On this date in Gators history: Sept. 2, 1990
Sunday, September 2, 2012 | Volleyball, Chris Harry
The buzz surrounding Steve Spurrier's debut game as Florida's coach took a back seat to the fear and anxiety swirling around the UF community in the wake of the murders of five students (four women) over a three-day period the week before.
“Football pales in comparison to what's going on around us,” Senior Associate Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said. “We're talking life and death, not toys and games.”
Spurrier even altered some of his normal football operations, allowing some UF players to break curfew to stay at the homes or apartments of their girlfriends.
"On the couch," he specified.
A midweek pep rally to pump up the opener against Oklahoma State was canceled.
“This has been a sad, sad thing for the whole community,” said Spurrier, who had two daughters attending UF at the time. “Nobody seems much like going to pep rallies and cheering.”
