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    • Florida State-Miami Football Rivalry History: The Most Memorable Moments
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    Florida State-Miami Football Rivalry History: The Most Memorable Moments

    Online Niel Posted on

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    The State of Florida–Miami Football Rivalry has been one of the country’s most exciting over the years, especially in the 1980s and early 1990s when both teams were among the best in the nation.

    Fans can usually easily identify any game or moment in the series’ history.

    FSU fans are also aware that UM was largely the reason why legendary FSU coach Bobby Bowden did not win more than two national titles with Seminoles.

    The two teams will meet in the 68th meeting on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Hard Rock Stadium at 7:00 PM on ESPN.

    What are some of the best and most historic moments in the history of the FSU-Miami game? Here’s a look at some of them.

    Far left? Wide right? How about both

    FSU suffered a breakdown during the rivalry game. It’s all because of his hitting game.

    Some said it was bad luck.

    Others would say it’s a curse, despite FSU’s history of producing great kickers over the years.

    It began on November 16, 1991, at Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU came in at 1 and UM at 2. With less than a minute to play, FSU led 17-16.

    Kicker Gerry Thomas’ 34-yard field goal attempt for the win sailed wide, giving Hurricanes a victory. The missed shot—a play that became known as the “Wide Right”—led to Miami’s fourth national championship.

    A year later, FSU’s woes continued. This time, it was from Dan Mowrey. Down 19-16, Mowrey missed a 22-yard field goal as time expired.

    As the years went by, FSU’s woes returned against UM on October 7, 2000.

    Down 27-24 with five seconds left, with FSU going for a tie to send the game into overtime, Matt Munyon missed a 49-yard field goal. Miami ended its six-game losing streak against FSU with that win. On October 12, 2002, Xavier Beitia missed a 43-yard field goal that went wide, coming up short against the defending champion Hurricanes, 28-27.

    “As good as we were, we didn’t win a national championship until 1993, mainly because we kept losing to Miami on missed shots,” Bowden told ESPN. “I used to get mad because nobody else was playing Miami. Notre Dame was playing them, then throwing them. Florida let them. Penn State let them. We’d play Miami and we’d lose by one point on a missed field goal and that would be ex. takes us out of the national championship.

    I didn’t want to play them either, but I had to. That’s why I said, ‘When I die, they’re going to say, ‘At least he played in Miami.’

    More: FSU football’s Marvin Jones Jr. knows about the Miami rivalry. Look who he’s related to

    I’m going for the win

    Bowden is known to do bold decisions and they wouldn’t settle for less than a win, especially against the Canes.

    But it can also be used against him. During the 1987 season, after Danny McManus threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ronald Lewis, the Seminoles were down by one point.

    Instead of going for the extra, which would have tied the game and likely forced overtime, he decided to go for the win.

    A reminder that both teams were ranked in the top four, and a chance to play in the national championship was on the line.

    The two-point conversion failed after McManus threw the ball into the end zone to tight end Pat Carter, leading to a pass breakup that ultimately gave Miami the win.

    The Hurricanes won the national championship that season for the second time in program history.

    More: Listen now! Miami is a heavy favorite over FSU, but anything can happen in a rivalry game

    FSU Miami Football Greatest Hits

    Over the years, there have been many violent hits during the FSU-Miami rivalry on both sides of the court. Arguably the biggest hit came to the former FSU linebacker Marvin Jones during the 1992 season.

    Gino Torretta connected with Larry Jones on a short pass up the middle. Jones, in perfect position for the Seminoles, matched the UM runner for an incomplete pass.

    After the game, Dennis Erickson, Miami’s head coach at the time, said Jones was the best linebacker he had ever seen.

    “Marvin gets to prom in a hurry and he’s not in a good mood when he gets there,” Erickson told the media.

    After an All-American career at FSU, Jones went on to have a respectable NFL career after playing all 11 years for the New York Jets.

    More: Two-minute drill for Oct. 24: FSU plays Miami; All 3 NFL teams in Florida play at home

    The Stâncă block

    During the 2016 season, FSU played a close game against UM in a primetime game at Hard Rock Stadium. Both teams were ranked at that time.

    However, the 3-2 Seminoles entered as underdogs because the Canes were undefeated and the 10th ranked team in the country.

    With less than two minutes to play and FSU leading 20-13, Miami’s Brad Kaaya threw an 11-yard touchdown to Stacy Coley to be down just 20-19.

    Miami played it safe and took the extra point to tie the game with 1:38 left.

    Defensive end Demarcus Walker got his hands on it at the right time and blocked Michael Badgley’s punt, giving the Seminoles a thrilling win at the Hard Rock.

    The upset win extended the winning streak to seven against the Hurricanes.

    FSU football defeats the national champions

    There was plenty of drama on and off the field during the 1989 game.

    For example, Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibas was handcuffed by several officers after stealing a fire extinguisher in an attempt to put out Chief Osceola’s flaming spear before kickoff.

    It was the start of the bad boy image the Hurricanes were portrayed as after coming off a national championship season the year before and being the favorite to win it all again.

    FSU wasn’t far behind and had plans to disrupt their plans to return to the national championship again by allowing the Hurricanes to win on their home court.

    FSU stunned the Hurricanes 24-10. The defense dominated against a young Toretta at QB, who was starting in place of Craig Erickson.

    FSU finished 10-2 that season as the Hurricanes won another national title.

    How to watch FSU vs Miami

    • Date: Saturday, October 26
    • Time: 7 p.m
    • Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
    • TELEVISION: ESPN

    2024 FSU football schedule: TV channels, dates and start times

    All the time Eastern

    * = ACC

    Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him by email at [email protected] or X @_Da_pistol.

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