The famous welcome sign in Las Vegas. (Photo: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
Carter's Corner: Gators Games a Long Way From Home
Monday, December 12, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The game was on a Saturday. The Gators left on a Tuesday for their trip out West.
Florida's journey 98 years ago to play at Texas – a game that ended in a 7-7 tie – rings similar to their upcoming matchup against Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Las Vegas Bowl is Saturday at grandiose Allegiant Stadium. The Gators are leaving Tuesday. OK, who are we kidding? The days of the week are about the only similarities.
The Gators are flying to Las Vegas, not taking a two-day train trip, combined with two days to recover, like they did in 1924 in the program's first game west of the Mississippi River.
While the Gators have ventured west of the Mississippi often in recent decades, playing at Missouri every other year and occasional trips to Southeastern Conference West rivals, their trip to the city billed as "The Entertainment Capital of the World" is one of the longest hauls in school history.
The Las Vegas Bowl will be Florida's longest road trip since the 1989 Freedom Bowl, which was played at Anaheim Stadium and was the final college game for Gators running back Emmitt Smith.
Still, it's not the farthest distance the Gators have traveled for a postseason game. Far from it. That one will be difficult to top.
A look at the lengthiest trips for postseason games in UF history:
Distances: All are driving distances via TravelMath.com except for flying miles to Honolulu.
Florida's journey 98 years ago to play at Texas – a game that ended in a 7-7 tie – rings similar to their upcoming matchup against Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The Las Vegas Bowl is Saturday at grandiose Allegiant Stadium. The Gators are leaving Tuesday. OK, who are we kidding? The days of the week are about the only similarities.
Coming soon to @AllegiantStadm. 🎨🏈 #LVBowl | #Vegas | #BowlSeason pic.twitter.com/DIs8swAxTw
— SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (@LasVegasBowl) December 12, 2022
The Gators are flying to Las Vegas, not taking a two-day train trip, combined with two days to recover, like they did in 1924 in the program's first game west of the Mississippi River.
While the Gators have ventured west of the Mississippi often in recent decades, playing at Missouri every other year and occasional trips to Southeastern Conference West rivals, their trip to the city billed as "The Entertainment Capital of the World" is one of the longest hauls in school history.
The Las Vegas Bowl will be Florida's longest road trip since the 1989 Freedom Bowl, which was played at Anaheim Stadium and was the final college game for Gators running back Emmitt Smith.
Still, it's not the farthest distance the Gators have traveled for a postseason game. Far from it. That one will be difficult to top.
A look at the lengthiest trips for postseason games in UF history:
A Long Way from The Swamp
| Game | Season | Opponent | Location | Distance (Miles) | Score | What happened? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloha Bowl | 1987 | UCLA | Honolulu | 4,674 | L 20-16 | Two future Pro Football Hall of Famers: Emmitt Smith vs Troy Aikman. |
| Freedom Bowl | 1989 | Washington | Anaheim | 2,392 | L 34-7 | Smith, in his final UF game (back then the best players played in bowl games) held to 17 yards on 17 carries. |
| Las Vegas Bowl | 2022 | Oregon State | Las Vegas | 2,196 | TBD | Billy Napier's debut postseason for Gators. |
| BCS National Champ. | 2006 | Ohio State | Glendale, Ariz. | 2.046 | W 41-14 | Gators demolish Buckeyes and Heisman winner Troy Smith, holding OSU to measly 82 yards of total offense in Urban Meyer's second season. |
| Fiesta Bowl | 1995 | Nebraska | Tempe, Ariz. | 2,032 | L 62-24 | Cornhuskers trample Gators for UF opponent-record 524 rushing yards (Tommie Frazier 16-199-3 TD; Lawrence Phillips 25-165-2) |
| Sun Bowl | 1977 | Texas A&M | El Paso | 1,785 | L 37-14 | Barefoot kicker Tony Franklin boots three field goals, including bowl-record 62-yarder. |
Distances: All are driving distances via TravelMath.com except for flying miles to Honolulu.
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