Started By
Message
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 college football season...
Posted on 7/18/26 at 4:43 am
Posted on 7/18/26 at 4:43 am
And in my opinion the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest teams in SEC history not to win a championship: the 2001 Florida Gators.
That team looked absolutely unstoppable early.
vs. Marshall (W) 49-14
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W) 55-6
@ Kentucky (W) 44-10
vs. #21 Mississippi State (W) 52-0
@ #18 LSU (W) 44-15
And then they played an unranked Auburn squad at Jordan-Hare on a rainswept October night and got upset on a last second field goal. 17-20 the final.
However, they continued on as if nothing had happened:
vs. #15 Georgia (W) 24-10
vs. Vanderbilt (W) 71-13
@ #14 South Carolina (W) 54-17
vs. #20 Florida State (W) 37-13
And then came the postponed game against the Tennessee Volunteers where, in a game for the ages, the fifth ranked men from Nashville upset Florida by the score of 34-32. Had that game been played in September as originally scheduled I think Florida wins.
That game cost the Gators the East and knocked them out of contention for a national championship. Instead they had to bully #6 Maryland in the Orange Bowl, defeating them by a score of 56-23.
Then Steve Spurrier announced his resignation from Florida and his move to the NFL to coach the Washington Redskins. If there was one team in college football in the year 2001 that could have given Miami a game in Pasadena, I think it was the Florida Gators.
That team looked absolutely unstoppable early.
vs. Marshall (W) 49-14
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W) 55-6
@ Kentucky (W) 44-10
vs. #21 Mississippi State (W) 52-0
@ #18 LSU (W) 44-15
And then they played an unranked Auburn squad at Jordan-Hare on a rainswept October night and got upset on a last second field goal. 17-20 the final.
However, they continued on as if nothing had happened:
vs. #15 Georgia (W) 24-10
vs. Vanderbilt (W) 71-13
@ #14 South Carolina (W) 54-17
vs. #20 Florida State (W) 37-13
And then came the postponed game against the Tennessee Volunteers where, in a game for the ages, the fifth ranked men from Nashville upset Florida by the score of 34-32. Had that game been played in September as originally scheduled I think Florida wins.
That game cost the Gators the East and knocked them out of contention for a national championship. Instead they had to bully #6 Maryland in the Orange Bowl, defeating them by a score of 56-23.
Then Steve Spurrier announced his resignation from Florida and his move to the NFL to coach the Washington Redskins. If there was one team in college football in the year 2001 that could have given Miami a game in Pasadena, I think it was the Florida Gators.
10
Posted on 7/18/26 at 6:05 am to RollTide1987
quote:
men from Nashville
Posted on 7/18/26 at 6:18 am to TailbackU
Wouldn’t have beaten Miami
Posted on 7/18/26 at 6:21 am to RollTide1987
Hard to say if they played in September Florida wins…the game was in the swamp with everything on the line. Florida had all the advantage they could want but got bulldozed by Travis Stephens. Can’t take that one away from the vols regardless of when it was played. The gators blew it and tennesee had a multiple score lead late and Florida scored at the end to make it close and I think did have a two point try to tie it and failed (maybe) but tennesee dominated them
Posted on 7/18/26 at 7:31 am to RollTide1987
quote:Darnell Dockett twisted Earnest Graham's leg in a pile the week before and injured his knee - Graham didn't play against UTK in the 9/11 attack rescheduled game - UF had just 36 yards on the ground against UTK - Grossman's 2PAT attempted pass was incomplete with a minute remaining -
the fifth ranked men from Nashville upset Florida by the score of 34-32.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2009/01/28/dockett-get-over-2001-graham-incident/
Auburn upset Florida 23-20 on Oct 13 - tigers held the gators to negative net yards rushing and Grossman threw 4 picks - Damon Duval's 44 yard FG with 10 seconds to play still affords him free food most anywhere in Alabama -
that 2001 UF gang led Vanderbilt 71-0 before the home team eventually scored the final 13 points of the game against gator team managers and a few band members -
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:05 am to 1801
quote:
Darnell Dockett
One of the biggest POS I have ever met.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:06 am to RollTide1987
quote:
Then Steve Spurrier announced his resignation from Florida and his move to the NF
And the entire SEC breathed a sigh of relief
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:25 am to RollTide1987
quote:
one of the greatest teams in SEC history not to win a championship: the 2001 Florida Gators.
That team looked absolutely unstoppable early.
Turns out, they were stoppable.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:31 am to RollTide1987
quote:
If there was one team in college football in the year 2001 that could have given Miami a game in Pasadena, I think it was the Florida Gators.
Well, Miami did beat Florida 37-20 in 2000 and 41-16 in 2002. Not really a “What if?” game I have given much thought to. Florida had a great team but blew their chances and likely would not have beaten Miami if both teams played clean.
Florida (and perhaps some other teams, including LSU and Tennessee) would have stood a better chance than Nebraska, though. It’s hard to score a lot of points against a bunch of first rounders on D when you lack the ability to threaten them with explosive plays in the passing game.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:38 am to RollTide1987
quote:
If there was one team in college football in the year 2001 that could have given Miami a game in Pasadena, I think it was the Florida Gators.
I think Tennessee could have given Miami a game. Their defense and run game was nasty. Kelly Washington was a beast that year too.
But they screwed up and hurt Rohan Davey and Labrandon Toefield in the SECCG, and had no answer or game plan for Matt Mauck and Domanick Davis
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:51 am to RollTide1987
People who weren’t there to witness it may look at only one national championship and not get what all the fuss was about.
Spurrier’s Florida was every bit of a steamroller in the SEC as anyone in my lifetime.
Spurrier’s Florida was every bit of a steamroller in the SEC as anyone in my lifetime.
Posted on 7/18/26 at 8:56 am to RollTide1987
quote:
And then came the postponed game against the Tennessee Volunteers where, in a game for the ages, the fifth ranked men from Nashville
Did Tennessee use Vandy's players?
Posted on 7/18/26 at 9:00 am to RollTide1987
Such a good feeling knowing that Spurrier walked out of the Swamp with a loss his last game as coach.
TN wouldnt have beaten Miami in the Natty but wouldve given them a decent game. Our 2001 team was loaded with talent but Saban owner fulmer
TN wouldnt have beaten Miami in the Natty but wouldve given them a decent game. Our 2001 team was loaded with talent but Saban owner fulmer
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News