FSU football: Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke promises revenge against Noles

FSU football Miami’s Superbowl. Do you remember when the Canes played the War Chant at their practices while they prepared to get ram shacked by Alabama before their 2021 season opener?

The Canes defeated the Noles in the 2020 COVID season and came to Tallahassee with their chest poked out, the winners of four consecutive contests against FSU. They figured they’d steamroll the Noles as their new quarterback Tyler Van Dyke began to find his stride as they had won three consecutive games with him under center.

However, the Noles jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter and a 20-7 halftime lead. Miami clawed their way back into the game, took a 21-20 lead early in the fourth quarter, and extended the lead to 28-20 before FSU rattled off an 11-0 run in the final five minutes to take a 31-28 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

Tyler Van Dyke ended the game as he tried to spike the ball to stop the clock with only two seconds left to give the Noles the upset win in front of a packed Doak Campbell Stadium.

He became known as Tyler Van Spike, and FSU fans have had bragging rights all offseason, but of all the losses, that one still haunts him:

“We’re going to get our revenge, I promise you that,’’ Van Dyke said of last year’s 31-28 loss in Tallahassee. “The way the game ended last year it was so disappointing. … Tough loss. I think that just created a monster in us. I don’t think Coach Cristobal would be here if we won that game.”

The fact Miami fans and players cite a loss against FSU as the catalyst to get a barely .500 coach is incredible and further proves my point about how much they think about FSU. Tyler Van Dyke finished that game 25 of 47 for 316 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Two of those touchdowns were of the flukish variety, a tipped pass on third and goal and a screen pass where FSU missed a gazillion tackles. He got sacked three times and lost a fumble that led to an FSU football touchdown.

Miami has a lot of momentum this offseason with new head coach Mario Cristobal, but Miami is always the winner of the offseason. They have a manageable schedule, as usual in the ACC Coastal, outside of games against Texas A&M, Clemson, and FSU. Van Dyke and the Canes will have to wait until November 5th as the Noles will travel to Doak South before they have a shot at their revenge.

It should be another great rivalry game, and all the pressure will be on them at home in Cristobal’s first shot at the Noles. If they lose that game? That loss will take away a lot of ammunition from what they’re selling.