Gator Talk: A Look Back at 1985
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 | Football
By Norm Carlson, Assistant Athletics Director/Gator Historian
It is prudent to believe that today's weather will be hot, and to prepare accordingly. After all, this is September in Florida, a time when discomfort increases as measured by a relatively new term called the "heat index."
We can't recall if that term was used back on October 12, 1985, when Florida and Tennessee met at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. However, it didn't really matter because the temperature was 118 degrees, as recorded by a sling psychomotor, a gadget trainer Chris Patrick's assistants used then. That is the highest temperature ever registered in the stadium. The "heat index" would probably have been over 120 degrees.
The 12:30 p.m. kickoff was on the Astroturf playing surface. It was more difficult for fans to consume water for hydration in the stadium with a limited number of water fountains and no access to bottled water. Natalie Gonzalez of the UAA operations department says there are now 70 water fountains inside the stadium and bottled water is available at every concession stand.
The 74,432 fans in attendance established a new Florida Field record and watched the Gators extend their home unbeaten streak to 15, and their SEC winning streak to 10. The heat was a factor for the players, who nonetheless played one of the finest games in a legion of outstanding games between the two universities.
The first half ended in a 3-3 tie. UF's Jeff Dawson hit a 42-yard field goal, his eighth straight and the 25th consecutive conversion by a Gator kicker going back to early 1984.
The All-time UF rushing leader Neal Anderson became the school's career rushing touchdown leader on a nine-yard run in with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter, giving Florida a 10-3 lead. It was Anderson's 25th score on the ground, eclipsing the mark held by Larry Smith (1966-68).
Anderson put the Gators up 17-3 moments later with a one-yard run. He finished the day with 160 yards rushing, his third-consecutive 100-yard game. It was his 13th 100-yard game, and ran his ledger in two contests against the Vols to 338 yards and three touchdowns.
Florida's defense gave up a 99-yard scoring drive by UT in the fourth quarter, but held the Vols to 51 yards rushing for the afternoon. Vol quarterback Tony Robinson, a native of Tallahassee, brought his team back downfield in the closing minutes, but a deflected pass was intercepted by Gator All-American linebacker Alonzo Johnson to protect a 17-10 lead.
Fullback John L. Williams had yet another outstanding day and became the first running back in school history to accumulate over 2,000 yards rushing and 700 yards receiving in his career.
It was Florida's fourth-straight victory over Tennessee dating back to 1976. The Vols still led the all-time series, 13-6, and they hold a 19-17 series edge going into today's game.
Wilber Marshall Joins the Ring of Honor on Sept. 29: In two weeks, the player generally regarded as the best linebacker in University of Florida history will be honored prior to the Auburn game. Two-year All-American Wilber Marshall will be inducted as the fifth member of the UF Ring of Honor.
Marshall's honoree signage at the top of the North End Zone will be unveiled at that time. He will join Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Jack Youngblood as a member of this distinguished group of Gator greats.
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