Florida Cup
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The Florida Cup is the American football trophy sponsored by the state of Florida given to either the Florida State University Seminoles, the University of Florida Gators, or the University of Miami Hurricanes for winning a round-robin against the other two teams in the same season (including bowl games if necessary).[1] It was first awarded in 2002.
Trophy design
The trophy was designed to be a unique piece of art as well as representative of the traditional power of Florida's major collegiate football teams. The Florida Cup stands approximately 24 inches (0.6 m) tall and is composed of several elements. The base is crafted from solid cherry with the outline of the State of Florida and the football at the top in gold-plated solid pewter. The football is mounted on three curved, swirling "pillars" made from silver-plated solid brass that represent the state's three powerhouse football programs—the University of Miami, Florida State University, and the University of Florida.
Conference affiliations and game scheduling
The rivalry between the three schools has traditionally been non-conference; it was only in 2004 that Miami moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference, joining Florida State in same conference, which played its first season as a member of the conference in 1992. Just prior to this move Miami was in the Big East Conference, which it joined in 1991. Both teams had been independent prior to joining their respective conferences. Florida has been in the Southeastern Conference for much longer, having been one of its charter members in 1932.
Although Florida State, for roughly 50 consecutive years, has played both Miami and Florida annually, Miami and Florida was previously played annually from 1938 until 1987, and is now played intermittently. The Florida Cup is awarded to the winner of the round-robin between the three Florida schools.[2] Thus, the cup can only be awarded during years in which all three teams play against one another.
Miami won the first three Florida Cups awarded, having played Florida in the 2002 and 2003 regular seasons and the 2004 Peach Bowl. Florida won its first Florida Cup in 2008, when it beat both Miami and Florida State.
Future Cup years
The Florida Cup will next be awarded in 2013, as Florida and Miami are scheduled to play each other in the regular season. After that, however, Florida and Miami are not scheduled to play in the regular season anytime in the foreseeable future, so unless Florida and Miami meet in a bowl game, this will be the final year of the Florida Cup for the near future.
Results table
Rankings under final scores indicate a team's AP Poll ranking prior to that game. Rankings next to a champions name indicate that team's ranking in the final AP Poll for that season. Teams are unranked unless otherwise indicated.
| Florida victories | Florida State victories | Miami victories |
| Season | Florida Cup Winner | Florida-Florida State score | Florida-Miami score | Florida State-Miami score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | #2 Miami | #23 Florida State 31, #15 Florida 14 | #1 Miami 41, #6 Florida 16 | #1 Miami 28, #16 Florida State 27 |
| 2003 | #5 Miami | #9 Florida State 38, #11 Florida 34 | #3 Miami 38, #21 Florida 33 | #2 Miami 22, #5 Florida State 14 |
| #10 Miami 16, #9 Florida State 14* | ||||
| 2004 | #11 Miami | Florida 20, #10 Florida State 13 | #14 Miami 27, #20 Florida 10** | #5 Miami 16, #4 Florida State 10 (OT) |
| 2008 | #1 Florida | #2 Florida 45, #23 Florida State 15 | #5 Florida 26, Miami 3 | Florida State 41, Miami 39 |
Note: * denotes 2004 Orange Bowl and ** denotes 2004 Peach Bowl
See also
- Florida–Florida State football rivalry
- Florida–Miami football rivalry
- Miami–Florida State football rivalry