|
Goal Line Stand from Tigerland
|
The Goal Line Stand from Tigerland is the name of the final play in the 2016 meeting between the University of Florida Gators and LSU Tigers with the Gators winning 16-10, and more importantly is seen as the beginning of a true rivalry between the two schools. The name is a play on words from LSU's "Golden Band from Tigerland" and has come to be known for the entire game rather than just the last play. The game took place on November 19, 2016 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Background The game was originally to be played at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on October 8, 2016, but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew. The only date that seemed plausible for the make-up game to be played was November 19, with both schools playing "cupcake" teams; LSU against South Alabama and Florida against Presbyterian College. LSU athletic director Joe Alleva refused to buy out the school's contract with South Alabama and play Florida in Gainesville as originally scheduled, stating that "We are going to have a home game on November 19th." leading the Gators to originally refuse to play the game at all. This lead to accusations that they were "scared" to play LSU. Eventually after the SEC said that both Florida and LSU would have to play the eight in-conference games to have a chance to play in the SEC Championship, both schools agreed to play the game on November 19th in Baton Rouge, in exchange for Florida being able to host the 2017 matchup in Gainesville. The game The first half was a defensive struggle, with LSU leading 7-3. The Tigers drove the ball inside the Florida 5-yard line to start the second half but came away with zero points after a fumbled snap on a field goal attempt passed incomplete. The Gators took advantage of that LSU miscue by scoring a 98-yard touchdown pass from graduate quarterback Austin Appleby to freshman receiver Tyrie Cleveland down the sideline to take a 10-7 lead. After an exchange of punts, LSU scored a field goal to tie the game at 10. Florida then made a pair of field goals to take a 16-10 lead, the second field goal being set up by an LSU lost fumble on a kickoff return. After driving down the field with less than a minute left, LSU had first-and-goal at UF's 7-yard line with 50 seconds left. The Tigers picked up 6 yards on the first two plays, but nothing on their next two. Gators defensive back Marcell Harris and defensive lineman Jordan Sherit helped stop running back Derrius Guice at the goal line on the final play to set off a Gators' celebration. Florida head coach Jim McElwain became the first coach in conference history to lead his team to the SEC Championship Game in his first two seasons. Statistics Legacy Before this game, many fans of both sides did not see the other as a true "rival", with each having more historic in-conference rivalries, such as LSU vs. Alabama or Florida vs. Georgia . This game, however, would go on to spark hatrid betweeen the two schools as each now sees the other as a new, primary rival. Florida would go on to lose to the eventual National Runner-Up Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship and would later win the Outback Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes. LSU would beat the Louisville Cardinals in the Citrus Bowl. The following June, the Gators would go on to beat the Tigers in the 2017 College World Series for their first baseball national title.
|
|
|