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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shotgun Start Key To Victory Against Fsu

Associated Press

The shotgun was the solution.

Famed for his fancy, new formations, Florida coach Steve Spurrier turned to an old favorite Thursday night: He put quarterback Danny Wuerffel in immediate position to pass, and that gave the Heisman Trophy winner all he needed.

Wuerffel, with an extra split-second to survey the field and avoid the rush by topranked Florida State, picked out open receivers with ease, leading the No. 3 Gators to a 52-20 win in the Sugar Bowl that will bring them their first national championship.

Spurrier knew he needed to do something after Wuerffel was pounded by All-American defensive ends Peter Boulware and Reinard Wilson and the rest of the Seminoles in a 24-21 loss at Tallahassee on Nov. 30.

Complaining about the pass rush was not the answer, although Spurrier tried that throughout bowl week. Instead, he solved the problem with the shotgun, which the Gators used sparingly this season.

Florida began the game in the shotgun, and used it on all nine plays during a 77-yard drive that Wuerffel capped with the first of his three touchdown passes to Ike Hilliard.

Wuerffel, at times looking like a baseball third-base coach as he used hand signals to set up the blocking schemes, stayed in the shotgun throughout the first half. The result was just enough time to throw and there were just a couple of meaningless sacks.

The Seminoles were called for one late-hit penalty, and Wuerffel was shaken up once when he was sandwiched between Boulware and Wilson. Wuerffel came out for the second half with his left arm bandaged up, but his right arm - and Spurrier’s decision to go to the shotgun - were exactly what the Gators needed.