On this day in FSU football history, the Noles played their first game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium 65 years ago in 1950.
The stadium, named after FSU President Doak Campbell, broke ground in June of 1950 with a construction cost of $250,000. After being completed with a seating capacity of 15,000, the Noles were ready to face off against the Randolph-Macon College Yellowjackets on October 7, 1950 in their home opener for the second game of the season.
After the 40-7 victory, Don Veller led the Noles to their 3rd Dixie Conference in a row and an overall record of 8-0, the first undefeated record of any Florida college team ever.
At the end of the season, FSU received several offers to play in post-season Bowl games, but by team vote, all were turned down.
Story:
Florida State University's Seminoles saluted the opening of Doak S. Campbell Stadium here last night by firing a six-touchdown broadside into the ranks of a game, but out-classed Randolph-Macon eleven that enabled Coach Don Veller's Garnet and Gold legions to romp to t 40-7 before a record crowd of 9,676 fans.
The rampaging FSU redmen, rolling to their 18th victory in 20 starts under the tutelage of Veller, started slowly and rumbled to t one touchdown lead in the first period after taking the play away from a Jacket eleven that dominated the early minutes of the game.
Then, with shocking suddenness, the Indians leveled their full attack, rolling up four fat touchdowns in eight scant minutes of play in the second quarter.
Stunning Barrage
Randolph-Macon bounced back from that stunning barrage to score its only touchdown of the game late in the second period when quarterback Ted Keller raced 36-yards to a score after being trapped on a pass play, but that was only token resistance.
FSU came back after the half and racked up its final touchdown in convincing fashion, speeding 70 yards in nine plays with Eddie Gray going 25 yards into paydirt on a screen pass to complete the journey.
Eddie Gray
Ernie Huggett, who had hit four placements in a row after having the first boot blocked, was wide on his last attempt.
Ernie Huggett
The remainder of the third, and the entire fourth quarter passed scoreless, though the two teams both posed serious scoring threats in the final period when FSU rolled to the two before a fumble and Randolph-Macon ventured as far as the Seminoles' seven before being cut short by an intercepted pass.
Second Win
The Seminoles, racking up their second decisive win of the season and their sixth in a row over a two-year span, displayed a versatile and powerful attack headed by line-cracking Mike Sellers and shifty tailback Dick Peterson.
Mike Sellers
(First player to score a TD in Doak Campbell Stadium)
Up front the Indians operated behind a big, tough forward wall that opened big holes on the offense and gave ground grudgingly on the defense while the regulars were on duty.
Coach Paul Severin's Jackets, light and fast, flashed their attack in spots, but were no match for the big redmen, who refused to yield in the clutch.
Sellers headed the touchdown parade, hitting paydirt twice. Peterson, Dick Turk, Nelson Italiano and Eddie Gray all reached six-point land once apiece.
From left to right: Dick Peterson, Dick Turk & Nelson Italiano
First Quarter
Chunky Ernie Huggett toed the first leather in FSU's new stadium, kicking off to the 4, where Keller took the ball and returned to the 18 as football was introduced to Doak S. Campbell stadium.
With Ted Keller and Wayne Begor carrying the mail the Jackets moved quickly to the Indian 39 on three successive first downs before little Jim Arnold slowed the assault by trapping Begor for a 9-yard loss. The Jackets punted to Brown, and FSU went on the attack from the five.
The ball traded hands three times on fumbles before either team could get in gear and it was the Seminoles who rolled to paydirt.
After Dawkins fell on a Jacket fumble on the 39 the Indians swung into high with Sellers blasting the middle and Driver loosening up the middle with a short pass to Eubanks. FSU went to the Jacket 41. Sellers slammed through to middle to the 20. Another Sellers buck and a penalty moved the Indians to the 12 and Brown wheeled to the seven on a reverse. Sellers scored from there up the middle alley, fumbling after he hit the end zone where Eubanks recovered. Huggett's kick was partially blocked and it was 6-0 with less than three minutes remaining.
FSU forced Randolph-Macon to punt, then started another drive from their own 43 that had reached the 27 when the period ended.
Second Quarter
The Seminoles wasted little time scoring in the second period as Sellers continued to blast the middle and Peterson passed to Gray to the 4. Sellers cracked right guard for the score, and Huggett converted to make it 13-0 in the first two minutes of the second period.
That set the Seminoles off, and they went to the races in a hurry.
Huggett kicked off to the Jackets and recovered a fumble on the Randolph 31.
Turk went to the 21, Gray to the 7 and Peterson went over. Huggett kicked and it was 20-0.
Before you could draw a breath it was 27-0. Huggett kicked off deep into Jacket territory and Osha flopped on a fumble on the 17 on the first running play. Turk slammed to the 2 and then operated on right guard for the score. Huggett was true again and it was 27-0 with 10 minutes to play in the period.
FSU wasn't through yet. Bringger intercepted Keller's pass on the third play after the kickoff on the Jacket 48, and the Indians were on the warpath again. With Bradley and Italiano punishing the middle FSU moved to the one foot line, and Italiano wriggled over from there to make it 33-0. Huggett converted. It was 34-0 with five minutes to go in the half.
Harry Bringger
The Jackets hadn't folded, despite the Seminole barrage. They worked the ball up to the Indian 34 after the kickoff, and Ted Keller ran for a touchdown after going back to pass and failing to locate a receiver. George Bell converted to make it 34-7.
Third Quarter
Gray carried the Jackets kickoff from the 4 to the 30 and the Seminoles rolled right on to a score. Gray went the last 25, taking a screen pass from Peterson, running wide at right end and cutting back sharply up the middle. Huggett's kick was wide and it was 40-7.
FSU forced the Jackets to kick and marched 54 yards before a fumble stopped them on the two-yard line. After Randolph-Macon punted out the Indians tried to come back again but a pass interception by Barrett stopped them this time. Randolph-Macon posed a brief threat, then punted out on the FSU 20 as the quarter came to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Veller flooded the field with subs and the little Indians bottled the Jackets up and forced them to punt twice after making two short assaults of their own. Benner, Gray and Italiano sparked a drive to the Jacket 19 before a penalty slowed them down, and Huggett's attempt for a field goal was ruined by a bad pass from center.
Randolph-Macon took over on their 30 and went to the FSU seven before Kinnear intercepted a pass and ran to the 33 as the game ended.
1948, future site of Doak Campbell Stadium
The stadium was dedicated later on 10/28 against Sewannee as well as the band being named the "Marching Chiefs" and FSU Fight Song introduced.
Doak Campbell Stadium during dedication football game (1950)
1950 Gov Fuller Warren dedication of Doak Campbell Stadium
The stadium, named after FSU President Doak Campbell, broke ground in June of 1950 with a construction cost of $250,000. After being completed with a seating capacity of 15,000, the Noles were ready to face off against the Randolph-Macon College Yellowjackets on October 7, 1950 in their home opener for the second game of the season.
After the 40-7 victory, Don Veller led the Noles to their 3rd Dixie Conference in a row and an overall record of 8-0, the first undefeated record of any Florida college team ever.
At the end of the season, FSU received several offers to play in post-season Bowl games, but by team vote, all were turned down.
Story:
Florida State University's Seminoles saluted the opening of Doak S. Campbell Stadium here last night by firing a six-touchdown broadside into the ranks of a game, but out-classed Randolph-Macon eleven that enabled Coach Don Veller's Garnet and Gold legions to romp to t 40-7 before a record crowd of 9,676 fans.
The rampaging FSU redmen, rolling to their 18th victory in 20 starts under the tutelage of Veller, started slowly and rumbled to t one touchdown lead in the first period after taking the play away from a Jacket eleven that dominated the early minutes of the game.
Then, with shocking suddenness, the Indians leveled their full attack, rolling up four fat touchdowns in eight scant minutes of play in the second quarter.
Stunning Barrage
Randolph-Macon bounced back from that stunning barrage to score its only touchdown of the game late in the second period when quarterback Ted Keller raced 36-yards to a score after being trapped on a pass play, but that was only token resistance.
FSU came back after the half and racked up its final touchdown in convincing fashion, speeding 70 yards in nine plays with Eddie Gray going 25 yards into paydirt on a screen pass to complete the journey.
Eddie Gray
Ernie Huggett, who had hit four placements in a row after having the first boot blocked, was wide on his last attempt.
Ernie Huggett
The remainder of the third, and the entire fourth quarter passed scoreless, though the two teams both posed serious scoring threats in the final period when FSU rolled to the two before a fumble and Randolph-Macon ventured as far as the Seminoles' seven before being cut short by an intercepted pass.
Second Win
The Seminoles, racking up their second decisive win of the season and their sixth in a row over a two-year span, displayed a versatile and powerful attack headed by line-cracking Mike Sellers and shifty tailback Dick Peterson.
Mike Sellers
(First player to score a TD in Doak Campbell Stadium)
Up front the Indians operated behind a big, tough forward wall that opened big holes on the offense and gave ground grudgingly on the defense while the regulars were on duty.
Coach Paul Severin's Jackets, light and fast, flashed their attack in spots, but were no match for the big redmen, who refused to yield in the clutch.
Sellers headed the touchdown parade, hitting paydirt twice. Peterson, Dick Turk, Nelson Italiano and Eddie Gray all reached six-point land once apiece.
From left to right: Dick Peterson, Dick Turk & Nelson Italiano
First Quarter
Chunky Ernie Huggett toed the first leather in FSU's new stadium, kicking off to the 4, where Keller took the ball and returned to the 18 as football was introduced to Doak S. Campbell stadium.
With Ted Keller and Wayne Begor carrying the mail the Jackets moved quickly to the Indian 39 on three successive first downs before little Jim Arnold slowed the assault by trapping Begor for a 9-yard loss. The Jackets punted to Brown, and FSU went on the attack from the five.
The ball traded hands three times on fumbles before either team could get in gear and it was the Seminoles who rolled to paydirt.
After Dawkins fell on a Jacket fumble on the 39 the Indians swung into high with Sellers blasting the middle and Driver loosening up the middle with a short pass to Eubanks. FSU went to the Jacket 41. Sellers slammed through to middle to the 20. Another Sellers buck and a penalty moved the Indians to the 12 and Brown wheeled to the seven on a reverse. Sellers scored from there up the middle alley, fumbling after he hit the end zone where Eubanks recovered. Huggett's kick was partially blocked and it was 6-0 with less than three minutes remaining.
FSU forced Randolph-Macon to punt, then started another drive from their own 43 that had reached the 27 when the period ended.
Second Quarter
The Seminoles wasted little time scoring in the second period as Sellers continued to blast the middle and Peterson passed to Gray to the 4. Sellers cracked right guard for the score, and Huggett converted to make it 13-0 in the first two minutes of the second period.
That set the Seminoles off, and they went to the races in a hurry.
Huggett kicked off to the Jackets and recovered a fumble on the Randolph 31.
Turk went to the 21, Gray to the 7 and Peterson went over. Huggett kicked and it was 20-0.
Before you could draw a breath it was 27-0. Huggett kicked off deep into Jacket territory and Osha flopped on a fumble on the 17 on the first running play. Turk slammed to the 2 and then operated on right guard for the score. Huggett was true again and it was 27-0 with 10 minutes to play in the period.
FSU wasn't through yet. Bringger intercepted Keller's pass on the third play after the kickoff on the Jacket 48, and the Indians were on the warpath again. With Bradley and Italiano punishing the middle FSU moved to the one foot line, and Italiano wriggled over from there to make it 33-0. Huggett converted. It was 34-0 with five minutes to go in the half.
Harry Bringger
The Jackets hadn't folded, despite the Seminole barrage. They worked the ball up to the Indian 34 after the kickoff, and Ted Keller ran for a touchdown after going back to pass and failing to locate a receiver. George Bell converted to make it 34-7.
Third Quarter
Gray carried the Jackets kickoff from the 4 to the 30 and the Seminoles rolled right on to a score. Gray went the last 25, taking a screen pass from Peterson, running wide at right end and cutting back sharply up the middle. Huggett's kick was wide and it was 40-7.
FSU forced the Jackets to kick and marched 54 yards before a fumble stopped them on the two-yard line. After Randolph-Macon punted out the Indians tried to come back again but a pass interception by Barrett stopped them this time. Randolph-Macon posed a brief threat, then punted out on the FSU 20 as the quarter came to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Veller flooded the field with subs and the little Indians bottled the Jackets up and forced them to punt twice after making two short assaults of their own. Benner, Gray and Italiano sparked a drive to the Jacket 19 before a penalty slowed them down, and Huggett's attempt for a field goal was ruined by a bad pass from center.
Randolph-Macon took over on their 30 and went to the FSU seven before Kinnear intercepted a pass and ran to the 33 as the game ended.
1948, future site of Doak Campbell Stadium
The stadium was dedicated later on 10/28 against Sewannee as well as the band being named the "Marching Chiefs" and FSU Fight Song introduced.
Doak Campbell Stadium during dedication football game (1950)
1950 Gov Fuller Warren dedication of Doak Campbell Stadium
