Pat Dooley - 100 Things Florida Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

This book is dedicated to Marjorie Ann Dooley, the best mother a guy could ask for.

Contents

Foreword by Danny Wuerffel

I was torn. A critical decision was before mea crossroads in my lifeand I didnt know what to do.

It was February of 1992. I was a senior at Fort Walton Beach High School in the panhandle of Florida, and I had to choose whether to accept a scholarship from Florida or Florida State. Of course, from where I sit today, its hard to even believe it was a tough decision at all. But as an 18-year-old without strong ties to either school, I really didnt know what to do. In the end both the opportunity to play quarterback for Steve Spurrier and attend such an incredibly impressive academic institution at UF tipped the scales for me.

I chose UF, and thank God I did!

When I look back on my football career, I often wonder if it really happened or if I was caught up in some amazing dream. We won rings, championships, and trophies, and we made lifetime friendships along the way. I also remain grateful for the great education I received at UF. Before I landed on my final major, public relations, I considered several other subjects. I could have chosen just about any major, and UF had one of the leading colleges in the country in that field. What a blessing! The University of Florida has had incredible athletic success over the years, but youll never hear someone say we are only a football school. UF is, without a doubt, a first-rate university that competes with just about any other school in the country.

But as the years have gone byand they seem to pass by more and more quickly these daysanother aspect to being a Gator has emerged for me. Being a Gator is more than an education or a college football career. Being a Gator is like being part of a large integrated family that is interwoven through all aspects of life and spans the entire country and beyond.

The support and encouragement I have received from Gator Nation has transcended my football career. When my wife and I lost everything we owned because of Hurricane Katrina, when Desire Street Ministries was under water, when my body shut down and became partially paralyzed with a rare autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndromeit was the Gator Nation that rallied with love and support.

In all kinds of weather, we all did stick together. Its more than a nice song after the third quarter of a football game. Its my experience as a Gators player.

So when I think back to my dilemma in 1992, it doesnt even seem like there should have been any choice at all. God led me to UF, and I am so grateful. I dont think God is a Gator or that you have to be a Gator to get into heavenbut why take that chance?

I know youll love the opportunity to journey with my friend, Pat Dooley, as he relives some of the greatest moments in Gators history in this book. Pat brings back to life many of the moments that we all remember and he even introduces us to some new ones along the way. So sit back, enjoy the ride, and never forget how great it is to be a Florida Gator!

Danny Wuerffel

Introduction

I thought I had written my last book. But when the great people at Triumph Books approached me with the idea of writing this one, I accepted. I liked the concept and I have always been a sucker for lists (as you will see throughout this book).

The reason I thought I was finished writing books is because they are so labor-intensive, and my job covering Florida athletics has no real downtime. All of Floridas great athletic programs keep me busy. Not that Im complaining. Covering Florida has been a boost for my career, my enjoyment, and my Marriott Rewards. And when it comes to writing about footballwell, thats one reason I wanted to write this book.

I went to my first game in 1962. I sold hot dogs at the stadium. I took journalism classes in the stadium when the classrooms were still there. I was there for Steve Spurriers kick and Emmitt Smiths runs and Tim Tebows Promise.

I was there for all three national championship wins and consider myself fortunate to have covered Spurrier, the most unique person I have ever met. Whenever the sportswriters sit around a hospitality room at a Florida bowl game, the Spurrier stories start to flow. And as someone who has played a lot of golf with the head coach, I can tell you his competitiveness never stops.

We were playing in Washington, D.C., at a course called Raspberry Falls when Spurrier was coaching the Redskins. I was up a shot on him and hit a perfect drive down the middle of the 18 th hole. You gotta go for it in two now, Pat, he said. I got up to the ball and smacked my second shot at the greenexcept I didnt know there was water in front of it. Splash . And then he laid up short of the water and made a birdie and beat me by a shot.

It was on that trip that I saw the side of Spurrier that a lot of people dont see. He knew I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and this was my last assignment before surgery. Spurrier gave me the run of Redskins headquarters. At one point I was in a coachs office when I heard him coming down the hall. I heard Spurrier say, Lets see if Pat Dooleys in here.

And in he walked, dragging Daniel Snyder, the Redskins owner. Spurrier treated me like a king over three days, and Ive always been grateful to him for that. Ive had great relationships with all of the Florida coaches, and it has been a real joy to cover the Gators over the years.

It isnt always easy. But it has been a blast.

Unfortunately, during the writing of this book, I lost my mother. She was the first person who saw in me the ability to write. She always knew Id be a sportswriter, even though I had no clue coming out of high school. I miss her every day.

I also had a hip replaced. That made writing a little difficult, but I got it done.

I hope you enjoy this book. There are some stories in here that may surprise you; some of them surprised me. And in the end, I had one realization. Maybe all that Florida went through prior to 1990 made the last two-plus decades that much more enjoyable for the Gator Nation.

1. The 1996 National Championship

Florida football had long been referred to as the sleeping giant of college football, a term first coined by legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant and sharpened by sportswriter Dan Jenkins. (Florida has the arrogance of Alabama and the tradition of Wake Forest, he wrote.) Things changed a little in the 1980s and a lot in the 1990s. But there was one goal that eluded Florida until a series of events led the Gators to the sweetest path possible.

Floridas first national title was built as much on failure as success. Following a perfect 1995 regular season that included an SEC Championship win against Arkansas, the Gators were humiliated in the Fiesta Bowl by Nebraska 6224 with a national championship on the line. For weeks they heard the joke, Hey Gators, Nebraska just scored again.

It fueled them. The entire offseason, the whole summer, everything we did was to keep that from happening again, said James Bates, a senior linebacker on the 1996 team. We knew we had the talent to get back into that position again, and this time we were going to make sure we were prepared.

Florida lost some key players from the 1995 teamsmost notably All-SEC wide receiver Chris Doering and left tackle Jason Odom. But quarterback Danny Wuerffel was back along with receivers Reidel Anthony and Ike Hilliard. The defense was solid, and Florida had added defensive coordinator Bobby Stoops to the staff.