Recalling my first visit to fsu's "erector set", the 1982 UF vs fsu game

At the game as well. Great game. Late score and defensive stand to hold on to win. Game was a mudder. Not raining, but field was wet.

There with Nole fan and our spouses. Affectionately called it the “sprinkler game”, but it did not deter the Gator fans from taking down one of the goalposts.

 

Only game I’ve been to there. End zone as well. Remember the boards breaking as we stepped on them after the game. Remember the fans not being too nice ‍♂️

 

So you're telling me that the Gators went into Lego Land, got the victory, then our fans stormed the field to tear down their goal posts causing them to be hosed down and arrested? That is perfection and something that will never be seen in college football again.

 

The majority of my HS buddies couldn’t get into UF and went to either FSU or Bama. I made the trip up to Clown College in 92, and was the only time I went to Joke Shambles. They handled us that year but it’s important to note the ACC was a much bigger joke than it is now, so much so that they usually only played one ranked team (UF) per season in that era. The overwhelming impression I had was

1. They suffered from major inferiority complex/little brother syndrome and

2. Bowden had built himself a little fiefdom on a foundation of poor competition (so the basketball program could excel in the ACC, LOL!) but where was the money going?

It definitely wasn’t being spent on improved facilities and certainly not on academics. This was a few years after Fsux compelled the NCAA to create the Deion Sanders Rule reminding coaches and players that you actually had to attend classes and take tests to be considered a “student athlete”. It was also a couple decades before Fsux got popped for their academic fraud scandal, that spanned multiple sports and dozens of athletes, with “tutors” writing papers and taking tests on behalf of the Clown Competitors.

Moral of the story, Fsux is an absolute joke. Never ever do they belong in the SEC. Stomp their freaking guts out, Gators!!!

 

2nd year at UF 1982. Friday afternoon had nothing to do. Drove to Tallahassee about 5PM with a toothbrush and no plans. Drank at the "Thrist" a long time. Met up with some people I knew in HS. Had to work the next day. Came back to Gainesville around 11AM. Good times. Did not see the stadium until 94, 96, 98. Still have not seen a victory there.

 

I was 6 days into Ranger School, just trying to make it through the the efforts of the Morgan Team to cull the weak from the class. Time was a blur but I knew enough to know what day of the week it was and asked one of the cadre on Sunday if they knew any college football scores. He said what school? I said Florida. He said "They lost." Darn. Later the same RI came up and said "Florida or Florida State?" I said Florida. He said, got it wrong. Florida won. That was a bright spot for me!

 

My one and only trip for a game there was 86. I was a senior at UF.

We were 5-5 and they were 7-3 I think.
The game was close, and an absolute downpour came mid game.
Yet no one left- such was the passion for both teams even though both were mediocre.
The Gator students were in the end zone- not great seats but hey- we were there!

We trailed most of the game until a final 4th quarter beautiful drive, and it ended with a Ricky nattiel catch right in front of us.
So we led then 17-13 with perhaps 3 minutes to play. FSU had a final chance but they couldn't even muster a first down. (I believe.)
As the final gun went off our band played "On Broadway" and despite being soaked to the skin, it was deeply satisfying.

I had a small moment then. I started by screaming "1981" by myself.
Then a few people next to me joined in "1982!"
A few more..."1983"
Then it felt like the whole end zone "1984!" "1985!" And with a flourish "1986!!!!"

I was pretty proud of that.
It was our last win there until the Ron Zook naming ceremony in 2004.

 

I was there as well. What a great night!

It was funny because the idiots thought turning the sprinklers on would disperse us. Didn't work out that way. I remember the cheerleaders putting their megaphones over the sprinkler heads to the cheers of our fans. They caused a lot of the field damage by turning on those sprinklers.

I recall seeing a bunch of what appeared to be former FSU football players coming out from behind a wall or door that signaled the start of the police crackdown. I was out of their pretty quickly. I remember walking out and looking up and realized the stadium looked just like a giant high school football stadium. I also remember the UF fans laughing at their "spirit spear" the introduced that season. It was really lame.

I still believe that may be the only time I've ever seen the visiting team storm the field. Ironic that it came from fans of a team that I don't believe has ever stormed it's own field.

Oh, and I recall how FSU fans vowed to storm out field the next season and I recall the huge police presence and mounted horses all the way around the field. it was beautiful.

 

I think you meant The Phyrst! It was one of my favorite bars and drove over from Gainesvegas many times for the fun and the ladies. Bladder Bust where football players guarded the bathrooms.

 

It really did have a high school game atmosphere. Not just the erector set seating, but they were making a couple long helium balloon strings as the game went on. Everything about the place felt like a giant high school football game.

 

My first and only visit to Doak was in 1996. As you know, we lost in a close game. We were in the eastern part of the field, which didn't really get much action, so we were oblivious to all the late hits on Danny boy until the next day. I'm so glad we got revenge a month later.

 

The spirit spear was a riot. The louder the crowd the more it lighted up, like some cheap carnival attraction

 

you forgot to add that Gov. Bob Graham (UF grad) was there doing his work-a-day gig working the chains and was leading the on-field cheers after the game. I, too, was on the field but left before the sprinklers went on.

 

Please stay away this Saturday, Brian. Nothing personal but….

 

My GA record is better. was around 12-0 or better including 84 (1st) and 86 before first Zook loss. missed spurriers loss in 97 I think.

 

1982 - The Bob Hewko game. I remember the sprinklers and the goal post going down but I don't remember the tear gas. I do remember the crappy wooden end zone bleachers and Hewko's TD run.