Gator Bowl Memories: Gators Make History by Beating Iowa in 1983 Game
Saturday, December 31, 2011 | Football
By Chris Harry
GatorZone.com Contributing Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 1983 season began with a resounding 28-3 demolition of rival Miami, an outcome few figured would be as significant as it turned out.
The Hurricanes would win their next 11, including a one-for-the-ages thriller over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, and capture their first national championship. UM's lone blemish was that season opener at Florida Field.
The Gators, meanwhile, tied USC on the road in Week 2, then won seven of their next nine, losing to Auburn and (of course) Georgia along the way, but embarrassed Florida State 53-14 to finish 8-2-1 and ranked 11th in the country, good enough to earn a date with No. 10 Iowa (9-2) in the 39th Gator Bowl.
The stakes were pretty clear. To the winner, an all-but certain place in the final Associated Press Top 10. For Florida, that would be a first.
To the time capsule we go.
THE DATE: Dec. 30, 1983
IN THE HEADLINES THAT DAY
- With scant official encouragement but with the blessings of the mother of a captured American pilot, the Rev. Jesse Jackson began a trip to Damascus hoping a personal appeal could achieve the pilot's release “as a bold step toward peace.” Jackson said he had “no signed contract” which would guarantee the release of Navy Lt. Robert O. Goodman Jr., who was wounded and captured Dec. 4 when his fighter jet was downed during a raid on Syrian gun positions in Lebanon's central mountains.
- The last 5 percent chunk of President Reagan's four-step cut in federal income taxes takes effect Jan. 1, leaving the typical American with a 23 percent lower tax bite than when the program began Oct. 1, 1981.
- Prince Charles and Princess Diana will visit Italy next October, their first tour together on the continent, Buckingham Palace announced.
IN THE THEATERS
“Scarface” -- starring Al Pacino
“Silkwood” -- starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher
“Uncommon Valor” -- starring Gene Hackman and Patrick Swayze
ON THE TUBE
“Dallas”
“Dynasty”
“The A Team”
ON THE RADIO
(Billboard's Top 3 songs of 1983)
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“Flashdance ... What A Feeling” by Irene Cara
FOR SALE
3-bedroom, 2-bath home (avg. cost): $82,600
Dodge Ram 50 pickup truck: $5,665
Dozen eggs: 86 cents
2-litre bottle of Pepsi: 89 cents
Gallon of gasoline: $1.24
THE GATOR BOWL SET-UP
The weather was relentless the days leading up to the game. The Hawkeyes might as well have stayed in Iowa City, where they could have gotten a lot more work done. Once in Jacksonville, rain and very cold temperatures limited the Hawkeyes to just one practice. UF managed to get in two.
“This is the least preparation I've ever seen a team have for a game -- even an all-star game,” Iowa coach Hayden Fry said. “If we play well, it'll change the practice formula for every team in America.”
Charley Pell echoed similar sentiments.
“I share Coach Fry's concerns,” Pell said. “But we're healthy and I don't think the weather will amount to a hill of beans [game] night. Still, we're going to have as many heaters on the sidelines as we can get.”
There was plenty of heat on the UF program, anyway. At the time, the Gators were the focus of a massive NCAA investigation into rules violations, but the coaches and players remained focused on the chance at taking an incredible step forward: the opportunity to finish a season with the highest ranking in school history.
Iowa brought a potent offense, led by quarterback Chuck Long and tailback Ronnie Harmon. Florida, a 3-point favorite, countered with the steady quarterbacking of Wayne Peace, No. 2 in SEC history in passing yards, along with two excellent running backs in Neal Anderson and John L. Williams, and a defense led by first-team All-America linebacker Wilber Marshall that allowed just 13.7 points per game and only once allowed more than 19 in a game.
THE GAME
The weather may have been more suitable for Iowans, but the 39th Gator Bowl was all about the Gators finishing a season somewhere they've never had before.
In the Top 10.
Neal Anderson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and backup linebacker Doug Drew recovered a fumble by Iowa's punter in the end zone in the second quarter, with those two first-half plays paving the way for Florida to upend Iowa 14-6 before a record Gator Bowl crowd of 81,293.
The outcome gave the Gators their ninth win of the season, tying the 1966, '69 and '75 squads for the most in school history. More significantly, Florida all but guaranteed a jump from its No. 11 spot into the Associated Press Top 10 final rankings for the first time in school history.
“For some strange reason, it's not quite as cold as it was three hours ago,” UF coach Charley Pell said.
The Gators (9-2-1) limited Hawkeyes quarterback Chuck Long, a likely candidate for the Heisman Trophy in '84, to just 13-of-30 passing, intercepted him four times and held Iowa's offense to just 281 yards.
UF was far from efficient on offense. The Gators totaled just 260 yards and had only one drive of more than 35 yards the entire game. Florida also had a Gator Bowl-record 13 penalties.
But that one early touchdown, coupled with the special teams play of the day -- Iowa punter Tom Nichol dropped a snap in the end zone, tried to pick it up, but lost the ball to Drew -- proved to be the difference.
IN THEIR WORDS
“It was our night. [Chuck Long] was easy to read. When you've practiced against a Wayne Peace for four years, you don't get real scared about facing any other quarterback.”
--Florida safety Tony Lilly
“It was a very frustrating game for us. We did not make the critical plays on offense. Our defense certainly gave us a chance to win by holding a fine Florida offense to one touchdown. You probably saw two of the better defensive teams in the nation out there. ... And Tom Nichol did the wrong thing in trying to pick up the muffed snap. He should have just fallen on the ball.”
--Iowa coach Hayden Fry
“That was my first recovery, and I'm including Pop Warner, the works.”
--UF linebacker Doug Drew
“We just didn't execute. Our passing game was way off. My night wasn't anything to write home about, but we went out and a winner and that's the important thing. We won ugly, but we won.”
--Gators quarterback Wayne Peace
“The younger guys know we can do it now. Florida's still going to be strong. They've got a lot of depth.”
--Florida linebacker Wilber Marshall
Note: The final 1983 Associated Press poll placed Florida at No. 6, behind only national champion Miami, Nebraska, Auburn, Georgia and Texas. The Gators also finished sixth in the final UPI Coaches poll.
