Tennessee and Florida played six times in Gainesville before Southeastern Conference divisional play began in 1992.
Tennessee compiled a 5-16 record versus the Gators in Gainesville from 1953-2021.
The Vols won in Gainesville for a third time on Oct. 2, 1971.
The 1971 contest was tied, 13-13, at halftime. The game’s final points took place with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter, producing one of the most iconic drives in Tennessee’s history.
Florida’s John James punted the ball to the Tennessee one-yard line. Lenny Lucas downed the ball for the Gators at the one-yard line, while sliding into the end zone. Tennessee head coach Bill Battle argued the ruling on the field and the Vols received a penalty, placing the ball six inches closer to the goal line.
Tennessee went 99 yards on a game-winning touchdown drive to defeat the Gators, 20-13.
Wide receiver Stan Trott recorded Tennessee’s game-winning 20-yard touchdown reception from third-string quarterback Phil Pierce on the drive.
Trott discussed Tennessee’s win at Florida in 1971 with Vols Wire.
“We drove 99.5 yards for that score,” Trott said. “Coach Battle was an easy going guy. They had punted and Florida touched the ball and it was in the end zone. The refs spotted it on the half-yard line. Coach Battle came running down and I thought he was going to get kicked out. He was so mad because they spotted it on the half-yard line. It should have been a touchback. They say the drive was 99 yards, but we should get credit for that half-yard.
“Everything was in rhythm during the drive. Phil was a dual-threat quarterback and could run and throw. It was kind of a perfect situation between running options and throwing a pass or two. We just kept moving. It was one play after another, four or five yards. First down, another four or five yards. We got down to the 20-yard line and it was a pass play, but it was going to be more of a hook play. As I went out, they were aware of me from the previous year, so they were covering me pretty good. Phil was sprinting out and threw a perfect pass to me. At the time, we didn’t know that was the game winner because it was in the third quarter, but we had a great defense.”
The 1971 matchup featured two second-year head coaches in Battle and Florida’s Doug Dickey.
Dickey served as the Vols’ head coach from 1964-69. Battle was Tennessee’s assistant ends coach under Dickey from 1966-69.
Dickey left Tennessee for Florida after the Vols’, 14-13, loss to the Gators on Dec. 27, 1969. The contest took place in the Gator Bowl.
Battle was elevated as head coach after Dickey’s departure.
“Everybody on Tennessee’s 1971 team was recruited by coach Dickey,” Trott said. “In 1970 against Florida, Dickey came back and we beat them. The next year we were going to Gainesville, and again it was coach Dickey. They were fired up and it was a night game, and it was hot.
“The Florida games were big back then, especially for the 1970 and 1971 games when coach Dickey was playing us for the first time home and away. Coach Dickey going to Florida made the first two games especially big just for that reason. 1971 was a big game and a great game. It was probably one of the biggest drives in Tennessee history, going the length of the field.”
