FSU Athletics Timeline

Seminole Spotlight

By Jim Joanos

06/2012

The Florida State University has a proud history in intercollegiate athletics. Following is a brief timeline of some of the important events that have happened during the years. Hope that you enjoy it.

1851-1901. Very little is known about athletics at the "West Florida Seminary" (as the institution was known). It is presumed that there was intramural competition in a number of sports but very little, if any, intercollegiate activity.

1902-1904. As, "Florida State College", a co-educational institution, it fielded its first intercollegiate athletics teams in football and baseball and possibly, track and field. The 1904 Football team, after defeating Stetson, 19-6, was awarded the Florida Times Union's College Cup as the State of Florida's Collegiate Champions.

1905-1946. In 1905, the "Buckman Bill" was enacted by the Florida legislature and reorganized Florida's collegiate system. Florida State was converted into a woman's only institution, later named 'Florida State College for Women.' During the years of "FSCW" there was an extensive intramural sports program but very little in the way of intercollegiate athletics competition.

1946-47. For one school year, some 500 or so men were allowed to attend college at FSCW as students of an institution called The Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida. The "T-BUFfers", as they were called had an intercollegiate Basketball team for the one season.

1947-48. FSCW by legislative act, again became co-educational and named, "Florida State University." A men's athletic program was immediately begun. Men's teams in Football, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and Volleyball were organized and began intercollegiate competition.

1948-49. FSU became a charter member of the Dixie Conference, an athletic conference of several schools that did not award athletic scholarships. A Swimming and Diving team as well as an outdoor Track and Field team were added to the men's intercollegiate program.

1950-51. Football team first began playing in newly constructed Doak Campbell Stadium. Men's Gymnastics team won its first and the school's first national championship in any sport. Florida State withdrew from the Dixie Conference and started offering scholarships to their athletes.

1951-52. Men's Gymnastics team won its second national c

1954-55. Joined the Florida Intercollegiate Conference, a conference for men's basketball and baseball competition only.

1955-56. Men's Volleyball team won its first national championship.

1956-57. Men's Volleyball team won its second national championship. At the end of the season, the Men's Volleyball team at FSU was terminated. Baseball team made its first ever trip to the College World Series. Withdrew from the Florida Intercollegiate Conference after the 1957 season.

1959-60. Men’s Gymnastics team was terminated in 1960.

1962-63. FSU first competed in Men’s Cross Country.

1964-65. Fred Biletnikoff became FSU’s first consensus All-American in football.

1964-65. Jim Lyttle became the first FSU baseball player to be drafted in the first round.

1967-68. FSU first competed in intercollegiate Women's Volleyball and Golf.

1968-69. FSU began competition in Women's Track and Field.

1969-70. Baseball team was College World Series Runner-up. FSU began competition in Women's Swimming and Diving and Softball.

1970-71. FSU first competed in intercollegiate Women’s Basketball.

1970-72. Men’s Basketball team was national runners-up in NCAA tournament.

1972-73. FSU first competed in intercollegiate Women’s Tennis.

1974-75. FSU first competed in intercollegiate Women’s Cross Country.

1975-76. In January, Bobby Bowden became FSU’s head football coach.

1976-77. In 1976, FSU became a member of the Metro Conference and would began to compete in that conference in all sports except football

1980-81. Women’s Golf team won the AIAW National Championship. Softball team won its first AIAW National Championship. In Baseball, Mike Fuentes won the Golden Spikes Award.

1981-82. Women’s Basketball team was runner-up in the Women’s NIT Tournament. Softball team won its second AIAW National Championship. Darby Cottle was AIAW National Softball Player of the Year.

1982-83. Women’s Basketball team made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

1983-84. Women’s Outdoor Track team won a National Championship.

1984-85. Women’s Indoor Track team won a National Championship.

1985-86. Baseball team was College World Series Runner-up. Mike Loynd was named the Golden Spikes Award winner.

1986-87. Softball team made its first appearance in the College World Series.

1988-89. In football, Deion Sanders won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back.

1989-90. Softball team made the first of four consecutive trips to the College World Series.

1991-92. FSU ended its membership in the Metro Conference and became a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports.

1993-94. The Football team won its first National Championship. Charlie Ward became FSU’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

1995-96. FSU began intercollegiate competition in Women’s Soccer.

1996-97. In Baseball, FSU’s J.D. Drew was the National Player of the Year.

1998-99. Baseball team was College World Series Runner-up.

1999-2000. FSU had a perfect season in Football, winning the national championship and being first in the AP poll every week of the season.

2000-01. FSU’s Football team played for the National Championship but lost to Oklahoma. Chris Weinke became FSU’s second Heisman Trophy winner.

2003-04. Soccer team’s first trip to the College Cup Final Four. FSU’s Jessica Van der Linden was Softball National Player of the Year.

2005-06. The Football team won the first ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville. It was the twelfth ACC Football championship won by the school to date. Soccer team returned to the College Cup. The Men’s Outdoor Track team won its first NCAA National Championship.

2006-07. The Soccer team returned to the College Cup. The Men’s Outdoor Track team won its second consecutive NCAA National Championship. Walter Dix won the 100 and 200 meter title as well as running a leg of the national championship 4 X 100 relay.

2007-08. The Soccer team was National Runner-up in College Cup play. FSU’s Mami Yamaguchi was National Player of the Year in Soccer. The Men’s Outdoor Track team won its third consecutive NCAA National Championship. Buster Posey was the consensus National Player of the Year in Baseball.

2008-09. The Men’s Outdoor Track and the Women's Cross Country teams were the NCAA National Runner-up.

2010-11. Jimbo Fisher’s first season as head football coach. The Men's Cross Country and Track and the Women's Cross Country teams were NCAA National Runner-Up. Ngoni Makusha won the NCAA Track Outdoor 100, Long Jump and was a member of the winning 4x100m relay and was the men's winner of the Bowerman which is awarded to the top collegiate track & field athlete of the year.

2011-12. The Men’s Basketball team won its first ever ACC Tournament Championship. The Women's Soccer and Volleyball teams made it to the final four in NCAA competition. FSU began intercollegiate competition in Sand Volleyball and made it to the NCAA’s final four in that sport.

Doak Campbell Stadium built for $250,000. Seating capacity: 15,000	Fred Biletnikoff	Jim Lyttle	Bobby Bowden, 1976
Mike Fuentes	Darby Cottle	Mike Loynd	Deion Sanders
Charlie Ward	JD Drew	Chris Weinke	Jessica Van der Linden
Walter Dix	Mami Yamaguchi	Buster Posey	Jimbo Fischer
Ngoni Makusha

This was originally printed in the June, 2012 Wakulla Area Times newspaper. The author has given his permission to reprint this article.