Norm Carlson Looks Back.. - Jimmy DuBose
Wednesday, September 7, 2005 | Football
| The Gators have been fortunate over the years to have an abundance of exceptional running backs. Starting with the 1920s each decade has produced its share of ball carriers to remember, and in the mid-1970's one of the finest came along. Many of them could be prototypes for what is needed at the running back position in the Urban Meyer offense. One name that quickly comes to mind is the 1976 SEC Player of The Year. Remember the chant, "Du-Du-Du"? That's what echoed around Florida Field when Jimmy DuBose carried the ball. The fullback, once voted the SEC's top blocking back, blossomed into a record-setting rusher during his senior season in 1975. He ran for 1,307 yards to break the school single season record by almost 500 yards, and he came within five yards of breaking the SEC record which had been standing since 1949. He did set a record for average gain per attempt with 6.8 yards on 191 carries. DuBose rushed for over 100 yards in four consecutive games his senior season with 180 vs. Vanderbilt, 204 vs. FSU, 141 vs. Duke in about a half of play and 149 against Auburn. His 1,307 yards rushing in a single season is still the third-best total in UF history. Only a guy named Emmitt has done better, rushing for 1,599 yards in 1989 and 1,341 in 1988. "It didn't bother me in the least when Emmitt broke my record," DuBose said in 1990. "To tell you the truth, I was kind of surprised that it stood as long as it did with the quality of athletes that Florida has had. It is just truly an honor to have it broken by Emmitt. He is the best." The 5-11, 220-pound native of Sarasota, was a quiet, humble young man who smiled a lot off the field, characteristics that helped make him perhaps the most popular Gator of his period. He is the same person today happily married for over 30 years to his wife Rena, and a highly respected administrator in the school system in Plant City. In his personal life and career he has been just as dependable, consistent and successful as he was in football. Gator football has been a good habit with the DuBose family. His son Dewayne was a walk-on center for the Gators, lettering in 2001. He nephew Ernie lettered as a running back in 1995-96. They all still attend Florida games as often as possible. DuBose was a team player. He still is today. "The record was nice, but what really stands out the most is the winning seasons we had," DuBose said. "The Gators had been struggling in sort of a rebuilding period, but in our varsity years we went to three bowl games." DuBose began to make a name for himself as a sophomore in 1973, but it was primarily as a result of his blocking, especially in the shocking upset of Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where the Gators had never won a game. He moved to fullback in that game and big Vince Kendrick switched to tailback. With DuBose leading the way Kendrick gained 119 yards on 23 carries as Florida combined a conservative attack with a solid defense to beat the Tigers, 12-8. That victory broke a four-game Gator losing streak that season and led to five straight regular season wins and a bowl bid. He then led Florida to wins over Auburn in 1974 and 1975. No Gator team had beaten the Tigers three straight years since the 1920s. His best career rushing performance was a 204-yard effort against FSU in 1975. That same year he ran 80 yards for a TD on the opening play against Vanderbilt and wound up with 180 yards rushing in a 35-0 victory. Vandy head coach Fred Pancoast, a former Florida assistant, said he was adjusting his earphones and saw DuBose break open up the middle. "I thought he was just a big fullback who would run for about 10-15 yards and all of the sudden he was headed toward the end zone and none of our fast little guys could catch him," said Pancoast. "He could really run." DuBose played four years for the Tampa Bucs in the NFL before injuring his knee while trying to make a tackle following an interception. It ended his football career but didn't dampen his spirit. He has been a big time success on and off the field. Other Gator greats at the running back position:
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| Norm Carlson recently retired from the University Athletic Association after 40 years of service. Carlson serves as historian for Gator athletics and will contribute a regular column to gatorzone.com. |
