1971 Florida Gators football team

The 1971 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. The season was Doug Dickey's second as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1971 Florida Gators finished with a 4–7 overall record and a 1–6 record in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), tying for eighth among ten SEC teams.^[1]

1971 Florida Gators football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	4–7 (1–6 SEC)
Head coach	Doug Dickey (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Jimmy Dunn (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Doug Knotts (2nd season)
Captain	Harvin Clark Tommy Durrance John Reaves
Home stadium	Florida Field
Seasons ← 1970 1972 →

1971 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 4 Alabama $	7	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 7 Georgia	5	–	1	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 12 Auburn	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
No. 15 Ole Miss	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Tennessee	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 11 LSU	3	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Vanderbilt	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Florida	1	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Kentucky	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Mississippi State	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	vs. Duke*	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL	L 6–12	51,477	[2]
September 18	at Mississippi State	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	L 10–13	33,500	[3]
September 25	No. 8 Alabama	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	L 0–38	61,832	[4]
October 2	No. 12 Tennessee	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	L 13–20	61,112	[5]
October 9	at No. 16 LSU	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	L 7–48	67,055	[6]
October 16	No. 19 Florida State*	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	W 17–15	65,109	[7]
October 23	Maryland*	Florida Field Gainesville, FL	W 27–23	53,021	[8]
October 30	at No. 5 Auburn	Cliff Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)	L 7–40	63,500	[9]
November 6	vs. No. 7 Georgia	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	L 7–49	67,383	[10]
November 13	Kentucky	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	W 35–24	45,268	[11]
November 27	at Miami (FL)*	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (rivalry)	W 45–16	37,710	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1][13]

Personnel

1971 Florida Gators football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class G 68 Fred Abbott Jr WR Larry Adams WR 45 Carlos Alvarez Sr OT 74 Kris Anderson So WR 89 Hollis Boardman So G 79 Bill Dowdy Sr RB 33 Tommy Durrance (C) Sr TE 81 Hank Foldberg So QB 10 Chan Gailey So WR 21 Bruce Gunter Sr G 69 Dale Hutcherson So WR 22 Willie Jackson Jr FB 20 Vince Kendrick So C 55 Richard Kensler Sr C 51 Mark King So RB 36 Lenny Lucas So WR 44 Joel Parker So OT 76 David Peek Sr QB 7 John Reaves (C) Sr FB 40 Mike Rich Sr QB 9 John Schnelby Sr G 62 Joe Sheppard So TE 87 Jim Yancy Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 16 Jimmy Barr Jr ILB 50 Ricky Browne So DE 88 Richard Buchanan Sr CB 38 Harvin Clark (C) Sr S 34 John Clifford Jr DB 43 John Faix Sr MG 72 Len Fuller Sr CB 23 Leonard George Jr LB Jan Gowland DT 77 Robert Harrell Sr MG 65 David Hitchcock So DL 75 Eddy Moore Jr DE 85 Mike Moore So OLB 57 David Poff Jr DB 35 John Silman Jr CB 28 Doug Sorensen Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 8 Richard Franco Sr	Head coach Doug Dickey Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Game summaries

Duke

1 2 3 4 Total • Duke 6 3 0 3 12 Florida 0 0 6 0 6 Date: September 11 Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Game attendance: 51,477

Scoring summary 1 DUKE Wright 44 yard field goal DUKE 3-0 1 DUKE Wright 22 yard field goal DUKE 6-0 2 DUKE Wright 34 yard field goal DUKE 9-0 3 FLA Parker 7 yard pass from Reaves (kick blocked) DUKE 9-6 4 DUKE Wright 43 yard field goal DUKE 12-6

^[14]

Mississippi State

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 10 0 0 10 • Mississippi State 3 0 7 3 13 Date: September 18 Location: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, Mississippi Game attendance: 33,500

Scoring summary 1 MSU Ellis 29 yard field goal MSU 3-0 2 FLA Yancey 5 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 7-3 2 0:00 FLA Franco 52 yard field goal FLA 10-3 3 MSU Jones 21 yard run (Ellis kick) Tied 10-10 4 MSU Ellis 35 yard field goal MSU 13-10

^[15]

Alabama

1 2 3 4 Total • #8 Alabama 10 14 7 7 38 Florida 0 0 0 0 0 Date: September 25 Location: Florida Field Gainesville, Florida Game attendance: 61,832 Sources:[16][17]

Against the Gators, Alabama's Johnny Musso scored four rushing touchdowns en route to a 38–0 shutout at Florida Field.^[16][17] After Bill Davis gave the Crimson Tide a 3–0 lead with his first quarter field goal, Musso scored Alabama's next four touchdowns and extended their lead to 31–0.^[16][17] All four came on the ground with a pair from one-yard out, a three-yard run and a five-yard run.^[16][17] Alabama then closed the game with an 11-yard Billy Sexton touchdown pass to Dexter Wood that made the final score 38–0.^[16][17]

The four touchdowns scored by Musso on the ground set a new school record for rushing touchdowns. Additionally, the shutout was the first for the Crimson Tide defense since their 17–0 victory in 1967 over South Carolina.^[17]

Tennessee

See also: 1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Tennessee	3	10	7	0	20
Florida	0	13	0	0	13

Game information

First quarter TENN – George Hunt 33-yard field goal. Tennessee 3–0. Drive: Second quarter TENN – George Hunt 34-yard field goal. Tennessee 6–0. Drive: TENN – Curt Watson 8-yard run (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 13–0. Drive: 74 yards. FLA – Willie Jackson 23-yard pass from John Reaves (kick failed), 2:12. Tennessee 13–6. Drive: FLA – Hank Foldberg 7-yard pass from John Reaves (Richard Franco kick). Tie 13–13. Drive: Third quarter TENN – Stan Trott 20-yard pass from Phil Pierce (George Hunt kick). Tennessee 20–13. Drive: 99 yards. Top passers TENN FLA – John Reaves – 19/40, 213 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers TENN FLA – Mike Rich – 9 rushes, 80 yards Top receivers TENN FLA – Willie Jackson – 7 receptions, 93 yards, TD

#12 Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators

at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

• Date: October 2, 1971
• Game attendance: 61,112
• New York Times, 1971 Oct 03.

LSU

Florida State

See also: 1971 Florida State Seminoles football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida St	0	0	0	15	15
Florida	0	14	0	3	17

Game information

Second quarter FLA – Mike Rich 1-yard run (kick failed), 14:58. Florida 6–0. Drive: 75 yards. FLA – Jimmy Barr 26-yard fumble return (pass good), 14:40. Florida 14–0. Fourth quarter FSU – Paul Magalski 3-yard run (Frank Fontes kick), 13:57. Florida 14–7. Drive: 73 yards. FLA – Richard Franco 42-yard field goal, 9:19. Florida 17–7. Drive: FSU – Rhett Dawson 6-yard pass from Gary Huff (pass good), 3:02. Florida 17–15. Drive: Top passers FSU – Gary Huff – 22/40, 198 yards, TD FLA – John Reaves – 4/11, 44 yards Top rushers FSU – Art Munroe – 17 rushes, 79 yards FLA – Tommy Durrance – 15 rushes, 60 yards Top receivers FSU – Rhett Dawson – 7 receptions, 90 yards, TD FLA – Willie Jackson – 1 reception, 28 yards

Florida State Seminoles at Florida Gators

at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida

• Date: October 16, 1971
• Game weather: Overcast
• Game attendance: 65,109
• Recap/Box Score

Maryland

1 2 3 4 Total Maryland 0 13 10 0 23 • Florida 7 6 7 7 27 Date: October 23 Location: Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida Game attendance: 53,021

Scoring summary 1 FLA Durrance 7 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 7-0 2 MD Behbahani 23 yard field goal FLA 7-3 2 FLA Boardman 24 yard pass from Reaves (kick failed) FLA 13-3 2 MD Behbahani 36 yard field goal FLA 13-6 2 MD Bungori 4 yard pass from Neville (Behbahani kick) Tied 13-13 3 MD Behbahani 31 yard field goal MD 16-13 3 FLA Alvarez 16 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 20-16 3 MD Bungori 10 yard pass from Neville (Behbahani kick) MD 23-20 4 FLA Durrance 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 27-23

^[18]

Auburn

1 2 3 4 Total Florida 0 7 0 0 7 • Auburn 12 0 7 21 40 Date: October 30 Location: Cliff Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama Game attendance: 63,500

Scoring summary 1 AUB Sullivan 8 yard run (run failed) AUB 6-0 1 AUB Sullivan 1 yard run (run failed) AUB 12-0 2 FLA Jackson 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) AUB 12-7 3 AUB Beasley 19 yard pass from Sullivan (Jett kick) AUB 19-7 4 AUB Unger 4 yard run (Jett kick) AUB 26-7 4 AUB Henley 1 yard run (Jett kick) AUB 33-7 4 AUB Beasley 14 yard pass from Sullivan (Jett kick) AUB 40-7

^[19]

Georgia

1 2 3 4 Total • Georgia 7 13 22 7 49 Florida 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 6 Location: Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida Game attendance: 67,383

Scoring summary 1 UGA Poulos 1 yard run (Braswell kick) UGA 7-0 2 UGA Lake 2 yard run (Braswell kick) UGA 14-0 2 UGA Robinson 38 yard interception return (kick failed) UGA 20-0 2 FLA Yancey 9 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) UGA 20-7 3 UGA Ray 5 yard run (Ray to Shirer pass) UGA 28-7 3 UGA Shirer 38 yard pass from Ray (Braswell kick) UGA 35-7 3 UGA Lake 2 yard run (Braswell kick) UGA 42-7 4 UGA Burns 25 yard pass from Watson (Braswell kick) UGA 49-7

^[20]

Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total Kentucky 0 3 7 14 24 • Florida 0 7 7 21 35 Date: November 13 Location: Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida Game attendance: 45,268

Scoring summary 2 FLA Lucas 1 yard run (Franco kick) FLA 7-0 2 KY Kirk 21 yard field goal FLA 7-3 3 KY Clymer 11 yard run (Kirk kick) KY 10-7 3 FLA Reaves 1 yard run (Franco kick) FLA 14-10 4 FLA Yancey 10 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 21-10 4 FLA Alvarez 56 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 28-10 4 KY Fanuzzi 3 yard run (pass failed) FLA 28-16 4 FLA Durrance 19 yard pass from Reaves (Franco kick) FLA 35-16 4 KY Stephans 47 yard pass from Fanuzzi (Fanuzzi run) FLA 35-24

^[21]

Miami (FL)

See also: 1971 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida–Miami football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida	7	10	14	14	45
Miami (FL)	0	0	8	8	16

Florida Gators at Miami (FL) Hurricanes

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

• Date: November 27, 1971
• Game attendance: 37,710
• Box Score

The disappointing season ended on a controversial note. With the Gators leading the Miami Hurricanes 45–8 late in the fourth quarter of the last game of the season, senior quarterback John Reaves was just 14 yards short of the NCAA career record for passing yardage, but Miami had the ball and seemed destined to run out the clock. At the urging of Florida defensive captain Harvin Clark, Dickey agreed to permit the Gators defense to allow the Hurricanes to score, thus returning the ball to the Gators offense and giving Reaves a chance to break the record. Dubbed the "Florida Flop" or "Gator Flop", the move worked. When Miami snapped the ball from the Florida 8-yard line, the Gators instantly flopped to the turf, allowing Miami quarterback John Hornibrook to walk uncontested into the endzone. Florida's offense got one more possession, and Reeves promptly broke the record with a pass to favorite target Carlos Alvarez. After the game, many Gator players celebrated by jumping into the pool at the Orange Bowl's east end zone used by the Miami Dolphins' live mascot, Flipper.

Miami coach Fran Curci was so angered by the turn of events that he refused to shake Dickey's hand. In a post-game interview, he called the actions "bush league" and declared that "what Doug Dickey did shows absolutely no class."^[22][23][24]

References

1. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
2. "Duke kicks favored Florida in face, 12–6". The Palm Beach Post. September 12, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Ellis connects on field goal to nip Gators". Daily Press. September 19, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Musso scores four times as Tide manhandles Gators 38–0". The Selma Times-Journal. September 26, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Tennessee sidesteps Florida's bid for an upset, 20–13". The Palm Beach Post. October 3, 1971. Retrieved May 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "LSU begins SEC chase with 48–7 win". Daily World. October 10, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Gators stun Seminoles on Franco's field goal". St. Lucie News Tribune. October 17, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Reaves, Alvarez lead Gators over Terps". The Palm Beach Post. October 24, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Sullivan-led Tigers drub Gators, 40–7". The Bradenton Herald. October 31, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "'Dogs bury UF by 49–7". Tallahassee Democrat. November 7, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Gators skin 'Cats as Alvarez sparkles". The Bradenton Herald. November 14, 1971. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Reaves: Wow!". St. Petersburg Times. November 28, 1971. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Sports Publicity Department. "1972 University of Florida Football Brochure" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
14. "Duke Boots Top Gators." Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Sept 12.
15. Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 September 19.
16. Reed, Delbert (September 26, 1971). "High Tide in Florida". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 1B. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
17. Tucker, Tommy (September 26, 1971). "Musso leads Alabama romp by hapless Florida, 38–0". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Google News Archives. p. 1C. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
18. Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct. 24.
19. Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 31.
20. Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Nov 7.
21. Ocala Star-Banner. 1971 Nov 14.
22. Paul Lukas, "The stories behind the 1971 Gator Flop", ESPN.com (September 16, 2010). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
23. Randall Mell, "It was humiliating Archived 2014-03-30 at the Wayback Machine", Orlando Sun-Sentinel (December 20, 2000). Retrieved March 30, 2014.
24. "Contemporary TV coverage of Florida Flop (youtube)". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2014.