Tuesday, November 25, 2025 | Football, Chris Harry
Share:
By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Noah Brindise got the honorary "Mr. Two Bits" call late last week and his initial reaction was one of excitement.
But then he had time to think about it.
"You kind of become a nervous wreck," Brindise said. "I haven't been down on the field with the pressure to perform in a long time."
Maybe not, but his last time down there went pretty well. Anyone remember? Brindise's last home game in a Florida uniform came Nov. 22, 1997, against No. 1 and unbeaten Florida State. Any Gator fan that doesn't know what happened that day was either born this month or has been locked in a closet the last 28 years.
UF coach Steve Spurrier, frustrated with the play of his offense (specifically, its inability to complete a forward pass), opted to go completely off the rails against the Seminoles by alternating sophomore Doug Johnson and Brindise, the fifth-year walk-on, every snap against the nation's top-ranked defense. At first, it looked like high-school gimmickry. The end result, as it turned out, was an epic, fireworks-filled 32-29 upset victory for the Gators that ruined FSU's season and made for a cherished – some who were there might say the greatest – night ever in "The Swamp."
The circumstances of Saturday's rivalry renewal will be considerably different, but it will be the Gators (3-8) vs. the Seminoles (5-6) nonetheless, so it'll mean a great deal to both fan bases and certainly to Brindise, one of the most beloved and respected teammates of his era.
"I tell people I've gotten a lot of mileage out of playing less than half a game," Brindise said.
@cool_hand_luke60 Noah Brindise is a great testament to the Gators and to football itself. Known as "Fat dog" in the lockeroom, Brindise made up for his lack of talent through his work ethic and ability to absorb coaching. Fat dog was the third string QB going into the 97 season, and yet he found himself mixing it up with the best the SEC and college football itself had to offer. He led Florida to big wins over Auburn, Vandy and South Carolina, and then he submitted his legacy by being an integral part of the forever iconic "Best Game Ever Played in the Swamp" against FSU. Brindise is a great example of having the chips stacked against you in terms of talent but still making it work on the field. The current administration for UF football could take a lesson from this. #floridagators#flordiagators#uf#trending#viral#fyp#collegefootball#footballhighlights#football♬ Who Let The Dogs Out - Original - The Doggies
His humility is admirable, but so was what Brindise did – and not just in that FSU game – during the '97 season. The Gators, reigning national champion and ranked No. 1 through five games, got knocked off in a 28-21 upset loss at LSU, after which it was learned Johnson had missed curfew two nights before the game. He was suspended for UF's ensuing date at Auburn, where true freshman Jesse Palmer got the start. Palmer was ineffective and was relieved by Brindise, the little-used walk-on, who fashioned a stunning 24-10 road win by throwing for 69 yards and a touchdown in relief.
The next week brought the lone loss to Georgia of the Spurrier era. The week after that was a listless 20-7 home defeat of lowly Vanderbilt, with Brindise throwing for 222 yards, two TDs and one interception. A week later, Spurrier tried all three QBs at South Carolina, but eventually opted to just give the ball to tailback Fred Taylor 24 times for 174 yards and three scores in a 48-21 victory.
"We used to throw the ball all over the place until I started playing quarterback," Brindise said in his self-effacing manner. "Then, Coach started just giving it to Fred. Good move."
But what would Spurrier do against FSU and its vaunted defense with first-round draft picks all over the field?
Something no one saw coming, that's what.
"He was just trying something, anything, to get us going," Brindise said.
Out comes Doug Johnson (12), in goes Noah Brindise (17) during Steve Spurrier's "QB Shuffle" game against Florida State in 1997.
With their shuffling quarterbacks, the Gators went 83 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive, but missed the point-after to take a 6-0 lead. The Seminoles, though, answered with 17 straight points, including a return of a Taylor fumble for a touchdown, to lead 17-6.
Just when the UF offense seemed to be spinning its wheels, Brindise dropped and saw wideout Travis McGriff running uncovered in the FSU secondary.
"I barely had a strong enough arm to get it to him," Brindise said.
Oh, but it was plenty strong enough and good for 49 yards to set up a Florida touchdown. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth shootout, highlighted by Taylor's electrifying 61-yard touchdown run midway through in the third quarter and, of course, Johnson's 63-yard strike to Jacquez Green over the top of the Seminoles' defense — the loudest moment in "The Swamp's" history — to set up Taylor's go-ahead touchdown run (his fourth score of the night to go with 167 rushing yards) with 1:50 to play.
UF linebacker Dwayne Thomas intercepted Thad Busby to ice the game with a minute to go and set off a one-for-the-ages celebration. Brindise, with his offense in victory formation, took a knee on his final home snap of his career.
Welcome back, Noah.
Noah Brindise (left) with his family at a recent UF game. From left: wife Jennifer, daughter Caelan and son Jackson.
Brindise, who accompanied Spurrier to the Washington Redskins to tutor quarterbacks, left the coaching profession nearly 20 years ago, settled in Jupiter, Fla., and entered the medical sales field. He'll be joined on the field by Jennifer, his wife of 25 years, along with daughter Caelan, a UF senior on a pre-med track who will get to see her dad do the George Edmondson thing in her final football game as a student. That's pretty cool.
As it happens, Brindise was in the house for last week's Tennessee game. The player who affectionately went by the nickname "Fat Dog," having already been extended the FSU invite, paid particular attention during the pregame festivities when Jemalle Cornelius, the former wideout from the Urban Meyer days, took his "Two Bits" turn.
"He threw some push-ups in there at the end," Brindise said. "I don't think I'm gonna do that."
No, Brindise's heavy-lifting came nearly three decades ago. When it really mattered.
Inside Gators Football & Up Next presented by UF HealthInside Gators Football & Up Next presented by UF Health
Tuesday, November 25
Inside Gators Football & Up Next presented by UF Health (November 25, 2025)Inside Gators Football & Up Next presented by UF Health (November 25, 2025)
Tuesday, November 25
Florida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Press Conference | Florida StateFlorida Football | Interim Head Coach Billy Gonzales Press Conference | Florida State
Monday, November 24
Billy Gonzales Press Conference 11-24-25Billy Gonzales Press Conference 11-24-25
