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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Ex Jacket Pratt Shines On An All Gator Evening, October 2, 1978

( AP )
University of Florida head football coach Doug Dickey and starting quarterback Chan Gailey.
"I'm not smirking about anything. We've got a lot of tough games to play" -Doug Dickey

For Real
Stan McNeal
Leesburg Commercial
October 2, 1978

Fran Tarkenton may not have known it, but as he was dissecting the Tampa Bay Bucs defense Sunday afternoon, he was also preventing history.

If Tampa Bay had been victorious Sunday, besides all the team records it would have broken, it would also have marked the first time ever that the Bucs and the Florida Gators won games the same weekend.

Of course, as the Bucs were losing their first 26 games, it didn't really matter what the Gators were doing. The first weekend that it would have been possible for both to win was two weeks ago when the Bucs beat the Vikings. However the Gators had lost to Southern Methodist the night before.




Doug Dickey's squad was behind 28-3 at the half of that contest. Since then, the Gators have allowed but seven points while running up 55 on their side of the scoreboard.

Saturday night's 33-0 rout of Mississippi State was called by Dickey and defensive coordinator Doug Knotts as one of the best defensive efforts ever turned in by a Gator squad.

Leesburg's Bubba Pratt played as big a part as any in the romp. The junior linebacker saw a lot of playing time as he put in about half the time the Gator defense was on the field.

And he made good use of it.

Bubba was in on a couple of quarterback sacks, on one he was credited with throwing quarterback Dave Marier for a seven-yard loss. He also recovered an MSU fumble on a kickoff following a Gator score.

His performance made him one of two Gator defenders singled out by Dickey, in a game where Dickey said it was hard to single anyone out because everyone played so good.

The same could be said about the offense. After turning the ball over three times in the first 20 minutes, the Gator offense came up with three touchdowns.

The passing of starting quarterback John Brantley, mainly to sophomore wide receiver Chris Collingsworth, was the most effective way the Gators ate up yardage against the previously undefeated Bulldogs, Collingsworth hauled in five passes for 166 yards and scored one touchdown a, 63 yarder, on the night.

Wide Receiver Chris Collingsworth
"When Brantley hit Collingsworth a few times, that was one of the turning points in the first half," Dickey said after the game.

About his QB Dickey remarked, "John went and did what we thought he was capable of doing."

Collingsworth, a quarterback until last spring, has had no problem making the switch to wide receiver. The Titusville native said he is starting to feel real comfortable on the other side of the passing game.

"I felt pretty good after catching the first one. Catching the first one is like completing the first one if you're playing quarterback. "Collingworth explained.

"After the first game I felt pretty good. At least I didn't drop anything you always have visions of dropping one," he added.


Coach Doug Dickey with John Brantley
The Gators had nothing but good things to say after the Mississippi State win, Brantley gave credit to the coaches for "doing a fantastic job of play calling," Collingsworth said the two week layoff was a big help.

"Everyone was young and green at SMU game." Half the team had never played in a varsity game and the other half had never suited up for a varsity game," he related.

While the win was a big one for the players, perhaps it was even bigger for Dickey. Maybe it even preserved his job for a while, or at least, it will take some of the pressure off.


Dickey was obviously elated with the win, saying it made him "proud of Gator football." But he knows one game doesn't make a season.


"I'm not smirking about anything. We've got a lot of tough games to play"


Listen live on my790am or www.my790am.com Saturday February 25, 2012.


Former Leesburg High School and Florida Gators Football standout Bubba Pratt will make his first appearance on The Lake County Sports Show February 25, 2012.

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Resources
Stan McNeal
Leesburg Commercial
October 2, 1978

Leesburg Public Library
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Leesburg, Florida 34748
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Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
















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