More than a Rivalry: Florida Gators/Tennessee Volunteers

I’ve been a fan of the Florida Gators for 21 years. I’ve been blessed to go to every home game in the past 12 years. I have experienced some incredible moments during those games, from the blocked kick against South Carolina in 2006, to the beat down of Ole Miss in 2015. I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences in The Swamp. One of the most memorable times in The Swamp for me was a loss. One that has stung since it happened and planted a very deadly seed deep inside of me, the seed of aversion. In 2001, the Tennessee Volunteers travelled to Gainesville to face the Gators in their annual matchup. The game had been moved to December 1st because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Both teams entered the game with everything on the line. The winner would travel to Atlanta to compete for an SEC Championship. It was a close game all the way down to the wire. The 2001 team was a team that Steve Spurrier continues to say was one of his best. But just like that, the Vols had ended the Gators’ hopes of a championship. Right after the game, quarterback Casey Clausen climbed the ladder in the southeast corner of the end zone and led the Tennessee band in Rocky Top. That was when I knew this game was different. That was the day Tennessee vs. Florida changed from a game, to something personal.

As the years went on, some of those feelings towards Tennessee were watered down. The Vols entered into some of the darkest years in program history. From the Lane Kiffin nightmare to the Derek Dooley disaster, Tennessee vs. Florida was never really much of a contest. Florida surged through the early 2000’s with some great teams and handled the Vols consistently. Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and his staff have done everything in their power to get the Volunteers back to national prominence. While Jones and company have secured some impressive recruiting classes, there is just one hump that seems to big for Rocky Top to climb, beating Florida. I don’t know if it’s a mental thing or just a product of Florida constantly on paper having a better roster but Tennessee just can’t seem to find a way to beat the Gators. It’s truly remarkable when you think of how bad some of the recent Florida teams have been. In 2013 Florida went a shocking 4-8, but managed to beat the Vols.

How?

How can a program that has acquired so much talent over the years be all but capable of beating teams that did almost everything in their power to lose?

The seed of hate that was planted in 2001 has since been revived by the audacity of the Tennessee fan base and their ignorant and relentless attack of the Florida Gators. I’ve never been on the other side of an 11 year losing streak, but I wouldn’t spend the entire offseason telling that team how much better we are than they are. It’s an interesting and bold tactic, but one that the folks up in east Tennessee have taken by storm.

I was in Knoxville in 2014 and Gainesville in 2015, two games where the Volunteers had multiple chances to win the game but just didn’t seize the opportunity. Two games separated by one minuscule point. I was extremely nervous at both games, more so in 2015, though, only because being down by 13 points with five minutes left in the game seemed like an impossible feat.

This weekend, I am traveling up to Knoxville yet again for the matchup for two teams searching for a national identity. The Gators will start a backup quarterback and the Vols are banged up after a lackluster beginning to a season that was supposed to be theirs for the taking. I have to admit, I’m more nervous than ever. I don’t remember what it’s like to watch Florida lose to Tennessee and I don’t want to find out. 100,000 fans will cheer louder than they ever have to change the recent course of history and no doubt boo the Gator loud and proud (something that Gators’ head coach Jim McElwain is looking forward to).

“How can you not be excited running out in front of 100,000 that are booing you? Man, that is so cool.”

I can’t imagine having 100,000 people hate me at the same time, but after this piece comes out, it just might happen. I’m still hopeful.

3:30 p.m. Saturday cannot get here quick enough. It’s time for Tennessee to brush off their confetti from beating Virginia Tech, dust off their preseason National Championship rings and see if they can finally put together four complete quarters against the Gators.

On the banks of Tennessee River Saturday, another chapter in this historic rivalry will be written and hopefully the title of the chapter is “12”.