Ray Graves was very important. He hired Charlie Pell. He also hired Doug Dickey. (Doug Dickey, in spite of his boring style of football was still a Gator and I am sure was expected to improve on Ray Graves' record. Unfortunately, he did not do as well as Graves and was replaced after a 4-7 season in 1978. Doug Dickey, however, should be especially credited for his hire of his quarterback coach in his last season. It was the first coaching job of a former San Francisco backup quarterback named.you guessed it, Steven Orr Spurrier. ) I agree that Ray Graves' contribution was important, but I don't believe the attitude of the fans in terms of expectations really changed significantly until Charlie Pell.
As for Dr. Cade, I believe his greatest contribution was to the university proper. His millions have provided the University with the funding to move from just another flagship state university to a first class institution in the top tier of universities in the world. By the way, I forgot how important the Tennessee connection was to Florida. Ray Graves played for Tennessee and after three years of playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, returned as a Vol coach for two years before returning to pro football. After a stint at Arkansas and Georgia Tech Ray Graves cam to Florida. Doug Dickey, on the other hand was a Florida QB who was a very successful coach at Tennessee before Ray Graves hired him away to replace him at Florida. After a decent career at Florida, Dickey return to be the AD at Tennessee where he retired. Jerry From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Arthur Polhill Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 5:35 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [gatortalk] Coach Spurrier Yes, others before SOS made some contributions, including Ray Graves and Dr. Robert Cade. A. Leon Polhill, Gator "I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know." - Mark Twain _____ From: mail.bobparks.com <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, July 25, 2011 1:41:49 PM Subject: Re: [gatortalk] Coach Spurrier Jerry's not saying Charlie was the greatest Gator. If Charlie hadn't been there before Steve and raised all that money and modernized the facilities, etc. Steve wouldn't have had near the success he had. Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks, LLC 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 615-972-4239 615-816-4040 Sent from my iPhone On Jul 25, 2011, at 11:43 AM, Arthur Polhill <[email protected]> wrote: Pell, the greatest Gator. I don't think so. A. Leon Polhill, Gator "I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know." - Mark Twain _____ From: Jerry Belloit <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, July 25, 2011 11:26:03 AM Subject: RE: [gatortalk] Coach Spurrier Leon, It is no doubt that SOS contributed mightily to our current age of athletic superiority. I would argue that for football it may have actually started with Charlie Pell for it was with him that the expectation of a winner became compelling for football. It was also Pell's team (Galen was the interim coach) that won the first SEC championship in 1984. (It was later stripped by the SEC Presidents.) Also, for those that thought the Pell was "evil" because of getting them on probation, I would remind them that what Charlie did back then was the same as Bear, Shug, and Dooley and was just the way things were done. Jerry From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Arthur Polhill Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 11:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [gatortalk] Coach Spurrier I would argue that Steve Spurrier launched UF into the age athletic superiority and of resultant SEC and National Championships. First, he made the football program exciting, innovative and highly successful. It was THE game to watch every weekend and it drew enormous fan support nationwide. Second, he supported every sports team on campus with his attendance and money flowing out of his football program. We would not now be known as 'title-town' had it not been for Spurrier. He is the greatest Gator of all time. A. Leon Polhill, Gator "I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know." - Mark Twain _____ From: mail.bobparks.com <http://mail.bobparks.com/> <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, July 23, 2011 11:17:45 PM Subject: Re: [gatortalk] Coach Spurrier That's what is so great about him. He was a student at Florida. He knows first hand who UF fans/almuni hate. He got us to within striking distance of evening the record with them. Even now, all they have is a quickly shrinking lead in the overall record. We own them. We can thank old Steve for that. Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks, LLC 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 615-972-4239 615-816-4040 Sent from my iPhone On Jul 23, 2011, at 9:45 PM, "Randy Lyons" <[email protected]> wrote: Gators. He DID mention his "distaste" for UGA and how he loved beating them so many years in a row, and several UGA fans seated near me growled. I was ready to hose 'em down if they started barking. J Great evening all in all, and one that I will always remember. Thanks again to my daughter, Heather, for making it possible. Heather, you rock! J Randy -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us/> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us/> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us/> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us/> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us <http://www.gatornet.us/> -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
