Twenty Years Ago
By Jim Joanos
Twenty seasons ago Florida State won its first national championship in football. Since then, the Seminoles have been regarded as among the elite of college football. During the weekend of October 25-26, (when FSU plays North Carolina State), the school will bring the 1993 team back for a reunion. I have special memories of each game of that legendary season.
1. The Stand. In the first game, in which FSU beat Kansas at the Meadowlands of New Jersey, 42-0, FSU's defense set the pace for the season in a series of defensive plays in the second quarter, Kansas had moved to FSU's nine yard line. But then they met resistance. Kansas backs were repeatedly stuffed but penalties gave them more chances. When it was over and FSU got the ball back, Kansas had failed to score on ten consecutive plays inside the nine, including six within the one yard line. There has never been another defensive stand in the history of FSU football, that compares to that day's.
2. Pooh Bear's Run. FSU beat Duke in Durham, 45-7. Although Charlie Ward had a great day passing and Sean Jackson running, it was freshman running back Clarence "Pooh Bear" Williams that stole the show. The 250-pound freshman fullback's fantastic 47-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was simply spectacular.
3. Bentley's Tackle. In the first victory (57-0) at home in the newly expanded Campbell Stadium, FSU's offense scored at will against Clemson while the defense got its second shutout in three games. Kicker Scott Bentley's tackle was instrumental in preserving the shutout. In the second quarter after an FSU touchdown, one Clemson player blocked the PAT attempt and a Clemson safety picked it up and headed for the FSU goal outrunning several FSU players until Bentley caught him at the FSU 15.
4. The Biggest Game in North Carolina History. In a widely publicized game, 13th ranked North Carolina gave No. 1 FSU all that it wanted in the first half. However, in the third quarter FSU took control and overpowered UNC for the remainder of the game to win at Chapel Hill, 33-7. FSU's "fast break offense" was prominent.
5. Warrick Dunn's Coming Out Party. Next, back in Tallahassee, Florida State totally dominated Georgia Tech, 51-0. In the game, the FSU freshman sensation at running back, Warrick Dunn, came into his own, scoring three touchdowns.
6. Ward to Frier for 72 yards. Also at home, FSU got off to a quick start and held on to win the Miami game 28-10. In the first quarter, with a third down and ten to go from the FSU 28, quarterback Charlie Ward was chased out of the pocket. He scrambled and then discovered an open receiver, Matt Frier. He tossed him the ball, and from then on, Frier outran pursuing Miami defenders to the goal line.
7. Ward's somersault. FSU won at Virginia, 40-14. There was a great 84-yard touchdown pass play from Ward to Tamarick Vanover in the game. However, fans most likely remember a different play. In the last minute of the first half, quarterback Ward from the Virginia 18 went back to pass, found everybody covered and then scrambled toward the goal, finishing the touchdown run by somersaulting into the end zone. That play continues to be shown on television over and over even to this day.
8. Charlie Ward is injured. Despite winning 54-0, FSU's game at home against Wake Forest was costly. Shortly before halftime, Charlie Ward was tackled hard and did not get up immediately. He had to leave the game. The fans were stunned. He would miss only the last half of the Wake Forest game and all of the Maryland game but the fans did not know that at the time so they left the stadium quiet worried.
9. Kanell's first start. Danny Kanell started his first game at Maryland as an FSU quarterback and led the team to a 49-20 victory, throwing five touchdown passes.
10. The Game of the Century. In South Bend, Indiana, No. 1 FSU and No. 2 Notre Dame met on the football field. It was a great game. FSU outperformed Notre Dame in statistics, but lost the game, 31-24. Time ran out with FSU driving on the Notre Dame 14 yard line. FSU fans were devastated after the loss.
11. The Upset of the Century. On the very next Saturday at the same Notre Dame Stadium, Boston College beat Notre Dame by way of a late field goal. On the same day, Florida State thrashed North Carolina State in Tallahassee, 62-3.
12. The play of the decade: Ward to Dunn. Florida State went to Gainesville for the last game of the regular season knowing that a victory would probably mean a chance to play for the national championship. The game started out well as FSU built a 27 to 7 in the third quarter. But then, in the fourth quarter, the Gators came back and cut the lead to 27-21 with Florida having momentum and lots of time left. FSU's offense seemed to sputter. But then with third and ten from their own 21-yard line, it happened. Charlie Ward got the ball, faded a little to the left, dodged two would-be tacklers, and then arched a short pass to Warrick Dunn. Tamarick Vanover made a great block and Dunn did the rest. The speedy one took off and outran the other Gator defenders in completing the 79-yard touchdown play. That did it. FSU held the rest of the game.
13. Nebraska's wide left. The national championship game in the Orange Bowl between FSU and undefeated Nebraska was a tough one. Nebraska led at halftime, 7-6. FSU scored a touchdown and led at the end of the third quarter, 15 to 7. But then in the fourth quarter, the Huskers got the momentum, scored a touchdown, and with only 1:16 left on the clock, kicked a field goal to regain the lead, 16-15. But FSU came back and with 21 seconds left on the clock Scott Bentley kicked a field goal to put the Seminoles ahead, 18-16. But Nebraska was not yet dead. Nebraska got the ball and on a big play, got to the FSU 28-yard line. On the last play of the game Nebraska's kicker had a chance to win the game on a field goal. Fortunately, his kick hooked to the left. When the morning after came, FSU was proclaimed national champions and history was made.
Indeed, 1993 was a special season. Let us look forward to the October weekend when we can once again celebrate that legendary season twenty years ago.
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