FSU Sod Talk: Derrick Brooks and Fred Biletnikoff

Florida State’s Sod Talk continues to see growing fan base as Notre Dame game drew a record crowd for the pregame event this past weekend. 

FSU Sod Talk: Derrick Brooks and Fred Biletnikoff

With Walter Jones stuck in traffic and unable to make Sod Talk, this week’s ceremony featured a tandem of hall of famers in Fred Biletnikoff and Derrick Brooks. The two stood in front a crowd that was by all means the largest so far for the event. Even Florida senator Bill Nelson was in attendance for the ceremony.

Brooks took the mic first, reminiscing over what brought him to his ultimate decision to go to FSU. He went on to apologize to the crowd for not having a “sexy story” to tell about the factors in his decision making.

This was met with brief laughter by most all in attendance.

Brooks figured that Florida State University was 30 minutes closer to Pensacola, Florida than Auburn University. Being that much closer to his family, including his little sister, was simply all it took.

Proximity to home was critical.

There’s no shortage of interesting facts when it comes to Brooks. The crowd was in awe when it was mentioned that Brooks had outscored the opposition 18-14 five games into the 1993 season. Brooks went on to say that he just happened to be in the right place at the right time quite a few times that season.

Going into the Orange Bowl against Nebraska that year, Brooks made it clear that it was going to be a really close game due to the incoming weather. Brooks was right. Managing the weather, the Seminoles came away with the 18-16 victory.

A plethora of FSU field goals was almost all for nothing as Nebraska lined up to kick the 45 yard go-ahead field goal with one second left following an excessive celebration penalty on Florida State. There was no concern in Brook’s mind as Nebraska lined up for the field goal. Brooks knew that the ‘Noles would block the field goal or the kicker was going to miss the kick because the Florida State Seminoles were going to win the football game.

Brooks would go on to finish his segment exclaiming “Go Noles!” to the crowd. As you could imagine the crowd entertained this with their own chant of “Go Noles!”

Fred Biletnikoff finished up Sod Talk giving fans nothing short of stand-up comedy at some points. Biletnikoff humored fans with talk of how he and his teammates would cheat during games with inclement weather by taking strips of tape with thumbtacks and putting them on their gloves.

Biletnikoff went on to crack on his own brother a little bit later, saying that he was happy the Seminoles team got the victory against Miami in ’63, as his brother was currently enrolled there.

Just when you thought that Biletnikoff might have concluded this comedy show, he was asked about the win over Florida in ’64. A grin from ear to ear came over his face as Biletnikoff offered: “It was so much fun to see Steve Spurrier crying again.” He apparently knew this might register the loudest reaction from the crowd that afternoon. And it did. Biletnikoff’s segment was nothing short of Seminole comic gold.

Concluding the ceremony, Biletnikoff shared his feelings on being a Florida State Seminole. He seemed to think momentarily and then with a very impassioned look on his face said “Sometimes you really don’t appreciate what you’re doing in life until later on…To be from Florida State and be a Seminole and be a part of this university growing means the world.” His words were felt with much sentiment as the crowd applauded him with matched enthusiasm.

Sod Talk will commence once again on November 8th when the Virginia Cavaliers come to Tallahassee for FSU’s homecoming game.