1957 Florida Gators football team

The 1957 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1957 college 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.[1]

1957 Florida Gators football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 17
Record6–2–1 (4–2–1 SEC)
Head coach
Home stadiumFlorida Field
Seasons
← 1956
1958 →
1957 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   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

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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

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 28Wake Forest*W 27–028,000[2]
October 5at KentuckyW 14–733,000[3]
October 19Mississippi State 
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL
L 20–2940,000[4]
October 26No. 10 LSU
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL (rivalry)
W 22–1428,000[5]
November 2at No. 4 AuburnNo. 19L 0–1336,000[6]
November 9vs. GeorgiaW 22–041,000[7]
November 16Vanderbilt
  • Florida Field
  • Gainesville, FL
W 14–728,000[8]
November 23at Georgia TechT 0–040,000[9]
November 30at Miami (FL)*No. 20W 14–059,507[10]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[1]

Roster

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  • QB Jimmy Dunn, Jr.

Game summaries

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Wake Forest

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

Kentucky

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

Mississippi State

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Florida lost at homecoming to Mississippi State 29–20.

The Gators upset Billy Cannon and his 10th-ranked LSU Tigers 22–14.[11]

Auburn

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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.[1] Woodruff's Gators featured their usual strong defense, but the Tigers defense was even better.[12]

Georgia

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Florida beat the Georgia Bulldogs 22–0.

Vanderbilt

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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.[13]

Georgia Tech

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Georgia Tech and Florida fought to a scoreless tie.

Miami (FL)

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

Postseason

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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,[1]'

References

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  1. ^ a b c d 2015 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived December 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 107 (2015). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Florida defeats Wake Forest, 27–0". Rocky Mount Sunday Telegram. September 29, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Dunn guides Florida to 14–7 victory over Kentucky". The Tampa Tribune. October 6, 1957. Retrieved May 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Woodruff's Gators fumble way to 29–20 defeat". Tampa Sunday Tribune. October 20, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Cannon muffled, Tigers lose 1st to Florida 22–14". Chattanooga Sunday Times. October 26, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Zipp Newman (November 3, 1957). "Auburn tames 'em, 13-0". The Birmingham News. pp. C1, C6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Gators frustrate Georgia, 22–0". Fort Lauderdale News. November 10, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Florida licks Vandy with Parrish leading way to 14–7 victory". The Selma Times-Journal. November 17, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Tech hangs on for 0–0 stalemate with Florida". The Birmingham News. November 24, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Gators rout Miami, 14–0". Tallahassee Democrat. December 1, 1957. Retrieved October 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "FLORIDA TRIPS L.S.U.; Gators Win, 22-14, Surviving 99-Yard Run by Brodnax". The New York Times. October 27, 1957.
  12. ^ Norris Anderson, "Auburn Tigers claw Gators by 13–0", The Miami News, pp. 1B & 6B (November 3, 1957). Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  13. ^ see Associated Press, "Bernie Parrish Selected As Back Of Week", Gettysburg Times, p. 5 (November 20, 1957). Retrieved June 21, 2010.