Throughout the years, Florida State has become one of the revered football programs throughout the country. The Seminoles have certainly had great coaches in Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher as well as many great players. Sometimes forgotten however, is the number of great nicknames that have come through the program. Here is a list of just some of FSU’s great football nicknames:
Known as “The Weed”, Gary Cismesia holds the FSU record for longest field goal. (Seminoles.com)
Gary “The Weed” Cismesia
Kicker, 2004-07
A four-year starter as Florida State’s kicker, Gary Cismesia came to be known as “The Weed” because of a growth spurt he hit at a young age. In four years at FSU, Cismesia made 75 percent of his field goal attempts including a school-record 60-yarder against Florida during the 2007 regular season finale.
Lee “Sunshine Scooter” Corso
Quarterback/Cornerback, 1953-57
A two-sport star at Florida State, Lee Corso played on both sides of the football for the Seminoles in the mid-1950s. A Miami native, Corso was nicknamed, “the Sunshine Scooter” for his blazing speed. During his career at FSU, Corso recorded 14 interceptions — a school-record that would last for two decades. Corso was Florida State’s leading rusher in 1955 and its leading passer in 1956. Corso would later go on to have an extensive coaching career and is now a co-host of College Gameday on ESPN.
Marvin “Shade Tree” Jones
Linebacker, 1990-92
A two-time All-American and the 1992 Butkus Award winner, Marvin Jones remains one of the greatest players ever to play at Florida State. Jones would go on to have an 11-year NFL career and was named an All-Pro with the New York Jets in 2000. Jones was given the nickname “Shade Tree” by his teammates after he was spotted resting under a tree following a Florida State practice early on in his career.
Ron “Lucky” Lunford
Tackle, 2001-05
At 360 pounds, Ron Lunford was a versatile offensive lineman that could play either guard or tackle. Lunford was never a big star at FSU, but had a well-known nickname in “Lucky”. Lunford was given the nickname after nearly drowning in a swimming pool at the age of six. A friend’s uncle revived Lunford by performing CPR. Lunford was lucky to be alive, hence the nickname.
Marvin “Snoop” Minnis
Wide Receiver, 1997-2000
After three years in the shadow of Peter Warrick, Ron Dugans and Laveranues Coles, Marvin “Snoop” Minnis was an All-American in 2000, leading the nation with 1,340 yards receiving. Minnis was given the nickname “Snoop” by his mother because as a kid, he was always snooping around and getting into things. Minnis finished his career with 17 touchdown grabs and was a member of the 1999 national championship team.
“The Rooster” Marcus Outzen started the 1999 Fiesta Bowl for Florida State. (AP Photo)
Marcus “The Rooster” Outzen
Quarterback, 1996-2000
Nicknamed “the Rooster”, Marcus Outzen spent the majority of his Florida State career as the backup to eventual Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke. Outzen was given the nickname “The Rooster” due to a buzz cut he sported with his red hair. While Outzen didn’t get much time on the field, he did engineer a comeback to beat rival Florida in 1998 after Weinke had went down with a neck injury earlier in the year. Outzen passed for 167 yards that day including a tipped 32-yard touchdown pass to Peter Warrick that put the Seminoles ahead for good in a 23-12 victory. Outzen would start against Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl later in the year for the BCS national championship, but struggled in a 23-16 loss.
“Old School” Rod Owens
Wide Receiver, 2005-09
Nicknamed “Old School” for his love of old music, his work ethic and his wardrobe, wide receiver Rod Owens spent five years in Tallahassee. Owens struggled to get reps early on, but as a senior, led the team with 61 receptions for 729 yards. In a Thursday night match-up against North Carolina in October of 2009, Owens tied a school-record by scoring on a 98-yard touchdown reception from Christian Ponder. Owens set a career-high that night with 199 yards receiving as FSU rallied from 18 points down to beat the Tar Heels, 30-27.
“Prime Time” Deion Sanders
Cornerback, 1985-88
Deion Sanders was one of the more exhilarating players to play at Florida State before blossoming into a NFL Hall of Fame cornerback and maybe the best cover-man ever to play the position. Sanders scored three touchdowns on punt returns during his FSU career with the most notable coming at Clemson in 1988. Prior to the punt, Sanders told Clemson players that he was going to score on the play and proceeded to do so, going 76 yards. Sanders was a two-time All-American who concluded his career with an interception in the end zone against Auburn to seal Florida State’s 13-7 victory in the 1989 Sugar Bowl. Sanders was given the nickname “Prime Time” by a high school teammate that used to play basketball against Sanders during the prime time television hours.
“Deuce” or Antone Smith led the ACC in rushing touchdowns in 2008. (AP Photo)
Antone Smith aka “Deuce”
Running Back, 2005-08
After wearing the number 2 during his high school days at Pahokee High School, Antone Smith came to be known as “Deuce”. With an uncanny ability to break off the big run, Smith led the Seminoles in rushing in each of his final two seasons. As a senior in 2008, Smith led the ACC with 15 rushing touchdowns.
Ron “Farooq” Simmons
Defensive Tackle, 1977-80
Nose guard Ron Simmons was a two-time All-American at Florida State and became one of the first stars to play for Bobby Bowden. Simmons helped the Seminoles rise to national prominence and helped FSU complete a perfect regular season in 1979. While he was not known as “Farooq” during his football days, he made a name for himself in the wrestling arena long after his playing career was over. Under the ring names “Farooq” and “Farooq Asad”, Simmons became the first African American heavyweight champion in both WCW and WWE history.
Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield
Wide Receiver, 2013-Present
The 5’7″ wide receiver Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield is a two-sport star that also serves as a member of Florida State’s track team. Despite being mostly a special teamer, Whitfield has already shown a knack for making big plays. In the 2014 BCS National Championship, Whitfield’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown gave the Seminoles a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter against SEC Champion Auburn. The nickname “Kermit” was given to Whitfield as a kid due to his love for the character on “The Muppet Show”.
“Pooh Bear” Williams (left) scored 12 touchdowns for the Seminoles in 1995. (AP Photo)
Clarence “Pooh Bear” Williams
Fullback, 1993-96
Clarence “Pooh Bear” Williams was a 295-pound fullback that served as the lead-blocker for Warrick Dunn and a short yardage specialist. Despite averaging just 2.8 yards-per-carry in 1995, Williams scored 12 rushing touchdowns. Williams would eventually quit the team due to weight issues, but did have a brief NFL career with the Buffalo Bills. Williams got the nickname from his father, who would say, “here’s your little pooh bear” when dropping him off at his grandmother’s.
“Famous” Jameis Winston
Quarterback, 2012-Present
Although his mother nicknamed his “Jaboo”, adding “Famous” in front of the name Jameis only seemed natural to Florida State fans in the case of Jameis Winston. A heralded recruit out of high school, Winston made his own fame in 2013 leading the Seminoles to an undefeated season, an ACC title and the BCS National Championship. Winston passed for 40 touchdowns and became the second freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in as many years.
