless. Florida State's first touchdown of the game came when Marcus Outzen connected with Peter Warrick on a touchdown throw, then later in the game, Peter Warrick threw a touchdown to Ron Dougans. The game ended 23-12, with Florida State the winner.

2003 - The Swindle in the Swamp

This contest was marred by controversy, as the ACC-affiliated officiating crew made questionable calls on multiple fumble/no-fumble plays that went against Florida. Still, Florida held a 34-31 lead late in the fourth quarter when Seminole QB Chris Rix hit WR PK Sam for a 52 yard touchdown pass, giving Florida State a 38-34 win. Before the winning score, Rix had completed a 1st down pass on 4th and 14 deep in Seminole territory to keep the drive alive.

After the game, a fight broke out on the field between the Florida and Florida State players after some Seminole players celebrated the win by jumping on the "F" logo in the center of Florida Field. FSU's athletic director apologized on behalf of the university for sparking the incident and both schools took steps to make sure similar incidents did not reoccur.

2004 - Ron Zook Field

The 7-4 Florida Gators came into Doak Campbell Stadium, where the Gators had not won since a 17–13 victory in 1986, to play the #9 ranked Seminoles. That night the field was named Bobby Bowden Field in honor of the legendary Florida State coach. However, the night belonged to Florida coach Ron Zook, as he led his team to a 20–13 win, something not even Steve Spurrier accomplished as head coach. This was something of a personal vindication for Zook, who had recently been told that he would be terminated as head coach after the end of the season. Although Zook had been ridiculed by some Gator fans throughout his tenure at UF, the fans in attendance gave him a standing ovation as the Gator team triumphantly lifted Zook onto their shoulders. This game has led some UF fans to jokingly refer to Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium as "Ron Zook Field. As might be expected, this nickname given to the field by some Gator fans has only served to further fuel the fire of the rivalry between these two football teams and their fan bases.