Tennessee football vs. Florida: 5 fluke losses Vols gave away to Gators
3. 2000 – Florida Gators defeat Tennessee Volunteers 27-23
Until this point, the winner of the rushing battle won the game. That was the rule of the rivalry. And in this match-up, Tennessee football dominated the rushing battle. It didn’t matter that they were starting A.J. Suggs at quarterback.
The Vols dominated on the offensive line all game. However, there was a problem: they couldn’t get the ball in the end zone. What would be indicative of their red zone offense all season became an issue in this game.
In the first half, UT got into the red zone four times and came away with only field goals. Three of those times, they got inside the five-yard line. One of those times, they were pushed back after having to recover their own fumble. They also fumbled while moving into Florida territory on their opening drive.
Then, the Vols let Florida back in the game with a pick-six that Suggs threw to Lito Sheppard. So think about this for a minute: If Tennessee football can just avoid one thing among two fumbles or a pick-six or just get into the end zone one of the other two times inside the five-yard line, they are in complete control of this game.
But none of those things happened. Still, they had another opportunity to win. Late in the fourth, on 3rd and short, Henry couldn’t convert a toss play to give them a first down and allow them to run out the clock. They punted, and then it was the defense’s turn to give the game away.
After playing lights out all day, the defense just had to keep the Gators from going 91 yards to win. But they couldn’t do it. Jesse Palmer drove down the field, and the Vols defense had a roughing the passer penalty and a pass interference penalty to spot them better field position.
Finally, after all that, the refs gave a touchdown reception to Jabar Gaffney that he clearly dropped with six seconds left to give Florida the 27-23 win. It was the most ridiculous fluke loss you could imagine, and Spurrier himself said the Gators were very fortunate to pull out that win. It took aall of a terrible call, untimely turnovers, late-game penalties, and the inability to convert short-yardage plays for the Gators to win.