LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The longest winning streak in any consecutive college football series isn't Ohio State over Indiana or Alabama over Pipsqueak U.
It's Florida over Kentucky.
The Gators started beating the Wildcats on Nov. 14, 1987 – and they haven't stopped or even slowed down. The numbers are aligned in a remarkable flow – 24-25-26. The Gators are 24-point favorites to stretch their winning streak against the Wildcats from 25 to 26 Saturday in Gainesville.
Who thinks we'll make it to 27? Me, too.
AccuScore.com says there is an 88.9 percent chance the streak grows. Dr.Bo.com puts the number closer to 99.9.
If the streak ends, I'll write 101 Reasons Beating Florida was the greatest win in Joker Phillips' career.
If the streak continues, I'll amend this list. Until then, here are 25 Reasons Florida Over Kentucky is the Longest Consecutive Winning Streak in College Football.
1-through-6. Steve Spurrier. I'm sure Spurrier would prefer being 1-through-24, but we run a reasonable operation here. Nothing put a brighter smirk on the Ol' Ball Coach's face than beating Kentucky, especially when Bill Curry worked the opposite sideline. It wasn't long until everybody in Florida snickered along. Spurrier took the streak from three games to 15. Spurrier even convinced Kentucky fans that Kentucky can't win.
Hal Mumme thought all his ideas were brilliant, but none more than trying on-side kicks after UK touchdowns. Florida won, 55-28. After the game, Spurrier sniffed, "If Hal's defense doesn't get any better, he'll have to start kicking those every time."
Spurrier went 12-0 against UK, starting with a 47-15 smackdown in 1990. Not good enough for Spurrier, who proceeded to later level Kentucky 73-7 and 65-0. Message delivered. Mindset entrenched. Streak established.
7. Kerwin Bell. Forget Tim Tebow, Rex Grossman, Shane Matthews or other Gators' quarterbacks who have throttled the Wildcats. Kerwin rang Kentucky's bell when the fun began 25 years ago. He burned UK for two touchdowns passes in the 1987 streak starter. He also threw for 160 yards -- when 160 yards was a big deal.
8. Emmitt Smith. Bell couldn't do it alone. In fact, he couldn't do it without Smith. What's the best way to measure how many generations have been touched by this streak? Emmitt Smith retired from the NFL after the 2004 season. Smith was a Gators' freshman, who ran for 112 yards, when the streak started in 1987.
9. Matt Roark. This series didn't jump to the head of the class until last November when Kentucky toppled Tennessee with Roark making a guest appearance at quarterback. Maybe Joker Phillips should dust off the wide receiver running the option Saturday.
10. The SEC League Office. This game used to be played in November. Then the Wildcats could root for frost – or frost-bite for the Sunshine Boys. Three of UK's last four series wins came when the Gators were forced to reach for their long-sleeve shirts and play in Lexington in November. Playing Florida in September? No chance.
11. Temple. Technically, UK's 25-game losing streak to Florida isn't the longest in college football. The Owls have lost 29 straight to Penn State. But the guys at Temple aren't dummies. They haven't scheduled Penn State every season.
12-16. Speed. The Gators have it. The Wildcats don't. It's like watching the Jamaican 4 x 100 relay team race four lawn bowlers. You don't beat somebody 25 straight because you have superior coaching. The Gators' coach when this streak started wasn't Nick Saban. It was Galen Hall.
17. Boston. I'm talking about the musical group, not the city that is home to Bobby Valentine's dysfunctional baseball team. Boston sat Number One on the Billboard chart with "Amanda," on Nov. 15, 1986, the last time the Wildcats beat the Gators.
The following week, The Human League pushed "Amanda' from the top spot. Don't look back, but neither Boston nor UK football has recovered.
18. Chris Doering. Here he comes. Slicing across the middle of Commonwealth Stadium on a post pattern. Somebody cover him! He's wide open! What's going on? Wuerffel throws. The UK safety fails to rotate. Touchdown, Doering. Touchdown, Gators. With eight seconds to play. Florida 24, Kentucky 20 in 1993. The beat (down) goes on.
19. Speed. Did I mention that Florida has better players? Well, they do. The average margin during the 25 victories is 25.1 points. It's grown to 41 points the last four seasons – and two of those UK teams were coached by Rich Brooks.
20. Tim Tebow. I believe Tebow had a four-touchdown game once against the Wildcats. He was also knocked out of one game. But that's not why Tebow is on this list. You can't make a list about Florida football without including Tim Tebow. In fact, you can't even talk about football without mentioning Tim Tebow. I apologize for not placing him higher.
21. UK Basketball. People say Kentucky can't beat Florida because UK is a basketball school and Florida is a football school. That's crazy because Florida has beaten Kentucky in basketball a time or two in 25 years. But that's what people say. I've heard them.
22. Mississippi State. You'd think the Bulldogs would have a longer losing streak against Alabama. Wrong. They've actually won two of their last six against the Crimson Tide.
23. Vanderbilt. You'd think the Commodores would have more trouble than UK running step for step with Florida. Wrong. Vandy's current losing streak against the Gators is only 21 – and one defeat required overtime.
24. Indiana. You'd think the Hoosiers would be chasing the record because of their futility against Ohio State. Wrong. Indiana beat the Buckeyes in back-to-back seasons in 1987 and 1988. There are photographs.
25. Jerry Claiborne (the first three), Bill Curry (0-7), Hal Mumme (0-4), Guy Morriss (0-2), Rich Brooks (0-7). Joker Phillips (0-2). Football is the ultimate team game. It has taken a village to build a 25-game losing streak to the Gators.
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Florida has beaten Kentucky 25 in a row, the longest streak in college football for a series played every year.
