I was at that game. We were looking like we were going to lose that one in a huge upset before that block and return. Almost a Georgia Southern moment.
It was helpful that ULL's coach at the time played for the tie in their last possession, they could've tried to advance the ball down the field to kick a game winning field goal, but they didn't. My theory is that when you have a chance to slay Goliath you go for the throat. I can't tell you how many coaches of lesser programs on the brink of an upset clench up so tight after playing loose and getting a lead that its crazy.
Spuurier lost a few by not going conservative when he could have but i cant ever remember him freezing up when he shouldve been on the gas.
Agreed, but when the Gators were playing for him we weren't often underdogs. When he took Duke up to Neyland and whupped them...that is how you upset a big favorite as a little underdog.
No. He had us up 31-3. Then he figured he would run some clock. Run run run. Punt. FSU scored. UF..run run run punt. FSU scored again. Then, Stevie tried to restart the offense.. Pass..pass..pass. Three and out .punt. FSU scored again. Panic. FSU scored one more time. Score was tied at 31. They would have scored again but time ran out. Stevie described our team as an exhausted fighter being pummeled and just holding on. The bowl game was called and we faced them one more time. They beat us easily. And that is how it went down.
Hurt like hell at the moment. But what was to come in the next 3 years hurt the Holes times a trillion. There is simply no living down 52-20 and the absolute embarassment we put Robert Cleckler and the Holes through after the “echo of the whistle” comments. After 3 decades the 94 game and the 95 Sugar Bowl are simply entries in the record book. 52-20 is living, breathing, and eternal. It was a true evisceration of every organ and soul of the Holes.
Then to break their hearts and destroy their championship hopes again the following year was glorious.
