Alligator Army Summer Reading Series: My Five Favorite Football Plays Since 1990
by FlaGators on Jun 15, 2011 8:15 AM EDT
in Florida Football
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PrintSorry for the long break between AASRS posts. Even though it doesn't seem like it, I've been busy. I promise. But yes, the AASRS is back to stay at its regularly scheduled time and location. Though it is a hour early today.
When I began thinking about this as a topic a month or so ago, I immediately thought of four. Coming to the conclusion for the fifth one, which is #5, was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. Mostly because there are just so many plays to choose from.
The plays (and video) are after the jump, but I will say that three come from the Spurrier era, and two come from the Urban Meyer era. As for the Ron Zook era, well, yeah. Who?
#1: Ike Hilliard's "Stop and Pop" against the Florida State Seminoles in the 1997 National Championship Game. In my opinion the "Stop and Pop" is the greatest play I've ever seen by a Florida Gator in probably what was the best game I've ever seen them play. This game had it all. Revenge on FSU not just for the earlier loss in the season, but for the late hits on Danny Wuerffel, the Choke at Doak and the many other bad memories that this team suffered at the hands of Florida State. They seemed to let out all of their frustration simultaneously which in turn led to the most fantastic beat-down Florida State would receive until they lost 30-0 to Wake Forest at home in 2006.
#2: Jacquez Green's catch against Florida State in 1997. This is a no-brainer as well. A game in which you are trailing late, at home, against your top rival who is ranked #1 (or #2 depending on the poll) and you've been rotating quarterbacks more often than Elizabeth Taylor rotated husbands. Just listen to the call: It is fantastic.
#3: Lawrence Wright absolutely demolishes Joey Kent. On 3rd down and on their own 20, the Tennessee Vols led by Peyton Manning, were looking to finally get something going. Well, Lawrence Wright had something to say about that. I've heard over the years that Joey Kent bit off part of his tongue as a result of the hit, but can't confirm it.
#4: Major Wright wins the BCS National Championship all by himself. As soon as Wright laid that hit out on Manny Johnson, I knew the Gators would win the National Championship. It was over. Oklahoma, thank you for playing.
#5: Percy Harvin cuts back against Arkansas in the 2006 SEC Championship Game. Throughout the entire first half, I wasn't worried. The third quarter however, when Arkansas seemed to score touchdowns on back to back plays, I became slightly concerned. Being at the game made it worse. Arkansas fans began to run their mouths. Well, Percy Harvin ended that.
Those are my Top 5, what are yours?
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Thanks for this.
Reminiscing about Thad Busby sucking, Doug Johnson, Noah Brindise, Quezzy, Ike, Lawrence Wright (why doesn’t the leading DB wear #4 anymore), Mercy Percy, and Major Wright felt good this morning.
Neath the Orange and Blue Victorious
Great selections
THIS is my all-time favorite. Turned the tide for us in that season and was the difference between another Outback bowl and SEC/BCS champions. That clip is also my favorite ever…the split-second of silence right as the ball as snapped followed by the eruption of joy as Moss blocks it, then Reggie Nelson running straight to the stands for hugs.
Others very worthy but don’t have time to find clips of:
- Urban’s fake punt from his own 15 during the ‘06 SECCG, followed by Wondy’s punt recovery in the endzone
- Helmet-less Earl Everett chasing down Troy Smith from behind
- Doering’s got a touchdown! (I wish I could get Mick Hubert to narrate my life)
- So many more
Fish meat is practically a vegetable
beat me to the punch, but so true
Helmetless Earl Everett is also one of my favorites.
'neath the orange and blue victorious
Yes.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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we both used the exact same clip, too.
weird.
Fish meat is practically a vegetable
by Bourbon_Meyer on Jun 15, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I thought about Jarvis Moss’ blocks against Carolina. I almost put it in there. That was a great moment as well.
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Also, I’ve already done (not that it makes it ineligible for the Top 5 or anything) on the “Doerings Got a Touchdwon!”
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ah, I hadn't seen this
Good write up.
Apparently, I look like Doering. I was in Atlanta for the ‘06 SECCG, and went out on the town after. Some guy comes up to me in a bar and asks if I’m Chris. I said no, but he says, “it’s cool man, you don’t have to be humble. I love you man!” Dude proceeded to follow me around the bar the rest of the night chanting “Doering’s got a touchdown! Doering’s got a touchdown!”
Fish meat is practically a vegetable
by Bourbon_Meyer on Jun 15, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Haha. That’s great. I was there as well, but that wasn’t me. I promise.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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the Cock Block has to be up there for me
Just before that play was the loudest I’d ever heard the Swamp, then it got twice as loud a few seconds later. I sat right behind the tubas that day, and that post-game Alma Mater was the most emotional I’ve ever been at a football game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpKy73Rojr8
'neath the orange and blue victorious
Yeah, after the game I knew we were going to win the National Championship. Sometimes, you just get that feeling.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Great memories with these.
I’ll add almost anything by Reggie Nelson, but one that sticks out is his interception against Bama when we were wearing the throwbacks. So much so I have a picture of it framed in my sports room.
Twice the Gators (and twice the...er...me) at a fraction of the price...The Bull Gator and Alligator Army.
by The Bull Gator on Jun 15, 2011 9:41 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
or Mo Masaquoi diving to avoid getting hit by Reggie
or Reggie Running up to a big group of us in the stands in Phoenix, just two weeks after his mother passed. Some of the greatest memories from that period (for me at least) are Reggie, but just too many to narrow it down.
Fish meat is practically a vegetable
by Bourbon_Meyer on Jun 15, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
The interception to open the 2006 game against Tennessee stands out to me. I was there and it was fantastic. 100,000 people went from screaming Rocky Top to so quiet you could hear the Vol Navy starting their engines to leave.
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Welcome.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Don't forget one closer to 1990
The hidden ball trick late in the game against WFVU in the Sugar Bowl. Fun as hell to watch, cuz you knew Spurrier was letting ’em have some fun at that point.
Ahhh yes. Good play. Kresser sighting!
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If you recall, Kresser transferred after the 1995 season to Marshall (then still in IAA), where he won a national title the same year the Gators did
by swampchomp7 on Jun 15, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s right. I had forgotten about that. Good call.
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In fairness
Wright’s hit very easily could’ve been a personal foul. Doesn’t detract from the universal shouting of “OHHHHHHHHHHH” right then, or the rush I felt. It helped set the tone for the game. Poor Oklahoma, they weren’t using to their receivers actually being covered…
Full credit in that game goes to the defense and some good fortune- UF could’ve easily been down 2-3 touchdowns at the half, but some clutch goal-line plays kept that from happening.
Torrey Davis’ single greatest moment (actually his only moment) as a Gator.
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this is an awesome post.
My top 5 are the Stop and Pop cuz it happened in the game that made me a Gator, Major Wrights hit, the Cock Block for sure, i have to say the tipped catch percy had against LSU his last season at UF cuz that was nasty, and Tim Tebows rushing TD that broke Herschel Walkers record in the Cocktail Party now thats a statement.
by gatorempire127 on Jun 15, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
That tipped pass that Percy had was amazing.
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Was sitting in near endzone in Miami
Saw Major come flying across the field, have never heard a sound like that at a game nor heard a crowd have that kind of reaction.
A few others
-Tebow to Murphy in ‘08 SECCG in 4th quarter, Cunningham’s sack to lock it up
-Tebow’s Heisman run ‘07 vs FSU
-Spikes’ pick 6 vs LSU which he punted into the stands…I wasn’t there for the cock block but that was about as loud as I heard it…that and Debose returning opening kick off back this year vs USC, but that didn’t work out too well
"I don't really think about normal.I think normal is something I never wanted to be."
The Spikes punt against LSU made me laugh. I still chuckle about it when I see the video.
Here is the video of it for those interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeib4I8hlO4&feature=related
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Didn’t Meyer say that was the slowest 50 yard dash he’s ever seen after that? Good stuff by all.
Neath the Orange and Blue Victorious
Haha. Indeed.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Spikes blowing up Knowshon in 08
at the beginning of the cocktail party is one of mine. Totally set the tone for the game.
contributing author - Alligator Army
Yeah. It was also the loudest response of the game revenge-wise for the previous year.
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i almost said this one too definitley a top ten favorite
by gatorempire127 on Jun 15, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
im also gonna add...
all punt and kick returns by Brandon James….everytime he caught the ball we had a chance to score (especially against tennessee) and you just held your breath when he went to work.
Add Lito to that on punts.
I remember being in The Swamp having everyone chant his name.
Twice the Gators (and twice the...er...me) at a fraction of the price...The Bull Gator and Alligator Army.
by The Bull Gator on Jun 15, 2011 2:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
One I haven't seen mentioned...
Tebow’s jump pass vs. LSU in 2006.
Line up, everybody knows Tebow’s just going to ram it up the middle, like he always does… and pop, Tate Casey has the ball, at the back of the end zone…
Taking a minute to realize what just happened.
Also: THIS.
by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Jun 15, 2011 1:15 PM EDT reply actions
The first jump pass was by far the best one. And yeah, swampchomp mentioned that trick play. Good stuff.
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Lest We Forget
Great list, and a buch of great plays mentioned, but I didn’t see these:
*Bobby McCray’s block of Auburn’s game winning FG attempt in ’02, that set up…
*Rex Grossman’s TD in OT to beat Auburn
*Ben Troupe TD vs Ole Miss (also ‘02, I think). He caught the ball at about the 20, trucked an Ole Miss LB, hurdled a safety (crouched, but standing), then dragged 3 defenders into the endzone. He hurdled a Michigan DB in the Outback Bowl, but it wasn’t the same.
*Peyton Maning’s 80-yard TD to Tony George in ’95. UT dominated the 1st Q, but that pick-6 started a Gator rally to route the Vols.
*The Emory & Henry – I don’t care when, I just miss that formation.
by NC_Gator on Jun 15, 2011 1:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I was at a restaurant in Orlando visiting a buddy (who is a big time FSU fan) during that Auburn game. Pretty sure he was pulling for Auburn big time. Haha.
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ben troupe.
my all time favorite Gator TE he was the F****in man. i wish he had a better NFL career tho.
by gatorempire127 on Jun 15, 2011 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I figured he’d have a better NFL career as well.
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Gator TE's
Troupe and Erron Kinney. Troupe was the best TE I can remember playing for the Gators, and he never got the ball enough in Gainesville. While Kellen Winslow Jr. was striking a Heisman pose after his ONE touchdown, Troupe gained more yards and scored more touchdowns on fewer receptions, but never got the love from the press. Erron Kinney had the best hands; I can’t recall a time when a ball was thrown his way that he didn’t come down with.
I think it’s just the nature of the NFL, where TE’s are used more as blockers than receivers, that pass catching TE’s are not as valued as an extra lineman.
It is because the press loves “flash” and “style.” Also…good call on Kinney. And yeah, most of the time they are used as blockers instead of pass catching. But I think that is due to the defenses used in the NFL.
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im more of a Ingram fan than i am Kinney idk why i just liked Ingrams versatility as the hybrid slot/TE player it was a great thing to watch that guy was athletic as hell.
by gatorempire127 on Jun 16, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
C.I. was awesome.
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That Ben Troupe play
most dominating, athletic play I’ve ever seen by someone carrying a ball. I would definitely put that in the top 5. We should really expand this to the top 20 plays.
Neath the Orange and Blue Victorious
Here is that Ben Troupe play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0aNhEeM1W8
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Good lord you had a lot of demons to exorcise with the Ike Hillard play
but I agree – that play really showed you all had the better players and team that year…which makes the game in Tallahassee all the more puzzling for you all – that may be the real choke at doke game.
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