# 1977 Florida Gators football team

The 1977 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. The season was Doug Dickey's eighth as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Dickey's 1977 Florida Gators finished with a 6–4–1 overall record and a 3–3 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, placing fifth among ten SEC teams.

## Before the season

Florida had several quarterbacks, with Terry LeCount starting.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 17 | at Rice* | No. 19 | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | | W 48–3 | 24,000 |
| September 24 | at No. 12 Mississippi State | No. 13 | Mississippi Veterans Memorial StadiumJackson, MS | ABC | W 24–22 | 36,000 |
| October 1 | at LSU | No. 9 | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | | L 14–36 | 68,029 |
| October 8 | No. 15 Pittsburgh* | No. 20 | Florida FieldGainesville, FL | | T 17–17 | 62,724 |
| October 22 | Tennessee | No. 19 | Florida FieldGainesville, FL (rivalry) | | W 27–17 | 62,711 |
| October 29 | at Auburn | No. 18 | Jordan-Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (rivalry) | | L 14–29 | 57,000 |
| November 5 | vs. Georgia | | Gator Bowl StadiumJacksonville, FL (rivalry) | ABC | W 22–17 | 68,538 |
| November 12 | No. 7 Kentucky | | Florida FieldGainesville, FL (rivalry) | | L 7–14 | 58,125 |
| November 19 | Utah* | | Florida FieldGainesville, FL | | W 38–29 | 56,055 |
| November 26 | at Miami (FL)* | | Miami Orange BowlMiami, FL (rivalry) | | W 31–14 | 30,662 |
| December 3 | No. 19 Florida State* | | Florida FieldGainesville, FL (rivalry) | ABC | L 9–37 | 63,563 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||||

## Roster

* Other: Tim Aydp

## Game summaries
### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Rice | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Florida | 21 | 27 | 48 |
Florida opened the season in Houston with a non-conference game against Rice. Former all-conference safety Terry LeCount started at quarterback in the Gators' wishbone offense, but the most notable play at the position came in the 4th quarter, when third-string freshman Cris Collinsworth tossed an NCAA record 99-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Gaffney on his first collegiate attempt.

### Mississippi State

In the second week of play, Florida edged Mississippi State 24–22.yepremian junior kicker comes through again keeping Florids hopes alive

### LSU

Louisiana State beat Florida 36–14. Wes Chandler had 146 yards receiving, including an 85-yard reception from Terry LeCount.

### Pittsburgh

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Florida | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
Florida and Pitt tied 17–17.

### Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tennessee | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| • Florida | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
The Gators called a timeout in the final seconds of a 27–17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee coach Johnny Majors was furious, and the post-game handshake ritual became a shoving match between coaching staffs.

### Auburn

The Auburn Tigers upset Florida 29–14.

### Georgia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Georgia | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| • Florida | 0 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 22 |
The Gators beat rival Georgia 22–17.

### Kentucky

The seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats defeated Florida 14–7.

### Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Utah | 3 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 29 |
| • Florida | 7 | 3 | 0 | 28 | 38 |
The Gators ran over the Utah Utes for 531 yards and won 38–29.

### Miami (FL)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Florida | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Miami (FL) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Florida defeated the Miami Hurricanes 31–14.

### Florida State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • FSU | 10 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 37 |
| Florida | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Bobby Bowden got his first win over the Gators, as Florida State beat Florida 37–9.

## Postseason

Four Gators made All-SEC.