Spurrier's Florida Gators of the 90s

[Vanhalo]

Are you old enough to remember Spurrier's quick scoring spread offense against us in the 90s?

The way TN is scoring now reminds me of those Gators in the 90s.

 

[LakeMaryFLVol]

The spacing and reads and lightening quick scoring … Yes..

 

[Hacksaw]

We are Tennessee. Comparisons to lesser programs are neither necessary, nor appropriate.

 

[Oldblood]

While the offenses are very different the main reminder / comparison for me is how both coaches got their receivers WIDE open. I remember watching Florida do that to Tennessee and not understanding why we couldn’t cover. Very satisfying to be on the other side.

 

[Vol_in_NC_1999]

In a couple of years, I want Heupel to be hated throughout the SEC as much as Spurrier was. Not because of personality, but because the defenses can't figure out how to defend.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We are Tennessee. Comparisons to lesser programs are neither necessary, nor appropriate.

QFT.

 

[Vanhalo]

I just remember how quickly they ran up and down the field.
Especially that one game in 95 or 96 when we were up on them at half time with Manning.

 

[IndianaVol]

Like Spurrier, Heupel is before his time.
It will be a few years before teams really figure out to how to consistently defend this offense.

Also like Spurrier, I hope we play for a few Nattys, win one or two, and win some SEC titles along the way.

 

[TartanTurff]

Heupel is changing the competitive balance and innovation as Spurrier did in 1990 when he got to Gainesville and as Saban did returning to Tuscaloosa from the NFL, Spurrier brought a quick and precise passing game that rolled up tons of yardage and points after the catch, challenging SEC defenses to slow him down, took a while but eventually several did, Saban brought NFL ready business like high football IQ players to every position on the roster to Alabama with precision and flawless execution a hallmark of his teams as long as he had the right personnel on the field, not sure he has been able to keep that level of talent housed and stabled like he used to, but Heupel brings a completely expanded offensive scheme that not only spreads the defense, but forces them to the outer boundaries, leaving more room and space to create mismatches downfield that a strong arm and full field visualizer like Hooker can reach time after time. Kentucky had done a good job of scheming to that for the first 3 or 4 series, but they could not adapt to every change and wrinkle last week. Heupel's defense may be a bend but don't break version, but with bigger and quicker linebakers and taller and faster defensive backs that can cover and close, he could reset the framework in the SEC where you'd need 28-31 points at the half to stay competitive with Tennessee as long as he has the arms to throw and the speed to catch on the field.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Hopefully we win more than one Natty though, and that UGA this year isn't Alabama 92', Nebraska 95' or Tennessee 98'.

 

[DD4ME]

Heupel is changing the competitive balance and innovation as Spurrier did in 1990 when he got to Gainesville and as Saban did returning to Tuscaloosa from the NFL, Spurrier brought a quick and precise passing game that rolled up tons of yardage and points after the catch, challenging SEC defenses to slow him down, took a while but eventually several did, Saban brought NFL ready business like high football IQ players to every position on the roster to Alabama with precision and flawless execution a hallmark of his teams as long as he had the right personnel on the field, not sure he has been able to keep that level of talent housed and stabled like he used to, but Heupel brings a completely expanded offensive scheme that not only spreads the defense, but forces them to the outer boundaries, leaving more room and space to create mismatches downfield that a strong arm and full field visualizer like Hooker can reach time after time. Kentucky had done a good job of scheming to that for the first 3 or 4 series, but they could not adapt to every change and wrinkle last week. Heupel's defense may be a bend but don't break version, but with bigger and quicker linebakers and taller and faster defensive backs that can cover and close, he could reset the framework in the SEC where you'd need 28-31 points at the half to stay competitive with Tennessee as long as he has the arms to throw and the speed to catch on the field.

I would add one clarifying detail about Heup. He has added SEC caliber lines to Big 12 style play and then took Briles attack and made it multiple. He's playing chess with SEC talent now. It will succeed.

 

[apevol]

remember when spurrier went to the redskins and only brought two blitz protect schemes with him?

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Hopefully we win more than one Natty though, and that UGA this year isn't Alabama 92', Nebraska 95' or Tennessee 98'.

There were so many dominant programs in the 90s.
Nebraska
FSU
UF
UT
Michigan
And Bama at the beginning of the decade. Winning 1 title was pretty darn impressive when you look back at the competition.

 

[turbovol]

Spurrier rocked the SEC because the league was still mostly in its 3 yards and a cloud mode when he came along. He was an outstanding passing game coach--he turned Danny Wuerffel, who short-armed the ball and who was not in any way elite physically--into one of the most productive college QBs of all time--and defenses simply were not ready for it. He certainly trolled us for about a decade, until the late 1990s. Fulmer woiuld have a 4th and half a yard from the Florida 22 and kick a FG while Spurrier would have a 4th and 10 from our 37 and throw a TD pass. That said, our 2001 victory over Florida was special--until we choked in the SEC title game.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

A lot of our fans are quite unappreciative of our last run. This time around everyone better enjoy it. It may be another 20 years before it happens again...

 

[Jeff Clark]

Spurrier rocked the SEC because the league was still mostly in its 3 yards and a cloud mode when he came along. He was an outstanding passing game coach--he turned Danny Wuerffel, who short-armed the ball and who was not in any way elite physically--into one of the most productive college QBs of all time--and defenses simply were not ready for it. He certainly trolled us for about a decade, until the late 1990s. Fulmer woiuld have a 4th and half a yard from the Florida 22 and kick a FG while Spurrier would have a 4th and 10 from our 37 and throw a TD pass. That said, our 2001 victory over Florida was special--until we choked in the SEC title game.

I always rooted for Tennessee and Florida State to beat Florida back then.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Nothing has changed, still do...

 

[VolPack22]

Funny that after Spurrier, Florida needed one of the greatest players of all-time to win. Now they are nothing. Take Tim Tebow away and that program is nothing outside of the 90s.

 

[Vanhalo]

Ainge just made the Heupel/Spurrier comparison on SEC radio.

 

[volbound1700]

The offenses are not quite the same but the way they put pressure on defenses and SEC teams is similar to Spurrier.

 

[Jeff Clark]

This Tennessee team does remind me of the 1993-1996 Florida teams

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

If the question is who else has shredded the SEC defenses like this, of course the answer was Steven Spurrier. And the under mentioned part will be the running game those Florida teams closed games with. And of course when Spurrier hired Bob Stoops to run his defense is when they went to another level. It wasn't all touchdown passes from Danny Wuerffel.

 

[Gandalf]

We are running the Fun n Gun 2.0 - its like the Terminator but now WE are the T-1000, made of memetic pollyalloy

 

[Vanhalo]

And of course when Spurrier hired Bob Stoops to run his defense is when they went to another level. It wasn't all touchdown passes from Danny Wuerffel.

Didnt Heupel win a National Championship for Stoops?