Florida vs Florida State 1997 Sugar Bowl game rewind
Sugar Bowl is underway
Florida kicks off and we are introduced to the FSU offense.
Thad Busbey leads the way for FSU at QB.
Fun fact, Busbey wasn’t even the most famous Thad on either roster. That distinction goes to Thaddeus Bullard, better know as WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil.
Bullard was redshirting for Florida in 1996.
We are also reminded Warrick Dunn plays for FSU.
Good for him.
Keith Jackson on the call states “He will go over 4,000 (career rushing) yards tonight, almost surely.”
Spoiler alert, he doesn’t.
Also Pooh Bear Williams is Dunn’s backfield mate.
Right away Florida, determined not to let Dunn gash them again, is playing much closer to the line of scrimmage than in the first matchup.
Case in point, Busbey hits a big completion to open the game. FSU has 3rd-and-three on Florida’s 24-yard line.
FSU lines up in shotgun with three receivers with Dunn and Williams in the backfield.
Florida doesn’t care and still puts 10 guys along the line of scrimmage.
FSU runs for minimal gain to set up fourth-and-one.
In an era where going for it on fourth down was far more rare than today, Bobby Bowden tries a fullback dive with Williams.
Mike Peterson blows the play up and Florida takes over.
Immediately Florida lines up in shotgun and its noted this is one of their main offensive adjustments from the first game.
Which makes FSU defensive look that much more perplexing because the Seminoles line up in just about the same look they gave in the first game.
FSU went four down lineman, then set up their linebackers also along the line in between the defensive tackles. Three corners would go man against the three receivers Florida would send out and one lone safety was kept deep.
Florida burned FSU right away and beat this look for a touchdown that was called back to a procedure penalty.
Given a second life did FSU adjust?
No, they pulled a Todd Grantham and went zero-safety on the very next play.
Ike Hillard reminded them they shouldn’t do that and caught an easy pass down the middle for 20 yards.
Two plays later Florida had 1st-and-goal on the nine.
Once again FSU opted for zero safety.
Once again Ike Hillard burned FSU to officially make it 7-0.
Florida’s defense continue to bet that Busbey couldn’t consistently beat them. FSU got into field goal range, stalled out, and settled for three to make it 7-3.
Gators stall out too but the ensuing punt is downed at the one.
FSU goes nowhere at the following punt return gets Florida to FSU’s 27.
Florida goes four wide and FSU sellouts on three straight blitzes and are fortunate the ball doesn’t wind up in their endzone.
Gators settle to make it 10-3.