1974 Football - Year In Review

1974 Football - Year In Review

Coaching Staff
Darrell Mudra, Head Coach
Billy Joe Breakhouse, Graduate Assistant
Mack Brown, Graduate Assistant
Sam Elliott, Offensive Backfield
Ed Feely, JV Head Coach, Offensive Assistant
Bob Harbison, Offensive Line
Dan Henning, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, Receivers
Cal Jones, Linebackers
Gene McDowell, Defensive Ends
Larry Pendleton, Offensive Line
Deek Pollard, Defensive Backs
Mike Pope, Recruiting Coordinator
Pete Rodriquez, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line
Rick Schachner, Graduate Assistant

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Click here to see individual photos
1974 FSU Football Handbook

Coach Darrell Mudra

From the Tallahassee Democrat, December 21, 1973, page 1, by Bill McGrotha.

Jones Resigns as Florida State's Head Coach.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Larry Jones has resigned as head football coach at Florida State.

The announcement came early this morning, shortly after Dr. Stan Marshall, president of FSU, met with Jones' assistant coaches and informed them.

Jones tendered his resignation by telegram from Dallas, where he and his family are spending the holidays with his wife's family.

The telegram read: "It is with regret that I submit my resignation as head football coach … I would like to express my appreciation to President Marshall and Athletic Director John Bridgers for their support. I hope my action brings back together FSU fans and alumni. I would like to express my thanks to all the loyal Seminole fans who backed the team all the way. My future plans are indefinite."

Though several names are inevitably being mentioned, there is no strong indication of who will succeed Jones. It may be as long as a month before a decision is made.

In informing assistant coaches of the change, Dr. Marshall said that the school would start screening candidates and expected that a successor would be chosen "by the middle of January."

Assistant coaches were told that each of them would be "considered" for further employment by the new coach, but no promises were made beyond consideration.

The assistants are "under contract" until Feb. 1.

Jones' resignation was generally anticipated. All week long rumors were strong around town that he would, in fact, resign.

There was word that Jones had indicated to Dr. Marshall as long as two weeks ago that he would resign "in the best interests of the program," but there was also indication that he might change his mind on that point.

Dr. Marshall said that he, Bridgers and Jones had been examining "alternatives to strengthen the football program" since the latter part of the Seminoles' winless (0-11) season.

"Coach Jones believes," said Dr. Marshall today, "that a change would be in the best interests of the university, and the intercollegiate athletic program, and I concur with his assessment."

The president referred to Jones as "an outstanding human being, capable of providing leadership in intercollegiate football."

Jones' resignation will be formally effective on Jan. 31.

He has succeeded Bill Peterson as head coach of the Seminoles a little less than three years ago. In his first season the Seminoles were 8-3 and played in the Fiesta Bowl. The team was 7-4 his second year.

Going back to the latter stage of the '72 season, Florida State lost 14 of its last 15 games under Jones.

Under renewal of a contract in December of last year, Jones' terms of employment extend until December of 1976 three years beyond the present time.

Indications are there will be a settlement of presently undetermined proportion.


From the Tallahassee Democrat, January 13, 1974, page 37, by Bob Blankenship.

Mudra Hired to Turn Tide.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - A Midwesterner with a track record of turning losing football teams into winning ones, officially became Florida State's seventh head football coach Saturday.

In a somewhat anticlimactic press conference, Dr. Darrell Mudra was introduced as the replacement for Larry Jones, who resigned earlier after an 0-11 season.

Mudra, who has been head coach at Western Illinois for the past five seasons, had been alone at the top of the prospective list. FSU President Stanley Marshall confirmed in making the announcement.

Dr. Marshall set Mudra's annual salary at $30,000 with a three-year contract.

Mudra had arrived in Tallahassee Friday night after nearly a week of open speculation that it was only a matter of time before the official announcement would come.

Marshall and Athletic Director John Bridgers both stressed Mudra's ability to turn football programs around as his chief attribute.

"He fits into our program as well as anyone we could find," said Bridgers in pointing out Mudra's "demonstrated success in winning" where others did not.

Mudra's track record reads impressively. In taking over five head coaching jobs, he inherited teams with collective records of 9-45. Under his guidance, he pumped that up to 29-21-1 the first season to 32-7-1 for the second season.

This will not be his first experience at taking over a winless football team. He came to North Dakota State after an 0-11 season in 1963, and in three seasons progressed to 3-5, 10-1 and 11-1 with a national small college championship and ranked No. 1 in both AP and UPI polls.

He would not predict an instant winner here, but noted that current FSU assistants "feel we have a chance to win half the football games. I don't know it that's too optimistic or not - but I'd hate to have to anticipate another 0-11."

Mudra said he had talked to Jones about the FSU personnel and was impressed with the young talent.

"I haven't checked the films yet, but Larry feels that we have a very talented group of young players," he said. "Certainly we have a nucleus. We have a better than average freshman class."

Mudra also indicated that the pass would remain a part of FSU's offensive attack.

"I hope we can recruit skilled people with the guarantee that we're going to throw the football," he said.

He also indicated that the recruiting program would get back into business "immediately,"

Mudra said he would retain some members of Jones' coaching staff, and confirmed he'd bring two members from his Western Illinois staff.

Defensive coordinator Pete Rodriguez and linebacker coach Cal Jones will join him here.

Mudra said he would retain an off-season conditioning program, but was not sure of the format.

"Some problems Florida State experienced with its off-season program last season are going to change all of our attitudes a little bit.

"We want to make sure our players are sold on the off-season program," he said. "You've got to have discipline and we're hoping that a lot of that discipline will come from within the players themselves."

Mudra said "we want to put the emphasis on teaching" in the FSU program, and cited "teaching" as one of the reasons for his success.

"The development of a staff has been very helpful, too," he added. "We want to create an environment in which the coaches work hard and the players want to have a great program and develop."

Mudra cited the challenge and opportunity of the job as the reason for wanting to come to FSU.

"Certainly there is much more opportunity than the one I had at Western Illinois," he said. "One thing I have been dreaming about is playing against a team like Alabama. … Hopefully I'll still be looking forward to it in the fifth ballgame."

FSU plays Alabama in the fifth game next season.

The 44-year-old Mudra, went to high school in Omaha, Neb., and attended Peru State College where he was an all-conference halfback.

He and his wife, Jean, are the parents of two boys and two girls.


1974 Florida State Signees/Newcomers

From the 1974 FSU Football Handbook, page 26.

Gino Bennie, 6-2, 215, C, Orlando

Paul Bibler, 6-1, 215, LB, Sunrise

Blaise Boscaccy, 6-3, 225, OL, Saint Charles, Ill.

Leon Bright, 5-9, 175, RB, Merritt Island

Mike Brown, 6-2, 208, OG, Auburndale

Aaron Carter, 5-9, 180, LB, Gainesville

Ron Coppess, 6-3, 215, QB, Escondido, Calif. - Transfer from Palomar Junior College in San Marcos, Calif. Has excellent size and his ability to run Florida State's new offense (Veer-T) allowed him to finish No. 1 at end of spring. A good runner, he also handled the passing attack well for a newcomer. Needs to attain dedication that has become hallmark of former great Seminole quarterbacks. His strong arm allows him to throw deep.

Dan Corcoran, 6-2, 230, C, Holley, N.Y.

Jessie Corner, 5-11, 195, FB, Pensacola

Craig Cunningham, 6-1, 207, OG, Ormond Beach

Rick Duncan, 6-2, 189, DE, Sarasota

Tony Falvo, 6-0, 240, OG, Wexford, Pa. - A junior college player recruited from Lees McRae in Banner Elk, N. C. Excellent physical tools for nose guard with good speed. Runs 40 in 4.75 and benches about 330 pounds. Has to develop mental toughness to live up to potential.

Clark Galen, 6-1, 207, LB, Miami - Did a good job on the scout squad and this earned him a promotion to the varsity this spring. Has average speed and strength. Needs work on lateral movement. His dedication makes up for a lot of things.

Garry Halfacre, 5-11, 191, P, Cantonment

Curtis Harris, 6-3, 230, DT, Dolton, Ill.

Ken Harrison, 6-2, 210, OG, Auburndale

Len Harvey, 6-4, 217, DT, Tallahassee

Jimmy Heggins, 5-11, 200, RB, Salisbury, N.C.

Nate Henderson, 6-4, 235, DT, Albany, Ga. - Enrolled before spring practice and got maximum benefit out of drills. Coaches were pleased with his toughness and raw potential. Tremendous size although he'll be asked to cut weight to about 245. If he develops more strength he'll contribute this fall. He's a tough one-on-one player and it is difficult to run right at him.

Jimmy Hicks, 6-2, 231, OT, Chipley

John Holcomb, 6-2, 200, LB, Tampa

Bobby Jackson, 5-10, 164, DB, Albany, Ga. - One of the more pleasant surprises of spring. He suffered two minor injuries early in the spring but came back to be impressive during latter stages. Excellent feet and super athletic skills. Naturally lacks experience since he's fresh out of high school, but still should be a top contender for starting corner position. Has above average speed.

Terry Jackson, 5-11, 176, RB, Perry

Joe Joyner, 5-10, 168, WR, Orlando

Mike Kettman, 6-0, 236, OT, Palos Park, Ill.

Larry Key, 5-9, 181, RB, Inverness - Entered college before spring drills after exceptional high school career. Hampered by injuries during spring but when he was healthy he showed coaches enough that they figure he fits into plans this fall. Has real athletic ability but still lacks concentration and maturity. Coaches figure he is in about the same situation as was Rudy Thomas last season. However, they figure fall practice will make a world of difference. Has run a 9.8 100-yard dash. Was state prep weight-lifting champ in his class.

Jim Keyton, 6-4, 240, OT, Thomasville, Ga.

Sean McCowen, 6-1, 200, RB, Fort Walton Beach

Lee Nelson, 5-10, 183, DB, Melbourne - Transferred from Pensacola Junior College. Was out of football last season. A "walkon" who earned scholarship through his outstanding spring practice. He, along with freshman Robert Jackson, were the most pleasant surprises among defensive backs. A corner candidate, he has good speed and is a great hitter. Inexperience is his only drawback.

Roger Overby, 6-0, 175, WR, Tampa

Brad Prior, 6-5, 200, QB, Lake Wales

Gary Rose, 6-4, 225, DT, East Saint Louis, Ill.

Tom Rushing, 6-4, 255, DT, Ehrenberg, Ariz.

Sam Swygert, 6-3, 205, OG, Macon, Ga.

Nat Terry, 6-0, 175, DB, Tampa

Keith Tuten, 6-4, 209, DE, Indianatlantic - Outstanding physical tools for position. When he matures, he'll be a fine player. Exceptional quickness.

Clyde Walker, 6-3, 198, QB, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Milt Wilkerson, 6-0, 230, NG, Dolton, Ill.

Danny Witcher, 6-2, 216, TE, Toledo, Ohio


1974 Roster - By Name

From the 1974 FSU Football Handbook, page 42.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 82 Mike Allen            WR      6-4   178  Sr   **   Willoughby, Ohio (Union)
     Bob Anderson          OG      6-1   219  Jr-R **   Rockledge (Rockledge)
*  1 Ahmet Askin           PK      6-2   174  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Godby)
  32 Mike Barnes           WR      5-11  174  So        Titusville (Titusville)
* 81 Ed Beckman            TE      6-5   210  So   *    Miami (South Miami)
  52 Gino Bennie           C       6-2   215  Fr        Orlando (Oak Ridge)
  55 Paul Bibler           LB      6-1   215  So        Sunrise (Piper)
* 16 Jimmy Black           QB      6-0   179  So   *    Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
  51 Ricky Blythe          C       6-2   216  Jr-R      Winter Park (Winter Park)
  57 Blaise Boscaccy       OL      6-3   225  Fr        Saint Charles, Ill. (Saint Charles)
* 35 Leon Bright           RB      5-9   175  Fr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
  68 Ed Brodzik            OT      6-3   221  So        Tampa (Leto)
  71 Herman Brown          OT      6-3   218  Fr        Fort Lauderdale (Boyd Anderson)
     Mike Brown            OG      6-2   208  So        Auburndale (Auburndale)
  49 Brooks Burroughs      NG      6-0   227  Sr-R      Somerset, N.J. (Ferrum JC)
* 41 Phil Cahoon           DB      5-10  182  Jr-R *    Mobile, Ala. (Davidson)
* 42 Joe Camps             DB      6-2   186  So        Gainesville (Gainesville)
* 51 Aaron Carter          LB      5-9   180  Fr        Gainesville (Gainesville)
  66 Jay Caven             OT      6-4   242  So-R      Saint Petersburg (Boca Ciega)
  67 Harold Cheeseborough  OG      5-11  213  Jr        Jacksonville (Lee)
* 84 Randy Coffield        DE      6-3   218  Jr-R *    Hialeah (Hialeah)
* 90 Bert Cooper           DE      6-1   236  Sr-R **   Tallahassee (Florida)
* 17 Ron Coppess           QB      6-3   215  Jr        Escondido, Calif. (Palomar CC)
  73 Dan Corcoran          C       6-2   230  Jr        Holley, N.Y. (Mesa JC)
  28 Jessie Corner         FB      5-11  195  So        Pensacola (Woodham)
     Craig Cunningham      OG      6-1   207  So        Ormond Beach (Seabreeze)
* 75 Doug Dane             DT      6-5   222  So   *    Fort Lauderdale (South Plantation)
* 28 Mike Davison          RB      5-11  197  Sr   **   Bradenton (Manatee)
  89 Collis Dennison       DE      6-3   210  So        Gainesville (Gainesville)
*  3 Joe Downey            P       6-0   193  Sr-R **   Mobile, Ala. (Theodore)
     Rick Duncan           DE      6-2   189  So        Sarasota (Cardinal Mooney)
* 11 Jimmy Everett         WR      6-3   177  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Godby)
  31 Rudy Falana           WR      5-11  165  Sr-R      Largo (Largo)
* 79 Tony Falvo            OG      6-0   240  Jr        Wexford, Pa. (Lees-McRae JC)
  50 Dan Fucarino          C       6-2   213  So-R      Tampa (Hillsborough)
     Kevin Gabriel         WR      5-11  184  Jr        Orlando (Edgewater)
     Clark Galen           LB      6-1   207  So        Miami (Palmetto)
* 64 Jeff Gardner          OG      5-11  214  Jr   *    Miami (Columbus)
     Doug Glosson          DE      6-2   209  So   *    Lexington, N.C. (West Davidson)
* 21 Joe Goldsmith         TE      6-1   180  Sr-R **   Lakeland (Kathleen)
     Ben Graham            DB      6-2   187  Jr        Punta Gorda (Charlotte)
     Rocky Graziano        LB      6-2   214  So        Freeport, N.Y. (Freeport)
  37 Danny Greene          DB      6-2   191  So   *    Miami (South Miami)
* 23 Chris Griffin         DB      5-11  168  Jr   *    Tampa (Hillsborough)
  15 Garry Halfacre        P       5-11  191  So        Cantonment (Tate)
  57 Steve Hanks           LB      5-11  184  So        Orlando (Edgewater)
  27 Mike Harder           WR      6-3   183  So-R      Bristol, Pa. (Woodrow Wilson)
  87 John Harmeling        DE      6-3   218  So   *    Winter Park (Winter Park)
  66 Curtis Harris         DT      6-3   230  Fr        Dolton, Ill. (Thornridge)
* 69 Bruce Harrison        OG      6-2   235  So        Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
     Ken Harrison          OG      6-2   210  Jr        Auburndale (Auburndale)
  77 Len Harvey            DT      6-4   217  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
* 36 Jimmy Heggins         RB      5-11  200  Fr        Salisbury, N.C. (North Rowan)
  91 Nate Henderson        DT      6-4   235  Fr        Albany, Ga. (Albany)
     Jimmy Hicks           OT      6-2   231  So        Chipley (Chipley)
     John Holcomb          LB      6-2   200  So        Tampa (Plant)
  26 Donnie Holley         RB      5-11  180  Jr-R      Elba, Ala. (Elba)
* 43 Earl Humes            DB      6-0   166  Sr   *    Miami (Miami Beach)
* 40 Bobby Jackson         DB      5-10  164  Fr        Albany, Ga. (Albany)
     Terry Jackson         RB      5-11  176  So        Perry (Taylor County)
* 78 Greg Johnson          DT      6-4   236  Jr-R *    Fruitland Park (Leesburg)
* 61 Wade Johnson          OG      6-2   213  So        Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta)
* 62 Bob Jones             OG      6-4   233  Sr   **   Lighthouse Point (Pompano Beach)
  48 Larry Jones           DB      6-3   190  So   *    Seminole (Seminole)
* 76 Phil Jones            DT      6-2   244  So   *    Miami Springs (Miami Springs)
  47 Joe Joyner            WR      5-10  168  So        Orlando (Colonial)
* 31 Randy Kaiser          DB      6-0   172  Sr   *    Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forest)
  75 Mike Kettman          OT      6-0   236  Jr        Palos Park, Ill. (Joliet JC)
* 44 Larry Key             RB      5-9   181  Fr        Inverness (Citrus)
     Robbie Keyes          QB      6-4   201  So-R      Ocean Gate, N.J. (Central Regional)
  74 Jim Keyton            OT      6-4   240  Fr        Thomasville, Ga. (Thomasville)
  89 John Kilmurray        TE      6-2   208  So-R      Lanoka Harbor, N.J. (Central Regional)
* 60 Mike Kissner          OG      6-2   239  So        Delray Beach (Cardinal Newman)
* 30 Jeff Leggett          RB      5-11  176  So        Miami (Norland)
* 87 Rudy Maloy            DE      6-4   208  So   *    Frostproof (Frostproof)
  86 Mark Marshall         TE      6-5   204  Jr        Cape Coral (Cypress Lake)
* 12 Steve Mathieson       QB      6-4   210  So        Rockville, Md. (Peary)
  19 Jack Maynard          PK      6-0   175  So-R      Tallahassee (Florida)
     Sean McCowen          RB      6-1   200  So        Fort Walton Beach (Choctawhatchee)
     Walt McCully          DB      6-0   171  Jr        Orlando (Edgewater)
  89 Tom McDougal          TE      6-5   218  So   *    Miami (Palmetto)
* 22 Bobby McKinnon        RB      6-1   175  Jr   *    Lake Worth (Lake Worth)
* 65 Billy McPhillips      OT      6-2   222  So   *    Tampa (King)
* 59 Scott Meseroll        LB      6-1   210  Sr-R *    Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway/Wesley JC)
* 29 Fred Miller           RB      6-1   207  So-R *    Jacksonville (Paxon)
* 56 John Murphy           LB      5-10  210  Sr-R **   Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 46 Lee Nelson            DB      5-10  183  Jr        Melbourne (Melbourne/Pensacola JC)
  12 Pat O'Leary           QB      6-1   175  Jr        Hallandale (Chaminade)
     Paul Oglesby          OG      6-3   241  Sr   *    Jacksonville (Paxon)
  18 Mark Orlando          QB      6-1   186  Jr-R *    Westfield, N.Y. (Mindszenty)
* 86 Roger Overby          WR      6-0   175  Fr        Tampa (Robinson)
     Lester Payton         RB      6-1   178  Jr-R      Orlando (Oak Ridge)
  37 Ralph Petrillo        DB      6-0   197  Jr-R      Newburgh, N.Y. (Free Academy)
     Greg Pitt             OT      6-3   207  So-R      Knoxville, Tenn. (Tennessee Military Institute)
  48 Greg Pittman          DB      6-0   163  So        Monticello (Jefferson County)
* 85 Dave Porter           DE      6-3   200  So        Saint Petersburg (Gibbs)
  58 Greg Pounds           LB      6-1   206  Jr   **   Daytona Beach (Mainland)
  14 Billy Prescott        QB      6-0   171  So        Fort Walton Beach (Fort Walton Beach)
  15 Brad Prior            QB      6-5   200  So        Lake Wales (Lake Wales)
* 72 Smokey Ragins         OT-C    6-1   245  Jr-R *    Plant City (Plant City)
* 83 Detroit Reynolds      DE      6-1   213  So   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
* 39 Jeff Ridings          DB      6-0   178  So        Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler)
  68 Alan Risk             NG      6-2   216  So        Miami (Norland)
* 70 Vic Rivas             OT      6-2   234  So        Miami (Coral Park)
  67 Gary Rose             DT      6-4   225  Fr        East Saint Louis, Ill. (East Saint Louis)
  71 Tom Rushing           DT      6-4   255  So        Ehrenberg, Ariz. (Palo Verde JC)
* 50 Bill Sawyer           C       6-4   228  So        Cordele, Ga. (Crisp County)
* 53 Brian Schmidt         LB      6-1   220  So   *    Lehigh Acres (Riverdale)
     Melvin Scruggs        NG      5-11  194  Jr-R      Dixie, Ga. (Brooks County)
  54 Garis Shaw            NG      6-2   236  So        Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 20 Mike Shumann          WR      6-0   163  So   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
  77 Harry Slagle          OT      6-5   220  So-R      Phenix City, Ala. (Phenix City)
     Fran Smith            DB      6-1   186  So        Fort Lauderdale (Chaminade)
* 24 Andy Stockton         DB      6-0   176  Jr        Saint Petersburg (Boca Ciega)
     Sam Swygert           OG      6-3   205  So        Macon, Ga. (Stratford Academy)
  47 Nat Terry             DB      6-0   175  Fr        Tampa (Robinson)
* 63 Jon Thames            NG      5-11  225  So   *    Gainesville (Gainesville)
  80 Joe Thomas            WR      6-1   178  Sr-R      Tallahassee (Godby)
* 33 Rudy Thomas           RB      5-11  193  So        Quincy (Shanks)
     Sylvester Triplett    RB      6-0   175  Fr        Columbus, Ohio
  80 Keith Tuten           DE      6-4   209  So        Indianatlantic (Melbourne)
  48 Steve Vickers         DB      5-11  167  Jr        Tampa (King)
     Clyde Walker          QB      6-3   198  So        Chapel Hill, N.C. (Chapel Hill)
  55 Milt Wilkerson        NG      6-0   230  Fr        Dolton, Ill. (Thornridge)
  88 Danny Witcher         TE      6-2   216  Fr        Toledo, Ohio (Scott)

1974 Roster - By Number

From the 1974 FSU Football Handbook, page 42.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Bob Anderson          OG      6-1   219  Jr-R **   Rockledge (Rockledge)
     Mike Brown            OG      6-2   208  So        Auburndale (Auburndale)
     Craig Cunningham      OG      6-1   207  So        Ormond Beach (Seabreeze)
     Rick Duncan           DE      6-2   189  So        Sarasota (Cardinal Mooney)
     Kevin Gabriel         WR      5-11  184  Jr        Orlando (Edgewater)
     Clark Galen           LB      6-1   207  So        Miami (Palmetto)
     Doug Glosson          DE      6-2   209  So   *    Lexington, N.C. (West Davidson)
     Ben Graham            DB      6-2   187  Jr        Punta Gorda (Charlotte)
     Rocky Graziano        LB      6-2   214  So        Freeport, N.Y. (Freeport)
     Ken Harrison          OG      6-2   210  Jr        Auburndale (Auburndale)
     Jimmy Hicks           OT      6-2   231  So        Chipley (Chipley)
     John Holcomb          LB      6-2   200  So        Tampa (Plant)
     Terry Jackson         RB      5-11  176  So        Perry (Taylor County)
     Robbie Keyes          QB      6-4   201  So-R      Ocean Gate, N.J. (Central Regional)
     Sean McCowen          RB      6-1   200  So        Fort Walton Beach (Choctawhatchee)
     Walt McCully          DB      6-0   171  Jr        Orlando (Edgewater)
     Paul Oglesby          OG      6-3   241  Sr   *    Jacksonville (Paxon)
     Lester Payton         RB      6-1   178  Jr-R      Orlando (Oak Ridge)
     Greg Pitt             OT      6-3   207  So-R      Knoxville, Tenn. (Tennessee Military Institute)
     Melvin Scruggs        NG      5-11  194  Jr-R      Dixie, Ga. (Brooks County)
     Fran Smith            DB      6-1   186  So        Fort Lauderdale (Chaminade)
     Sam Swygert           OG      6-3   205  So        Macon, Ga. (Stratford Academy)
     Sylvester Triplett    RB      6-0   175  Fr        Columbus, Ohio
     Clyde Walker          QB      6-3   198  So        Chapel Hill, N.C. (Chapel Hill)
*  1 Ahmet Askin           PK      6-2   174  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Godby)
*  3 Joe Downey            P       6-0   193  Sr-R **   Mobile, Ala. (Theodore)
* 11 Jimmy Everett         WR      6-3   177  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Godby)
* 12 Steve Mathieson       QB      6-4   210  So        Rockville, Md. (Peary)
  12 Pat O'Leary           QB      6-1   175  Jr        Hallandale (Chaminade)
  14 Billy Prescott        QB      6-0   171  So        Fort Walton Beach (Fort Walton Beach)
  15 Garry Halfacre        P       5-11  191  So        Cantonment (Tate)
  15 Brad Prior            QB      6-5   200  So        Lake Wales (Lake Wales)
* 16 Jimmy Black           QB      6-0   179  So   *    Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
* 17 Ron Coppess           QB      6-3   215  Jr        Escondido, Calif. (Palomar CC)
  18 Mark Orlando          QB      6-1   186  Jr-R *    Westfield, N.Y. (Mindszenty)
  19 Jack Maynard          PK      6-0   175  So-R      Tallahassee (Florida)
* 20 Mike Shumann          WR      6-0   163  So   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
* 21 Joe Goldsmith         TE      6-1   180  Sr-R **   Lakeland (Kathleen)
* 22 Bobby McKinnon        RB      6-1   175  Jr   *    Lake Worth (Lake Worth)
* 23 Chris Griffin         DB      5-11  168  Jr   *    Tampa (Hillsborough)
* 24 Andy Stockton         DB      6-0   176  Jr        Saint Petersburg (Boca Ciega)
  26 Donnie Holley         RB      5-11  180  Jr-R      Elba, Ala. (Elba)
  27 Mike Harder           WR      6-3   183  So-R      Bristol, Pa. (Woodrow Wilson)
  28 Jessie Corner         FB      5-11  195  So        Pensacola (Woodham)
* 28 Mike Davison          RB      5-11  197  Sr   **   Bradenton (Manatee)
* 29 Fred Miller           RB      6-1   207  So-R *    Jacksonville (Paxon)
* 30 Jeff Leggett          RB      5-11  176  So        Miami (Norland)
  31 Rudy Falana           WR      5-11  165  Sr-R      Largo (Largo)
* 31 Randy Kaiser          DB      6-0   172  Sr   *    Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park-River Forest)
  32 Mike Barnes           WR      5-11  174  So        Titusville (Titusville)
* 33 Rudy Thomas           RB      5-11  193  So        Quincy (Shanks)
* 35 Leon Bright           RB      5-9   175  Fr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
* 36 Jimmy Heggins         RB      5-11  200  Fr        Salisbury, N.C. (North Rowan)
  37 Danny Greene          DB      6-2   191  So   *    Miami (South Miami)
  37 Ralph Petrillo        DB      6-0   197  Jr-R      Newburgh, N.Y. (Free Academy)
* 39 Jeff Ridings          DB      6-0   178  So        Marietta, Ga. (Wheeler)
* 40 Bobby Jackson         DB      5-10  164  Fr        Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 41 Phil Cahoon           DB      5-10  182  Jr-R *    Mobile, Ala. (Davidson)
* 42 Joe Camps             DB      6-2   186  So        Gainesville (Gainesville)
* 43 Earl Humes            DB      6-0   166  Sr   *    Miami (Miami Beach)
* 44 Larry Key             RB      5-9   181  Fr        Inverness (Citrus)
* 46 Lee Nelson            DB      5-10  183  Jr        Melbourne (Melbourne/Pensacola JC)
  47 Joe Joyner            WR      5-10  168  So        Orlando (Colonial)
  47 Nat Terry             DB      6-0   175  Fr        Tampa (Robinson)
  48 Larry Jones           DB      6-3   190  So   *    Seminole (Seminole)
  48 Greg Pittman          DB      6-0   163  So        Monticello (Jefferson County)
  48 Steve Vickers         DB      5-11  167  Jr        Tampa (King)
  49 Brooks Burroughs      NG      6-0   227  Sr-R      Somerset, N.J. (Ferrum JC)
  50 Dan Fucarino          C       6-2   213  So-R      Tampa (Hillsborough)
* 50 Bill Sawyer           C       6-4   228  So        Cordele, Ga. (Crisp County)
  51 Ricky Blythe          C       6-2   216  Jr-R      Winter Park (Winter Park)
* 51 Aaron Carter          LB      5-9   180  Fr        Gainesville (Gainesville)
  52 Gino Bennie           C       6-2   215  Fr        Orlando (Oak Ridge)
* 53 Brian Schmidt         LB      6-1   220  So   *    Lehigh Acres (Riverdale)
  54 Garis Shaw            NG      6-2   236  So        Clearwater (Clearwater)
  55 Paul Bibler           LB      6-1   215  So        Sunrise (Piper)
  55 Milt Wilkerson        NG      6-0   230  Fr        Dolton, Ill. (Thornridge)
* 56 John Murphy           LB      5-10  210  Sr-R **   Albany, Ga. (Albany)
  57 Blaise Boscaccy       OL      6-3   225  Fr        Saint Charles, Ill. (Saint Charles)
  57 Steve Hanks           LB      5-11  184  So        Orlando (Edgewater)
  58 Greg Pounds           LB      6-1   206  Jr   **   Daytona Beach (Mainland)
* 59 Scott Meseroll        LB      6-1   210  Sr-R *    Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway/Wesley JC)
* 60 Mike Kissner          OG      6-2   239  So        Delray Beach (Cardinal Newman)
* 61 Wade Johnson          OG      6-2   213  So        Valdosta, Ga. (Valdosta)
* 62 Bob Jones             OG      6-4   233  Sr   **   Lighthouse Point (Pompano Beach)
* 63 Jon Thames            NG      5-11  225  So   *    Gainesville (Gainesville)
* 64 Jeff Gardner          OG      5-11  214  Jr   *    Miami (Columbus)
* 65 Billy McPhillips      OT      6-2   222  So   *    Tampa (King)
  66 Jay Caven             OT      6-4   242  So-R      Saint Petersburg (Boca Ciega)
  66 Curtis Harris         DT      6-3   230  Fr        Dolton, Ill. (Thornridge)
  67 Harold Cheeseborough  OG      5-11  213  Jr        Jacksonville (Lee)
  67 Gary Rose             DT      6-4   225  Fr        East Saint Louis, Ill. (East Saint Louis)
  68 Ed Brodzik            OT      6-3   221  So        Tampa (Leto)
  68 Alan Risk             NG      6-2   216  So        Miami (Norland)
* 69 Bruce Harrison        OG      6-2   235  So        Vero Beach (Vero Beach)
* 70 Vic Rivas             OT      6-2   234  So        Miami (Coral Park)
  71 Herman Brown          OT      6-3   218  Fr        Fort Lauderdale (Boyd Anderson)
  71 Tom Rushing           DT      6-4   255  So        Ehrenberg, Ariz. (Palo Verde JC)
* 72 Smokey Ragins         OT-C    6-1   245  Jr-R *    Plant City (Plant City)
  73 Dan Corcoran          C       6-2   230  Jr        Holley, N.Y. (Mesa JC)
  74 Jim Keyton            OT      6-4   240  Fr        Thomasville, Ga. (Thomasville)
* 75 Doug Dane             DT      6-5   222  So   *    Fort Lauderdale (South Plantation)
  75 Mike Kettman          OT      6-0   236  Jr        Palos Park, Ill. (Joliet JC)
* 76 Phil Jones            DT      6-2   244  So   *    Miami Springs (Miami Springs)
  77 Len Harvey            DT      6-4   217  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
  77 Harry Slagle          OT      6-5   220  So-R      Phenix City, Ala. (Phenix City)
* 78 Greg Johnson          DT      6-4   236  Jr-R *    Fruitland Park (Leesburg)
* 79 Tony Falvo            OG      6-0   240  Jr        Wexford, Pa. (Lees-McRae JC)
  80 Joe Thomas            WR      6-1   178  Sr-R      Tallahassee (Godby)
  80 Keith Tuten           DE      6-4   209  So        Indianatlantic (Melbourne)
* 81 Ed Beckman            TE      6-5   210  So   *    Miami (South Miami)
* 82 Mike Allen            WR      6-4   178  Sr   **   Willoughby, Ohio (Union)
* 83 Detroit Reynolds      DE      6-1   213  So   *    Tallahassee (Leon)
* 84 Randy Coffield        DE      6-3   218  Jr-R *    Hialeah (Hialeah)
* 85 Dave Porter           DE      6-3   200  So        Saint Petersburg (Gibbs)
  86 Mark Marshall         TE      6-5   204  Jr        Cape Coral (Cypress Lake)
* 86 Roger Overby          WR      6-0   175  Fr        Tampa (Robinson)
  87 John Harmeling        DE      6-3   218  So   *    Winter Park (Winter Park)
* 87 Rudy Maloy            DE      6-4   208  So   *    Frostproof (Frostproof)
  88 Danny Witcher         TE      6-2   216  Fr        Toledo, Ohio (Scott)
  89 Collis Dennison       DE      6-3   210  So        Gainesville (Gainesville)
  89 John Kilmurray        TE      6-2   208  So-R      Lanoka Harbor, N.J. (Central Regional)
  89 Tom McDougal          TE      6-5   218  So   *    Miami (Palmetto)
* 90 Bert Cooper           DE      6-1   236  Sr-R **   Tallahassee (Florida)
  91 Nate Henderson        DT      6-4   235  Fr        Albany, Ga. (Albany)

1974 Conference Awards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leon Bright              All-South Independent - Honorable Mention

Bert Cooper              All-South Independent - 1st Team

Joe Downey               All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Jeff Gardner             All-South Independent - Honorable Mention

Joe Goldsmith            All-South Independent - Honorable Mention

Greg Johnson             All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Larry Key                All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Mike Shumann             All-South Independent - 1st Team

All-Conference -  8

1974 Noles in the Pros

Name                     No      Pos                Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Bailey               31      RB                 Philadelphia Eagles
Fred Biletnikoff         25      WR                 Oakland  Raiders
Duane Carrell            10      P                  Dallas Cowboys
Chip Glass               83      TE                 New York Giants
Gary Huff                19      QB                 Chicago Bears
Eddie McMillan           41      CB                 Los Angeles  Rams
Gary Parris              80      TE                 San Diego Chargers
Barry Smith              80      WR                 Green Bay Packers
Walt Sumner              29      DB                 Cleveland  Browns
J.T. Thomas              24      DB                 Pittsburgh Steelers

Noles in the Pros - 10

1974 Schedule and Results

           
GAME DAY
 
           
FSU
OPP
OPP EOY
DATE
POST
GAME
BOX
SCORE
LOC
OPPONENT
SCORE
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
REC
09/14
Postgame
Box
H
Pittsburgh
L 6- 9
 
 
13
 
 
 
7-4
09/21
Postgame
Box
H
Colorado State
L 7-14
 
 
 
 
 
 
4-6-1
09/28
Postgame
Box
A
Kansas
L 9-40
 
 
 
 
 
 
4-7
10/05
Postgame
Box
H
Baylor
L 17-21
 
 
 
 
14
14
8-4
10/12
Postgame
Box
A
Alabama
L 7- 8
 
 
3
2
5
2
11-1
10/19
Postgame
Box
H
Florida
L 14-24
 
 
14
12
15
12
8-4
10/26
Postgame
Box
A
Auburn
L 6-38
 
 
5
4
8
6
10-2
11/02
Postgame
Box
A
Memphis State
L 14-42
 
 
 
 
 
 
7-4
11/08
Postgame
Box
A
Miami
Miami, Fla.
W 21-14
 
 
 
 
 
 
6-5
11/16
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Tech
L 21-56
 
 
 
 
 
 
4-7
11/23
Postgame
Box
H
Houston
L 8-23
 
 
15
13
19
11
8-3-1
EOY Stats Ref

                Overall   Home    Away   Neutral
------------------------------------------------
FSU record is    1-10     0-6     1-4     0-0
Against Top 25   0- 5     0-3     0-2     0-0


1974 - 100 Yard Rushing Club

Name Date Opponent Att Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Larry Key 11/02/1974 Memphis State 16 124 7.75 1 Larry Key 10/12/1974 Alabama 25 123 4.92 1 Leon Bright 11/08/1974 Miami 22 105 4.77 1

1974 - 100 Yard Receiving Club

Name Date Opponent Rec Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ None

1974 - 300 Yard Passing Club

Name Date Opponent Att Cmp Yds Int Avg TDs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- None

1974 EOY Stats

From the 1975 FSU Football Handbook, page 58. Overall Team Statistics TEAM STATISTICS FSU OPP -------------------------------------------------------- SCORING....................... 130 289 Points Per Game............. 11.8 26.3 TOUCHDOWNS.................... 17 38 TDs Rushing................. 8 27 TDs Passing................. 7 10 TDs Fumble Return........... 0 0 TDs Punt Return............. 1 1 TDs Interception............ 0 0 TDs Kickoff Return.......... 1 0 TDs Lateral................. 0 0 TDs Free Kick............... 0 0 PAT-ATTEMPTS.................. 15-17 35-38 Kick........................ 14-15 35-38 Pass........................ 1- 1 0- 0 Run......................... 0- 1 0- 0 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS.......... 4-14 8-21 SAFETY........................ 0 1 FIRST DOWNS................... 171 219 Rushing..................... 82 151 Passing..................... 80 53 Penalty..................... 9 15 RUSHING YARDAGE............... 1703 3069 Yards gained rushing........ 1974 3379 Yards lost rushing.......... 271 310 Rushing Attempts............ 432 641 Average Per Rush............ 3.9 4.8 Average Per Game............ 154.8 279.0 PASSING YARDAGE............... 1769 1399 Att-Comp-Int................ 293-153-20 161- 81- 8 Efficiency.................. 97.17 133.86 Average Per Pass............ 6.0 8.7 Average Per Catch........... 11.6 17.3 Average Per Game............ 160.8 127.2 TOTAL OFFENSE................. 3472 4468 Total Plays................. 725 802 Average Per Play............ 4.8 5.6 Average Per Game............ 315.6 406.2 KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 49- 998 23- 387 Average Per Return.......... 20.4 16.8 PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 18-245 25-318 Average Per Return.......... 13.6 12.7 INT RETURNS: #-YARDS.......... 8-121 20-211 Average Per Return.......... 15.1 10.6 FUMBLES-LOST.................. 33-19 42-24 PENALTIES-YARDS............... 85- 762 46- 469 Average Per Game............ 69.3 42.6 PUNTS-YARDS................... 61-2274 47-1760 Average Per Punt............ 37.3 37.4 Net punt average............ 32.1 32.2 ATTENDANCE.................... 174,765 196,357 Games-Avg Per Game.......... 6-29,128 5-39,271
 1st2nd3rd4th Total
Florida State
46
35
7
42
130
Opponents
77
47
67
98
289
Overall Individual Statistics

RUSHING              G  Att Gain  Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Larry Key           11  123  625   23   602   4.9   3  20    54.7
Rudy Thomas         11   81  361   10   351   4.3   0  49    31.9
Leon Bright         11   61  310   14   296   4.9   2  16    26.9
Fred Miller         11   26  146    6   140   5.4   1  23    12.7
Jimmy Black          5   26  156   21   135   5.2   0  18    27.0
Ron Coppess         10   70  236  144    92   1.3   1  16     9.2
Jeff Leggett         5   11   34    4    30   2.7   1  12     6.0
Mike Davison         6   11   27    1    26   2.4   0   4     4.3
Bobby McKinnon       6    8   24    1    23   2.9   0   6     3.8
Steve Mathieson      6    8   44   26    18   2.3   0  18     3.0
Joe Goldsmith       11    2    3    3     0   0.0   0   3     0.0
Mike Shumann        11    4    8   13    -5  -1.3   0   7    -0.5
Joe Downey          11    1    0    5    -5  -5.0   0  -5    -0.5

Total.........      11  432 1974  271  1703   3.9   8  49   154.8
Opponents.....      11  641 3379  310  3069   4.8  27       279.0


PASSING              G   Effic Att-Cmp-Int   Pct  Yds  TD Long  Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Coppess         10   96.02 145- 78- 7   .538  817   2  31    81.7
Steve Mathieson      6  101.95  82- 40- 6   .488  544   3  55t   90.7
Jimmy Black          5   98.26  61- 33- 6   .541  385   2  21    77.0
Joe Downey          11  131.07   3-  2- 0   .667   23   0  14     2.1
Joe Goldsmith       11  ******   2-  0- 1   .000    0   0   0     0.0

Total.........      11   97.17 293-153-20   .522 1769   7  55t  160.8
Opponents.....      11  133.86 161- 81- 8   .503 1399  10       127.2


RECEIVING            G  No   Yds   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------
Joe Goldsmith       11  42   525  12.5   2  48t   47.7
Mike Shumann        11  43   515  12.0   3  52    46.8
Leon Bright         11  12   201  16.8   1  55t   18.3
Rudy Thomas         11  16   109   6.8   1  15     9.9
Mike Allen           9   6    86  14.3   0  22     9.6
Roger Overby         5   6    67  11.2   0  17    13.4
Jimmy Everett        7   4    59  14.8   0  26     8.4
Ed Beckman          10   3    46  15.3   0  23     4.6
Mike Davison         6   3    41  13.7   0  18     6.8
Joe Thomas           9   3    31  10.3   0  15     3.4
Andy Stockton       11   2    23  11.5   0  14     2.1
Larry Key           11   5    22   4.4   0  11     2.0
Fred Miller         11   3    17   5.7   0   7     1.5
Mike Harder          1   3    12   4.0   0   5    12.0
Mike Barnes          1   1    11  11.0   0  11    11.0
Jeff Leggett         5   1     4   4.0   0   4     0.8

Total.........      11 153  1769  11.6   7  55t  160.8
Opponents.....      11  81  1399  17.3  10       127.2


PUNT RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Bobby Jackson        10  182  18.2  1  80t
Leon Bright           3   35  11.7  0  34 
Joe Goldsmith         3   15   5.0  0  14 
Bert Cooper           1    9   9.0  0   9 
John Murphy           1    4   4.0  0   4 

Total.........       18  245  13.6  1  80 
Opponent......       25  318  12.7  1     


INTERCEPTIONS        No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Joe Camps             2   37  18.5  0  19 
Bobby Jackson         2   12   6.0  0  12 
Bert Cooper           1   42  42.0  0  42 
Andy Stockton         1   16  16.0  0  16 
Aaron Carter          1    9   9.0  0   9 
Phil Jones            1    5   5.0  0   5 

Total.........        8  121  15.1  0  42 
Opponent......       20  211  10.6  0     


KICK RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Leon Bright          22   499 22.7  1 100t
Jimmy Heggins         9   226 25.1  0  68 
Bobby McKinnon        3    46 15.3  0  21 
Jeff Leggett          3    43 14.3  0  19 
Larry Key             2    40 20.0  0  25 
Joe Thomas            2    39 19.5  0  21 
Rudy Falana           1    29 29.0  0  29 
Fred Miller           2    21 10.5  0  12 
Roger Overby          2    18  9.0  0  10 
Bobby Jackson         1    14 14.0  0  14 
Rudy Thomas           1    12 12.0  0  12 
Ed Beckman            1    11 11.0  0  11 

Total.........       49   998 20.4  1 100t
Opponent......       23   387 16.8  0     


                                            Fum
FUMBLE RETURNS       No  Yds   Avg TD Long  For
-----------------------------------------------
Rudy Maloy            5    0   0.0  0   .    0
Aaron Carter          3    0   0.0  0   .    1
Joe Camps             3    0   0.0  0   .    0
Bert Cooper           2    0   0.0  0   .    1
John Murphy           2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Dave Porter           2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Brooks Burroughs      2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Phil Jones            1    0   0.0  0   .    1
Randy Coffield        1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Doug Dane             1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Greg Johnson          1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Jeff Ridings          1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Andy Stockton         1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Brian Schmidt         0    0    .   0   .    1

Total.........       24        0.0  0        4
Opponent......       19        0.0  0     


                               |-------- PATs --------|
Name                 TD   FGs    Kick   Rush  Rcv Pass  DXP Saf Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmet Askin           0   4-14   14-15   0-0   0   0-0   0   0    26
Leon Bright           4   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    24
Mike Shumann          3   0-0     0-0    0-0   1   0-0   0   0    20
Larry Key             3   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    18
Joe Goldsmith         2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Ron Coppess           1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Bobby Jackson         1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Jeff Leggett          1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Fred Miller           1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Rudy Thomas           1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Jimmy Black           0   0-0     0-0    0-1   0   1-1   0   0     0
====================================================================
FSU                  17   4-14   14-15   0-1   1   1-1   0   0   130
Opponent             38   8-20   35-38   0-0   0   0-0   0   1   289
Touchdowns
R
C
P
I
FR
PR
KR
L
FK
Leon Bright
2
1
.
.
.
.
1
.
.
Mike Shumann
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Larry Key
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Joe Goldsmith
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ron Coppess
1
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bobby Jackson
.
.
.
.
.
1
.
.
.
Jeff Leggett
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fred Miller
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rudy Thomas
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Jimmy Black
.
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
Steve Mathieson
.
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total
8
7
7
.
.
1
1
.
.
Opponents
27
10
10
.
.
1
.
.
.
R = Rushing
C = Catch
P = Pass
I = Interception
FR = Fumble Recovery/Return
PR = Punt Return/Blocked Punt
KR = Kickoff Return
L = Lateral
FK = Free Kick Return


TOTAL OFFENSE        G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/G
--------------------------------------------------
Ron Coppess         10  215    92  817   909  90.9
Larry Key           11  123   602    0   602  54.7
Steve Mathieson      6   90    18  544   562  93.7
Jimmy Black          5   87   135  385   520 104.0
Rudy Thomas         11   81   351    0   351  31.9
Leon Bright         11   61   296    0   296  26.9
Fred Miller         11   26   140    0   140  12.7
Jeff Leggett         5   11    30    0    30   6.0
Mike Davison         6   11    26    0    26   4.3
Bobby McKinnon       6    8    23    0    23   3.8
Joe Downey          11    4    -5   23    18   1.6
Joe Goldsmith       11    4     0    0     0   0.0
Mike Shumann        11    4    -5    0    -5  -0.5

Total.........      11  725  1703 1769  3472 315.6
Opponent......      11  802  3069 1399  4468 406.2


FIELD GOALS         FGM-FGA  Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmet Askin           4-14  .286  0- 1  1- 2  0- 4  3- 5  0- 2 48
FG SEQUENCE Ahmet Askin
Pittsburgh
None
Colorado State
52
Kansas
(42), 35
Baylor
(48), 47
Alabama
33, 26, 57, 19
Florida
None
Auburn
(47), (27)
Memphis State
33
Miami
43, 35
Virginia Tech
None
Houston
None
() For made field goals


PUNTING             No  Yds   Avg Long  TB  FC I20 Blkd
-------------------------------------------------------
Joe Downey          60 2231  37.2  56                 
Ron Coppess          1   43  43.0  43                 

Total.........      61 2274  37.3  56                 
Opponent......      47 1760  37.4                    1


ALL PURPOSE          G Rush   Rec   PR   KR   IR   FR  Tot Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Leon Bright         11  296   201   35  499    0    0 1031  93.7
Larry Key           11  602    22    0   40    0    0  664  60.4
Joe Goldsmith       11    0   525   15    0    0    0  540  49.1
Mike Shumann        11   -5   515    0    0    0    0  510  46.4
Rudy Thomas         11  351   109    0   12    0    0  472  42.9
Jimmy Heggins        4    0     0    0  226    0    0  226  56.5
Bobby Jackson       11    0     0  182   14   12    0  208  18.9
Fred Miller         11  140    17    0   21    0    0  178  16.2
Jimmy Black          5  135     0    0    0    0    0  135  27.0
Ron Coppess         10   92     0    0    0    0    0   92   9.2
Mike Allen           9    0    86    0    0    0    0   86   9.6
Roger Overby         5    0    67    0   18    0    0   85  17.0
Jeff Leggett         5   30     4    0   43    0    0   77  15.4
Joe Thomas           9    0    31    0   39    0    0   70   7.8
Bobby McKinnon       6   23     0    0   46    0    0   69  11.5
Mike Davison         6   26    41    0    0    0    0   67  11.2
Jimmy Everett        7    0    59    0    0    0    0   59   8.4
Ed Beckman          10    0    46    0   11    0    0   57   5.7
Bert Cooper         11    0     0    9    0   42    0   51   4.6
Andy Stockton       11    0    23    0    0   16    0   39   3.5
Joe Camps           11    0     0    0    0   37    0   37   3.4
Rudy Falana          4    0     0    0   29    0    0   29   7.3
Steve Mathieson      6   18     0    0    0    0    0   18   3.0
Mike Harder          1    0    12    0    0    0    0   12  12.0
Mike Barnes          1    0    11    0    0    0    0   11  11.0
Aaron Carter         7    0     0    0    0    9    0    9   1.3
Phil Jones          10    0     0    0    0    5    0    5   0.5
John Murphy         11    0     0    4    0    0    0    4   0.4
Joe Downey          11   -5     0    0    0    0    0   -5  -0.5

Total.........      11 1703  1769  245  998  121    0 4836 439.6
Opponent......      11 3069  1399  318  387  211    0 5384 489.5


                        |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE LEADERS   GP   UT   AT  Total   ForLoss     No - Yards  Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds  FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron Carter         7   24   19    43      .            .          1-  9   .    .   3-  0   1   .   .
Joe Camps           11    .    .     .      .            .          2- 37   .    .   3-  0   .   .   .
Bobby Jackson       11    .    .     .      .            .          2- 12   .    .    .      .   .   .
Bert Cooper         11    .    .     .      .            .          1- 42   .    .   2-  0   1   1   .
Andy Stockton       11    .    .     .      .            .          1- 16   .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Rudy Maloy          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   5-  0   .   .   .
John Murphy         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   2-  0   .   1   .
Dave Porter         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   2-  0   .   .   .
Randy Coffield      11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Greg Johnson        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Brian Schmidt       11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      1   .   .
Ahmet Askin         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Larry Key           11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Leon Bright         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Joe Downey          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jeff Gardner        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Joe Goldsmith       11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bruce Harrison      11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bob Jones           11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Fred Miller         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Billy McPhillips    11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Lee Nelson          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Smokey Ragins       11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Detroit Reynolds    11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Shumann        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rudy Thomas         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Phil Jones          10    .    .     .      .            .          1-  5   .    .   1-  0   1   .   .
Brooks Burroughs    10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   2-  0   .   .   .
Ed Beckman          10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Wade Johnson        10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ron Coppess         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jeff Ridings         9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Mike Allen           9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Chris Griffin        9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Sawyer          9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Joe Thomas           9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Doug Dane            8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Phil Cahoon          8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jon Thames           8    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Kissner         7    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jimmy Everett        7    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Davison         6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Steve Mathieson      6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Gary Rose            6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bobby McKinnon       6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Scott Meseroll       6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Nat Terry            5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jimmy Black          5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jeff Leggett         5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Roger Overby         5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Greg Pounds          4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Vic Rivas            4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rudy Falana          4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Gino Bennie          4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Alan Risk            4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jimmy Heggins        4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Tony Falvo           4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Curtis Harris        3    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jay Caven            3    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Nate Henderson       3    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Herman Brown         2    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Milt Wilkerson       2    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Len Harvey           2    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Barnes          1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Earl Humes           1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Garis Shaw           1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Terry Jackson        1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Harder          1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals                   24   19    43      .            .          8-121   .    .  25-  0   4   2   .


Game Participation
##  Player                       GP-GS  Pitt    CSU     KU      BU      UAl     UF      Aub     Mem     UM      VT      Hou     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
82  Mike Allen                    9- 7  O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    xx                      xx
    Bob Anderson                  0- 0                                                                                   
 1  Ahmet Askin                  11- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
32  Mike Barnes                   1- 0  xx                                                                               
81  Ed Beckman                   10- 2  O-TE    xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      O-WR    xx      xx      xx
52  Gino Bennie                   4- 0  xx                                                      xx              xx      xx
55  Paul Bibler                   0- 0                                                                                   
16  Jimmy Black                   5- 2                  xx                      xx      O-QB    xx                      O-QB  
51  Ricky Blythe                  0- 0                                                                                   
57  Blaise Boscaccy               0- 0                                                                                   
35  Leon Bright                  11- 3  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      O-RB    O-RB    O-RB  
68  Ed Brodzik                    0- 0                                                                                   
71  Herman Brown                  2- 0  xx              xx                                                               
    Mike Brown                    0- 0                                                                                   
49  Brooks Burroughs             10- 5  xx      D-NG    xx      xx              xx      D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    xx
41  Phil Cahoon                   8- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx                      xx      xx
42  Joe Camps                    11-11  D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS  
51  Aaron Carter                  7- 6                                  D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    xx
66  Jay Caven                     3- 0                                          xx      xx              xx               
67  Harold Cheeseborough          0- 0                                                                                   
84  Randy Coffield               11- 8  xx      xx      xx      D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    D-RE  
90  Bert Cooper                  11-11  D-WLB   D-WLB   D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB  
17  Ron Coppess                  10- 7  O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    xx      O-QB    xx              xx
73  Dan Corcoran                  0- 0                                                                                   
28  Jessie Corner                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Craig Cunningham              0- 0                                                                                   
75  Doug Dane                     8- 1                  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      D-LT  
28  Mike Davison                  6- 0  xx      xx                                      xx      xx              xx      xx
89  Collis Dennison               0- 0                                                                                   
 3  Joe Downey                   11- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
    Rick Duncan                   0- 0                                                                                   
11  Jimmy Everett                 7- 1                                  xx      xx      xx      xx      O-WR    xx      xx
31  Rudy Falana                   4- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx                                                       
79  Tony Falvo                    4- 0                                                          xx      xx      xx      xx
50  Dan Fucarino                  0- 0                                                                                   
    Kevin Gabriel                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Clark Galen                   0- 0                                                                                   
64  Jeff Gardner                 11-10  xx      O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG    O-LG  
    Doug Glosson                  0- 0                                                                                   
21  Joe Goldsmith                11- 9  xx      O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    xx      O-TE    O-TE    O-TE  
    Ben Graham                    0- 0                                                                                   
    Rocky Graziano                0- 0                                                                                   
37  Danny Greene                  0- 0                                                                                   
23  Chris Griffin                 9- 2  D-RC    xx      D-RC    xx              xx      xx              xx      xx      xx
15  Garry Halfacre                0- 0                                                                                   
57  Steve Hanks                   0- 0                                                                                   
27  Mike Harder                   1- 0                          xx                                                       
87  John Harmeling                0- 0                                                                                   
66  Curtis Harris                 3- 0  xx      xx      xx                                                               
69  Bruce Harrison               11- 9  O-LG    O-LT    xx      O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    O-LT    xx      O-LT    O-LT    O-LT  
    Ken Harrison                  0- 0                                                                                   
77  Len Harvey                    2- 0                                                                          xx      xx
36  Jimmy Heggins                 4- 0                                                  xx      xx      xx              xx
91  Nate Henderson                3- 0                                                  xx      xx                      xx
    Jimmy Hicks                   0- 0                                                                                   
    John Holcomb                  0- 0                                                                                   
26  Donnie Holley                 0- 0                                                                                   
43  Earl Humes                    1- 1  D-LC                                                                             
40  Bobby Jackson                11-10  xx      D-RC    D-LC    D-RC    D-RC    D-LC    D-LCB   D-CB    D-LC    D-RC    D-RC  
    Terry Jackson                 1- 0                  xx                                                               
78  Greg Johnson                 11-11  D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT  
61  Wade Johnson                 10- 2  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      O-RG    O-RG    xx
62  Bob Jones                    11- 9  O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    O-RG    xx      xx      O-RG  
48  Larry Jones                   0- 0                                                                                   
76  Phil Jones                   10-10  D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT     
47  Joe Joyner                    0- 0                                                                                   
31  Randy Kaiser                  0- 0                                                                                   
75  Mike Kettman                  0- 0                                                                                   
44  Larry Key                    11-11  O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB  
    Robbie Keyes                  0- 0                                                                                   
74  Jim Keyton                    0- 0                                                                                   
89  John Kilmurray                0- 0                                                                                   
60  Mike Kissner                  7- 1          xx              xx              xx              O-LT    xx      xx      xx
30  Jeff Leggett                  5- 0                  xx                                      xx      xx      xx      xx
87  Rudy Maloy                   11- 8  D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    xx      D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    D-LE    xx      xx
86  Mark Marshall                 0- 0                                                                                   
12  Steve Mathieson               6- 2  xx      xx                                              xx      O-QB    O-QB    xx
19  Jack Maynard                  0- 0                                                                                   
    Sean McCowen                  0- 0                                                                                   
    Walt McCully                  0- 0                                                                                   
89  Tom McDougal                  0- 0                                                                                   
22  Bobby McKinnon                6- 0                  xx                              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
65  Billy McPhillips             11-10  O-LT    xx      O-LT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    O-RT  
59  Scott Meseroll                6- 0                                          xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
29  Fred Miller                  11- 1  xx      xx      xx      O-RB    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
56  John Murphy                  11- 3  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      D-LB    D-LB    D-LB  
46  Lee Nelson                   11- 9  xx      D-LC    xx      D-LC    D-LC    D-RC    D-RCB   D-CB    D-RC    D-LC    D-LC  
12  Pat O'Leary                   0- 0                                                                                   
    Paul Oglesby                  0- 0                                                                                   
18  Mark Orlando                  0- 0                                                                                   
86  Roger Overby                  5- 3                                                  xx      O-TE    xx      O-WR    O-WR  
    Lester Payton                 0- 0                                                                                   
37  Ralph Petrillo                0- 0                                                                                   
    Greg Pitt                     0- 0                                                                                   
48  Greg Pittman                  0- 0                                                                                   
85  Dave Porter                  11- 1  xx      xx      xx      D-LE    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
58  Greg Pounds                   4- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx                                                       
14  Billy Prescott                0- 0                                                                                   
15  Brad Prior                    0- 0                                                                                   
72  Smokey Ragins                11- 8  xx      xx      O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     xx      O-C     O-C     O-C   
83  Detroit Reynolds             11- 5  D-RE    D-RE    D-RE    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      D-LE    D-LE  
39  Jeff Ridings                  9- 4  D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    xx                      xx      xx      xx      xx
68  Alan Risk                     4- 0          xx                      xx                      xx      xx               
70  Vic Rivas                     4- 3  O-RT    O-RT    O-RT    xx                                                       
67  Gary Rose                     6- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx              xx                       
71  Tom Rushing                   0- 0                                                                                   
50  Bill Sawyer                   9- 3  O-C     O-C     xx      xx              xx              O-C     xx      xx      xx
53  Brian Schmidt                11- 8  D-SLB   D-SLB   D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    xx      xx      xx
    Melvin Scruggs                0- 0                                                                                   
54  Garis Shaw                    1- 1  D-NG                                                                             
20  Mike Shumann                 11-11  O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR  
77  Harry Slagle                  0- 0                                                                                   
    Fran Smith                    0- 0                                                                                   
24  Andy Stockton                11- 1  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      D-SS  
    Sam Swygert                   0- 0                                                                                   
47  Nat Terry                     5- 0  xx      xx              xx      xx      xx                                       
63  Jon Thames                    8- 5                  D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG            xx      xx      xx      D-NG  
80  Joe Thomas                    9- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx              xx      xx      xx
33  Rudy Thomas                  11- 7  O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    xx      O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    O-RB    xx      xx      xx
    Sylvester Triplett            0- 0                                                                                   
80  Keith Tuten                   0- 0                                                                                   
48  Steve Vickers                 0- 0                                                                                   
    Clyde Walker                  0- 0                                                                                   
55  Milt Wilkerson                2- 0  xx              xx                                                               
88  Danny Witcher                 0- 0                                                                                   

Pittsburgh 9, Florida State 6

09/14/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 15, 1974, page 45, by Bill McGrotha.

Pitt Edges Inspired Seminoles 9-6.
30,076 See Improved FSU.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Before the kickoff, Florida State coaches worried most not about Pittsburgh, but rather their own young Seminoles, knowing they were going to make mistakes, and hoping they would not be crucial ones.

They were crucial, as it turned out, and thereby the Seminoles fell to the heralded Panthers 9-6 on an unbelievably hot and steaming Saturday night in Campbell Stadium.

But a surprising crowd of 30,076 applauded their laudable, highly encouraging effort from this opening game's dramatic beginning to its almost-dramatic end.

Florida State got in front quickly, marching efficiently 75 yards to a touchdown from the starting kickoff, Rudy Thomas scoring on a 5-yard pass from Ron Coppess.

Whereupon the Seminoles checked Pitt defensively time and again.

The most crucial error of all came with 4:22 left in that first half when a Steve Mathieson fumble was recovered by Pitt at the FSU 17. Three plays brought a touchdown that tied it 6-6, the vaunted Tony Dorsett going over from the one.

And Pitt went ahead to stay the first time it got the ball in the third quarter, moving 61 yards from the kickoff to a 39-yard field goal by Carson Long, who missed two earlier ones from 29 and 49 yards out.

Essentially, it was a struggle between two aggressive defensive units.

Florida State found itself in generally poor field position from the time it took the lead until the dying seconds, while Pitt had good position most of the way.

With a half-minute left, the Seminoles whipped quickly - on three straight Ron Coppess passes - to the Pitt 37, where the clock caught 'em.

Florida State's defense, getting help from unheard-of people like sophomore cornerback Lee Nelson (who on one series three times nailed Pitt quarterback Bill Daniels for losses), limited the All-America Dorsett to 81 yards in 25 carries. He didn't hurt all that much - but quarterback Daniels did.

Completing nine of 15 passes for 135 yards - including four clutch ones to tight end Jim Corbett - Daniels mixed it up well most of the sweaty evening that saw both teams substituting profusely.

Darrell Mudra pronounced himself "disappointed" with his first game as Florida State coach.

"We had enough chances to win," he said. "We must overcome our mistakes - as coaches, we made as many as the players did."

He said the Seminoles were not organized well enough, but thought the team got better as the game went along.

"I guess it was too much to expect with this young club," he concluded. "Our defense played one heckuva game. We gave up some yardage, but we got tough when we needed to."

Penalties, in addition to three lost fumbles, hurt the Seminoles mightily. Officials stepped off 91 yards against them, while Pitt drew 31.

The Pitt offense, in 50 running cracks, netted just 121 yards on the ground. Florida State got 140 as Larry Key, the freshman from whom you'll be hearing much more, totaled 63 in 16 tries. Rudy Thomas, the sophomore who is expected to be quite a threat alongside Key, ran 11 times for 45, caught six passes for 50 more.

Coppess hit on nine of his 19 tosses for 116 yards, but overall Florida State reflected considerable need for work on its overhead game.

"A win," said Pitt Coach Johnny Majors, "is a win, is a win."

"Mudra, his staff and players did a great job. I think we'll learn a great deal from this one."

"Our defense was utterly fantastic; we wouldn't have been in the game it we hadn't played that way."

"I can't praise Florida State enough. They talked more confidently as the game day approached, and I suspected we were in for a tough one. … We were fortunate to escape as we did."

The temperature at kickoff was 93 degrees, but Pitt stood up well under it in the late going, perhaps bolstered by the momentum that swung its way just before halftime.

Next Saturday here the Seminoles, losers of 13 straight now but apparently well on the way back, meet an improved Colorado State.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Pittsburgh
0
6
3
0
9
Florida State
6
0
0
0
6

1st   6- 0  Rudy Thomas, 5, pass from Ron Coppess (Ahmet Askin, kick failed), 9:56 
      6- 0  Opp, 29, field goal failed, 6:00 
      6- 0  Opp, 49, field goal failed, 2:05 
2nd   6- 6  Opp, 3, run (kick failed), 3:10 
3rd   6- 9  Opp, 39, field goal, 9:20 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 12 20 Rushes-yards 38-140 50-121 Passing 122 135 Att-Comp-Int 22-10-0 19-10-1 Total Yards 60-262 69-256 Punt Returns 2-8 1-5 Kickoff Returns 3-51 2-65 Interception Ret. 1-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 3-0 Punts 8-36.1 5-29.2 Fumbles-Lost 6-3 4-2 Penalties-Yds 10-91 4-31 Attendance 30,076 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 16 63 0 16 Rudy Thomas 11 45 0 17 Ron Coppess 9 21 0 14 Steve Mathieson 1 8 0 8 Joe Goldsmith 1 3 0 3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 38 140 0 17 Opp 50 121 1 16 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Rudy Thomas 6 50 1 14 Mike Shumann 1 23 0 23 Mike Allen 1 22 0 22 Joe Goldsmith 1 16 0 16 Mike Barnes 1 11 0 11 --------------------------------------------- FSU 10 122 1 23 Opp 10 135 0 26 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 9 19 0 116 1 23 Steve Mathieson 1 3 0 6 0 6 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 10 22 0 122 1 23 Opp 10 19 1 135 0 26 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson 1 7 0 7 Leon Bright 1 1 0 1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 8 0 7 Opp 1 5 0 5 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 3 51 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 51 0 Opp 2 65 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 8 289 45 ---------------------------------------- FSU 8 289 45 Opp 5 146 40 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson . . . . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Phil Jones . . . . . . . . . 1 . . Brooks Burroughs . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Bert Cooper . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 1- 0 . . 2- 0 1 . . Opp . . . . . . . . 3- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
C    50  Bill Sawyer
RG   62  Bob Jones
LT   65  Billy McPhillips
LG   69  Bruce Harrison
RT   70  Vic Rivas
TE   81  Ed Beckman
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   23  Chris Griffin
FS   39  Jeff Ridings
SS   42  Joe Camps
LC   43  Earl Humes
SLB  53  Brian Schmidt
NG   54  Garis Shaw
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   83  Detroit Reynolds
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
WLB  90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
12  Steve Mathieson
21  Joe Goldsmith
24  Andy Stockton
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
31  Rudy Falana
32  Mike Barnes
35  Leon Bright
40  Bobby Jackson
41  Phil Cahoon
46  Lee Nelson
47  Nat Terry
##  NAME
-----------------------------
49  Brooks Burroughs
52  Gino Bennie
55  Milt Wilkerson
56  John Murphy
58  Greg Pounds
61  Wade Johnson
64  Jeff Gardner
66  Curtis Harris
67  Gary Rose
71  Herman Brown
72  Smokey Ragins
80  Joe Thomas
84  Randy Coffield
85  Dave Porter

Colorado State 14, Florida State 7

09/21/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 22, 1974, page 51, by Bill McGrotha.

Harris and Rams Too Much for Seminoles.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Unable to recover from a horrendous beginning Florida State's football team fell 14-7 to a considerably improved Colorado State before 30,984 here Saturday night.

The spectacular running of freshman Ron Harris was altogether too much for the Seminoles, who never got untracked on offense, who scored only after it was 14-0.

Again multiple mistakes were a notable factor as Florida State's losing streak extended itself to 14.

It was 88 degrees 30 minutes before the kickoff, but it was somewhat more comfortable than for the Pitt opener. Less humidity. A bit of a breeze.

After winning the coin toss, choosing to receive, the Seminoles got off to a faulty start. A line-drive kickoff was misplayed, and the Seminoles were obliged to start at their 12.

On second down, Ron Coppess's pass from the 14 was intercepted at the 25 by Keith King.

Three carries by Ron Harris left Colorado State a yard short at the 16, but Jim McKenzie whacked to the 13 on fourth down. After a yard loss, Harris, on the draw, smashed to the four.

It came to fourth down and a foot just short of the three. And Harris got stopped by a mob of Seminoles, inches short.

The Seminoles struggled, but lost three on a third-down sweep try by Larry Key, who fumbled, then recovered the ball. Then, as Joe Downey punted to the Rams' 47, a flag fell - and the visitors were penalized for roughing the kicker. FSU retained the ball at the 23.

Three plays netted just two yards. Downey punted 50 yards, to the foe 25.

But on the first play Harris came busting up the middle, broke away for 49 yards before Robert Jackson, the fleet freshman, ran him down at FSU's 26.

After two passes missed, Jack Graham hit Willie Miller at the four. The receiver broke away from defenders, and stepped into the end zone. Clark Kembler's point-after made it 7-0 with six minutes left in the quarter.

Another misplayed kickoff forced a Florida State start anew at its 18.

Coppess cracked for six, but Key lost one and Joe Goldsmith dropped a pass. Downey punted to the Rams' 43.

A 30-yard pass to Bill Larson gained FSU's 23. Promptly, Kim Jones, 236-pound running back, pounded to the eight. Harris reached the six.

Graham kept, fumbled before crossing the goal line, but the ball rolled into the end zone and Graham recovered it for an apparent touchdown.

But officials nullified the play, saying that one of them had inadvertently blown an early whistle.

Next play Harris fumbled when quickly stacked up, and Rudy Maloy recovered for the Seminoles at the eight.

Eight yards by Goldsmith on a Coppess pass, and seven by Mike Shumann on a reverse attained the 23. Backed to the 12 on a holding penalty, Coppess passed to Shumann for 12, to Goldsmith for 13 at the 37 as the quarter ended.

A 16-yard Coppess run, to the Rams' 46, got FSU across the 50 for the first time. Joe Thomas snared a pass at the 31.

Three Rudy Thomas runs left the Tribe at the 22.

On a fake field-goal attempt, Downey reared up and threw too far for R. Thomas to reach.

The Rams moved on the ground. But Miller fumbled on a pass reception, and Dave Porter got the ball for FSU at the foe 39.

Shumann had no chance, lost eight on a screen pass. Similarly, he lost eight on an end-around. Goldsmith caught an 18-yarder at the 35.

Ahmet Askin's long-long try for three points was run back, from the three to the 18.

Harris, carrying four times in five plays, led to the 38. Dan O'Rourke caught a pass at the 48, and Miller one at FSU's 37.

Soon, however, linebacker Bert Cooper intercepted a Graham pass and wheeled 42 yards to the Rams' 41, with 1:41 left in the half.

Key, on a pitchout, ripped to the 29. Shumann pulled in a pass at the 16. Then a holding call pushed FSU back to the 31. Thomas got nine.

A blitz caught Coppess at the 34. Finally, FSU yielded the ball, with a second left in the half, when Coppess ran out of bounds at the 25.

At this point, Florida State, unable to run with consistent efficiency, trailed in total yardage, 207 to 128, though Coppess had hit on eight of 11 passes for 78 yards. Colorado State had not once been obliged to punt. Harris, in 14 carries, had 86 of the Rams' 128 yards on the ground. Askin's squibbed kickoff gave the visitors a second-half start at the 33. In two runs, Harris got 14 yards, reached the 100 mark.

But the movement was stymied at midfield.

Going for a 68-yard field goal, Kemble booted the ball out of bounds at the 24.

Key got 19 on an option pitchout. Then, on a dive play, he got nine to the Rams' 48. But Thomas fumbled on a run to the 40. Colorado State's Loren Mulkins recovered.

Harris ran five straight times - down to FSU's 35. Then Graham passed to Larson at the 19.

Offsides cost the Seminoles five. Graham snaked to the nine. Harris whipped wide, and scored. Kemble's point made it 14-0.

The Seminoles began at the 20. A 12-yard Coppess pass to Goldsmith gained the 35. Just short of a first down near the 45, the Seminoles punted - to the Rams' 14 as Downey popped a 42-yarder.

Jones, the big one, ran twice, to the 29. On third down, a 12-yard pass to O'Rourke kept things going at the 43. Jones slammed to FSU's 48.

Then Graham, back to pass, got sacked by linebacker Bryan Schmidt, precipitating a fumble that the Seminoles' Greg Johnson recovered at the Rams' 42.

After illegal procedure cost five, Coppess scrambled for 12 to the 35. Shaken up on the play, Coppess was replaced by Steve Mathieson.

On a busted play, Mathieson ran for a first down at the 29, then passed to Goldsmith for three. Key tore loose from tacklers for nine to the 17.

As Coppess returned at quarterback, R. Thomas picked up three to the 14 as the quarter ended.

Coppess rolled wide, to the 10. Shumann, hurt earlier, entered and caught a first-down pass at the five.

On second down, after Key was halted for naught, Coppess passed to Goldsmith in the end zone for the touchdown. Askin added a point, narrowing it to 14-7.

Harris's strong running lifted the Rams from their 18 to the 38, where on third down Greg Johnson racked Graham for a loss of two.

A punt left FSU at its 29.

Coppess threw three passes, none complete. Downey's punt was a bit short, 31 yards to the Rams' 40.

McKenzie and Harris spurred a push to FSU's 40, with an offside penalty against the Seminoles assisting.

Trying to kill the clock, the Rams were twice penalized for delay. Finally, Kembler, on another lengthy field-goal try, got the ball out of bounds on the two.

Only 3:28 remaining. Coppess and Thomas runs got a first down at the 13.

Two passes missed. Trying to throw again, Coppess lost three. With 1:42 left, Downey's punt was downed at the Rams' 46.

Two running plays gained three. A surprise third-down bomb, aimed the speedy Miller's way, was broken up - but the Seminoles were penalized 15 on the play. Personal foul. Then McKenzie broke for 20 to the 10, with 30 seconds left.

Time ran out at the 17.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Colorado State
7
0
7
0
14
Florida State
0
0
0
7
7

1st   0- 7  Opp, 26, pass (kick), 6:07 
2nd   0- 7  Ahmet Askin, 52, field goal failed, 5:39 
3rd   0- 7  Opp, 68, field goal failed, 12:33
      0-14  Opp, 10, run (kick), 7:49 
4th   7-14  Joe Goldsmith, 5, pass from Ron Coppess (Ahmet Askin, kick), 12:59
      7-14  Opp, 67, field goal failed, 3:23 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 14 19 Rushes-yards 37-140 55-254 Passing 103 107 Att-Comp-Int 21-12-1 16-7-1 Total Yards 58-243 71-361 Punt Returns 0-0 1-7 Kickoff Returns 2-25 2-18 Interception Ret. 1-42 1-0 Fumble Returns 3-0 1-0 Punts 5-38.6 1-34.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-1 3-3 Penalties-Yds 6-56 3-25 Attendance 30,984 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 12 50 0 14 Larry Key 9 49 0 19 Rudy Thomas 13 35 0 9 Steve Mathieson 1 6 0 6 Mike Shumann 2 0 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 37 140 0 19 Opp 55 254 1 29 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 6 59 1 18 Mike Shumann 5 29 0 13 Joe Thomas 1 15 0 15 --------------------------------------------- FSU 12 103 1 18 Opp 7 107 1 28 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 11 19 1 100 1 18 Steve Mathieson 1 1 0 3 0 3 Joe Downey 0 1 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 12 21 1 103 1 18 Opp 7 16 1 107 1 28 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 Opp 1 7 0 7 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 2 25 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 25 0 Opp 2 18 0 14 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 5 193 50 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 193 50 Opp 1 34 34 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Cooper . . . . . 1- 42 . . . . . . Rudy Maloy . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Dave Porter . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Greg Johnson . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Brian Schmidt . . . . . . . . . 1 . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 1- 42 . . 3- 0 1 . . Opp . . . . . 1- 0 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
C    50  Bill Sawyer
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
RT   70  Vic Rivas
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
FS   39  Jeff Ridings
RC   40  Bobby Jackson
SS   42  Joe Camps
LC   46  Lee Nelson
NG   49  Brooks Burroughs
SLB  53  Brian Schmidt
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   83  Detroit Reynolds
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
WLB  90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
12  Steve Mathieson
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
31  Rudy Falana
35  Leon Bright
41  Phil Cahoon
47  Nat Terry
56  John Murphy
##  NAME
-----------------------------
58  Greg Pounds
60  Mike Kissner
61  Wade Johnson
65  Billy McPhillips
66  Curtis Harris
67  Gary Rose
68  Alan Risk
72  Smokey Ragins
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
84  Randy Coffield
85  Dave Porter

Kansas 40, Florida State 9

09/28/1974, Lawrence, Kans.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 29, 1974, page 51, by Bill McGrotha.

FSU Is Stunned by Kansas' Big-Play Offense.

LAWRENCE, KS - In control all the way, an offensively-explosive Kansas football team cut up Florida State 40-9 Saturday.

Displaying considerable versatility, the Jayhawks ripped away with big-play runs and passes.

Kansas scored three of the first four times it got the ball for a 21-3 lead by the middle of the second quarter.

It was one of those gray days, altogether overcast following a little rain in the morning - but none in the few hours preceding the kickoff, or during the game. With a 10-15 miles-per-hour wind blowing, it was distinctly nippy though the temperature was 58 degrees. The wind was coming over an enclosed end of the concrete stadium, blowing toward an open end. The team with the enclosed north end to its back would figure for a definite wind advantage.

Winning the coin toss, Florida State took the wind and kicked to the blue-clad home team. Ahmet Askin's boot bounced out of the end zone and the Jayhawks started at their 20.

Robert Miller caught a pass for five, then ran for four, leading to a first down at the 32. Backed to the 27 by a penalty, Kansas got 22 on Scott McMichaels' pass to Emmett Edwards. Then Laverne Smith got loose for 15 to FSU's 36.

Three runs gained the 25. On a pitchout, the swift Smith tore down the sidelines for the touchdown. Mike Love's PAT made it 7-0. Kansas had required just 10 plays for the 80-yard payoff drive.

Fred Miller brought the kickoff back 11 yards to the 27. Ron Coppess promptly dropped back and passed to Mike Shumann at the 42. On third down another Coppess-Shumann collaboration for 10 yards gained the Kansas 43. Soon Joe Goldsmith pulled in a 12-yarder at the 30. Larry Key cracked wide, to the 25, but the Seminoles got no more.

Askin entered and boomed a 42-yard field goal, narrowing it to 7-3.

From the 29, after the kickoff, Kansas reached FSU's 21 in three plays. Smith swept for 19, then cut inside for nine, and Miller whammed for 22. Two more runs got only four. McMichaels faded, made as though to run, pulled up and threw 18 yards to Bruce Adams for the TD. Another Love point and it was 14-3. Seventy-one yards in six plays.

A clip on Leon Bright's 10-yard kickoff return to the 31 pushed the Seminoles back to the 16. A pass to Goldsmith for seven and an 11-yard Coppess run, sandwiched around a delay penalty, reached the 28. Two Key runs led to the 38. When Joe Downey boomed the game's first punt he was roughed and FSU got a first down at the Kansas 49.

Coppess lost three as the quarter ended. Then he got seven back, to the KU 45. On the draw, Rudy Thomas slipped to the 37 for a first down. Goldsmith pulled in a 13-yard throw at the 24.

The bid bogged at the 18. Trying a tough one into the wind, Askin missed the 35-yard boot for a field goal.

With linebacker Bert Cooper much in the fore, Florida State checked the Jayhawks at the 19, forcing a punt - a 58-yarder to FSU's 19.

Key sliced off tackle to the 38. Offsides cost five. Key got nine back. Shumann, on the end-around, got one, and a pass to Shumann netted just two. Downey punted to the 23.

Clipping on a Smith run pushed Kansas to its 13 - from where McMichaels lofted a bomb that Edwards snared on an extraordinary catch for a 44-yard gain to FSU's 43. It was a big, big play. Two runs attained the 33. A bomb into the end zone fizzled. On third-and-19 on the 42, following a holding penalty, Smith caught a pass at the 24 - short of the first down.

On an option pitchout, Smith on fourth down sliced through the stacked-close Florida State defense for a touchdown on a 24-yard run. Monty Hobbs kicked the point for 21-3.

Rudy Falana fumbled on the kickoff return, and KU's Judd Mitchell recovered at FSU's 29.

Tom Krattli came on at quarterback for the Jayhawks, and immediately fired 22 yards to Edwards at the seven. Two runs got only two. On third down a wide-open Calvin Prince dropped Krattli's perfect pass in the end zone. Fourth down, and Hobbs kicked a field goal of 22 yards for 24-3.

FSU got eight from the 20 before Downey punted to the KU 35. Clipping cost the Jayhawks 15, back to their 20. Kansas struggled up to its 27 as the half ended.

At intermission Kansa had run up just eight short of 300 yards, including 162 running. The Seminoles had 133, with 77 running. Coppess had hit on seven of 10 throws for 66.

As the second half opened, FSU Coach Darrell Mudra was on the sidelines with his team abandoning the pressbox station he has favored through many coaching years.

Starting at its 27, Florida State was on its 16 after three plays, after Coppess was decked for a loss of 12. Downey punted to KU's 41.

Miller broke up the middle for about 50 before being downed around the 10 - but a clipping call brought the ball back to KI's 45. Cooper's racking of McMichaels for a 7-yard loss keyed an FSU stand at midfield. A punt left FSU at its 13.

On third down at the 12, Coppess hit Shumann for 15. Next play he found Goldsmith for 13 at the 40. Key went to the sidelines with a bruised leg, and Leon Bright took over for him. Two Bright runs gained eight - but that was it. Downey kicked to the 19 as Florida State continued to show excellent punt coverage.

Clipping had KU at its 16 on third down again - and McMichaels hit Edwards for 18 at FSU's 45. Three runs gained the 30. Three more plays got nothing.

Bob Swift booted a school-tying field goal of 47 yards to make it 27-3.

The Seminoles moved sophomore Jimmy Black in action at quarterback as they started anew at their 20. In two carries, Black reached the 25 as the third quarter concluded.

After a pass missed, Downey punted 52 yards to the 23. No return. Well, in one play KU got the 52 back, freshman Bill Campfield getting exactly that on a first-down run to the FSU 25. Soon, Prince scored on a run and it was 34-3. On the series KU had its third quarterback in operation, freshman Melvin Barrens.

Coppess's first-down pass from the 28 was intercepted by Nolan Cromwell, and KU had the ball at FSU's 48 after a clipping penalty on the runback.

Barrens soon romped 26 to the 16. After a penalty, Campbell cut away on a 27-yard scoring run. The point try failed, leaving it 40-3.

Key, on the kickoff return, wheeled from the six to the 34 but clipping brought the ball back to the 16. Black's pass was stolen at the FSU 45 by Mike Rome.

Jim Michaels hauled in a 30-yard pass, but fumbled and Jeff Ridings claimed the ball at FSU's 11.

Black hit a couple of short passes, to Goldsmith and Shumann, then kept for 18 to KU's 48. Shumann caught a 12-yarder at the 32. R. Thomas grabbed a pass for seven, and Black ran to a first down at the 21. Shumann's end-around lost six. Black tossed 15 to Mike Allen at the 12. A rollout pass missed. A fourth-down run by Bobby McKinnon was checked for a yard loss.

Kansas was stopped short, punted to FSU's 36 with 3:30 left.

Bright got 14 on a run, fumbled - but officials ruled the whistle had blown before Kansas recovered it. Black scrambled to the 38 of KU. Joe Thomas grabbed a 9-yard pass. Interference on a pass brought a first down at the 24. An 8-yard Black keeper gained the 12. Miller snared a pass at the six.

Bright sliced off tackle for the touchdown with 53 seconds left. Black was halted just short, trying to run for two.

Kansas claimed an onside kick at its 42. But John Murphy recovered a Krattli fumble for FSU at the 45 with 15 seconds left. An incomplete pass, a 10-yard Miller run put FSU at the 35. On the last play - a surprise run - Miller ran for 23 to the 12.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
3
0
0
6
9
Kansas
14
10
3
13
40

1st   0- 7  Opp, 25, run (kick), 10:01
      3- 7  Ahmet Askin, 42, field goal, 5:40 
      3-14  Opp, 18, pass (kick), 3:14 
2nd   3-14  Ahmet Askin, 35, field goal failed, 11:11
      3-21  Opp, 24, run (kick), 3:55 
      3-24  Opp, 22, field goal, 2:14 
3rd   3-27  Opp, 47, field goal, 0:58 
4th   3-34  Opp, 11, run (kick), 13:22
      3-40  Opp, 27, run (kick failed), 10:37
      9-40  Leon Bright, 6, run (Jimmy Black, run failed), 0:53 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 19 21 Rushes-yards 40-179 53-366 Passing 158 194 Att-Comp-Int 27-16-2 16-10-0 Total Yards 67-337 69-560 Punt Returns 2--3 3--1 Kickoff Returns 6-114 1-29 Interception Ret. 0-0 2-19 Fumble Returns 2-0 1-0 Punts 5-39.4 3-45.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2 Penalties-Yds 6-50 10-129 Attendance 38,780 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 10 49 0 18 Jimmy Black 6 46 0 18 Fred Miller 3 37 0 23 Leon Bright 5 30 1 14 Rudy Thomas 4 13 0 8 Ron Coppess 8 6 0 11 Bobby McKinnon 2 3 0 4 Mike Shumann 2 -5 0 1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 40 179 1 23 Opp 53 366 4 52 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Mike Shumann 7 67 0 15 Joe Goldsmith 5 54 0 14 Mike Allen 1 15 0 15 Joe Thomas 1 9 0 9 Rudy Thomas 1 7 0 7 Fred Miller 1 6 0 6 --------------------------------------------- FSU 16 158 0 15 Opp 10 194 1 45 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 9 14 1 95 0 15 Jimmy Black 7 13 1 63 0 15 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 16 27 2 158 0 15 Opp 10 16 0 194 1 45 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Terry Jackson 2 -3 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 -3 0 Opp 3 -1 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 2 30 0 Jeff Leggett 2 30 0 Rudy Falana 1 29 0 29 Larry Key 1 25 0 25 --------------------------------------------- FSU 6 114 0 29 Opp 1 29 0 29 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 5 197 52 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 197 52 Opp 3 135 58 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Cooper 12 7 19 2.0- 10.0 . . . . . . . . Greg Johnson 4 3 7 . . . . . . . . . Jeff Ridings 4 2 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Bobby Jackson 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . . Brooks Burroughs 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . . Brian Schmidt 3 1 4 . . . 1 . . . . . Lee Nelson 3 1 4 . . . . . . . . . Jon Thames 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Randy Coffield 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Detroit Reynolds 1 2 3 2.0- 7.0 . . . . . . . . Joe Camps 2 1 3 . . . 2 . . . . . John Murphy . 2 2 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Phil Jones 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Milt Wilkerson 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Rudy Maloy . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Doug Dane 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Greg Pounds 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Chris Griffin 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Andy Stockton 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Fred Miller 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 45 28 73 4.0- 17.0 . . 3 . 2- 0 . . . Opp 40 28 68 4.0- 20.0 . 2- 19 2 . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
LT   65  Billy McPhillips
RT   70  Vic Rivas
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   23  Chris Griffin
FS   39  Jeff Ridings
LC   40  Bobby Jackson
SS   42  Joe Camps
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
NG   63  Jon Thames
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   83  Detroit Reynolds
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
16  Jimmy Black
22  Bobby McKinnon
24  Andy Stockton
29  Fred Miller
30  Jeff Leggett
31  Rudy Falana
35  Leon Bright
41  Terry Jackson
41  Phil Cahoon
46  Lee Nelson
49  Brooks Burroughs
50  Bill Sawyer
##  NAME
-----------------------------
55  Milt Wilkerson
56  John Murphy
58  Greg Pounds
61  Wade Johnson
66  Curtis Harris
67  Gary Rose
69  Bruce Harrison
71  Herman Brown
75  Doug Dane
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
84  Randy Coffield
85  Dave Porter

Baylor 21, Florida State 17

10/05/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 6, 1974, page 43, by Bill McGrotha.

Snake-Bitten Seminoles Fall to Baylor Rally

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Behind 17-0 at halftime, Baylor came on much too strong in the late going and handed Florida State its 16th straight defeat 21-17 here Saturday night.

Baylor, now 2-2, drove 61 and 70 yards to touchdowns the first two times it got the ball in the third quarter, and went ahead on an 86-yard march in the fourth quarter.

The running of tailback Steve Beaird and the wingback reverses of Philip Kent keyed the charge. Beaird scored all three Baylor touchdowns from down close.

Before the start Florida State extended its record to 4-0 in winning the pre-game coin toss. On a fair, cool evening, the Seminoles began at their 26 following a kickoff return.

Fred Miller, a surprise starter at running back, scrambled for eight yards. Two more plays gained nothing and the Seminoles got penalized 15 for having an illegal receiver downfield.

But Scooter Reed fumbled Joe Downey’s punt, and John Murphy pounced on it for the Seminoles at Baylor’s 46.

Mike Shumann caught a Ron Coppess pass for 10. Three runs netted just six more, to the 30. Ahmet Askin came on, booted home a 48-yard field goal for 3-0.

From its 18, Baylor couldn’t move on a couple of runs and third-down pass. Bill Moore punted, from the 21 to FSU’s 46.

The Seminoles got nowhere as Coppess overthrew a wide-open Shumann for the second time in the early going. Downey punted to the 16.

On third down Steve Beaird on a draw, cracked for 12 to the 28.

Neal Jaffrey overcame a 15-yard penalty with passes of 15 and 19 yards to Ricky Thompson and Aloy Jackson, up to the 47. Three runs netted only a yard, however, with tackle Greg Johnson making a big stop on Beaird. A punt placed FSU on its 27.

Three Larry Key runs gained the 41. Couple of plays later Shumann took a pass and got 14 to the Baylor 40. Unable to find a receiver open, Coppess soon lost 13, back at the 49, as the quarter ended.

Coppess hit Goldsmith with a 15-yarder at the 34. On fourth down, needing four, Coppess passed to Rudy Thomas at the 19.

Thomas got one on a run, and Key four. Then Key found a hole to his left, slanted wide, broke two tackles and scored on a 15-yard play. Askin added a point for 10-0.

Baylor, on its 19 after the kickoff, brought in Mark Jackson at quarterback.

Trouble with the scoreboard clock was bringing delay on the field, giving both teams all the rest they wanted.

Two runs got eight, and the Seminoles jumped offsides, handing Baylor a first down at the 32.

But soon Cleveland Franklin fumbled on a run, and Rudy Maloy recovered for Florida State at the Baylor 41.

Leon Bright slipped loose to the 32. Coppess threw to Shumann at the 16. Miller whammed to a first down at the three. Bright lost a couple on a pitchout. On a dive play, Miller scored on a 5-yard burst.

Johnson soon creamed Jeffrey for a loss of nine, back at the 29. An 11-yard pass to Beaird wasn’t enough to sustain the drive. Baylor punted to FSU’s 23.

Key got four, Thomas nine. Then Thomas couldn’t get a hold on the handoff, fumbled. Don Bockhorn recovered for Baylor at FSU’s 36.

Beaird smashed to the 24. Two plays later Andy Stockton intercepted a Jeffrey pass at the 13, brought it up to the 29.

Delay cost the Seminoles five. Mike Harder got it back on a pass reception. Thomas got six before Downey punted to the Baylor 28.

Beaird caught a pass for eight, then ran for three and the first down at the 39. Then Beaird caught another short one for seven yards.

As a receiver fell down behind him in the end zone, Camps intercepted a Jeffrey pass and brought it ut to the 18 with four seconds left. A fight erupted on the field, but the Seminoles were soon out of it and into their dressing room with a 17-0 lead.

Philip Kent wheeled the last-half kickoff from the end zone to the 39.

Beaird knocked off nine, and soon four more.

Kent took a Jeffrey pass and got 26 to the 22.

Then on a wingback reverse, Kent raced to the one. Beaird scored from there. David Hicks kicked a point for 17-7.

A short kickoff, a 9-yard return by Miller, gave the Seminoles a beginning at their 30.

Key picked up six, Goldsmith three on a pass, and Key got the first down by an inch. Three passes missed. Downey punted a bit short, to the 30.

Kent, on the wingback reverse again, dashed for 42 to FSU’s 25.

Beaird was stopped twice for no gain – but on the last time a late hit was called on FSU’s Dave Porter, with the penalty placing Baylor at the 10.

Another wingback reverse, and Brian Kilgore cracked for six. Two plays later Beaird scored from the one. Hicks narrowed FSU’s lead to 17-14 with his point kick.

Miller, on a third-down draw, took off for 13 to the 35, getting FSU out of a hole. Third down at the 40, and Goldsmith pulled in a 14-yard pass at the Baylor 46.

Shumann dropped a bomb Coppess laid on the money at the eight. Goldsmith tucked in another over-the-middle throw at the 33. The movement bogged. Askin’s 47-yard try for a field goal missed.

Two runs netter two. Johnson put a hard rush on Jeffrey, forcing a wild throw on third down. Moore punted to FSU’s 43.

Shumann caught a 6-yard toss. Two plays later Thomas, on a pitchout, got nine to Baylor’s 39 just before the quarter ended.

Baylor called a halt. Downey 14. Kent’s 10 yards on the wing reverse soon reached the 26. Beaird got four, and offsides five more. Clipping knocked Baylor back to the 28 after penetration to the 43. Third down, needing 13, and Jeffrey hit Jackson for the yardage at the 48.

Another reverse got five. Third down at FSU’s 45, and Beaird tore through tacklers up the middle for 40 yards to the five.

Beaird got a yard. A penalty for illegal substitution put the ball at the two. Beaird took it in from there. Hicks kicked for 21-17 with 7:43 left.

Bright brought the kickoff back 21 to the 26.

Soon Thomas swung wide for 21 to the 50.

Three plays later Shumann took a pass at the 35, fumbled when hit, and Baylor recovered. The Seminoles drew a personal foul penalty that put the ball on the 50. Holding a couple of plays later knocked Baylor back to its 35.

A pass lifted Baylor to the 46 before Moore punted out of bounds at the 22 with 3:12 left.

Bright took a handoff, dropped back to pass, then swept left, up to the 33 – but fumbled when hit, and Baylor again recovered.

Reversing once more, Kent sped to the 20.

Florida State pushed the visitors back to the 32 where a fourth-down pass failed. The Seminoles took over with a minute left.

Coppess threw in vain. Baylor got the ball back on downs at the 39 with 34 seconds to go. The Bears ran out the clock.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Baylor
0
0
14
7
21
Florida State
3
14
0
0
17

1st   3- 0  Ahmet Askin, 48, field goal, 10:49
2nd  10- 0  Larry Key, 15, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 12:33
     17- 0  Fred Miller, 5, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 7:20 
3rd  17- 7  Opp, 1, run (kick), 12:44
     17-14  Opp, 1, run (kick), 7:43 
     17-14  Ahmet Askin, 47, field goal failed, 2:50 
4th  17-21  Opp, 2, run (kick), 7:43 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 15 18 Rushes-yards 43-159 48-227 Passing 140 116 Att-Comp-Int 26-15-0 20-9-2 Total Yards 69-299 68-343 Punt Returns 1-0 2-2 Kickoff Returns 3-53 4-76 Interception Ret. 2-34 0-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 3-0 Punts 5-32.2 5-32.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-3 6-2 Penalties-Yds 12-93 4-49 Attendance 25,262 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 19 54 1 15t Rudy Thomas 8 54 0 21 Fred Miller 6 33 1 13 Leon Bright 4 26 0 11 Ron Coppess 6 -8 0 2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 43 159 2 21 Opp 48 227 3 42 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Mike Shumann 5 60 0 16 Joe Goldsmith 4 46 0 16 Rudy Thomas 2 18 0 15 Mike Harder 3 12 0 5 Larry Key 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 15 140 0 16 Opp 9 116 0 26 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 15 26 0 140 0 16 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 15 26 0 140 0 16 Opp 9 20 2 116 0 26 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 1 0 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 0 0 Opp 2 2 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 2 44 0 Fred Miller 1 9 0 9 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 53 0 9 Opp 4 76 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 5 161 38 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 161 38 Opp 5 160 35 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy Stockton . . . . . 1- 16 . . . . . . Joe Camps . . . . . 1- 18 . . . . . . John Murphy . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Rudy Maloy . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 2- 34 . . 2- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . . . . 3- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   29  Fred Miller
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
FS   39  Jeff Ridings
RC   40  Bobby Jackson
SS   42  Joe Camps
LC   46  Lee Nelson
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
NG   63  Jon Thames
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   85  Dave Porter
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
27  Mike Harder
31  Rudy Falana
33  Rudy Thomas
35  Leon Bright
41  Phil Cahoon
47  Nat Terry
49  Brooks Burroughs
50  Bill Sawyer
##  NAME
-----------------------------
56  John Murphy
58  Greg Pounds
60  Mike Kissner
61  Wade Johnson
67  Gary Rose
70  Vic Rivas
75  Doug Dane
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
83  Detroit Reynolds
87  Rudy Maloy

Alabama 8, Florida State 7

10/12/1974, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 13, 1974, page 47, by Bill McGrotha.

TUSCALOOSA, AL – Outplaying vaunted Alabama, you could say from beginning to end, Florida State’s battling football team fell 8-7 here Saturday afternoon to a 36-yard field goal that was pronounced through with 33 seconds remaining.

Florida State had scored the first time it laid hands on the football. A 7-0 lead was cut to 7-3 on a third-quarter field goal, to 7-5 with less than two minutes remaining when the Seminoles at their own five elected to take a safety, better to get a punt off.

Following that punt, the Crimson Tide started at FSU’s 48 and quickly got into position for the fourth-down field goal.

Whatever it was, it was no fluke. Florida State, on this humid Saturday on Denny Stadium’s astroturf, played that well.

For the first time ever, the Seminoles went onto the field with a freshman co-captain – running back Larry Key, serving with junior end Randy Coffield. Three freshmen started. Key plus Bobby Jackson and Aaron Carter in the defensive secondary.

The Seminoles, for the fifth straight game, won the coin toss, and received. Leon Bright brought the kickoff back from the goal to the 22.

In nine plays Florida State scored – like it was nothing.

Ron Coppess, on second down, kept and picked up 14 to the 37. Keys crashed for seven. Jim Everett made a nifty catch of a Coppess pass for a gain of 26 at the Alabama 30. Three straight runs by Rudy Thomas brought a first down at the 19.

Thomas snared a pass at the six. Promptly Coppess pitched out to Key, who scored easily, cutting inside. Ahmet Askin kicked a point for 7-0.

Willie Shelby and Rick Watson led Alabama from its 25 to the 41. Calvin Culliver, on a pitchout, broke for 15 to FSU’s 44.

But four more runs, including a fourth-and-two gamble at the 36 left the Tide a yard short. FSU took over.

Coppess shot a 4-yard pass to Mike Allen. Key busted for eight to the 37. Key got three more before Coppess, trying to pass, lost six.

When Joe Downey punted a couple of plays later the ball took a backspin to the Alabama 38.

Jerry Brown snared a 13-yard pass at FSU’s 48. Two Culliver runs led to the 31. Brown grabbed a pass at the 21.

But with linebacker Bert Cooper much in the fore, Florida State checked Alabama at the 17.

On the first play of the second quarter, Bucky Berrey tried a 34-yard field goal. No good.

Key ran for five, then six. Mike Shumann caught a 9-yard pass. But offsides cost the Seminoles five, back to the 35. Coppess lost three.

Back to punt on fourth down, Downy scarcely faked it. He threw wide to Andy Stockton for 14 yards and a first down at the 46.

Key got three, then Coppess passed to Joe Goldsmith at the Tide 45. Key on a screen pass, dug to a first down at the 37, then took it to the 29 on the next play.

Delay cost Florida State five. Key got a couple. Thomas took an 8-yard pass at the 24 for a first down. Thomas got six more and Coppess two to the 16. Bright got nothing on third down.

Askin tried a 33-yard field goal, but Leroy Cook tore in from end to block it at the 22.

With Jack O’Rear in at quarterback, Alabama cut out a first down at its 34.

But Watson, racked up by Bryan Schmidt, fumbled and Joe Camps recovered for the Seminoles at the 40.

A Coppess-Goldsmith pass collaboration for 17 gained the 21. Key smacked to the 10 and another first down.

But Thomas got just a yard, Key lost six on a pitchout, and Thomas, on the draw, was stopped at the nine.

Askin missed a 26-yard attempt for a field goal.

Alabama took over at the 20 with 2:01 left in the half – and could not move.

The Tide punted to FSU’s 40 where Jackson fielded the ball, and hung onto it after a particularly solid tackle by James Taylor.

With time running out, Thomas got 13, and Key seven to the Alabama 40.

On the last play of the half Askin’s try for a 57-yard field goal was short.

As it did last week against Baylor, Florida State was making headway with an unbalanced offensive line – with some wrinkles that made it different from the previous showing. The Seminoles, at this point, had controlled the ball, a total of 18:11 on the clock to Alabama’s 11:49.

The Seminoles led in first downs, 12 to 6, in rushing yardage, 104 to 87, in pass yardage, 106 to 23. It added to 210 yards of offense to Alabama’s 110. Key alone had gained 62 yards in 13 runs, and Coppess had hit on eight of 11 throws. On three of FSU’s five possessions, the Seminoles had moved inside the Alabama 20, and on the other two to the Tide 40 and 50. Alabama which had reached the FSU 16 in the first quarter, couldn’t get beyond its own territory in the second.

Alabama got a last-half start at its 35 after a short Askin kickoff.

Two runs got 10. Fraley passed to Ozzie Newsome, 18 yards to FSU’s 37.

But a run gained nothing. A pass missed. Phil Jones and Randy Coffield sacked Fraley for a loss of five on third down. A punt trickled over the goal line.

From the 20, Coppess kept and picked up 16. Thomas ran for eight more. Then Key swept for 11, to the Alabama 43.

Alabama brought a halt at the 40.

Downey punted to the 15, but interference with the intended fair-catcher brought a penalty that provided the Tide with a start at its 31.

On third and three, Shelby burst through for 12 to the 50. On third down at FSU’s 44, Mike Stock took a pitch and went wide to pass – got socked for a loss of nine by Camps and John Murphy. Alabama punted to the 20.

Third down at the 22, and Coppess found Goldsmith over the middle for 14 to the 36.

A couple of plays later Fred Miller fumbled as he took a deep pitch and Cook nailed him. Bob Baumhower recovered for Alabama at FSU’s 31.

A run got six. But O’Rear lost nine, with Greg Johnson leading three tacklers. Apparently trapped, O’Rear got loose for 17 to the 22 – a yard short of the first down. Going for it, Alabama got penalized five for illegal procedure.

Berrey made good on a 44-yard field goal, cutting it to 7-3.

Bright ran the kickoff back 27 to the 29. Offensive pass interference soon had FSU back at its 19. Third down and 20 – and Thomas cut wide on a draw play, raced 49 to Alabama’s 32.

Coppess, going far back to pass, hit Goldsmith at the 23. Miller caught a 4-yarder at the 19 for the first down – fumbled, but recovered.

Key got four, then seven to the eight and a first down as the quarter ended.

Then Key carried three more times – down to the two, where it came to fourth down.

Askin’s 19-yard kick for three points missed, an official ruled. It stayed 7-3. FSU players, coaches thought Askin’s kick good.

Culliver picked up two, from the 20, and Fraley was just short of the first down at the 30 on the keeper. Then Fraley fumbled on the next play and Camps recovered for FSU at the 31.

Coppess, on first down, was trapped for a loss of 11 – and the Seminoles couldn’t recover. Downey punted to the 10.

O’Rear and Fraley were now alternating at quarterback for the Tide on every play. Two runs brought a first down at the 20. On fourth and one at the 30, ‘Bama went for it, O’Rear keeping, and barely made it.

A long pass missed. Camps caught Randy Billingsley for a loss of two. Fraley scrambled to the 33. ‘Bama punted to FSU’s 26 with 7:04 left.

On second down, Key fumbled and Woodrow Lowe recovered for Alabama at the 30.

Three runs left the Tide three yards short – but O’Rear got it by inches on a fourth-down run to the 20.

Shelby dug to the 17, but O’Rear lost five. A pass missed. It came to fourth and 12. Fraley’s pass missed – and FSU took over with 3:22 left.

Trying to eat up the clock, the Seminoles drew a delay penalty, back to their 18. On third down, Coppess got racked for a loss of 13 back at the five.

Back in the end zone to punt, Downey downed the ball for a safety, cutting it to 7-5 – but providing a free kick from the 20.

It was a short punt – up to the FSU 48.

O’Rear promptly passed to a wide-open Newsome at the 16. O’Rear lost two, and Billingsley one as he reached out of bounds to stop the clock. A pass missed. It came to fourth down at the 19.

Berrey kicked a 36-yard field goal for 8-7 with the clock showing 33 seconds left.

The kickoff left Florida State at its 11.

Time for three plays, up to the 30 before the clock ran out.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
0
0
0
7
Alabama
0
0
3
5
8

1st   7- 0  Larry Key, 6, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 10:40
2nd   7- 0  Opp, 34, field goal failed, 14:57
      7- 0  Ahmet Askin, 33, field goal blocked, 7:30 
      7- 0  Ahmet Askin, 26, field goal failed, 2:01 
      7- 0  Ahmet Askin, 57, field goal failed, 0:00 
3rd   7- 3  Opp, 44, field goal, 3:04 
4th   7- 3  Ahmet Askin, 19, field goal failed, 13:22
      7- 5  Opp, safety, 1:27 
            Note: Joe Downey ran out of the end zone for a deliberate   
                  safety.                                               
      7- 8  Opp, 36, field goal, 0:33 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 19 13 Rushes-yards 50-207 53-157 Passing 138 72 Att-Comp-Int 20-13-0 10-4-0 Total Yards 70-345 63-229 Punt Returns 1-0 2-15 Kickoff Returns 3-51 2-16 Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 2-0 Punts 4-26.5 4-36.8 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-2 Penalties-Yds 7-55 2-10 Time of Posession 31:21 28:39 Attendance 58,394 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 25 123 1 20 Rudy Thomas 13 95 0 49 Ron Coppess 9 0 0 16 Leon Bright 1 0 0 0 Joe Downey 1 -5 0 -5 Fred Miller 1 -6 0 -6 --------------------------------------------- FSU 50 207 1 49 Opp 53 157 0 14 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 4 46 0 17 Jimmy Everett 1 26 0 26 Rudy Thomas 2 21 0 13 Mike Shumann 2 14 0 9 Andy Stockton 1 14 0 14 Larry Key 1 8 0 8 Mike Allen 1 5 0 5 Fred Miller 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 13 138 0 26 Opp 4 72 0 32 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Ron Coppess 12 19 0 124 0 26 Joe Downey 1 1 0 14 0 14 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 13 20 0 138 0 26 Opp 4 10 0 72 0 32 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson 1 0 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 0 0 Opp 2 15 0 8 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 3 51 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 51 0 Opp 2 16 0 16 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 4 106 35 ---------------------------------------- FSU 4 106 35 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Cooper 9 11 20 1.0- 4.0 . . . . . . . . Aaron Carter 9 3 12 1.0- 1.0 . . . . . . . . Greg Johnson 9 1 10 3.0- 12.0 . . . . . . . . Jon Thames 2 6 8 . . . . . . . . . Joe Camps 4 3 7 2.0- 11.0 . . . . 2- 0 . . . Lee Nelson 5 2 7 1.0- 2.0 . . . . . . . . Phil Jones 2 5 7 . . . . . . . . . Randy Coffield 4 2 6 1.0- 5.0 . . . . . . . . John Murphy 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . . Brian Schmidt 3 . 3 . . . . . . 1 . . Rudy Maloy 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Doug Dane 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Detroit Reynolds 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Jackson 2 . 2 . . . 1 . . . . . Dave Porter 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Jeff Ridings 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Alan Risk . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 59 40 99 9.0- 35.0 . . 1 . 2- 0 1 . . Opp 53 37 90 6.0- 47.0 . . 3 . 2- 0 1 1 1 STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
LC   46  Lee Nelson
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
NG   63  Jon Thames
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
24  Andy Stockton
29  Fred Miller
35  Leon Bright
39  Jeff Ridings
##  NAME
-----------------------------
47  Nat Terry
56  John Murphy
68  Alan Risk
75  Doug Dane
83  Detroit Reynolds
85  Dave Porter

Florida 24, Florida State 14

10/19/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 20, 1974, page 29, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles Can Manage Only a Brief Scare.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Down 10-0 at halftime, Florida State rallied quickly, cut the score to 10-7, and threw a scare into Florida. But that was all.

Bolstered all the way by the clutch running and passing of Don Gaffney, the Gators scored two touchdowns early in the final quarter for a 24-7 lead.

The Seminoles scored with 3:38 to go to make it a final 24-14.

For first time this season Florida State lost a pre-game coin toss. Florida chose to receive. There was only a slight breeze blowing on this cool evening, and apparently wind would not be a factor.

James Richards got to the 17 after taking the kickoff at the three. Penalized five for illegal procedure, back to the 12, the Gators quickly got out of the hole. Two runs gained the 20. Then Larry Brinson, on the draw, scampered to the 33. Two more Brinson carries reached the 45.

Third down at the FSU 49, and Don Gaffney kept, quickly scooted to FSU's 33.

On a dive play, Jimmy DuBose tore loose from tacklers and sprinted 31 yards to a touchdown. David Posey's PAT made it 7-0.

Fred Miller's 12-yard kickoff return provided FSU with a start at its 28. On second down Larry Key took a Ron Coppess pitchout and raced 19 to the 50. But a long pass, incomplete, sandwiched around two runs, netted just three yards. Joe Downey punted out of bounds at the 16.

Third down at the 21, and the elusive Gaffney bounced away for 36 yards to FSU's 43.

It came to 4th-and-two at the 35, and UF went for it. Quarterback Jimmy Fisher was pulled down for a yard loss, and FSU claimed the ball at its 36.

Two plays lost a couple before Coppess found Joe Goldsmith with a 17-yard pass at UF's 49. Florida called a halt. Downey, under a fierce rush, punted to UF's 17.

Green's 7-yarder led to the 27. Three short runs brought another first down, at the 38.

Fisher sprung away on a 15-yard pickup but fumbled when tackled - and Aaron Carter recovered for the Seminoles at the Florida State 47.

After Rudy Thomas was stopped, Key got four and Coppess five.

On the opening play of the second quarter, the Seminoles elected to gamble on fourth-and-one. Key got not an inch off the right side.

The Seminoles held at their 48. Buster Morrison's first punt of the night was a bit short, to the 22.

Key got six on a run, between two Coppess passes that missed.

When Downey punted, Randy Coffield was flagged for interference with the reception - and Florida got into position at its 49.

Gaffney nailed Eddie Sirmans, a 6-3 sophomore, with a 36-yard pass at FSU's 11 on second down. It was Sirman's first varsity catch.

Immediately, Gaffney sprinted to the three. But Brinson gained just a yard. On third and one, Brinson got dumped for a loss of two by a charging Brooks Burroughs and Coffield.

Posey entered and booted home a 21-yard field goal for 10-0.

The Seminoles began at their 19 after the kickoff, with sophomore Jimmy Black in at quarterback. A third-down screen pass to R. Thomas gained 27 before Downey punted to UF's 37.

Brinson and Morgan runs led to the 50. But Gaffney was checked on following carries. Morrison's punt got a Gator bounce, 50 yards to the nine.

Black kept, got 10. But as Mike Shumann caught a pass at the 37, officials ruled - rather belatedly - that FSU had an illegal receiver downfield. The penalty placed FSU back on the nine.

The runs of Thomas regained the 21. But on third down Randy Talbot intercepted Black's pass at the FSU 38.

Fisher scrambled to the 30, but a holding call blunted the UF bid - the penalty getting the ball back at UF's 49. Brinson's 15-yard run regained FSU's 36, but the Gators were running out of downs.

Posey attempted a 53-yard field goal. Short.

From their 20, the Seminoles moved. Thomas got seven in two carries. Goldsmith made an extraordinary catch of a Black pass at the 41. On a busted play, Black maneuvered for 15 to UF's 44. But illegal procedure cost the Seminoles five. Then the officials ruled Black, trapped trying to find room, illegally grounded a forward pass. The penalty smacked the Seminoles back to their 32.

On third down, from a shotgun formation, Coppess surprised with a 50-yard quick kick to UF's 12, with only 41 seconds left in the half. UF killed the clock on running plays.

Halftime statistics accurately reflected UF's dominance, 245 yards to 128, with 219 of the Gators' gain on the ground. Gaffney had picked up 53 yards in six carries. DuBose 56 in nine.

Bright brought the third-quarter kickoff from the two to the 24.

After Coppess missed with a pass, Thomas got four on a draw - and the Seminoles got 15 more on a face-mask grab as Thomas went down. From the 43, Coppess passed to Mike Allen at UF's 45.

On third down, Jim Everett snared a 7-yard throw for a first down at the 31. Coppess lost four.

Key, on a pitchout, stepped 27 yards down the sidelines on a dazzling run, to UF's eight.

Coppess kept, got four. Coppess kept again - scored untouched off the right side. Ahmet Askin kicked a point that cut it to 10-7.

Outscored previously 30-0 in the third quarter, the Seminoles had their first points in this period.

A flag dropped as Richards brought the kickoff back to the 28. A face-mask call, and UF got a start from its 43.

Phil Jones racked Brinson for a yard loss on first down. Gaffney fumbled, but claimed his own for no gain. Then the quarterback got just four. Morrison punted nicely, to FSU's 11.

Two runs got just four, and a Gator batted down a Coppess pass - UF defenders were getting their hands on many.

Downey punted. Tyson Sever got loose down the sidelines on a 50-yard return to FSU's 13, but officials caught an obvious clip on the play. The ball went back to UF's 38.

On third down, needing five, Tony Green scampered for 21 to FSU's 36. But when it came to third-and-two at FSU's 28. Gaffney fumbled and Burroughs was quickly there to recover the ball for the Seminoles at the 30.

FSU couldn't get beyond its 38. Downey punted 40 yards to UF's 22.

As Green ran, another face-mask call lifted the Gators to their 41. A third-down penalty for holding, at the 48, put UF back on its 33. Green regained the 42. Morrison punted to FSU's 14.

On an option run, Coppess pushed for 19 to the 33.

Third down at the 35, and Coppess, back to pass, got socked. He had his arm raised to throw but as the ball left his hands, officials ruled a fumble when Sammy Green pounced on it for the Gators. Florida's ball at the 32.

After Fisher got six on first down, two more runs netted just a yard.

As Posey put his toe into a 42-yard bid for a field goal, Bert Cooper blocked it. Rudy Maloy covered the ball for the Seminoles at the 37.

Illegal motion pushed the Seminoles back to the 32 on the last play of the quarter.

Glenn Cameron nailed Key, on a draw play that might have gone for big yardage. Just a 2-yard gain, it was.

It came to punting time again, and Downey booted on to the 28.

Green on two runs, reached the 37.

With the Seminoles braced to stop the run on third down, Gaffney carefully took his time, checked off his signals - and passed to a wide-open Alan Darby, his tight end, for an easy touchdown on a 63-yard play. Posey's conversion made it 17-7 with much time left in the last quarter.

Unable to move from their 24 after the kickoff, the Seminoles punted to UF's 45.

Brinson's running spurred a push to the FSU 39. But on a fourth-and-one try by Fisher at the 34, the quarterback was an inch or two short. Florida State took over with 8:33 left.

Two plays later, Thomas couldn't get a hold on a faulty handoff, and Preston Kendrick claimed the fumble for Florida at the 36.

On a pitchout, Green sailed 23 yards to the 12.

Green scored on the next play. Posey brought it to 24-7.

Clipping on the kickoff return had the Seminoles in a hole at the 11.

A 31-yard pass, Coppess to Shumann, soon gained the 50.

Two plays later Coppess, hit as he threw, got intercepted by Alvin Butler, who wheeled 35 yards to FSU's 46.

UF could do nothing with the late break. When Morrison, on fourth down, went back to punt, John Murphy ripped through to block it. And it was FSU's ball at UF's 49 with 3:38 to go.

Black took the Seminoles to a touchdown in three plays. Goldsmith caught a pass at the 32. Black kept, got 16 to the 16. Then the quarterback threw to Shumann for the TD. Askin kicked for 24-14 with 2:40 left.

After which the Seminoles claimed an onside kick. Askin's boot hit a UF player, bounced back and Aaron Carter got it for the Seminoles at the FSU 49.

But Wayne Fields intercepted Black's pass at the 38.

Florida contentedly ran the ball, to FSU's 45.

Morrison's fourth-down punt backed the Seminoles to their five after a clipping penalty. Black ran for 12, passed to Shumann for 21 and Joe Thomas for 10 before the clock ran out.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida
7
3
0
14
24
Florida State
0
0
7
7
14

1st   0- 7  Opp, 31, run (kick), 11:12
2nd   0-10  Opp, 21, field goal, 10:23
      0-10  Opp, 53, field goal failed, 3:20 
3rd   7-10  Ron Coppess, 3, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 12:17
      7-10  Opp, 42, field goal blocked by Bert Cooper, 0:07 
4th   7-17  Opp, 63, pass (kick), 12:11
      7-24  Opp, 12, run (kick), 7:11 
     14-24  Mike Shumann, 16, pass from Jimmy Black (Ahmet Askin, kick), 2:40 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 15 13 Rushes-yards 41-204 74-357 Passing 149 112 Att-Comp-Int 27-13-3 5-3-0 Total Yards 68-353 79-469 Punt Returns 4-22 3-4 Kickoff Returns 5-84 2-34 Interception Ret. 0-0 3-34 Fumble Returns 2-0 2-0 Punts 9-37.2 6-33.7 Fumbles-Lost 4-2 7-2 Penalties-Yds 10-109 6-70 Attendance 42,541 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 10 69 0 27 Jimmy Black 5 53 0 16 Rudy Thomas 14 47 0 7 Ron Coppess 12 35 1 18 --------------------------------------------- FSU 41 204 1 27 Opp 74 357 2 36 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Mike Shumann 4 74 1 31 Joe Goldsmith 3 48 0 17 Mike Allen 1 12 0 12 Joe Thomas 1 7 0 7 Jimmy Everett 1 6 0 6 Rudy Thomas 3 2 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 13 149 1 31 Opp 3 112 1 63t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Jimmy Black 6 9 2 82 1 21 Ron Coppess 7 18 1 67 0 31 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 13 27 3 149 1 31 Opp 3 5 0 112 1 63t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson 2 9 0 Bert Cooper 1 9 0 9 John Murphy 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 22 0 9 Opp 3 4 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 3 58 0 Bobby Jackson 1 14 0 14 Fred Miller 1 12 0 12 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 84 0 14 Opp 2 34 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 8 292 44 Ron Coppess 1 43 43 ---------------------------------------- FSU 9 335 44 Opp 6 202 50 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aaron Carter . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Brooks Burroughs . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Bert Cooper . . . . . . . . . . 1 . John Murphy . . . . . . . . . . 1 . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . . . . 2- 0 . 2 . Opp . . . . . 3- 34 . . 2- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
LC   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
RC   46  Lee Nelson
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
NG   63  Jon Thames
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
16  Jimmy Black
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
29  Fred Miller
35  Leon Bright
41  Phil Cahoon
47  Nat Terry
49  Brooks Burroughs
50  Bill Sawyer
##  NAME
-----------------------------
56  John Murphy
59  Scott Meseroll
60  Mike Kissner
61  Wade Johnson
66  Jay Caven
67  Gary Rose
75  Doug Dane
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
83  Detroit Reynolds
85  Dave Porter

Auburn 38, Florida State 6

10/26/1974, Auburn, Ala.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 27, 1974, page 47, by Bill McGrotha.

FSU Defense Is Overburdened In Second Half.

AUBURN, AL - Florida State's overburdened defense collapsed quickly in the last half, and Auburn's unbeaten football team raced away to a 38-6 victory here Saturday afternoon.

Trailing only 7-6 at halftime, with a giant upset looking more than possible, the Seminoles were victims of a 17-point outburst by the tough-playing Tigers within the first six minutes of the third quarter.

Auburn's defense checked Florida State attackers almost all the way.

At the start, Auburn, winner of the coin toss, began at its 22 following a kickoff return from the end zone.

Two tough runs by Rick Neal quickly gained the 38, and Florida State got penalized five for offsides, to the 43. After which, Auburn mixed it up as it seldom had previously this season.

Phil Gargis passed 11 yards to Tom Gossom. Two plays after Mitzi Jackson threw wildly on a halfback pass, Gargis again hit Gossom at the FSU 31. On an end-around, Dan Nugent scampered for 15 to the 16.

On third down, Gargis passed 11 yards to Nugent for the touchdown. Chris Wilson added a point for 7-0.

Florida State retaliated with a drive from its 19, making mockery of Auburn's past record of yielding just two first downs to foes in the opening quarter.

Starting at quarterback, Jimmy Black passed to Mike Shumann for eight yards to the 31 for a first down. Then Black ran for seven, before passing to Shumann for 18 and another first down at Auburn's 42. Soon Larry Key ran for 13 and a third first down at the 29.

Auburn wrought a halt there, but Ahmet Askin came in on fourth down and kicked a 47-yard field goal to cut it to 7-3.

On the first play from the 20, after a kickoff into the end zone, Nugent, the end, threw a pass - and Robert Jackson intercepted. Jackson returned the theft 12 yards, and a personal-foul penalty on the play gave FSU a shot from the Auburn 14.

Sandwiched between two incomplete passes, a Key run gained just four. Fourth down again, and Askin booted a 3-pointer from 27-yards range, making it 7-6.

It was the first time in seven games that Auburn had allowed an opponent a start in its own territory, by any manner of circumstance.

A 20-yard kickoff return placed Auburn at its 30. Gargis ran for 14 to the 45. Three more runs brought a first down at FSU's 43. Gargis got shook up on one of the short runs, and Chris Vacarella came in at quarterback.

Third down at the 37, and Vacarella fumbled, John Murphy recovering at the 37 for the Seminoles.

Black lost four as the quarter ended.

Then Black, on the quarterback draw, got 12.

Then Black threw badly on a wide pass, and Bruce Evans intercepted, ran it back 10 yards to the 39.

Two Vacarella runs resulted in a loss of a yard, and Auburn got a delay penalty tacked onto that. A pass missed.

Chris Baumgartner got off a nifty punt, the game's first, that rolled dead at FSU's one but it was cancelled by a personal-foul call against Auburn. Baumgartner's following effort went to FSU's 22.

Rudy Thomas fumbled on second down and Rusty Deen recovered for Auburn at FSU's 29.

On third down FSU defensive back Joe Camps clipped on a pass receiver at the 11, and interference was properly called on the play. But three runs lost a yard, with Aaron Carter decking Gargis for a 4-yard setback at the 12 on third down.

Greg Gillis missed a 28-yard try for a field goal.

Florida State moved from its 20, up to the 38 on a the running of Key and Black. A personal foul knocked the Seminoles back to the 23. A Black pass to Joe Goldsmith regained the 36 before Joe Downey got off his first punt.

Miller Fuller, on the return, hit the sideline for a 32-yard runback to FSU's 48.

Two Jackson runs brought a first down at the 31. Gargis scrambled for 15 to the 16. But the quarterback lost a yard on the next play. Sedrick McIntyre, on three straight runs, including fourth-and-two, came up short of the first down at the seven. Florida State took over with 2:02 remaining in the half.

Penalized three times, twice for illegal motion and once for clipping, Florida State struggled up to the 12 before Downey punted up to the Seminoles' 42 with 53 seconds remaining in the half.

Auburn tried three passes, all futile. Gillis went for a 59-yard field goal. Short. Florida State ran once from its 20 before the clock brought a rest.

Auburn's defense, at this point, had yielded 113 yards to the Seminoles, 75 of it running. Meanwhile, the Tigers had totaled 152, with 118 yards on the ground.

Auburn had 10 first downs, FSU only four - with three coming on the Seminoles' first offensive foray. Black had hit on just four of 10 passes, for 38 yards.

Joe Thomas returned the kickoff 21 yards to the 27 at the start of the last half.

Rick Telhiard, the quick tackle, twice nailed Key, holding him to gains of two and one. Then he caught Black, trying a quarterback draw, for a yard loss.

When Downey punted 47 yards, Fuller returned it 19 to Auburn's 43.

And in six plays Auburn went 57 yards to a touchdown.

Three runs ground out a first down at FSU's 45. Then Gargis went to Gossom, an 18-yard pass at the 27.

Nugent came ripping on the end-around again, 19 yards to the eight. Neal scored from there, appearing to slide on his belly the final yard or so. Wilson kicked a point and it was 14-6.

From its 27, Florida State couldn't move as the alert Fuller broke up two passes. Downey punted rather short, to Auburn's 44.

And Auburn scored in three plays. Two runs gained FSU's 43. Then Gargis hit Gossom, streaking on a post pattern, with a bomb at about the 10, and it was an easy touchdown. Wilson kicked for 21-6.

An 11-yard pickup by Key on a screen pass wasn't enough to overcome a loss, and Florida State punted again, from its 38. Fuller got a 6-yard return to his 38.

Gargis passed to Jeff Gilligan for 16. A face-mask call on the tackle brought a 15-yard penalty against the Seminoles, and on top of that an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that gave the Tigers a giant lift to FSU's 15.

The Seminoles held there. On fourth down Wilson kicked a 31-yard field goal, making it 24-6. … Auburn had scored 17 points in less than six playing minutes of the second half.

A 7-yard Black pass to Mike Davison got FSU a first down at its 35. But on the next play Fuller intercepted a Black throw at the FSU 43. Three plays later, Phil Jones, playing awfully deep for a tackle, stole a Gargis throw and gave FSU the ball back at the 34. Whereupon, Evans picked off a Black throw, and it was Auburn's ball at FSU's 48.

Stopped, Auburn punted into the end zone as the fourth quarter got underway.

From the 20, Roger Overby, in at tight end, caught a Black pass for 12, and soon another for six at the 44. Then Overby snared a third pass at Auburn's 44.

Ed Beckman, switched from tight end to split end for this game, caught a 24-yarder at the 20.

But the Seminoles were checked at the 17. Auburn took over on downs.

Soon Rick Harbuck fumbled, and Camps recovered for the Seminoles at the Auburn 36.

Jim Everett pulled in a Ron Coppess pass at the 16. Two plays later Beckman hauled in a toss at the two.

But, on first down, Thomas fumbled. The ball rolled into the end zone. Jim McKinney recovered it for an Auburn touchback, bringing the ball up to the 20.

Helped right at the start by another unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on the Seminoles, Auburn drove to another touchdown. Jackson broke on a run of 19 yards, and McIntire followed it with a 37-yard burst to FSU's 16. Gargis kept, went wide, cut back and scored. Wilson made it 31-6.

Then they swapped an interception and a fumble. Auburn's McKinney swiped a deep Coppess shot at the Tigers' 28 and returned 43 yards to FSU's 39. A few plays later, an Auburn fumble at the 26 was claimed by the Seminoles' Doug Dane.

Coppess tried four futile passes, and Auburn took over at the 19. Three plays later Vacarella scored on a 14-yard run with 31 seconds remaining for a final 38-6.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
6
0
0
0
6
Auburn
7
0
17
14
38

1st   0- 7  Opp, 11, pass (kick), 10:38
      3- 7  Ahmet Askin, 47, field goal, 5:25 
      6- 7  Ahmet Askin, 27, field goal, 4:28 
2nd   6- 7  Opp, 28, field goal failed, 9:12 
      6- 7  Opp, 59, field goal failed, 0:20 
3rd   6-14  Opp, 8, run (kick), 11:11
      6-21  Opp, 43, pass (kick), 8:50 
      6-24  Opp, 31, field goal, 5:26 
4th   6-31  Opp, 16, run (kick), 3:47 
      6-38  Opp, 14, run (kick), 0:31 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 10 25 Rushes-yards 35-94 57-291 Passing 142 117 Att-Comp-Int 31-15-4 16-7-2 Total Yards 66-236 73-408 Punt Returns 0-0 4-61 Kickoff Returns 7-131 2-42 Interception Ret. 2-17 4-46 Fumble Returns 3-0 3-0 Punts 5-38.6 2-45.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-3 3-3 Penalties-Yds 10-86 5-54 Attendance 58,709 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 13 50 0 12 Jimmy Black 8 23 0 11 Rudy Thomas 9 19 0 6 Mike Davison 2 6 0 3 Bobby McKinnon 1 2 0 2 Ron Coppess 2 -6 0 1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 35 94 0 12 Opp 57 291 3 37 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Mike Shumann 4 36 0 18 Ed Beckman 2 34 0 23 Roger Overby 3 30 0 12 Joe Goldsmith 1 13 0 13 Larry Key 2 12 0 11 Jimmy Everett 1 10 0 10 Mike Davison 1 7 0 7 Rudy Thomas 1 0 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 15 142 0 23 Opp 7 117 2 43t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Jimmy Black 12 24 3 110 0 23 Ron Coppess 3 7 1 32 0 11 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 15 31 4 142 0 23 Opp 7 16 2 117 2 43t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 Opp 4 61 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Jimmy Heggins 4 81 0 Joe Thomas 2 39 0 Ed Beckman 1 11 0 11 --------------------------------------------- FSU 7 131 0 11 Opp 2 42 0 22 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 5 193 44 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 193 44 Opp 2 90 52 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson . . . . . 1- 12 . . . . . . Phil Jones . . . . . 1- 5 . . . . . . Rudy Maloy . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Doug Dane . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Joe Camps . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . 2- 17 . . 3- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 4- 46 . . 3- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   16  Jimmy Black
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   82  Mike Allen
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
LCB  40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
RCB  46  Lee Nelson
NG   49  Brooks Burroughs
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
17  Ron Coppess
22  Bobby McKinnon
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
35  Leon Bright
36  Jimmy Heggins
41  Phil Cahoon
##  NAME
-----------------------------
56  John Murphy
59  Scott Meseroll
61  Wade Johnson
66  Jay Caven
75  Doug Dane
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
83  Detroit Reynolds
85  Dave Porter
86  Roger Overby
91  Nate Henderson

Memphis State 42, Florida State 14

11/02/1974, Memphis, Tenn.

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 3, 1974, page 51, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles Made Too Many Early Miscues.

MEMPHIS, TN - Down 21-0 after the first dozen minutes. Florida State's erring football team fell 42-14 to Memphis State here Saturday night.

The Seminoles rallied to within 21-7 and were knocking at the Memphis 15 with time running out in the first half. When Florida State went for a field goal, defender Steve Cacciola tore through, blocked it, and raced with the ball 78 yards to a touchdown that put the game rather out of reach at 28-7.

On the hot late passing of Steve Mathieson, Florida State fought back to within 28-14. Memphis extended the score with two late touchdowns.

The home team got an early break on this warm, fair evening.

Florida State, after winning the coin toss, chose to receive and Jeff Leggett fumbled the kickoff at the 11. John Maddaluna recovered for the Tigers.

Terrell Middleton got just a yard, but on a second carry dug to the six, and a face-mask penalty put Memphis to the three. David Fowler kept, got a first down at the one. A fumble lost three, before Fowler kept again and scored. Bobby Williams added a point for 7-0.

The Seminoles began at their 22 after a Leon Bright kickoff return. First play, Joe Goldsmith threw a bomb on an end-around - and Ed Taylor intercepted, returning it 15 yards to FSU's 42.

Fowler threw long, and Robert Jackson broke it up. On third down Lee Nelson sliced through to nail James Thompson for a 7-yard loss as he gathered in a screen pass. A punt backed FSU to its eight. Larry Key got five and Davison four. But a surprise third-and-one pass failed. Joe Downey punted to the Memphis 39.

On third down Fowler hit Bobby Ward, the Miami sophomore, with a pass, 23 to the 32.

Soon Keith caught a 14-yard pass at the 13. Middleton to the four on a run, then got a first down at the two.

Next play Middleton went wide and scored. Williams kicked another point for 14-0.

Florida State couldn't move from inside its own 20 after the next kickoff, and Downey punted to the Memphis 48.

Right away, Reuben Gibson on a dive play, found room and struck for 51 yards to the one. Fowler scored from there. Another Williams point and it was 21-0 after exactly 12 playing minutes.

A relatively short kickoff and a 10-yard return by Roger Overby gave FSU reasonable position at its 35.

Key ran for five, Coppess for eight, Key for three more to the Memphis 49. Davison snared an 18-yard Coppess toss at the 31. But Key fumbled on the next play and Lummy Wright recovered for the Tigers at the 28.

Memphis State promptly fumbled back. Middleton losing the ball as he ran, Randy Coffield reclaiming it for the Seminoles at the 31.

On second down Jim Everett caught a 17-yard Coppess shot at the 13. Pass interference got another first down at the 10.

Key smashed up the middle 10 yards for a touchdown. Ahmet Askin kicked a point for 21-7.

Memphis was hemmed up at its 19 after a kickoff return. On a draw Middleton got 13 to the 36 as the second quarter started. Chopping runs led on to the FSU 43. On a fourth and two gamble at the 35, Fowler picked up a first down at the 28. Florida State defenders called a halt. Williams missed a 38-yard try for a field goal.

Florida State moved from its 20, with Coppess passing 13 yards to Goldsmith at the 35.

Key, on a pitchout, raced for 15. A couple of plays later Key sailed 27 yards to the Memphis 20 on a pitch, but a holding call cancelled the play and FSU was pushed back to its 41. Coppess passed 18 yards to Leon Bright at the Memphis 41. But on fourth-and-two a pitchout was hurried by Memphis defenders and the play lost two yards.

A personal foul helped the Tigers to FSU's 43, but a clipping call against Memphis on the next play balanced it out, putting the home team back at its 45.

Soon a punt had the Seminoles in a hole at their seven.

A remarkable drive culminated by disaster.

A personal foul got the Seminoles a first down. Coppess passed to Davison at the 33. Soon Key got loose for 15 to the FSU 45. Three plays later Bright caught a 15-yard Coppess toss at the 31. Then, on a pitch, Bright dug for 15 more, to the 16. With time running out in the half, Coppess missed on three passes.

On fourth down with 19 seconds left Askin lined up for a field-goal try. Steve Cacciola, sophomore nose guard, tore through to block the effort, then cuddled the ball in his arms and raced 78 yards to a touchdown. Williams' point kick put the Seminoles behind 28-7.

Florida State, at this point, had 189 yards of offense, almost exactly evenly divided between running and passing. Memphis had 10 yards less, with 145 of it running.

With Middleton running three times for 24 yards, Memphis moved quickly from its 18 after the kickoff to its 45.

After a 5-yard penalty, Middleton whacked off 18 to FSU's 43. Gibson got 16 to the 27.

Three more Middleton runs left Memphis with fourth down at the 19. Fowler was thrown for a three-yard loss by Rudy Maloy on a keeper, and FSU took over.

Coppess threw long. Taylor intercepted, was hauled down on the runback at the Memphis 44. Three futile plays, and a punt to FSU's 21.

The Seminoles ushered in Steve Mathieson at quarterback, after several weeks of idleness with a broken collarbone. Promptly he hit Mike Shumann with a 9-yard pass. Then Key sprung away on a 23-yard run to the Memphis 47. Goldsmith grabbed a Mathieson throw at the 36.

After Mathieson hit his third straight pass, a short one to Shumann, for six, the Seminoles came to fourth down at the 27, needing a yard. Davison, on a pitchout, dug to the 23. After Memphis was penalized five for illegal procedure, the Seminoles soon got a first down at the eight following a 7-yard Rudy Thomas run with a pitchout. Key smashed to the three.

Coppess came back at quarterback, kept, got two to the one. Key got nothing off the right side. Fourth down, and Coppess got not an inch on a rollout. Memphis took over.

The Tigers struggled to the six, punted to their 34. Goldsmith caught a 9-yard Mathieson pass, then a 19-yarder at the six. Next play, a holding penalty pushed the Seminoles back to the 21.On the last play of the quarter Bright got 18 to the three on a screen pass from Mathieson.

Whereupon, Mary Hammock intercepted Mathieson's next shot and brought it out of the end zone to the three.

Unable to move, Memphis punted and FSU got good position again at the 35. Goldsmith caught an 8-yard Mathieson pass at the 26. On fourth and one, Mathieson passed to Goldsmith at the 11. But Key got tossed for a yard loss, a pass missed, delay of game cost five. Mathieson regained ten to the seven with a third-down pass to Shumann, but his next throw was knocked down, and Memphis took over.

Memphis worked the ball up to the 40, where Middleton fumbled and Phil Jones recovered for the Seminoles.

Unable to find a receiver, Mathieson skipped 18 yards to the 22. Next play he threw to Shumann, who snared the ball at the 10 and maneuvered in for a touchdown. Askin kicked and narrowed it to 24-14.

Memphis State got the onside kick at its 49 with a bit over seven minutes left.

Keith Wright took a pass, broke away from the tackler and scooted for 46 to the four.

But Fowler's fumble was recovered on the three by the Seminoles' Bert Cooper.

Mathieson threw three incomplete passes. Downey punted to the 36. Three plays later Jackie Butler scored on a 27-yard run, and the point-after brought it to 35-14.

Just a bit later Keith Butler intercepted Mathieson at the FSU 34. It was 42-14 with 1:20 left when Wright pulled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Mike Robb.

Florida State finished up with Jimmy Black at quarterback, and maneuvered to the 50. On the last play Key slipped to the 28 on a run.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
0
0
7
14
Memphis State
21
7
0
14
42

1st   0- 7  Opp, 3, run (kick), 13:14
      0-14  Opp, 2, run (kick), 5:48 
      0-21  Opp, 1, run (kick), 3:00 
      7-21  Larry Key, 10, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 0:40 
2nd   7-21  Opp, 38, field goal failed, 9:33 
      7-21  Ahmet Askin, 33, field goal blocked, 0:19 
      7-28  Opp, 78, punt return/blocked punt (kick), 0:04 
4th  14-28  Mike Shumann, 22, pass from Steve Mathieson (Ahmet Askin, kick), 7:14 
     14-35  Opp, 27, run (kick), 4:17 
     14-42  Opp, 14, pass (kick), 1:20 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 22 20 Rushes-yards 39-204 59-290 Passing 227 121 Att-Comp-Int 36-18-4 14-9-0 Total Yards 75-431 73-411 Punt Returns 3-23 2-78 Kickoff Returns 7-97 2-35 Interception Ret. 0-0 4-39 Fumble Returns 3-0 2-0 Punts 3-37.7 5-38.6 Fumbles-Lost 3-2 5-3 Penalties-Yds 6-56 5-43 Attendance 20,689 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Key 16 124 1 23 Leon Bright 3 23 0 16 Steve Mathieson 1 18 0 18 Mike Davison 6 17 0 4 Ron Coppess 8 9 0 8 Rudy Thomas 2 8 0 7 Jimmy Black 2 8 0 7 Joe Goldsmith 1 -3 0 -3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 39 204 1 23 Opp 59 290 4 51 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 5 67 0 19 Leon Bright 4 56 0 18 Mike Shumann 5 55 1 22t Mike Davison 2 34 0 18 Jimmy Everett 1 17 0 17 Larry Key 1 -2 0 -2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 18 227 1 22t Opp 9 121 1 46 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Steve Mathieson 11 21 2 133 1 22t Ron Coppess 7 13 1 94 0 18 Joe Goldsmith 0 2 1 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 18 36 4 227 1 22t Opp 9 14 0 121 1 46 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 2 15 0 Bobby Jackson 1 8 0 8 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 23 0 8 Opp 2 78 1 78t Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Jimmy Heggins 2 30 0 Leon Bright 1 21 0 21 Roger Overby 2 18 0 Larry Key 1 15 0 15 Jeff Leggett 1 13 0 13 --------------------------------------------- FSU 7 97 0 21 Opp 2 35 0 18 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 3 113 43 ---------------------------------------- FSU 3 113 43 Opp 5 193 43 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brooks Burroughs 8 3 11 . . . . . . . . . Greg Johnson 8 1 9 . . . 1 . . . . . Lee Nelson 7 2 9 . . . . . . . . . Bert Cooper 5 2 7 . . . . . 1- 0 1 . . Phil Jones 5 1 6 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Joe Camps 4 1 5 . . . 1 . . . . . Randy Coffield 3 1 4 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Brian Schmidt 4 . 4 . . . . . . . . . John Murphy 4 . 4 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Jackson 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Andy Stockton 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Rudy Maloy 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Jon Thames 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Mike Davison 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Detroit Reynolds 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Jeff Leggett 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Dave Porter 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Aaron Carter 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Bruce Harrison 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 67 12 79 . . . 2 . 3- 0 1 . . Opp 69 33 102 . . 4- 39 7 . 2- 0 . 1 . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   17  Ron Coppess
WR   20  Mike Shumann
RB   33  Rudy Thomas
RB   44  Larry Key
C    50  Bill Sawyer
LT   60  Mike Kissner
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
WR   81  Ed Beckman
TE   86  Roger Overby
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
CB   46  Lee Nelson
NG   49  Brooks Burroughs
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   53  Brian Schmidt
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
12  Steve Mathieson
16  Jimmy Black
21  Joe Goldsmith
22  Bobby McKinnon
24  Andy Stockton
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
30  Jeff Leggett
35  Leon Bright
36  Jimmy Heggins
39  Jeff Ridings
52  Gino Bennie
##  NAME
-----------------------------
56  John Murphy
59  Scott Meseroll
61  Wade Johnson
63  Jon Thames
67  Gary Rose
68  Alan Risk
69  Bruce Harrison
72  Smokey Ragins
75  Doug Dane
79  Tony Falvo
82  Mike Allen
83  Detroit Reynolds
85  Dave Porter
91  Nate Henderson

Florida State 21, Miami 14

11/08/1974, Miami, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 9, 1974, page 13, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles WIN!!!!! End 20-Game Spin

MIAMI, FL - It is over.

And the ancient cry of "FSU one time" is heard once more in the land - as it was heard last night in the Orange Bowl, strong and clear and again and again, until they finally turned off the lights.

Florida State's football team beat Miami's 21-14 on a homecoming night for the Hurricanes.

It was the first victory for the Seminoles in almost exactly two years. Not since Nov. 11, 1972, when Tulsa fell in Tallahassee, 23-21, had Florida State won a game. It had run up college football's longest losing streak, an even 20.

And blessed be the Orange Bowl. It was the eighth consecutive time the Seminoles had bounced Miami on its home field.

Florida State accomplished it under remarkable circumstances. Larry Key, the hot freshman running back, sprained an ankle early in the first quarter and did not play afterward. Another running back, Mike Davison, wasn't on the traveling squad following and injury in a Monday practice. Rudy Thomas had been working at a wide-receiver spot all week, and he was not called upon for any running.

Moreover, Bruce Harrison, starting offensive tackle, hurt an ankle and was sidelined in the middle of the second quarter.

The Seminoles went with what they had, and a notable one was Leon Bright, another freshman runner.

In 22 carries, the quick Bright got 105 yards - including 80 in the first half when the Seminoles struck for a 14-0 lead. He scored the first touchdown on a 14-yard run, capping a 55-yard drive in the first quarter on the heels of a Miami fumble.

The second TD, very early in the second quarter, climaxed a 63-yard push following an interception. Steve Mathieson, starting at quarterback and providing an apparent spark, collaborated with Joe Goldsmith on a 48-yard scoring bomb - longest pass play of the year for the Seminoles.

It stayed 14-0 until the last 12 minutes. Then came three quick touchdowns.

Frank Glover, two plays after replacing starter Kary Baker at quarterback, unloaded a 77-yard scoring bomb to Witt Beckman.

FSU freshman Jim Heggins raced 68 yards to the Miami 26 on the ensuing kickoff, but the Hurricanes intercepted a Mathieson pass down deep. Never mind. Miami had to punt. When it did Robert Jackson scooted 24 yards to the 30 on the return. Jeff Leggett, a slight (175) sophomore from Miami, teamed with Bright in a running charge to the one, where Leggett took it in for a 21-7 lead.

One play from scrimmage later, with 5:55 to go, wide receiver Steve Marcantonio cut loose with an 80-yard scoring pass to Phil August, narrowing it to the final 21-14. Later Miami got to FSU's 35 but Joe Camps intercepted Glover. A final Miami threat was halted at midfield.

In victory, Coach Darrell Mudra was rather humble.

"The people in Tallahassee really deserved this win," he said. "A win is a win, and we are grateful for it."

He added: "I will say that Miami has been tapering off in the last few weeks. … I thought Mathieson really sparked us at quarterback. … It is certainly a thrill to turn this thing around. Our coaching staff has been tremendous, and our kids have been super. I hope this sets a pattern, and we can win 20 straight."

Miami was freshly minus Rubin Carter, it's extraordinary nose guard, and had recently lost some other starters. But Coach Pete Elliott made no excuses in that area.

"They beat us. They out-played us. They deserved to win. You can't take anything away from them. We didn't play the caliber of football that we are capable of playing."

Florida State just plain dominated as a stunningly small crowd of 19,185 on a pleasant, fair evening saw Miami's bowl hopes knocked away as its record fell to 5-3.

The Seminoles got 405 yards including 233 running, to Miami's 370, with much of the Hurricanes' production coming on those two bombs. Otherwise, neither Miami's running nor passing was much effective. Baker completed just two of his 10 passes, while Glover hit eight of 12.

Meanwhile, Mathieson was humming the ball well, hitting 12 of his 22 for 172 yards.

Fred Miller, running awfully hard, got 66 yards in just 13 tries for the Seminoles, and newcomer Leggett 27 in seven.

Goldsmith caught five passes for 80 yards, while Mike Shumann and Bright snared three apiece. Beckman caught five of the 11 passes Miami completed.

Defensively, the Seminoles appeared to be led by tackle Greg Johnson and linebacker Bert Copper as Miami netted just 130 yards on the ground.

Overcoming 67 yards in penalties, versus just 20 for Miami, the Seminoles had only two turnovers, both interceptions. Miami had three turnovers, a fumble plus two interceptions.

FSU's kicking game was at its best. Joe Downey averaged 45.8 yards on five punts. Ahmet Askin, though he missed field goals from 43 and 35 yards out, four straight times boomed kickoffs into the end zone.

Florida State was prepared to throw much more in this one, but the Seminoles' running game, even with Key out, was surprisingly effective. Counter plays and an unbalanced offensive line keyed the early charge.

As previously planned, win or lose, the Seminoles will remain over in Miami until Sunday. They'll fly back into Tallahassee about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.


At the start Miami began on its 20 after Ahmet Askin booted the kickoff into the end zone, the Hurricanes electing to receive after winning the coin toss. Two runs netted three, and a pass fell harmlessly. A punt got a big bounce on the artificial turf, 53 yards to FSU's 24.

Larry Key got nine on a counter run. Fred Miller, on a pitchout, swept for 12. But Mike Archer made a fingertip interception of Steve Mathieson's deep pass, ran it back across the 50. Clipping put UM back on its 26.

Tim Morgan broke for 22 to the 48. On third down, Kary Baker fumbled, recovered for a 5-yard gain and a first down at FSU's 42. Alan Reynaud fumbled on the next play, and Rudy Maloy got his fourth recovery of the season for the Seminoles, at the 45.

Key, in two carries, reached the 50 but was helped off the field with an apparent Ankle injury. Offsides got the Seminoles a first down at UM's 45. Leon Bright, on another counter play, soon got 13 to the 29. Bright got five more, and Miller four, then five more to the 16. Miller left the game with a hurt shoulder, and Bob McKinnon replaced him.

Bright cracked to the nine, but delay cost the Seminoles five, back to the 14.

On a twisting, dipping run off right tackle, Bright scored. Askin kicked for 7-0.

Then Askin booted his second straight kickoff into the end zone, obliging Miami to start again at its 20.

The running of Baker and Larry Bates, a 229-pound junior, led to midfield. Bates powered. Then Bates powered for 14 more to FSU's 37.

Baker threw on first down - and Aaron Carter intercepted for the Seminoles, getting back to the 37. Bright, once more on the counter play, got 15 to Miami's 48 as the quarter ended.

On third down, needing nine, Mathieson threw to Joe Goldsmith at the 30. He sped down the sidelines, getting a springing block from Mike Shumann at the 15, and scored on a 47-yard play.

And again Askin put the kickoff into the end zone for no return. Bates was checked a yard short on a third-and-two run.

With an aiding wind, Rod Huffman got off a fantastic punt that rolled dead at FSU's one, a 70-yarder. Two Bright runs brought a first down at the 15.

Goldsmith pulled in a pass at the 25, and Miller reentered to gain a first down at the 27.

But soon Joe Downey was forced to get off his first punt, a 38-yarder to Miami's 26.

The Seminoles held Miami at the 34, but when Huffman punted, a flag fell as Phil Jones rammed into him. That gave Miami a first down at midfield. After Curtis Latimer scooted to FSU's 40, a dead-ball foul against Miami brought a 15-yard penalty back to its own 45. A pass regained FSU's 45. Huffman's punt took a reverse bounce, netted just 18 yards to FSU's 27.

Soon Bright gathered in a Mathieson pass and sped for 34 to Miami's 35 - and Bright left the game with a hurt shoulder. Jeff Leggett replaced him.

Miller got six, but the Seminoles came up a yard short at the 26. Askin's 43-yard try for a field goal, into the wind, was short.

Baker passed to Witt Beckman, 16 to the 39. Second down there, and Greg Johnson collared Baker for a loss of eight.

Huffman's punt, with 11 seconds left in the half, rolled over the goal line. McKinnon got five from the 20 as the half ended.

At this stage, Florida State had out-gained Miami, 229 yards to 131. Bright had 80 yards in 11 carries.

FSU started at its 20 after the kickoff.

Shumann snared a 10-yard pass at the 33, and Miller dug for five - but offsides cost the Seminoles five on the next play. Shumann grabbed a 9-yard toss. Miller struck for 11 to Miami's 47. Mathieson hit Shumann for 17 at the 30. Miller cracked for 11 to the 17. Again Miller carried, to the 9 but holding knocked the Seminoles to the 32. Passes of seven and six yards to Bright and Goldsmith regained the 19. Bright got just a yard on a run.

Askin's field-goal try from 35 yards range missed. Miami couldn't move beyond its 21, as Johnson got to Baker as he tried to throw on third down.

On the punt, Robert Jackson got loose and streaked down the sidelines on all-the-way runback. But officials ruled he had signaled for a fair catch - and the play was called back to the 28.

Florida State couldn't manage a first down. Into the wind, Downey booted the ball 56 yards to the eight. A short return put it on the 16.

Mainly on keeper plays by Baker, one for 11, Miami moved up to the 39. Morgan and Bates runs reached the 50. FSU called a halt. Huffman punted to the 19 just before the quarter ended.

Mathieson nailed Goldsmith at the 23. Roger Overby caught a 13-yarder at the 39. Again the Seminoles came up a yard short, at the 48. Downey punted into the end zone.

Frank Glover, a sophomore, moved in at quarterback for UM.

On second down, a scrambling Glover uncorked a bomb that Witt Beckman caught at about FSU's 25. He scored on a 77-yard play. A point kick narrowed FSU's lead to 14-7 with 11:21 left. Florida State's cornerback had come up on the play, and Beckman was wide open.

Jim Heggins took the kickoff and returned it 68 yards to Miami's 26.

But Ernie Jones intercepted Mathieson's first-down pass and Miami had the ball back at its 18.

On second down, Randy Coffield caught Glover for an 8-yard loss at the 13.

When Huffman punted, Jackson ran it back 24 to the 30.

Jeff Leggett, a sophomore running for the first time, got nine and Bright got a first down at the 19. Bright got three, then six, and Leggett for the first down at the eight. Then Leggett pounded to the one - scored on the next play. Askin added the point for 21-7 with 8:12 to go.

On the first play from the 20. Glover pitched the ball to Marcantonio, who almost dropped it, then recovered and threw a bomb to Phil August. It was an 80-yard touchdown play. A point kick, and it was 21-14.

Clipping on its kickoff return forced Florida State to start at its seven. Leggett got just a yard. One pass was dropped, another broken up. Standing deep in the end zone, Downey punted up to the FSU 49 with 5:10 left.

Marcantonio caught a 10-yard pass. A short run gained FSU's 35. On third down, Joe Camps intercepted Glover's pass, ran it back 19 to the 39.

Three runs got not enough, up to the 47. Downey punted to the Miami 17 with 2:18 to go.

A third-down pass to August for 10 gained the 33. Beckman grabbed a 12-yard Glover shot at the 45.

Jackson broke up a pass. Johnson slammed Glover for a 7-yard loss. A pass to Marcantonio gained the 46, but a fourth-down pass was short.

Florida State took over with a handful of seconds left, got a penalty for delay, and Ron Coppess fell on the ball.

And the long drought ended.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
7
0
7
21
Miami
0
0
0
14
14

1st   7- 0  Leon Bright, 14, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 3:57 
2nd  14- 0  Joe Goldsmith, 48, pass from Steve Mathieson (Ahmet Askin, kick), 14:22
     14- 0  Ahmet Askin, 43, field goal failed, 2:21 
3rd  14- 0  Ahmet Askin, 35, field goal failed, 7:42 
4th  14- 7  Opp, 77, pass (kick), 11:21
     21- 7  Jeff Leggett, 1, run (Ahmet Askin, kick), 6:12 
     21-14  Opp, 80, pass (kick), 5:55 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 18 15 Rushes-yards 50-232 40-130 Passing 172 240 Att-Comp-Int 22-12-2 23-11-2 Total Yards 72-404 63-370 Punt Returns 1-24 3-13 Kickoff Returns 3-97 0-0 Interception Ret. 2-28 2-27 Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0 Punts 5-45.8 7-47.9 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-1 Penalties-Yds 8-67 2-20 Time of Posession 33:14 26:46 Attendance 19,785 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 22 105 1 14 Fred Miller 13 66 0 12 Jeff Leggett 7 27 1 12 Larry Key 3 13 0 9 Steve Mathieson 1 12 0 12 Bobby McKinnon 3 10 0 5 Ron Coppess 1 -1 0 -1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 50 232 2 14 Opp 40 130 0 22 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 5 80 1 48t Leon Bright 3 43 0 34 Mike Shumann 3 36 0 17 Roger Overby 1 13 0 13 --------------------------------------------- FSU 12 172 1 48t Opp 11 240 2 80t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Steve Mathieson 12 22 2 172 1 48t ----------------------------------------------- FSU 12 22 2 172 1 48t Opp 11 23 2 240 2 80t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson 1 24 0 24 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 24 0 24 Opp 3 13 0 9 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Jimmy Heggins 2 85 0 68 Rudy Thomas 1 12 0 12 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 97 0 68 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 5 229 56 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 229 56 Opp 7 335 70 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Cooper 9 1 10 . . . . . . . . . Greg Johnson 8 . 8 . . . . . . . . . John Murphy 5 1 6 . . . . . . . . . Andy Stockton 5 . 5 . . . . . . . . . Lee Nelson 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Phil Jones 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Joe Camps 3 1 4 . . 1- 19 . . . . . . Randy Coffield 3 1 4 . . . . . . . . . Aaron Carter 2 1 3 . . 1- 9 . . . 1 . . Rudy Maloy 3 . 3 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Jon Thames 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Dave Porter 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Bruce Harrison 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Wade Johnson 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Jackson . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Leon Bright . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Billy McPhillips . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 46 14 60 . . 2- 28 . . 1- 0 1 . . Opp 63 14 77 . . 2- 27 . . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
WR   11  Jimmy Everett
QB   12  Steve Mathieson
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   35  Leon Bright
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   61  Wade Johnson
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
LC   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
RC   46  Lee Nelson
NG   49  Brooks Burroughs
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   56  John Murphy
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LE   87  Rudy Maloy
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
17  Ron Coppess
22  Bobby McKinnon
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
29  Fred Miller
30  Jeff Leggett
33  Rudy Thomas
36  Jimmy Heggins
39  Jeff Ridings
50  Bill Sawyer
53  Brian Schmidt
##  NAME
-----------------------------
59  Scott Meseroll
60  Mike Kissner
62  Bob Jones
63  Jon Thames
66  Jay Caven
68  Alan Risk
79  Tony Falvo
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
83  Detroit Reynolds
85  Dave Porter
86  Roger Overby

Virginia Tech 56, Florida State 21

11/16/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 17, 1974, page 50, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles Choke on Gobblers' Wishbone.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Down 14-0 after the first six minutes, Florida State's football team choked on the wishbone offense of Virginia Tech here Saturday night as it fell 56-21 before a homecoming crowd of 27,707.

On the brilliant football of freshman Leon Bright, who scored on a 55-yard pass play and a 100-yard kickoff runback, the Seminoles hung in at halftime 32-21. But Tech scored the first two times it got the football after intermission and put it out of reach.

In 71 runs from the wishbone, Tech piled up 410 yards on the ground - most ever against a Florida State team.

At the start Florida State found itself in a bit of a hole when Leon Bright was collared at the 14 on the opening kickoff return. Bright knocked off nine on a first run from scrimmage, but runs more runs got the Seminoles no further than the 34.

When Joe Downey punted 48 yards, Bill Hardee tucked it in and scampered 64 yards down the sideline to Florida State's 18.

On a second play from scrimmage, fullback Paul Adams hit off the right side and scored easily on a 17-yard play. Wayne Latimer added a point for a 7-0 Virginia Tech lead with less than three minutes gone.

Soon, with the Seminoles settled at their 20 following the kickoff, a deflected Steve Mathieson pass was intercepted at the 28 by linebacker Rick Razzano.

Runs by Adams and Morris Blueford left a fourth-and-one situation at the 19, and Blueford cracked to the 14 to keep the drive going. Three runs later, quarterback Bruce Arians kept, scored his 11th touchdown of the season, from the one. Another point kick by Latimer and it was 14-0. Arians was hurt on the TD run.

A 17-yard pass, Mathieson to Roger Overby, lifted the Seminoles to their 40. Offsides cost Tech five.

Mathieson shot a short pass to bright, hardly more than seven yards, and then unfolded one of the more spectacular runs ever seen in Campbell Stadium. The freshman whipped, dodged, pulled away from tacklers and was finally loose on a 55-yard scoring play. Ahmet Askin kicked a point to cut it to 14-7.

Mitchell Barnes entered at quarterback for Tech. Runs by Roscoe Coles and Greg Toal led to the 37. Barnes soon passed 15 yards to Ricky Scales at FSU's 49. Offsides against FSU and an 8-yard run by Phil Rogers placed Tech at FSU's 36. Barnes fired a pass to Kevin Dick at the 11, but the receiver fumbled and Aaron Carter claimed the ball for FSU.

Bright got 10. Two plays later Fred Miller fumbled as he caught a pass. Ken Lambert recovered for Tech at FSU's 37.

On third and 17 at the 31, Barnes lofted a bomb into the hands of Ricky Scales in the end zone. It was 21-7 with 33 seconds left in the quarter.

Florida State couldn't move, on passes, from its 22. Downey boomed a 57-yard punt to Tech's 30.

Rogers banged for 12 in two carries, and Barnes passed 16 yards to Dick at FSU's 42. Two plays later Rogers got 22 to the 19 on a Barnes pass. Soon Adams knocked off 19 to the four, fumbled, but teammate Randy Vey recovered. Blueford pounded to within an inch or so of the goal, then scored on the next play, and it was 28-7.

The Bright gathered in the kickoff at the goal line and was off on a 100-yard touchdown runback, picking up a couple of blockers at FSU's 40 and sailing rather clear the rest of the way. Askin kicked to cut it to 28-14. It was the longest kickoff return by an individual in FSU history, though T.K. Wetherell and Bill Moremen collaborated on a runback of that distance, the latter tossing a lateral to the former, back in '65.

Bright scarcely had time to catch his breath before he was back in on kickoff-return duty again.

On Tech's second play from scrimmage, Coles burst off left tackle and scored on a 73-yard run, moving it to 35-14.

Virginia Tech's kickoff this time was short of Bright, back deep, and Bobby McKinnon wheeled it 21 yards to the 39.

Mathieson passed to Joe Goldsmith at the Tech 48. An 8-yard run by Rudy Thomas soon got a first down at the 38.

A fake punt on fourth down, Downey passing to Andy Stockton - but it was short of the needed yardage, at the 32, and Tech took over.

Tech got to the 41 on runs before punting.

Freshman Robert Jackson gathered it at the 20, and picked his way on an 80-yard runback for a touchdown, narrowing it to 35-21.

FSU defensive tackle Phil Jones was thumbed out of the game by officials for a personal-foul infraction following the scoring run. FSU was penalized 15 yards, and kicked off from its 25, helping provide Tech a start from its 36.

Florida State held, forced another punt. Jackson got 10 yards to the 30 on this return.

Bright got four, and a pass to Mike Shumann 11 at the 45. Bright, on a draw, got eight to the Tech 47. On fourth and two, FSU lined up for a play from scrimmage but drew a delay penalty. Downey's punt was short to the 25 with a bit over a minute left in the half.

Calling timeout between Tech runs, Florida State finally succeeded in forcing a punt with 11 seconds left. But when it came the Seminoles had 12 men on the field, got penalized, and Tech ran once more into the line before time expired.

By halftime Virginia Tech had out-yarded the Seminoles, 321 to 176. On the ground, Tech had 213 to FSU's 58. Barnes the pinch-hit quarterback, had hit five of six passes for 108 yards.

From its 24 after the third-quarter kickoff, Tech continued to move briskly on the ground. Six runs, mostly by Coles and Rogers, gained FSU's 45. Barnes hit Dick with a pass at the 36. Rogers got seven, Adams nine and Coles four, down to the 16.

On third down at the 16, Dick caught a touchdown pass from Barnes, doubling the score at 42-21.

Bright got 29 on the kick runback, to the 30. Three Mathieson passes were futile. Tech got good position again at its 40, when Downey punted short.

Toal got eight yards and Mosters Foster 10 as four runs got Tech to FSU's 35.

Three plays later Rogers scored on a 26-yard run with a pitchout, and the score jumped to 49-21.

Bright got the kickoff at the seven, danced to the FSU 48 before being hauled down. Goldsmith caught a 28-yard pass at the 24. Three Bright runs reached the 11. Leggett got five, Thomas three - but the Leggett was tossed for a 4-yard loss at the seven. Mathieson's fourth-down pass to Goldsmith was short, at the three, and Tech took over.

Blueford swept for 32, to the 35. Tech had a third quarterback in now, Greg Mullinax. His running keyed the Gobblers to FSU's 33 as the quarter ended.

On fourth-and-five Mullinax kept, got the first down at the 28. A third-down penalty against the Seminoles for unsportsmanlike conduct got another first down, at the 15. Jay Neal caught a Mullinax pass at the one, and Coles scored, untouched. It was 56-21.

A 17-yard pass to Bright got FSU to its 37. Goldsmith caught one at the 50. The Seminoles yielded the ball at Tech's 44 when a fourth-down pitchout to Bright got nothing.

Tech soon punted, and Bright returned it 34 yards to FSU's 46.

A penalty for having an illegal receiver downfield was overcome by passes of 11 and 21 yards to Ed Beckman and Goldsmith, down to Tech's 37. A fourth-down pass for seven to Overby got a first down at the 22. But Mathieson lost five, and a bad pitchout 11 more. Florida State gave up the ball at Tech's 38 after more passes failed.

Tech's No. 4 quarterback, Eddie Snell out of Snellville, Ga., came in. Three runs left Tech short.

A punt, and Jackson ran it back 47 yards to Tech's 38.

With 19 seconds left, Mathieson's screen pass to Shumann netted 16 to the 19.

But Greg Payne intercepted a pass at the eight, ran it to FSU's 48. Tech ran a play into the line before the merciful end came.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Virginia Tech
21
14
14
7
56
Florida State
7
14
0
0
21

1st   0- 7  Opp, 17, run (kick), 12:10
      0-14  Opp, 1, run (kick), 8:58 
      7-14  Leon Bright, 55, pass from Steve Mathieson (Ahmet Askin, kick), 7:55 
      7-21  Opp, 31, pass (kick), 0:33 
2nd   7-28  Opp, 1, run (kick), 11:00
     14-28  Leon Bright, 100, kickoff return (Ahmet Askin, kick), 10:47
     14-35  Opp, 73, run (kick), 9:55 
     21-35  Bobby Jackson, 80, punt return/blocked punt (Ahmet Askin, kick), 4:54 
3rd  21-42  Opp, 16, pass (kick), 9:20 
     21-49  Opp, 26, run (kick), 5:49 
4th  21-56  Opp, 1, run (kick), 10:45


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 13 26 Rushes-yards 27-73 72-410 Passing 239 134 Att-Comp-Int 35-16-2 10-7-0 Total Yards 62-312 82-544 Punt Returns 4-171 3-74 Kickoff Returns 5-205 4-61 Interception Ret. 0-0 2-44 Fumble Returns 1-0 1-0 Punts 4-40.5 4-37.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-1 Penalties-Yds 7-66 2-10 Attendance 27,707 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 10 50 0 Rudy Thomas 4 20 0 Fred Miller 3 10 0 Bobby McKinnon 2 8 0 Jeff Leggett 4 3 0 Mike Davison 1 1 0 Steve Mathieson 3 -19 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 27 73 0 Opp 72 410 6 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Joe Goldsmith 5 81 0 Leon Bright 2 72 1 55t Mike Shumann 3 30 0 Roger Overby 2 24 0 Ed Beckman 1 12 0 Andy Stockton 1 9 0 Fred Miller 1 7 0 Jeff Leggett 1 4 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 16 239 1 55t Opp 7 134 2 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Steve Mathieson 15 34 2 230 1 55t Joe Downey 1 1 0 9 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 16 35 2 239 1 55t Opp 7 10 0 134 2 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Jackson 3 137 1 80t Leon Bright 1 34 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 171 1 80t Opp 3 74 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 4 184 1 100t Bobby McKinnon 1 21 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 205 1 100t Opp 4 61 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 4 162 ---------------------------------------- FSU 4 162 Opp 4 148 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aaron Carter . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 2- 44 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   12  Steve Mathieson
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   35  Leon Bright
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   61  Wade Johnson
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   86  Roger Overby
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
RC   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
LC   46  Lee Nelson
NG   49  Brooks Burroughs
SS   51  Aaron Carter
LB   56  John Murphy
LT   76  Phil Jones
RT   78  Greg Johnson
LE   83  Detroit Reynolds
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
22  Bobby McKinnon
23  Chris Griffin
24  Andy Stockton
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
30  Jeff Leggett
33  Rudy Thomas
39  Jeff Ridings
41  Phil Cahoon
50  Bill Sawyer
##  NAME
-----------------------------
52  Gino Bennie
53  Brian Schmidt
59  Scott Meseroll
60  Mike Kissner
62  Bob Jones
63  Jon Thames
75  Doug Dane
77  Len Harvey
79  Tony Falvo
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
85  Dave Porter
87  Rudy Maloy

Houston 23, Florida State 8

11/23/1974, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 24, 1974, page 51, by Bill McGrotha.

Houston Running Too Much for Seminoles.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Trailing only 7-0 at halftime, Florida State's football team finally yielded to Houston's formidable running game 23-8 her Saturday night.

Reggie Cherry, a running back out of Lake Helen, Fla., alone got 170 yards for the Cougars.

Houston pushed across a second touchdown the first time it got the ball after intermission, and for all practical purposes Florida State's hopes of accomplishing the improbable were stilled.

At the start, Houston's ball-control offense found itself in a hole. Clipping on the game-opening kickoff put the Cougars at their eight. Two runs got 11 before Bubba McGallion burst for 17 to the 36. Three more runs left the Cougars two yards short, and a punt backed FSU to its 20.

Two third-down plays - a Jimmy Black pass to Joe Goldsmith for seven, and Leon Bright's 11-yard scamper with a pitchout - lifted Florida State to the 45.

After an offsides against Houston got five more, Bright lost eight on a trick run. Soon Joe Downey punted, a booming 50-yarder that rolled dead on the three.

Runs by McGallion and Reggie Cherry attained the 17, but Randy Coffield sliced through to nail McGallion for a loss of seven. The Cougars couldn't recover. A punt gave FSU possession at its 49.

Bright got just two. A pass missed, and another to Goldsmith got not enough, to the 45. Whereupon Downey punted out of bounds at the five.

Five yards by McGallion and an FSU offsides got a first down. Nine more by McGallion led to the 34. Cherry got five and John Housman seven. But a halt came at the 49 as Houston went to the air - with one ruled out of bounds and another dropped.

A punt put FSU in poor position at the 13.

Black passed to Rudy Thomas at the 24 on the final play of the first quarter.

The Seminoles didn't get much more. Downey punted to Houston's 24.

Houston rammed for eight, then eight more.

With safety Andy Stockton coming up to deck Cherry for a loss of a bit more than a yard at the 41, the Seminoles forced another punt. This one backed Florida State to its 16.

Bright fumbled but Black regained it at the 20. Trying to pass, Black was rushed hard, got off a hurried one. Offensive pass interference was ruled on the play, and Florida State penalized to the 10.

Finally, Downey was obliged to punt out of the hole. His 43-yard effort set up Houston at its 47.

Cherry broke loose for 15 to FSU's 38. Housman slammed for 10 more.

Cherry soon pounded for 12 to the 11. Housman slashed to the four. On third down Cherry cracked off the left side for the touchdown. An extra point by Leonard Coplin made it 7-0 with 6:43 left in the half.

Jimmy Heggins returned the kickoff 30 yards to the 43.

Promptly, Black passed to Mike Shumann, 20 yards to the Houston 37. Bright skipped wide, 11 to the 26, then hit for four more up the middle.

But Black fumbled on a run and Houston safety Gary Drake recovered at the 13.

On third down at the 20, Cherry tore away on a 39-yard run to FSU's 41. Housman got 10 more. From the 24, Houston was checked with two yards on two runs. On fourth-and-two the Cougars went for it - but Cherry was stopped inches short. The Seminoles took over.

Unable to move, Florida State called on Downey again.

With 53 seconds left in the half, the punt had Houston at its 41.

On second down, David Hussmann, taking over for McGallion at quarterback, hit Don Bass with a pass at FSU[s 37 - but the receiver fumbled when tackled, and Andy Stockton recovered for the Seminoles.

A face-mask penalty on a Bright run gained the 47. A pass to Bright got nine more. But Black was slammed for a 12-yard loss. Bright got eight on a run. A fourth-down pass missed as the half ended.

By this time, Houston had run up 231 yards on the ground, approaching its game average. Cherry had 106 on just 16 carries, Housman 69 in 13, McGallion 47 in eight. FSU had a net of just 41 on the ground, with Bright accounting for 37 on 12 tries. Black had hit on six of 11 passes for 43 yards.

Florida State began at its 32 after the second-half kickoff return.

Thomas popped up the middle for 14 yards. Bright got four.

Steve Mathieson, still bothered by a leg injury, replaced Black at quarterback. Mack Mitchell, the giant defensive end, forced a poor pass with a hard rush that caught Mathieson just as he threw. Next play Mitchell caught the quarterback for a loss of seven.

Downey's punt was a little short, to the 29.

A third-down call of pass interference kept Houston alive at the 38.

Housman ran for seven, Cherry for 12, McGallion for seven, Housman for six more and the Cougars were quickly at FSU's 30.

A keeper by McGallion soon got 16 to the 11. Two Cherry runs gained the four. Two plays later Housman scored from the one. Coplin missed the point-after, leaving it 13-0.

The Cougars kicked off short, trying to keep the ball away from Bright and Heggins. Bobby McKinnon returned it 14 yards to the 39.

Ron Coppess entered at quarterback.

Bright, on a pitchout, sailed for 14 to Houston's 47. Then Bright got four more. Coppess got nothing on a run. A stray pitchout lost eight yards. Downey punted to the 24.

Housman went wide for 13. But a run and a pass to Bryan Willingham got just a yard apiece. A punt gave the Seminoles the ball again, at their 28.

On a Coppess pass Bright managed a 13-yard pickup. But a dropped third-down pass chilled that endeavor. Downey again punted short, to the 29.

McGallion, on third down, maneuvered left for 17 to FSU's 48. Two plays later Housman hit the middle for 14 to the 27. Marshall Johnson slipped through for 11 to the 16 as the quarter ran out.

Three runs left in fourth-and-two at the eight. Coplin booted a 25-yard field goal for 16-0.

FSU's kickoff-return threats again precipitated good field position. Another short kick was returned 11 by McKinnon to the 40.

A Coppess pass to Bright got 10. But another pass, overthrown, was intercepted by Houston's Drake at the 34.

Cherry on a third-down pitchout, picked up 11 to FSU's 49. On third down again, needing 12, Houston caught FSU's stunting defense with a 19-yard run by Housman to the 32.

Two more runs by Housman were contained and a pass missed. A field-goal try by Coplin was short.

From the 20, Coppess passed to Allen at the 38. Larry Key got seven - fumbled but Smokey Ragins recovered for the Seminoles. A short toss to Shumann got a first down at the FSU 49.

After Coppess lost six, a pass to Allen regained 14.

Under pressure, Coppess threw an errant pass that linebacker Harold Evans intercepted at the 44.

Cherry reached the FSU 40 with just two runs. McGallion passed to Frank Scalise at the 27. Cherry slipped through for 12 to the 15.

Five plays later Cherry scored on a pitchout from the three, and a point kick brought it to 23-0.

From the 33, Black socked Shumann with a pass and the sophomore wheeled for a 52-yard gain to Houston's 15.

Key got nothing on a run. A pass fell harmlessly. Black kept, to the 10. Under a fierce rush, Black threw incomplete on fourth down. Houston took over with 1:17 remaining.

Two passes were futile. Emmett King fumbled on the third-down run, and Dave Porter recovered at the 15.

Immediately, Black hit Shumann in the end zone with a scoring pass. Then a scrambling Black passed to Shumann for two points, making it 23-8 with 57 seconds left.

Houston claimed the on-side kick, and Florida State's season ended three plays later.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Houston
0
7
6
10
23
Florida State
0
0
0
8
8

1st   0- 0  Opp, 43, field goal failed
2nd   0- 7  Opp, 4, run (kick), 6:43 
3rd   0-13  Opp, 1, run (kick failed), 8:31 
4th   0-16  Opp, 25, field goal, 13:17
      0-16  Opp, 49, field goal failed
      0-23  Opp, 3, run (kick), 2:59 
      8-23  Mike Shumann, 15, pass from Jimmy Black (Mike Shumann, pass from Jimmy Black), 0:57 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 14 29 Rushes-yards 32-71 80-466 Passing 179 51 Att-Comp-Int 26-13-2 12-4-0 Total Yards 58-250 92-517 Punt Returns 1-0 1-0 Kickoff Returns 5-90 2-11 Interception Ret. 0-0 2-2 Fumble Returns 2-0 1-0 Punts 8-37.0 5-34.0 Fumbles-Lost 4-1 3-2 Penalties-Yds 3-23 3-28 Attendance 18,195 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 16 62 0 Rudy Thomas 3 15 0 Larry Key 2 8 0 Jimmy Black 5 5 0 Mike Davison 2 2 0 Steve Mathieson 1 -7 0 Ron Coppess 3 -14 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 32 71 0 Opp 80 466 3 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Mike Shumann 4 91 1 Mike Allen 2 32 0 Leon Bright 3 30 0 Joe Goldsmith 3 15 0 Rudy Thomas 1 11 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 13 179 1 Opp 4 51 0 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Jimmy Black 8 15 0 130 1 Ron Coppess 5 10 2 49 0 Steve Mathieson 0 1 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 13 26 2 179 1 Opp 4 12 0 51 0 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 1 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 0 0 Opp 1 0 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Leon Bright 2 35 0 Jimmy Heggins 1 30 0 Bobby McKinnon 2 25 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 90 0 Opp 2 11 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Joe Downey 8 296 ---------------------------------------- FSU 8 296 Opp 5 170 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andy Stockton . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Dave Porter . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 0 0 0 . . . . . 2- 0 . . . Opp . . . . . 2- 2 . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   16  Jimmy Black
WR   20  Mike Shumann
TE   21  Joe Goldsmith
RB   35  Leon Bright
RB   44  Larry Key
RG   62  Bob Jones
LG   64  Jeff Gardner
RT   65  Billy McPhillips
LT   69  Bruce Harrison
C    72  Smokey Ragins
WR   86  Roger Overby
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
SS   24  Andy Stockton
RC   40  Bobby Jackson
FS   42  Joe Camps
LC   46  Lee Nelson
LB   56  John Murphy
NG   63  Jon Thames
LT   75  Doug Dane
RT   78  Greg Johnson
LE   83  Detroit Reynolds
RE   84  Randy Coffield
LB   90  Bert Cooper
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 1  Ahmet Askin
 3  Joe Downey
11  Jimmy Everett
12  Steve Mathieson
17  Ron Coppess
22  Bobby McKinnon
23  Chris Griffin
28  Mike Davison
29  Fred Miller
30  Jeff Leggett
33  Rudy Thomas
36  Jimmy Heggins
39  Jeff Ridings
41  Phil Cahoon
49  Brooks Burroughs
##  NAME
-----------------------------
50  Bill Sawyer
51  Aaron Carter
52  Gino Bennie
53  Brian Schmidt
59  Scott Meseroll
60  Mike Kissner
61  Wade Johnson
77  Len Harvey
79  Tony Falvo
80  Joe Thomas
81  Ed Beckman
82  Mike Allen
85  Dave Porter
87  Rudy Maloy
91  Nate Henderson