Carter's Corner: Gators-Utes Rematch 45 Years Later - Florida Gators

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A couple of quick thoughts after first glance at the Gators' 2022 schedule, released Tuesday night on the SEC Network.

First, get to "The Swamp" early next season, because after the Oct. 15 home game against SEC West-rival LSU, only a Nov. 12 date against South Carolina will be played in the friendly confines of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Second, the Eastern Washington game that was finalized in 2016 and scheduled for 2020 — but nixed because of the conference-only schedule during the coronavirus pandemic — is finally going to happen on Oct. 1.

And third, the Utes are coming, the Utes are coming. As you can probably tell, we don't get to type Utes around here very often.

The Gators hosted Utah in 1977 in the only game between the schools. (Photo: Courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel via Newspapers.com)

While USF is set to make its first trip to Gainesville in 12 years on Sept. 17, and the Gators visit Texas A&M for only the third time in school history on Nov. 5, the off-the-beaten-path season opener against Utah instantly drew my attention. It's the first game in a home-and-home series against Utah that the Gators announced in September 2019. The Gators will visit Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City in 2023.

The Gators and Utes have met once before, but it's been a while. In fact, Gators head coach Dan Mullen was 5 at the time.

In Florida's Homecoming Game of 1977 — played Nov. 19 in front of 56,055 at Florida Field — the Gators survived a rash of injuries and a scare from the Utes for a 37-29 victory. The day started out well for the Gators when quarterback Terry LeCount, on the third play of the game, scampered 74 yards for a touchdown. By the end of the game, LeCount was on the bench with a broken nose and a concussion.

Meanwhile, star linebacker Scot Brantley suffered a season-ending left knee injury that required a trip to the hospital for surgery later that night, and standout lineman Scott Hutchinson was sidelined by the flu.

Add it all up, and the Utes owned a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter to stun the Homecoming crowd. With John Brantley in at quarterback in place of LeCount, the Gators rallied behind the running of Wes Chandler and Willie Wilder and an 11-yard scoring pass from Brantley to Derrick Gaffney for the comeback victory.

Chandler led the way with 132 yards rushing, including a 31-yard score that gave the Gators a 24-20 lead. Chandler had a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown earlier in the game negated due to a penalty.

John Brantley, disturbed by the serious knee injury suffered by his brother, picked up the team at halftime.

"We were pretty down at the half,'' Brantley told the St. Petersburg Times. "But I mentioned to the team that they're going to be cuttin' on Scot that night and that I was gonna dedicate myself to winning this game for him."

John Brantley and his teammates delivered and Scot Brantley returned from his knee injury to make the All-SEC First Team in 1978.
 

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Carter's Corner: Gators-Utes Rematch 45 Years Later - Florida Gators
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