Sugar Bowl Memories
By Jim Joanos
Much to the delight of Florida State football fans, the news has been received that FSU will be playing Georgia in the Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans on January 1, 2003. Many FSU supporters have already started the process of ordering tickets and making reservations for the trip to the "Big Easy". Plans are also being made as to the activities that fans will participate in when they get to New Orleans. Some will favor going back to eating places that they have enjoyed in past bowl games. Others will look forward to trying out some new places. Some will go fancy by going to Antoine's, Brennans, or Broussard's. Some will prefer the less expensive and more informal eating establishments like the Camellia Grill or Mother's. Some will stop off in Biloxi and the casinos on the way over. Still others will plan activities in the Pensacola area. Others with children will stop off at the Battleship Alabama in Mobile on the way out and visit the Aquarium of the Americas or the Zoo in Audubon Park when they get to New Orleans. Some folks will make it to the National D-Day Museum. Adults and children will look forward to riding the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. Nearly all will make at least one visit to the French Quarter and have Benets' and coffee at the Café Du Monde. Some will visit the nearby everyday flea market. Jazz enthusiasts will check out the many places offering those wonderful sounds. Many FSU fans will enjoy the fantastic "Brasstacular" Concert performed by FSU's Marching Chiefs band on the day before the big game. Where to spend New Year's Eve and welcome in the new year has to be decided. Again, it looks like a great time in store for those who make the trip.
This will be the sixth time that FSU fans have been fortunate enough to enjoy the many activities of the annual Sugar Bowl festival. As to football, the FSU team has done very well at the Sugar Bowl in all but one of its past games there. In the five previous games, FSU has won four of them. Since all five of those games have been played in the last fourteen years, most of the current FSU fans can remember many of the highlights of those Sugar Bowl games.
January 2, 1989: FSU 13, AUBURN 7. In FSU's first trip to the Sugar Bowl, FSU running back Sammie Smith and defensive back Deion Sanders starred. Smith, the games Most Valuable Player, gained over a hundred yards on the ground, fifty of it on the first drive of the game which was capped by a two yard plunge by fullback Dayne Williams for a touchdown. The other seven points were earned by FSU kicker Bill Mason on an extra point and two field goals. FSU played great defense throughout the game and was aided by three interceptions, one each by Stan Shiver, Dedrick Dodge, and Sanders. Sanders' pick was the play of the game as it was made in FSU's end zone on the final play of the game and saved FSU's victory when it looked like Auburn might score a touchdown. FSU's quarterback in that game was Chip Ferguson. The team included Leroy Butler, Pat Tomberlin, Dexter Carter, Lawrence Dawsey, and Odell Haggins, to mention but a few.
January 2, 1995: FSU 23, U of F 17. FSU went back to the Sugar Bowl six years later following the 1994 season in a match up that was billed as the "Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter". This game followed the FSU season ending game in Tallahassee when the Seminoles down 31-3 scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to come back and tie the game 31-31. This set up the rematch in New Orleans. Sharing the French Quarter with the Gator fans was quite an experience for FSU fans who were not used to seeing so many orange and blue draped people. There were some tense moments in some places but by and large all got along well and saved the conflict for the football field.
The FSU offense was led by quarterback Danny Kannell who passed for over 300 yards and running back Warrick Dunn. Dunn caught nine passes coming out of the backfield for 51 yards, gained another 58 yards rushing, and most importantly passed to Omar Ellison on a 73 yard touchdown play. FSU's Dan Mowrey kicked three field goals. Kez McCorvey scored the other FSU touchdown on a 16 yard pass from Kanell. The FSU defense had five sacks of Florida Quarterback Danny Wuerffel. The big plays included a key interception by FSU linebacker Derrick Brooks to stop Florida's final drive. The game was especially sweet as it resulted in FSU's tenth straight bowl victory which set an NCAA record.
January 2, 1997: U of F 52, FSU 20. The Sugar Bowl game following the 1996 season was for the national championship. It was advertised as the "Battle on the Bayou". FSU had previously in its season ending game upset the University of Florida in Tallahassee 24-21. A rematch resulted when Florida won its conference championship game and some other circumstances fell into place. The Gators scored first in the bowl game on a 77 yard drive for a touchdown and never gave up the lead. The Seminoles fought back and trailed by only 24-17 at halftime. But in the second half, Florida, primarily on the arm of Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, scored four touchdowns to only a field goal by FSU and beat the Seminoles badly. While the trip to New Orleans following the big win over Florida in Tallahassee had been rather pleasant, the drive back home proved to be a challenge for many FSU fans who had to endure the horn blowing and signs depicting the 52-20 being waved from the cars of the Florida fans traveling in the same direction. As hurtful as the loss was, many fans believe that the determination that came as a result of that loss gave FSU the resolve to continue its dynasty success and propelled the program forward to greater heights.
January 1, 1998: FSU 31, Ohio State 14. FSU won the first ten games of its 1997 season and seemed on track to again compete for a national championship. However, in the last game of the regular season, FSU leading 29-25 at Gainesville gave up a late touchdown and lost to the Gators, 32-29. The loss sent the 10-1 Seminoles back to the Sugar Bowl for the second year in a row and the third time in four seasons. Some FSU fans were beginning to consider New Orleans as their second home. On the two days preceding the game, the FSU fans were greatly outnumbered on the streets of New Orleans by the thousands of Ohio State Buckeye supporters who came to see the match up between the two teams. But fortunately on the day of the game, the Seminole supporters, many of whom had stayed in Biloxi, Gulfport, or Pensacola, showed up and somewhat reduced the difference in support groups. By game time, the Garnet and Gold people were not as greatly outnumbered. After FSU won the game, Bourbon Street was bathed in Garnet and Gold. There did not seem to be very many Red and White clad Buckeyes as they either did not show up or changed their clothing before appearing.
In the game, Ohio State scored first on a field goal and led briefly 3-0. However, FSU dominated the game thereafter and won 31-14. The passing tandem of Thad Busby to E.G. Green led FSU's offense. Busby threw for 334 yards and Green caught 7 passes for 176 yards. FSU's defense also dominated, holding OSU to only one touchdown which was scored late in the game. In addition to the early field goal, the Buckeyes kicked another and scored on a safety when Busby was forced out of the back of the end zone while attempting to pass. The Seminole defense played well all night and had three important interceptions. The trip home from New Orleans for the Seminole fans was a great deal happier than the previous year's.
January 4, 2000: FSU 46, Virginia Tech 29. The 1999 football season is regarded by many as Florida State's greatest season. It was virtually perfect. It was the "wire to wire season" as the Seminoles were number one in the polls from the beginning of the season throughout to the end.
The Nokia Sugar Bowl, as the designated National Championship game, matched two undefeated teams, No. 1 FSU and No. 2 Virginia Tech. When the pairing was announced, some older FSU fans wondered if Virginia Tech would once again prove to be a stumbling block for FSU's football team. Back in the sixties when both teams were trying to advance into the big time of college football, Virginia Tech had been a huge thorn in the side of FSU's young football program. During the 1964 season in which FSU's passing tandem of Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff had done so well, Virginia Tech had been the only team to beat the Seminoles. In addition to 1964, the Hokies had beaten FSU in 1961, 1963, 1966, and 1968 and tied them in 1969. Most of those results were regarded as upsets at the time. The 1968 game was especially painful as FSU was mauled at home by Virginia Tech 40-22. The FSU team that year was very good as it lost only one other game during the regular season and played in the Peach Bowl. Some wondered if Virginia Tech would again pull an upset and ruin FSU's perfect season.
The Sugar Bowl game started out well enough for the Seminoles. FSU scored first on a 64 yard pass from quarterback Chris Weinke to Peter Warrick for a touchdown. FSU scored three more touchdowns to two by Virginia Tech in the first half and led at intermission, 28-14. But then Virginia Tech, led by the magic of red shirt freshman quarterback Michael Vick, stormed back in the third quarter scoring a field goal and two touchdowns so that when the fourth quarter began, Virginia Tech was ahead 29-28. Some of FSU fans began to worry that Virginia Tech was again going to bring about a lot of grief to the Seminoles. However, FSU reorganized, dug deep, and the FSU offense led by Weinke and Warrick went back to work while the defense finally stopped Vick and the Hokies. The final score was FSU 46-29 and the Seminoles had secured their second national championship in six years. The most amazing play was a touchdown catch made by Peter Warrick in the end zone of a 43 yard pass from Weinke for the last touchdown. Warrick made the play despite having a Hokie defender wrapped around him and holding his arms down. It was blatant interference and the officials threw a flag that was disregarded as Warrick made the spectacular catch. For the night, Warrick caught six passes for 163 yards and the two touchdowns. He also scored another touchdown on a 59 yard punt return and caught a pass for a two point conversion. Ron Dugans also caught a 63 yard touchdown pass from Weinke and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a field goal and four extra points.
The celebration at midfield was undoubtedly one of FSU's finest moments in its football history. Bowden accepted FSU's second Sears National Championship Trophy and Peter Warrick got the game's Most Valuable Player award. Consequently, FSU fans enjoyed a very special drive home the next day knowing that FSU had completed the "perfect season".
January 1, 2003: FSU ??, University of Georgia ??. Florida State's football team is returning for this year's Sugar Bowl to the place that has meant so much in the history of the program. It has been a place, for the most part, of great happiness for the Seminoles. It has been a symbolic place identified with some of FSU's finest football seasons. Those fans who attend will be reminded of those happy days in the past and hopefully will accumulate some new experiences that will be enjoyed as fond memories in the future.
Florida State's opponent this year played an early role in FSU's football history. The Seminoles have played the Bulldogs ten times in the past and have a 4-5-1 record against them. Georgia was the first Southeastern Conference team willing to play Florida State in Tallahassee when in 1954 the Bulldogs defeated the Seminoles 14-0. Tom Nugent was FSU's head coach then. That was the famous FSU team on which Lee Corso and Burt Reynolds played and which went 8-3 during the regular season and played in the Sun Bowl. Georgia also beat FSU thereafter in 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1959, making it five wins in a row. Georgia has not beaten FSU since. FSU has defeated Georgia four times since with victories in 1961, 1962, 1964, and 1965. The last meeting of the two teams was in the 1984 Citrus Bowl when the game ended in a 17-17 tie. In that exciting game, FSU came from behind late in the game when FSU's Lenny Chavers blocked a Georgia punt and Joe Wessel picked the ball up and ran 14 yards for a touchdown which was followed by a two point conversion scored by receiver Darrin Holloman on a reverse. It will be fun to renew the old rivalry with Georgia if only for one night in the "Big Easy". See you in New Orleans!