the indepen -florida

No i off icoIIy ossoco led with the Published by Campus Communications, Inc, Gainesville, Fla Volume 77 No- 237 Sund ay, November 18, 1984 SEC CHAM PS Gators grab first title, squeak by Kentucky 25-17

By CARL LISCIANDRELLO Alligator Staff viter

LEXIN(GTON K- The (ait iso\r. It's been 51 ar ut finally, tie ory that has eluded the Florid G ator since the was formed inialt i iicomnic Gainesville.to UF wo ai hard-fought .i-(tors Saturdas tatainst Kentuck: tlhe ator plays r found themselves I an unfamiliar positit"4 With their wi adl I toisianState's 16-14 loss to Mississippi Statc, thecv are "'FThe" Champion:-. y1r I t ( I a 1 the victor, ,,wt as all tiat mutch sweCter wIhen I President Marsliall (,riser iamedII in Ierti teatdi ' aIet IHall the peritanent football coach iurilt alt eti ,ltiit-filled locker roorn metintt after the lant . In Gainiesvill1 mi ts after the game's finish, hundred, it fans took to th streets in spontaneous demonstrat ions that continued into the nikht.

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tt 1atort senior noseguardT Timi Newtoii, said after Ith ent -Thi i. somiethit s ts sw.aited four sear I I ttist protil of the teamt and the watx hey

I leelih1tliromn it. It's like a high. . 1 can say, 'Hey, scOTT SARGENT/ALLIGATOR you knos I wattne of the guys who won the first SEC UF President embraces new head football coach at a post-game pep championship for the University of Florida,' " Newton rally Saturday night. said. Galent Hall was ettitally excited. 'Thisteaitlas shttsit it is a great one all season," said Cruiser makes expected announcement, Hall, who officially became the Gators' following the contest. "This game did nothing to change ouir tipiniton ahboutt that. We worked hard all year and deserved theclianpinship. The championship is names Hall as new Gator head coach decided on the field. I know that, you know that. We're because of the way the guy was handling himself. The the champions of the SEC." By TIM LUBINSKY Alligator Staff Writer guy's got class, leadership ability, and the team enjoyed That honor, however, did not come without a few playing football for him." scares from a Kentucky team that came dangerously close LEXINGTON, Ky. - It's official. Hall has all along that-the decision process yet another af5tended to sending the Gators back to Gainesville for Galen Hall was named the Gators' head football coach has not affected his coaching or the team's play. And without a title. season following UF's victory against Kentucky and was signed Saturday he slipped into his new position showing no Withthe Gators leading 25-17 late in the fourth to a four-year contract. more emotion than usual. quarter, Kentucky Bill Ransdell, who UF President Marshall Criser made the announcement "It's been a great honor for me to. be put in this completed 18 of 35 passes for 8,9 yards, led the Wildcats to the Gator team in the UF locker room immediately situation," Hall said. "We said at the beginning of the on a drive that toQk them all the way down to the Gator after the game and repeated it to a nationwide television year that we would play them one. game at a time, and 23-yard line, audience moments later. fortunately it came down to this game and we're con- Following a three-yard run by Ransdell and a.personal "I thought I'd give them-,a little news today about the ference champions." foul against Newton, the Wildcats had a first down at the future to announce that Galen Hall is the permanent Criser said details of Hall's hiring were ironed out 10-yard line. Gator head coach at the University of Florida," Criser said as Friday night and that a deal was made at 8 a.m. apparently struck the Gators when Ransdell Disaster .the locker room erupted in cheers. Saturday. According to a highly placed source, Hall found wide receiver Joe Phillips in rolled to his left and Hall was named interim head coach of the Gators Sept. signed a four-year contract worth $200,000 a year. the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown. 18 following the dismissal of and since then Criser, however, would not confirm any salary figures or But the Wildcats were nabbed for an illegal procedure UF has won seven consecutive games - including back- say if UF originally was offering Hall a two-year con- penalty that nullified the score. And on the next play, to-back wins against Auburn and Georgia for only the tract. Gator strong safety Adrian White picked off a Ransdell fourth time in the history of Gator football. While some uncertainties still remain in regard to pass to seal UF's initial SEC crown, After UF clinched the Southeastern Conference Hall's contract, the Gator players are more concerned "It was a heck of a football game," Hall said. "We had championship with its 25-17 victory against the Wild- with continuing their winning ways with Hall at the them, but we almost let them off the hook. I didn't think cats, Criser found the proper stage for the an- helm. they would score on us late in the game, but if they had nouncemient. "He earned our respect," said UF placekicker 8oWy "It wasn't just because we were winning," Criser said Raymond:"It wasn't something that just casr abuit. e about his decision to finally name Hill head coach, "but definitely e&hedJit." No chill to Bobby Raymond; kicks tie his NCAA record ByTIM LUBINSKY was a team effort." Alligator Staff Writer As Raymond lined up for a 30-yard field goal attempt on the game's opening drive, LEXINGTON,Kv. - Gator the crowd cheered the Kentucky defense placekicker Bobby Raymond leisurely that had held UF tin three downs inside trotted onto the brown grass at Com- the Wildcat 15-yard line. monwealth Stadium. He shivered. Raymond booted the ball through the uprights, and The 35-degree Kentucky welcome sunk the Gators led by three. into his body. The 9 mph bluegrass winds The same scene continued throughout were perfect for flying kites - and the afternoon. Kentucky's defense held, kicking footballs. the crowd cheered and Raymond kicked a And Raymond managed to kick well 38-yard field goal. Kentucky's defense enough to tie his own NCAA record and held, the crowd cheered and Raymond chalk up 19 of the Gators' 25 points in kicked a 27-yard field goal. Kentucky's their historic victory over the Kentucky defense held, the crowd cheered and Wildcats. Raymond kicked a 30-yard field goal. "I went out there and warmed up well, "We came in at halftime with four field it really boosted my confidence," he said. goals and said 'let's get the ball in the end Raymond confidently jogged onto the zone,' " Raymond said. Kentucky turf and converted on the six The Gators did manage to get the ball field goals to tie the school record he set in to the end zone in the second half, but last year against Florida State. ayniond was called on two other times "Fantastic. Whatever it takes to win, - froit.36 yards out and from43 yards. Bobby," UF Bill Carr Ravnond scored the first three points told Raymond in the locker room. and the last three points of the game, but Raviond smiled and acknowledged he still talked about the teant effort. Carr, and then continued a thotgtt to a "I think more people will be talking group of reporters. about the 1984 Florida team that stuck "I don't want to say I had the spotlight through mort adversity than anything the to myself todav,' Ravtmottd reasoned. "It world could throw at it." he said. Fans brave chifyconditions- to boost title-clinching Gators By SAM DOLSON the real Alligator Staff Writer Mr. Two-Bits, who actually is a travel agent. Also in attendance LEXINGTON, Kv. - "Because we're a were the Thomason brothers, Gator" was the summary answer to why Mark and Bryan. Among the boisterous ttf anyone would trek 710 iiles and forsake itore the Gator goup, both FlOrida's balmy weather for a football also saw the game as one they just did not game here. want to miss. And Tuesday's upcoming And when the clock on the (Citit- decision by the SEC, which. technically, ionwealth Staditim scoreboard zeroed could strip the Gators of their title, had no out Saturday, the dav-long 30 degree bearing tit their decision to make the tenperatures did not set'tto rot ttuch journey. victory heat frot the :3.1000 ator fans Both wcr quiti plain about what the present. conference and the NCAA could do with Crammed into the southeast corner of all of the UF penalties. the stadiumt, the inni-crowd kept the If there was one common tone in every cheering at a high titch for mtost of the fan's comments though'he Thomasons game. Since the Gators were playing for hit it on the head. Every Gator in at- their first-ever SEC Championship, the tendance agreed - despite what mayx Ray Criswell congratulates Bobby Raymond after one of his diminutive Gator following often out- happen iff the field in the b>n.ming days. six field goals of the day. yelled the home crowd. - Just as Tracey Ziegler, a third-year Leading the charge for the UF con- liberal arts and science najor said: "No The following Alligator personnel Erik Lesser, tingent was Tom Liebmann, Carl senior Ted Swinarski, who matter what the SEC says, everyone here contributed to- this special SEC victory Lisciandrello, took the role of Subsitute Mr. Two-Bits. knows what happened.We Brad Liston, Tim won it on the report: Michelle Anderson, Juan An- Lubinsky, "Sonebody's Logan Mabe, Andy Manis, got to do it," reasoned field. drade, Gretchen Ault, Scott Baker, Mark Swinarski, Stephen Morton,' Marlon Manuel, David who along wvith many of the Or Karen Langston, a third-year liberal Bridgwater, Lori Campbell, Patty Curtin, Gator fans Poller, Gail Rayos, Lucas Rebston, Jorge flew to Lexington on a arts and science major: "We know we Debbie Dlott, Ellis Diaz, Sam Dolson, chartered plane. Rojas, Paul Rosenstein, Scott Sargent, "The lawyer is not here, won it, so the SEC can't just take it away. Tom Farrey, Jody Grenert, Sandy so I figured David Scruggs, Diane Sears, Shirley I would take tip the slack." They can take the title, but they can't Hardgrove, Robin Ingle, Michael Sowa, Wendy Thornton, Alan Tucker, Swinarski's reference to "the lawyer" touch the win. What the conference Koretzky, Ron Kozlowski, Kim Kulish, Michelle Turner, Vicky Vallev, was directed toward eetorge Ldmunson, decides is going to be pretty irrelevant. Kyle Kulish, Norma Greg Lamm, Scott LaPoint, Wagner and Michael Wilson. -' -

High-handed behavior

Gator fans gather at University Avenue and 18th Street Saturday after, the Gators clinched the con- ference title.

NiDY MANIS/ALLIGATOR Game 14 romp against FSU. from page one Kewdy .t.S 7 7 -17 "We want to get six points every time we can," said, . 9 7 6- Raymond, who has now connected on 31 of 32 career UP-May m 30FG.3$0 scored and 51-Wor*vsiFG,33 made the two-point conversion for a tie, we field goal attempts. "But we're a relaxed team. We would have gone don't into a two-minute offense. We would get too worried about It. I knew our defense could hold have tried to get into IM -UJoedIp p o a" 4k4k 1 a position for a winning field gal." them." W-in Plmf,., t tP94 wpo Although the )-o , Cators could *ive the ball into the end At times, that was something the Cator defense had zone just once - IW-40.pmal .w.," Ot on a to Frankie Neal quite a bit of trouble doing. UWVd10 ~3MO&a touAhown Despite holding George 411mefh (W wiqy kif 2-17 pam from nine yards out that put the Gators Adams, the SEC's third-leading rusher, to only 4 yards, 0-11m, d4sr51'7. ahead 19-10 in the third quarter - they had no such the Wildcats'fest of receivers providedeonstantp IeSI 3W No $4 fdswm 1430 J. L, WoI&INX samse"P, Mcf. .;k-i problem In thefield goal department. and Continuamy ce up with timely plays that p w I. lase-ier Debby aynond helped offet Urs Kentekayin c nto. hapt lneb tosin_0ty imadedmby boatlagala field pals -- "Wee"sldnevergdthuld Vne,"laWlsad.,"We *%im 1u.*A wa. 4Ispm 30.*S-vmx30 to5 '0 elreedh.ula-el atUs'St ha aaauusam Criser, players join fans in emotion-filled rally By PATTY CURTIN Alligator Staff Writer Chants of "Galen, dalen, Galen" were heard more for Gainesville Mayor-Commissioner Jean Chalmers to often than cries of "SEC, SEC, SEC." proclaim next week "University of Florida Gator The ator football team and coaches and UFs "Do youwant Galen?" Criser yelled to the crowd. Football Week." presid and 22,000 fans belted out an emotion-packed Cheers were-the only response. "I figure if I can't do that as mayor, what's the use of version of Queen's "We are the Champions" at Florida "Do you want Galen?" he repeated. being mayor," she said, describing the day, the win and Field Saturday night. Again, cheers,-getting louder and louder. the fans as fabulous. "Noone will ever take that away from the Gator fans," Finally, "Well you got Galen."- And the Gators, confident of a Sugar Bowl berth, UF President Marshall Criser told the crowd. "We are The crowd went wild as Hall -L who Criser announced threw bags of sugar, tied with orange ribbonjinto the the champions of the SEC." Saturday after the Kentucky win as the new Gator head crowd. Gator linebacker Alonizo Johnson said the win over football coach - walked up to the microphone. But with the losses of LSU, South Carolina to Navy Kentucky was unbelievable. But the new coaching legend turned everything over to and Nebraska to Oklahoma, the Orange Bowl and the "I can't believe it," he said. "It's like I'm in a dream the players, who were met by - of course - more national championship might replace and overshadow really." cheers. hopes of the Sugar Bowl. A dream is what the elusive Southeastern Conference Gator cornerback Ricky Easmon joked that the "Right now we're conference champs," Gator tackle title has been for the past 51 years - an exuberant game against Kentucky was purposely close. dream. said. "Now all we should concentrate on is "We planned on making the game close to scare you a the NCAA championship." "We know and the fans know that we're No. Gator 1," little bit," he said. "There was no way we were going to UF Athletic Director Bill Carr agreed about the noseguard said. let Kentucky take away what it took allyear to achieve." The national championship. day seemed charmed. Everything went right for That victory, wljich clinched the title and was the the Gators "I think it's within our grasp," he said. "It was meant and new head football coach Galen Hall. Gators' eighth cons cutive win this season, was enough to be." Hysteria,' torched bulldogs mark Bandshell victory bash

By LORI CAMPBELL and NORMA WAGNER But it seems like people are slowly getting Alligator Staff Writers it together." Chris Smith, a junior Gator tennis Victory rocked the UF Bandshell player who calls himself "Smurf," pointed Saturday night with hundreds of manic to the bonfire, shook his head and said, fans slapping high-fives left and right. "I'm so happy, I could climb tip there and For the first time ever, the 1984 SEC light a match and not even feel it." hapinhisr . h. m---.ihnstulffed- bulldog perched on a 12-foot-high bonfire down," junior Jeff Myrthil said, ex- was torched. plaining why he and his buddies were As though it weren't enough, the band, standing quietly with their arms crossed. The Instigatorsannounced LSU had just "It hasn't sunk in that we won the SEC lost to Mississippi State 16 to 14, the final - when we go to the Orange Bowl or the blow that pushed fans to euphoria. Sugar Bowl then it'll sink in," said senior George Ponczek, a senior, summed up Robert Evans, Myrthil's friend. his excitement: "I don't care if I ever Crediting the win to UF's new head graduate! Long live the Gators." football coach Galen Holl, Scott Brown, a UF cheerleader, Robert Falcone, junior, said, "I think it was a victory for swinging his megaphone around, said, Hall. We now have a coach who knows "There's gonna be a big party everywhere, the true meaning of football, and he did it forever, in Gator Country!" fair." Rick Pribell, a senior, walked around Be forewarned, said senior Kenny the Bandshell with a Michelob Light Keaton, "Everybody in Gainesville- gets container over his head like a crown. arrested tonight. It's the best thing that's "Michelob Light is for the winners," ever happened to this town." Pribell said, "That's why we're drinking "But UF police officer Erick Moore three cases of it today." said, "We're not going to have much At Iast, THE year "The more the NCAA takes away the trouble. I think 10 years ago, students One of the many fans who crowded University Sugar Bowl bid, the more they help us go would have been much rowdier. It's Avenue and 13th Street displays the good news. to the Orange Bowl," said Pribell's friend reflected by the political poll of Reagan Brian Rose, a junior. "We'll go to either supporters. Students are a lot more one, whichever one we're invited to." conservative than they used to be. I know. Charlie Rathkopf, also hopes Florida I went to UF 10 years ago." Frenzied fans cause few problems will be exempt from the Sugar Bowl. "I Timur Momol, a graduate student, sat By MARK BRIDGWATER minor infractions such as running and hope they deny our eligibility, so we can on the sparse grass with his wife and Alligator Staff Writer. screaming through intersections and go to the Orange Bowl and become. young daughter viewing the scene. "I'm jumping on cars at red lights. National Champs!" he screamed, from another country - Turkey - and in Area police, prepared for the night's "We've been partying with the people," throwing his fist into the air. general, when the Americans party, they frenzied festivities, reported a relatively Mann said. Kicking stuffed bulldogs around the yell more. In Turkey they dance more. In few problems after the Gators' SEC Gainesville police Lt. Paul Dunbar Bandshell field, two graduate students, said Turkey, at a celebration they go more victory. as of 7 p.m. there had been few problems, Steve Wallace and Jan Stacholy, said, wild than this. At a soccer championship UF police Captain Russell Lambert although he said police made a normal "We came here because we got tired of at a university the celebration lasts two to reported a crowd in excess of 1,000 at the amount of arrests for a weekend night. dragging these Dawgs behind the car. three days." Bandshell bonfire. Lambert said UF One group of exuberant fans started a We've been waiting a long time for the Art Sandeen, student affairs vice- police niade two arrests, one for disor- bonfire during a post-game party championship at and it's about damn time," president, stood in the midst of swarming derly intoxication and another for op- Landmark Apartments, SW Stacholy said. 1111 16th students - hugging each other, waving posing a police office. I Ave. Dennis Manelli and his wife Leslie have confederate flags and victory scores over Alachua County sheriff's spokesman The fire was fueled with the Landmark lived in Gainesville for six years and said Kentucky through the bonfire-lit night. Spencer Mann reported a crowd in excess Apartments sign, a cardboard box and a of UF's historic victory, "This is the first Before Sandeen left for a rally at of 22,000 attending the Florida Field post- Gainesville Sun newspaper box. time we've ever won a championship, so I Florida Field, he yelled, "I love it! Just game pep rally. Gainesville firefighters extinguished the don't know if everyone knows what to do. wait till we get over to the stadium!" He said deputies were lenient toward blaze. Crazed fans run streets, celebrate with car horns, high-fives A symphony of car horns, orchestrated by wild Gator crossing University Avenue. Affairs Dean James Scott's ironic comment, as horns fans cruising University Avenue and 13th Street, was Not long after that, a blue-and-white jeep turned the continued to sound and the.din of the crowd persisted. choreorgraphed by wild Gator fans running back and corner as its passengers brought their champagne bottles "We're not going to leave until everybody calms down, forth, high-fiving and cheering, only minutes after THE to their lips and raised them triumphantly into the air. until it's safe," Roberts said. "Everything's been kind of game. The victory traffic would out of control here," he said. "But generally they're all The not have been complete corner of University and 13th was the site of a without that famous red firetruck from the Pi Kappa cooperating." There had been no arrests or injuries by friendly frenzy - unlike the riots on the same spot more Alpha fraternity house. Its clanging bell augmented the late in the afternoon, he said. than a decade ago to protest American involvement in continuous honking of car horns, which lasted late into ManyqfjjtjWelebrants poured into the streets from Vietnam. the evening. area bars. At the Purple The orderly but crazed crowd yelled the Orange and The Pikes' fire engine was joined by many Porpoise and the Orange and Brew, they unusual gulped their beer nervously for 31/t quarters. Blue cheer across streets at each other. At each turn of the vehicles full of enthusiastic fans. Like the 1960s vintage For the last traffic light the crowds rushed to trade places, running 30 seconds before going out to the street, they toasted the blue Galaxy 500, with "Cator Cruiser" painted on the victory. and meeting in the middle of the street in a fluwy of more. side in orange. That car, like many others, was over- "Hey, I knew we were cheers and chants. flowingwith fans -who going to win," sophomore Bill high-fived each other on the Pelletier screamed above the post-game "We sidewalks asthey din. "It wps finally did It," said UF student Brad Dumas of snaked along thestreets. never in-doubt. It's 1984, and it's theYear Miami wearing of the Cator." a gorilla mask. "This Is great. It's the Local poiioe and UF offlcals planned all week for the TheUF and Santa the Cator " Fe crowds saved their loudest shrills Year of expectedoelebration. The Gainesville PolIWe Department for Calen Hall's appointment as the permanent head William Nanos, senior Cator walk-on receiver, was canald all vecatos and crowded about 35 offIcers football ouch. among the celebrants. Because of travel lImItations he onto Univeralty Avenue and 13th Streat, which offer It was the only thing to do," Santa Fe Community wavnItpeplestthesyngtoashaldh could uoP to Saturdaya game against the Kentucky Laity Roberta elled"the Amost.volatile part of town." Ssopbpnjoe Jemon Upright said. "le's the best WAdcats. thk*rpbox,,don.n -Oatsw w IweBlinto the N h heeS niAf.l." We al partcipsted in the wIn, that's.al that mat- , tteOaagp and Esew, loe-struck e as -boweE t w ed," wa Y Stedeat- DEbIO NUM

CGat rs take to the streets

Clockwise: UF student John Poage celebrates atop the traffic sign at 13th Street and University Avenue; jubilant fans at Florida Field welcome back the team from Kentucky; Gator fans toast the UF victory with Bandshell bonfire; fans hit the streets of Gainesville to cheer the winning team.

PHOTOS BY: DEBBIE DLOTT, DAVID POLLER AND MICHAEL WILSON

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