led by first-time starting quarterback don gaffney, the 1973 gators finally broke the tigers; home-field winning streak after thirty-four years. gators linebacker ralph ortega tackled tigers tailback chris linderman inside the gators' five yard-line and forced a fumble shortly before halftime. gators linebacker sammy green forced a critical fumble by auburn tigers tailback sullivan walker, which led to a touchdown and the gators' margin of victory in a 12–8 upset of the tigers at home to give the gators their first-ever win at jordan–hare stadium. auburn scored its only points in the final play of the game. after the game, gators players carried head coach doug dickey from the field, and gators athletic director ray graves described the victory as "one of the greatest moments in university of florida football history."