Date: October 4th, 2008

Location: Dolphin Stadium (currently known as Hard Rock Stadium), Miami Gardens, Florida

Opponent: Miami Hurricanes

Florida State traveled to Miami’s new stadium after the demolition of the Orange Bowl for for a 3:30 pm ABC showdown with its hated rival; the Miami Hurricanes. With both programs struggling: FSU during the last stages of Bobby Bowden’s career and Miami in its second season under Randy Shannon there was not a lot of national attention on the game but the rivalry was as heated as ever.

FSU jumped all over Miami in this game racing to a huge lead behind the dominant rushing attack of Christian Ponder and Antone Smith. In the first half it was all FSU all the time:

Florida State scored the game’s first 24 points gaining a 440-256 edge in total yards in the first 29 minutes.

Yet with 1:07 left in the first half FSU made an odd decision. They decided to do a short kick-off which lead to a short Miami field goal as time expired in the first half. Randy Shannon called it a huge confidence booster; which it was. Miami proceeded to outscore FSU 29-10 over the next twenty-five minutes leaving FSU clinging to a 34-32 lead with just over four minutes left in the game.

On third and goal from the fifteen FSU proceeded to throw a fade to Greg Carr which resulted in a touchdown only for it to be called back because of a false start penalty. Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher was prepared to concede not getting a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 20 intending on setting up a short field goal when this happened:

It’s only fitting that in the first edition of the rivalry in Miami’s new stadium that a Pahokee boy like Antone Smith would crush the Hurricanes’ hopes of beating FSU that year. Because of that play and many other late-game heroics that you’re likely to see on the countdown Miami still hasn’t beaten FSU in its new stadium; in fact the last time Miami won a home game vs. Florida State was in 2004.