1995, 1996 SEC Championship Football Teams to be Recognized at Saturday's Game
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two historic Gators football programs are being recognized during the Florida-Tennessee game this Saturday, Sept. 25 as the university will honor both the 1995 and 1996 Florida football teams 25 years after winning consecutive SEC Championships.
The teams are part of a large group of SEC Championship programs who have won the conference title in their respective sports and are celebrating their 10th, 25th and 50th anniversaries. Teams that were not recognized because of COVID-19 last season are also included in this year's celebration.
More than 50 former members of the '95 and '96 SEC Championship teams will be present for their recognition slated at the end of the first quarter, while the other teams will be recognized at halftime.
The 1995 Gators football team put together a perfect 12-0 regular season, winning their third-straight conference title in the process and helping Head Coach Steve Spurrier to his third title in six seasons at Florida.
Quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the SEC Championship Game MVP, had an incredible season after breaking multiple offensive records, passing for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. Receivers Chris Doering and Ike Hilliard also put up outrageous numbers as they both recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in the season.
During the following year, the 1996 Florida football team won its fourth-consecutive SEC Championship after they defeated No. 4 Alabama, 45-30, behind Wuerffel's 401 passing years and six touchdowns. The Gators would take revenge on Florida State, who defeated Florida earlier in the season, by handing FSU a loss in the Sugar Bowl to win the program's first ever national championship.
After his dominant season, Wuerffel joined Spurrier as one of only two Gators to win the Heisman Trophy as he collected over 3,600 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in the season. Hilliard posted another great year as he totaled 900 yards on 47 receptions and scored 10 touchdowns. Receiver Reidel Anthony also surpassed the 1,000 receiving-yard mark with 1,293 total yards on 72 catches while also tallying an NCAA-leading 18 touchdowns.
Saturday's game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff as the No. 11 Florida Gators look to get their first SEC victory of the season against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Coverage of the game will be on ESPN.
The teams are part of a large group of SEC Championship programs who have won the conference title in their respective sports and are celebrating their 10th, 25th and 50th anniversaries. Teams that were not recognized because of COVID-19 last season are also included in this year's celebration.
More than 50 former members of the '95 and '96 SEC Championship teams will be present for their recognition slated at the end of the first quarter, while the other teams will be recognized at halftime.
The 1995 Gators football team put together a perfect 12-0 regular season, winning their third-straight conference title in the process and helping Head Coach Steve Spurrier to his third title in six seasons at Florida.
Quarterback Danny Wuerffel, the SEC Championship Game MVP, had an incredible season after breaking multiple offensive records, passing for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and finishing third in Heisman Trophy voting. Receivers Chris Doering and Ike Hilliard also put up outrageous numbers as they both recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in the season.
During the following year, the 1996 Florida football team won its fourth-consecutive SEC Championship after they defeated No. 4 Alabama, 45-30, behind Wuerffel's 401 passing years and six touchdowns. The Gators would take revenge on Florida State, who defeated Florida earlier in the season, by handing FSU a loss in the Sugar Bowl to win the program's first ever national championship.
After his dominant season, Wuerffel joined Spurrier as one of only two Gators to win the Heisman Trophy as he collected over 3,600 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in the season. Hilliard posted another great year as he totaled 900 yards on 47 receptions and scored 10 touchdowns. Receiver Reidel Anthony also surpassed the 1,000 receiving-yard mark with 1,293 total yards on 72 catches while also tallying an NCAA-leading 18 touchdowns.
Saturday's game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff as the No. 11 Florida Gators look to get their first SEC victory of the season against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Coverage of the game will be on ESPN.
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