FSU football isn’t playing in a bowl game this season, so we’re taking a look back at some of the best postseason games for the Seminoles by date.
In life, you don’t always get a second chance to do thing right – and the FSU football team would be the first ones to preach about that theory considering the misses they have had on the field in the past that could have made things different and possibly brought many more championships into the program over the years.
However, there is one moment in the history of the program where a redo was just a chance to improve on what took place the first time – continuing an epic comeback of historical proportions over a hated rival that will go down as one of the greatest games ever involving the garnet and gold.
Weeks later, the “Fifth Quarter on the French Quarter” proved to be another great time for the Seminoles when it came to reminding the self proclaimed big brother that they actually were just an inferior program to everyone else in the state – and a chance for one player to enjoy his return to his home state of the game.
Here’s a look at the best FSU football bowl game the program has played on January 2nd.
1994 Sugar Bowl – Florida State 23 Florida 17
Coming off the first national title in FSU football history, the Seminoles suffered what some would say was a “disappointing season” the year later when they got thumped in the middle of the season by the rival Miami Hurricanes and were getting beatdown at home by rival Florida – until the greatest comeback in NCAA history took place.
When all was said and done, a 31-3 lead by the Gators turned into a 31-31 tie after the Noles mounted the comeback of the century, securing their place in the Sugar Bowl with that 9-1-1 record. But when Florida came back to win the SEC Championship Game over Alabama, it set up a rematch between Sunshine State rivals in New Orleans.
Early on in the game, FSU football picked up where it left off with a touchdown pass from Louisiana native Warrick Dunn to ‘Omar Ellison for a 72 yard score along with a pass from quarterback Danny Kanell to Kez McCorvey that were wrapped around by Dan Mowrey field goals for a 10 point lead at the half.
Mowrey would add another field goal in the third quarter, but the Gators would go away and punched it in for a one yard run late in the fourth quarter. With one final chance, senior linebacker Derrick Brooks intercepted the Florida pass – part of a five sack and two fumble recovery day for the defense – to seal the win for the Noles.
The victory over Florida would be the first of three times in the history of the Seminoles where they have played a rival in the regular season and in a bowl game – but we won’t talk about the next two games and we’ll just act like they never took place.