Friday, September 20, 2019 | Football, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The residual effects of the meltdown against Florida State — some were calling it the "Rally in Tally," but "Choke at the Doak" soon became the nickname of choice — still lingered. And yet, some extremely unique and fortuitous circumstances that could rescue the Florida season instantaneously reared themselves.
The sixth-ranked Gators (9-1-1) clinched their Southeastern Conference East Division title two weeks before the infamous and bitter 31-31 tie at FSU. Now, a date with undefeated and No. 3 Alabama (11-0) in the SEC Championship Game not only was for the league crown and berth in the Sugar Bowl, but also a rematch with the Seminoles in New Orleans.
In other words, a chance at some coveted hardware — just the third conference crown in school history — plus a path to revenge and redemption was at stake in the first SEC title game staged in Atlanta.
"We have no choice but to look forward, and by that I mean our next game and our next game only," UF junior wideout Chris Doering said. "If we don't take care of business against Alabama, it will be like FSU not only tied us, but took away away the rest of our season."
Senior center David Swain put it best.
"If we don't beat Alabama, our season is ruined," he said.
Indeed. The UF-Alabama loser was locked to a date in the Citrus Bowl.
For UF coach Steve Spurrier, it was now a matter of refocusing, which meant trying to shove that FSU fourth quarter out of his players' collective minds and zeroing in the Crimson Tide, the Gators' opponent for the third time in as many SEC championship games, and armed with one of the nation's best defenses.
"That's what we play for around here — the conference championship," Spurrier said. "We haven't won too many, so for me this is the biggest game of the year."
A trio of Gators -- (from left) kicker Judd Davis, special teams standout Sam McCorkle and punter Shayne Edge -- parade the SEC placard around the Georgia Dome following UF's thrilling 24-23 defeat of third-ranked and unbeaten Alabama in the 1994 league championship game.
While Florida was taking the gas in the fourth quarter the week before, Bama had a week off to bask in the glory of ending rival Auburn's 21-game unbeaten streak with a richly satisfying 21-14 victory in the so-called "Iron Bowl." The Tide was rested, ready and rolling with momentum, plus psyched for a shot at avenging the loss to UF in the league's '93 title game.
"People keep talking about the fourth quarter of the Florida State game," Alabama coach Gene Stallings said. "What about the first three quarters? That's the Florida team that concerns me."
For Spurrier, though, the challenge was convincing his team to move on from that fourth quarter and inspire his players to their best effort of the season at the Georgia Dome. Doing so would take one the greatest motivational weeks of his career; and a game plan to match.
As it turned out, he had both.
To the time machine we go.
Game 12 Dec. 3, 1994 Florida 24, Alabama 23
What happened: UF took advantage of it's SECond chance with a one-point, come-from-behind win over Bama in a thrilling league championship game in front of a Georgia Dome record crowd. Quarterback Danny Wuerffel drove his offense 80 yards in 10 plays — complete with three doses of chicanery — and capped the march with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Doering with 5:29 left. The PAT by Judd Davis proved the difference, as the Gators claimed a second straight league crown. The Tide's shot at a game-winning drive ended when senior quarterback Jay Barker, the '92 SEC Player of the Year, had his fourth-and-13 pass tipped by cornerback Fred Weary and intercepted by nickelback Eddie Lake just across midfield with 57 seconds to play, setting off a celebration on the UF sidelines. Alabama trailed 17-16 when linebacker Dwayne Rudd picked off a deflected Wuerffel pass and went 23 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with just under nine minutes to go. Up 22-17, Stallings opted for a Jay Proctor PAT rather than a two-point conversion attempt that, if successful, would have given Bama a 7-point cushion. Instead, the lead was six. The ensuing Florida drive featured the following calls from the sideline: A fake injury by Wuerffel, who limped off the field, and gave way to backup Eric Kresser, who on his first (and only) snap dropped and heaved a 25-yard completion to Ike Hilliard up the left sideline; the ol' Emory & Henry formation shift, with Florida's guards and tackles splitting out wide, and Wuerffel, back in the game, hitting Reidel Anthony for a 9-yard gaine on a wide receiver screen; a Fred Taylor 2-yard run on fourth-and-1; and a Wuerffel double-pass to Doering then to Aubrey Hill for 20 yards down to the Alabama 2. On the next play, Wuerffel hit Doering on a quick slant for the decisive TD.
UF wideout Chris Doering beats his Bama defender on a slant for the 2-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from Danny Wuerffel.
Florida defensive end Kevin Carter smothers Alabama quarterback Jay Barker for one of UF's five sacks.
Numbers of note: Spurrier became the first coach in SEC history to win three outright league tiles in his first four seasons. … Wuerffel was 23 of 41 for 227 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had a 1-yard QB sneak for a score. … Barker was 10 of 19 for 181 yards, one score, two picks and was sacked five times, including twice by senior defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, who was named the game's MVP. ... Gators defensive end Kevin Carter had eight tackles and a sack. … The Tide finished with just 297 yards of offense. … .Anthony caught eight passes for 105 yards, including a sensational in-traffic grab to the tie the game in the first quarter. After making the play, Anthony hopped up, took off his helmet, made like he was firing a shotgun and got a 15-yard penalty. … UF rushed 24 times for only 44 yards. … Alabama took a 7-0 lead on its opening series when Barker, flushed right and chased by defensive end Carter on third-and-4, hit tight end Curtis Brown over the top of the UF secondary for a 70-yard touchdown pass. … Davis became UF's all-time scoring leader with 223 points, passing Emmitt Smith's 222.
They said it:
* "It looked like our offense was going in the tank. We pooped around so much that we had to try something." — Spurrier on his barrage of late trick plays.
* "How'd I look? Pretty good acting job, huh?" — Wuerffel on his fake limp to the sideline.
* "Coach Spurrier is like that. It's no surprise for him to make those calls. We practice those plays all the time. To us, they're just like a running play or a normal pass. We're ready to execute them. It's the other team that gets confused." — Hill
* "I thought we might try it with a two- or three-touchdown lead, but with the game on the line? That took some guts on Coach Spurrier's part." — Kresser on his one play.
* "I'd never played in a game that was this exciting, this emotional and this intense all at the same time. When you have all those things tearing at you inside, it's unbelievable." — Johnson
* We thought about going for two. If you go for two and make it, they would have to score and make two to tie. If you go for two and don't make it, two field goals win it for them. There's no doubt in my mind it was the right decision." — Stallings on his call to kick the late PAT, obviously confused (UF would not have had to go for two to tie, plus there was zero chance Spurrier would have attempted two field goals in the final five minutes).
* The Florida State game will be for bragging rights. This one was for bragging rights too, but also a championship and a big fat ring on your finger." — Anthony
* "I don't especially like rematches, but we've got one, setting the stage for a great game." — FSU coach Bobby Bowden, back home in Tallahassee, on playing a second game against rival UF in a matter of five weeks.
FIFTH QUARTER IN THE FRENCH QUARTER THE RUN-UP TO THE REMATCH
One of the popular pre-game notions the Florida-Florida State Sugar Bowl rematch in New Orleans focused on was the toxic mix of UF and FSU fans, lots of alcohol, and what could happen on the streets of New Orleans.
Few talked about fights amongst players.
And certainly not teammates.
At a New Year's Eve dinner for the Gators at the Superdome, a fight broke out between UF linebackers Darren Hambrick and Anthony Riggins while the two were in a buffet line. The scene, witnesses later said, was a virtually melee. A bloody one, too, with Hambrick smashing a plastic glass into Riggins' face.
"There apparently were tables turned over and tableware flying around," an embarrassed Spurrier explained when briefing the media on the brawl at a news conference the day before the game. "I didn't see it. I just saw the results. They had to work on Riggins a little bit after the scuffle."
A lot of bit, actually.
Riggins, mostly a special teams player, suffered a facial cut and was hospitalized at Tulane Medical Center, where he underwent reconstructive facial surgery the next day. Hambrick, a starting outside linebacker, sustained a cut on his hand that required stitches. Spurrier sent both players back to Gainesville — kicking both off the term permanently — upon their release from the hospital.
"We will not tolerate our players fighting, and hopefully the rest of them will get the message,'' Spurrier said. "It's unfortunate. It happened. We're dealing with it."
The Gators, meanwhile, tried to maintain their pre-game routine, which under Spurrier always included attending a movie as a team the night before.
"We saw 'Dumb and Dumber,' " UF defensive coordinator Bobby Pruett said. "Apropos."
Eventually, the Gators had to shake the distractions (all of their own making) and deal with a Seminoles team that was virtually unstoppable for one quarter the last time the teams met.
"They're going to run the same offense until we show them we can stop it," senior safety Michael Gilmore said.
Stated FSU cornerback Clifton Abraham: "We're going to go out and play as hard as we can on every play. That's something we didn't do until the fourth quarter the last time. We're ready, no doubt in my mind. We've got something for Florida."
Yes, they did.
Game 13 Jan. 1, 1995 Florida State 23, Florida 17
What happened:Florida's quest for sweet revenge and redemption against its rival ended with another frustrating setback. All-America linebacker Derrick Brooks intercepted a Wuerffel pass with 1:32 to play to thwart a UF comeback and seal FSU's victory in the Sugar Bowl and, in essence, break the tie between the two teams from five weeks before. FSU won its 10th straight bowl game and improved to 4-1-1 against the Spurrier-coached Gators. Two missed second-half field goals by FSU's Dan Mowery kept the Gators within striking distance. Wuerffel's 1-yard quarterback sneak with 3:47 to go drew UF within six points. The Seminoles recovered the ensuing onsides kick, but the Gators forced a punt and got the ball back with 2:27 to play. After a first-down sack, Wuerffel was under heavy pressure on second down, got hit while trying to stick a pass in Taylor's direction. The ball fluttered a ball into the arms of Brooks. Game over, season over.
Numbers of note: Wuerffel finished 28 of 39 and set a Sugar Bowl record with 394 yards passing, including an 82-yard touchdown to Hilliard, but was sacked six times. … Anthony had a 52-yard pass completion to Jack Jackson on a trick play, giving the Gators 449 yards passing. … Jackson had six catches for 128 yards and announced after the game that he'd forego his final UF season to enter into the NFL draft. … Coupled with Wueffel's six sacks, UF finished with only five rushing yards on 29 attempts. … Seminoles sophomore tailback Warrick Dunn was named game MVP with 51 yards rushing, 58 receiving and a 73-yard touchdown pass to wideout O'Mar Ellison. . … FSU quarterback Danny Kanell, who passed for 421 yards in the first game, was 23-for-40 for 252 yards and a TD. … The Gators had two failed fourth-down conversion tries in FSU territory, one in each half.
Sophomre FSU tailback Warrick Dunn dashes through a gaping hole on his way to MVP honors at the 1995 Sugar Bowl.
They said it:
* "Congratulations to FSU. They beat us tonight, We had a chance to win it, but we couldn't make a play. It was tough for Danny out there. They had an excellent pass rush and really stormed the gates on us. Safe to say they were the better team tonight." — Spurrier.
* "We weren't going to be conservative like the last time." — Kanell.
* "I was getting ready to throw and got hit. I really didn't see what happened after that." — Wuerffel on the game-sealing interception.
* "They talk trash. We shut 'em up." — Dunn
* "Money's not the issue. I just feel there isn't anything more for me to prove if I was to return to school next year."— Jackson
* I'm thankful I was in the right place at the right time. I saw Taylor sneaking out of the backfield and we were pressuring Wuerffel most of the game. We made the right call. It was sweet." — Brooks on his game-sealer.
* "It's no fun going to a bowl and having to beat your in-state rival. I don't ever want to play them twice again unless I'm coaching at Mississippi State or somewhere else." — Bowden, in a quote that proved fairly prophetic ... two years later, that is.
Note: We'll revisit that team's memorable 25-year anniversary in 2021.
