The 1952 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida during the 1952 college football season. The season was Bob Woodruff's third and most successful as the head coach of the Florida Gators football team. Woodruff's 1952 Florida Gators finished with an overall record of 8âÂÂ3 and a Southeastern Conference (SEC) record of 3âÂÂ3, placing sixth among twelve SEC teams.
After Sullivan's early departure for the Boston Red Sox left the Gators without a starting quarterback, Doug Dickey advanced from seventh on the Gators' depth chart to starter. The Gators were led by fullback Rick Casares, halfback J. "Pappa" Hall, alternating quarterbacks Doug Dickey and Fred Robinson, and lineman Charlie LaPradd, the Gators' lightest tackle and one of their two captains. Also in the backfield was Buford Long.
The season opened with a 33âÂÂ6 defeat of the .
The national champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets beat Florida on a last-second field goal, 14âÂÂ17.
The Citadel lost to Florida 33âÂÂ0.
Florida blew out the Clemson Tigers 54âÂÂ13.
On a cold Dudley Field, Florida lost to Vanderbilt 20âÂÂ13.
The Gators dominated rival Georgia 33âÂÂ0 in Jacksonville, remaining the Gators' largest victory over the Bulldogs for almost forty years. Casares ran for 108 yards, kicked a field goal, and made all the extra points. Even National champion Georgia Tech needed a last-second field goal to defeat the Gators.
The defeat of Georgia was followed by another conference victory, 31âÂÂ21 over Auburn Tigers.
The Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Gators 12âÂÂ26.
The Gators had another blowout of the in-state rival Miami Hurricanes 43âÂÂ6.
Florida defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 27âÂÂ0.
The season ended with the Gators' first appearance in an NCAA-sanctioned bowl game, a closely matched 14âÂÂ13 Gator Bowl victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on January 1, 1953, in which star fullback Rick Casares kicked the winning extra points for the margin of victory.
LaPradd was All-American.