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Florida vs Florida State 1997 Sugar Bowl game rewind

By Benjamin Henderson

2 Jan 1997: Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates after the Nokia Sugar Bowl against the Floirda State Seminoles at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida won the game, 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
2 Jan 1997: Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier celebrates after the Nokia Sugar Bowl against the Floirda State Seminoles at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Florida won the game, 52-20. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport /
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Second quarter of 1997 Sugar Bowl

The final score as we all know ended up being a rout.

And frankly FSU was lucky it wasn’t a rout sooner.

After being burned in the first quarter by insisting on playing ten guys along the line of scrimmage to combat Florida’s spread offense, FSU continues to give the same defensive look.

Elijah Williams dropped a touchdown off a wheel route out of the backfield on the first play in the second quarter.

Ike Hillard had a 20-yard completion called back for being stronger than the FSU cornerback.

Officially it was offensive pass interference, but try a weight room next time FSU.

FSU continues to try to have Busbey pass and it isn’t going well.

A dropped interception saved FSU from another Gator touchdown.

And yet, FSU still won’t make adjustments on defense.

Florida goes four wide and FSU lines up with all eleven guys within three yards of the line of scrimmage.

Wuerffel is forced to throw off his back foot, but to the surprise of no one at this point Hillard is wide open and gains over 50 yards.

Fred Taylor finished the job and its 17-3

21 minutes into the game FSU remembered “Oh right, we have Warrick Dunn,” and he finally gets a meaningful handoff.

Members of the Florida secondary then collide into each other and gift FSU a touchdown.

Had to make it interesting I guess.

None of it mattered for FSU because they refused to play a safety deep and Wuerffel said “That’s cool,” and found Jacquez Green for another long completion.

One play later Hillard made his famous “Stop and Pop” catch where broke the ankles of the entire FSU secondary and it was 24-10 Florida.

Dunn was able to cut to the outside to cut the lead the 24-17 before halftime.

Yawn.

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