Where I Come From: My Favorite Florida State Teams
by Bud Elliott on Jul 6, 2010 1:19 PM EDT
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One of the perks of being a 'Nole fan is that there have been so many great teams and memories. That also makes it difficult to pick out a favorite team of all time. But that is today's issue and I cannot choose just one.
First on my list is the 1999 team. It's just awesome to see a team know it is better than everyone else and play like it. Weinke to Warrick. Jason Whitaker and Brett Williams kept Weinke clean. Corey Simon plugged the middle and allowed linebackers like Brian Allen to run free. FSU was voted #1 in every poll conducted, from pre-season to post. They were the first wire-to-wire champions of the BCS era. This video sums up the finale pretty well.
But two other teams were also special to me. First was the 2003 team. This was my first year as an FSU student. The schedule had a few quality opponents and a nice helping of cupcakes. Remember, this was before the ACC expanded, so Boston College, Miami (though FSU played them anyway), and Virginia Tech were not in play. FSU opened up at UNC with Greg Jones beheading Dexter Reid, 37-0. Then FSU played a classic over Georgia Tech, 14-13. I didn't know it at the time, but FSU was getting into a pattern of running up the score on bad teams, which would help to defend the offense from the critics who criticized it for averaging less than 12 points in FSU's three losses. The first of those losses came in the rain game to Miami, which also involved everyone crashing the gate as the system to redeem coupons for tickets was perhaps poorly planned. The season also saw a blowout win for FSU at Notre Dame, a horrific loss at Clemson in which some accused Bobby Bowden of throwing the game to save his son's job, and an awesome overtime win over NC State and Phillip Rivers. And of course, a win over the Gators in the Swamp, 38-34:
If 2003 was the start of the era during which FSU fans could depend on only one side of the ball (and I happen to think 2004 was when this era really started), 2009 was the same, only the sides were flipped. 2009 was a special season that I will always remember. After a decade of futility, FSU was finally addressing its problem. I felt sorry for the defensive players who had been let down by the program, but the offense had improved every year since 2006 and provided hope for the program going forward. The team was enjoyable to watch and all of the off-field or sideline dynamics made it all the more interesting to cover.
How about you? What were your favorite Florida State teams?
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Swindle in the Swamp was my favorite as well.
Never would have thought that would be the last time we beat the Gators. I guess that’s when our reign over Florida flipped.
65 days till Samford. 09.04.10.
I was there
and barely made it out alive
Wants to live in a world where Batting Average goes the way of the Dodo!
yeah, i remember the beer bottles flying into our area
the best was the warchant echoing under the stadium as we all filed out, and the guy who spray paints the score on posters thinking ‘damn im only gonna sell a few of these tonite’. I had that in the back of my car window for at least a month. im glad i took our fan/booster bus package, got to quickly get out of town, drink the whole way back and make it to Calico Jacks for some wings real late.
I should ban you for calling it that
Ponder lacks arm strength? Think again.
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by Bud Elliott on Jul 6, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Actually, the ACC reviewed Childress & Co.’s calls. Only 1 was determined a miscall. The rest were accurate, despite what the Gators wish to believe.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." - Wes Westrum, Mets Manager
That one was pure garbage.
60 days till Samford. 09.04.10.
by DA-2 on Jul 6, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And that's Larry Pendleton with the catch
I work with him from time to time. A word to the wise: Do not ask him about if if you run into him….
"I got a PBS mind in an MTV world"...Jimmy Buffett
by The Ryno and I Know on Jul 6, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
great story
But you make it sound like unc was part of the expansion. And I’m sure you know it was not
And well put re running up the score against lesser opposition
by 000111 on Jul 6, 2010 1:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Excuse me, meant Miami.
Ponder lacks arm strength? Think again.
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For obvious reasons...'93 and '88
Lets start with the easy pick, 1993. (12-1, NC and Heisman Winner)
Charlie Ward, William Floyd, Sean Jackson, Matt Frier, Kevin Knox, Tamarick Vanover, Kez McCorvey, Clifton Abraham, Derrick Alexander, Derrick Brooks, Ken Alexander, Sam Crockett, Henri Crockett. People like Warrick Dunn, Reinard Wilson and Peter Boulware came off the bench and played special teams!
‘88 was our chance… (11-1)
Preseason AP #1. Lose to UM 31-nuts. Went on to dominate the rest of the year and of course there was The Fab 4, Sammy Smith, Dexter Carter, Lawrence Dawsey, Odel Haggins, LeRoy Butler and Brad Johnson. My favorite knickname Dedrick ’Alley Cat’ Dodge. My favorite player of ALL TIME Deion.
My Favorite Nickname:
Without a doubt is Marvin “Shade Tree” Jones, he played linebacker with such an intense disdain for the opposing team, he played mean, and did it very well. An All Time Great Nole, I loved that ’92 team he played on, they paved the way for our first national title.
by NationWideNole on Jul 6, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
'99
’99 was too easy with the first ever wire-to-wire #1.
'99, '93, '94
’99, wire to wire. My dog died that same freaking night, but at least the noles won. Plus I got to rub it in my relatives faces.
’93, I love defensive dominance.
’94, “the fifth quarter in the french quarter”, with the noles pulling out the W and the halfback pass from Warrick is Ellison
Grace I call Your name, Oh won’t Your smile fall over me, I’m cracked and dry on hands and knees, Oh sweet grace rain down on me I need You grace
-Phil Wickham
'93
What a team! The character and heart on that team were off the charts. From the low of losing to ND in South Bend to the redemption in Miami a few weeks later. Hell of a roller coaster ride, but well worth it.
-The goal line stands against Kansas and Clemson
-Blowouts in every game
-Catholics vs. Criminoles
-Warrick Dunn’s swing pass to seal our victory in the swamp
-Charlie Ward’s Heisman celebration in Doak
-Tommy Frasier’s only loss to a Florida team in a bowl…
Man...
I was at that gate catastrophe. I saw people moving in and just followed. Next thing I knew I was gated in with police yelling at everyone. I was then booted from my place in line and had to go to the back. They ran out of tickets about 100 or so people in front of me. Had to pay 50 bucks for a ticket to watch us lose in the rain.That was the most disorganized ticket distribution system in the history of college football. Bad times man, bad times. I remember sitting my couch after the game and my roommate walked in blue faced with purple lips. Stumbled through the door “I threw up in front of a cop” and just kept walking and passed out in his room. Oh college…sometimes I don’t miss you.
Not an alcoholic, just an FSU grad.
I was lucky enough to get in on a block for tix.
But had plenty of buddies that had to do that as well, glad they’ve fixed the system now
they wrote a book about 1991
That season could have been called the empire strikes back, because it ended poorly, but it was awesome to start out with a win at byu against a heisman winner, a win at Michigan against a heisman contender, and the last year of independence. We all knew it was only getting better. We played a lot of cool teams. We had two quarterbacks go pro, T-buck, etc.
1999
Yeah, too easy, but I have so many special memories from that year. I talked about it a bit in the other thread about becoming a fan, but going to Sugar Bowl is one of my favorite memories. I can’t imagine a sports moment in my life ever topping the pass Warrick caught in the end zone to put the game out of reach. I remember when he lined up, he pointed to the sidelines. “Warrick’s about to do something,” I told my dad. Sure enough, the ball is snapped, Warrick takes off down the sideline, and Weinke drops back and lets it go. The entire stadium held their breath. The ball came down into a tangle of Warrick and his defender. My first thought was, “interference”, which the ref confirmed by throwing the flag. And then the ref’s hands when up to signal the score. The FSU side of the stadium erupted. I embraced a complete stranger who smelled of sweat and liquor, but I didn’t care.
That moment is probably why the 1999 team will always be my favorite.
'93 without a doubt
Charlie Ward (Sr.) and Warrick Dunn (Fr.) in the same backfield – Still my two favorite players of all time! We finally won the National Championship (after arguably being the best team in the country at the end of the season several times – Damn Miami!) I was fortunate to be able to attend the Orange Bowl when we won it. The play that I will never forget was against Florida (of course) It was a simple swing pass from Ward to Dunn. We ran that play routinely, almost as an outlet for Charlie when everyone was covered. It worked so well that I think they started to call it to go to Dunn from the get go. Anyhow, what I remember so well was that there were three Florida players who had the angle, who should have been able to make the tackle. Dunn just lit it up down the sideline and toasted them The Florida fans were in complete disbelief. Silence and then the sort of confused muttering of not quite believing what you have just seen. Charlie Ward and Warrick Dunn were simply capable of magic – I don’t know any other way to put it.
There was nothing routine about that play.
It was third down. Florida had scored touchdowns on its last 2 possessions to get back in the game. Charile was awfully close to getting sacked on that play. Then a little flick out to Dunn who had gotten free of the linebacker and it was off to races. Dunn was definitely motoring. He was running toward the corner where I was sitting. Seemed to take an entirenty to get there. What a majic moment for a Noles fan. I was a grad student at Florida that year and proudly wore my national championship t-shirts around Gainesville.
It was third and ten; inside the twenty.
What I remember most is how loud it was in the swamp. Loud and then a pause of silence. Finally, you couldn’t believe how much noise the Noles fans made when Warrick literally skipped into the endzone. The biggest play in the biggest year in Seminole history
'93 and '99 are certainly greats...
For me, ‘96 will always be a special season. The season started out with us ranked #3, behind Nebraska and Tennessee. We kept winning, but the gates jumped up after beating Peyton’s Vols and got the #1 ranking by week 5. The media overwhelmingly regarded them as superior. They came to Doak at the end of the year with the teams ranked #1 and #2, and both teams undefeated (has that ever happened again?). We brutalized Danny Weurffel in that game, and earned the win. I was among the thousands who stormed the field and pulled down the goalposts— perhaps the first time FSU fans pulled down the posts in Doak— my last game at Doak as a student. That was an amazing time.
Unfortunately, what followed that game generally tarnishes the memory… long forgotten is the fact that we played that game without our top 2 running backs. I’ll always wonder why Warrick had such trouble with “cramps” during an indoor game… Still, as seasons go, that one was pretty phenomenal. Also, it provides a nice permanent blemish for that other Florida school— still no undefeated national championship season for them, and we have that shining moment in Doak to thank for that…
Don’t let your memory be tarnished, Florida had the better team that year. We were able to beat them with outstanding defense and Warrick Dunn. I think he got food poisioning in New Orleans. I don’t know if we would’ve beat them a second time with Dunn and/or Preston, although we certainly would’ve had a better chance.
I'll never forget 03
Had a huge party at my house. Went upstairs to sulk after 3rd down fell incomplete. Rix to D-Rob had me running downstairs to celebrate, but once I got down there everyone yelled at me to get back upstairs, haha. Next thing you know Gus Scott is showing us his ballerina skills in the endzone. I SEE YA P.K.!
Shot a Gator in Jean Shorts just to watch him die.
I believe 97' was the year....
Wadsworth was a senior IIRC. Anyways, i remember going to the UNC game that year. On the way into Chapel Hill stood a banner that read"welcome Florida State Penitintiary" We were ranked 3rd and the Tarheels were 5th. I went to a pub called “Bub O’malleys” I was literally a garnet shirt in a sea of Carolina blue. Because i was w/ my cousin(Carolina grad) Everyone was fairly hospitable beyond the typical “you guys are in trouble tonight”
I’ll never forget that game as long as i live, Wadsworth and Spires? terrorized Oscar Davenport all game as we put the Tarheels in a defensive stranglehold. End result was 20-3 i believe. After the game i went to a deserted Bub O’malleys and had a few beers. Pretty sure the bartender wouldn’t have served me if my cousin didn’t used to work there.
If i’m not mistaken,that’s the same year Wadsworth/Spires played high/low w/ Ohio State’s QB in our bowl game.
Like Bud pointed out, there were so many memories from the 80’s & 90’s so picking out one season is hard.
......and let the paramedics sort 'em out!
Has to be the '93 team
First national championship team and a team of players including Warrick Dunn, Marvin Jones, Clifton Abraham, Derrick Brooks, Corey Sawyer, and Charlie Ward. After the stings of Wide Right 1 and 2, winning a national championship was sweet. The 91-93 season could have seen 3 titles and FSU finished second the previous year. This team was so good it started the season with scores of 42–0, 45–7, 57–0, 33–7, and 51–0. I’ll never forget winning the Orange Bowl against Nebraska in Miami’s backyard and partying ’til the sun came up in South Beach.
"We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." - Vince Lombardi
2003, 1999, 1998, 1997(minus the Gators getting a rematch)1993
2003 was the last great Seminole team and in hindsight the reasons why we lost those three games ended up being the reason why JB and BB eventually got fired.
Ah Greg Jones
His success makes you wonder why they did not recruit more big guys after him. He had an injury that kept him from a 1,000 yard season I believe. Having to come back from that and share snaps, as few as running backs saw, with Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker had to have sucked. Airing it out was one thing the 2003 offense seemed to know how to do…I digress though.
1994 & 1995
That offense is the reason why every football game i play (Madden,NCAA) i look for a Shotgun formation w/ 2 backs & an “I” formation 3 wide. Whatever happened to “Rock” Preston???
Beyond the obvious National Title years, 1998 was a special season for me. After that NC State loss we improved each week and it was a lot of fun to see a group that we had written off early on (of course our expectations were much different back then) go so far. Even though it ended with a loss, seeing the Rooster beat the Gators and then all the pieces fall into place for us on Championship Saturday are some of my favorite college football memories.
2003 was a great one as well. That was my 2nd year at FSU and I went to 8 of our games that season. It was all an illusion of course, but for awhile during that season it seemed like we were turning a corner.
Obviously, the National Championship teams were great.
How about the team that started the Dynasty run—1987. We were 7-4-1 the year before and played in the All-American Bowl. In 1987, we came within a two-point conversion of winning the National Championship. This team was the first to beat Florida after 6 straight losses. They also won at Michagan State and at Auburn. Despite the loss to Miami, I still remember how excited everyone was that we were going to the Fiesta Bowl . It was our first New Year’s Day bowl since the 1981 Orange Bowl. We ended up beating Nebraska in a very exciting game and finished the season ranked 2d.
1989 - Peter Tom and his gang
P.T. is still one of my favorite all-time Noles. Stunned by Brett Favre and Southern Miss in the opener. Humiliated by Clemson in game two. Somehow this team pulled it together to win 10 straight including back to back nighttime Doak thrillers vs Auburn and Miami (who went on to beat UND to win a spot in the title game and win yet another title). I don’t know how to do it, but someone needs to find the clip of Dexter Carter putting the penalty flag on Tiger McMillon"s head. The look on his face is priceless.
Tiger McMillon was a Nole...
I cannot remember the UM dude’s name, but it is a personal favorite of FrankD. He has posted the clip on this site previously and I am pretty sure if he reads this he will post it again. I could search for it, but need to get back to work!
What happens when you get old.
Sorry Tiger McMillon. At least I didn’t say Tiger Woods!
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