Florida helmet, 1971.
1971 Florida Gators
Head Coach: Doug Dickey (2nd season)
Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
Record: 4-7 (1-6 SEC)
Previous: 1970
Next: 1972
Schedule/Results[]
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/11 | Duke (1) | L | 6-12 | 0-1 |
| 9/18 | Mississippi State (2) | L | 10-13 | 0-2 (0-1) |
| 9/25 | Alabama | L | 0-38 | 0-3 (0-2) |
| 10/2 | Tennessee | L | 13-20 | 0-4 (0-3) |
| 10/9 | at LSU | L | 7-48 | 0-5 (0-4) |
| 10/16 | Florida State | W | 17-15 | 1-5 (0-4) |
| 10/23 | Maryland | W | 27-23 | 2-5 (0-4) |
| 10/30 | at Auburn | L | 7-40 | 2-6 (0-5) |
| 11/6 | Georgia (3) | L | 7-49 | 2-7 (0-6) |
| 11/13 | Kentucky | W | 35-24 | 3-7 (1-6) |
| 11/27 | at Miami (FL) | W | 45-16 | 4-7 (1-6) |
- (1) - at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL
- (2) - at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson, MS
- (3) - at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
Notes[]
Florida began its second year under Doug Dickey as the Super Sophs of '69 were now seniors. The start of the season did not go as planned as the Gators were 0-5 heading into their rivalry game with Florida State. Florida managed to defeat their instate foes and win their homecoming again against Maryland before falling to superior ranked opponents in Auburn and Georgia. After beating Kentucky, the Gators capped off the season with the infamous "Florida Flop" game.
In the game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Florida QB John Reaves broke Jim Plunkett's NCAA record for career passing yardage. Late in the game and up 45-8, the Gators defense performed the infamous "Florida Flop", in which most Gators defenders flopped to the ground to allow Miami to score. Reaves broke Plunkett's passing record on Florida's following offensive series, and would earn first-team All-American honors after the season.