Florida-Tennessee memories

September 12, 2007 |

Aww yes the year was 2000 and it was Florida vs Tennessee in Knoxville. My dad and I drove four hours laughing telling stories the whole really having a good father son moment. As for the game it began very bad for the Gators. Travis Henry was the star of the Volunteers and on this day he set a school record by rushing for over 190yds and a touchdown. A.J. Suggs was the quarterback, not a real superstar but servicable, and he controlled the game like one. The entire first half was dominated by the Vols as they drove inside the Gator ten yard line 5 times in the first half and came away only with 4 fieldgoals. The Gators were led by Jesse Palmer at quarterback and future stars Jabar Gafney and Reche Caldwell at wide receiver. Lito Sheppard and Alex Brown led the defense. Down 12-7 at the half the Gators opened the second half with a nice drive that led to a fieldgoal and then Lito Sheppard jumped in front of a Suggs pass and returned it for a touchdown. Florida led 17-12 but not for long. Travis Henry would lead the Vols down the field time and time again leading to 11 straight points and a 23-17 lead. After a Gator fieldgoal the Vols Pinned the Gators at their own 8 yardline with less than three minutes to play. That is when Jesse Palmer endured himself to me forever in Gator history. Making throw after throw Palmer led the Gators down the field to the Vol four yardline. With only 20 seconds remained as Palmer dropped back threw a strike to Gafney for a touchdown( I think). Gafney, as replays showed, only had it for a split second but long enough for the officials to signal touchdown. Now this is where the story gets real good. As my dad and I are leaving an old man comes up to me on the ramp and says “I hope Spurrier and the whole die on the plane ride home”. I was shocked but also that is what makes Florida Tennessee great.

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