Rating FSU’s best-ever video games: 30-21

Across 898 video games and 80 seasons within the books, there have been loads of memorable moments within the story of Florida State Seminoles soccer.

The problem we issued to you was serving to slim them down, establishing the 50 finest Seminole video games. It was a tough process, however one that you just all helped make occur.

Now, week by week, we’ll be revealing every of the video games that you just voted as one of the best in Florida State soccer historical past. Last week, we revealed video games 40-31 within the sequence.

Now, issues actually start to choose up with 30-21, together with some signature Jimbo Fisher (and one Mike Norvell) moments, the top of among the best teaching careers in school soccer historical past and an entire bunch of different historical past.

FSU’s best-ever video games: 30-21

Ask a Florida State fan concerning the 29-game unbeaten streak surrounding the 2013-14 seasons they usually begin to get sentimental like Vince McMahon in that one clip. Doubly so due to the present state of issues.

But as resilient as that 2014 group was — with its capability to kick issues into excessive gear when wanted to tug one other win out — the streak would have ended at 21 video games have been it not for a shocking (however appropriate) officiating determination towards Notre Dame on Oct. 14.

It was No. 2 vs. No. 5 at Doak Campbell Stadium — form of loopy {that a} group on a 20-game profitable streak wasn’t No. 1 however this isn’t the time for that discourse — and the sport lived as much as the hype.

Despite a powerful recreation from Notre Dame QB Everett Golson, who can be a Seminole the next season, FSU took its first lead of the sport, 31-27, on Karlos Williams’ 1-yard landing run with 7:39 left. Notre Dame’s first would-be recreation profitable drive stalled out however the second appeared to seek out paydirt after a fourth-and-18 conversion when Golson discovered Corey Robinson for a go-ahead 2-yard landing cross with 13 seconds left.

However, an offensive cross interference penalty for a choose play negated the landing. The eardrum-shattering eruption when the penalty was introduced often is the loudest Doak has ever been.

The ensuing fourth-and-long was intercepted, and the Seminoles pulled off one other wild escape to increase their streak after an all-timer.

FSU’s 2022 win over LSU in New Orleans was a serious step ahead for Mike Norvell. After two seasons that confirmed gradual progress, it was the primary signal of the heights he may construct a program to.

That season ended with a 10-3 document and constructed fairly a hype machine across the Seminoles coming into 2023. Safe to say they paid that off within the second-half of their neutral-and-neutral sequence towards LSU in Orlando.

No. 8 FSU didn’t simply beat No. 5 LSU. It demolished the Tigers, working away with a press release victory. I can’t say I really remembered till penning this that FSU trailed 17-14 at halftime. The Seminoles responded by rattling off the primary 31 factors of the second half, pitching a shutout over the ultimate half-hour have been it not freshman reserves giving up a protracted landing.

Jordan Travis seemed just like the Heisman frontrunner he had been evolving in the direction of. Michigan State switch Keon Coleman (122 yards, three landing catches) had a debut for the ages. The protection totally stifled an LSU offense helmed by Jayden Daniels, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy.

It was a end result of years of constructing below Norvell. And one may argue it was the final time FSU was that near the highest of faculty soccer given how the season performed out and ended.

Everyone thought 2016 can be the season FSU’s run of BCS bowl appearances would come to an finish.

That group began 3-2, crushed at Louisville with College Gameday in attendance and shedding to North Carolina at house on a walk-off discipline purpose. The bloom was beginning to come off the Jimbo rose.

But a four-game win streak to complete the season paired with Louisville falling off a cliff paved the best way for FSU to make its fifth straight New Year’s Six bowl as a landing underdog towards No. 6 Michigan.

It was not at all a dominant displaying for the Eleventh-ranked Seminoles. Deondre Francois was 9-of-27 passing for 222 yards. But it was actually a clutch efficiency late.

Dalvin Cook, getting an FSU send-off in his hometown, racked up 145 yards and a rating. Nyqwan Murray had two catches, each of which went for touchdowns. The protection held Michigan to 252 yards of offense.

The latter Murray rating, a game-winning 12-yard landing catch with 36 seconds remaining, was arrange by what must be one of many funnier on-field moments in FSU soccer historical past, a 65-yard kickoff return by Keith Gavin on a play the place his fellow return man, Kermit Whitfield, visibly jumped in frustration when he didn’t keep ultimately zone for a touchback.

It’s factor Gavin didn’t hear.

One can quibble with the best way it was completed, however I feel we will all agree it was time for Florida State to maneuver on from Bobby Bowden by the point the 2010 season was winding down.

After FSU received double-digit video games yearly between 1987-2000, it did so simply as soon as within the following 9 seasons. That season started with a 2-4 begin which included a hapless house loss towards USF.

With coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher ready within the wings, ready any longer may have price them the possibility to maintain him.

When FSU went down 14-3 within the first quarter of the Gator Bowl towards the Mountaineers, it appeared he wasn’t going to exit within the correct method. But maybe understanding of what was at stake, the Seminoles took complete management of the sport from there, scoring 30 of the sport’s remaining 37 factors — with Jermaine Thomas speeding for 2 touchdowns — over the ultimate three quarters to ship Bowden off, fittingly, as a winner.

While it might not have ended within the method Bowden desired, he was proven the suitable stage of adoration within the second, carried off the sector by his gamers in entrance of a pro-FSU crowd grateful to indicate Bowden love for the person who put their soccer program on the map.

After every of the prior two Florida State-Miami video games got here right down to the wire earlier than ending in heartbreak for the Seminoles with missed discipline objectives, they have been determined to not have one other recreation at risk of additional heartbreak when the third-ranked Hurricanes got here to face the No. 1 Seminoles in Tallahassee on Oct. 9, 1993.

The group delivered after which some, breaking by with a cushty win towards Miami on the best way to its first nationwide title later that season.

Sean Jackson set the tone lower than 4 minutes in with a 69-yard landing run. Charlie Ward discovered Matt Frier for a 72-yard landing late within the first quarter that gave the Seminoles the lead for good earlier than Ward made it 21-7 with a 2-yard rating early within the second quarter.

While it was already near over at 21-10 FSU within the dwindling minutes of the fourth quarter, Devin Bush drilled the ultimate nail within the coffin with a 40-yard choose six.

It might have been simply FSU’s second win within the rivalry over the span of seven straight top-10 matchups between 1987-93, but it surely got here with sufficient catharsis to final a lifetime.

Speaking of catharsis, I wasn’t alive when FSU performed at Florida in 1977 however one can think about that feeling permeated by Tallahassee within the aftermath of this recreation.

When Bobby Bowden arrived at FSU forward of the 1976 season, the Seminoles have been on an eight-game shedding streak towards the Gators, with three of these final 4 losses by 26-plus factors.

After his unranked, 2-3 1976 group gave No. 12 Florida a scare in a 33-26 loss, he broke by in Year 2.

His FSU group was ascending, nineteenth within the AP ballot, whereas Florida was falling, unranked this time. So it wasn’t a complete shock when the Seminoles walloped the Gators in Gainesville.

A 17-9 recreation at half thanks to a few UF discipline objectives was put to mattress in a 20-0 second half. Roger Overby caught three of his 5 profession landing passes on this recreation, with Larry Key tacking on 143 speeding yards.

After what had been a one-sided rivalry — UF misplaced simply two of the primary 19 video games within the sequence — due to Florida’s sizable soccer head begin, this marked the second when the enjoying discipline grew to become basically stage, kicking off a four-game FSU profitable streak over the Gators.

Were it not for a powerful comeback and a memorable late landing in Tempe, Ariz., FSU’s dynasty run of the late 1980’s into the 90’s might not have begun when it did, if in any respect.

The Seminoles’ solely blemish on their 10-1 season coming into this recreation was a one-point loss to Miami. And but, third-ranked FSU discovered itself in a 14-0 gap late within the first quarter towards Nebraska after a 62-yard punt return landing.

Danny McManus wasn’t rattled by the gradual begin, throwing for 375 yards — on the time a Fiesta Bowl document — and three touchdowns. The final of these scores, a 15-yard strike to Ronald Lewis, capped off a 97-yard drive and gave the Seminoles the lead for good with 3:07 left.

The win secured a No. 2 end for FSU within the AP ballot, three spots higher than it had ever wound up within the remaining ballot. It additionally marked the beginning of FSU’s document run of 14 straight top-five finishes.

Some (not me, for what it’s value) might argue towards The Choke at Doak being a high recreation in FSU soccer historical past as a result of all it did was see the Seminoles rally from 28 factors down within the fourth quarter to tie rival Florida in the course of the 1994 season.

But in actuality, the Seminoles needed to wait simply six weeks to finish the comeback after they have been slated to interrupt the tie and face off towards the Gators when each groups have been positioned into that season’s Sugar Bowl after the fateful tie ended each of their common seasons.

The first-ever postseason matchup between the in-state rivals was received on the shoulders of a heroic Warrick Dunn efficiency. He had 182 all-purpose yards and was answerable for FSU’s first landing cross, a 73-yard throw to Omar Ellison.

FSU was outgained 454-401 however made up the distinction with a 3-0 margin in pressured turnovers — together with Derrick Brooks’ game-sealing interception — and three made discipline objectives from Dan Mowrey.

If the Choke at Doak and the Fifth Quarter within the French Quarter might be linked right into a single recreation, it might have a powerful case for No. 1 on this record.

The 2000s have been a tricky decade to be a Florida State soccer fan, with the Seminoles fading after their outstanding run whereas Florida rose to energy below Urban Meyer, profitable nationwide titles in 2006 and 2008.

The 2010 matchup in Tallahassee, although, marked a turning level again within the Seminoles’ course. After a six-game shedding streak to UF — with 4 of the six by 27-plus factors — it was FSU that laid down the beating this time.

The Gators’ solely landing got here within the first quarter earlier than FSU surged forward with a 21-point second quarter. Christian Ponder threw for 3 touchdowns, whereas UF QB John Brantley — who had the unlucky honor of following Tim Tebow — accomplished 6 of 12 passes for 52 yards.

FSU’s protection allowed 276 yards and compelled 4 turnovers.

That this was Meyer’s remaining recreation at Florida earlier than asserting he can be resigning as head coach in early December was simply the cherry on high.

The two-game stretch that basically put FSU soccer on the map nationally might have come in the midst of the 1980 season.

After an 18-14 highway upset of No. 3 Nebraska, the Seminoles, as much as Eleventh within the AP ballot, got here house to face one other third-ranked group, this time a positively loaded Pittsburgh squad which included 23 future NFL draft picks, seven of whom have been taken within the first spherical.

But a Pitt protection which held 9 of 12 groups it performed that season to single-digit factors was no match for Bowden’s offense that day because the Seminoles ran away with a shocking upset.

While Pitt’s Dan Marino can be the one to go onto a profession as an all-time NFL quarterback, FSU starter Rick Stockstill owned the day, throwing three landing passes with no interceptions. Sam Platt ran for 123 yards and Bill Capece made his first 5 discipline objectives of the day for the Seminoles, serving to them out when ending drives proved tough towards a stifling Pitt protection.

That wound up as Pitt’s solely lack of the season, costing them their probability at a second nationwide title in 5 seasons because the Panthers completed the season second within the AP ballot.

It additionally set the tone for FSU’s finest AP ballot end up to now that season at No. 5.