UF's Reversal Against Georgia Started in 1952
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 | Football
By Norm Carlson, Assistant Athletics Director/Gator Historian
Strictly from the Florida perspective, the football series with Georgia has improved with age. What happened prior to 1950 might be what the Bulldogs like to talk about—such as a 75-0 victory in 1942—but it is the modern era that started with a dominant victory in 1952 that excites the Gators.
Before Bob Woodruff took over the Florida program in 1950, Georgia had a commanding 21-5-1 record against the Gators. Since that time, Florida is 32-24-1 against the Dawgs. Woodruff was the first Florida coach to have a winning record against Georgia (6-4) and it all started with that 1952 upset victory.
Woodruff's first two teams almost beat Georgia, losing 6-0 in 1950 and 7-6 in 1951. The odds of winning in 1952 didn't look so good after lowly Vanderbilt beat the Gators in Nashville the Saturday before the Jacksonville classic was played.
If you think the Florida fans were upset, just go back and read the state media reports.
However, the Gators bounced back with a 30-0 win, their biggest margin of victory in the series.
The improbable verdict propelled Woodruff's team to Florida's first bowl invitation, where they beat Tulsa, 14-13, in the Gator Bowl at the end of that season.
How it happened is interesting. Woodruff made a change at quarterback, inserting Doug Dickey as the starter and moving Rick Casares back to his normal fullback spot. Co-captains Bubba Ware and Charlie LaPradd, two of the meanest, toughest guys on the team, provided the leadership during practices the week of the game that propped up confidence and spirits. Players focused on the game and forgot the critics, and they believed they could beat Georgia, despite its 3-0 SEC record.
Woodruff had an outstanding coaching staff and the game plan was perfect. That staff included Frank Broyles, the future Arkansas icon, who came up with the offensive game plan. Three other assistants went on to become head coaches, Dale Hall (Army), Hank Foldberg (Texas A&M) and John Rauch (Buffalo Bills).
Georgia quarterback Zeke Bratkowski was the 12th-ranked passer in the nation, throwing primarily to All-SEC receiver Harry Babcock. Unfortunately for Georgia, Babcock was thrown out of the game early in the first quarter after getting in a fight with UF linebacker Arlen Jumper, who was also ejected. While Jumper was a solid Gator player, Babcock was critical to the Dawgs' offense.
Bartkowski finished with only 11 completions out of 29 passes, and tossed three interceptions. The Gators also picked up a pair of fumbles, including a key recovery at UGA's 28-yard line by Ware, to create five turnovers that afternoon.
Gator fullback Casares ran for two touchdowns, and kicked a field goal and three extra points; halfback Buford Long scored on a 77-yard run in the fourth quarter, leading UF in rushing with 116 yards on 10 carries. New quarterback Doug Dickey executed a perfect game.
"It wasn't difficult," Dickey said later. "I handed the ball to Casares, Long and Papa Hall."
That trio ranks as one of the finest in school history to this day.
Florida went on to an 8-2 season and finished the season ranked #15, the first time the Gators had ended a year in the Top 20.
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