Ten Years of Gators Domination, Florida vs Tennessee Rivalry

What Rivalry?

Over the last 10 years, the Florida Gators have taken this rivalry by the horns, and all but killed the excitement in this annual match up. This season, however, feels a little different.

Radio experts out of Tennessee are currently talking more about whether or not the fans will rush the field, than the actual game played on the field. A bit premature we must say, seeing that the Gators have dominated this series as of late, winning seven in a row, and eight out of the last 10.

We took it upon ourselves to document the last 10 years, and share with you a decade of Gator domination.

Enjoy Florida Gamedayrs!

2002: Florida 30 - Tennessee 13

The tenth-ranked Gators travelled to Knoxville and put up 24 unanswered points in the second quarter, behind the efforts of ‘Sexy’ Rexy Grossman. Grossman gave head coach Ron Zook one of his two/three good wins, upsetting the then-fourth-ranked Vols, 30-13.

2003: Tennessee 24 - Florida 10

A Hail-Mary pass to close out the first half proved to be just a bit too deflating for the 17th-ranked Gators, as the team suffered a rare loss at the hands of then-No. 7 Tennessee, 24-10. Unfortunately, the Vols did manage to get out of The Swamp alive, this one time at least.

2004: Tennessee 30 - Florida 28

The Gators’ second-straight loss to the toothless wonders of Tennessee came on a last second, 50-yard field goal with six seconds left on the clock after Vols kicker, James Wilhoit, shanked an extra point earlier in the game that would have tied it up. From doosh to hero, in five seconds flat. Such is the life of a kicker.

2005: Florida 16 - Tennessee 7

In Urban Meyer’s first year at the helm of the Gators, he rode a strong defense and three second half field goals to a 16-7 home victory in one of the few meetings in which both teams came into the game unranked. Fans had no idea that the national championships – or six more wins in a row against UT – would be coming, but they were sure excited to see Zook gone.

2006: Florida 21 - Tennessee 20

Meyer became one of only three coaches (along with Mark Richt and Tommy Tuberville) to beat Phillip Fulmer in consecutive seasons, barely squeaking out a 21-20 win. After going down 17-7, the Gators battled back and finally sealed the victory after Reggie Nelson recorded his second interception of the game on a UT fourth down, go-for-broke attempt. Epic fail on the part of the Vols in this one, and, well, forever more.

2007: Florida 59 - Tennessee 20

The Gators faithful staged a “blue-out” at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, while Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin and Brandon James decided to go all “black ops” on the Volunteers. The three accounted for over 600 yards of all-purpose offense in the blowout victory, 59-20. Did I mention Tebow’s two passing and two rushing touchdowns? No? Well, he’s really good at football.

2008: Florida 30 - Tennessee 6

The Vols’ slide into mediocrity continued into the 2008 season, when the team barely managed to put up six garbage-time points against another championship-caliber Gators football team. Need I say more? No, no I don’t, so I’ll leave it up to former linebacker Brandon Spikes: “We just came out and played relentless.” Too easy, Mr. Spikes.

2009: Florida 23 - Tennessee 13

The Gators welcomed the Vols into The Swamp as the No. 1-ranked team in all of college football, but almost found themselves walking off Florida Field as losers in this one. Sir Tebow (wait, he hasn’t been knighted yet?) passed for an interception and no touchdowns, but the defense held up its end of the bargain in the team’s 23-13, far-too-close-for-comfort victory.

2010: Florida 31 - Tennessee 17

In the team’s first game sans-Tebow since 2005, John Brantley found Omarius Hines and Frankie Hammond for big gains and the team won in Knoxville for the third straight time for the first time in the history of the rivalry, then in its 40th contest. Little did anyone realize the upheaval that would soon descend upon the Florida football program after this fun win.

2011: Florida 33 - Tennessee 23

The team’s seventh-straight victory over Tennessee was a matchup of two once proud, now downtrodden programs. However, first-year head coach Will Muschamp managed to run his career record to 3-0 in the Gators 33-23 home beat-down of the Rocky Top-pers. Of course, having Chris Rainey run for over 100 yards and tally over 100 yards receiving really helps.