A very long time in the past in a spot not removed from right here, I requested the nice smart man about rivalries. He appeared up from the blades of grass he had been finding out, wiped the sweat from his forehead and stated this:
“Nicely, it is dependent upon while you had been born.”
These phrases from Danny Wuerffel, then a junior in faculty, all the time stayed with me. As a result of for Florida, a faculty that in all probability has too many rivalry video games, they differ from decade to decade. Heck, typically they differ from coach to educate.
Some rivalries are thick with historical past. Some are pretty new. Some make no sense in any respect.
We solely know that the electrical energy will get cranked up, the noise elevates, and the losses are intestine punches.
For the newest Dooley’s Dozen, listed here are the 12 greatest rivalries for the mighty Gators. You don’t assume there are 12. Ha! I say to you.
12
Oklahoma Sooners
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports activities
The youthful you’re, the extra of a rivalry recreation this looks like. Largely due to the Cotton Bowl two years in the past, however actually due to what occurred in gymnastics, basketball and baseball. Nonetheless stings Gator followers. And now, you need to welcome them into your convention.
11
Central Florida Knights
Julio Aguilar/Getty Pictures
This was no rivalry in any respect. Then, UCF tried to assert a pretend nationwide title. And Danny White began a newspaper argument with Scott Stricklin. After which, after all, the Gasparilla Bowl. One would assume the sport subsequent 12 months within the Swamp will really feel like a rivalry recreation even when Gator followers don’t wish to admit it.
10
Missouri Tigers
AP Photograph/L.G. Patterson
It’s a brand new rivalry due to the spat that the groups and coaches acquired into at halftime two years in the past. It’s a much bigger deal to Dan Mullen and Eli Drinkwitz, however don’t neglect that Missouri has overwhelmed Florida as many occasions as Florida has overwhelmed the ‘Zou for the reason that Tigers joined the league.
9
Auburn Tigers
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports activities
The SEC might need quashed this as an actual rivalry with its weird scheduling, however if you happen to had been within the stands for the sport two years in the past, you realize what the hair standing up on the again of your neck looks like. There’s additionally this – Auburn is an efficient wager to turn into a Florida everlasting opponent once more if the schedule goes to 9 video games.
8
Alabama Crimson Tide
Syndication: Gainesville Solar
Final 12 months’s recreation was the revival of the rivalry and the SEC title recreation the 12 months earlier than was actually an enormous recreation. However it is a rivalry that was birthed by two coaches – Steve Spurrier and City Meyer. Additionally, each faculty within the SEC is a rival of Alabama’s.
7
Texas A&M Aggies
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports activities
It meant nothing for years. Then the Aggies employed one of the vital despised coaches in Gator Nation. Additionally, Texas A&M spoiled the night time of the camouflage uniforms. In fact, the sport two years in the past almost drove Mullen loopy and the Gators have to return to School Station once more this season.
6
Kentucky Wildcats
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports activities
Regardless of the hatred some Gator followers have for the basketball program at UK, it wasn’t a lot of a rivalry whereas Florida was profitable 31 in a row. However Mullen made it one by shedding half of his video games in opposition to the Wildcats. It was the sport that wrecked final season and is likely to be the largest this season.
5
Miami Hurricanes
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
Now, we’re moving into vicious territory. I don’t know if any fanbase hates Florida as a lot as Miami followers. Personally, I might by no means schedule them. It is a deep-seated hatred, too, going again to the Florida Flop and Jim Kelly sporting a t-shirt that stated, “Gators eat boogers.”
4
Tennessee Volunteers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
You can also make the argument that the rivalry has misplaced some luster due to Florida’s dominance. OK, go to Neyland Stadium on the fourth Saturday of this season and inform me what you assume. It was big within the Nineteen Nineties and it nonetheless issues, particularly this 12 months. There all the time appears to be some type of confrontation between these two groups.
3
Florida State Seminoles
James Gilbert/Getty Pictures
There was nothing like this rivalry throughout the Nineteen Nineties, although it didn’t go Florida’s manner usually sufficient. Apart from that one night time in New Orleans. I’m undecided there’s a rivalry with extra memorable video games, so many who left one facet or the opposite crushed.
2
Louisiana State Tigers
AP Photograph/John Raoux
Yeah, I stated it. I believe LSU is a much bigger rival proper now than both Tennessee or FSU. All of it goes again to the hurricane recreation. It was already a terrific rivalry with the scholars vs. Tim Tebow and “Shiny Pants” and Fourth-and-Hester. The hurricane recreation modified the depth, and it received’t go away.
1
Georgia Bulldogs
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports activities
Solely one of many video games has its personal Corridor of Fame. The rivalry has been amped up by Georgia’s resurgence as a university soccer energy. However the historical past of the sport is so wealthy that even when the outcomes had been lopsided it was an enormous deal. Transfer it out of Jacksonville? That may be the dumbest concept since The Hangover Half III.
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