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Were there any Gator fans prior to Steve Spurrier?

BamaJeff

BamaJeff

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Oct 12, 1999
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You'd think UF had no football team prior to Spurrier. I work with a lot of Gator "fans." Most of them are 20 - 25 yrs old. NONE of them can tell me who coached the Gators before Steve Spurrier. MOST can't name the coach (Ron Zook) that took over after Spurrier.
Find you a Gator fan and ask him/her who coached the Gators before Spurrier. You'll get a blank stare!
 
GrayTide

GrayTide

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Nov 15, 2005
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That's an easy one, there was no Florida team or fans prior to Spurrier, next question. Ask them what Ray Graves, Charley Pell, Doug Dickey and Galen Hall have in common.
 
BamaJeff

BamaJeff

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Oct 12, 1999
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GrayTide said:
That's an easy one, there was no Florida team or fans prior to Spurrier, next question.
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I knew that would be the first response. But seriously, I'm just curious if any of these die-hard Gator fans today can tell you anything about them prior to Spurrier.
 
T

TidePrideGA

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Dec 6, 1999
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They certainly have come out of the woodwork as of late. There is no doubt that Florida has been at or near the top since Spurrier came aboard. I think most educated Gators fans really respect Alabama and our program.
 
AlexanderFan

AlexanderFan

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I believe there were 5: 2 were in a mental hospital, 1 was a cop in Orlando, and the other two invented Gatorade. I know what you're saying, it's crazy how they can know so little about their program. I guess that's the way it goes when there really is so little to know about your program. Most '.... fans are surprised when you tell them SOS won a Heisman there, and I don't mean the one DW won.
 
bayoutider

bayoutider

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Oct 13, 1999
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Charlie Pell (my dad knew him) did well with the Gators back in the early 80s so well that he got Florida put on probation and stripped of the SEC title in 1984. Prior to and after that things were pretty bad. Spurrier built that fan base.
 
T

TidePrideGA

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bayoutider said:
Charlie Pell (my dad knew him) did well with the Gators back in the early 80s so well that he got Florida put on probation and stripped of the SEC title in 1984. Prior to and after that things were pretty bad. Spurrier built that fan base.
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Pell of course played at Alabama, believe he was from Albertville originally. He got Clemson on probation as well. He had a sad life after leaving coaching, believe he tried to commit suicide.
 
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RobK

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I spend quite a bit of time working in Florida, and it is the ultimate bandwagon state for many reasons. Many of the people there are transplants from other parts of the country, so they often didn't attend any of the universities there or understand the history. Lots of them vacillate back and forth from Florida State to Florida--depending on who's doing the best--and even to Miami if you get below the Panhandle.

Since the Urban Meyer era has coincided with down years at FSU, all the bandwagon jumpers are with the Gators. Their ties to the football program go no deeper than a hat and a shirt or two for the most part.

Many of the so-called Gator fans I've met can't even tell you where Emmitt Smith played his college ball.
 
ufgatorz1

ufgatorz1

New Member
Mar 11, 2009
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There are actually a few of us around. You are right about the bandwagon jumpers, they will always sport the colors of the day. There are always going to be folks like that.

I started following the Gators back in the early 70's when Doug Dickey was the head coach and they had a skinny wide receiver/running back by the name of Nat Moore. I have never changed my colors and never will. I feel I have earned the right to be happy with what has taken place in Gainesville since Spurrier took over in 1990. He elevated our program up a level, something that Dickey, Charley Pell, and Galen Hall could not do for whatever reason. Also one coach left out in that era was Gary Darnell who was the interim head coach when Hall was dismissed. I have been a Gator fan through the not so good times as well as the good times. The Zook years were not so great either. I remember our first SEC championship and how it was stripped away because of Johnny Majors whining and complaining. Have hated UT ever since and that will not change either.

I take a lot of pride in being an SEC fan and I am very proud that our conference has won the last 3 BCS NC's and has a good chance of winning 4 in a row no matter which of our teams represent the conference this year. I remember cheering on the Tide back in the'79 Sugar Bowl when Barry Krauss stuffed Mike Guman on the goal line. I am also a long time Miami Dolphin fan so there are two former Tide players that are a couple of my all time Dolphin favorites, Tony Nathan and Bob Baumhower.

I am proud to say I am a true Gator fan. Unlike many out there who are no more than posers. With the Tide's history as a national power, I am sure you guys have had to deal with a few here and there also.

Either way best of luck to you guys this Saturday.
 
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resmith

1st Team
Jul 25, 2006
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ufgatorz1 said:
There are actually a few of us around. You are right about the bandwagon jumpers, they will always sport the colors of the day. There are always going to be folks like that.

I started following the Gators back in the early 70's when Doug Dickey was the head coach and they had a skinny wide receiver/running back by the name of Nat Moore. I have never changed my colors and never will. I feel I have earned the right to be happy with what has taken place in Gainesville since Spurrier took over in 1990. He elevated our program up a level, something that Dickey, Charley Pell, and Galen Hall could not do for whatever reason. Also one coach left out in that era was Gary Darnell who was the interim head coach when Hall was dismissed. I have been a Gator fan through the not so good times as well as the good times. The Zook years were not so great either. I remember our first SEC championship and how it was stripped away because of Johnny Majors whining and complaining. Have hated UT ever since and that will not change either.

I take a lot of pride in being an SEC fan and I am very proud that our conference has won the last 3 BCS NC's and has a good chance of winning 4 in a row no matter which of our teams represent the conference this year. I remember cheering on the Tide back in the'79 Sugar Bowl when Barry Krauss stuffed Mike Guman on the goal line. I am also a long time Miami Dolphin fan so there are two former Tide players that are a couple of my all time Dolphin favorites, Tony Nathan and Bob Baumhower.

I am proud to say I am a true Gator fan. Unlike many out there who are no more than posers. With the Tide's history as a national power, I am sure you guys have had to deal with a few here and there also.

Either way best of luck to you guys this Saturday.
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Always glad to see posters from other teams on this site, particularly if they are not "talking smack."
I remember all of the coaches you listed for UF. There were some good years in the 70's and 80's, particularly with Moore, Wilder and Dubose. Florida has long been just about the best state in producing FB talent and Spurrier and Meyer have made the most of that recruiting advantage.
I hope Bama wins Saturday, but will be pulling for the Gators in the NC game if Bama loses this Saturday.
 
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