Historically, we haven't fared so well on this date, but more recently, there have been a few big games.
How often do you see defenders score as many TD passes as their QB throws that day? Probably not very often, but on this day in 2003, that's exactly what happened. Playing on the road against Duke during their 75th anniversary year, Chris Rix connected with Craphonso Thorpe and Donnie Carter for his 2 TDs on the day, but possibly more impressive were 2 touchdowns by the defense in the form of a fumble recovery and score by AJ Nicholson and an interception returned 71 yards for a TD by Antonio Cromartie.
Noles won big 56-7. Greg Jones averaged 9.88 yards per carry on the day, but only carried the ball 8 times.
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Special Day for the Greatest
On this day in 2008, it marked a milestone in Bobby Bowden's coaching career. It was his 500th game as a college head coach.
On a neutral field in Jacksonville, FL, the Noles beat Colorado with the help of Antone Smith running for over 150 yards and 3 touchdowns, a Michael Ray Garvin 94 yd kickoff return for a TD, a Dekoda Watson blocked punt for a safety and three 3rd quarter Graham Gano field goals for a final score of 39-21.
Outside of losing to Brett Favre in 1989, Jacksonville has been friendly to Bobby Bowden. He won the Gator Bowl there against West Virginia in his first Gator Bowl in 1982, beat OK St there in the 1985 Gator Bowl, beat Duke big during the 1999 wire-to-wire campaign, beat BYU in the Pigskin Classic in 2000, beat VT in the 2001 Gator Bowl, beat West Virginia again in the 2004 Gator Bowl, upset VT there for the 2005 ACCCG, beat Nick Saban's Alabama team there in 2007, beat Colorado on this date for his 500th game as a college coach and finally beat West Virginia again for his last game as a coach in 2009. In fact, I can't find any record of him ever losing in Jacksonville outside of that 1989 game against Southern Miss, but he was undefeated in Gator Bowl games. Maybe they should call it the Bobby Bowden Bowl? Has a nice ring to it.
As an aside, FSU is tied for the 2nd most Gator Bowl appearances behind Clemson (4-5) and uf (7-2). FSU has never lost a Gator Bowl (6-0-1) and has many players in the Gator Bowl HOF and been the game MVP dating back to the 60's. The only other team to never lose tehre is Maryland (3-0-1).
Finally, you don't have to travel too far back for this next piece of history. Just allllllll the way back to last year.
On this day last year, the Noles beat NC State 56-41 on the road. I'm sure anyone who watched the game either on tv or in person can remember the game from feeling their blood pressure through the roof.
NC St went ahead 24-7 in the 1st quarter before FSU clawed their way back from behind to defeat the Wolfpack 56-41 on the road. Karlos Williams ran for over a Benjamin and 3 TDs, Rashad Greene and Jesus Wilson both caught over a 100 yds, Greene with a TD and Wilson with two. Winston added another TD pass to Christian Green to bring his total to four.
What made it special? Jimbo Fisher finally got that NC State monkey off his back. It marked the first time in the Jimbo Fisher era he won on the road at NC State after falling to them 24-28 in his debut year in 2010 and the heartbreaking 16-17 loss in 2012 which we still haven't forgotten. 2014 looked to be more of the same with them being a thorn in our side after the 1st quarter, and even worse by a gator transfer QB, but the Noles would keep their unbeaten streak alive and Part the Sea of Red to give Jimbo his first win in Raleigh, NC.
How often do you see defenders score as many TD passes as their QB throws that day? Probably not very often, but on this day in 2003, that's exactly what happened. Playing on the road against Duke during their 75th anniversary year, Chris Rix connected with Craphonso Thorpe and Donnie Carter for his 2 TDs on the day, but possibly more impressive were 2 touchdowns by the defense in the form of a fumble recovery and score by AJ Nicholson and an interception returned 71 yards for a TD by Antonio Cromartie.
Noles won big 56-7. Greg Jones averaged 9.88 yards per carry on the day, but only carried the ball 8 times.
------------------------------------------------------------
Special Day for the Greatest
On this day in 2008, it marked a milestone in Bobby Bowden's coaching career. It was his 500th game as a college head coach.
On a neutral field in Jacksonville, FL, the Noles beat Colorado with the help of Antone Smith running for over 150 yards and 3 touchdowns, a Michael Ray Garvin 94 yd kickoff return for a TD, a Dekoda Watson blocked punt for a safety and three 3rd quarter Graham Gano field goals for a final score of 39-21.
Outside of losing to Brett Favre in 1989, Jacksonville has been friendly to Bobby Bowden. He won the Gator Bowl there against West Virginia in his first Gator Bowl in 1982, beat OK St there in the 1985 Gator Bowl, beat Duke big during the 1999 wire-to-wire campaign, beat BYU in the Pigskin Classic in 2000, beat VT in the 2001 Gator Bowl, beat West Virginia again in the 2004 Gator Bowl, upset VT there for the 2005 ACCCG, beat Nick Saban's Alabama team there in 2007, beat Colorado on this date for his 500th game as a college coach and finally beat West Virginia again for his last game as a coach in 2009. In fact, I can't find any record of him ever losing in Jacksonville outside of that 1989 game against Southern Miss, but he was undefeated in Gator Bowl games. Maybe they should call it the Bobby Bowden Bowl? Has a nice ring to it.
As an aside, FSU is tied for the 2nd most Gator Bowl appearances behind Clemson (4-5) and uf (7-2). FSU has never lost a Gator Bowl (6-0-1) and has many players in the Gator Bowl HOF and been the game MVP dating back to the 60's. The only other team to never lose tehre is Maryland (3-0-1).
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Parting the Sea of Red
Finally, you don't have to travel too far back for this next piece of history. Just allllllll the way back to last year.
On this day last year, the Noles beat NC State 56-41 on the road. I'm sure anyone who watched the game either on tv or in person can remember the game from feeling their blood pressure through the roof.
NC St went ahead 24-7 in the 1st quarter before FSU clawed their way back from behind to defeat the Wolfpack 56-41 on the road. Karlos Williams ran for over a Benjamin and 3 TDs, Rashad Greene and Jesus Wilson both caught over a 100 yds, Greene with a TD and Wilson with two. Winston added another TD pass to Christian Green to bring his total to four.
What made it special? Jimbo Fisher finally got that NC State monkey off his back. It marked the first time in the Jimbo Fisher era he won on the road at NC State after falling to them 24-28 in his debut year in 2010 and the heartbreaking 16-17 loss in 2012 which we still haven't forgotten. 2014 looked to be more of the same with them being a thorn in our side after the 1st quarter, and even worse by a gator transfer QB, but the Noles would keep their unbeaten streak alive and Part the Sea of Red to give Jimbo his first win in Raleigh, NC.
