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Members of Florida’s 1992 and 1997 football team will be invited back to Gainesville for a reunion on Saturday, Nov. 12 to be honored during the final home game of the 2022 season against South Carolina.
Both teams were led by the Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier. The legendary Gators head coach welcomes his former players to join him that Saturday to recognize the vast accomplishments of the two teams.
“I’m really proud and thrilled that we’re having a reunion for our ’92 and ’97 teams,” said Spurrier. “I really love both of these teams. Both of them finished strong. As a coach all you can do is ask your team to give it all they’ve got throughout the entire season. You’re going to win some and lose some, but as long as you give your best for the university, teammates and all Gators then you’re doing a heck of a job. Excited to have the ’92 and ’97 Gators football teams back on November 12, the weekend of the South Carolina game.”
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1992 UF football team cementing themselves in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history as one of the two teams to play in the first-ever SEC Championship game after being crowned the SEC Eastern Division Champions. The Gators played undefeated Alabama in the historic SEC Championship losing 28-21, but the game has helped shape how conferences are structured and how champions are decided.
Finishing with a 9-4 record and ranked 10th in the final AP poll, they became just the 10th team in school history to win nine or more games in a season and the fifth team in Gator history to finish a year ranked in the nation’s top 10. The Gators “Fun ‘N Gun” offense led by quarterback and current Florida football radio analyst Shane Matthews, running back Errict Rhett and wide receiver Willie Jackson Jr. set school records for most passing yards in a season (3440), total plays (926), pass completions (290), first downs passing (170) and pass attempts (503). The defense featuring Kevin Carter, Carlton Miles and Will White limited six of 13 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.
For the 1997 UF football team, it’s their 25th anniversary. The Gators finished with a 10-2 record ranked fourth in final AP poll and defeated Penn State 21-6 in the Citrus Bowl to cap off the season. The highlight of the year came against top-ranked Florida State when Florida upset the Seminoles 32-29 in The Swamp. The matchup is often called the greatest game ever played in The Swamp. Gator Greats Jacquez Green and Fred Taylor were the leaders of an offense that averaged 37.2 points per game with the tandem of Doug Johnson and Noah Brindise under center. The Gators defense, which notably included “The Freak” Jevon Kearse, current outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson and Fred Weary, led the SEC in rushing defense and held opponents to 18.1 points per game.
The game time for Florida’s Senior Day matchup against South Carolina will be announced on Oct. 31.
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