Before the season
Florida had several quarterbacks, with Terry LeCount starting.[3]
Schedule
Date |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 17 |
Rice* |
No. 19 |
Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas |
|
W 48–3 |
24,000 |
September 24 |
No. 12 Mississippi State |
No. 13 |
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium • Jackson, Mississippi |
ABC |
W 24–22 |
36,000 |
October 1 |
LSU |
No. 9 |
Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
|
L 14–36 |
68,029 |
October 8 |
No. 15 Pittsburgh* |
No. 20 |
Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida |
|
T 17–17 |
62,724 |
October 22 |
Tennessee |
No. 19 |
Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida |
|
W 27–17 |
62,711 |
October 29 |
Auburn |
No. 18 |
Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama |
|
L 14–29 |
57,000 |
November 5 |
Georgia |
|
Gator Bowl Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida |
ABC |
W 22–17 |
68,538 |
November 12 |
No. 7 Kentucky |
|
Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida |
|
L 7–14 |
58,125 |
November 19 |
Utah* |
|
Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida |
|
W 38–29 |
56,055 |
November 26 |
Miami (FL)* |
|
Orange Bowl Stadium • Miami, Florida |
|
W 31–14 |
|
December 3 |
No. 19 Florida State* |
|
Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida |
ABC |
L 9–37 |
63,563 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |
Primary source: 2016 Florida Gators Football Media Guide[2]
Attendance figures: 1978 University of Florida Press Guide.[4]
Game summaries
Rice
|
1 |
2 | Total |
---|
Rice |
3 |
0 |
3 |
• Florida |
21 |
27 |
48 |
|
In the season's opener, a 48–3 win over Rice, Cris Collinsworth hit Derrick Gaffney on a record 99-yard touchdown pass.[2]
LSU
Louisiana State beat Florida 36–14. Wes Chandler had 146 yards receiving, including an 85-yard reception from Terry LeCount.[2]
Pittsburgh
Florida and Pitt tied 17–17.
Tennessee
The Gators called a timeout in the final seconds of a 27–17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee coach Johnny Majors was furious, and the post-game handshake ritual became a shoving match between coaching staffs.[5]
Georgia
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Georgia |
7 |
10 | 0 | 0 |
17 |
• Florida |
0 |
10 | 6 | 6 |
22 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | UGA | Willie McClendon 2-yard run (Rex Robinson kick) | UGA 7-0 |
| 2 | | FLA | Wes Chandler 12-yard pass from Terry LeCount (Berj Yepremian kick) | Tied 7-7 |
| 2 | 10:41 | UGA | Willie McClendon 74-yard run (Rex Robinson kick) | UGA 14-7 |
| 2 | | FLA | Berj Yepremian 33-yard field goal | UGA 14-10 |
| 2 | 0:11 | UGA | Rex Robinson 29-yard field goal | UGA 17-10 |
| 3 | 6:15 | FLA | Wes Chandler 18-yard run (run failed) | UGA 17-16 |
| 4 | 6:32 | FLA | Wes Chandler 1-yard run (run failed) | FLA 22-17 |
|
The Gators beat rival Georgia 22–17.[7]
Utah
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Utah |
3 |
14 | 3 | 9 |
29 |
• Florida |
7 |
3 | 0 | 28 |
38 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| Q1 | 13:46 | FLA | LeCount 74-yard run (Yepremian kick) | FLA 7–0 |
| Q1 | :33 | UTAH | McNamara 37-yard field goal | FLA 7–3 |
| Q2 | 9:30 | UTAH | Wilson 9-yard pass from Gomez (McNamara kick) | UTAH 10–7 |
| Q2 | 2:03 | UTAH | Gomez 9-yard run (McNamara kick) | UTAH 17–7 |
| Q2 | :00 | FLA | Yepremian 54-yard field goal | UTAH 17–10 |
| Q3 | 2:07 | UTAH | McNamara 26-yard field goal | UTAH 20–10 |
| Q4 | 13:47 | FLA | Wilder 11-yard run (Yepremian kick) | UTAH 20–17 |
| Q4 | 12:35 | UT | McNamara 27-yard field goal | UTAH 23–17 |
| Q4 | 9:48 | FLA | Chandler 31-yard run (Yepremian kick) | FLA 24–23 |
| Q4 | 4:07 | FLA | Gaffney 11-yard pass from Brantley (Yepremian kick) | FLA 31–23 |
| Q4 | 2:24 | UTAH | Parker 9-yard pass from Gomez (pass failed) | FLA 31–29 |
| Q4 | 1:43 | FLA | Chandler 34-yard run (Yepremian kick) | FLA 38–29 |
|
The Gators ran over the Utah Utes for 531 yards and won 38–29.[8]
Miami (FL)
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Florida |
3 |
7 | 7 | 14 |
31 |
Miami (FL) |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | FLA | Yepremian 50-yard field goal | FLA 3-0 |
| 2 | | MIA | Hobbs 11-yard run (Dennis kick) | MIA 7-3 |
| 2 | | FLA | Stephens 16-yard pass from LeCount (Yepremian kick) | FLA 10-7 |
| 3 | | FLA | Green 8-yard run (Yepremian kick) | FLA 17-7 |
| 4 | | FLA | Dupree 64-yard blocked field goal return (Yepremian kick) | FLA 24-7 |
| 4 | | FLA | Carr 2-yard run (Yepremian kick) | FLA 31-7 |
| 4 | | MIA | Alves 17-yard pass from Myers (Dennis kick) | FLA 31-14 |
|
Florida defeated the Miami Hurricanes 31–14.[9]
Florida State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• FSU |
10 |
7 | 7 | 13 |
37 |
Florida |
3 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
9 |
- Date: December 3
- Location: Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida
- Game attendance: 63,563
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | FSU | Unglaub 38-yard pass from Woodham (? kick) | FSU 7-0 |
| 1 | | FSU | ? 5-yard field goal | FSU 10-0 |
| 1 | | FLA | Yepremian 15-yard field goal | FSU 10-3 |
| 2 | | FSU | Overby 4-yard pass from Jordan | FSU 17-3 |
| 2 | | FLA | Yepremian ? yard field goal | FSU 17-6 |
| 2 | | FLA | Yepremian ? yard field goal | FSU 17-9 |
| 3 | | FSU | Overby 30-yard pass from Jordan | FSU 24-9 |
| 4 | | FSU | ? | FSU 31-9 |
| 4 | | FSU | ? | FSU 37-9 |
|
Bobby Bowden got his first win over the Gators, as Florida State beat Florida 37–9.[10]
Roster
1977 Florida Gators football team roster |
Players |
Coaches |
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
Pos. | # | Name | Class |
PK |
|
Berj Yepremian |
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- Injured
- Redshirt
|
Postseason
Four Gators made All-SEC.[11]
References
- ↑ Sports Publicity Department. "1977 University of Florida Press Guide" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 2016 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 110–111 (2015). Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ↑ Jim Smith (September 16, 1977). "John: Ready to go". Ocala Star-Banner – via Google News Archive Search.
- ↑ Sports Publicity Department. "1978 University of Florida Press Guide" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ↑ "The Weekly List: Florida-Tennessee Boils Blood Before and After Game".
- ↑ "Auburn's Miamian gives boot to Florida (October 30, 1977)".
- ↑ "What Furor? Gators Get It Together." Ocala Star-Banner. 1977 Nov 6.
- ↑ Palm Beach Post. 1977 Nov 20.
- ↑ Palm Beach Post. 1977 Nov 27.
- ↑ Sentinel, Orlando. "1977 FSU team ended losing streak to Florida".
- ↑ "Four Gators selected for all-SEC squad". Boca Raton News. November 29, 1977 – via Google News Archive Search.
External links
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