1984 Florida Gators football team

The 1984 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The campaign was Charley Pell's sixth and last as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team, as he was forced to resign three games into the season after the release of an NCAA report detailing numerous recruiting and other rules violations committed during his tenure at Florida. Offensive coordinator Galen Hall had been hired the previous summer and was not implicated in the scandal, so he was named interim head coach.

1984 Florida Gators football
SEC champion (vacated)
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 7
AP	No. 3
Record	9–1–1 (5–0–1 SEC)
Head coach	Charley Pell (6th season; first 3 games) Galen Hall (interim; final 8 games)
Offensive coordinator	Galen Hall (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Joe Kines (4th season)
Home stadium	Florida Field
Seasons ← 1983 1985 →

1984 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Florida	5	–	0	–	1			9	–	1	–	1
No. 15 LSU $	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	3	–	1
No. 14 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
No. 19 Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
Vanderbilt	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Alabama	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Florida was assessed a postseason ban following an NCAA investigation. LSU was credited with the conference championship for purposes of the Sugar Bowl automatic bid. Rankings from AP Poll

After starting the season 1–1–1 under Pell, the Gators went 8–0 under Hall to post a 9–1–1 overall record, including 5–0–1 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and Hall was named the SEC Coach of the Year. Florida was ranked #3 in the final Associated Press poll - the highest finish in program history up to that time - and were declared national champions by several minor pollsters, including the New York Times and The Sporting News. However, due to NCAA sanctions, the Gators were not permitted to participate in a bowl game.

Florida led the SEC in both points scored (31 points per game) and points allowed (15.5 points per game). The balanced offense featured freshman quarterback and SEC Player of the Year Kerwin Bell, three running backs who would be NFL first round draft picks in John L. Williams, Neal Anderson, and Lorenzo Hampton, and another future first round pick in freshman wide receiver Ricky Nattiel. The offensive line was dubbed "The Great Wall of Florida" and featured several all-conference lineman, including yet another future first round pick in tackle Lomas Brown, helping Florida lead the conference in rushing with 240 yards per game. The defense featured two consensus all-conference players in noseguard Tim Newton and linebacker Alonzo Johnson.^[1][2][3]

No Florida football squad had ever been undefeated in the SEC or had won a conference championship, so there was much rejoicing in Gainesville when the 1984 team clinched the best record in the league in November.^[4] However, due to the NCAA violations committed under Pell, the title was retroactively vacated in May 1985 by a vote of the presidents of the SEC schools.

Florida would again top the conference standings in 1985 but had been declared ineligible for the SEC championship before the season began. The program did not win an officially recognized SEC football championship until 1991.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 1	vs. No. 10 Miami (FL)*	No. 17	Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 20–32	72,813	[5]
September 8	LSU		Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	TBS	T 21–21	70,197	[6]
September 15	Tulane*		Florida Field Gainesville, FL		W 63–21	65,265	[7]
September 29	Mississippi State		Florida Field Gainesville, FL		W 27–12	68,186	[8]
October 6	Syracuse*		Florida Field Gainesville, FL		W 16–0	70,189	[9]
October 13	at Tennessee	No. 18	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)		W 43–30	94,016	[10]
October 20	Cincinnati*	No. 17	Florida Field Gainesville, FL		W 48–17	73,690	[11]
November 3	No. 11 Auburn	No. 13	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	ABC	W 24–3	74,397	[12]
November 10	vs. No. 8 Georgia	No. 10	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	CBS	W 27–0	82,349	[13]
November 17	at Kentucky	No. 5	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY (rivalry)	TBS	W 25–17	52,823	[14]
December 1	at No. 12 Florida State*	No. 3	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ABC	W 27–17	58,930	[15]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[3]

Personnel

1984 Florida Gators football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 27 Neal Anderson Jr QB 12 Kerwin Bell Fr QB Rodney Brewer OL Phil Bromley OL Lomas Brown RB Reggie Corlew OL Jimmy Davis OL Jack Gerzina RB Lorenzo Hampton RB Joe Henderson OL 60 Billy Hinson TE Rodney Jones OL Crawford Ker RB James Massey WR Ray McDonald WR 89 Ricky Nattiel So WR 21 Frankie Neal So TE Walter Odom TE Duncan Parham TE Tom Peddle WR Gary Rolle WR Linzey Smith WR Bret Wiechmann RB Anthony Williams FB 22 John L. Williams Jr OL Jeff Zimmerman	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB Scott Armstrong S Vernell Brown DT Tommy Duhart DB Ricky Easmon DL Sam Garland LB Alonzo Johnson LB Mark Korff LB Patrick Miller LB Alonzo Mitz LB Ron Moten DL Tim Newton LB Leon Pennington DB Roger Sibbald DB Curtis Stacey DT Don Tinny DB Adrian White CB Jarvis Williams DL Keith Williams	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P Ray Criswell P David Nadone K Chris Perkins K Bobby Raymond Sr	Head coach Charley Pell (first three games) Galen Hall (remaining eight games) Coordinators/assistant coaches Galen Hall (OC) Joe Kines (DC) Mike Heimerdinger (WR) Charlie Strong (GA) Gunnar Paulson (GA) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Game summaries

Vs. Miami (FL)

#10 Miami (FL) vs. #17 Florida

1 2 3 4 Total • Hurricanes 3 13 3 13 32 Gators 3 7 3 7 20 Date: September 1 Location: Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary 1 MIA Cox 29-yard field goal MIA 3–0 1 FLA Raymond 44-yard field goal Tie 3–3 2 FLA Hampton 64-yard run (Raymond kick) FLA 10–3 2 MIA Cox 20-yard field goal FLA 10–6 2 MIA Oliver 21-yard run (Cox kick) MIA 13–10 2 MIA Cox 27-yard field goal MIA 16–10 3 MIA Cox 25-yard field goal MIA 19–10 3 FLA Raymond 30-yard field goal MIA 19–13 4 0:41 FLA Neal 5-yard pass from Bell (Raymond kick) FLA 20–19 4 0:07 MIA Brown 12-yard pass from Kosar (Cox kick) MIA 26–20 4 0:00 MIA Bain 59-yard interception return MIA 32–20

See also: 1984 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida–Miami football rivalry

The Florida Gators opened the 1984 season with a neutral site clash at Tampa Stadium against their in-state rival and defending national champion Miami Hurricanes. The game was nationally televised by ESPN as the second game of a double-header on the network's first day broadcasting live college football.

Redshirt freshman Kerwin Bell unexpectedly became Florida's starting quarterback four days before the game when senior Dale Dorminey suffered a serious knee injury in practice. Supported by an effective rushing attack, Bell played well in his first collegiate appearance, and the game was close throughout. With his team down by six points late in the fourth quarter, Bell led the Gators on a long drive that culminated with a touchdown pass that gave them a 20-19 lead with under a minute remaining.^[16][17] However, Miami senior quarterback Bernie Kosar quickly led the Hurricanes down the field and threw a responding touchdown pass with six seconds left, putting Miami back ahead 26-20. The Gators lined up for one last play deep in their own territory with one second left. Bell threw a Hail Mary pass that was intercepted by Miami defensive back Tolbert Bain and returned for touchdown as time expired, giving Miami a 32–20 victory and covering the point spread, as the Hurricanes had been a 6.5 point favorite.^[18]

At Tennessee

See also: 1984 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Florida–Tennessee football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida	13	10	0	20	43
Tennessee	10	3	3	14	30

Game information

First quarter UT – Tim McGee 52-yard pass from Tony Robinson (Fuad Reveiz kick). Tennessee 7–0. Drive: FLA – Frankie Neal 50-yard pass from Kerwin Bell (Bobby Raymond kick), 1:28. Tie 7–7. Drive: UT – Fuad Reveiz 26-yard field goal. Tennessee 10–7. Drive: FLA – Neal Anderson 80-yard run (kick failed). Florida 13–10. Drive: Second quarter UT – Fuad Reveiz 40-yard field goal. Tie 13–13. Drive: FLA – Chris Perkins 51-yard field goal. Florida 16–13. Drive: FLA – Ricky Nattiel 8-yard run (Bobby Raymond kick). Florida 23–13. Drive: 16 plays. Third quarter UT – Fuad Reveiz 35-yard field goal. Florida 23–16. Drive: Fourth quarter FLA – Bobby Raymond 42-yard field goal. Florida 26–16. Drive: FLA – Bobby Raymond 41-yard field goal. Florida 29–16. Drive: UT – Joey Clinkscales 48-yard pass from Tony Robinson (Fuad Reveiz kick). Florida 29–23. Drive: FLA – Ray McDonald 13-yard pass from Kerwin Bell (Bobby Raymond kick). Florida 36–23. Drive: UT – Johnnie Jones 4-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick), 7:23. Florida 36–30. Drive: FLA – John L. Williams 47-yard run (Bobby Raymond kick), 0:54. Florida 43–30. Drive: Top passers FLA – Kerwin Bell – 9/12, 201 yards, 2 TD, INT UT – Tony Robinson – 29/43, 371 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers FLA – Neal Anderson – 23 rushes, 178 yards, TD UT – Johnnie Jones – 17 rushes, 94 yards, TD Top receivers FLA – John L. Williams – 4 receptions, 96 yards UT – Tim McGee – 10 receptions, 157 yards, TD

Florida Gators (3–1–1) at Tennessee Volunteers (2–1–1)

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

• Date: October 13
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 94,016
• ^[19]

• John L. Williams led the team in receiving and added 100 yards on the ground.
• The game featured 1,060 total yards and 47 first downs.

Vs. Georgia

See also: 1984 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Florida–Georgia football rivalry

After suffering several defeats to the Bulldogs with a conference championship at stake, the Gators entered the rivalry game in Jacksonville undefeated in the SEC. The Gators dominated early, building a 17–0 lead by early in the second half. Georgia seemed to come alive in the third quarter, mounting a long time-consuming drive into Florida territory. However, they were stopped near Florida's goal line on a fourth down play, giving the Gators the ball inside their own one yard line. On the third play following the change of possession, Gator quarterback Kerwin Bell dropped back into his own end zone and lofted a long pass down the sideline to wide receiver Ricky Nattiel, who went 96 yards for a touchdown. Florida regained the momentum and went on to win 27–0, their largest margin of victory in the series at the time.

Kentucky

1 2 3 4 Total • Florida 3 9 7 6 25 Kentucky 3 0 7 7 17 Date: November 17 Game attendance: 52,823

Scoring summary Q1 FLA Raymond 30 yard field goal FLA 3–0 Q1 KEN Worley 50 yard field goal Tie 3–3 Q2 FLA Raymond 38 yard field goal FLA 6–3 Q2 FLA Raymond 27 yard field goal FLA 9–3 Q2 FLA Raymond 30 yard field goal FLA 12–3 Q3 KEN Phillips 7 yard pass from Ransdell (Worley kick) FLA 12–10 Q3 FLA Neal 9 yard pass from Bell (Raymond kick) FLA 19–10 Q4 FLA Raymond 36 yard field goal FLA 22–10 Q4 KEN Phillips 8 yard pass from Ransdell (Worley kick) FLA 22–17 Q4 FLA Raymond 43 yard field goal FLA 25–17

^[20]

Postseason

Despite winning the SEC title, the Gators were barred from going to the 1985 Sugar Bowl due to the violations committed under Pell; runner-up LSU went in their place.^[21] On May 30, 1985, the presidents of the ten SEC-member universities voted 6–4 to vacate the Gators' 1984 SEC title and declared the team ineligible for the SEC championship during the upcoming 1985 and 1986 seasons because of the rule violations committed under Pell. The retroactive vacating of the 1984 championship, six months after the 1984 football season ended, drew an angry response from University of Florida president Marshall Criser, as well as Gators coaches, players and fans due to the retroactive nature of the decision and its perceived unfairness.^[22]

References

1. Carlson, Norm. "The Great Wall of Florida". University of Florida Athletic Association. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
2. "1984 Southeastern Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
3. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
4. Dooley, Pat (November 20, 2009). "Do not forget 1984, UF football's first SEC title". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
5. "Kosar colossal in 32–20 UM win over Gators". The Bradenton Herald. September 2, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Florida, LSU scrap to 21–21 tie". The Tennessean. September 9, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Gators wipe out Green Wave". The Orlando Sentinel. September 16, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Gators drop Mississippi St., 27–12". The Miami Herald. September 30, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Florida dejuices the Orange, 16–0". The Sunday Press. October 7, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Bombs away! Gators burn Vols 43–30". News-Press. October 14, 1984. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Gators cool, confident during 48–17 victory". The Palm Beach Post. October 21, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Gators take giant step, 24–3 over Auburn". St. Petersburg Times. November 4, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Bulldogs' missed opportunity ends Florida's frustrations". Anderson Independent-Mail. November 11, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Gators get the glory". The Messenger-Inquirer. November 18, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Hall: We are the best team in the nation". St. Lucie News Tribune. December 2, 1984. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Paul Jenkins, "Dale Dorminey: guy who made Kerwin Bell famous," Lakeland Ledger, p. 1D (September 13, 1987). Retrieved February 13, 2016.
17. White, Gordon (September 2, 1984). "LAST-MINUTE RALLY LIFTS MIAMI, 32-20". New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
18. Hooper, Ernest (August 21, 2019). "Miyagi's wisdom, Kerwin Bell's fearlessness highlighted memorable day". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
19. Gainesville Sun. 1984 Oct 14. Pg. 8F. Retrieved 2020-Dec-05.
20. Gainesville Sun. 1984 Nov 18. Retrieved 2017-Sep-03.
21. "Commentary : What's Florida's Problem? Give the Title Back". latimes.
22. Associated Press, "SEC Presidents swipe Florida of football title", Times Daily, p. 5B (May 31, 1985). See also "Gators Stripped of SEC Title", The Palm Beach Post, pp. A1 & A5 (May 31, 1985). Both retrieved May 5, 2011.