Eighth Wonder of the World

By Jim Joanos

When football and baseball began and through the mid nineteen-sixties, they were totally outdoor sports. Few people had the idea that football and baseball could be played indoors. Then there was this guy, Roy Mark Hofheinz, the mayor of Houston, Texas, who had been disappointed by baseball games being rained out. He had this idea that it would be nice to be able to play sports indoors and avoid weather delays and rainouts. Through his leadership, the City of Houston had built the Astrodome, the first domed air-conditioned indoor stadium in America. Originally, it was the home of the Houston Astros baseball team, the Houston Oilers professional football team, and the University of Houston college football team. It was such a big deal that the facility became nicknamed, "The Eighth Wonder of the World." Going to a sports event there was considered most unusual and appealing because of its uniqueness.

When the FSU football schedule was published for the 1969 season, there it was. FSU was to play the University of Houston on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, the last game of the season, in the Astrodome. During the regular season, Houston lost its first two games of the 1969 season but was on a winning streak and had won seven in a row going into the FSU game. To beat them on their own field would be difficult. But FSU had done well itself during the season and sported a 6-2-1 record as that game approached. As we got closer to that game the idea of going to it became more and more appealing. When I discussed it with my wife, she reminded me that it was a holiday weekend and that if I was going to the game, she and our three kids were going to.

Our budget did not permit the cost of flying so we loaded up the car for the trip. The vehicle was about medium size. With five of us, luggage, toys, snacks, books and games it was quite crowded. There was no GPS at the time but that was not a problem as I had driven from Tallahassee through Houston and back when I was in the Air Force. The route was familiar. The plan was to leave on Thanksgiving Day, drive halfway, find a motel, and spend the night and then drive to Houston on Friday.

We got off a little earlier than expected than we had planned and made good time. When we got halfway, it was earlier than expected and the traffic was not bad so we decided to go ahead to Houston that day. When we got to Houston, we were fortunate that although a day earlier than planned, the hotel, the same as where the FSU team was staying, had a room available so we could stay there beginning a day earlier. The hotel was in sight of the Astrodome as we saw that facility across the road. It was huge. The big round building was most impressive. We looked forward to going there.

On Friday, we learned that there were tours available to see the Astrodome on Saturday morning. We signed up and then did some driving around and went down to Galveston where there was a sea whale exhibit. Back to the hotel, that Friday evening, occasionally, in the lobby a player or two might appear. We tried to guess who the players were as they did not have numbers on jerseys to be identified by. A former resident of Tallahassee that we knew came by and picked up some game tickets that someone had left him.

On Saturday morning, we went over to the Astrodome for the tour. It was amazing. We walked up and down the stairs, went through the press box and other areas. We were impressed with the skyboxes and thought it would be great to some day see a football game from one of them. Then we got to go down on the field. Originally, they had tried to have natural grass but it would not work. Consequently, somebody developed a ground cover which they called "Astroturf" because of its location. Our kids ran and chased each other over the floor. It felt like a good place to run although it would hurt if you fell on it. To me the flooring seemed like a thin layer of artificial grass that they use under tents at funerals over plywood. It gave a little as you ran or walked over it.

After the tour we went back to the hotel and rested awhile. Early that evening we went back to the Astrodome for the game. There were some other FSU fans near our seats that we enjoyed visiting with. We were surprised to see one of my relatives from back home there. He introduced us to the lady with him that he had met a couple days before. Big surprise, we later learned that the two were married the day after the game. Our family was shocked!

After the team warmups and the pregame ceremonies, the game began. It was good at first. FSU had kicked off to Houston. FSU stopped Houston's first drive and forced them to punt. FSU responded with a drive that ended with a six-yard pass for a touchdown from quarterback Bill Cappleman to wide receiver Kent Gaydos. Grant Guthrie kicked the extra point and it was FSU 7-0. In the second quarter, Houston scored first on a 23-yard touchdown play. Then they scored another touchdown on a 51-yard play, when Houston made it clear that their running game would be the story of the game. FSU did score another touchdown in the second quarter on a pass from Cappleman to Mike Gray to tie it up. That would be it. It would thereafter be all Houston as they scored four more touchdowns and the game finished Houston 41-13. The stats were worse than the score. Houston's backs had rushed for 414 yards, the most any team had ever done versus FSU. Their backs ran up and down the field on that Astroturf throughout the game. They were fast. FSU on the other hand netted only 18 yards rushing as our quarterback was sacked for a total of 90 yards. Cappleman did pass for over 265 yards to Houston's 139 yards in the air despite being pressured on virtually all pass plays.

We left the Astrodome when it was over and went back to the hotel. It was a long night of trying to sleep. By morning, things were better. We had been to the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The kids had been introduced to a different part of our wonderful country. I was also confident that the team would have better games.

The drive home took longer because of starting later and heavier traffic. I was very tired when I got back to Tallahassee but it was worth the drive!

About the author:

Jim Joanos

Memories of Garnet and Gold

We lost Judge Joanos on January 20, 2024. After going through his FSU papers, I found this article which had not yet been published.

Jim Joanos had deep roots at Florida State University. An avid sports fan, he had literally seen, and done, it all. Fortunately for us, Jim loved 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.

Jim and his wife, Betty Lou, who was Associate Director of the FSU Alumni Association (1991-2003), had been married 66 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 couldn't have gone to an athletic event of any kind that you wouldn't have seen both Jim and Betty Lou Joanos together. They loved their university as much as they loved each other."