Florida State versus Notre Dame
By Jim Joanos
As I write this, preparations are being made for the Champs Sports Bowl football game to be played by Florida State and Notre Dame in Orlando on December 28, 2011. By the time it is published and you read it that game will have already been played.
FSU has had an interesting football rivalry with Notre Dame that began thirty years ago. The Champs game will be the seventh time that the two legendary programs have clashed. The first six were fun to watch.
October 10, 1981, South Bend, FSU 19-ND 13: The first time that the two met was part of what FSU fans remember as "Octoberfest." That title was given to a five game stretch in the 1981 season in which FSU, a relative newcomer to big time football, played Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and LSU consecutively, all on the road. In beating three of them (Ohio State, Notre Dame, and LSU), the Seminoles established themselves as a nationally competitive team that "would play anybody, anytime, anywhere," as the writers described it. As a result, some writers labeled Bobby Bowden, in his sixth season at FSU as the "Road Warrior." In the Notre Dame game, kicker Mike Rendina kicked two field goals and quarterback Rick Stockstill threw two touchdown passes to receiver Michael Whiting for the Seminoles.
November 13, 1993, South Bend, FSU 24-ND 31: The 1993 game was widely publicized by the Press as "The Game of the Century" because number one ranked, FSU, played number two, Notre Dame. A hard fought contest ended as FSU led by Quarterback Charlie Ward (who would win the Heisman Award at the end of the season) ran out of time near the Notre Dame goal. Notre Dame "won the battle" but would "lose the war" as the following week, the "Irish" were upset by Boston College. Consequently, it was FSU that won the National Championship that season when they beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl game.
November 12, 1994, Orlando, FSU 23-ND 16: A record crowd (72,869) showed up at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Although the Seminoles dominated the statistics, they had to come from behind late in the game and score on a Warrick Dunn touchdown to win. Both Dunn (163) and Rock Preston (165) each ran for more than a hundred yards. Dunn (offense) and linebacker Derrick Brooks (defense) won player of the game awards.
January 1, 1996, Miami (Orange Bowl), FSU 31-ND 26: At the end of the very next (1995) season, FSU and Notre Dame were selected to play each other again. This time it was in the annual Orange Bowl game. Again, the Seminoles had to come from behind to secure a victory. FSU Quarterback Danny Kanell threw four touchdown passes during the game. Three (an Orange Bowl record at the time) of them were caught by wide receiver Andre Cooper who was proclaimed the most "valuable player" of the game.
October 26, 2002, Tallahassee, FSU 24-ND 34: An attendance record was also set the only time the Irish have played FSU in Tallahassee as 84,106 were packed into Campbell Stadium. The game was tied (10-10) at halftime. FSU's previously potent running game was held in check and in a short span of time in the third quarter, the Seminoles committed three turnovers. By early in the fourth quarter, the Irish were ahead, 34-10. Two late touchdowns by FSU made the final score more palatable but it was a tough loss for the Seminoles.
November 1, 2003, South Bend, FSU 37-ND 0: In the year following Notre Dame's beating of FSU in Tallahassee, the Seminoles went up to South Bend and returned the "favor." Quarterback Chris Rix had a field day, as he passed for 327 yards including three touchdown passes, two to Craphonso Tharpe. Also FSU Xavier Beitia kicked three field goals and Leroy Smith had a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was among the worst losses in history suffered by the Irish on their home field.
December 29, 2011, Orlando (Champs Sports Bowl), FSU ??-ND ??: Hopefully, you enjoyed the seventh game between the two. We thought that it would be an exciting game and produce some good memories as the others have.
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