Over 67 years of football action, the Florida State Seminoles have come to be known as a national power. The Seminoles have won three national championships, 27 bowls games while producing numerous consensus All-Americans. Although Florida State has returned to the top of the college football world, it wasn’t until the 1960’s that FSU finally got its first real taste of football success. Here’s a look at its best win each season during that decade:
1960
Richmond 0, Florida State 28
September 17th, 1960
Although Florida State won only three games in head coach Bill Peterson’s first season, the first game of the Peterson era was won in convincing fashion. The Seminoles dominated the 1960 season-opener, rushing for over 200 yards while forcing four Richmond turnovers.
1961
Georgia 0, Florida State 3
October 14th, 1961
In a game dominated by defense, an early field goal would be enough as Florida State blanked Georgia in 1961. The Seminoles won despite just 168 yards of total offense and only 17 yards passing. Doug Messer’s 25-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter would account for the game’s only score as the Seminoles went on to finish 4-5-1 that season.
1962
Florida State 18, Georgia 0
October 20th, 1962
The first road victory for Florida State under Bill Peterson came in 1962 in Athens. The FSU defense forced seven turnovers as the Seminoles blanked the Bulldogs for a second straight season. Florida State led just 3-0 at halftime, but built breathing room late in the third quarter with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Feely to Hank Sytsma. Dave Snyder’s 20-yard interception return for a touchdown with just over four minutes to play put the exclamation point on the win.
1963
Miami 0, Florida State 24
September 20th, 1963
Prior to the start of 1963, Florida State had defeated Miami just once. The Seminoles and Hurricanes opened the 1963 season against one another in a contest dominated by FSU from the get-go. A pair of first half touchdown passes from Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff gave Florida State a 14-0 halftime lead and the Seminole defense did the rest. With Florida State leading 17-0 late, Miami was on the verge of breaking up the shutout before Biletnikoff intercepted Miami’s George Mira near the goal line and raced 99 yards the other way for the game’s final score.
1964
Florida 7, Florida State 16
November 21st, 1964
Entering the 1964 season, Florida State had never defeated rival Florida. With the contest that season in Tallahassee, the Seminoles arrived 7-1-1 and ranked 12th in the nation while the Gators came in 14th. After a scoreless first quarter, the Seminoles would set the tone with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff. A pair of Les Murdock field goals gave FSU a 13-0 lead, but Florida sought to make things interesting as Jack Harper scored from six yards out with over nine minutes to play. Murdock added a third field goal to put the contest away as the ‘Noles topped the Gators for the first time ever. Florida State would cap its stellar season with a 36-19 win over Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl.
1965
Georgia 3, Florida State 10
October 16th, 1965
The University of Georgia arrived in Tallahassee ranked fifth in the nation in 1965, but the Seminole defense proved to be simply too much. Florida State held Georgia to just 134 yards, but trailed 3-0 entering the fourth quarter. On the first play of the final period, Bill Moremen raced 20 yards for a touchdown and the Seminoles never looked back. The 10-3 victory that day gave Florida State its first win ever over a top 5 opponent.
1966
Florida State 23, Miami 20
September 24th, 1966
After opening the 1966 season with a loss to Houston, Florida State headed south to face 15th-ranked Miami. Florida State trailed early, but scored 17 second quarter points with spectacular touchdowns from Ron Sellers and T.K. Wetherell. Miami led 20-17 after three quarters, but Gary Pajcic’s second touchdown pass of the day — a 27-yard strike to Thurston Taylor — gave the Seminoles the lead for good. The narrow victory would be the third straight for Florida State over the rival Hurricanes.
1967
Florida State 21, Florida 16
November 25th, 1967
Florida State first defeated rival Florida in 1964, but not until 1967 did the Seminoles earn their first win in Gainesville. Florida drew first blood early on, but throughout the day, the Gators had no answer for quarterback Kim Hammond or receiver Ron Sellers. Hammond passed for a touchdown and rushed for another in the first half to give Florida State a 14-3 halftime lead. Florida cut the lead to five in the third quarter, but Hammond’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Sellers early in the fourth quarter would propel FSU to its first ever victory at Florida. While Hammond accounted for three scores, Sellers finished the day with seven catches for 153 yards in the win.
1968
Houston 20, Florida State 40 (Jacksonville)
November 29th, 1968
Houston was ranked 10th as it met Florida State in Jacksonville for the 1968 regular season finale. The Cougars were 6-1-2 entering the contest, but were dominated by the Seminoles from the opening kickoff. FSU racked up over 500 yards of offense and built a 25-0 halftime lead. Bill Cappleman enjoyed the best day ever for a Florida State quarterback, throwing for 351 yards and four touchdowns. Ron Sellers was the recipient of 14 of Cappleman’s 25 completions and finished with 214 yards receiving in the win.
1969
South Carolina 9, Florida State 34
November 1st, 1969
In 1969 — long before Florida State joined the conference — South Carolina ruled the ACC. Against the Seminoles in Tallahassee however, the Gamecocks proved to be no match. South Carolina led 3-0 after a quarter, but Florida State scored the game’s next 27 points before running away with a 25-point victory. Tom Bailey and Paul Magaliski combined for 224 yards rushing and three total touchdowns. FSU forced four turnovers in the victory including an interception that was returned 27 yards for a touchdown by John Montgomery.
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