1981 and 1982 Football Teams...The Road Warriors
By Jim Joanos
It was called, "Octoberfest". The 1981 Florida State football team, in its third game of the season played at Nebraska, had a week off, and then on successive Saturdays in October, played Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and LSU, all on the road
The 1982 team ended a good season by defeating West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. That game began the current streak of nineteen straight bowl games for FSU teams. It was also the first of thirteen consecutive bowl games in which the Seminoles did not lose.
The 1981 and 1982 teams are having a reunion. From September 14 through 15, the weekend of the FSU versus Georgia Tech game, the guys from those teams are going to be in Tallahassee to talk about old times. They will have a lot to talk about. The years 1981 and 1982 were fun years in FSU football history. Those were the years that helped FSU establish the reputation that it would go anywhere and play anybody.
The 1981 Season
The 1979 and 1980 teams had been ranked nationally and both had played in the Orange Bowl. But going into the season of 1981, most of the players from those teams were gone. The team only returned three starters each on offense and defense. At that time in FSU history, it was regarded as a "rebuilding" year although that term is not used at FSU anymore. At the same time, the team faced the toughest schedule in school history. Although the team finished the season with a 6 and 5 record because of some late season losses, the events of October 1981 shocked the football world and will always be regarded as a most memorable part of FSU football history.
The season began with FSU beating Louisville, 17-0, and Memphis State, 10-5, at home. The third game at Nebraska, went pretty much as expected with FSU losing 34 to 14. As a result, after three games, things were pretty much as they had been forecast to be prior to the season.
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 victory came despite the heroics of OSU quarterback Art Schlichter who completed 31 of 52 passes for 458 yards.
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 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. Thus, ended the great roller coaster ride of 1981. When it was over, even the fans were relieved. The varied emotions experienced each week had left everybody completely drained.
The 1982 Season
The 1981 schedule had probably been the toughest up to that point. But going into 1982, the schedule for that year looked equally as difficult. FSU opened the season with a 38 to 31 win over Cincinnati. Greg Allen had three touchdowns but the most important play of the game for FSU was made by Manny Carballo. The Fullback made a game saving tackle late in the game when a Bearcat player intercepted a pass and appeared to be heading for a touchdown. FSU held on for the win.
The second game of the 1982 season was one that has affectionately become known as the "monsoon game". Pittsburgh and Dan Marino came into Campbell Stadium ranked number one in the country. The passing of Blair Williams and a 29 yard field goal by Philip Hall gave FSU a surprising 10-0 lead. But then Pittsburgh struck back with 17 unanswered points to take the lead. But FSU was not done. Quarterback Kelley Lowrey came into the game and the Seminoles surprisingly went to the option offense. The result was a touchdown and the half ended 17-17. With the option doing very well, FSU seemed to have the momentum. But then the skies emptied. It was probably the hardest rain ever during an FSU football game. Rivers were running down the aisles onto a very flooded field. Eventually, the rain subsided but by then FSU had lost its ability to operate the surprising game plan and never regained its composure. The final score was Pittsburgh 37, Florida State 17.
FSU then went on a roll and won the next seven games. At Hattiesburg, the Seminoles got revenge for the 59-14 loss they had suffered to Southern Mississippi the year before by beating the Golden Eagles 24-17. Then FSU went back to Columbus and beat Ohio State, 34-17, to make it two wins in a row over the Buckeyes on their home field, a rare feat. This was followed by two wins at home in Tallahassee, 59 to 8 over Southern Illinois and 56 to 17 over East Carolina. A trip to Miami ended with a 24-7 victory over the Hurricanes that was dominated by FSU defense. Then FSU, on the road, beat South Carolina, 56-26, and back home, won over Louisville, 49 to 14.
FSU then went into Baton Rouge to play LSU. A bid to the Orange Bowl was on the line. But the game did not go well for the Seminoles as the Bengal Tigers went on a tear and defeated Florida State, 55 to 21, and won the Orange Bowl bid. FSU instead was offered and accepted a Gator Bowl bid. The regular season ended for FSU after the next game when FSU got upset at home by the University of Florida, 13 to 10. The Seminoles were 8 and 3 going into the bowl game.
The most memorable feature of the 1982 season turned out to be the Gator Bowl 31 to 12 win over West Virginia. Those of us who were in Jacksonville for the game were greeted by hordes of Mountaineer fans who had come out of the mountains to see their team take FSU apart. That Bobby Bowden had coached at West Virginia before coming to FSU gave the game added significance. On a wet and cold night, FSU's defense dominated the game. Blair Williams, the FSU quarterback, had a good night passing and Greg Allen ran well to lead the team on offense. Billy Allen scored an important touchdown on a 95 yard kickoff return and Dennis McKinnon scored another on a spectacular reception of a Williams pass. Greg Allen received the award as FSU's most outstanding player of the game.
Outstanding Players
The 1981 and 1982 teams included a number of players who received post season honors. Among them from the 1981 team were Punter Rohn Stark, Running Backs Greg Allen and Mike Whiting, Center Tom McCormick, Offensive Tackle Barry Voltapetti, Defensive Back James Harris, Defensive End James Coursey, Tight End Sam Childers, and Defensive Tackle Garry Futch. Some from the 1982 team were Greg Allen, McCormick, Defensive Tackle Alphonso Carreker, Defensive Backs Harvey Clayton and Larry Harris, Offensive Linemen Jamie Dukes and Ricky Render, Running Back Ricky Williams, Wide Receivers Jessie Hester and Hassan Jones, Quarterback Kelly Lowrey, Defensive Lineman Isaac Williams, and Linebacker Tommy Young. Greg Allen, Carreker, Stark, and Dukes were later admitted into the FSU Sports Hall of Fame. It will be most enjoyable to welcome all of the road warriors back to Tallahassee and to listen to their tales of two very interesting years in FSU football history.