Staying four years is no longer incredibly common for major college football players. Too often today, the nation’s top prospects are quick to leave school early and enter the NFL Draft. Florida State’s senior class has been part of one of the more incredible spans for a program with a very storied football history. In a series called “Senior Moments”, we’ll be looking back at the top 5 moments from key members of the winningest senior class in Florida State history.
Rashad Greene’s first catch as a Seminole went for a touchdown and since then, the memories have continued to flow for one of the greatest yet more humble players ever to don the garnet and gold. Greene will leave Tallahassee as not only one of the school’s most clutch receivers, but the all-time leader in receptions and receiving yardage. Barring a miracle, Greene will also become the first Seminole ever to be the team’s leading receiver for four straight years. Narrowing down the five greatest moments wasn’t easy for a guy who has been at the forefront of the Seminoles’ resurgence, but here they are:
5. Greene Passes Sellers
Boston College 17, Florida State 20
November 22nd, 2014
Playing with an injured arm in a 17-17 game, Rashad Greene as usual came up big when he had to against Boston College on Senior Day 2014 in Tallahassee. With Florida State looking to mount a last second victory and Greene needing just one receiving yard to become the school’s career leader, Greene caught a 15-yard pass from Jameis Winston to pass the legendary Ron Sellers to become the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards. The grab also put Florida State in field goal range as kicker Roberto Aguayo would knock through the game-winner with three seconds left to give the Seminoles a victory and preserve a 27-game winning streak.
4. Game-winner against Notre Dame
Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14
December 29th, 2011
Florida State fell behind 14-0 in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando against Notre Dame, but a field goal by Dustin Hopkins and a touchdown by Bert Reed had drawn the Seminoles to within five. After FSU linebacker Nigel Bradham intercepted Notre Dame quarterback Andrew Hendrix with 14 minutes to play and returned it to the red zone, it took Rashad Greene just two plays to put the Seminoles ahead for good. On 2nd-and-7 from the Fighting Irish 15-yard-line, Greene made an acrobatic catch on a pass from quarterback E.J. Manuel to put FSU ahead for good in what would be an 18-14 Seminole victory.
3. A Career-Long Catch
Clemson 17, Florida State 23 (Overtime)
September 20th, 2014
Things looked bleak for defending national champion Florida State. Against Clemson in the 2014 ACC opener with quarterback Jameis Winston suspended, the Seminoles trailed 17-10 with just over six minutes remaining and faced a 2nd-and-24 from their own 26. On that second down play, Greene was able to beat a Clemson defender and reel in a pass from Sean Maguire and race for a touchdown on a career-long 74-yard reception. The score tied the game and Florida State was able to eventually win the in overtime, 23-17.
2. Thursday Night Season-saver
Florida State 28, Virginia Tech 22
November 8th, 2012
Florida State’s hopes of a first ACC title in seven years were slipping away on a Thursday night in 2012 as the Seminoles trailed Virginia Tech 22-20 with time running out. A short run on fourth down from James Wilder Jr. kept the Florida State hopes alive and with FSU at the Virginia Tech 39-yard-line, Greene caught a pass from E.J. Manuel on an in route and raced 39 yards for a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining. Tyler Hunter sealed the game with an interception of Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and less than a month later, the Seminoles were ACC champions.
1. Greene Puts Florida State in Championship Range
Auburn 31, Florida State 34
January 6th, 2014
Florida State had erased a 21-3 deficit in the final BCS National Championship against Auburn, but the Tigers regained the lead with just over a minute to play. With the Seminoles’ championship hopes hanging in the balance, Greene took a short pass from quarterback Jameis Winston, split two Auburn defenders and raced 49 yards to the Auburn 23-yard-line. Five plays later, Greene would draw an interference call to put Florida State at the two. On the next play, Winston found Kelvin Benjamin in the end zone with 13 seconds remaining to give Florida State its first national championship in 14 years.
