A Train Trip
By Jim Joanos
 |
1966 FSU-Miami |
In the early before daylight hours of September 24, 1966, my wife and I got up, packed overnight bags and drove to Campbell Stadium. There we climbed up onto a train on the railroad tracks that were located on the south side of the stadium. We were headed for the FSU football game to be played that night in Miami against the Miami Hurricanes.
During the sixties, the FSU Alumni Association and the Seminole Boosters made arrangements on a few occasions for train trips to carry FSU fans to out of town games. I had only been out of law school for four years and we had three kids so there was not a lot of extra cash to spend on travel but being the fans that we were, we scraped together enough to go.
The chartered train was composed of five or six or so cars in addition to the engine and caboose. Most of the cars were set up for groups of four or so to sit around tables. In the midst of the group of cars was what served normally as a baggage car which had been stripped bare and now included a big rather plain wooden bar accompanied by a bar tender. It was evident as we went by that the “bar” was a very popular place even at 6:30 in the morning. There would be lots of activity in the “bar” car throughout the trip both on the way down and back.
The train first traveled east to Jacksonville where it changed tracks to those heading south. It was a fun trip down to Miami. Not only were some of our friends on board but some of Tallahassee’s business and professional folks that we admired were, too. The Boosters in those days mostly consisted of local folks. There was lots of talking, joke telling, and even some singing. The cheer that ended with “FSU all the damn time” was especially popular.
When we got to Miami, they bussed us to our hotel and checked us in. The smart fans took naps but since we had not been to Miami that much, my wife and I went for a walk to look around. Shortly after we got back they loaded us into busses and off to the Orange Bowl we went.
The game was a classic. The lead changed back and forth throughout. Kim Hammond and Gary Pajcic shared quarterback duties for the Seminoles. Thurston Taylor and Ron Sellers caught lots of passes. My favorite memory of the game occurred in the second quarter after Miami scored a touchdown to lead 13-7. Miami kicked off and FSU’s Billy Moremen caught the ball deep, ran up a bit and then passed the ball To T.K. Wetherell near the sidelines. Down the field went Wetherell 83 yards for a touchdown. We stood and cheered. We did not know that years later we would be cheering for the same guy in his capacity as President of Florida State University.
Late in the fourth quarter FSU had come from behind three times to be ahead, 23 to 20. With little time remaining, Miami reached the FSU four yard line. Fortunately, an attempted fullback dive up the middle resulted in a stuff and a wonderful fumble recovered by FSU’s Doug Gurr. FSU held on for the win.
By the time we were bussed back to the hotel, it was close to midnight. Spouse and I were pretty exhausted. Unfortunately, in planning the trip we had committed to another couple to accompany them to a night club following the trip to hear a band that they were fond of. Big mistake!
The band was probably pretty good. I don’t remember. What I remember was being very tired and thinking mostly about the great game that we had witnessed earlier. Eventually we got back to the hotel, slept a little, and early the next morning were bussed to the train and headed back to Tallahassee.
The train ride back went well. There was more joking, card playing, singing and visits to the “bar car.” By the time we got home in Tallahassee, we were totally exhausted but extremely happy. It was a great time to be an FSU football fan.
About the author:
 |
Jim Joanos |
Memories of Garnet and Gold
Jim Joanos and his wife Betty Lou have deep roots at Florida State University. Avid sports fans, they have literally seen, and done, it all. Fortunately for us, Jim loves telling first-hand accounts dating back to FSU’s first football game, a 1947 clash with the Stetson Hatters on Centennial Field, where Cascades Park is today.
The Osceola will run a series of these colorful stories written by the former Tallahassee lawyer and judge, which we feel our readers will find enlightening and/or nostalgic.
Jim and Betty Lou, who was Associate Director of the FSU Alumni Association (1991-2003), have been married 65 years and are each listed as one of FSU’s 100 Distinguished Graduates. The couple were enshrined in the FSU Hall of Fame in 2015 as Moore-Stone Award Recipients. Ironically, both Deans Moore and Stone were instrumental in the Joanoses career development.
“Both Jim and Betty Lou Joanos have been exemplary fans and supporters of Florida State University, both academically and athletically,” said Andy Miller, retired President and CEO of Seminole Boosters, Inc. “You can’t go to an athletic event of any kind that you don’t see both Jim and Betty Lou Joanos together. They love their university as much as they love each other.”