History of FSU Football - Thirty Years Ago, 1981: "Octoberfest"
By Jim Joanos
Thirty years ago, in the Summer of 1981, similar to this summer, Florida State football fans were looking forward to a new season of college football. A big difference existed, however, in that in 1981, FSU was just beginning to enjoy its elitist position among the powerhouse football teams of the country. It was unlike this summer in which the Seminoles already enjoy an accepted position of national prominence and look forward with a great deal of confidence to a schedule that seems to be mostly manageable. The 1981 fans instead were looking forward to the toughest schedule in school history, up to that point, with a team that returned very few starters from the previous season. An especially tough portion of that schedule would come to be called, "Octoberfest." The 1981 Florida State football team, in its third game of the season would play at Nebraska, have a week off, and then on successive Saturdays in October, play Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and LSU, all on the road. Longtime FSU fans regard "Octoberfest" among the most important events in FSU's football history. It is the time when the team first became widely regarded as "the road warriors" of college football and fans would boast that the Seminoles would "play anybody, anytime, anywhere."
The 1979 and 1980 teams had been ranked nationally and both had played in the Orange Bowl. But going into the season of 1981, the team only returned three starters each on offense and defense. The 1981 season was expected to be merely a "rebuilding" year. The season began with FSU beating Louisville, 17-0, and Memphis State, 10-5, at home. FSU lost the third game at Nebraska, 34 to 14. As a result, after three games, things were pretty much as predicted.
However, after an open week, the expected disappeared. FSU went into Columbus, Ohio, to play the undefeated and seventh-ranked Buckeyes. After Ohio State scored an early touchdown to lead 7-0, the momentum shifted. FSU's Mike Rendina kicked a 52-yard field goal and then FSU linebacker Ron Hester blocked a punt and took it in for a touchdown from 35 yards out. The game rocked back and forth. Thanks primarily to the passing of Seminole Quarterback Rick Stockstill to Dennis McKinnon, Michael Whiting and Gary Williams and the running of Whiting and Ricky Williams, the Seminoles outscored OSU 36 to 27 to pull the upset.
The following week, FSU played and beat Notre Dame at South Bend, 19-13, in the first ever game between the two schools. Although Ricky Williams (195 yards) and Michael Whiting (71 yards) ran well and Stockstill had two touchdown passes, the hallmark of the game was FSU's defense. Notre Dame was held to just 256 yards including only 38 by passing. Seminole cornerback James Harris' interception that set up a late touchdown was especially instrumental in providing FSU with the victory.
Florida State went into Pittsburgh the next week to play the top-ranked Panthers hoping to keep the upset streak alive. But Pittsburgh quarterback Dan Marino was too much for the young Seminoles. The future NFL star threw for three touchdowns and 251 yards. He got a lot of help from Pittsburgh running back, Bryan Thomas, who had 217 yards of rushing. The final score was Pittsburgh 42, Florida State 14.
On the fourth week of October, the Seminoles played in Baton Rouge as the homecoming opponent of Louisiana State. The game turned out to be the coming out party for FSU freshman running back Greg Allen. The future All-American ran for 202 yards on 31 carries. The first 66 of those yards was on FSU's first play from scrimmage. Another Allen on FSU's team, Billy Allen, had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown later in the game. When it was over, FSU had won 38 to 14.
FSU finally came home to Doak Campbell Stadium the next week for homecoming and beat Western Carolina, 56-31. In the game, Greg Allen had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and set an NCAA freshman rushing record of 322 all-purpose yards.
After eight games, FSU was incredibly 6-2. But the demanding schedule had taken its toll. The Seminoles, almost as unexpectedly, as had been the earlier victories, lost their last three games of the season to Miami, 27-19, at home; to Southern Mississippi and its great quarterback, Reggie Collier, 58-14, also at home; and at Florida, 35-3. When that up and down season was finally over, even the fans were relieved. The varied emotions experienced each week had left everybody completely drained.
Since 1981 there have been lots of other emotional ups and downs for those of us who follow FSU football but none quite like those of "Octoberfest." It was a real treat! It is experiences like that which make us look forward to another season. Go Noles!
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