From Florida State’s 37-point beatdown of Clemson in Death Valley to Kelvin Benjamin’s leaping grab to give the Seminoles their first national championship in more than a decade, 2013 was a season that will be remembered in Tallahassee for a long, long time.
While Florida State was one of more dominant teams in all of college football throughout the 1990s, the Seminoles’ return to the top was not an easy nor a short one. 2013 was certainly a year to be remembered, but where it ranks as far as the most significant seasons in FSU history is certainly up for debate.
With the outlook of a promising 2014 campaign roughly five months away, here is a look at the five most significant seasons in Florida State football history:
Head coach Bill Peterson stands with quarterback Steve Tensi (left) and receiver Fred Biletnikoff (right). (Nolefan.org)
5. 1964
Record: 9-1-1
Final Ranking: N/A in AP, 11th in Coaches Poll
It wasn’t until 1964 that Florida State had its first real taste of football success. With head coach Bill Peterson at the helm, the Seminoles won nine games — a school-record that would last for 13 years. The Seminoles were offensively led by All-American wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff while the FSU defense pitched four shutouts. Florida State earned his first ever victory over rival Florida with a 16-7 win in Tallahassee and notched its first bowl win by beating Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl, 36-19.
4. 1979
Record: 11-1
Final Ranking: 6th in AP, 8th in Coaches Poll
In Bobby Bowden’s fourth year as the head man at Florida State, the Seminoles had become a national power. All-American defensive tackle Ron Simmons and Monk Bonasorte starred for the Florida State defense while running back Mark Lyles became just the second Seminole to run for more than 1,000 yards. FSU completed a perfect regular season and ascended to as high as fourth in the rankings before falling to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, 24-7.
Virginia Tech had no answer for Peter Warrick in the 2000 Sugar Bowl. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
3. 1999
Record: 12-0
Final Ranking: 1st in AP, 1st in Coaches Poll
Florida State had already had a national championship to its name in 1999, but had failed to capture a perfect season. With a defense that had plenty of speed and depth and an offense that had talented receiver Peter Warrick and future Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke at quarterback, the Seminoles went unblemished for the first time in school history. Florida State rallied for road wins at Clemson and Florida before earning a second straight trip to the BCS National Championship. FSU trailed Virginia Tech by a point heading into the fourth quarter of the Sugar Bowl, but outscored the Hokies 18-0 in the final period. Warrick’s juggling touchdown grab highlighted the Florida State rally while the defensive front that featured Jamal Reynolds and Corey Simon finally found a way to slow Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. FSU’s 46-29 victory in New Orleans avenged a Fiesta Bowl defeat the previous season and capped the Seminoles’ first and only perfect season under the legendary Bobby Bowden.
2. 2013
Record: 14-0
Final Ranking: 1st in AP, 1st in Coaches Poll
Florida State had overcome a decade of heartache to win its first ACC title in seven years in 2012, but a bit of a drop-off was expected in 2013. The tenacious Florida State defense was led by All-Americans in cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan. Quarterback Jameis Winston became FSU’s third Heisman Trophy winner and the second freshman in as many years to earn the award. The Seminoles breezed through the regular season collecting the largest win ever by a visitor at Clemson and wins over rivals Miami and Florida by a combined 57 points. After beating Duke 45-7 to win the ACC, the Seminoles rallied from a 21-3 deficit against SEC champion, Auburn in the BCS National Championship. Winston overcame a sluggish night to take the Seminoles 80 yards in just over a minute. After a 49-yard catch by Rashad Greene moved FSU into Auburn territory, Winston found Kelvin Benjamin from two yards out with 13 seconds remaining to give the Seminoles a 34-31 win and their first national championship in 14 years. FSU had finally returned to the top of the college football world.
Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden celebrates his first national championship after beating Nebraska in the 1994 Orange Bowl. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)
1. 1993
Record: 12-1
Final Ranking: 1st in AP, 1st in Coaches Poll
1993 was a year of firsts for Florida State. Senior quarterback Charlie Ward had become the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner and looked to earn FSU its first national championship. At Ward’s disposal was receiver Kez McCorvey, the electrifying Tamarick Vanover and a talented freshman tailback named Warrick Dunn. With All-American Derrick Brooks at linebacker and Clifton Abraham and Corey Sawyer in the secondary, the Seminoles’ defense notched four shutouts. FSU began the year ranked first, but a loss to #2 Notre Dame in November left a championship in doubt. The Seminoles returned to the top of the poll after the Fighting Irish’s stunning 41-39 loss to Boston College a week later. After holding off Florida 33-21 in the regular season finale, FSU met undefeated Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Florida State trailed 16-15 in the fourth quarter, but Ward led a late drive to set up a short field goal by freshman kicker Scott Bentley. Head coach Bobby Bowden was dumped with Gatorade after Nebraska’s Troy Bell was tackled at the FSU 28-yard-line with no time remaining. The Cornhuskers were given an extra second, but kicker Byron Bennett’s 45-yard field goal attempt sailed way left and the Seminoles escaped with an 18-16 victory to earn the school’s first football national championship.
