Miami vs. Florida
This is another intense rivalry for the Gators. Likewise
with FSU, you can throw out the rankings and records when
these two teams go head to head. Like FSU, this rivalry is
young compared to others, but Miami is one of Florida's
oldest rivals the Gators have played. This rivalry was
unfortunately canceled in after the 1987 season because
the SEC demanded all teams in the conference at the time
to play an extra conference opponent. Since the NCAA would
not allow an extra game, Florida dropped Miami from their
schedule. The rivalry resumed again in 2000 and it didn't
take the Gators and Canes long to get in a heated brawl in
New Orleans before the 2001 Sugar Bowl and instantly
revive this once intense rivalry. Thanks to Steve Spurrier,
he was able to get Miami back on the schedule for 2002,
2003. Hopefully the Gators and Canes will meet again in
2006 for another two years. This rivalry needs to be
played every year. Gator fans and Hurricane fans are
wanting it and would love it. Getting this rivalry on
every year would decide the Sunshine State Champs with all
three going at it. That's all this rivalry needs. Most
memorable game between these two was the "Florida Flop"
game in 1971, when the Gators actually laid down on the
field and let the Hurricanes score a meaningless touchdown
so they could get the ball back with little time left so
John Reaves could get the all time passing record at
Florida at the time, which he would eclipse when he
completed a pass to Carlos Alverez (a.k.a. Cuban Comet)
which gave him the record. This angered the Miami players,
coaches, and fans. And if that wasn't enough, after the
Gators won 38-12, (I think that was the final score.) the
Gator players celebrated by jumping into a pool that
housed "Flipper", the Miami Dolphin's mascot. This is what
made this rivalry very nasty and has been heated ever
since until 1987. This rivalry deserves some recognition,
but it needs to be played every year again.
