and Fred Biletnikoff
Stars of Yesterday - Five Special Quarterbacks
By Jim Joanos
Having been a Florida State University football fan since 1947, I have seen many games and been entertained by the exploits of numerous great players. Space in a single article is insufficient to set out more than a few of my favorite players at a time. For this month I have decided to mention just five of the many excellent quarterbacks that I have enjoyed watching during the years.
STEVE TENSI, 1962, 1963 & 1964. In 1964, FSU's head coach, Bill Peterson, pioneered a major change in college football from the old "three yards and a cloud of dust" philosophy to a "pass happy" one that existed for a number of years. It changed the game forever. The Seminoles' quarterback at the time, Steve Tensi, in his senior season, was the engineer for that change. Teaming up with wide receiver, Fred Biletnikoff, FSU's first Consensus All-American, he led the team that reached the big time for the first time in school history. When the 1964 season was over, the team had gone 9-1-1 and won its first ever Jacksonville Gator Bowl game by blasting Oklahoma 36-19. In that game, Tensi threw five touchdown passes (four of them to Biletnikoff). When I think of Tensi, I always remember the long arching pass that he threw to Biletnikoff for the only touchdown recorded in FSU's first ever victory (16-7) over the University of Florida in 1964. Tensi was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981.
KIM HAMMOND, 1966 & 1967. The 1967 season was another excellent one for FSU in which the team went 7-2-2. Among the many accomplishments of that season were the first ever victory (21-16) in Gainesville over the University of Florida and a thrilling, come from behind tie (17-17) with Penn State at the Gator Bowl in postseason. Hammond's heroics in the Florida game are among the all time great stories in FSU football history. Hammond was knocked cold in the first half but returned late in the game with FSU having the ball on its own eight yard line. In three plays, two of which were passes from Hammond to FSU's All-American Ron Sellers, the FSU team went 92 yards for a game clinching touchdown. A Second Team All-American, Hammond was admitted into FSU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978.
CASEY WELDON, 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1991. Casey Weldon was FSU's starting quarterback during the 1990 and 91 seasons. The team went 10-2 and 11-2 during those seasons. The victories included two bowl games, a 24-17 win over Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl and a 10-2 one over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Accolades that Weldon received included being awarded the 1991 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and being the runner-up for the Heisman Award. Weldon is remembered as one of the toughest and most dedicated FSU quarterbacks. Weldon was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
CHARLIE WARD, 1989, 1991, 1992 & 1993. The "most decorated player in the history of college football" is a designation that Charlie Ward richly deserves. He won virtually every award that a college quarterback could win. That list includes the Sullivan Award which is given each year to the best college athlete in all sports. He was only the second football player in history to achieve that honor. FSU's first ever Heisman Trophy recipient was also the team quarterback and overall leader of its first National Championship at the end of the 1993 season. A great runner as well as passer, Ward's exploits on the field thrilled Seminole Fans throughout his college career. His FSU jersey has been retired and in 1999 he was admitted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following college, Ward chose to play professional basketball instead of football and enjoyed a long and successful career as a point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association.
CHRIS WEINKE, 1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000. A three-year starter for FSU, Chris Weinke won the Heisman Award as the nation's best football player following his last season (2000). At the end of each of the three seasons that he started, FSU played for the National Championship. In his junior season (1999), FSU was the wire to wire leader every week in the national polls and culminated a perfect season with a thrilling 46-29 victory over Virginia Tech and quarterback Mike Vick for the national championship. In addition to the Heisman, he won a number of other awards signifying him as the best quarterback in the land. A number of Weinke's passing records at FSU are still intact. His marks for most yards in a season (4167 in 2000), most yards in a career (9839), most touchdown passes in a season (33 in 2000), most touchdown passes in a career (79), and most games passing for over 300 yards in a career (13) still top the list. Following college, he had a career in the National Football League mainly with the Carolina Panthers. His FSU jersey has been retired and I would expect him to be admitted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame after he becomes eligible (There is a time requirement).
|
and Fred Biletnikoff |
|
|
|
|