Dynasties come and go - slowly

By Charlie Barnes, Executive Director - Seminole Boosters

It is one of the conundrums of history that two seemingly contradictory things happen at the same time. Change, history's most pervasive signature, often seems to creep slowly, nearly imperceptibly ahead. But at the same time, change can also seem to come with blinding speed, charging at us out of the tunnel without warning.

We can point to examples of dramatic catalysts of historic change: moveable type, photography and gunpowder come to mind. Looking back, it appears those things reshaped civilization's habits very quickly, but in their time the impact seemed to the people of that age much less insistent. Gutenberg died broke, as did Matthew Brady, and for centuries arrows remained more accurate than bullets.

Which brings us roundabout to college football dynasties.

Last year, the NCAA proclaimed the Seminoles to be one of the only eight official dynasties in the 130-year history of college football. The recognition was based on an extraordinary, unprecedented run of 10 consecutive 10-or-more-wins seasons, and 10 consecutive Top Four finishes. No other team has matched that record, and it is unlikely that any ever will.

A decade is a nice, round number - it sounds finished - and so the natural inclination, especially among sportswriters, is to shift emphasis from recording the achievement to speculating on whether or not it's over.

There was quite a bit of that in pre-season. Our decisive loss in New Orleans ended the nation's longest streak of bowl victories. Off-the-field problems this summer eliminated key players who were expected to contribute, and it became known going into the Southern Cal game that 41 of our 82 scholarship players had never before suited up for a college game.

An August 23rd feature in the Atlanta Constitution was typical of what followed. NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR FSU, the headline read, and then, SKEPTICS THINK SEMINOLE DYNASTY IS ON THE DECLINE. "There is talk the Florida State Dynasty will suffer a dip this season. Personnel losses on both sides of the ball were just too great...and the road schedule is just too tough."

But the happy truth is: the Dynasty is intact and flourishing. We didn't arrive here quickly, and we're not leaving here anytime soon.

Be honest, did you really think much about us being in the middle of a "Dynasty" during the last decade? When we opened the 1988 season with a 0-31 loss to Miami, were you thinking "Dynasty"? And the following year, when we lost our opener to Southern Mississippi in Jacksonville, and then were beaten badly the next week at home by Clemson, what were you really thinking?

Do you remember how it felt that year to finally beat Miami, and then have to stand by and watch the Hurricanes win the national championship?

We knocked off nine consecutive wins in 1991, only to suffer heartbreaking back-to-back defeats at the hands of Miami and Florida. A dispirited Seminole team went through the motions in a wet, cold, miserable Cotton Bowl, shoving Texas A&M aside 10 ­ 2 for the 10th win of the year.

Remember Wide Right? Wide Right II? Remember losing to Virginia and Florida on the road in 1995? What were you thinking then?

Beneath all the surface meanderings of the past decade, the Dynasty was slowly taking shape. Like an iceberg, the most significant portion was largely unnoticed and out of sight.

We didn't really pay attention to what was happening; the Dynasty was assembling itself slowly, the years locking together like pieces of a puzzle. And ­ so suddenly it seemed ­ at the end of a decade, there lay the polished diamond where had been only a lump of coal not so long ago.

Ten or 11 wins a year, every year. Top Four finish, every year. The NCAA record for most consecutive bowls without a loss still stands - and more wins, period, than any other college team in the 1990s.

You might not realize this ­ our people don't pay a lot of attention to it ­ but in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, only Florida State has won as many as five consecutive conference championships.

Dynasties decline in the same way they are built: slowly, and often unnoticed. By the time the realization that it's over strikes, it's usually too late to make repairs. A dynasty in decline is one that must endure hard times before it can ever return to glory.

If you want to know what a failed dynasty looks like, cast your eyes west. Oklahoma Sooner fans who embraced the Barry Switzer era convinced themselves that all would be made right again soon. But their 1996 record was 3 ­ 8, the worst in school history. And, on August 24, 1997, Sooners awoke to find that the nightmare is real: 0 ­ 24 shutout loss to Northwestern. That's the Northwestern that lost to Wake Forest the following week.

Miami has a chance to rebound before Oklahoma. The Hurricanes have talent; they just lack numbers. But, this group of 'Canes will have to endure the paybacks being heaped on them by programs that suffered years of Miami arrogance and intimidation.

On September 13, Arizona State hammered the Hurricanes in Miami's 400th regular season game in the Orange Bowl. Miami fans, gathering near their players' locker room, had to suffer the taunts of some Arizona State players who came round for just that purpose. After a while, newspapers reported, even some Sun Devil assistant coaches showed up and joined the bashing. And it will get worse for the Hurricanes (i.e. 47-0).

This year, 1997, is probably the first truly rebuilding year Florida State has had in some time. And to the delight of Seminole fans, the building seems to be coming along splendidly, even ahead of schedule.

Perhaps most important, this building has a solid foundation. Fifteen members of this last recruiting class ­ ranked No. 1 in the nation ­ are already contributing on the field. And if you are concerned about the character of our kids, consider these facts from the 1997 NCAA Graduation Rates Book:

Highest graduation rate of regular student body in the state of Florida: FLORIDA STATE.

Highest Florida high school GPA for incoming football players: FLORIDA STATE.

Sic Transit Gloria?

Of course, but for the Seminoles at least, not quite yet.