A "Determined Run"

By Jim Joanos

Dave Synder

It was 1962. It was early in the second half in a game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Seminoles were behind 0-7 and had the ball at the Tech 22 yard line. Bill Peterson was Florida State’s head coach. It was his third season at the helm. The Seminoles still fairly new at playing a big time college football schedule were trying to make their mark against the established football programs. They had managed to beat The Citadel, Furman, Georgia and Virginia Tech and tie Kentucky while losing to Miami and Houston earlier in the season. They had been given very little chance against perennial powerhouse Georgia Tech coached by the iconic Bobby Dodd. The Seminoles needed a spark and they got it from halfback Dave Snyder whose touchdown run at that point in time has been widely proclaimed as one of the most outstanding runs of all time in the history of FSU football. His run and a later touchdown pass from Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff enabled the Seminoles to end the day with a 14-14 tie, a very big “moral victory” at a time when “moral victories” were still a big deal for FSU.

Professor James Jones in his book, FSU OneTime!, describes that famous Snyder run: “Feely (Eddie) handed to Snyder on the 22, and Dave blasted through the line and looked like a one man blitzkrieg as he shed tacklers on his way to the double stripes. Bobby Dodd was so impressed that he labeled Snyder’s dash, ‘One of the most determined runs I’ve ever seen on Grant Field.’”

It was my good fortune to have been among the 43,802 fans in attendance at Grant Field that day to witness that great run and important game in the history of FSU football. I shall always remember it. Consequently, when recently I got the news that Dave Snyder had died (May 31 in Camp Wood, Texas) memories of that 1962 game came vividly back to me. Since then I have learned of a number of things about the good life that this Seminole lived.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, one of five children, and was an outstanding athlete at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He was awarded a scholarship to play football at FSU. After a year on the freshman team as was required then he became a valuable member of the varsity and lettered his remaining three years as a Seminole. A halfback, he first excelled as a defensive specialist but then advanced to the point of being valuable on both sides of the ball as was expected of the best players at the time. Other FSU outstanding halfbacks that he shared duties with included Biletnikoff, Keith Kinderman, and Phil Spooner. The 1963 FSU football handbook described him as a “tremendously competitive athlete whose fiery attitude can spark the entire team.” He was also labeled as the Seminoles’ “chief running threat” for the 1963 season.

Dave Synder

Upon graduation from FSU, he joined the Marine Corps and became an officer. His service to our country included a tour in Vietnam where he participated in a number of missions including the Tet Offensive. Following his military duty he began his teaching and coaching career. He got a master’s degree from Appalachian State University (Boone, North Carolina) and a certification in Special Education from University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburgh, Texas). He spent the last fifteen years of his life as a resident of Laredo, Texas. He is survived by Cynthia Salinas Snyder, his wife of nearly thirty years, four children and six grandchildren as well as his mother and his siblings. He was laid to rest following a Catholic funeral in Laredo.

It is an honor to remember and write about an athlete like Dave Snyder who not only provided us with great memories but who willingly served his country in time of war and who accomplished so many positive things. He will be greatly missed.