University of Tennessee Athletics
Gators Defeat Vols In Last Minute
September 16, 2000 | Football
- TotalCast Stats
- Photo Gallery
- Final Game Stat Book (.pdf file)
- Game Stats
- Tennessee Postgame Notes
- Postgame Quotes
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jesse Palmer came through in the end for the Florida Gators.
Palmer threw a questionable 3-yard touchdown pass to Jabar Gaffney with 14 seconds remaining and No. 6 Florida rallied for an unlikely 27-23 victory over No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday.
 |
| Travis Henry rushed for 175 yards on a career-high 37 carries against Florida. |
With a Neyland Stadium record crowd of 108,768 cheering on the Vols, Tennessee was unable to avoid defeat despite clearly outplaying the Gators.
In losing for the first time at home in 23 games, the Vols lost on a play that will debated for a long time.
On a first-and-goal from the Tennessee 3, Palmer threw a quick strike to Gaffney just over the goal line. Gaffney had the ball for an instant and then dropped it as he was surrounded by two defenders. But line judge Al Matthews ruled it a catch after conferring with referee Al Ford.
Florida (3-0), which has beaten Tennessee (1-1) in seven of their last eight meetings, marched 91 yards on 10 plays for the winning score. Palmer hit Gaffney for 33 yards to the Gators' 38, and found Reche Caldwell for 21 yards to the Vols' 5 to set up the winning score.
When the game ended, the crowd booed the officials as the Gators celebrated on the field.
Trailing 23-17 after Alex Walls kicked a school-record tying fifth goal - a 42-yarder early in the fourth quarter - the Gators closed to 23-20 on Jeff Chandler's 32-yard field goal with 7:35 left.
