Tag: Neal anderson

Every 1,000-yard rushing season for Florida football dating to 1975

Take a look at the 11 greatest rushing seasons by yardage by Florida Gators running backs in the modern era.

Florida football has earned renown over the years as a quarterback school after Steve Spurrier, who won the first Heisman Trophy for the Gators playing under center, brought the fun-and-gun offense to Gainesville and brought the program to national prominence.

Often overlooked amid all that gunslinging are the running backs, who have been the backbone of many successful seasons for the Orange and Blue.

In fact, before the Head Ball Coach roamed the sidelines of the Swamp, the Gators had been a powerhouse at the offensive back position during the prior decade, bowling over opponents on the legs of memorable names who also made their marks in the NFL, including Hall of Famer [autotag]Emmitt Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Neal Anderson[/autotag].

College Football Reference’s stats go back only to 1956 for Florida, which marks the end point of the search for these names. Below, you can find the 11 Gators who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards as far back as 1975.

Did Emmitt Smith make CBS Sports’ list of top-10 NFL running back seasons?

It’s nice that CBS Sports gave Emmitt Smith a mention but he deserves better.

Before the University of Florida became a quarterback school under the guidance of Steve Spurrier, the football program was well-regarded for the quality of running backs produced back in the 1980s. Among the names that graced the artificial turf in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium are NFL veterans like [autotag]John L. Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Neal Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Lorenzo Hampton[/autotag] and Cedric Smith, but of course, there is one particular player that stands out from that era.

[autotag]Emmitt Smith[/autotag] is unquestionably the greatest running back to ever wear the beloved Orange and Blue, and arguably one of the greatest Gators of all time. While he was a standout in college, he took things to the next level in the professional ranks providing a pillar for the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 90s. For his efforts, he earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, among many other accolades.

While few will argue that Smith was among the greatest to ever carry the ball out of the backfield, the question remains as to whether he had one of the top dominant seasons in league history. CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo recently ranked his top 10 greatest running back seasons in NFL history, which was predictably led off with a Barry Sanders entry. However, the pride of Florida football just barely missed the list but did manage to earn himself the lone honorable mention for his 1995 campaign, as DeArdo explains below.

The league’s MVP in 1993, Smith had an even better campaign in 1995. He ran for a league-high 1,773 yards while rushing for a then-NFL record 25 touchdowns. Smith, who also caught 62 passes during the regular season, ran for nearly 300 yards and six touchdowns in the playoffs as the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl of the ’90s.

It feels wrong to omit Smith from the top 10 given his dominance from 1991 to 1995, but he does face some very tough competition on the list. Nonetheless, the Gator Nation knows how special he was both in Gainesville and in the NFL, and the author showed respect by ensuring his name was mentioned. That is what matters.

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1991: The greatest season in Washington Football history, Week 6

Ivan focuses on Washington’s Week 6 win over the Bears in that magical 1991 season.

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This 2021 NFL season reminds us that 30 years ago Washington assembled its greatest team in franchise history, going 14-2 and racing through the playoffs to the Super Bowl XXVI championship and Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Week 6—Washington 20, Chicago 7— October 6, 1991

Mark Rypien and Art Monk connected for two touchdown passes, as Washington won their fifth straight game, defeating the Chicago Bears 20-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Leading 3-0, Rypien found Monk for a 26-yard TD, enlarging the Washington lead to 10-0 at the half. Rypien and Monk teamed up again in the final quarter from five yards out, providing Washington with a 17-7 lead.

Washington kicker Chip Lohmiller was successful on two field goal attempts from 47 yards (first quarter) and 23 yards (fourth quarter).

The Bears actually moved the chains 19 times to Washington’s 12, as Chicago out-gained Washington on the ground (120-75) and passing (199-168).

Yet the Washington defense created big plays, forcing three Bears turnovers. Wilber Marshall, Kurt Gouveia and Fred Stokes all intercepted Bears’ QB Jim Harbaugh. And Washington linebacker Andre Collins also recorded the lone QB sack of the game.

Rypien concluded his day completing 18-31 for 168 yards, two touchdowns and 1 interception. Monk led Washington receivers with six receptions for 69 yards and his two TDs, while Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders contributed five receptions for 44 yards and four receptions for 38 yards.

Neal Anderson led the Bears with 73 yards on his 18 carries including his one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Harbaugh struggled at times completing only 17 of his 41 attempts for 206 yards and his three interceptions, for a paltry QB rating of 27.1.

The win elevated Washington’s record to 5-0, while the Bears fell to 4-2.