1957 Florida Gators football team

The 1957 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1957 NCAA University Division football season. The season was Bob Woodruff's eighth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Woodruff's 1957 Florida Gators finished their abbreviated season with an overall record of 6–2–1 and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 4–2–1, tying for third place among the twelve SEC teams.[2]

1957 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 17
1957 record6–2–1 (4–2–1 SEC)
Head coach
Home stadiumFlorida Field
(Capacity: 41,088)[1]
1957 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Auburn $ 7 0 0  10 0 0
No. 7 Ole Miss 5 0 1  9 1 1
No. 14 Mississippi State 4 2 1  6 2 1
No. 17 Florida 4 2 1  6 2 1
No. 13 Tennessee 4 3 0  8 3 0
Vanderbilt 3 3 1  5 3 2
LSU 4 4 0  5 5 0
Georgia Tech 3 4 1  4 4 2
Georgia 3 4 0  3 7 0
Tulane 1 5 0  2 8 0
Alabama 1 6 1  2 7 1
Kentucky 1 7 0  3 7 0
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Before the season

The 1957 season was the last time the Gators played only nine games in a season. Ten games were scheduled, but the season opener against the UCLA Bruins was canceled when most of the Gators team members were suffering from a serious bout of influenza. The Gators were led by quarterback Jimmy Dunn, and two-way halfbacks Bernie Parrish and Jim Rountree.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResult
September 28Wake Forest*W 27–0
October 5at KentuckyW 14–7
October 19Mississippi State
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL
L 20–29
October 26No. 10 LSU
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
W 22–14
November 2at No. 4 AuburnNo. 19L 0–13
November 9vs. GeorgiaW 22–0
November 16Vanderbilt
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL
W 14–7
November 23at Georgia TechT 0–0
November 30at Miami (FL)*No. 20W 14–0
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Primary source: 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide.[2]

Roster

  • QB Jimmy Dunn, Jr.

Season summary

Wake Forest

Florida won a 27–0 home-opener victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Kentucky

The second week of play was a 14–7 conference win over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mississippi State

Florida lost at homecoming to Mississippi State 29–20.

LSU

The Gators upset Billy Cannon and his 10th-ranked LSU Tigers 22–14.[3]

Auburn

The Gators were shut out 13–0 by coach Ralph Jordan's national champion Auburn Tigers. When the two teams met in Cliff Hare Stadium in Auburn, it was the first game between the rivals in which both teams were ranked in the top twenty of the AP Poll.[2] Woodruff's Gators featured their usual strong defense, but the Tigers defense was even better.[4]

Georgia

Florida beat the Georgia Bulldogs 22–0.

Vanderbilt

Parrish was named AP "Back of the Week" for his performance in the 14–7 win over Vanderbilt. This included rushing for 111 yards, scoring both touchdowns, kicking both extra points, catching an interception, and making seven tackles—including one to prevent the Commodores' tying score.[5]

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech and Florida fought to a scoreless tie.

Miami

Florida had a road win over the in-state rival Miami Hurricanes, 14–0 in Miami, Florida.

Postseason

At the end of the season, the Gators finished in the top twenty of the final AP Poll for only the second time in their history,[2]'

References

  1. Department of Sports Publicity. "University of Florida 1957 Football Brochure" (PDF). floridagators.com. University Athletic Association, Inc. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  2. 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  3. "FLORIDA TRIPS L.S.U.; Gators Win, 22-14, Surviving 99-Yard Run by Brodnax". The New York Times. October 27, 1957.
  4. Norris Anderson, "Auburn Tigers claw Gators by 130", The Miami News, pp. 1B & 6B (November 3, 1957). Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  5. see Associated Press, "Bernie Parrish Selected As Back Of Week", Gettysburg Times, p. 5 (November 20, 1957). Retrieved June 21, 2010.
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