Ray Graves did a terrific job recruiting, especially with the limitations
imposed by Florida's stricter-than-the-rest-of-the-SEC qualifications. This
gave him teams that were always solid and competitive, but teams that also
disappointed the boosters and fans because the ever-elusive SEC title was
expected at some point in time. He wanted one more season to enjoy the "Super
Soph" class, as they were known, and make a bid for a major bowl game and the
conference championship. He decked the team out in a new orange shell with a
white one-inch center stripe and flanked these with three-quarter-inch blue
stripes. A white interlocking "UF" logo, trimmed in blue was placed on each
side of the headgear making for a very distinctive appearance. QB John Reaves
was the soph leader and he didn't disappoint. Following neighbor and former
Gator RB Larry Smith to Gainsville, he set the bar by taking on Top Ten
Houston in the opener and put on such an exciting show, including a 70-yard TD
bomb to Carlos Alvarez on his first pass in the 58-34 win, that paying
customers who had heard the game on the radio were still streaming in during
the fourth quarter. Soph RB's Tommy Durrance and Mike Rich did the pounding as
Reaves threw to TE Jim Yancey and soph consensus All American Carlos Alvarez,
a Cuban refugee who was so fast he needed a double team at all times. Upper
classmen Kim Helton at center (future University Of Houston head coach) and
captain and tackle Mac Steen led up front. The defense with DE Jack Youngblood
and senior DB Steve Tannen who became the Jets first draft choice and used his
hurdler's speed for them for five years, held up the defense and with the
embarrassment of the 51-0 Georgia drubbing of '68 always on their minds, lost
only to Auburn (with Reaves throwing nine interceptions) although the 13-13
tie with Georgia stung because once again, it cost them the SEC title.
If the 1969 season would have ended at 8-1-1, Graves could have retired
gracefully but SEC Champion Tennessee and Florida agreed to meet in the Gator
Bowl while rumors swirled about UT head coach Doug Dickey, a former Gator QB,
taking over as Florida's head coach. Both teams were angry and distracted and
when Florida beat the Vols 14-13, the players could only see that they were
getting "the losing coach" as their new mentor. Compounded by Graves "second
thoughts" that perhaps he should stay for another title run, his retirement
and move to full time Athletic Director proved to be messy and had a
psychological carry-over into 1970.
