| Video highlights of the greatest game in FSU History (1.09 megs). You will likely need the most current version of Windows Media Player to view this clip. |
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| Handle | Comments |
| Josh | I agree with you that the 1991 game vs UofM at the Big House is one of the greatest games, not only in FSU history, but also in college football history, for among other reasons, pitting the Heisman Trophy winner that year (Desmond Howard) against the future winner (Charlie Ward, with a cameo appearance in this game). Do you know how I can acquire the television broadcast of that game? |
| fsumann17 | What about the Gator game with PK Sam and Chris Rix? It didn't mean much but it was one hell of a game. |
| Wally the Gator Hater | This one is easy for me. As a lifelong, raised in Tallahassee, survived Larry Jones, scout usher at Doak, met Gary Huff as a cub scout, extreme fan of FSU football - it had to be the victory in Lincoln in 1980.
I was a junior at FSU and the Barnaby's Boys (North Monroe - when it was the real Barnaby's) headed out on a Winnebago kegger to the Great White North. After having a flat tire in Nashville, and S.B. hitting the bridge on the on ramp and off ramp in Paducah, KY, and paying a toll to get into Nebraska, we made it just in time to take advantages of Moose and Kono's brotherhood and join the Cornhusker Phi Gams for a FIJI beer fest. I remember the "we'll go easy on you...", "wait till you see the Sea of Red...", etc. comments the night before the game. We didn't care, as we had arrived at the cathedral of college football where Tom Osborne ruled the Kingdom and church happened on Saturday afternoons. At halftime, down 14-3, a few fans were starting to turn to us and say, "Who is that Stockstill guy, he's pretty good...." While we watched the greatest football game in the history of FSU unfold, the inevitable last minute drive was well underway and the Sea of Red was rocking and rolling. Then, with just a few ticks left on the clock Paul Piurowski caused the "FUMBLE HEARD 'ROUND TALLAHASSEE" and the mighty Noles run out the clock to claim the victory! The trip home was glorious, the extreme suckage occured Sunday when we arrived back in Tally and everyone was so ripped to shreds from the Tennessee Street party the night before we couldn't get anyone to get after it again. For those of us that hang on to memories of the Phyrst, the 40 year old needy married women at the Brown Derby, and Duffs Smorgasbord - Those were the days! Party on! |
| ChrisS | I'm a Gator through and through, but I happened to be in Tallahassee on the weekend the 'Noles played Michigan. What a great atmosphere that was, everyone getting fired up for the noon kick. I vividly recall the hype before the game was tremendous. I remember standing in a crowded bar (no clue which one), drinking many beers and having a great time watching that game with my all 'Nole buddies. Even as a Gator, I had to tip my hat to the 'Noles after that one... anyway I'll root for the South over the East, North and West anyday ;) |
| BOYRAD | Thanks for the memories, man. I wasn't a big college football fan till I watched FSU that season (I was 12). T Buck still remains my favorite college/NFL player ever. |
| Stephen | Although the other games you mention were all great, I think the '98
game with Rooster at the helm is my all time favorite. For starters,
I sat in the Alumni section that day and no one sat for one second once the
ball was in the air. Second, the Gators just knew they were going to
beat us a get a shot at the National Title. Third, we beat them with
a third string quarterback by running the draw play! Karma was a big
factor in this game. Fate would not let us lose. Outzen fumbled
in the second quarter and several Gators pounce on the ball in the endzone.
Touchdown UF right? Wrong! Somehow, someway, our lone man in the pile
fought for that ball and saved five points. We go into the half down
12-6 rather than 17-6. The next good karma play was in the third quarter.
Rooster fires to a wide open Warrick in the flat, but the ball is thrown
to low. The Gator safety in the passing lane jumps to intercept the
ball for what would probably be a Gator touchdown, but instead of catching
it and going the other way, the ball deflects up in the air and Warrick catches
it, makes a move around a stunned Gator defender and the Noles lead 13-12
when they should be down 24-6. The Doak is now at full frenzy.
Several minutes later, in the early fourth quarter, Travis Minor takes a
handoff and goes forty something yards for the touchdown. Alumni are dogpiling each other. Spurrier is crying. But a yellow hanky quickly brings reality back as Warrick was called for a ticky-tack hold on a Gator defender away from the play. The energy is quickly sucked out of the Doak and the Gators feel confident again. On the very next play, Mark Richt made what I believe was the single best play call of his era. Rooster took the snack and pitched to Minor who ran left. Minor pitched the ball to Warrick on the reverse, but Pete had no intentions of running. Instead, he planted his feet and lofted the ball in the air. Ron Dugans was running wide open right below us toward the end zone. The ball seemed to hang in the air forever. The Gator defender who had been fooled on the reverse tried to recover but to no avail. Dugans caught the pass for the touchdown and all Noles everywhere were dogpiling each other. We had scored on back to back plays of over forty yards. The Gators never recovered and we won 23-12. The atmosphere of this game was incredible. There was a slight mist falling from the sky and it felt like football heaven. All Seminoles stayed to celebrate the probable trip to Tempe while the Gators left quietly wondering how they had lost to a third string QB named Rooster. This game was also big because it would have give the Gators three straight wins over us and their first in a long time at the Doak. I truly believe that we earned more respect from Gator fans for winning this game than any other we have ever won. |
| FSU vs. UF 1999 | Nothing can top beating the Gators in the swamp with an undefeated season and national tile on the line. The 1999 games close score kept fans in tense anticipation of the next great play...And watching Spurrier throw his visor in frustration...classic |
| EngiNole | My greatest game in FSU history is ultimately one of the most irrelevant, FSU-UF 1996. Beginning in 1987, I heard an announcer describe the game is being one that had both teams ranked higher at the time of that game than ever before. Each year after that the same could be said until finally on that Saturday in November 1996, both teams were undefeated ranked 1 and 2 and it was played in our house. No one expected us to win over the greatest team ever assembled at Florida and we went out and took our game to them, played flawlessly and beat the No. 1 ranked Gators. What wa our reward for playing one of our best games ever? A REMATCH! |
| Susan | Choke at Doak is the best FSU game I was there. I looked at my
Dad when it was 10 to 31 and asked him "is it possible?" He said "No,
we're just gonna make it look a little better than it did at the end of the
third quarter". When it got to 24 to 31, I asked him again "is it possible?"
and He said "Dam right it's possible". To see Spurrier's utter disgust and throwing his visor made it even more enjoyable. This was not a W on the score card but it sure felt like one. FSU played its best quarter of football during the fourth quarter of that game and it wasn't just one player making the plays - it was an entire team effort - from the onside kicks to the passes to the runs. Choke at Doak has to be one of the greatest if not THE GREATEST... Tied for first would be Puntrooskie - I was there for that one and was totally fooled by the fake - I even screamed "Oh no he hiked the ball over his head" and then my husband said " look again". I heard a Clemson fan say after the game "Any team that doesn't expect Bobby Bowden to pull a fake play deserves to lose." I can't hear Leroy Butler's name without thinking of that day at Clemson. |
| mayanono | I have been a Seminole fan since around 1960 or so. I remember
when we would drive around Tallahassee and honk our horns when FSU scored
a touchdown in a game, let alone won a game. I suffered through the
infamous 0 and 11 season, and the 1 and 10 season. I remember when the
first game the 'noles won after one of the longest losing streaks in the
nation ended with a win against...of all teams...Miami.
I have to say that the (I believe the score was) 37 to 9 win against the hated Gators was the best game ever. I am not sure of the year, but as best I can remember it came after many years of failurte against the Gators. It was not the first win against the Gators (I was at that game, a very young lad cheering wildly), but for my money one of the very most satisfying victories. In my mind this game announced quite early on that FSU had arisen from the morass of lousy football teams to become a member of the up and comers. The later victories at Nebraska, Michigan, and the later wins against the Gators were awesome, but this game against Florida was such sweet revenge that none can top it. |
| 1977- FSU vs FLA 37-9 |
As a player and a long time fan. This win set the
tone for things to come..FLA had 11 NFL draft choices on this team, along
with a history of not losing at home. We beat them on all sides of the ball
and made history through out the USA.. I had a friend send the front page
of the sports page with my picture on it from Hawaii.. it was a great game
in Seminole history.. Thanks for you web page Kurt Unglaub 1976--1980 WR |
| NoleKing
|
I was only 5 years old, and this was the game that made me become a Nole Fan, the uniform, the style of play, the speed, they became my team that day and have been since and will be forever, god bless the noles |
| Crap-o-croc
|
I was there. I had already graduated and moved to Sarasota and this was the only game that I was able to make it back for that season. I was sitting in an alumni section on the student side and there were several obnoxious Gators sitting around me. As the game wore on I became angrier and angrier at the drunk and obnoxious behavior of the Gators fans around me. Late in the 3rd quarter I couldn’t take it anymore and the situation degenerated in to a near altercation. My new wife was with me and she insisted that we leave before the altercation turned into a full blown fight. By early in the fourth quarter many of the fans started to leave because the FSU offense was completely ineffective. The Defense was doing everything they could to keep us in the game but the offense was playing horribly. As my wife and I were walking down the stadium (absorbing the jeers from the Gator faithful) We stopped just before the exit ramp to see if FSU's offense could convert on fourth down. If they couldn’t, I was gone (I have never left a game before, but my newly wedded wife was forcing me because of the altercation with the Gator fnas). FSU converted and we found a couple of empty seats and watched what Bobby Bowden later called a “pretty daggum good win....er...tie" |
| UM Alum
|
My biggest memory of that game (as a UM student, in attendance) was that Big 10, Michigan football was light years behind FSU (and Elvis Grbac should be shot for that interception on the 2nd play of the game).
I've never seen such a game. With about 10 minutes to go in the first quarter, I felt like we didn't have a chance to win. The only thing we could do, as fans, was get drunk and make up new words for the "war chant" (with our middle fingers substitued for the tomahawk chop). After the game, me and my friends ran into many FSU fans on the way back to our cars, they were very nice and respectful (nothing like the Buckeye fans). I could tell that they were holding back their pride and happiness at the DESTRUCTION brought by the Noles to Ann Arbor that day. Truly, they resisted the urge to really stuff it in our face how badly my beloved Wolverines were outplayed. Wanting to kill Elvis, the chant, and the FSU fans (how gracious they were in victory) are the things I remember most that day. I forgot about the players tearing up the sod and hoisting it as a trophy. My basic thought on that was that I couldn't say anything. The Noles did their talking on the field and that spoke louder than anything. They earned the right to tear up the field. That was the best football team I'd ever seen (still is). On an semi related note, I was glad that my 1997 Wolverines didn't have to play the Noles for the National Championship. Getting to play Washington State and win a share of the National Championship after watching the Seminoles destroy the Buckeyes was a great weekend, indeed! I think FSU had the best team in 1997. I really was grateful they had one loss and couldn't play Michigan or Nebraska. |
| Scott K.
|
The 34-6 win over Auburn in 1987 at Jordan-Hare. I would say that win was the start of the dynasty. We had lost to Miami and we could have faded like we had over the previous few years. But we didn’t. We made a statement. A BIG statement. FSU is here to stay. Deal with it. |
| Doug
|
Tie between 80 Nebraska/FSU & Choke at Doak I was not alive in 1980 but my mother, a graduate of FSU prior to the arrival of Bowden (72-76) remebers the cornhusker crowd giving us a standing ovation for beating their team. In the 70s the Big XII was unstoppable with OU and Nebraska and at the start of the 80s FSU was a fledgling dynasty hungry for national attention. This game was not broadcast on television and Deckerhoff/Prinzi did the honors at calling the game. I have never heard of a team or its fans give an opponent accolades after a defeat...never from UF or UM!! The Cornhuskers and Osborne must have forseen the greatness that lay within BObby and his program...thank you Nebraska!! The Choke at Doak also gets a nod as the greatest game in FSU history. Everyone knows we trailed at teh start of the 4th by 28 points. However, I was only 8 years old in the winter of 94 and was oblivious to the pounding we had taken in the previous three quarters (I was outside playing). I entered at the start of the 4th quarter, and I mean at a commercial break with 15 on the game clock. It was like I, for that moment, at our house, was a good luck charm, and can recall the events that transpired in the 4th quarter as though it was yesterday. I was awestuck to watch our Noles mount a 28 unanswered point comeback to tie the Gators (which we all consider to be a win)!! It was on that day I knew that the Seminoles were my team and the university at which I strived to enroll at. The Choke at Doak lives in my memory as a constant reminder of the magnitude of FSU and Bobby Bowden! |
| Kirk45
|
I'm a little bit bias, but I think it was my favorite, as well. I agree and appreciate the kind and spirited words.You brought back some fantastic memories when I read your piece and it also got me pumped up for the 2006 season. Is that to premature? I think the first game is only 160 days away.Anyway,thank you for all of your support and hard work. I agree with all of your points, including the fact that it was extra special for me ,being from Michigan and coming back home and kicking their @#$, in their house, and by a greater margin than any opponent in Michigan history.( We truely were "The Road Warriors") I also want to add, that on top of everything mentioned, it was a day that God made to play football,60 degree's, sunny, crisp, what a beautiful fall day to play in the best game ever in FSU history! It was truely the perfect football day!!! Thanks again and GO NOLES!!! |
| Batbunnie
|
NOthing like Florida State Football-loved FSU so much I stayed for grad school and 2 more years!! I was lucky to have been at the 1991 Michigan game, Choke at the Doak, and the 1993 Championship!!!!!!!!!!! Beer, football and great fans-what else is there????????? I live in Michigan and I continue to convert more and more Wolverines from the dark side to the light!!!!!!!!LOL |
| JMJS2006
|
Punt-rooski, 1988 FSU 24, Clemson 21 Deion calls it that he's taking the punt back - AND HE DOES! Old school Bowden - Riverboat gambler! Before we had national talent, Bowden's reckless play calling won games. Now he has national talent and has simply abandoned wide-open play calling, or the kids have not been trained by their coordinator to execute it properly. But this was vintage Bowden play calling WITH national talent. The result - iron clad cojones and we save the season after the Miami game. Execution was flawless. Your wishing Leroy Butler could run faster. Was a great college football game against two major powers and basically saved the season! It was a CBS game so Brent Musburger and Pat Hayden did the call. Chip Ferguson was the quarterback, Dexter Carter made agreat sideline grab. |
| Larry
|
Fellow FSU graduate here and Tallahassee native (living in AZ now). I have to say you pretty much hit the biggest in history. My dad remembers a few from the 60's so I do have one from that period to add. I can't remember the year, i'm sure I could google it, but it was a bowl game against Penn State where we tied them (16 to 16 I believe in the Gator Bowl, maybe mid 60's). I"ve heard the audio and it was exciting. There are two games that I consider two of the most exciting that FSU has played. The first year Bobby (I grew up down the street from him in Killearn) came to FSU and they played UF in Tallahassee (In our previous neighborhood I grew up with Jimmy Jordan QB '76-'79) I had to listen to it on the radio for some reason, but I believe Jordan thew a pass into the end zone near the very end of the game and it just missed the fingertips of one of our receivers which would have probably tied the game. But you knew something was special about Bowden Not only that, but for all you 'mystical types' lol, our head coach and our top two quarterbacks all had repeating initials (BB, JJ, and WW) The plays he called that year, even as a kid, I knew this guy was special. You have to remember, FSU went 1-21 the previous two seasons. Maybe the greatest game though, was the very next year in Gainesville when we beat UF 37-9. You have to understand all the years of frustration losing to them and then to go to Gainesville and beat the heck out of them is almost unimaginable. On a sidenote, my dad was a professor of music at FSU for 43 years starting in the 50's and he arranged all the halftime music up until mid 90s as well as writing a lot of those diddys you hear them play during the game. He didnt' write the fight song (that was already written when he got there, but he did arrange it) so that's why I went to most of the games (free during the 70s cause they were so bad, lol) http://www.fightmusic.com/acc.html Bobby actually came to my dad's retirement and conducted the band while they played the fight song (Ruby Diamond). Bobby said he'd always wanted to do that. How many football coaches go to a band function. Gotta love Bobby B. Enjoy the season and Go Noles! I just found your links to other people's remarks. Just had to say thanks to Kurt Unglaub for all those exciting plays. I used to throw passes to your younger brother Kyle when he briefly played fresh. football at Lincoln HS ( I was the QB) and if you ever see Jimmy Jordan tell him I still remember when he broke my nose back when I was 6 years old. :) |
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Go (faster) Blue!
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We didn't learn enough from this loss to speedy FSU.
We got beat by a fast southern team. Michigan's response: don't schedule any more southern teams. That was the wrong answer. Witness UM vs. ASU 9/1/2007. To compete against the teams that play the modern version of football Michigan will need a new coach who understands the game, new players who are physically capable of playing it, and we'll need to concede the debate. Speed beats size every time. |