The Dynasty Years

By Jim Joanos

At the end of each of the fourteen seasons from 1987 through 2000, the Florida State University football team was ranked in the top five by the Associated Press. They are referred to as the "Dynasty Years." No other team has ever done that. I have lots of very fond memories of the games during those seasons. For the fun of it, I have listed one game from each of those seasons that was special to me.

1987 Fiesta Bowl: FSU 31 - Nebraska 28
Record: 11-1, Final AP: 2

At the end of the third quarter, Nebraska led 28-24. With just a little more than three minutes left, FSU's quarterback, Danny McManus, the MVP of the game, found wide receiver, Ronald Lewis, 15 yards away in the end zone.

1988 Sugar Bowl: FSU 13 - Auburn 7
Record: 11-1, Final AP: 3

FSU led for most of the game but in the last minutes Auburn drove toward FSU's goal. With 5 seconds left in the game, Deion Sanders, in the FSU end zone, moved in front of Auburn's star wide receiver Lewis Tillman and intercepted a pass to save the victory.

1989 Fiesta Bowl: FSU 41 - Nebraska 17
Record: 10-2, Final AP: 3

Quarterback Peter Tom Willis threw for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns. His primary receivers were Ronald Lewis, Terry Anthony, and Lawrence Dawsey. The defense led by linebacker Kirk Caruthers also did its job well.

1990 Blockbuster Bowl: FSU 24 - Penn State 14
Record: 10-2, Final AP: 4

Two of the most outstanding coaches of all time, Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden were pitted against each other. FSU's quarterback, Casey Weldon, threw for 248 yards but the scoring was done on he ground as he ran for one touchdown and Amp Lee ran for two. FSU had a very young defense that played well.

1991 Cotton Bowl: FSU 10 - Texas A&M 2
Record: 11-2, Final AP: 4

It was wet, cold, and rainy, a miserable weather day. There were eight turnovers by A&M and five by FSU. A&M sacked FSU's Casey Weldon in the end zone early in the game to score its two points. Later in the first quarter FSU scored its only touchdown on a short run by Weldon. There would be no more scoring until FSU's Gerry Thomas kicked a field goal with less than three minutes left in the game.

1992 Georgia Tech game: FSU 29 - Georgia Tech 24.
Record: 11-2, Final AP: 2, ACC Champions

Early in the fourth quarter Georgia Tech led 21-7. Lots of FSU fans had given up. The FSU offensive formation was changed so the quarterback Charlie Ward would play out of the shotgun rather than under the center. FSU scored three touchdowns to a field goal by Tech in that fourth quarter to win the game. Ward would thereafter play mostly out of the shotgun.

1993 Orange Bowl: FSU 18 - Nebraska 16
Record: 12-1, Final AP: 1, National and ACC Champions

FSU had lost at Notre Dame 24-31, but was given a second chance when Notre Dame was beaten by Boston College. They were matched against the top-rated team in the country, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Through three quarters, FSU led 15-7. Early in the fourth quarter, Nebraska scored a touchdown and then late in that quarter a field goal so that with only 1 minute and 16 seconds left in the game, led 16-15. Then FSU's quarterback, Charlie Ward, took over and with the help of some penalties moved the team to Nebraska's 22 yard line where Scott Bentley kicked a field goal to put FSU ahead with only 21 seconds left. It was not over yet. Nebraska moved the ball 45 yards from FSU's goal posts. At first it looked as if time had run out. FSU's Coach Bowden was doused with ice and FSU fans began to celebrate. Then it was realized that Nebraska had called time out with one second left. The FSU fan section went limp as we watched Nebraska's licker do his thing. Fortunately, the kick sailed to the left and the next morning FSU was proclaimed National Champions!

1994 Florida game: FSU 31 - Florida 31
Record: 10-1-1, Final AP: 4, ACC Champions

"The Choke at Doak." Florida was ranked 4th, FSU 7th. It was the last game of the regular season. FSU's Dan Mowrey kicked a field goal early in the first quarter. After that, Florida took over ad scored 31 unanswered points. Florida led 31-3 at the end of the third quarter. Then FSU's quarterback, Danny Kanell, put on the show of a lifetime. Before he was through, he had thrown for 421 yards in the game and FSU had scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to end the game in a tie. Both teams were invited to play again in the Sugar Bowl where FSU won 23-17.

1995 Orange Bowl: FSU 31 - Notre Dame 26
Record : 10-2, Final AP: 4, ACC Co-Champs

FSU had to come from behind to beat Notre Dame. It did so on the arm of Danny Kannell and three touchdown catches by FSU's Andre Cooper who was the MVP of the game. Warrick Dunn rushed for 151 yards. FSU gained 478 total yards to Notre Dame's 425.

1996 Florida game: FSU 24 - Florida 21
Record: 11-1, Final AP: 3, ACC Champions

Both Florida and FSU were undefeated when they met. FSU scored the first 17 points of the game in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Florida scored two touchdowns. Midway through the 4th quarter, FSU scored a touchdown on a one-yard run by Pooh Bear Williams which was enough for the win despite a late Florida touchdown. The FSU fans stormed the field. They climbed the goal posts and tore them down. Unfortunately, in the Sugar Bowl game that followed, FSU had to play Florida again and were soundly beaten by the Gators.

1997 North Carolina game: FSU 20 - North Carolina 3
Record 11-1, Final AP: 3, ACC Champions

FSU was ranked 2nd and North Carolina 5th. Carolina folks were fired up and many believed that the Tar Heels would put an end to FSU's dominance of the ACC. It did not happen. FSU's defense held UNC to 28 yards rushing and 101 passing. On offense, FSU's Thad Busby threw two touchdown passes and kicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked three field goals and two extra points.

1998 Florida game: FSU 23 - Florida 12
Record: 11-2, Final AP: 3, ACC Champions

"The Rooster Game." FSU's quarterback Chris Weinke was injured. FSU had to depend upon its backup quarterback, Marcus Outzen, nicknamed the "Rooster." It turned out fine. Outzen threw for 167 yards including a 32-yard touchdown pass to Peter Warrick. Warrick also threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Ron Dugans and Janikowski kicked three field goals. On the other side, the Gators were held to a single touchdown and field goal.

1999 Sugar Bowl: FSU 46 - Virginia Tech 29
Record: 12-0, Final AP: 1, National and ACC Champions

At halftime, FSU led 28-14. Then, Virginia Tech scored 15 unanswered points and led 29-18 with one quarter left. But the fourth quarter was all FSU and featured wide receiver Peter Warrick. He made a touchdown catch with an opposing player wrapped around him to clinch the victory. The win completed FSU's first undefeated, untied National Championship record season. It also finalized a season in which FSU was ranked number one by the Associated Press every single week of the season.

2000 Florida game: FSU 30 - Florida 7
Record: 11-2, Final AP: 5, ACC Champions

Number 3 FSU beat number 4 Florida. Weinke threw three touchdown passes, two of them to Snoop Minnis. Altogether, Minnis caught eight passes for 187 yards.

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."