Former Florida star, Eagles top pick Reaves found dead
TAMPA, FLA. » Former Florida and NFL quarterback John Reaves, who finished his college career as the NCAA’s alltime leading passer and later struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, has died. He was 67.
Reaves was found dead at his home Tuesday, according to the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death is being investigated, the office said.
“It’s sad to see that John has passed on, but we’ll celebrate his life down there in Tampa with so many good friends and Gators,” said retired coach Steve Spurrier, who coached Reaves with the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits and later hired him as an assistant at Florida. “His memory will always be with us.”
Reaves dealt with dependency for most of his 11-year career as an NFL journeyman, a run that began as a first-round pick of the Eagles in 1972. He also played for Cincinnati (1975-78), Minnesota (1979-80), Houston (1981) and Tampa Bay during the NFL strike in 1987. The Vikings put him in the Hazelden Clinic in 1980, and for the next two decades Reaves lived a life of sobriety while becoming the No. 2 all-time passing leader in the USFL and then coaching eight years in the Southeastern Conference at Florida (1990-94) and South Carolina (1995-97).
His college career was much more acclaimed.
Reaves threw for a schoolrecord 342 yards and five touchdowns in his first game, breaking the mark of 1966 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier and setting the tone for his career. He left school as the NCAA’s all-time leading passer, throwing for 7,581 yards and an SEC-record 54 touchdowns.
“The Gators lost one of their own in John Reaves,” said Florida coach Jim McElwain, who recruited Reaves’ son, Stephen, to Michigan State. “Obviously got to know the family very well. My thoughts and prayers go out to that family who’s been through a lot. At the same time, I do know this: I don’t think anybody will ever realize how much the Florida Gators truly meant to John Reaves.”
Reaves, receiver Carlos Alvarez and running back Tommy Durrance formed the corps of the so-called “Super Sophs” who finished 9-1-1 in 1969. In the lone setback at Auburn, Reaves threw nine interceptions, which remains an NCAA record nearly 50 years later.
Reeves’ most memorable moment came in the 1971 season finale against Miami, the game best known for the “Florida Flop.”
With the Gators leading 45-8 late in the fourth quarter, Florida defenders laid down and let the Hurricanes score so Reaves could have the ball back and get the 15 yards he needed to break Jim Plunkett’s NCAA passing record.
Miami coach Fran Curci refused to shake hands with Florida coach Doug Dickey. Making matters worse, several Gators headed to the Orange Bowl’s east end zone and jumped into a pool that housed Miami Dolphins mascot Flipper during NFL games.