Top 10 single-game offensive performances in FSU history
by Fsued on Jul 29, 2010 12:05 AM EDT
in FSU Football
47 comments
Well, we come to the end of our journey -- the Top 10 individual offensive game performances in FSU history. In case you missed it, here are the 10 honorable mentions and here are "the next 21" that didn’t make the cut.
Remember, this is about a combination of statistical performance, game importance and intangibles. Oh, and I guess the other part of the equation is my own biases.
Anyway, let the debating (or is it yawning?) begin!
10.
Dec. 23, 1977. Larry Key. In his final game as FSU (before moving on to an illustrious career in the CFL), Key ran a kick back 93 yards for a touchdown, had 100 RECEIVING yards on 6 catches and carried the ball 21 times for 83 yards as FSU walloped Texas Tech 40-17 in the Tangerine Bowl. FSUED Musings: I was at this game, jingling my Dad’s key’s for Larry Key every time he touched the ball. A classic early Bowden-era player – not blessed with extraordinary physical skills, but perfect for a wide-open offense and utilized to his fullest.
9.
Jan. 1, 1988. Danny McManus. FSU rallied from a 14-0 Fiesta Bowl deficit to Nebraska and won 31-28 when McManus hit Ronald Lewis on a 15-yard post pattern with under 4 minutes to play. McManus finished the day with 375 yards passing and three touchdowns. FSUED musings: It’s hard to explain why this win was so big, but the program reached another level when McManus led us to victory.
8.
Sept. 28, 1991. Amp Lee. The top-ranked Seminoles went into Ann Arbor and taught the Michigan Wolverines about southern speed football. Amp Lee led the way with 122 yards rushing and two touchdown on 20 carries and 79 yards receiving. FSUED Musings: This was a Keith Jackson-called game when he was in his prime. My two favorites: " … and McIntosh was like a locomotive going downhill." Also: "Florida State was laying there waiting for it and Terrell Buckley has scored a touchdown. How do you do!"
7.
Jan. 2. 1965. Fred Biletnikoff, Steve Tensi. It’s impossible to separate these two in the 1965 Gator Bowl, a 36-19 FSU thrashing of Oklahoma. Tensi threw five touchdown passes – four of them to Freddie B. – as the Noles racked up 520 total yards against the vaunted Sooners. Tensi’s final stats: 23 of 36 for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns. Biletnikoff: 13 catches for 192 yards and 4 TDs. FSUED musings: ABC announcer and former Cleveland Brown George Ratterman said: "The boy is the greatest college receiver I've ever seen. He and Tensi put on one of the greatest passing performances that I believe I've ever seen college or professional." As McGrotha put it: It was the greatest passing show in the history of not only the Gator Bowl but any bowl up to that point." Remember, 300 yard passing games weren’t exactly commonplace in this era.
6.
Sept. 20 1997. Peter Warrick. This thrilling 35-28 win over Clemson in Death Valley was Warrick’s breakout game – 8 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns, then four punt returns for 123 yards, including a 90-yard TD return. FSUED musings: AP’s story called him a "one-man wrecking crew." Sounds about right.
5.
Oct. 31, 1981. Greg Allen. Yes, stats aren’t everything. And Western Carolina is hardly Nebraska, but at some point, the numbers don’t lie. Allen rushed for a NCAA freshman record 322 yards on 32 carries AND ran a kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown in the FSU win. FSUED musings: Sick numbers – vs. any competition, especially for a freshman.
4.
Oct. 26, 1968. Ron Sellers. FSU went into Columbia and outscored South Carolina 35-28, thanks again to Sellers who caught a career-high 16 balls for 248 yards and three touchdowns. FSUED musings: It still cracks me up to hear uninformed FSU fans argue Biletnikoff was a better college receiver than Sellers. Look at these two stat lines. Sellers: 86 catches for 1,496 yards and 12 touchdowns. Biletnikoff: 87 catches for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns. Pretty even, right? Well, one small difference. Biletnikoff’s numbers are CAREER numbers. Sellers are just for the 1968 season! Case closed.
3.
Nov. 26, 1994. Danny Kanell. It was surely the greatest quarter of football ever played by an FSU quarterback. Kanell was 18 of 22 for 232 yards and a touchdown in the FOURTH QUARTER ALONE as FSU came back from a 31-3 deficit to tie Florida in the infamous "Choke at Doak." Kannel’s final stats for the entire game – 40 of 53 for 421 yards and a touchdown each rushing and passing. FSUED musings: True story. After spending the week with my in-laws, I loaded the family in the car after it was 31-3 to make the 5-hour drive home. The Philadelphia Eagles announcer -- drawing a blank on his name -- was doing the game for a national radio broadcast and I picked it up all the way home. Needless to say, that car ride got "funner and funner."
2.
Jan. 4, 2000. Peter Warrick. Brent Musburger called it a "night of redemption." It was a perfect end to a perfect season. Warrick had 163 yards receiving, including two touchdowns, and ran a punt back 59 yards in FSU’s thrilling 46-29 win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl to claim the school’s second national championship. FSUED musings: Warrick’s final touchdown catch of 43 yards is arguably the greatest catch in FSU history.
1.
Nov. 27, 1993. Charlie Ward. In his most clutch performance, Ward hit Warrick Dunn on an infamous 79-yard scoring pass to lift FSU to a 33-21 win over arch-rival Florida in Gainesville. Ward finished 38 of 53 for 446 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs in the game and added 29 yards rushing. FSUED musings: Strong statement -- nobody who has worn the Garnet and Gold before or since could have led us to victory in this game other than Ward.
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Warrick
I remember #6 like it was yesterday, still one of my favorite moments and my favorite player of all time in FSU history
Thing about number 6 is, he had a drop
He had a drop on what would have been another 80 yard TD! Hit him right in the hands.
Pete was incredible that day, for sure!
It was rather WARM that day, too!
#3
I remember losing my voice at this game. 17 of us students went, and 14 left. My friend and I had to say back because we were waiting for a 3rd friend. Thank goodness we did.
The audio tape was made available for this game soon after, and I wore that thing out in future years during game day. Gene and Vic were on it that day.
I also worked at BR 31 on the Thomasville near Monroe and all the players would come in there. I paid for Danny after that game for sure.
Great article and enjoyed reading the memories.
by LincolnHighNole on Jul 29, 2010 1:16 AM EDT reply actions
May still have my tape
I went to Lincoln, too, by the way.
by Sabon on Jul 29, 2010 6:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
#2
my friends and I went to this game we were sitting third deck top row of the super dome in the end zone we were so hi up that we sat on the back of our seats and leaned our backs against the inter wall of the dome anyway the game was being played we were going doing what we did at games and all of a sudden there was the throw and all we could see was the ref throw a flag and then signal a touchdown we screamed and had no idea how good of a catch it was until we saw the replay on the jumbo tron FSU won the game and we partied on bourbon street until the sun came up. Even to this day when I see that catch or or watch that game it brings a smile to my face.
Yep.
I still remember the stench of the very large, very sweaty stranger standing next to me I embraced after Warrick caught that touchdown. One of the best, most memorable nights of my life. I went with my Dad, and I will never forget it. Such a special night for me (and a bunch of other Seminoles, too).
The one game missing from the Honorable Mentions and other 21 games that I expected to see here....
…was Weinke’s Wide Right III effort. We lost the game, the first half was atrocious, but he finished with 496 yards passing and 3 TD’s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an FSU QB (outside of the overall #1 game by Charlie) slice up a vaunted defense at will like Weinke did in the second half of that sweltering game. And if I’m remembering correctly, he had a bum ankle/foot wrapped up tight.
That was an amazing performance
If we only had anything that remotely resembled a kicker…I remember when Matt Munyon lined up for the game tieing 49-50 yd FG attempt at the end of the game. I turned to my step-dad and said, “not even God could will this one in”.
Ponder’s performance (albeit not on as big a stage) against UNC in the second half was every bit as impressive to me. So, maybe you have seen an FSU QB slice up a vaunted defense at will since Weinkie.
statistically speaking, you could have a point about Ponder and UNC.
I wrote a long paragraph about it in the Honorable Mentions article.
Ponder’s effort was mainly methodical in nature, like an expert surgeon.
Weinke’s second half was a Rambo performance. As in, “Screw it, I’m gonna chuck towards Snoop, future NFL hall of fame secondary be damned!”
We had an enormous bullseye on our backs, playing in that rabid sauna, up against 15 years of predictable heartbreak and dooming mystique.
by The K-Man on Jul 29, 2010 11:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
A very valid analysis
I’m not saying CP7’s was better at all, Weinkie was THE man that day and I agree he should have been in the top 20. That defeat hurt so bad….as so many have. I know every team has faced their share of heart break, but it seems we Noles have been on the cusp of so many championships in such a short time period that we have endured a lifetime’s worth in a 15 yr stretch.
Although, I think 2001’s missed FG against the #1 Canes hurt me more. Greg Jones was a beast that day, is his performance is also deserving of a mention.
So this is why Ponder v. Georgia Tech isn't on here?
Over 350 passing yards with 5 Touchdowns and NO Int’s? He had nearly 400 yards all by himself. I will have to officially disagree with this premise, I think this effort deserved to be somewhere at LEAST in the ‘Next 21’.
And the UNC game wasn’t bad either, easily could have made the list. If we don’t win that game we don’t go to a bowl game in Bowden’s Final Season. Talk about high stakes.
by freshcollegeboy on Jul 29, 2010 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I should follow that up
By saying this whole series was wonderful, excellently written.I enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end, no matter what I think deserves to be in it.
by freshcollegeboy on Jul 29, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Georgia Tech's D had some NFL'ers sprinkled in, then a bunch of blah.
That wasn’t a defense that could potentially stifle a potent offense with consistency.
by The K-Man on Jul 29, 2010 11:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
GT is another good nominee
Again, it was hard to include losses in the list, but I may be wrong about that. I hope that you saw that last year’s UNC game made one of the honorable mention lists.
I did see that
You did an amazing job and I loved reading your list. Especially about the old timers…I’m 23 so I have never seen any of those guys play or even really known of their accomplishments.
I agree that winning should be extremely highly valued, but sometimes the way an athlete throws his heart into a game and leaves it all on the field in a loss is every bit as admirable.
88 Fiesta Bowl
Best football game of all time. Back and forth to the end.
FSUED is right about the importance.
On the one hand, it was a meaningless bowl game. On the other hand, it was our first New Year’s day bowl in several years and we finished the season ranked number 2—one two-point conversion from being National Champions. Great game, though we had a good bit of luck near the end.
#1
Prior to the play, the stadium noise was deafening. The Gayts thought they were going to get back in the game and were going crazy. After the play, they just stood there in shock. Priceless!
Yep, I was in the first row in the endzone, so basically field level.
The noise was the loudest by far I’ve ever heard, and I’ve been at LSU (pretty close to the field), Neyland, Auburn, Clemson. The noise in that stadium was a whole other level before that play.
The crazy thing was that being in the endzone, behind the play, we could only see him complete the pass, but couldn’t see what was happening as Dunn turned it up. All I could see is all the gator fans along the sideline sitting down as Dunn ran down the field, like a reverse wave. And the noise growing fainter, until silence. And then, with all the gators quiet, and the play seemed to take FOREVER from our vantage point, all you could see is the small sliver of FSU fans in the other endzone go bananas. Which was our cue that he’d miraculously scored.
It was a play that 90% I couldn’t see at all, and it’s still probably the most memorable moment I ever had at a football game.
by LouC on Jul 29, 2010 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rock Preston
When I was walking out of the stadium (after the game), I ran into Rock Preston’s mom and I congratulated her on her son’s play, specifically his TD. She said, “Yeah did good good, but he fumbled the ball too.” WOW, talk about a tough mom!
Still have the Michigan FSU game on Videotape..
and watched it over and over… I remember staying up all night the night before. Amp Lee was great…. Another great KJ line from the game in regards to Amp Lee:
“He’s like a shadow”
Hmm… might have to break out the ole’ VCR for old times sake!
Before that game I had an interview with a Michigan alum.
First, she explained to me how the aura of Michigan was going to defeat us. Then, she went on to tell me that Tallahassee was the ugliest city she had ever been to. Needless to say, I had an extra little smile on my face after that win.
Michigan story
My dad is a Michigan alum, so I went up there for a game a few years ago with him and we watched them get beat by Iowa. We were in a bar afterwards and I overheard this guy say, “I haven’t seen us get beat like that at home since FSU was here in ’91.” That put a smile on my face.
by BossNole on Jul 29, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Bounce pass
Does anyone else remeber the bounce pass between Weldon and Ward in that game? Don’t see those very often anymore.
I remember a backwards pass ...
… where Ward was lined up as WR then threw it back to Weldon, but I don’t believe the ball ever hit the ground on that play.
You might be right
Could there have been a bounce pass when we were returning a kick off? I remember a bounce pass somwhere in that game!
What a game!
They tried it unsuccessfully against FSU the previous November.
UF’s Shane Matthews had a convoy ahead of him, but was unable to gather the pass from his wideout.
Great Job Fsued
It’s great reliving these old games, and I can’t find anything to argue with in your selections (any reordering would be pretty arbitrary).
I guess most people think Biletnikoff was better than Sellers just because of his pro career, i.e., because they’ve heard of him. But old Jingle Joints had a much better college career. And as I understand it, Bill Peterson basically brought the pro passing game to college football.
I remember being at The Swamp in 93 and..
when Dunn scored on the screen down the sideline to seal it, the Lady Gate mascot walked by us going buckwild in the north endzone (Nole only section) We all pointed at her & started the, “On your knees, On your knees chant” Good Times! =D
GO NOLES!!! SCALP EM!
Peterson was basically one of the first proponents of the pro passing offense in CFB.
He learned from Sid Gillman (father of it in the pros) and he hired every young assistant coach that Gillman passed along (no limits then) including Bills Parcells, Don James and Bobby Bowden among the many who later went to the pros. Back then, FSU, BYU and Tulsa were about the only teams that passed for more than 10-15 times a game, many passed much less. I think we passed about 60 times against Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl for example, they just didn’t know how to handle it. We pretty much had to because the Gators and Bama snapped up most of the decent OL and RB’s available (no limits). We used 5 receivers often, hardly tried to run it and the TE basically took 3-4 steps, turned around for the “quick” in case the QB got in trouble. Was a sight to see and great football. Our defense was pretty tough also.
I also remember another fantastic play by Sellers. He was just unbelivable.
We were playing the Gators in Doak, I think Huff was the QB Five Gator defenders were standing around in a circle about 40 yards downfield and you couldn’t see a nole in the group, all of a sudden, Huff lofts a pass right towards that group and everyone is wondering what the hell he is doing. Suddenly one arm pokes up from the group and Sellers hauls in the pass and scampers about 20 more yards for the touchdown. We couldn’t believe what we just saw. The Gator players were just standing around shaking their heads in amazement.
#9 - The first of the 14 Ten Win Seasons
I was at home during that game and I was screaming and tearing around the living room like I’d lost my mind. My dad, a Gator, just kept rolling his eyes. Maybe it was the beer but after a while, even he got excited. Its importance was that it was the beginning of a great streak. After the heartbreaking loss to Miami that year, the team rebound and pounced on everyone else they played. It was the first season where both the offense and defense were dominant. FSU scored 40 points or more six times that season and the defense held opponents to 10 points or less six times. Best of all, we had Danny McManus as our QB. He was a great Nole even though he looked like someone’s dad out there playing. Best of all, he was still sporting a “throw back ’stash”!
Great stuff FSUED!
Sheriff Branford: The fact that you are a sheriff is not germane to the situation.
Buford T. Justice: The god damn Germans got nothin' to do with it!
And he played until he was 60 in the CFL.
Sheriff Branford: The fact that you are a sheriff is not germane to the situation.
Buford T. Justice: The god damn Germans got nothin' to do with it!
One of my favortie plays is the Weinke to Snoop play vs Clemson in 2000.
That was the best play fake I have ever seen in my life. Weinke was walking in the endzone so cool looking at the jumbotron and then all the sudden he turned and fired it to Minnis for a 98yd TD. He could have been sacked for a safety but none of the Clemson players thought Weinke had the ball. It was so smooth!
GO NOLES!!! SCALP EM!
I feel so lucky to have seen 2 of these in person
#1 – My parents lived near Gainesville. I went down there hoping to get lucky and get a single ticket. I had my FSU gear on, so my expectations were low.An older lady saw me holding my finger up and asked if I wanted to buy a ticket. How much? Face value (25 bucks, I think) We’ll see you there she said. Well, it turns out it was on the 40 yard line about 15-20 rows up. They were retired UF faculty. She said it was only because they had had them for so long, that Boosters got these seats now. At one point she mentioned that she had “taught Steve Spurrier when he was a freshman” So, I’m totally surrounded by Gators occaisionally getting a dirty look when I do the Warchant / Chop. I had some individual shots of something, but this lady was so nice I didn’t even want to drink around her (or take a chance getting booted) What a game. When I look back on it, it’s seems like it had to be destiny for me to be there.
#3 I brought a Gator High School buddy to this game with me. At halftime he was floating on air and I was just hoping we could score one touchdown to save face. The thing was, when we finally did score you could feel that the crowd believed we could come back. We had a great offense that year and once we scored everyone knew we could get back in it. It was amazing. When they played the ESPN highlights at Bullwinkles later (over and over again) it was almost as loud as at the game.It was a tie, but the FSU fans were grinning from ear to ear. and my Gator buddy? -I don’t think he’s been back to Tallahassee since!
I Saw #2 and #3 In Person, But Missed #1 :( Even Though I Was A Student At FSU.
I Saw #2 and #3 In Person, But Missed #1 :(
- Even Though I Was A Student At FSU, I missed that game live. I have a distaste for Gainesville so I didn’t go. Although I saw the Rolling Stones at BHG stadium a year later (Worst of the 5 times seeing the Stones and I blame it on Gainesville).
- Was great, I was in my 2nd go around as a student at FSU. I was by myself, but I got in my car and drove to New Orleans. I had a blast hangin around town riding the trolley, eating cajun food, drinking on Bourbon Street, etc. The Virigina Tech fans were everywhere. It was probably 75% VTech and only 25% FSU fans. I represented! I talked with a number of them. Most were very intelligent and cordial. They were well aware that VTech had never beaten FSU although they were pretty confident. I just emphasized the point that we had speed on defense. I also mentioned that Peter Warrick would have won the Heisman Trophy if it wasn’t for the Dillards scandal. The game was awesome. FSU raced to a 28-0 lead and VTech stormed back and took the lead 29-28. FSU brought the pain to Michael Vick in the 2nd half and won 46-29. Michael Vick got beaten so bad (like one of his dogs) he was barely able to walk limping around. He played the game of his life and FSU’s defense was just plain better. It was without a doubt the greatest National Championship game I’ve ever seen.
- Take the Garnet & Gold colored glasses off. Anyone who attended this game with have a brain and still some memory cells will tell you it was one of the worst games in the history of FSU football to be at. OMG was it bad. My entire fraternity left at the beginning of the 4th quarter. We watched the rest of it back at the fraternity house with lots of booze. Needless to say, we were cheering quite loudly by the end. However, the very end sucked!!! Everyone was pissed FSU didn’t go for 2. UF couldn’t stop FSU’s offense. Everything FSU did in the 4th quarter worked. They should have went for 2. Bowden got it wrong on that one. What happened to the Riverboat Gambler persona of Bobby Bowden? Remember, there was no overtime back then. This game was also very instrumental in getting the rule change the following season. A tie is like kissing your sister. Even though all of us Noles consider it a win, it was a horrible game. The only cool thing about the Choak At Doak was it led the way for another great game…. The Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter.
Ponder vs. UNC 2009
Should definitely have made the Top 10 if for no other reason than the talent level of the defense he lit up.
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