After nearly two decades of Florida not being competitive in the SEC, Governor Fuller Warren promised to ease the crippling academic restrictions in place on state schools (Florida had not allowed any exceptions for admittance unlike every other state in the SEC area which left UF unable to sign the kinds of athletes it needed to compete). After obtaining assurances that he would have a more level playing field to work with, stodgy Bob Woodruff was hired from Baylor in 1950. He went 53-42-6 in 10 seasons. Under Woodruff, the Gators had a pattern of opening the season strongly and then fading down the stretch. To his credit, Woodruff stabilized the program financially, beat Georgia six times, churned out a handful of All-America linemen and led the team to its first bowl appearance, a 14-13 victory over Tulsa in the 1953 Gator Bowl.
But Woodruff was not exactly Knute Rockne in the locker room; he deemed himself "the oratorical equivalent of a blocked punt," and his rallying cry was "ooski wow-wow!" After a 13-13 tie with Rice in 1959, during which Woodruff had opted to run out the clock rather than risk an interception in his own territory, the coach's own words no doubt hastened his ouster. "I'll gamble to win," he said, "but I'll never gamble to lose."
After two years of decent 5-5 records (that represented an improvement over the dreadful records of the 30's and 40's, the 1952 Gators led by a stoud Defense featuring All-American Tackle Charley Lepradd and powerful Fullback Rick Casares on Offense broke out for an 8-3 season and the first "official" Bowl Game, the 1953 Gator Bowl (at the time probably about the 5th biggest bowl game in the country after the Orange, Sugar, Rose and Cotton Bowls) on January 1st, 1953 which UF won 14-13.
The return of two platoon football in '53 left Florida with many gaps due to a lack of depth. As a defensive specialist, "Burly Bob" as the head coach was often referred to in deference to his 290-pound heft, often kept the offense hamstrung with his conservative approach and play-calling. HB Mal Hammack was the main Offensive threat and was spelled by Tailback Don Chandler who doubled as a punter. Not surprisingly, 1953 proved to be a subpar season at 3-5-2. The typical fast Florida start slowed with losses in the last three contests with QB a problem through all of '54. The defense was solid but Woodruff contributed to his reputation of losing the big ones, going down to Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky, and Miami in close, winnable games.
After a disappointing 5-5 1955 season, 1956 was the final year of his contract and Woodruff was feeling the pressure but he had some weapons to work with. John Barrow was an All American guard, QB Jimmy Dunn who signed with the Gators despite the protests of Florida State that he had committed to them was, at 147-pounds, what Woodruff termed "the best pound-for-pound player I have ever coached". Sophomore DT Vel Heckman proved to be a real player as did DB John Symank. Soph HB-DB Bernie Parrish looked like a winner too. Dunn led the team to a good 6-3-1 season.
Bad luck hit the team immediately in 1957. NCAA probation for the illegal transport and feeding of basketball and baseball recruits also sanctioned football and an outbreak of Asian flu among the Gator players caused the cancellation of the opener against UCLA. The defense rose up to stuff Billy Cannon and upset powerful LSU 22-14 and they won 22-0 against Georgia. Bernie Parrish played both ways effectively but was especially noted for being a blanketing defender. QB Jimmy Dunn and a fairly stout Defense led the team to a good 6-2-1 record though the fans were often bored by the lack of offense and willingness to punt or quick kick on third down on a regular basis.
The start of the series with Florida State after years of argument and resistance, a 21-7 Gator win, highlighted the 6-4-1 season of '58. Vel Heckman was named an All American tackle. Against defensive-minded Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl, some quipped that the game could be a 2-0 affair and they weren't far off as Ole Miss won a defensive battle, 7-3 despite the offensive acumen of QB Jimmy Dunn. With a great freshmen class in the wings, Woodruff wanted to stay at Florida but knew the heat was on for '59. The Gators beat Florida State and Miami but 5-4-1 wouldn't be enough to save Woodruff's job. His 53-42-6 record and wins in six out of ten Georgia games raised Florida from a "have-not" to respectability but it was not good enough and Woodruff was fired.
But Woodruff was not exactly Knute Rockne in the locker room; he deemed himself "the oratorical equivalent of a blocked punt," and his rallying cry was "ooski wow-wow!" After a 13-13 tie with Rice in 1959, during which Woodruff had opted to run out the clock rather than risk an interception in his own territory, the coach's own words no doubt hastened his ouster. "I'll gamble to win," he said, "but I'll never gamble to lose."
After two years of decent 5-5 records (that represented an improvement over the dreadful records of the 30's and 40's, the 1952 Gators led by a stoud Defense featuring All-American Tackle Charley Lepradd and powerful Fullback Rick Casares on Offense broke out for an 8-3 season and the first "official" Bowl Game, the 1953 Gator Bowl (at the time probably about the 5th biggest bowl game in the country after the Orange, Sugar, Rose and Cotton Bowls) on January 1st, 1953 which UF won 14-13.
The return of two platoon football in '53 left Florida with many gaps due to a lack of depth. As a defensive specialist, "Burly Bob" as the head coach was often referred to in deference to his 290-pound heft, often kept the offense hamstrung with his conservative approach and play-calling. HB Mal Hammack was the main Offensive threat and was spelled by Tailback Don Chandler who doubled as a punter. Not surprisingly, 1953 proved to be a subpar season at 3-5-2. The typical fast Florida start slowed with losses in the last three contests with QB a problem through all of '54. The defense was solid but Woodruff contributed to his reputation of losing the big ones, going down to Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky, and Miami in close, winnable games.
After a disappointing 5-5 1955 season, 1956 was the final year of his contract and Woodruff was feeling the pressure but he had some weapons to work with. John Barrow was an All American guard, QB Jimmy Dunn who signed with the Gators despite the protests of Florida State that he had committed to them was, at 147-pounds, what Woodruff termed "the best pound-for-pound player I have ever coached". Sophomore DT Vel Heckman proved to be a real player as did DB John Symank. Soph HB-DB Bernie Parrish looked like a winner too. Dunn led the team to a good 6-3-1 season.
Bad luck hit the team immediately in 1957. NCAA probation for the illegal transport and feeding of basketball and baseball recruits also sanctioned football and an outbreak of Asian flu among the Gator players caused the cancellation of the opener against UCLA. The defense rose up to stuff Billy Cannon and upset powerful LSU 22-14 and they won 22-0 against Georgia. Bernie Parrish played both ways effectively but was especially noted for being a blanketing defender. QB Jimmy Dunn and a fairly stout Defense led the team to a good 6-2-1 record though the fans were often bored by the lack of offense and willingness to punt or quick kick on third down on a regular basis.
The start of the series with Florida State after years of argument and resistance, a 21-7 Gator win, highlighted the 6-4-1 season of '58. Vel Heckman was named an All American tackle. Against defensive-minded Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl, some quipped that the game could be a 2-0 affair and they weren't far off as Ole Miss won a defensive battle, 7-3 despite the offensive acumen of QB Jimmy Dunn. With a great freshmen class in the wings, Woodruff wanted to stay at Florida but knew the heat was on for '59. The Gators beat Florida State and Miami but 5-4-1 wouldn't be enough to save Woodruff's job. His 53-42-6 record and wins in six out of ten Georgia games raised Florida from a "have-not" to respectability but it was not good enough and Woodruff was fired.
