Remembering Some Great Quarterbacks
By Jim Joanos
At Florida State University the 2012 football season has ended. Soon it will be time for spring practice to begin. The starting quarterback for the last two years, E. J. Manuel, has moved on. Once again, an important question being asked is: “Who will be FSU’s starting quarterback when next football season begins?” Fans are guessing whether it will be last year’s main backup, Clint Trickett or big, strong armed Jacob Coker or top 2012 recruit Jameis Winston or long shot, Sean Maguire. It is an important question. As on most college football teams, the quarterback is the most important position.
Ever since head coach Bill Peterson in 1964, installed a professional-style offense with a major emphasis on passing, the position of quarterback has occupied center stage at FSU. The play of the quarterback has more than any other position been the big factor in FSU’s success through the years. FSU has had some fine passing quarterbacks and it is a pleasure to remember some of them.
Steve Tensi was the quarterback when Coach Pete led the college football world into a major emphasis on passing in 1964. Those of us who witnessed the 1964 season well remember the long, high arching passes that Tensi threw to FSU’s first consensus All-American, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff. Especially sweet was the 55-yard touchdown pass from Tensi to Biletnikoff in the victory over the University of Florida that was achieved that year. The five touchdown passes that Tensi threw, four to Biletnikoff, in the Gator Bowl game at the end of the season when FSU walloped Oklahoma still ranks as one of the greatest performances by an FSU quarterback.
Kim Hammond was at the helm in 1967 for FSU in the historic 37-37 tie against Alabama and Bear Bryant in Birmingham, and in the victory at Gainesville over the Gators, 21-16, that same year. Hammond was knocked unconscious early in that game against Florida, but returned late in the game in historic fashion. In three plays, two of which were passes to All-American wide receiver Ron Sellers, Hammond moved the team almost the full length of the field to score and reestablish control of the game.
The performance of Gary Huff, “the Magic Dragon”, in the first ever Fiesta Bowl game at the end of the 1971 season against Arizona State is definitely on the list of all time great performances by an FSU quarterback. Although FSU lost the game, 45-38, Huff threw for 347 yards that day to seven different players, and was named the most outstanding offensive player of the game.
Some of my favorite recollections are about the two-headed quarterback system that FSU under Coach Bobby Bowden used during three seasons from 1977 through 79 when Wally Woodham and Jimmy Jordan shared the spotlight. Both were great passers and seemed to alternate games in which each would have fantastic performances.
Another of my favorites was Danny McManus who led the team in 1986 and 87. While he was not as fancy as some of the others, he knew how to win. His performance in 1987 led the team to an 11-1 record including a 31-28 victory over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl and a second place final ranking by the Associated Press Poll and the United Press International polls, the highest that FSU had attained up to that point.
Peter Tom Willis, in 1989, led the team to a 10-2 record including another victory (41-7) over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl, good for third place in the national standings at the end of the year.
Casey Weldon was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy following the 1991 season. He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award that is given to the nation’s best passing quarterback.
Charlie Ward not only won the Heisman Trophy in 1993 as the most outstanding football player of the year but led the FSU team to its first ever National Championship that same season. He is the most decorated football player in FSU history in that he won numerous other awards in 1993 including the Dave O’Brien award for the number one quarterback in the country, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, and the Maxwell Award presented by the sponsors of that award to the player determined to be the best in the country for the season.
Danny Kanell quarterbacked the team to a pair of national fourth place finishes in 1994 and 1995. He also led the FSU team to two bowl victories, 23-17 over Florida in the Sugar Bowl (following 1994 season), and 31-26 over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl (1995).
Chris Weinke was the Seminoles’ starting quarterback for three seasons, 1998, 1999, and 2000. After each of those seasons, FSU played for the national championship. The 1999 season was the best ever for the Seminoles who led the country in the polls from the beginning to the end when they whipped Virginia Tech 46-29 in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. For his efforts, Weinke became the second Seminole to win the Heisman Trophy. At the end of the 2000 season, he was also awarded the Davey O’Brien and the Johnny Unitas awards.
These are just a few of the great FSU quarterbacks. Whoever wins the quarterback battle this spring has some really big shoes to fill.
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