Back in 1969 the Gators opened with a stunning 59 -34 upset of the high-powered Houston Cougars at Florida Field. This was the first game of the Super Sophs --- John Reaves, Carlos Alvarez, Andy Cheney etc. It was not thought that Florida was going to be very good that year. I had watched the Orange and Blue game in the Spring and I could see that John Reaves was going to be something special as a drop back quarterback.
There was such excitement after this game. The Gators next game was on the road in Jackson, Mississippi against Mississippi State. Way before the division of the SEC into Eastern and Western Divisions, Mississippi State was a regular opponent on our schedule. A radio broadcast for this game with giant speakers was held at Florida Field and fans were invited to attend to listen to the game.
Of course, there were no jumbotrons then. Otis Boggs, the Voice of the Gators, called the game. What they had was a couple of UF students on the field with a football and they acted out the game as it occurred. The students sort of hammed it up and they got a lot of laughs from the crowd. The final score was 47 - 35 in favor of the Gators. In those days the two scores of 59 and then 47 was unheard of in University of Florida and SEC football history.