1980 Football - Year In Review

Coaching Staff
Bobby Bowden, Head Coach
Mike Fox, Graduate Assistant
Jim Gladden, Defensive Ends
Jake Gonos, Graduate Assistant
Bob Harbison, Administrative Assistant
George Henshaw, Offensive Coordinator
Dick Hopkins, Graduate Assistant
Nick Kish, Running Backs
Gene McDowell, Linebackers
Barry Rice, Graduate Assistant
Kent Schoolfield, Receivers
Billy Sexton, Quarterbacks
Bill Shaw, Defensive Line
Jack Stanton, Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs
Mark Thomas, Graduate Assistant

Click here for team picture

Click here to see individual photos
1980 FSU Football Press Guide

Ron Simmons

1980 Florida State Signees/Newcomers

From the 1980 FSU Football Press Guide, page 32.

Carl Armstrong, 6-3, 175, WR, Merritt Island Possessor of perhaps the best hands in the state, according to the Toney Recruiting Report...grabbed 61 passes for 808 yards and 13 TD's while leading Merritt Island to the Class AAAA state championship.

Herbert Butler, 6-1, 180, RB, Thomasville, Ga. - Good all-around athlete who dominated his league as a runner...also catches the ball well.

Allen Dale Campbell, 6-4, 230, DE, Perry - Dominated on both defense and offense in high school...coaching staff likes Campbell's size and speed...All Big-Bend conference...first team all-state...first team Parade All-American.

Alphonso Carreker, 6-6, 230, DE, Columbus, Ohio - Big man with super potential on both sides of the football...all-state in both football and basketball.

Bob Davis, 6-4, 185, QB, Warner Robins, Ga. - Intelligent, hard worker...coache's son...good pocket passer with good size...All-Middle Georgia.

Darish Davis, 5-11, 200, RB, Augusta, Ga. - Transfer student from Georgia Tech...originally recruited out of high school by Florida State...an all-state and All-American in High school...Davis was one of the most sought-after backs in the country a year ago.

Larry Harris, 6-1, 195, FB, Gainesville - Strong runner with good speed...versatile athlete...Gainesville Player of the Year...an all-state pick...rushed for over 1,000 yards as a senior at Eastside High School.

John Houston, 6-0, 200, LB, Atlanta, Ga. - Played both ways as tight end and linebacker...hard hitter with good agility...during senior year, named Linebacker of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week.

Darryl Kershaw, 6-5, 235, OL, Columbus, Ohio - Highly recruited athlete...earned six letters while competing in track and football at Columbus West High School.

Jeff A. Ledbetter, 6-4, 195, QB, Clearwater - Three-year football lettermen for Coach John Nicely...led his team to a 10-1 record with his passing and running...passed for 1,200 yards.

Keith Lester, 6-4, 235, TE, Clearwater - "Unlimited potential at tight end," according to Assistant Coach Billy Sexton.

Kim Mack, 6-0, 180, DB, Port Orange - Won six letters for Spruce Creek...named Player of the Week twice and Player of the Year in football...also voted his team's Most Valuable Player.

Prince Matt, 5-10, 180, DB, Bradenton - Can play either running back or defensive back...hard hitter with 4.6 speed...all-county and all-state.

Tim McCray, 5-11, 205, RB, Waycross, Ga. - Played one season at Independence Community College in Kansas...due to injury, played in only seven games but gained 1,089 yards...runs a 4.5 forty.

John McLean, 6-2, 220, DE, Clermont - Will be tried at different positions...played fullback and tight end in high school...first team all-state in 1978 and 1979...All-Central Florida both junior and senior years.

Tim Mitchell, 6-3, 222, DE, Miami - "Big, strong and hard-nosedball player," according to Bowden...played a number of defensive positions...named second team All-Dade County.

David Ponder, 6-3, 200, DT, Cairo, Ga. - Defensive standout...entered Florida State in January following early graduation and participated in spring drills...led his Cairo Syrupmaker team to an 8-3 record and a berth in the state playoffs.

Sam Restivo, 6-1, 220, FB-LB, Jamestown, N.Y. - Lettered three times in football and twice in basketball...first team all-state as a linebacker...high school coach Joe Santillippo calls him "the best high school linebacker I've seen in 26 years of coaching."

Eric Riley, 6-0, 165, WR, Fort Myers - Blue chip prospect out of Fort Myers High...according to the FSU coaching staff, Riley is "extremely quick, has great speed and jumping ability."

Jerry Riopelle, 6-3, 245, OL-DL, Wyandotte, Mich. - Hustling lineman from same high school that produced Seminole Mark Macek...played both tackle and noseguard...honorable mention all-state.

Anthony Smiley, 5-11, 190, DB, Saint Augustine - "Hard hitter with good speed and range" says Bowden's staff...plays intimidating defense...also can double as a running back.

Rick Taylor, 6-1, 180, QB, Port Saint Joe - Coaches son at Prt Saint Joe High School...first team All-Big Bend Classification...second team Class AA all-state...Centenary Prep All-American.

Jim Thompson, 6-6, 220, C, Midlothian, Va. - Two-way standout as offensive and defensive lineman...expected to blossom out to 250 pounds or better...first team all-district, All-Metro and all-region.

Reggie Webb, 6-1, 165, WR, Jacksonville - Another in the long line of top-notch Raines receivers...Seminole coaching staff says Webb has the "speed, moves and good hands" needed to play major college ball.

Brian Williams, 6-1, 212, LB, Winter Haven - Reputed to be a great hitter with extemely good linebacking speed.


1980 Roster - By Name

From the 1980 FSU Football Press Guide, page 33.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 63 Lee Adams             OG      6-4   245  Sr   *    Ruskin (East Bay/Georgia Tech)
     Richard Alcalde       DB      6-0   190  So        Vienna, Va. (Oakton)
  52 Willie Andrusko       C       6-5   235  Jr        Atlanta, Ga. (North Springs)
  26 Carl Armstrong        WR      6-3   175  Fr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
  57 Keith Baker           LB      6-0   195  Jr        Delray Beach (Atlantic)
* 65 Trent Barnes          C       6-4   235  Sr        Lakeland (Lakeland)
     Keith Bauer           RB      5-9   175  So        Hialeah (Hialeah)
* 42 Monk Bonasorte        DB      6-1   175  Sr   ***  Pittsburgh, Pa. (Bishop Boyle)
  88 Jeff Bowden           WR      5-8   170  Jr        Tallahassee (Lincoln)
* 75 Tom Brannon           OT      6-3   250  Sr   *    Albany, Ga. (Riverview Academy)
  61 Brent Brock           OG      6-4   250  Sr-R      Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 45 Roger Brownlee        LB      6-3   200  Fr-R      Doctors Inlet (Orange Park)
* 20 Ken Burnett           FB      5-11  198  So        Brandon (Brandon)
  38 Kelly Burney          RB      5-9   180  Jr        Miami (Jackson)
* 21 Bobby Butler          DB      5-11  185  Sr   ***  Delray Beach (Atlantic)
  49 Herbert Butler        RB      6-1   180  Fr        Thomasville, Ga. (Brookwood Academy)
  90 Allen Dale Campbell   DE      6-4   230  Fr        Perry (Taylor County)
* 17 Bill Capece           KS      5-7   170  Sr   ***  Miami (Chaminade)
* 76 Alphonso Carreker     DE      6-6   230  Fr        Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
  37 Greg Cary             DB      6-1   180  So        Tampa (Jesuit)
* 84 Sam Childers          TE      6-2   195  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Leon)
* 24 Harvey Clayton        DB      5-10  170  So        Florida City (South Dade)
  47 Bryan Cobb            LB      6-3   210  Sr        Glennville, Ga. (Glennville)
* 66 Redus Coggin          OG      6-3   230  Jr        Chipley (Chipley)
  56 Jerry Coleman         OG      6-3   235  So        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
  78 Mike Coleman          OT      6-4   250  Sr        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
* 74 Danny Collier         OT      6-4   250  Jr        Eau Gallie (Eau Gallie)
* 64 Jarvis Coursey        DE      6-5   200  Jr   **   Gray, Ga. (Jonesco Academy)
     Raymond Crowell       DB      6-2   170  So        Centerville, Ga. (Northside)
  10 Bob Davis             QB      6-4   185  Fr        Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
  32 Darish Davis          RB      5-11  200  So        Augusta, Ga. (Richmond Academy/Georgia Tech)
  91 John Diamantas        OG      6-3   235  Jr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
     Mike Dinkins          WR      5-11  160  Sr        Ocala (Forest)
     Kevin Edgecomb        WR      6-0   170  Sr        Miami (Jackson)
  93 David Ellis           OG      6-3   242  Jr        Paisley (Umatilla)
  16 Scott Evans           DB      5-10  175  So        Macon, Ga. (Stratford Academy)
  68 Jeff Field            OG      6-1   225  Sr        Albany, Ga. (Westover)
  98 Brad Fojtik           DE      6-4   215  So        Auburndale (Santa Fe Catholic)
  10 Chris Frongilo        DB      5-10  175  So        Birmingham, Ala. (Pinson Valley)
* 79 Garry Futch           NG      6-2   240  Jr   *    Ocala (Forest)
* 70 Greg Futch            OG      6-3   255  Sr-R ***  Ocala (Forest)
   4 Chris Gerbasi         LB      6-2   205  So        Valrico (Brandon)
* 51 James Gilbert         DT      6-0   240  Jr   **   Miami (Carol City)
  97 Herbert Harp          DT      6-3   270  So        Winter Garden (West Orange)
* 33 James Harris          DB      6-0   180  Jr   *    Gainesville (Buchholz)
* 30 Larry Harris          FB      6-1   195  Fr        Gainesville (Eastside)
* 40 Gary Henry            DB      6-1   185  Jr   **   Orlando (Oak Ridge)
* 39 Reggie Herring        LB      6-1   215  Sr   **   Titusville (Astronaut)
* 83 Ron Hester            LB      6-2   210  Sr        Umatilla (Umatilla)
  36 Cliff Holiday         FB      5-8   165  So        Newnan, Ga. (Newnan)
  55 John Houston          LB      6-0   200  Fr        Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia)
* 93 Rick Houston          TE      6-1   195  Sr-R      Orlando (Edgewater)
* 22 Hardis Johnson        WR      6-0   170  So   *    Tampa (Robinson)
  23 Homes Johnson         RB      5-9   185  Jr-R *    Lake Hamilton (Haines City)
  82 Tony Johnson          WR      6-2   175  So        Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 28 Keith Jones           DB      5-10  180  Sr   **   Wildwood (Wildwood)
  86 Mike Katz             TE      6-2   200  Sr        Hialeah (Hialeah)
  69 Darryl Kershaw        OL      6-5   235  Fr        Columbus, Ohio (Columbus)
* 72 Ken Lanier            OT      6-4   260  Sr   ***  Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
  16 Jeff A. Ledbetter     QB      6-4   195  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
  80 Keith Lester          TE      6-4   235  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
  12 Kelly Lowrey          QB      6-1   210  Fr-R      Lake City (Columbia)
* 67 Mark Macek            DT      6-2   260  Sr   ***  Wyandotte, Mich. (Roosevelt)
  13 Kim Mack              DB      6-0   180  Fr        Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
* 58 John Madden           C       6-2   220  Sr   **   Fort Walton Beach (Choctawhatchee)
  48 Prince Matt           DB      5-10  180  Fr        Bradenton (Manatee)
     Tim McCray            RB      5-11  205  Jr        Waycross, Ga. (Independence CC)
*  6 Dennis McKinnon       WR      6-1   175  So        Miami (South Miami)
* 86 John McLean           DE      6-2   220  Fr        Clermont (Clermont)
* 60 Scott McLean          DE      6-4   235  Jr   *    Clermont (Clermont)
* 71 Bob Merson            C       6-2   240  Jr        Seminole (Seminole)
  57 Tim Mitchell          DE      6-3   222  Fr        Miami (Norland)
* 81 Zeke Mowatt           TE      6-4   232  So        Wauchula (Hardee)
  77 Chris Nickrenz        DT      6-6   250  So        Buffalo, N.Y. (Saint Joseph)
     Jerome Oliver         DB      5-11  170  So        Greensboro (Greensboro)
     Roderick Pearson      DE      6-3   210  So        Jacksonville (Raines)
* 53 Paul Piurowski        LB      6-3   222  Sr   ***  Sarasota (Sarasota)
* 29 Sam Platt             RB      6-0   185  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Wolfson)
* 85 David Ponder          DT      6-3   200  Fr        Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
  59 Donnie Read           LB      6-0   220  Jr        Bristol (Liberty County)
  99 Ricky Render          DT      6-5   240  So        Ozark, Ala. (Wicksburg)
  52 Sam Restivo           FB-LB   6-1   220  Fr        Jamestown, N.Y. (Jamestown)
   8 Eric Riley            WR      6-0   165  Fr        Fort Myers (Fort Myers)
  96 Jerry Riopelle        OL-DL   6-3   245  Fr        Wyandotte, Mich. (Rossevelt)
  46 Mark Rodrigue         DE      6-2   205  Jr        Tallahassee (Choctawhatchee)
  89 Steve Rosenbluth      TE      6-3   200  So        Miami (Killian)
* 62 Eric Ryan             OT      6-4   255  So-R      Sarasota (Sarasota)
* 54 Arthur Scott          DE      6-2   240  Sr-R ***  Tampa (Brandon)
* 50 Ron Simmons           NG      6-1   230  Sr   ***  Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 31 Ernie Sims            RB      6-1   215  Jr   **   Tampa (Jefferson)
  94 Mark Sims             LB      6-4   220  So-R      Bonifay (Holmes County)
  35 Ellis Singletary      LB      5-11  200  So        Jasper (Hamilton County)
  15 Anthony Smiley        DB      5-11  190  Fr        Saint Augustine (Saint Augustine)
*  7 Mike Smith            DB      5-11  175  Sr   **   Panama City (Bay)
  15 Dominick Sneed        DB      6-0   170  So        Wilmington, Calif. (Banning)
*  3 Rohn Stark            P       6-3   195  Jr   **   Fifty Lakes, Minn. (Pine River)
* 11 Rick Stockstill       QB      6-1   185  Jr-R *    Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
   1 Rick Taylor           QB      6-1   180  Fr        Port Saint Joe (Port Saint Joe)
* 43 Homer Thomas          DB      6-2   190  Sr        Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach)
   9 Greg Thompson         DB      6-0   180  So        Apopka (Apopka)
  56 Jim Thompson          C       6-6   220  Fr        Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
  18 Weegie Thompson       QB      6-6   205  So        Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
* 19 Kurt Unglaub          WR      5-11  175  Sr-R ***  Tallahassee (Leon)
* 73 Barry Voltapetti      OT      6-5   225  Jr-R      Miami (Chaminade)
   2 Reggie Webb           WR      6-1   165  Fr        Jacksonville (Raines)
  89 Tom Wheeler           QB      6-3   210  Fr-R      Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
* 27 Michael Whiting       RB      6-2   200  Jr   **   Largo (Largo)
  95 Terry Widner          OT      6-4   250  So        Donalsonville, Ga. (Seminole County)
  14 Blair Williams        QB      6-1   185  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
* 47 Brian Williams        LB      6-1   212  Fr        Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
* 87 Phil Williams         WR      5-10  170  Sr   **   Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 44 Ricky Williams        RB      5-10  170  So   *    Griffin, Ga. (Griffin)
  41 Tommy Young           FB      6-0   195  Jr        Lake City (Columbia)

1980 Roster - By Number

From the 1980 FSU Football Press Guide, page 33.
L
T                                                  PY
R No Name                  Pos     Hgt   Wgt  Cl   Ltr  Hometown (Prior School)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Richard Alcalde       DB      6-0   190  So        Vienna, Va. (Oakton)
     Keith Bauer           RB      5-9   175  So        Hialeah (Hialeah)
     Raymond Crowell       DB      6-2   170  So        Centerville, Ga. (Northside)
     Mike Dinkins          WR      5-11  160  Sr        Ocala (Forest)
     Kevin Edgecomb        WR      6-0   170  Sr        Miami (Jackson)
     Tim McCray            RB      5-11  205  Jr        Waycross, Ga. (Independence CC)
     Jerome Oliver         DB      5-11  170  So        Greensboro (Greensboro)
     Roderick Pearson      DE      6-3   210  So        Jacksonville (Raines)
   1 Rick Taylor           QB      6-1   180  Fr        Port Saint Joe (Port Saint Joe)
   2 Reggie Webb           WR      6-1   165  Fr        Jacksonville (Raines)
*  3 Rohn Stark            P       6-3   195  Jr   **   Fifty Lakes, Minn. (Pine River)
   4 Chris Gerbasi         LB      6-2   205  So        Valrico (Brandon)
*  6 Dennis McKinnon       WR      6-1   175  So        Miami (South Miami)
*  7 Mike Smith            DB      5-11  175  Sr   **   Panama City (Bay)
   8 Eric Riley            WR      6-0   165  Fr        Fort Myers (Fort Myers)
   9 Greg Thompson         DB      6-0   180  So        Apopka (Apopka)
  10 Bob Davis             QB      6-4   185  Fr        Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
  10 Chris Frongilo        DB      5-10  175  So        Birmingham, Ala. (Pinson Valley)
* 11 Rick Stockstill       QB      6-1   185  Jr-R *    Fernandina Beach (Fernandina Beach)
  12 Kelly Lowrey          QB      6-1   210  Fr-R      Lake City (Columbia)
  13 Kim Mack              DB      6-0   180  Fr        Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
  14 Blair Williams        QB      6-1   185  So        Tallahassee (Leon)
  15 Anthony Smiley        DB      5-11  190  Fr        Saint Augustine (Saint Augustine)
  15 Dominick Sneed        DB      6-0   170  So        Wilmington, Calif. (Banning)
  16 Scott Evans           DB      5-10  175  So        Macon, Ga. (Stratford Academy)
  16 Jeff A. Ledbetter     QB      6-4   195  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 17 Bill Capece           KS      5-7   170  Sr   ***  Miami (Chaminade)
  18 Weegie Thompson       QB      6-6   205  So        Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
* 19 Kurt Unglaub          WR      5-11  175  Sr-R ***  Tallahassee (Leon)
* 20 Ken Burnett           FB      5-11  198  So        Brandon (Brandon)
* 21 Bobby Butler          DB      5-11  185  Sr   ***  Delray Beach (Atlantic)
* 22 Hardis Johnson        WR      6-0   170  So   *    Tampa (Robinson)
  23 Homes Johnson         RB      5-9   185  Jr-R *    Lake Hamilton (Haines City)
* 24 Harvey Clayton        DB      5-10  170  So        Florida City (South Dade)
  26 Carl Armstrong        WR      6-3   175  Fr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
* 27 Michael Whiting       RB      6-2   200  Jr   **   Largo (Largo)
* 28 Keith Jones           DB      5-10  180  Sr   **   Wildwood (Wildwood)
* 29 Sam Platt             RB      6-0   185  Sr   **   Jacksonville (Wolfson)
* 30 Larry Harris          FB      6-1   195  Fr        Gainesville (Eastside)
* 31 Ernie Sims            RB      6-1   215  Jr   **   Tampa (Jefferson)
  32 Darish Davis          RB      5-11  200  So        Augusta, Ga. (Richmond Academy/Georgia Tech)
* 33 James Harris          DB      6-0   180  Jr   *    Gainesville (Buchholz)
  35 Ellis Singletary      LB      5-11  200  So        Jasper (Hamilton County)
  36 Cliff Holiday         FB      5-8   165  So        Newnan, Ga. (Newnan)
  37 Greg Cary             DB      6-1   180  So        Tampa (Jesuit)
  38 Kelly Burney          RB      5-9   180  Jr        Miami (Jackson)
* 39 Reggie Herring        LB      6-1   215  Sr   **   Titusville (Astronaut)
* 40 Gary Henry            DB      6-1   185  Jr   **   Orlando (Oak Ridge)
  41 Tommy Young           FB      6-0   195  Jr        Lake City (Columbia)
* 42 Monk Bonasorte        DB      6-1   175  Sr   ***  Pittsburgh, Pa. (Bishop Boyle)
* 43 Homer Thomas          DB      6-2   190  Sr        Pompano Beach (Pompano Beach)
* 44 Ricky Williams        RB      5-10  170  So   *    Griffin, Ga. (Griffin)
* 45 Roger Brownlee        LB      6-3   200  Fr-R      Doctors Inlet (Orange Park)
  46 Mark Rodrigue         DE      6-2   205  Jr        Tallahassee (Choctawhatchee)
  47 Bryan Cobb            LB      6-3   210  Sr        Glennville, Ga. (Glennville)
* 47 Brian Williams        LB      6-1   212  Fr        Winter Haven (Winter Haven)
  48 Prince Matt           DB      5-10  180  Fr        Bradenton (Manatee)
  49 Herbert Butler        RB      6-1   180  Fr        Thomasville, Ga. (Brookwood Academy)
* 50 Ron Simmons           NG      6-1   230  Sr   ***  Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
* 51 James Gilbert         DT      6-0   240  Jr   **   Miami (Carol City)
  52 Willie Andrusko       C       6-5   235  Jr        Atlanta, Ga. (North Springs)
  52 Sam Restivo           FB-LB   6-1   220  Fr        Jamestown, N.Y. (Jamestown)
* 53 Paul Piurowski        LB      6-3   222  Sr   ***  Sarasota (Sarasota)
* 54 Arthur Scott          DE      6-2   240  Sr-R ***  Tampa (Brandon)
  55 John Houston          LB      6-0   200  Fr        Atlanta, Ga. (Columbia)
  56 Jerry Coleman         OG      6-3   235  So        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
  56 Jim Thompson          C       6-6   220  Fr        Midlothian, Va. (Midlothian)
  57 Keith Baker           LB      6-0   195  Jr        Delray Beach (Atlantic)
  57 Tim Mitchell          DE      6-3   222  Fr        Miami (Norland)
* 58 John Madden           C       6-2   220  Sr   **   Fort Walton Beach (Choctawhatchee)
  59 Donnie Read           LB      6-0   220  Jr        Bristol (Liberty County)
* 60 Scott McLean          DE      6-4   235  Jr   *    Clermont (Clermont)
  61 Brent Brock           OG      6-4   250  Sr-R      Albany, Ga. (Albany)
* 62 Eric Ryan             OT      6-4   255  So-R      Sarasota (Sarasota)
* 63 Lee Adams             OG      6-4   245  Sr   *    Ruskin (East Bay/Georgia Tech)
* 64 Jarvis Coursey        DE      6-5   200  Jr   **   Gray, Ga. (Jonesco Academy)
* 65 Trent Barnes          C       6-4   235  Sr        Lakeland (Lakeland)
* 66 Redus Coggin          OG      6-3   230  Jr        Chipley (Chipley)
* 67 Mark Macek            DT      6-2   260  Sr   ***  Wyandotte, Mich. (Roosevelt)
  68 Jeff Field            OG      6-1   225  Sr        Albany, Ga. (Westover)
  69 Darryl Kershaw        OL      6-5   235  Fr        Columbus, Ohio (Columbus)
* 70 Greg Futch            OG      6-3   255  Sr-R ***  Ocala (Forest)
* 71 Bob Merson            C       6-2   240  Jr        Seminole (Seminole)
* 72 Ken Lanier            OT      6-4   260  Sr   ***  Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
* 73 Barry Voltapetti      OT      6-5   225  Jr-R      Miami (Chaminade)
* 74 Danny Collier         OT      6-4   250  Jr        Eau Gallie (Eau Gallie)
* 75 Tom Brannon           OT      6-3   250  Sr   *    Albany, Ga. (Riverview Academy)
* 76 Alphonso Carreker     DE      6-6   230  Fr        Columbus, Ohio (Marion Franklin)
  77 Chris Nickrenz        DT      6-6   250  So        Buffalo, N.Y. (Saint Joseph)
  78 Mike Coleman          OT      6-4   250  Sr        Savannah, Ga. (Savannah Country Day)
* 79 Garry Futch           NG      6-2   240  Jr   *    Ocala (Forest)
  80 Keith Lester          TE      6-4   235  Fr        Clearwater (Clearwater)
* 81 Zeke Mowatt           TE      6-4   232  So        Wauchula (Hardee)
  82 Tony Johnson          WR      6-2   175  So        Dothan, Ala. (Wicksburg)
* 83 Ron Hester            LB      6-2   210  Sr        Umatilla (Umatilla)
* 84 Sam Childers          TE      6-2   195  Jr   **   Tallahassee (Leon)
* 85 David Ponder          DT      6-3   200  Fr        Cairo, Ga. (Cairo)
  86 Mike Katz             TE      6-2   200  Sr        Hialeah (Hialeah)
* 86 John McLean           DE      6-2   220  Fr        Clermont (Clermont)
* 87 Phil Williams         WR      5-10  170  Sr   **   Warner Robins, Ga. (Warner Robins)
  88 Jeff Bowden           WR      5-8   170  Jr        Tallahassee (Lincoln)
  89 Steve Rosenbluth      TE      6-3   200  So        Miami (Killian)
  89 Tom Wheeler           QB      6-3   210  Fr-R      Port Orange (Spruce Creek)
  90 Allen Dale Campbell   DE      6-4   230  Fr        Perry (Taylor County)
  91 John Diamantas        OG      6-3   235  Jr        Merritt Island (Merritt Island)
  93 David Ellis           OG      6-3   242  Jr        Paisley (Umatilla)
* 93 Rick Houston          TE      6-1   195  Sr-R      Orlando (Edgewater)
  94 Mark Sims             LB      6-4   220  So-R      Bonifay (Holmes County)
  95 Terry Widner          OT      6-4   250  So        Donalsonville, Ga. (Seminole County)
  96 Jerry Riopelle        OL-DL   6-3   245  Fr        Wyandotte, Mich. (Rossevelt)
  97 Herbert Harp          DT      6-3   270  So        Winter Garden (West Orange)
  98 Brad Fojtik           DE      6-4   215  So        Auburndale (Santa Fe Catholic)
  99 Ricky Render          DT      6-5   240  So        Ozark, Ala. (Wicksburg)
Lettermen from the 1981 FSU Football Spring Prospectus, page 12.

1980 Conference Awards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monk Bonasorte           All-South Independent - 1st Team

Bobby Butler             All-South Independent - 1st Team

Bill Capece              All-South Independent - 1st Team

Garry Futch              All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Greg Futch               All-South Independent - 1st Team

Reggie Herring           All-South Independent - 1st Team

Ken Lanier               All-South Independent - 1st Team

Mark Macek               All-South Independent - 1st Team

Paul Piurowski           All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Sam Platt                All-South Independent - 2nd Team

Rohn Stark               All-South Independent - 1st Team

All-Conference - 11

1980 All-Americans

Name                     Organization
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monk Bonasorte           Football News - 2nd Team 
                         Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Bobby Butler             Newspaper Enterprises Association - 1st Team 
                         Associated Press - 3rd Team 

Bill Capece              The Sporting News - 1st Team 
                         Football News - 2nd Team 
                         United Press International - 2nd Team 

Greg Futch               Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Reggie Herring           Associated Press - 2nd Team 

Ken Lanier               Associated Press - 2nd Team 

Mark Macek               Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Paul Piurowski           Associated Press - Honorable Mention 

Ron Simmons              American Football Coaches Association - 1st Team 
                         Walter Camp - 1st Team 
                         Kodak - 1st Team 
                         The Sporting News - 1st Team 
                         United Press International - 1st Team 
                         Football News - 3rd Team 
                         NCAA - Consensus 

Rohn Stark               Football Writers Association of America - 1st Team 
                         Kodak - 1st Team 
                         The Sporting News - 1st Team 
                         United Press International - 1st Team 
                         Football News - 3rd Team 

All-Americans - 10

1980 Noles in the Pros

Name                     No      Pos                Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ed Beckman               85      TE                 Kansas City Chiefs
Bobby Jackson            40      CB                 New York Jets
Willie Jones             90      DE                 Oakland  Raiders
Lee Nelson               38      DB                 St. Louis  Cardinals
Gary Parris              89      TE                 St. Louis  Cardinals
Mike Shumann             82      WR                 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
J.T. Thomas              24      DB                 Pittsburgh Steelers
Gary Woolford            20      DB                 New York Giants

Noles in the Pros -  8

1980 Schedule and Results

           
GAME DAY
 
           
FSU
OPP
OPP EOY
DATE
POST
GAME
BOX
SCORE
LOC
OPPONENT
SCORE
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
AP
UPI
REC
09/06
Postgame
Box
A
Louisiana State
W 16- 0
13
 
 
 
 
 
7-4
09/13
Postgame
Box
H
Louisville
W 52- 0
10
 
 
 
 
 
5-6
09/20
Postgame
Box
H
East Carolina
W 63- 7
9
 
 
 
 
 
4-7
09/27
Postgame
Box
A
Miami
Miami, Fla.
L 9-10
9
 
 
19
18
18
9-3
10/04
Postgame
Box
A
Nebraska
W 18-14
16
 
3
3
7
7
10-2
10/11
Postgame
Box
H
Pittsburgh
W 36-22
11
 
4
3
2
2
11-1
10/18
Postgame
Box
H
Boston College
W 41- 7
7
7
 
 
 
 
7-4
10/25
Postgame
Box
A
Memphis State
W 24- 3
6
 
 
 
 
 
2-9
11/01
Postgame
Box
H
Tulsa
W 45- 2
5
5
 
 
 
 
8-3
11/08
Postgame
Box
H
Virginia Tech
W 31- 7
3
 
 
 
 
 
8-4
12/06
Postgame
Box
H
Florida
W 17-13
3
 
19
 
 
19
8-4
01/01
Postgame
Box
N
Oklahoma
Orange Bowl, Miami, Fla.
L 17-18
2
 
4
 
3
3
10-2
EOY Stats Ref

                Overall   Home    Away   Neutral
------------------------------------------------
FSU record is   10- 2     7-0     3-1     0-1
Against Top 25   3- 2     2-0     1-1     0-1

Final  AP -  5
Final UPI -  5


1980 - 100 Yard Rushing Club

Name Date Opponent Att Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sam Platt 10/25/1980 Memphis State 29 188 6.48 1 Sam Platt 09/20/1980 East Carolina 29 130 4.48 1 Sam Platt 10/11/1980 Pittsburgh 26 123 4.73 0 Sam Platt 11/01/1980 Tulsa 23 113 4.91 1 Ricky Williams 10/18/1980 Boston College 12 109 9.08 0 Sam Platt 11/08/1980 Virginia Tech 24 108 4.50 1 Sam Platt 09/13/1980 Louisville 19 107 5.63 0

1980 - 100 Yard Receiving Club

Name Date Opponent Rec Yds Avg TDs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dennis McKinnon 09/13/1980 Louisville 6 113 18.83 2 Hardis Johnson 12/06/1980 Florida 7 107 15.29 2

1980 - 300 Yard Passing Club

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

1980 EOY Stats

Overall Team Statistics TEAM STATISTICS FSU OPP -------------------------------------------------------- SCORING....................... 352 85 Points Per Game............. 32.0 7.7 TOUCHDOWNS.................... 41 10 TDs Rushing................. 20 2 TDs Passing................. 19 6 TDs Fumble Return........... 0 0 TDs Punt Return............. 1 0 TDs Interception............ 1 1 TDs Kickoff Return.......... 0 1 TDs Lateral................. 0 0 TDs Free Kick............... 0 0 PAT-ATTEMPTS.................. 38-41 10-10 Kick........................ 38-38 9- 9 Pass........................ 0- 2 1- 1 Run......................... 0- 1 0- 0 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS.......... 22-30 4-11 SAFETY........................ 1 1 FIRST DOWNS................... 222 129 Rushing..................... 137 60 Passing..................... 72 53 Penalty..................... 13 16 RUSHING YARDAGE............... 2138 984 Yards gained rushing........ 2491 1439 Yards lost rushing.......... 353 455 Rushing Attempts............ 603 408 Average Per Rush............ 3.5 2.4 Average Per Game............ 194.4 89.5 PASSING YARDAGE............... 1597 1306 Att-Comp-Int................ 232-136-11 241-106-18 Efficiency.................. 133.99 82.78 Average Per Pass............ 6.9 5.4 Average Per Catch........... 11.7 12.3 Average Per Game............ 145.2 118.7 TOTAL OFFENSE................. 3735 2290 Total Plays................. 835 649 Average Per Play............ 4.5 3.5 Average Per Game............ 339.5 208.2 KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 20- 319 25- 570 Average Per Return.......... 16.0 22.8 PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS......... 33-230 28-146 Average Per Return.......... 7.0 5.2 INT RETURNS: #-YARDS.......... 18-209 11-170 Average Per Return.......... 11.6 15.5 FUMBLES-LOST.................. 23- 6 27-22 PENALTIES-YARDS............... 49- 515 57- 581 Average Per Game............ 46.8 52.8 PUNTS-YARDS................... 57-2576 78-3018 Average Per Punt............ 45.2 38.7 Net punt average............ 42.6 35.7 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS-3RD DOWN. 104-197 55-163 3rd-Down Pct................ .528 .337 SACKS BY-YARDS................ 38- - ATTENDANCE.................... 361,402 232,473 Games-Avg Per Game.......... 7-51,629 4-58,118
 1st2nd3rd4th Total
Florida State
60
99
97
96
352
Opponents
28
36
21
0
85
Overall Individual Statistics

RUSHING              G  Att Gain  Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Platt           11  224 1029   46   983   4.4   6  31    89.4
Michael Whiting     11  133  534   34   500   3.8   6  23    45.5
Ricky Williams      11   73  395   12   383   5.2   1  46    34.8
Ken Burnett         11   32  146    1   145   4.5   2  17    13.2
Darish Davis         4   13   91    5    86   6.6   0  19    21.5
Homes Johnson        3   18   62    2    60   3.3   0  14    20.0
Larry Harris         9   19   53    1    52   2.7   2   7t    5.8
Ernie Sims           6    8   34    0    34   4.3   0   9     5.7
Dennis McKinnon     11    6   33   23    10   1.7   0  13     0.9
Kelly Lowrey         5    1    1    0     1   1.0   1   1t    0.2
 Team                0    1    0    7    -7  -7.0   0  -7 
Blair Williams       5    1    0    7    -7  -7.0   0  -7    -1.4
Eric Riley           2    2    0    7    -7  -3.5   0  -7    -3.5
Rick Stockstill     11   71  113  208   -95  -1.3   2  11    -8.6

Total.........      11  603 2491  353  2138   3.5  20  46   194.4
Opponents.....      11  408 1439  455   984   2.4   2        89.5


PASSING              G   Effic Att-Cmp-Int   Pct  Yds  TD Long  Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill     11  134.41 201-121- 8   .602 1377  15  45t  125.2
Blair Williams       5  147.35  19-  8- 1   .421  144   3  47t   28.8
Kelly Lowrey         5  108.44  10-  6- 2   .600   66   1  16    13.2
Sam Platt           11  184.00   1-  1- 0  1.000   10   0  10     0.9
Larry Harris         9    0.00   1-  0- 0   .000    0   0   0     0.0

Total.........      11  133.99 232-136-11   .586 1597  19  47t  145.2
Opponents.....      11   82.78 241-106-18   .440 1306   6       118.7


RECEIVING            G  No   Yds   Avg  TD Long  Avg/G
------------------------------------------------------
Hardis Johnson      11  24   419  17.5   9  45t   38.1
Michael Whiting     11  25   203   8.1   0  43    18.5
Dennis McKinnon     11  12   195  16.3   3  47t   17.7
Phil Williams       11  14   195  13.9   2  40    17.7
Sam Childers        11  20   157   7.9   2  17    14.3
Kurt Unglaub        11  10   127  12.7   2  19    11.5
Sam Platt           11  14   111   7.9   0  45    10.1
Zeke Mowatt          9   4    36   9.0   1  17     4.0
Rick Stockstill     11   1    31  31.0   0  31     2.8
Ricky Williams      11   3    31  10.3   0  14     2.8
Tom Wheeler          1   1    30  30.0   0  30    30.0
Ernie Sims           6   3    25   8.3   0  12     4.2
Ken Burnett         11   2    15   7.5   0   8     1.4
Barry Voltapetti    10   1    10  10.0   0  10     1.0
Rick Houston         1   1     8   8.0   0   8     8.0
Homes Johnson        3   1     4   4.0   0   4     1.3

Total.........      11 136  1597  11.7  19  47t  145.2
Opponents.....      11 106  1306  12.3   6       118.7


PUNT RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Gary Henry           21  124   5.9  0     
Dennis McKinnon       8   52   6.5  0     
Ron Hester            1   33  33.0  1  33t
Bobby Butler          1   22  22.0  0  22 
Monk Bonasorte        1    1   1.0  0   1 
Sam Platt             1   -2  -2.0  0  -2 

Total.........       33  230   7.0  1  33t
Opponent......       28  146   5.2  0     


INTERCEPTIONS        No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Keith Jones           5   69  13.8  0  41 
Monk Bonasorte        4   48  12.0  0     
Bobby Butler          3   13   4.3  0     
Ron Hester            2   58  29.0  1  50t
James Harris          1   15  15.0  0  15 
Mike Smith            1   15  15.0  0  15 
Reggie Herring        1    7   7.0  0   7 
John Houston          1    4   4.0  0   4 

Total.........       18  209  11.6  1  50t
Opponent......       11  170  15.5  1  83t


KICK RETURNS         No  Yds   Avg TD Long
------------------------------------------
Dennis McKinnon       8   141 17.6  0     
Larry Harris          5    57 11.4  0     
Ricky Williams        2    40 20.0  0     
Sam Platt             2    35 17.5  0     
Darish Davis          1    20 20.0  0  20 
Michael Whiting       1    15 15.0  0  15 
Ken Burnett           1    11 11.0  0  11 

Total.........       20   319 16.0  0     
Opponent......       25   570 22.8  1 100t


                                            Fum
FUMBLE RETURNS       No  Yds   Avg TD Long  For
-----------------------------------------------
Ron Hester            5    0   0.0  0   .    0
Reggie Herring        2    0   0.0  0   .    2
Jarvis Coursey        2    0   0.0  0   .    1
Ron Simmons           2    0   0.0  0   .    1
Bobby Butler          2    0   0.0  0   .    0
James Gilbert         2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Mike Smith            2    0   0.0  0   .    0
Alphonso Carreker     1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Garry Futch           1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Gary Henry            1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Brian Williams        1    0   0.0  0   .    0
Mark Rodrigue         1    0   0.0  0   .    0
James Harris          0    0    .   0   .    3
Paul Piurowski        0    0    .   0   .    3
Keith Jones           0    0    .   0   .    2
Mark Macek            0    0    .   0   .    1

Total.........       22        0.0  0       13
Opponent......        6        0.0  0     


                               |-------- PATs --------|
Name                 TD   FGs    Kick   Rush  Rcv Pass  DXP Saf Points
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Capece           0  22-30   38-38   0-0   0   0-0   0   0   104
Hardis Johnson        9   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    54
Sam Platt             6   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    36
Michael Whiting       6   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    36
Dennis McKinnon       3   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    18
Ken Burnett           2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Sam Childers          2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Larry Harris          2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Ron Hester            2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Rick Stockstill       2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-3   0   0    12
Kurt Unglaub          2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Phil Williams         2   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0    12
Kelly Lowrey          1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Zeke Mowatt           1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
Ricky Williams        1   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   0     6
 Team                 0   0-0     0-0    0-0   0   0-0   0   1     2
====================================================================
FSU                  41  22-30   38-38   0-0   0   0-3   0   1   352
Opponent             10   4-11    9-9    0-0   1   1-1   0   1    85
Touchdowns
R
C
P
I
FR
PR
KR
L
FK
Hardis Johnson
.
9
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sam Platt
6
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Michael Whiting
6
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Dennis McKinnon
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ken Burnett
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sam Childers
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Larry Harris
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ron Hester
.
.
.
1
.
1
.
.
.
Rick Stockstill
2
.
15
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kurt Unglaub
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Phil Williams
.
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kelly Lowrey
1
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
Zeke Mowatt
.
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ricky Williams
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Blair Williams
.
.
3
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total
20
19
19
1
.
1
.
.
.
Opponents
2
6
6
1
.
.
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
--------------------------------------------------
Rick Stockstill     11  272   -95 1377  1282 116.5
Sam Platt           11  225   983   10   993  90.3
Michael Whiting     11  133   500    0   500  45.5
Ricky Williams      11   73   383    0   383  34.8
Ken Burnett         11   32   145    0   145  13.2
Blair Williams       5   20    -7  144   137  27.4
Darish Davis         4   13    86    0    86  21.5
Kelly Lowrey         5   11     1   66    67  13.4
Homes Johnson        3   18    60    0    60  20.0
Larry Harris         9   20    52    0    52   5.8
Ernie Sims           6    8    34    0    34   5.7
Dennis McKinnon     11    6    10    0    10   0.9
 Team                0    1    -7    0    -7
Eric Riley           2    2    -7    0    -7  -3.5

Total.........      11  835  2138 1597  3735 339.5
Opponent......      11  649   984 1306  2290 208.2


FIELD GOALS         FGM-FGA  Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Capece          22-30  .733  0- 0  6- 6  8-10  7-10  1- 4 50
FG SEQUENCE Bill Capece
Louisiana State
(34), (34), 52, (45)
Louisville
(31)
East Carolina
None
Miami
(26)
Nebraska
(32), (27), (40), (41)
Pittsburgh
(24), (43), (50), (30), (44), 46
Boston College
(27), (39), (36), (31)
Memphis State
36, (25), 50, 39
Tulsa
40, (24)
Virginia Tech
54, (42)
Florida
(44), 48
Oklahoma
49, 44, (19), 62
() For made field goals


PUNTING             No  Yds   Avg Long  TB  FC I20 Blkd
-------------------------------------------------------
Rohn Stark          57 2576  45.2  67                 

Total.........      57 2576  45.2  67                 
Opponent......      78 3018  38.7                    5


ALL PURPOSE          G Rush   Rec   PR   KR   IR   FR  Tot Avg/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Platt           11  983   111   -2   35    0    0 1127 102.5
Michael Whiting     11  500   203    0   15    0    0  718  65.3
Ricky Williams      11  383    31    0   40    0    0  454  41.3
Hardis Johnson      11    0   419    0    0    0    0  419  38.1
Dennis McKinnon     11   10   195   52  141    0    0  398  36.2
Phil Williams       11    0   195    0    0    0    0  195  17.7
Ken Burnett         11  145    15    0   11    0    0  171  15.5
Sam Childers        11    0   157    0    0    0    0  157  14.3
Kurt Unglaub        11    0   127    0    0    0    0  127  11.5
Gary Henry          11    0     0  124    0    0    0  124  11.3
Larry Harris         9   52     0    0   57    0    0  109  12.1
Darish Davis         4   86     0    0   20    0    0  106  26.5
Ron Hester          10    0     0   33    0   58    0   91   9.1
Keith Jones         11    0     0    0    0   69    0   69   6.3
Homes Johnson        3   60     4    0    0    0    0   64  21.3
Ernie Sims           6   34    25    0    0    0    0   59   9.8
Monk Bonasorte      11    0     0    1    0   48    0   49   4.5
Zeke Mowatt          9    0    36    0    0    0    0   36   4.0
Bobby Butler        11    0     0   22    0   13    0   35   3.2
Tom Wheeler          1    0    30    0    0    0    0   30  30.0
James Harris        11    0     0    0    0   15    0   15   1.4
Mike Smith          11    0     0    0    0   15    0   15   1.4
Barry Voltapetti    10    0    10    0    0    0    0   10   1.0
Rick Houston         1    0     8    0    0    0    0    8   8.0
Reggie Herring      11    0     0    0    0    7    0    7   0.6
John Houston         2    0     0    0    0    4    0    4   2.0
Kelly Lowrey         5    1     0    0    0    0    0    1   0.2
 Team                0   -7     0    0    0    0    0   -7
Blair Williams       5   -7     0    0    0    0    0   -7  -1.4
Eric Riley           2   -7     0    0    0    0    0   -7  -3.5
Rick Stockstill     11  -95    31    0    0    0    0  -64  -5.8

Total.........      11 2138  1597  230  319  209    0 4493 408.5
Opponent......      11  984  1306  146  570  170    0 3176 288.7


                        |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd
DEFENSIVE LEADERS   GP   UT   AT  Total   ForLoss     No - Yards  Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds  FF Kick Saf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reggie Herring      11   92   78   170   3.0-         6.0-          1-  7   .    .   2-  0   2   .   .
Paul Piurowski      10   60   62   122   4.0-         2.0-           .      .    .    .      3   .   .
Arthur Scott        11   39   30    69   6.0-         4.0-           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mark Macek          11   38   27    65   4.0-         2.0-           .      .    .    .      1   .   .
Scott McLean        11   37   25    62   6.0-         3.0-           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ron Hester          10   36   24    60   3.0-         3.0-          2- 58   .    .   5-  0   .   2   .
Jarvis Coursey      10   26   32    58   2.0-            .           .      .    .   2-  0   1   .   .
Monk Bonasorte      11   29   26    55   2.0-            .          4- 48   .    .    .      .   .   .
James Harris        11   33   15    48   1.0-            .          1- 15   .    .    .      3   .   .
James Gilbert       11   30   17    47   7.0-         7.0-           .      .    .   2-  0   .   .   .
Ron Simmons         11   28   18    46   5.0-         2.0-           .      .    .   2-  0   1   .   .
Keith Jones         11   24   21    45   4.0-            .          5- 69   .    .    .      2   1   .
Garry Futch         11   19   14    33   6.0-         2.0-           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Bobby Butler        11   26    7    33   4.0-            .          3- 13   .    .   2-  0   .   2   .
Alphonso Carreker   10   10    4    14      .         3.0-           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Roger Brownlee       7    3   11    14      .         1.0-           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Brian Williams       6    4   10    14      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Harvey Clayton      10    8    1     9      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Gary Henry          11    5    3     8      .         1.0-           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
Mark Rodrigue        3    4    4     8      .            .           .      .    .   1-  0   .   .   .
David Ponder         9    4    1     5      .         2.0-           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
John Houston         2    1    4     5      .            .          1-  4   .    .    .      .   .   .
Homer Thomas         9    4    .     4      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Mike Smith          11    1    2     3      .            .          1- 15   .    .   2-  0   .   .   .
John McLean          9    1    2     3      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Allen Dale Campbell  1    2    1     3      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Sam Restivo          2    1    1     2      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Greg Futch          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ken Lanier          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Trent Barnes        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Tom Brannon         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ken Burnett         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bill Capece         11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Sam Childers        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Hardis Johnson      11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Dennis McKinnon     11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Sam Platt           11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rohn Stark          11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rick Stockstill     11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Kurt Unglaub        11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Michael Whiting     11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Phil Williams       11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ricky Williams      11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Lee Adams           11    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Redus Coggin        10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
John Madden         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Eric Ryan           10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Barry Voltapetti    10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Brent Brock         10    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Larry Harris         9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Zeke Mowatt          9    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ernie Sims           6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Jerry Coleman        6    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Kelly Lowrey         5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Blair Williams       5    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Bob Merson           4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Darish Davis         4    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Homes Johnson        3    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Eric Riley           2    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Keith Lester         2    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Herbert Harp         1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Danny Collier        1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Greg Thompson        1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ellis Singletary     1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Tom Wheeler          1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Ricky Render         1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
Rick Houston         1    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   .
 Team                0    .    .     .      .            .           .      .    .    .      .   .   1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals                  565  440  1005  57.0-  0.0   38.0-  0.0    18-229   .    .  22-  0  13   5   1


Game Participation
##  Player                       GP-GS  LSU     UL      ECU     UM      UN      Pitt    BC      Mem     Tul     VT      UF      OU      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63  Lee Adams                    12- 7  O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-RG    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      O-OG    O-LG  
    Richard Alcalde               0- 0                                                                                           
52  Willie Andrusko               0- 0                                                                                           
26  Carl Armstrong                0- 0                                                                                           
57  Keith Baker                   0- 0                                                                                           
65  Trent Barnes                 12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
    Keith Bauer                   0- 0                                                                                           
42  Monk Bonasorte               12-12  D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS    D-SS  
88  Jeff Bowden                   0- 0                                                                                           
75  Tom Brannon                  12-12  O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-RT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-LT  
61  Brent Brock                  11- 0          xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
45  Roger Brownlee                7- 0  xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      xx                               
20  Ken Burnett                  12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
38  Kelly Burney                  0- 0                                                                                           
21  Bobby Butler                 12-12  D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB  
49  Herbert Butler                0- 0                                                                                           
90  Allen Dale Campbell           1- 0  xx                                                                                       
17  Bill Capece                  12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
76  Alphonso Carreker            11- 0  xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
37  Greg Cary                     0- 0                                                                                           
84  Sam Childers                 12-11  O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    xx      O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE    O-TE  
24  Harvey Clayton               11- 0          xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
47  Bryan Cobb                    0- 0                                                                                           
66  Redus Coggin                 11- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
56  Jerry Coleman                 6- 2                                  O-C     O-C     xx      xx      xx      xx               
78  Mike Coleman                  0- 0                                                                                           
74  Danny Collier                 1- 0  xx                                                                                       
64  Jarvis Coursey               11-11          D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE  
    Raymond Crowell               0- 0                                                                                           
10  Bob Davis                     0- 0                                                                                           
32  Darish Davis                  4- 0          xx                                      xx      xx      xx                       
91  John Diamantas                0- 0                                                                                           
    Mike Dinkins                  0- 0                                                                                           
    Kevin Edgecomb                0- 0                                                                                           
93  David Ellis                   0- 0                                                                                           
16  Scott Evans                   0- 0                                                                                           
68  Jeff Field                    0- 0                                                                                           
98  Brad Fojtik                   0- 0                                                                                           
10  Chris Frongilo                0- 0                                                                                           
79  Garry Futch                  12-12  D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-LT    D-DT  
70  Greg Futch                   12-12  O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-LG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-RG  
 4  Chris Gerbasi                 0- 0                                                                                           
51  James Gilbert                12- 1  xx      xx      xx      D-RG    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
97  Herbert Harp                  1- 0  xx                                                                                       
33  James Harris                 12-12  D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB    D-CB  
30  Larry Harris                 10- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx                      xx      xx      xx      xx
40  Gary Henry                   12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
39  Reggie Herring               12-12  D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB  
83  Ron Hester                   11- 2          xx      xx      xx      xx      D-LB    D-LB    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
36  Cliff Holiday                 0- 0                                                                                           
55  John Houston                  3- 0                                                  xx                      xx              xx
93  Rick Houston                  2- 0                                                                          xx              xx
22  Hardis Johnson               12- 8  xx      xx      xx      O-WR    xx      O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR  
23  Homes Johnson                 3- 0  xx      xx      xx                                                                       
82  Tony Johnson                  0- 0                                                                                           
28  Keith Jones                  12-12  D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS    D-FS  
86  Mike Katz                     0- 0                                                                                           
69  Darryl Kershaw                0- 0                                                                                           
72  Ken Lanier                   12-12  O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-LT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-OT    O-RT  
16  Jeff A. Ledbetter             1- 0                                                                                          xx
80  Keith Lester                  3- 0                                                                  xx      xx              xx
12  Kelly Lowrey                  6- 0          xx      xx                              xx              xx      xx              xx
67  Mark Macek                   12-12  D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-RT    D-DT  
13  Kim Mack                      0- 0                                                                                           
58  John Madden                  11-10  O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C             xx      O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C     O-C   
48  Prince Matt                   0- 0                                                                                           
    Tim McCray                    0- 0                                                                                           
 6  Dennis McKinnon              12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
86  John McLean                   9- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx                       
60  Scott McLean                 12- 4  D-DE    xx      xx      D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
71  Bob Merson                    4- 0  xx      xx      xx                                                              xx       
57  Tim Mitchell                  0- 0                                                                                           
81  Zeke Mowatt                  10- 1  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      O-TE    xx      xx                      xx      xx
77  Chris Nickrenz                0- 0                                                                                           
    Jerome Oliver                 0- 0                                                                                           
    Roderick Pearson              0- 0                                                                                           
53  Paul Piurowski               11-10  D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB            xx      D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB    D-LB  
29  Sam Platt                    12-11  O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    xx      O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    O-TB    O-TB  
85  David Ponder                 10- 0          xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
59  Donnie Read                   0- 0                                                                                           
99  Ricky Render                  2- 0                                  xx                                                      xx
52  Sam Restivo                   3- 0  xx                              xx                                                      xx
 8  Eric Riley                    2- 0                  xx                              xx                                       
96  Jerry Riopelle                0- 0                                                                                           
46  Mark Rodrigue                 4- 0                                                  xx                      xx      xx      xx
89  Steve Rosenbluth              0- 0                                                                                           
62  Eric Ryan                    10- 5  xx      xx      xx              xx      O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    O-OG    xx       
54  Arthur Scott                 12- 9  D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    xx      xx      xx      D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE    D-DE  
50  Ron Simmons                  12-11  D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    xx      D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG    D-NG  
31  Ernie Sims                    7- 0                  xx              xx              xx      xx      xx      xx              xx
94  Mark Sims                     1- 0                                                                                          xx
35  Ellis Singletary              1- 0  xx                                                                                       
15  Anthony Smiley                0- 0                                                                                           
 7  Mike Smith                   12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
15  Dominick Sneed                0- 0                                                                                           
 3  Rohn Stark                   12- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
11  Rick Stockstill              12-12  O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB    O-QB  
 1  Rick Taylor                   0- 0                                                                                           
43  Homer Thomas                  9- 0  xx      xx      xx                      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx       
 9  Greg Thompson                 1- 0  xx                                                                                       
56  Jim Thompson                  0- 0                                                                                           
18  Weegie Thompson               0- 0                                                                                           
19  Kurt Unglaub                 12- 8  O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    xx      xx      xx      xx      O-WR    O-WR    O-WR  
73  Barry Voltapetti             10- 0  xx      xx      xx      xx              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx       
 2  Reggie Webb                   0- 0                                                                                           
89  Tom Wheeler                   1- 0                  xx                                                                       
27  Michael Whiting              12-12  O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB    O-FB  
95  Terry Widner                  0- 0                                                                                           
14  Blair Williams                5- 0          xx      xx              xx              xx              xx                       
47  Brian Williams                7- 0  xx                                              xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
87  Phil Williams                12- 8  O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    xx      O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    O-WR    xx      xx      xx
44  Ricky Williams               12- 1  xx      xx      xx      xx      O-TB    xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx      xx
41  Tommy Young                   0- 0                                                                                           

Florida State 16, Louisiana State 0

09/06/1980, Baton Rouge, La.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 7, 1980, page 65, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles kick LSU 16-0.

BATON ROUGE, LA – Bill Capece kicked three field goals and Florida State’s defense held Louisiana State without any points on a fall Saturday night as the Seminoles opened their season with a 16-0 victory in Tiger Stadium.

Florida State led 6-0 at halftime on field goals of 34 and 35 yards by Capece. The senior placekicker also just missed a 52-yard attempt as time ran out in the first half.

With 10:09 left in the third quarter, Capece booted a 45-yard field goal to put Florida State on top 9-0.

The only touchdown of the game came with 2:32 remaining in the third quarter. Sam Platt ran in from four yards out for the score.

Monk Bonasorte set up the touchdown drive with an interception.

Florida State nose guard Ron Simmons suffered a lateral sprain in the ankle in the first quarter and did not play the rest of the game.

The victory was Florida State’s second over LSU in as many years. It was the Seminoles’ 16th straight regular season victory.

It had rained rather heavily during the day, and when the rain stopped in midafternoon the grass of Tiger Stadium was rather damp despite a tarpaulin cover.

LSU opened the game from its 20 after winning the coin toss and choosing to receive the kickoff.

On the first play from scrimmage, FSU linebacker Reggie Herring racked Hokie Gajan hard as he broke through the line, forcing a fumble that the Seminoles’ Bobby Butler recovered at the 24.

Platt ran three straight times – to the 18. On fourth down Capece kicked a 35-yard field goal to put FSU up 3-0.

The Tigers tried again, this time from their 26. Runs by Jesse Myles and Gajan pushed the ball to the 38.

Then quarterback Alan Risher fumbled a snap as he was pressured by Simmons, and Simmons recovered the ball for the Seminoles at LSU’s 36.

On second down Platt got loose for 12 to the 22. Three more runs netted just five yards, and in came Capece to kick a 34-yard field goal that made it 6-0.

LSU started again, from its 20. Risher hit Tracey Porter with a pair of passes for 15 and 14 yards, but a penalty after the first catch cost the Tigers 15. LSU gained FSU’s 40 on a Risher keeper, but the Seminole defense stiffened, forced a punt that trickled into the end zone.

The teams then swapped punts: FSU’s Rohn Stark boomed a 50-yarder to LSU’s 28, and LSU’s David Johnson replied with a 43-yarder to FSU’s 32.

Florida State struggled, on runs and a short pass, to the 50 before a holding call – FSU’s first penalty of the game – knocked the Seminoles back to their 38 early in the second quarter.

Risher’s 29-yard pass to Myles reached FSU’s 39. Then Myles caught another at the 30. But on fourth down at the 29, about a half-yard to go, linebacker Paul Piurowski stopped Gajan on a plunge and Florida State took over.

The Seminoles could not cut out a first down. Stark punted 52 yards to the LSU 18.

Arthur Scott soon sacked Risher for a loss of 11, to the 19, and when LSU punted, Bobby Butler ripped through to tip the ball, which ended up at the LSU 39.

Then, on second down, Rick Stockstill was flagged for intentionally grounding a pass; the penalty throttled that opportunity. Stark punted into the end zone.

On what seemed to be a busted play, Robbie Mahfoot, the No. 2 LSU quarterback, broke away on a 31-yard scamper to FSU’s 45. With James Gilbert leading a defensive stand, the Tigers got no farther.

A punt backed FSU to its 14. Again the Tigers held, and Stark punted the ball back – but LSU was penalized for holding and Florida State got new life at its 39.

Platt’s running took the Seminoles to the LSU 36 with two seconds left. After a timeout, Capece attempted a 52-yard field goal on a dead line to the goalposts, but just short.

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 7, 1980, other edition, page 11.

It went to 9-0 after FSU’s first possession in the last half. Actually, FSU, backed to its 11 on that possession, had to punt but LSU fumbled again and Brian Williams, a freshman linebacker who had been afflicted with severe airsickness on the flight to Baton Rouge, claimed the ball for the Seminoles at the FSU 48.

Running, mostly by Mike Whiting, got things ready for Capece’s last field goal.

Then Florida State moved 57 yards to a touchdown after Bonasorte pulled off an interception, returning it 27 yards. That lonesome first-down pass – to Phil Williams – got the drive started. Running did the rest. Platt scored on a wide romp from 3 yards out, and Capece made it 16-0 with 2:32 left in the third quarter. The rest was not much at all.

Florida State ran 68 plays, LSU just 51.

“You know,” said Bowden, “didn’t think they could score two touchdowns on our defense.”

LSU scored no points at all, and the Seminoles had their first shutout since Louisville (27-0) last year.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
6
0
10
0
16
Louisiana State
0
0
0
0
0

1st   3- 0  Bill Capece, 34, field goal, 13:10
      6- 0  Bill Capece, 34, field goal, 8:56 
2nd   6- 0  Bill Capece, 52, field goal failed, 0:00 
3rd   9- 0  Bill Capece, 45, field goal, 10:09
     16- 0  Sam Platt, 3, run (Bill Capece, kick), 2:32 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 14 8 Rushes-yards 57-197 31-95 Passing 35 144 Att-Comp-Int 11-6-0 20-12-1 Total Yards 68-232 51-239 Punt Returns 2-5 3-6 Kickoff Returns 1-7 2-57 Interception Ret. 1-28 0-0 Fumble Returns 3-0 0-0 Punts 7-46.3 7-36.3 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 5-3 Penalties-Yds 5-55 7-62 3rd Down Conversions 4-18 4-12 Time of Posession 35:38 24:22 Attendance 77,535 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 22 79 1 13 Michael Whiting 13 47 0 13 Homes Johnson 11 46 0 14 Ken Burnett 4 15 0 9 Dennis McKinnon 1 13 0 13 Larry Harris 3 3 0 2 Rick Stockstill 3 -6 0 3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 57 197 1 14 Opp 31 95 0 31 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Phil Williams 1 13 0 13 Sam Childers 1 8 0 8 Dennis McKinnon 1 7 0 7 Sam Platt 2 4 0 2 Michael Whiting 1 3 0 3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 6 35 0 13 Opp 12 144 0 37 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 6 11 0 35 0 13 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 6 11 0 35 0 13 Opp 12 20 1 144 0 37 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 1 4 0 4 Monk Bonasorte 1 1 0 1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 5 0 4 Opp 3 6 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 1 7 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 7 0 7 Opp 2 57 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 7 324 54 ---------------------------------------- FSU 7 324 54 Opp 7 254 45 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 8 5 13 . . . . . . . . . Reggie Herring 6 6 12 1.0- 4.0 . . 1 . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 6 1 7 . . 1- 28 1 . . . . . Ron Simmons 3 4 7 1.0- 2.0 . . . . 1- 0 1 . . Mark Macek 2 5 7 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 1 4 5 . . . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 4 1 5 1.0- 11.0 . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 4 . 4 . . . 1 . 1- 0 . 1 . James Harris . 4 4 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 3 . 3 1.0- 4.0 . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 3 . 3 1.0- 3.0 . . . . . . . . Roger Brownlee . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . John McLean . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Larry Harris 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Ricky Williams . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Trent Barnes 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Bill Capece 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Brian Williams . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 45 37 82 5.0- 24.0 . 1- 28 3 . 3- 0 1 1 . Opp 66 64 130 4.0- 16.0 . . 2 . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   63  Lee Adams
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   60  Scott McLean
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
 9  Greg Thompson
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
22  Hardis Johnson
23  Homes Johnson
30  Larry Harris
35  Ellis Singletary
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
45  Roger Brownlee
##  NAME
-----------------------------
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
52  Sam Restivo
62  Eric Ryan
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
71  Bob Merson
73  Barry Voltapetti
74  Danny Collier
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
86  John McLean
90  Allen Dale Campbell
97  Herbert Harp

Florida State 52, Louisville 0

09/13/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

Tallahassee Democrat, September 14, 1980, page 59, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles bury Louisville 52-0.
Stockstill shines for record crowd.

TALLAHASSEE, Fl – Whoever said Rick Stockstill could not pass?

Florida State’s junior quarterback from Fernandina Beach threw four touchdown passes Saturday night as the Seminoles whooped it up over Louisville 52-0 before the biggest crowd ever to see a football game in Tallahassee.

With all tickets sold by 4 p.m. Campbell Stadium was packed with a record 52,623 fans.

After a rather slow first-quarter start, the Seminoles padded a 7-0 lead to 24-0 by halftime. Stockstill retired for the night after throwing his last touchdown pass on the first series of the last half.

The Seminoles got the first six of their seven touchdowns on passes, as sophomores Kelly Lowrey and Blair Williams followed Stockstill with one apiece.

A rocking defense kept Louisville’s attack bottled up all the way, repeatedly sacking the Cardinals’ two quarterbacks.

It was the Seminoles’ 17th straight regular-season victory.

In the beginning Louisville won the toss, chose to receive, started at its 20, and punted following a pair of 2-yard runs and an incomplete pass.

The Seminoles started at their 44 following the 35-yard boot. In 10 plays they knocked off 55 yards to a touchdown.

Stockstill started it with a 5-yard toss to Sam Childers. Sam Platt sliced for 14 on a run, then for seven more, down to the 30. Then it was Platt on three more runs, to the 10. On second down, Stockstill passed 8 yards to Dennis McKinnon for six points. Bill Capece kicked the extra point for 7-0.

Louisville’s Wayne Taylor fumbled the kickoff when hit at his 13, and linebacker Ron Hester claimed the football for FSU.

On second down Platt got eight on a fake reverse. Stockstill sneaked for a first down at the three. The Cardinals stiffened, and it came to fourth and inches from the goal line after three runs. The Seminoles went for it, and Mike Whiting came up just short on a plunge. Louisville took over.

On third down James Harris intercepted Pat Patterson’s deep throw and returned it sox yards to Louisville’s 49.

Kurt Unglaub grabbed a 19-yard pass at the 30. But on third down Ellsworth Larkins picked off Stackstill’s pass in the end zone.

James Gilbert’s sack of Patterson for eight backed the Cards to their 14. Soon a punt gave FSU a new shot from the Louisville 40. The Seminoles got nowhere as Homes Johnson was cut down on runs. Rohn Stark’s first punt rolled into the end zone.

Penalties slapped the visitors back to their 12, and FSU got its fourth chance in Louisville territory following a punt to the 45.

Three runs got 12. Then Platt, on a pitchout, sailed for 31 yards to the two.

It came to third down at the six after Platt was tossed for a loss. Stockstill passed straight over the middle to sophomore tight end Zeke Mowatt for the touchdown, and FSU took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Not long after that, Louisville was punting again, from its 10. Keith Jones tore through to partially block it, and the ball was dead at the 28. Two plays later Stockstill threw 26 yards to Hardis Johnson for a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

On Patterson passes of 15 and 29 yards to tight end Robert Mitchell, Louisville moved for the first time – down to FSU’s 36. But sacks of Patterson by Mark Macek and Reggie Herring put an end to that.

Ken Burnett, with a 17-yard pop, got FSU on the road from its 20. Passes of 18 and 10 yards to McKinnon were further keys as the Seminoles moved steadily to the Cards’ 15. With sox seconds left in the half, Capece kicked a 31-yard field goal that made it 24-0.

On the third quarter kickoff, Florida State got the ball out no further than the 13. But on the old Statue-of-Liberty play, Whiting burst for a first down at the 25. Platt soon got 13. Then Whiting on successive carries got 10, seven and 12 – down to the Louisville 29. More runs carried to a first down at the 16.

After a penalty, Stockstill threw a 19-yarder to Phil Williams for the touchdown. That jumped the score to 31-0.

Macek and Gilbert sacked Patterson for minus-12, back on his seven. Next play Bo Haden fumbled on a run, and Gary Henry got the ball for the Seminoles at the 10.

In came Lowrey. On second down he threw his first college pass – 11 yards to Hardis Johnson for a touchdown = and the score stood 38-0.

Two 15-yard penalties vaulted Louisville to FSU’s 49. But Scott McLean caught quarterback Scott Gannon for minus-13 back on his 37. The Cards punted to FSU’s 32.

Twice in the ensuing series Stark went back to punt – and twice Louisville had 12 men on the field. Each time the Seminoles got a first down out of the penalty. But the series ended with tackle Richard Tharpe intercepting a Lowrey pass and steaming to the 50. With Hester dumping Gannon for a loss of 10, the Cardinals got nowhere.

Williams, the Tallahassee boy, then got a shot at quarterback. On a 16-yard pass to McKinnon, FSU gained Louisville’s 47. Next play Williams threw 47 yards to McKinnon for a touchdown that brought the score to 45-0.

A bit later linebacker Eddie Johnson intercepted a Williams pass, setting up the Cardinals at FSU’s 33, but that played out an inch short of a first down at the 23.

With 5:35 left, Mike Smith’s interception and 15-yard runback placed FSU at the enemy 33. Nothing came of it.

With seven seconds remaining, Hester crossed the goal line with Florida State’s seventh touchdown after streaking 50 yards down the sidelines with an interception, making it a final 52-0.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Louisville
0
0
0
0
0
Florida State
7
17
14
14
52

1st   7- 0  Dennis McKinnon, 8, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 9:36 
2nd  14- 0  Zeke Mowatt, 7, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 10:42
     21- 0  Hardis Johnson, 26, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 8:11 
     24- 0  Bill Capece, 31, field goal, 0:05 
3rd  31- 0  Phil Williams, 19, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 8:32 
     38- 0  Hardis Johnson, 11, pass from Kelly Lowrey (Bill Capece, kick), 6:28 
4th  45- 0  Dennis McKinnon, 47, pass from Blair Williams (Bill Capece, kick), 11:53
     52- 0  Ron Hester, 50, interception return (Bill Capece, kick), 0:07 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 24 5 Rushes-yards 59-232 33--5 Passing 210 61 Att-Comp-Int 25-14-3 16-6-3 Total Yards 84-442 49-56 Punt Returns 5-37 1-6 Kickoff Returns 1-9 2-28 Interception Ret. 3-60 3-28 Fumble Returns 2-0 1-0 Punts 3-41.3 9-34.3 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 3-2 Penalties-Yds 5-38 6-47 3rd Down Conversions 10-20 0-12 Time of Posession 34:56 25:04 Attendance 52,623 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 19 107 0 31 Michael Whiting 15 57 0 11 Ken Burnett 4 21 0 17 Homes Johnson 6 14 0 8 Larry Harris 6 14 0 4 Ricky Williams 4 11 0 3 Darish Davis 1 10 0 10 Rick Stockstill 3 5 0 3 Blair Williams 1 -7 0 -7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 59 232 0 31 Opp 33 -5 0 9 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 6 113 2 47t Hardis Johnson 2 37 2 26t Kurt Unglaub 2 25 0 19 Phil Williams 1 19 1 19t Zeke Mowatt 1 7 1 7t Sam Childers 1 5 0 5 Homes Johnson 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 14 210 6 47t Opp 6 61 0 29 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 9 12 1 115 4 26t Blair Williams 2 8 1 62 1 47t Kelly Lowrey 3 5 1 33 1 16 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 14 25 3 210 6 47t Opp 6 16 3 61 0 29 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 3 24 0 Gary Henry 2 13 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 5 37 0 Opp 1 6 0 6 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Harris 1 9 0 9 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 9 0 9 Opp 2 28 0 19 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 3 124 47 ---------------------------------------- FSU 3 124 47 Opp 9 309 43 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Macek 1 7 8 2.0- . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 2 6 8 3.0- . . . . . . . . Ron Hester 4 3 7 1.0- . 1- 50 . . 1- 0 . . . Reggie Herring 2 5 7 2.0- . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 2 5 7 2.0- . . . . . . . . Paul Piurowski 1 4 5 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 2 . 2 . . 1- -5 . . . . . . Arthur Scott . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 1 1 2 1.0- . . 1 . . . 1 . Alphonso Carreker . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Larry Harris 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 1 . 1 . . . 1 . . . . . Ricky Williams 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Gary Henry . 1 1 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Roger Brownlee 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Mike Smith . . . . . 1- 15 . . . . . . Harvey Clayton . . . . . . 1 . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 20 39 59 11.0- 0.0 . 3- 60 3 . 2- 0 . 1 . Opp 38 63 101 2.0- . 3- 28 3 . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   63  Lee Adams
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
12  Kelly Lowrey
14  Blair Williams
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
22  Hardis Johnson
23  Homes Johnson
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
32  Darish Davis
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
##  NAME
-----------------------------
45  Roger Brownlee
51  James Gilbert
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
62  Eric Ryan
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
71  Bob Merson
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean

Florida State 63, East Carolina 7

09/20/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

Tallahassee Democrat, September 21, 1980, page 61, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles stroll past Pirates 63-7.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – With a devastating running game and formidable defense, Florida State’s football team turned East Carolina every way but loose here Saturday night.

And as a Campbell Stadium crowd of 50,547 cheered them on, the Seminoles romped to a 63-7 victory – their 18th straight regular-season one and their third straight of this promising young season.

Sam Platt ran for 130 yards on 29 carries and Mike Whiting 71 on 15 before retiring to the bench. Throwing now and then, Rick Stockstill hit on 10 of 11 shots for 132 before he, too, retired for the night.

Ahead 35-7 going into the final quarter, the Seminoles polished off this one with four more touchdowns and 28 points in that final frame.

With FSU ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter, East Carolina’s Anthony Collins streaking 100 yards with a kickoff return for the visitors’ lone touchdown – terminating the shutout hopes of Seminole defenders.

For the third straight game, Florida State lost the preliminary coin toss, and the opponent chose to start on offense.

On second down at the 21, East Carolina’s Anthony Collins sailed 15 yards with a pitchout to the 36. Five more runs gained FSU’s 42, where it came to fourth and one. The Pirates punted to FSU’s 13.

With Sam Platt getting 19 on four runs, the Seminoles reached their 39 in five snaps. Soon, Mike Whiting twice popped for 14 yards, leading on to the Pirates’ 31. More short runs, mostly by Platt, brought things to fourth-and-inches at the 10. Whiting got the first down at the nine.

Whereupon, Platt slanted off left guard for the touchdown. Bill Capece kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead.

The 16-play drive for 87 yards – all on the ground – had eaten up nearly seven minutes of playing time.

At the 20, FSU defenders granted only a couple of yards in three plays. The Pirates punted to FSU’s 43.

Two runs apiece by Platt and Whiting quickly attained Carolina’s 35. At the 29, following 22 straight running plays, the Seminoles went to the air, Rick Stockstill hitting Kurt Unglaub with a pass at the 12.

A fumbled pitchout lost three, but Stockstill shot passes to Sam Childers at the seven and to Whiting at the one – bringing a first down as the quarter ended.

Whiting rammed over from the left for the touchdown, and Capece made it 14-0.

Suddenly, Collins struck. He fielded the kickoff at the goal line, flush by the sideline, then wheeled right up that sideline, picking up blocking. After crossing midfield, he cut across and scored easily on the 100-yard runback. Bill Lamm booted a point to cut FSU’s lead to 14-7.

A short, timely first-down pass to the 31 got FSU out of a hole. Then it was Platt and Whiting on a series of chopping runs down to Carolina’s 30.

Ken Burnett broke for 15 to the 15. But a holding call – the game’s first penalty – knocked Florida State back to its 25.

On third-and-20, East Carolina was flagged for interference as Hardis Johnson futilely went after Stockstill’s pass in the end zone. Whiting scored standing up, and Capece brought FSU’s lead to 21-7.

Carolina managed a first down from its 21, but little more as quarterback Carlton Nelson left the field, shaken up. A punt gave FSU the ball at its 30 with more than five minutes remaining in the half.

Ricky Williams ran four straight times – for five, five again, then 27 and 16 – down to the 16.

Third down at the 10, and Stockstill hit Burnett with a first-down swing pass at the two. Burnett scored on the following play, and Capece brought the score to 28-7 with 2:11 left in the half.

Florida State forced the punt, and got the ball back at its 44. But Stockstill, trying to run, fumbled and East Carolina got a shot from the Seminole 44 with 46 seconds left. Three passes missed, and Carolina again punted – down to the two, just before time ran out in the half.

From FSU’s 24, at the start of the third quarter, Platt spun away for 14 yards, giving him 107 total up until that point. But soon Rohn Stark went back for his first punt of the evening – a 49-yarder that placed Carolina at its 26.

Four plays later the Seminoles got the ball back at their 40, following a Carolina boot and 10-yard runback by Dennis McKinnon. On third down at the FSU 47, needing much, Stockstill shot a screen to Whiting, who shook loose, cut back and rambled 43 yards to Carolina’s 10.

Burnett pounded to the four, then scored on the next play. Capece made it 35-7.

Linebacker Reggie Herring averted a likely touchdown when, with a diving tackle, he knocked Theodore Sutton out of bounds at FSU’s 47 after a 21-yard pickup.

After a punt, the Seminoles steamed, on Burnett’s runs, close to the 50. The Platt fumbled and East Carolina claimed it at its 39. Couple of plays later an East Carolina back fumbled and Reggie Herring got it back for the Seminoles at the Pirates’ 47.

On third-and-10 Stockstill threw 18 yards to Hardis Johnson at the 29.

As the last quarter started, Larry Harris scooted for 5 and 8 yards, down to the 12. But McKinnon lost seven on a reverse, and Stockstill seven more on a fumbled exchange. From the 26, Stockstill passed to McKinnon at the two. Stockstill sneaked for the first down at the two. Harris got the touchdown from the one. Capece added another point for 42-7.

A punt and a penalty provided Florida State with opportunity at East Carolina’s 34 as Bair Williams moved in at quarterback.

Harris running led to the 24. Unglaub snared a 12-yard pass at the 11. Next play Blair Williams found Phil Williams with a touchdown strike. Capece swung his foot again, and it stood 49-7 with 7:09 left.

A 30-yard pass, Williams to ex-quarterback Tom Wheeler, got the Seminoles on Carolina’s 27. The Seminoles stalled a bit before Williams’ screen pass to Ernie Sims gained 12 to the 15. Then McKinnon, streaking into the end zone, grabbed a touchdown toss from Williams. Capece did his thing again, and it was 56-7.

James Gilbert’s recovery of a fumble staked FSU again – at the Carolina 21. Kelly Lowrey’s pass to Sims reached the 10. Soon Harris scooted through on a 7-yard scoring run, and Capece brought the score to 64-7 as the clock showed 34 seconds to go.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
East Carolina
0
7
0
0
7
Florida State
7
21
7
28
63

1st   7- 0  Sam Platt, 9, run (Bill Capece, kick), 5:03 
2nd  14- 0  Michael Whiting, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 14:57
     14- 7  Opp, 100, kickoff return (kick), 14:41
     21- 7  Michael Whiting, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 7:55 
     28- 7  Ken Burnett, 2, run (Bill Capece, kick), 2:11 
3rd  35- 7  Ken Burnett, 4, run (Bill Capece, kick), 7:44 
4th  42- 7  Larry Harris, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 11:26
     49- 7  Phil Williams, 11, pass from Blair Williams (Bill Capece, kick), 7:09 
     56- 7  Dennis McKinnon, 15, pass from Blair Williams (Bill Capece, kick), 4:48 
     63- 7  Larry Harris, 7, run (Bill Capece, kick), 0:34 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 36 4 Rushes-yards 81-336 31-95 Passing 223 7 Att-Comp-Int 19-16-0 10-3-0 Total Yards 100-559 41-102 Punt Returns 6-28 1-15 Kickoff Returns 2-33 6-207 Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 2-0 Punts 1-49.0 9-39.1 Fumbles-Lost 5-2 2-2 Penalties-Yds 1-15 4-49 3rd Down Conversions 20-23 1-11 Time of Posession 41:53 18:07 Attendance 50,547 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 29 130 1 15 Michael Whiting 15 71 2 15 Ricky Williams 7 61 0 27 Ken Burnett 10 57 2 15 Larry Harris 9 31 2 8 Ernie Sims 2 6 0 4 Homes Johnson 1 0 0 0 Eric Riley 1 -5 0 -5 Dennis McKinnon 1 -7 0 -7 Rick Stockstill 6 -8 0 2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 81 336 7 27 Opp 31 95 0 21 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Michael Whiting 2 48 0 43 Dennis McKinnon 2 38 1 23 Tom Wheeler 1 30 0 30 Kurt Unglaub 2 28 0 16 Ernie Sims 2 23 0 12 Sam Childers 3 19 0 7 Hardis Johnson 1 18 0 18 Phil Williams 1 11 1 11t Ken Burnett 1 8 0 8 Sam Platt 1 0 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 16 223 2 43 Opp 3 7 0 4 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 10 11 0 132 0 43 Blair Williams 5 7 0 80 2 30 Kelly Lowrey 1 1 0 11 0 11 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 16 19 0 223 2 43 Opp 3 10 0 7 0 4 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 5 28 0 Gary Henry 1 0 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 6 28 0 Opp 1 15 0 15 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 2 33 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 33 0 Opp 6 207 1 100t Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 1 49 49 ---------------------------------------- FSU 1 49 49 Opp 9 352 45 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 3 7 10 1.0- . . . . . . . . Reggie Herring 2 7 9 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . James Gilbert 2 5 7 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Garry Futch . 6 6 . . . . . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . . Harvey Clayton 4 . 4 . . . 1 . . . . . Mark Macek . 3 3 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones . 3 3 . . . . . . . . . Homer Thomas 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 1 . 1 1.0- . . . . . . . . Ron Hester . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Ricky Williams . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 18 39 57 2.0- 0.0 . . 1 . 2- 0 . . . Opp 43 86 129 6.0- . . . . 2- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   63  Lee Adams
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
 8  Eric Riley
12  Kelly Lowrey
14  Blair Williams
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
22  Hardis Johnson
23  Homes Johnson
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
31  Ernie Sims
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
##  NAME
-----------------------------
45  Roger Brownlee
51  James Gilbert
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
62  Eric Ryan
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
71  Bob Merson
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean
89  Tom Wheeler

Miami 10, Florida State 9

09/27/1980, Miami, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, September 28, 1980, page 65, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles come tumbling down.
Miami pulls off 10-9 upset.

MIAMI, FL – Hobbled offensively by big troubles at the center position and a big and rock-hard Miami defense, Florida State’s football team came tumbling down 10-9 in Miami Saturday afternoon.

Fumble after fumble after fumble on the quarterback-center exchange stymied the frustrated Seminoles throughout. Miami’s nation-leading rushing defense did the rest.

In Florida State territory all of this hot afternoon – it was 91 degrees at kickoff – Miami missed numerous chances to put points on the board. Kicker Dan Miller was wide on three field goal attempts.

It was a game Miami deserved to win, but the manner of its winning was most ironical. The Hurricanes’ lone touchdown was paved by a 48-yard penalty for pass interference seconds before halftime. And the one field goal Miller made was tipped by cornerback Bobby Butler.

Fifty-two seconds remained in the first half when Miami, at midfield on third-and-10 called a timeout.

Then quarterback Jim Kelly retreated and threw deep into the end zone, far over the head of receiver Larry Brodsky. As the ball sailed harmlessly toward the ground – or had it already hit the ground – a flag fell. Safety Gary Henry was called for knocking Brodsky down.

Miami was presented the ball on the one-yard line. Kelly sneaked over for the touchdown with 41 seconds left in the half, providing a 7-0 lead.

Able to crank out only one first down in the opening half, Florida State turned from runs to passes with the start of the third quarter.

Stockstill throws, with two big catches by Dennis McKinnon and Hardis Johnson, led to Miami’s 11. On fourth down, Bill Capece kicked a 26-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3.

On Kelly’s passing, Miami moved from its 20, with Miami making it 10-3 on Miller’s 27-yarder for three points. Butler could not believe it, falling on the ground and rolling in frustration as that ball sailed through the uprights after he got a hand on it.

Almost the Seminoles pulled it out in the final minutes, driving 55 yards to a touchdown that came on an 11-yard pass from Rick Stockstill to Sam Childers.

Coach Bobby Bowden made the decision to go for a winning two points, rather than settle for a 10-10 tie.

Stockstill’s pass in the quest for two hit the helmet of leaping nose guard at the line of scrimmage and never had a chance to reach a Seminole.

Florida State’s pass in the quest for two points was aimed for Phil Williams.

“He was open, we had ‘em,” said Coach Bowden. “Then that nose guard got in the way.”

Asked what he thought about the interference call that paved Miami’s touchdown, Bowden retorted: “I’m prejudiced.” He declined further comment.

Bowden quickly credited Miami’s effort, however.

“We had a whole lot of bad timing on our quarterback and center exchange,” he said. “But we have to give all the credit to Miami for this one.

“The outcome came down to one play. Our game plan was looking good, but we were lousy. I thought ur defense could have held them – and we did, except for that interference play.”

John Madden, the Seminoles’ No. 1 center, started the game but stayed in only briefly with his sprained ankle. Redus Coggin, a junior guard who never saw game action at the position until last week, played almost all of the way there.

With an Orange Bowl crowd of 50,000 looking on – there were 4,728 no shows after ticket sales of 54,736 – Miami stretched it surprising record to 4-0 and left Florida State 3-1 as the Seminoles regular-season winning streak of 18 games came to an end.

At the end Miami had 291 yards of offense to the Seminoles’ 207. Each team had exactly 182 yards passing. Florida State was credited with seven fumbles, including two lost, and the Seminoles drew 100 yards in penalties to Miami’s 50.

“We wanted the game,” said UM Coach Howard Schnellenberger. “We played as well as we could early, but almost gave it away at the end.

“It is by far the biggest win I’ve even been associated with at UM.

“We felt like if we could make them throw, we could win – but it almost didn’t work that way.”

Only after Stockstill took to the air in the last half – he completed 19 of 30 for the game – were the Seminoles able to threaten. Rohn Stark was called on to punt 10 times, and he averaged a whopping 47.4, a bit better than the 43.6 of UM’s Greg LaBelle on seven boots.

Kelly, at quarterback, most of the way, hit on 13 of 22 passes for 172 yards.

Defensively, linebacker Paul Piurowski seemed most conspicuous for the Seminoles and a pressbox accounting credited him with a dozen unassisted tackles.

It was a day when Florida State’s defense was generally overburdened by a sputtering offense.

And it was also a day when there were no more miracles for the Seminoles.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
0
0
3
6
9
Miami
0
7
3
0
10

1st   0- 0  Opp, 47, field goal failed, 7:21 
2nd   0- 7  Opp, 1, run (kick), 0:41 
3rd   3- 7  Bill Capece, 26, field goal, 7:20 
      3-10  Opp, 22, field goal, 2:08 
      3-10  Opp, 45, field goal failed, 1:16 
4th   3-10  Opp, 35, field goal failed, 14:19
      9-10  Sam Childers, 11, pass from Rick Stockstill (Rick Stockstill, pass failed), 0:39 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 10 15 Rushes-yards 33-25 43-109 Passing 182 182 Att-Comp-Int 30-19-1 26-14-0 Total Yards 63-207 69-291 Punt Returns 3-35 6-61 Kickoff Returns 1-13 0-0 Interception Ret. 0-0 1-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 2-0 Punts 10-47.4 7-43.6 Sacks By-Yds 1- 2- Fumbles-Lost 7-2 3-2 Penalties-Yds 7-100 6-50 Time of Posession 26:56 33:04 Attendance 50,008 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 10 23 0 6 Ricky Williams 4 14 0 9 Ken Burnett 2 3 0 2 Michael Whiting 4 2 0 7 Rick Stockstill 13 -17 0 9 --------------------------------------------- FSU 33 25 0 9 Opp 43 109 1 17 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Hardis Johnson 4 55 0 17 Dennis McKinnon 2 31 0 20 Phil Williams 3 27 0 14 Sam Childers 3 25 1 11t Michael Whiting 4 25 0 10 Sam Platt 2 12 0 9 Ken Burnett 1 7 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 19 182 1 20 Opp 14 182 0 28 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 19 30 1 182 1 20 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 19 30 1 182 1 20 Opp 14 26 0 182 0 28 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 3 35 0 19 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 35 0 19 Opp 6 61 0 14 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 1 13 0 13 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 13 0 13 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 10 474 62 ---------------------------------------- FSU 10 474 62 Opp 7 305 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 12 3 15 . . . . . . 1 . . Reggie Herring 5 5 10 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 4 4 8 . . . . . . 1 . . Monk Bonasorte 7 1 8 . . . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 5 2 7 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 5 1 6 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 6 . 6 . 1.0- . . . . . . . Mark Macek 4 1 5 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 2 3 5 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Keith Jones 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Ron Hester 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey . 2 2 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Ron Simmons 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Larry Harris 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Ricky Williams 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 59 22 81 . 1.0- 0.0 . . . 2- 0 2 . . Opp 41 14 55 . 2.0- 1- 0 . . 2- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   63  Lee Adams
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
RG   51  James Gilbert
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   60  Scott McLean
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
40  Gary Henry
44  Ricky Williams
50  Ron Simmons
##  NAME
-----------------------------
54  Arthur Scott
61  Brent Brock
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
86  John McLean
87  Phil Williams

Florida State 18, Nebraska 14

10/04/1980, Lincoln, Neb.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 5, 1980, page 63, by Bill McGrotha.

FSU shucks Huskers 18-14.
Defense and kicking spark Seminole rally.

LINCOLN, NE - A swarming Paul Piurowski put a strong-arm muzzle on Jeff Quinn and slung him to the ground.

Whereupon, the Nebraska quarterback fumbled the football. Tackle Garry Futch grabbed it for the Seminoles at Florida State's 10 with 10 seconds left.

That was it.

Florida State's astounding football team had upset Nebraska 18-14 on a lovely Saturday afternoon that could have been made only in heaven.

"The strongest part, we thought, was Florida State's defense," said Tom Osborne, the losing coach, "and it was."

And the strongest part of that defense was perhaps linebacker Piurowski, credited by the press box with a dozen unassisted tackles and six assists.

Awfully strong, too, was Florida State's kicking game that placed Nebraska in poor field position all afternoon - not to mention the four field goals of Bill Capece.

Addressing Coach Bobby Bowden a little later, long-time FSU assistant Bob Harbison happily said: "You know now why they call it football, don't you?"

Behind 14-0 by the middle of the second quarter, Florida State fought back with something akin to aggressive patience. The Seminoles took the lead for good, at 15-14, on the third field goal by Capece, with 1:16 left in the third quarter.

Capece's four big ones tied a school record, held by Frank Fontes and Dave Cappelen.

With time running out in the first half, FSU drove from its 28 to cut Nebraska's lead to 14-3 on Capece's 32-yarder.

Early in the second half, Huskers' punter Scott Gernar fielded a low snap, then fumbled it. Bobby Butler of FSU jumped on the ball and provided a shot from the Nebraska 17. Soon, Capece put through a 27-yarder, making it 14-6.

Moments later, Keith Jones intercepted a Quinn pass, and FSU had the ball at the Huskers' 47.

On the running of Sam Platt and the passing of Rick Stockstill, the Seminoles moved to the 6. Platt then scored on a pitchout, and it was 14-12. Stockstill's pass to Phil Williams in a quest for two tying points was too high.

The Huskers took over on offense again, but running back Jarvis Redwine fumbled when he was smashed by FSU tackle Mark Macek.

Freshman Alphonso Carreker claimed the ball for FSU at the Nebraska 34. The Seminoles reached the 24, then Capece kicked a 40-yarder for the 15-14 lead.

In the last quarter FSU marched from its 20 and got the final three-pointer from Capece, from 41 yards out, to bring the score to 18-14 with 2:37 left in the game.

Bowden called it maybe Florida State's biggest victory ever.

"But I really thought they were gonna get us in the end," he said. "What a play Piurowski made!

"Our kicking game killed them. Stark kept pushing their fannies back."

Rohn Stark did just that, averaging 48.4 yards on seven punts, including ones of 59 and 58 yards.

"You know it's funny - it's all fate," said Bowden. "We thought we should have beaten Miami. Then it looked like Nebraska was going to beat us after we played our hearts out.

"We finally found a play that worked - the sprint-out pass, one that we call No. 544. They had trouble handling it. If we had kept Stockstill in the pocket, they would have killed us."

Leading the nation in total offense, rushing and scoring going into the game, Nebraska managed 368 yards to the Seminoles' 166. The Huskers also made four costly turnovers, while FSU had only one - a fumble.

But if the Seminoles received - or made - some good breaks, they were also on the receiving end of some costly ones. Once Stark punted out on the Nebraska four, and an official brought the ball out to the 20 - from whence the Huskers moved to their second touchdown. At halftime a writer heard an official tell another: "I just blew that one." There were other costly officiating calls, perhaps debatable.

The Seminoles got 154 of their yards on Stockstill passes, netting only 12 on the ground. That rushing total was a little deceptive, however. Under heavy pressure, Stockstill was sacked several times, and FSU lost 87 yards one way or another that were charged off to running.

As time became precious, Nebraska marched from its 20, helped by two pass-interference penalties and Quinn's timely passes, to a first down at the Florida State 3. Only 21 seconds remained.

Quinn missed with a first-down pass. On second down, Piurowski put that crucial clutch on the Nebraska quarterback as he rolled out left, bringing the fumble that Futch recovered.

In the first half, Nebraska moved 80 yards for each of its touchdowns - each of which came on nifty pass catches of eight and 12 yards by split end Todd Brown. Two long Quinn passes set up the first one. The second drive was sparked by the fluid running of Jarvis Redwine, the nation's leading ground-gainer.

Quinn threw 30 times, much more than the Nebraska average, and hit 15 for 167 yards. Stockstill completed 15 of 25 for 154, with fullback Mike Whiting snaring six.

Redwine got 145 of Nebraska's 201 ground yards, on 25 carries. In Nebraska's last drive Redwine was carried off the field. "We got beat up pretty bad," said Osborn. "Redwine got hit in the ribs and kidneys." It was a a crushing tackle by linebacker Reggie Herring - credited with 11 out-right tackles, four assists - that put Redwine out of the game.

The Seminoles apparently came out of the game with no new injuries of significance.

Florida State's unsung hero was Jerry Coleman, the sophomore walk-on who played all the way at center. There was not one bad exchange from the center to the quarterback.

A crowd of 76,152 constituted Nebraska's 108th consecutive sellout in Memorial Stadium on a clear, sunny day that saw temperatures in the mid-60s. There was no wind worth mentioning. Among the crowd were perhaps 1,500 ecstatic Florida State fans.

Tailback Platt, benched in favor of Ricky Williams at the start, played a strong game - earning 48 hard yards in 20 carries.

Florida State rose to 4-1 with the victory and left Nebraska 3-1. Next Saturday night the Seminoles face a heavy Tallahassee date against Pittsburgh.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
0
3
12
3
18
Nebraska
7
7
0
0
14

1st   0- 7  Opp, 8, pass (kick), 1:54 
2nd   0-14  Opp, 12, pass (kick), 6:30 
      3-14  Bill Capece, 32, field goal, 0:54 
3rd   6-14  Bill Capece, 27, field goal, 10:49
     12-14  Sam Platt, 6, run (Rick Stockstill, pass failed), 5:17 
     15-14  Bill Capece, 40, field goal, 1:12 
4th  18-14  Bill Capece, 41, field goal, 2:37 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 15 21 Rushes-yards 40-12 49-201 Passing 154 167 Att-Comp-Int 26-15-0 30-15-2 Total Yards 66-166 79-368 Punt Returns 2-5 3-2 Kickoff Returns 2-38 0-0 Interception Ret. 2-28 0-0 Fumble Returns 2-0 1-0 Punts 7-48.4 5-44.6 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 4-2 Penalties-Yds 2-22 6-67 Attendance 76,152 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 20 48 1 7 Ricky Williams 2 2 0 3 Michael Whiting 7 -1 0 9 Dennis McKinnon 1 -10 0 -10 Rick Stockstill 10 -27 0 11 --------------------------------------------- FSU 40 12 1 11 Opp 49 201 0 30 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Phil Williams 3 62 0 40 Michael Whiting 6 41 0 16 Sam Platt 3 26 0 10 Hardis Johnson 1 13 0 13 Zeke Mowatt 2 12 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 15 154 0 40 Opp 15 167 2 25 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 15 25 0 154 0 40 Larry Harris 0 1 0 0 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 15 26 0 154 0 40 Opp 15 30 2 167 2 25 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 1 7 0 7 Sam Platt 1 -2 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 5 0 7 Opp 3 2 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 1 21 0 21 Dennis McKinnon 1 17 0 17 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 38 0 21 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 7 339 59 ---------------------------------------- FSU 7 339 59 Opp 5 223 55 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 12 6 18 . . . . . . 1 . . Reggie Herring 11 3 14 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 8 1 9 . . 1- 8 . . . . . . Arthur Scott 6 2 8 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 5 1 6 . . . . . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 5 1 6 . . 1- 20 . . . . . . Bobby Butler 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 2 2 4 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Mark Macek 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Ron Simmons 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Ron Hester 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Roger Brownlee . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Larry Harris 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Alphonso Carreker . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 62 27 89 . . 2- 28 . . 2- 0 1 . . Opp . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   44  Ricky Williams
C    56  Jerry Coleman
RG   63  Lee Adams
LG   70  Greg Futch
LT   72  Ken Lanier
RT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   60  Scott McLean
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
14  Blair Williams
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
22  Hardis Johnson
24  Harvey Clayton
29  Sam Platt
30  Larry Harris
31  Ernie Sims
40  Gary Henry
45  Roger Brownlee
##  NAME
-----------------------------
51  James Gilbert
52  Sam Restivo
54  Arthur Scott
61  Brent Brock
62  Eric Ryan
65  Trent Barnes
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean
99  Ricky Render

Florida State 36, Pittsburgh 22

10/11/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 12, 1980, page 53, by Bill McGrotha.

Capece kicks FSU past Pitt.
Scrambling Seminoles win 36-22.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - With the wondrous toe of Bill Capece putting through five field goals, Florida State's scrambling football team fought from behind to a magnificent 36-22 victory over previously unbeaten Pittsburgh Saturday night.

As a record Campbell Stadium crowd of 52,894 looked on through a hot night, the Seminoles had no turnovers. Pitt had more than a few.

Rick Stockstill pitched three touchdown passes, and Rohn Stark again punted the ball out of sight.

This was a game in which Florida State found trouble in a hurry.

The Seminoles won the pregame coin toss, then started at their 12 after receiving the kickoff. Hugh Green tore through to sack Stockstill back at the 2. A pair of runs reached only the 5 before Stark punted up to FSU's 44.

Pitt's Rooster Jones ripped for five yards. Abruptly, quarterback Dan Marino dropped back and threw to Willie Collier just over the goal line for a touchdown on a 39-yard play. Dave Trout kicked the extra point and it was a sudden 7-0 Pitt lead.

On three runs from its 21, Florida State came up just short and Stark punted again - this time to the visitors' 24. A personal foul place Pitt back on the 14.

Pitt struggled to its 27 before kicking to the Florida State 30. Three futile passes later, Stark boomed a 60-yarder to Pitt's 13.

Marino sailed a pass to tight end Benjie Pryor, who fumbled when tackled, with FSU's Jarvis Coursey recovering at Pitt's 22.

Breaking away outside tackle, Mike Whiting slammed for 15 to the 7. Platt reached the 4. Another run and a pass resulted in a loss of 3. On fourth down Capece booted a 24-yard field goal to cut the score to 7-3.

Marino busted out with passes to Willie Collier for 14 and Dwight Collins for 30, down to FSU's 32. Linebacker Ron Hester decked fullback Randy McMillan for a loss of 4. Two passes missed and a punt rolled into the end zone.

On a 12-yard pass to Phil Williams, the Seminoles managed a first down, but that was all. On third down, Stockstill was sacked for a loss of 9 back to the 19.

Then Stark whammed a punt 67 yards and Pitt started at its 16 as the first quarter ran out.

Jones burst for 15 to the 31 where Bobby Butler made a shoestring tackle that may have averted a touchdown. Then Collins made a superb catch of a Marino bomb at FSU's 25, a pickup of 44.

Two plays later Pitt fumbled as Marino tried to hand off. Arthur Scott covered the ball for the Seminoles at FSU's 22.

Soon Stark was punting again, but Troy Hill fumbled the ball and Hester claimed it at the Pitt 24.

A penalty set the Seminoles back on the 39. Platt, on a draw, spun for 18 to the 21. Next play Platt lost a couple. Then Stockstill passed 23 yards to Hardis Johnson in the end zone for a touchdown. Capece added a point and FSU led 10-3.

On the kickoff, Pitt's return man was nailed at his six. Two Marino passes missed before a punt gave FSU the ball back at Pitt's 46.

On four successive runs, Platt got 5, 8, 2 - then 30 to the 1.

Then Stockstill fumbled when hit, covered the ball, and lost 4 to the 5. Platt got a yard back. Whereupon Stockstill lofted a pass to Sam Childers for a touchdown and the Seminoles took a 17-7 lead.

From its 20, Pitt could not move, and another punt gave FSU the ball at its 46.

Platt, on a draw, knocked off 11 to Pitt's 43. Soon Zeke Mowatt snared a 17-yard pass at the 25.

On fourth down, Capece kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 20-7 with about 40 seconds left in the half.

Pitt threw. On third down Keith Jones intercepted Marino's deep pass and sailed 41 yards to Pitt's 34 with three seconds showing on the clock.

In came Capece again - true on a 50-yard field goal that brought the score to 23-7.

From its 20, at the start of the last half, Pitt quickly got into good position. McMillan whipped wide on a run of 11 and a personal foul penalty lifted Pitt to its 43.

Collins collared a 17-yard pass at FSU's 36. Two plays later Marino threw to a wide-open Collins in the end zone for a touchdown on a 36-yard play. Marino went for two points and got them, on a pass to Pryor, narrowing the score to 23-15.

Starting at the 18, Florida State moved. On third down Kurt Unglaub took an 18-yard pass at the 41. After Stockstill was twice sacked by Green, Platt got loose on a screen pass and raced 28 yards to the Pitt 46.

A fumble lost 9 but FSU regained it - and more - on a dead-ball personal foul. Whiting slashed for 5 for a first down at the 34. Soon Platt popped for 12 to the 19. Three more plays netted just 6. In came Capece again to kick a 30-yard field goal for a Marino threw three times - in vain. Gary Henry returned a punt 17 yards to set up the Seminoles at Pitt's 31.

Two runs gained the 27. A pass missed. Capece then kicked his fifth field goal of the game - a school record. It was a 44-yarder that shifted the score to 29-15.

Back came Marino, passing to Pryor for 15, to Julius Dawkins for 19 to place Pitt at FSU's 41. Joe McCall ripped on a run to the 31. Pryor pulled in a pass at the 13. Two plays later a late flag fell - and interference was called on Gary Henry at the 2. McCall scored from there on second down. Trout added a point to cut it to 29-22.

Sixteen seconds remained in the quarter. Long enough for Phil Williams to catch a 12-yard toss at FSU's 32.

FSU got little further. Stark booted a 53-yard punt to the 10, and on the return Pitt drew a flag for clipping, and got put back on its 8.

The Panthers moved quickly to their 34 before McCall fumbles a handoff. Hester grabbed it for FSU at Pitt's 28.

Whiting's running led to the 13. On third down Stockstill hit Unglaub in the end zone with a touchdown pass, and Capece brought the score to 36-22.

Soon Pitt was punting, and Henry running it back 19 yards to the Panther 38. The Seminoles reached the 29 on runs. On fourth down Capece tried from 46-yard range. The snap was high, but he got the boot off - short.

With about seven minutes left, Monk Bonasorte picked off a Marino pass at Pitt's 45.

The Seminoles got nothing out of that. Stark angled a punt out of bounds at the 12 - a 25-yarder that cut his average but left the Panthers in a hole.

Marino's fourth-down pass from the 22 found Mike Drombrowski at the 35.

With 3:10 remaining Bobby Butler intercepted Marino's bomb at FSU's 29.

Dennis McKinnon got 13 on a reverse. The Seminoles ran it out around Pitt's 40.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Pittsburgh
7
0
15
0
22
Florida State
3
20
6
7
36

1st   0- 7  Opp, 39, pass (kick), 12:11
      3- 7  Bill Capece, 24, field goal, 5:29 
2nd  10- 7  Hardis Johnson, 23, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 10:33
     17- 7  Sam Childers, 4, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 5:31 
     20- 7  Bill Capece, 43, field goal, 0:37 
     23- 7  Bill Capece, 50, field goal, 0:03 
3rd  23-15  Opp, 36, pass (pass), 13:09
     26-15  Bill Capece, 30, field goal, 6:27 
     29-15  Bill Capece, 44, field goal, 4:24 
     29-22  Opp, 2, run (kick), 0:16 
4th  36-22  Kurt Unglaub, 13, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 10:24
     36-22  Bill Capece, 46, field goal failed, 7:33 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 16 15 Rushes-yards 56-163 22-86 Passing 127 300 Att-Comp-Int 20-10-0 35-19-3 Total Yards 76-290 57-386 Punt Returns 3-39 4-13 Kickoff Returns 2-22 3-45 Interception Ret. 3-42 0-0 Fumble Returns 4-0 0-0 Punts 7-48.1 6-36.8 Fumbles-Lost 3-0 5-4 Penalties-Yds 6-54 7-59 Attendance 52,894 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 26 123 0 30 Michael Whiting 15 52 0 16 Dennis McKinnon 2 20 0 13 Ricky Williams 3 2 0 2 Ken Burnett 1 0 0 0 Rick Stockstill 9 -34 0 7 --------------------------------------------- FSU 56 163 0 30 Opp 22 86 1 18 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Kurt Unglaub 2 32 1 19 Sam Platt 1 28 0 28 Phil Williams 2 24 0 12 Hardis Johnson 1 23 1 23t Zeke Mowatt 1 17 0 17 Sam Childers 2 6 1 4t Michael Whiting 1 -3 0 -3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 10 127 3 28 Opp 19 300 2 44 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 10 20 0 127 3 28 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 10 20 0 127 3 28 Opp 19 35 3 300 2 44 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 3 39 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 39 0 Opp 4 13 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 1 14 0 14 Larry Harris 1 8 0 8 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 22 0 14 Opp 3 45 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 7 337 67 ---------------------------------------- FSU 7 337 67 Opp 6 221 43 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ron Hester 3 10 13 2.0- . . . . 2- 0 . . . Reggie Herring 2 6 8 1.0- . . 1 . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 1 5 6 . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Ron Simmons . 6 6 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 2 4 6 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 1 4 5 1.0- . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 2 2 4 . . 1- 41 1 . . . . . Bobby Butler 2 2 4 . . 1- 1 1 . . . . . Arthur Scott . 4 4 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Mark Macek 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert . 3 3 . . . 1 . . . . . Scott McLean . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Harvey Clayton 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 1 . 1 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Larry Harris 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Gary Henry . 1 1 . . . 1 . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 18 51 69 4.0- 0.0 . 3- 42 5 . 4- 0 . . . Opp 33 64 97 8.0- . . 4 . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    56  Jerry Coleman
OG   62  Eric Ryan
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   81  Zeke Mowatt
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
DE   60  Scott McLean
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
LB   83  Ron Hester
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
17  Bill Capece
19  Kurt Unglaub
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
45  Roger Brownlee
##  NAME
-----------------------------
51  James Gilbert
54  Arthur Scott
58  John Madden
61  Brent Brock
63  Lee Adams
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
84  Sam Childers
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean

Florida State 41, Boston College 7

10/18/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 19, 1980, page 61, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles soar over B.C. 41-7.

Capece boots four more in Homecoming victory.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Busting loose late, Florida State continued its aggressive football march, belting Boston College 41-7 here Saturday night before a happy homecoming crowd of 52,396.

Bill Capece kicked four field goals, and linebacker Ron Hester twice blocked Boston College punts. As aroused defense almost completely stifled the upset-minded visitors in the last half.

At halftime the Seminoles were ahead by a not-too-comfortable score of 20-7 after Rich Dyer intercepted a Rick Stockstill pass and raced 83 yards for B.C.'s lone touchdown.

But as the seventh-ranked Seminoles won their 13th straight home game, Coach Bobby Bowden was emptying his bench well before the end.

Even Paul Piurowski - the linebacker who had as emergency appendectomy only 10 days prior - got in for one play.

Florida State jumped to a quick lead in this one.

On the opening kickoff, Boston College's Cyril Keniry fumbled the return. Mark Rodrigue claimed the ball for the Seminoles at the 20.

A short pass to Sam Childers keyed a first down at the 9. But Sam Platt was nailed for a 2-yard loss, and two passes missed. Bill Capece, on fourth down, banged home a 27-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

B.C. moved from its 20 to 29 before punting. A personal foul against FSU on the play set FSU back on its 22.

Florida State got nothing going. Soon Rohn Stark lofted his first punt, a 57-yarder, and B.C. was at its 28 after a 5-yard runback.

Right away, linebacker Reggie Herring intercepted quarterback John Loughery's pass, setting up the Seminoles at the Eagles' 25.

Again the Seminoles were stopped by a stubborn B.C. defense. Capece kicked a 39-yard field goal, and it was 6-0.

From its 20, B.C. managed a first down, moving up to its 33. But when punting time came, linebacker Ron Hester ripped through to block John Cooper's boot. Hester simply picked up the ball and raced 33 yards to a touchdown. Capece added the extra point, and it was 13-0.

Shelby Gamble broke a 16-yard run to the B.C> 36. Then Doug Guyer, in at quarterback for B.C., hit John Schoen with a 31-yard pass at FSU's 40.

But tackle Alphonso Carreker sacked Guyer for a loss of 9, and B.C. got no further. A punt backed the Seminoles to their 12.

The teams traded punts, Florida State getting the ball again at its 28.

Rick Stockstill's 28-yard pass to Hardis Johnson gained the Eagles' 44. The running of Platt led to a first down at the 33 as the long first quarter ended.

Nothing came of the drive after a reverse lost a couple of yards and Stockstill was sacked for 10 by Craig Beal. Stark punted short - a 23-yarder out on the 21.

On a third-down keeper, Guyer ran wide and got 24 yards to the 50. Next play, Keith Jones picked off Guyer's pass and steamed 20 yards to the Boston 48.

Platt caught a pass for 12, then ran for 5. On third down at the 28, Platt threw a surprise pass to tight end Barry Voltapetti, keeping things going at the 18. Two plays later, Mike Whiting scored his first touchdown of the year, on a 15-yard run. Capece's point made it 20-0.

Four plays later, when Cooper went back to punt, he faced such a fierce rush - Keith Jones was in his face - that he simply covered the ball at the 20. FSU took over there.

Then lightning struck. As Stockstill threw toward Childers on the sideline, Rich Dyer picked it off and raced 83 yards to an easy touchdown. Cooper kicked the extra point, cutting FSU's lead to 20-7.

Beal's 13-yard sack of Stockstill on third down left the Seminoles at their 15. Stark again kicked short, 33 yards to FSU's 49.

Arthur Scott put a crimp in B.C. hopes when he dropped Guyer 14 yards back, at the Eagles' 42. Boston punted.

A 12-yard pass to Phil Williams and a couple of runs by Ricky Williams moved FSU from its 20 to B.C.'s 43. Then Jerry Stabile intercepted a Stockstill bomb and brought it back 18 yards to the 31.

As the third quarter opened, starting from its 25, Florida State quickly confronted trouble.

Childers fumbled after catching a short pass from Stockstill, and Jim Budness claimed the ball for Boston College at FSU's 35.

On a wide pitchout, Gamble got 9. After a first down at the 24, FSU defenders stiffened. Soon Hester sacked Loughery for a loss of 8 back on the 30. A 47-yard try for a field goal by Cooper was wide.

Passes of 11 and 16 yards to Kurt Unglaub and Childers reached Boston's 41. Soon Platt grabbed a pass at the 33, then spun on a run the following play for 15 to the 17.

But again Stockstill was sacked - this time by Jim Budness. On fourth down, Capece booted his third field goal, a 37-yarder, to make it 23-7.

A bit later Cooper's 57-yard punt had FSU in a hole at its 10.

On three runs, Williams led to the 30. Two plays later Williams broke away on a 46-yard ramble to the Boston 21.

But it came to fourth-and-1 at the 12, and the Seminoles went for it. Budness submarined Whiting and stopped him inches short. Boston College took over.

James Harris grabbed Gamble for a loss of 4. Then James Coursey sacked Loughery on the 1. On fourth down, Cooper, back to punt, deliberately stepped out of the end zone for a safety. The two-pointer padded FSU's lead to 25-7 in the early moments of the last quarter.

That gave the visitors a free kick from their 20 - a Cooper punt that Dennis McKinnon returned 44 yards to the 25.

Running three of four times, Williams knocked off 21 yards to the 1. Stockstill sneaked over for the touchdown. A passing try for two points was knocked down, leaving it 31-7.

When Cooper next punted, FSU got the ball at Boston College's 38 following a call for interference with Gary Henry's fair-catch signal.

Blair Williams moved in at quarterback. Pass interference on a throw intended for Hardis Johnson vaulted the Seminoles to the 15, where they bogged down. Capece kicked his fourth field goal, a 31-yarder, for 34-7.

Soon Cooper was punting again - and Hester tore through once again to block it, teammate Mike Smith falling on the ball at Boston's 25.

When Capece, four downs later, lined up for his fifth field-goal try, the snap was bad. Capece picked up the rolling ball and tried to run. There was no place to go, and Boston College took over at its 31.

With a bit over two minutes left, Florida State started at the 50 after B.C. ran out of downs.

On successive runs, Darish Davis ran for 15, 19 and 11 yards - down to the 5. Ernie Sims cracked to the 1. On a rollout, Kelly Lowrey scored with 41 seconds remaining.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Boston College
0
7
0
0
7
Florida State
13
7
3
18
41

1st   3- 0  Bill Capece, 27, field goal, 14:03
      6- 0  Bill Capece, 39, field goal, 8:43 
     13- 0  Ron Hester, 33, punt return/blocked punt (Bill Capece, kick), 6:11 
            Note: Hester blocked the punt, picked it up and ran it in   
                  for the score.                                        
2nd  20- 0  Michael Whiting, 15, run (Bill Capece, kick), 9:52 
     20- 7  Opp, 83, interception return (kick), 7:35 
3rd  20- 7  Opp, 47, field goal failed, 12:32
     23- 7  Bill Capece, 36, field goal, 7:14 
4th  25- 7  Team, safety, 14:56
            Note: Quarterback is rushed hard and steps out of the end   
                  zone.                                                 
     31- 7  Rick Stockstill, 1, run (Rick Stockstill, pass failed), 12:31
     34- 7  Bill Capece, 31, field goal, 9:09 
     41- 7  Kelly Lowrey, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 0:41 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 20 7 Rushes-yards 55-213 34-27 Passing 125 78 Att-Comp-Int 24-14-2 23-6-2 Total Yards 79-338 57-105 Punt Returns 4-28 2-6 Kickoff Returns 3-81 3-58 Interception Ret. 2-27 2-101 Fumble Returns 2-0 1-0 Punts 5-37.8 10-30.2 Sacks By-Yds 6- 3- Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-2 Penalties-Yds 5-55 4-68 3rd Down Conversions 5-16 3-15 Time of Posession 35:06 24:54 Attendance 52,396 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 12 109 0 46 Darish Davis 5 47 0 19 Sam Platt 13 35 0 15 Michael Whiting 10 34 1 15t Ernie Sims 2 12 0 9 Ken Burnett 3 10 0 4 Kelly Lowrey 1 1 1 1t Eric Riley 1 -2 0 -2 Blair Williams 1 -3 0 -3 Team 1 -7 0 -7 Rick Stockstill 6 -23 1 5 --------------------------------------------- FSU 55 213 3 46 Opp 34 27 0 24 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Childers 5 39 0 16 Hardis Johnson 1 28 0 28 Sam Platt 3 19 0 12 Phil Williams 1 14 0 14 Kurt Unglaub 1 11 0 11 Barry Voltapetti 1 10 0 10 Michael Whiting 1 2 0 2 Ernie Sims 1 2 0 2 --------------------------------------------- FSU 14 125 0 28 Opp 6 78 0 27 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 12 19 2 113 0 28 Sam Platt 1 1 0 10 0 10 Blair Williams 1 4 0 2 0 2 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 14 24 2 125 0 28 Opp 6 23 2 78 0 27 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ron Hester 1 33 1 33t Gary Henry 3 -5 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 4 28 1 33t Opp 2 6 0 5 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 2 66 0 Michael Whiting 1 15 0 15 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 81 0 15 Opp 3 58 0 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 5 189 57 ---------------------------------------- FSU 5 189 57 Opp 10 302 57 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reggie Herring 4 9 13 . . 1- 7 . . . . . . James Gilbert 2 4 6 2.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Ron Hester 1 3 4 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . 2 . Garry Futch . 4 4 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 1 3 4 1.0- 1.0- . 1 . . . . . Ron Simmons . 3 3 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 1 2 3 1.0- . 1- 20 . . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Roger Brownlee 1 2 3 1.0- 1.0- . 1 . . . . . Alphonso Carreker 2 1 3 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Harvey Clayton 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 1 1 2 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Brian Williams 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . John Houston 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Mark Rodrigue 1 . 1 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Mark Macek . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 1 . 1 1.0- . . 1 . . . . . Mike Smith . . . . . . . . 1- 0 . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 24 37 61 9.0- 0.0 6.0- 0.0 2- 27 3 . 2- 0 . 2 . Opp 38 54 92 10.0- 3.0- 2-101 3 . 1- 0 . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   62  Eric Ryan
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
LB   83  Ron Hester
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
 8  Eric Riley
12  Kelly Lowrey
14  Blair Williams
17  Bill Capece
19  Kurt Unglaub
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
31  Ernie Sims
32  Darish Davis
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
45  Roger Brownlee
##  NAME
-----------------------------
46  Mark Rodrigue
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
53  Paul Piurowski
55  John Houston
56  Jerry Coleman
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
63  Lee Adams
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean

Florida State 24, Memphis State 3

10/25/1980, Memphis, Tenn.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 26, 1980, page 53, by Bill McGrotha.

Seminoles crunch one out 24-3.
Platt busts Key record with 188 yards rushing.

MEMPHIS, TN – In a city that gave birth to the blues, Memphis State’s football team played a little different tune here Saturday afternoon.

But its best game of a poor season was not nearly enough as Florida State rather routinely mashed out a 24-3 victory.

There was nothing routine, however, about the running of Sam Platt.

The senior tailback from Jacksonville rushed for 188 yards in 29 carries, busting the school single-game record set by Larry Key when he got 170 against Auburn in ’78.

“I thought we showed improvement in about every area – except scoring,” said Coach Bobby Bowden. “I wish we could have done better. We would have liked to have scored more, but Memphis State wouldn’t let us.

“Our effort was good – and Memphis State battled us good. I credit Memphis State.”

The Tigers, now 1-6, had been beating themselves with an assortment of critical errors, mainly on offense. Not this time. Memphis never fumbled – neither did the Seminoles. Memphis did throw one interception – same for Florida State.

Richard Williamson, a beleaguered coach who figures to be fired soon, said when he came to practice last Monday a lot of heads were down. “Then I told them we would be playing Florida State on television, and they perked up,” he said. “You could see it in practice. Everyone was pumped up.”

Trying to bolster the crowd to make it look good for the regional telecast, Memphis State gave away – by it’s own acknowledgement – more than 25,000 free tickets. But only 28,778 showed up in the Liberty Bowl on a cool, sunny day for the 11:35 (Memphis time) kickoff. (One Memphis paper ran the headline: “Tiger Brunch Just TV Snack for Seminoles.”)

Though sixth-ranked Florida State, now 7-1 with three home games remaining, may have shown improvement in many areas – most notably blocking in the offensive line – there certainly was some uncharacteristic play.

Bill Capece, the nation’s leading field-goal kicker, missed three of four attempts, leaving him 19-for-24 on the season. “I was getting too much underneath ‘em,” said Capece of his misses. “I just didn’t hit ‘em right.”

One of his misses was a 50-yarder that was on target but just short. The other two were from 36 and 38 yards out.

Stacking up 455 yards of offense, the Seminoles got 365 running – approaching the school-record 383 registered versus Abilene Christian away back in ’57. Mike Whiting got 78 in 19 carries, Ricky Williams 60 in just eight.

In 21 attempts, Rick Stockstill completed only seven passes for 90 yards.

“They deflected ‘em,” said Bowden. “Nothing kills a passing game like deflections.”

But Stockstill had one of those deflections batted right back into his arms, and he scampered 31 yards with the ball. Later, Stockstill smilingly acknowledged it was his first pass reception ever. If it had not been for that completion, he would have finished with six for 59 yards!

At the start, the Seminoles found themselves in a hole. Returning the opening kickoff, Dennis McKinnon fell down at the six. That Stockstill-to-Stockstill pass moved FSU from its 23 to the Memphis 46. Soon after, Capece missed his first field-goal try, from 36 out.

Next time FSU got the ball it moved 66 yards to a touchdown, with a 24-yard screen pass to Whiting – down to the Memphis 30 – a big play. Platt soon knocked off 21 to the four. From the one, Platt scored on a wide run.

With Platt running for most of it, the Seminoles drove from their 20 to a 25-yard Capece field goal and a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. (Florida State had stood second down at the two, but was pushed back by an offsides penalty.)

Penalties at inopportune times plagued the Seminoles. Once Bobby Butler was flagged for roughing the punter – but Butler never touched that good actor. At halftime Memphis had just three first downs, and two had come on penalties.

With 1:40 remaining in the half, Florida State scored its second touchdown on the heels of another 66-yard drive – this one spurred by Williams’ running. Stockstill threw 18 yards to Hardis Johnson for a 6-pointer and a 17-0 lead.

Ron Hester’s interception of a pass that teammate James Harris tipped gave FSU a shot from the FSU a shot from the FSU 45 with 33 seconds left. Kurt Unglaub caught a pass at the Memphis 33, but McKinnon dropped a bomb in the end zone. The Capece’s 50-yard try for three was just short.

The score jumped to 24-0 early in the last half after Butler blocked a punt, and Hester covered the rolling ball at the Memphis seven. Whiting scored from the three.

Memphis was without top runner Richard Williams – who went down and out for the season on a broken leg in the first half – but his tailback understudy, Danny Felts, provided the Tigers with a significant lift when he got away from three would-be tacklers and swept 54 yards to the FSU 14. (That one run accounted for more than half of the Tigers’ net 103 rushing for the day. Overall, Memphis managed 183 yards as quarterback Darrell Martin hit 10 of 23 passes for 80.)

FSU defenders stiffened after the Felts run. Rusty Bennet kicked a 27-yard field goal.

An interception by end Stanley Adams – acclaimed ABC’s player of the game, along with the Seminoles’ Platt – set up Memphis at its 40. The running of Felts and Martin, coupled with a 15-yard pass to Jerry Knowlton, led to FSU’s 21.

A personal-foul penalty, after a Mike Dion run, helped Memphis to a first down at the five. Then, on the first play of the last quarter, Dion cracked to the one.

Three times Dion hit that middle of Ron Simmons & Co. in quest of a touchdown. He got nothing, nothing, then nothing again.

After that defensive stand, Stockstill guided the offense from the one to a first down at the Memphis 14, with Platt and Whiting pounding for most of it. But an illegal-procedure penalty dented the bid, after which Stockstill got sacked, and Capece missed the 38-yarder.

That splendid, if futile drive, consumed more than eight minutes of playing time. Neither team threatened after that. It was rather typical FSU ball control. The Seminoles ran 86 plays – including 65 running – and Memphis just 57.

“I thought we fought them,” said Williamson, the losing coach. “Florida State is an outstanding team – a great football team. They do a lot of things well, but we fought them.

“But when we got down there, they bowed their necks and wouldn’t let us in.”

Bowden said the most disappointing thing to him was those deflected passes.

“I wouldn’t think the game will have any effect on how the bowls think about us,” he said.

Rohn Stark was called to punt only three times for the Seminoles, averaging 44.3 yards. Defensively, Florida State appeared to be led by linebacker Reggie Herring, tackle Garry Futch and end Jarvis Coursey. Big for Memphis were Adams and linebacker Michael Thomas.

Physically, the Seminoles may have come out of this one pretty well. Center John Madden turned an ankle – the same one that had been bothering him – and further word was awaited. Simmons said he also turned his ankle a little.

Linebacker Paul Piurowski, just 17 days following an appendectomy, started and played about three-fourths of the game.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida State
7
10
7
0
24
Memphis State
0
0
3
0
3

1st   0- 0  Bill Capece, 36, field goal failed, 9:06 
      7- 0  Sam Platt, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 3:47 
2nd  10- 0  Bill Capece, 25, field goal, 10:29
     17- 0  Hardis Johnson, 18, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 1:40 
     17- 0  Bill Capece, 50, field goal failed, 0:00 
3rd  24- 0  Michael Whiting, 3, run (Bill Capece, kick), 11:56
     24- 3  Opp, 27, field goal, 9:19 
4th  24- 3  Bill Capece, 39, field goal failed, 5:06 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 28 12 Rushes-yards 65-365 34-103 Passing 90 80 Att-Comp-Int 21-7-1 23-10-1 Total Yards 86-455 57-183 Punt Returns 3-31 2-8 Kickoff Returns 2-25 2-33 Interception Ret. 1-8 1-7 Fumble Returns 0-0 0-0 Punts 3-44.3 8-35.9 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yds 6-54 2-20 Attendance 28,778 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 29 188 1 21 Michael Whiting 19 78 1 10 Ricky Williams 8 60 0 18 Ken Burnett 2 15 0 8 Darish Davis 3 15 0 12 Ernie Sims 1 8 0 8 Rick Stockstill 3 1 0 3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 65 365 2 21 Opp 34 103 0 54 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 1 31 0 31 Kurt Unglaub 2 21 0 12 Hardis Johnson 1 18 1 18t Michael Whiting 2 14 0 23 Dennis McKinnon 1 6 0 6 --------------------------------------------- FSU 7 90 1 31 Opp 10 80 0 17 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 7 21 1 90 1 31 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 7 21 1 90 1 31 Opp 10 23 1 80 0 17 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Bobby Butler 1 22 0 22 Gary Henry 2 9 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 31 0 22 Opp 2 8 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Darish Davis 1 20 0 20 Dennis McKinnon 1 5 0 5 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 25 0 20 Opp 2 33 0 17 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 3 133 48 ---------------------------------------- FSU 3 133 48 Opp 8 287 70 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reggie Herring 8 3 11 . . . 1 . . . . . Ron Hester 5 3 8 . . 1- 8 . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 3 5 8 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 6 2 8 . . . . . . . . . Ron Simmons 3 3 6 . . . . . . . . . Paul Piurowski 4 2 6 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 3 3 6 . . . 1 . . . . . Arthur Scott 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Alphonso Carreker 4 1 5 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones 3 1 4 . . . 1 . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 1 3 4 . . . 1 . . . . . Mark Macek 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Trent Barnes 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Ernie Sims 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler . 1 1 . . . 1 . . . 1 . Roger Brownlee 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 49 32 81 . . 1- 8 5 . . . 1 . Opp 74 58 132 . . 1- 7 6 . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   62  Eric Ryan
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
17  Bill Capece
19  Kurt Unglaub
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
31  Ernie Sims
32  Darish Davis
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
45  Roger Brownlee
47  Brian Williams
##  NAME
-----------------------------
51  James Gilbert
56  Jerry Coleman
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
63  Lee Adams
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean

Florida State 45, Tulsa 2

11/01/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 2, 1980, page 57, by Bill McGrotha.

FSU rolls past Tulsa for 8th win.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Taking considerable starch out of Tulsa with a touchdown in the last seconds of the first half, Florida State's football team rushed on to a 45-2 victory before 47,683 here Saturday night.

Apparently destined for even higher ranking following a run of upsets, Florida State mixed it up offensively - and defensively - about as well as it has in any game this season.

Rick Stockstill softened the Golden Hurricane with first-half passes, then turned to a devastating running game by Sam Platt.

Pushing their record to 8-1, the Seminoles virtually sewed up a bid to somebody's bowl, and enhanced their chances of making it a big one on New Year's Day.

Florida State came out passing. On the game's first play from scrimmage, Rick Stockstill threw to Mike Whiting for 16 at the FSU 38. Three plays later Phil Williams caught a 14-yarder at the Tulsa 42. Then Whiting burst on a run, 13 yards to the 29.

But Sam Platt was stopped short on two runs. A pass missed. Then Bill Capece missed on a 40-yard try for a field goal.

On a pitchout, Tulsa tailback Kenneth Lacy was nailed by Bobby Butler for a loss of 9, back to the 15. Three plays later Steve Cook punted 48 yards to FSU's 27.

In 11 plays the Seminoles drove to a touchdown. A pass to Sam Childers for 17 gained the 45. Whiting and Platt runs reached the Tulsa 32. Successive passes to Whiting for seven and Hardis Johnson for 8 attained the Tulsa 17.

Next play Stockstill threw to Johnson in the end zone - just behind cornerback Charles Caufield - for a touchdown. Capece kicked a point for 7-0.

On Tulsa's next series, Ron Simmons got his first sack of the season, throwing quarterback Kenny Jackson for a loss of 4, forcing a punt - a 35-yarder to FSU's 43.

Eleven more plays brought a second TD. Runs by Platt and Whiting led to the Tulsa 33. Phil Williams snared a pass at the 22. Two runs gained the 10. Sam Childers pulled in a pass at the 3. Whiting roared up the middle for an easy six points. Capece again added a point, making it 14-0.

As the second quarter started, Tulsa moved - and for the first time - from its 17.

From the 31, Lacy popped to the 43. Soon Sessions rammed for 12 to FSU's 40. On the option, Jackson got loose to the 24. Mike Gunter, on two runs, got to the 12. Two plays later Lacey grabbed a Jackson pass just inside the 1.

On first down Lacey got nothing, On second and third Jackson got nothing. Then Lacey, on fourth down, was stopped about 2 inches short of the goal. It was a remarkable stand.

Stockstill got only a foot or so on a sneak. Then he went wide for 10, but a holding penalty nullified it. Whiting struggled to the 2. When Stockstill tried to pass, Caufield caught him in the end zone for a safety, cutting the score to 14-2.

On Capece's free kick from his 20, Caufield returned the ball 19 yards to FSU's 46.

After the Hurricane reached the 30 on a 14-yard pass to Don Hicks, two penalties knocked the visitors back to the 46. Stu Crum missed on a fourth-down try for a field goal from 52-yard range.

Soon the Seminoles were punting - but roughing on Tulsa against Rohn Stark gave Florida State new life at Tulsa's 44 with less than a minute left.

A screen pass to Platt reached the 34. Then Johnson caught 1 at the 10. After missing twice, Stockstill led Kurt Unglaub just right with a deep pass in the end zone - for a TD with 13 seconds remaining in the half. Capece's point brought it to 21-2.

At this point Stockstill had hit on 13 of 16 passes for 155 yards.

Remarkably, in that second quarter, Tulsa had controlled the ball for 11:58 of the 15 minutes. The Seminoles had it for just 3:02.

Early in the second half, Florida State found itself in good position, at its 48. Jackson had been sacked by Reggie Herring and Mark Macek, bringing on a punt - a mere 22-yarder.

Six plays brought a touchdown. Platt ran for 2 yards, then 15. Then Whiting carried four straight times - to the 17, to the 8, to the 5, and then in for six points. Capece made it 28-2.

Three Tulsa plays, and then a punt that gave FSU another shot, from it 39. Right away, Platt broke for 26, to Tulsa's 40.

More running, mostly by Platt, precipitated a first down at the 18. A pass-interference call, in favor of Kurt Unglaub in the end zone, gave FSU a first down at the 1. Platt scored. After Capece kicked, it was 35-2 with five minutes left in the quarter.

Returning a kickoff from the 1 to its 11, Tulsa found itself at its eight after three plays - following Ron Hester's decking Jackson for a loss of six. A punt set the Seminoles up at Tulsa's 46.

A 13-yard scamper by Ricky Williams reached the 34. Then Williams scored on a dash off the left side. Capece's point boosted the score to 42-2 with seconds left in the quarter.

Twice in a row Jackson got sacked, by Macek for 22, then by Gilbert for 9, back at the 1. Gary Henry returned the punt 15 to the Tulsa 29.

Williams led a running charge to a first down at the 3. But Tulsa held. On fourth down Capece kicked a 24-yard field goal for 45-2.

On running plays, The Hurricane moved from its 20 to FSU's 37 before running out of gas.

With reserves in, Kelly Lowrey quarterbacking, the Seminoles stuck to the ground, reached Tulsa's 45, then called upon Stark to punt - into the end zone.

With Chuck Majors in at quarterback, Tulsa got a couple of first downs on passes. Blair Williams saw a couple of late plays at quarterback for FSU as the Seminoles ran out the clock on the eighth victory in nine starts.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Tulsa
0
2
0
0
2
Florida State
14
7
21
3
45

1st   0- 0  Bill Capece, 40, field goal failed, 11:49
      7- 0  Hardis Johnson, 17, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 6:13 
     14- 0  Michael Whiting, 2, run (Bill Capece, kick), 0:07 
2nd  14- 2  Opp, safety, 6:05 
            Note: Stockstill tackled in the end zone.                   
     14- 2  Opp, 52, field goal failed, 1:44 
     21- 2  Kurt Unglaub, 10, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 0:09 
3rd  28- 2  Michael Whiting, 4, run (Bill Capece, kick), 10:50
     35- 2  Sam Platt, 1, run (Bill Capece, kick), 4:59 
     42- 2  Ricky Williams, 18, run (Bill Capece, kick), 0:33 
4th  45- 2  Bill Capece, 24, field goal, 9:21 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 29 11 Rushes-yards 63-273 45-90 Passing 171 70 Att-Comp-Int 18-14-0 16-7-0 Total Yards 81-444 61-160 Punt Returns 1-15 0-0 Kickoff Returns 1-21 5-106 Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 0-0 0-0 Punts 1-44.0 7-36.1 Sacks By-Yds 9- 1- Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yds 3-20 4-53 3rd Down Conversions 9-15 6-17 Time of Posession 34:09 25:51 Attendance 47,683 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 23 113 1 26 Michael Whiting 15 74 2 18 Ricky Williams 6 34 1 18t Ken Burnett 5 21 0 11 Darish Davis 4 14 0 4 Rick Stockstill 5 11 0 7 Ernie Sims 3 8 0 4 Larry Harris 1 4 0 4 Dennis McKinnon 1 -6 0 -6 --------------------------------------------- FSU 63 273 4 26 Opp 45 90 0 16 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Hardis Johnson 4 64 1 23 Michael Whiting 4 37 0 15 Phil Williams 2 25 0 14 Sam Childers 2 24 0 17 Sam Platt 1 11 0 11 Kurt Unglaub 1 10 1 10t --------------------------------------------- FSU 14 171 2 23 Opp 7 70 0 14 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 14 18 0 171 2 23 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 14 18 0 171 2 23 Opp 7 16 0 70 0 14 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 1 15 0 15 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 15 0 15 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Larry Harris 1 21 0 21 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 21 0 21 Opp 5 106 0 32 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 1 44 44 ---------------------------------------- FSU 1 44 44 Opp 7 253 48 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reggie Herring 6 5 11 2.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 1 6 7 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 5 2 7 2.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Ron Simmons 3 3 6 2.0- 2.0- . . . . . . . Ron Hester 5 1 6 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Mark Macek 2 3 5 2.0- 2.0- . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . . James Harris 3 2 5 . . . 1 . . . . . Paul Piurowski 2 2 4 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 3 1 4 1.0- . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 2 1 3 1.0- . . . . . . . . Monk Bonasorte . 3 3 . . . 2 . . . . . Keith Jones 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Alphonso Carreker 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Mike Smith . 2 2 . . . 1 . . . . . Ernie Sims 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Brian Williams . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Homer Thomas . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Gary Henry 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . David Ponder 1 . 1 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 40 37 77 13.0- 0.0 9.0- 0.0 . 4 . . . . . Opp 32 65 97 4.0- 1.0- . 2 . . . . 1 STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   62  Eric Ryan
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
WR   87  Phil Williams
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
12  Kelly Lowrey
14  Blair Williams
17  Bill Capece
19  Kurt Unglaub
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
31  Ernie Sims
32  Darish Davis
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
##  NAME
-----------------------------
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
56  Jerry Coleman
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
63  Lee Adams
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
80  Keith Lester
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
86  John McLean

Florida State 31, Virginia Tech 7

11/08/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, November 9, 1980, page 61, by Bill McGrotha.

FSU eyes a happy New Year.
Tech falls 31-7 as hopes soar.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Zip. Zap.

Scoring two touchdowns in 51 seconds, Florida State's football team overcame a sluggish start here Saturday, went on to whip Virginia Tech 31-7 - and apparently pretty well nailed down a berth in a big New Year's Day bowl.

An hour after it was over, J.B. Coincon, a Sugar Bowl representative, lingered in the parking lot.

"I'd say chances are better than 50-50 for Florida State in a New Year's bowl," he said. "I really don't see how the Seminoles can't be in one now."

The three New Year's Day bowls open to Florida State are Cotton, Sugar and Orange, each paying more than $1 million. Each had scouts here Saturday, along with the Gator Bowl.

Bids will be issued next Saturday. A big key on that day will be the outcome of the Notre Dame-Alabama game in Birmingham. Those two are Florida State's primary competition for a New Year's bid. Alabama has one loss, and Notre Dame was tied 3-3 by Georgia Tech Saturday.

The loser of the Notre Dame-Alabama game may well be eliminated from New Year's bowl. "I would think that, too," said Coincon.

With 51,487 watching in Campbell Stadium and millions more viewing the action on regional TV, the Seminoles - ranked third and fourth nationally by AP and UPI - extended their record to 9-1, with Florida remaining. (On Monday, FSU should know whether the Florida game here will be televised on Nov. 22, as presently scheduled, or moved to Dec. 6 for national-TV purposes. In any event, the Seminoles figure to have a bowl bid in hand well before that finale.)

In eight appearances on ABC television now during coach Bobby Bowden's time, Florida State has never lost. Moreover, Bowden has never lost to Virginia Tech - going 3-0 at West Virginia, 5-0 here.

"We were awhile getting it going because Virginia Tech played good, smart football," said Bowden.

On Saturday, Bowden celebrated his 51st birthday. "I tell you what, though, buddy, about the middle of the second quarter I was wondering if it was gonna be a good one," said the coach.

Virginia Tech jumped out front 7-0 in the last minute of the first quarter, following freshman linebacker Ashley Lee's interception of a Rick Stockstill pass at the FSU 32.

(Interestingly, Stockstill and Lee were acclaimed ABC's players of the game. Lee was in on 18 tackles. Stockstill hit eight of 16 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns while scoring a third on a run.)

Disdaining a field-goal try on fourth-and-3 at the 25, Virginia Tech scored on a surprise bomb, quarterback Steve Casey to tight end Rob Purdham.

It was Casey's lone completion of the first half, and the only time before intermission that Tech made good on a third or fourth-down play.

Stymied by the interception, poor field position and by a couple of damaging penalties, the Seminoles had penetrated no deeper that Tech's 48, from whence Bill Capece - later to set a national record for most points by a kicker in a single season - missed a try for a field goal from 54-yard range.

Then, late in the half, Stockstill moved the Seminoles from their 14. A 19-yard screen pass to Mike Whiting keyed the drive to Tech's 45, where it came to 4th-and 2.

With 2:19 left in the half, Florida State pulled a surprise of its own - Stockstill hitting Hardis Johnson with a deep pass for a tying touchdown.

Asked shortly after the game, who called that fourth-and-2 play, Bowden said: "Uh - we called it." Later, he acknowledged that he alone had called the play.

Fifty-one seconds later Florida State had a 14-7 lead.

Tailback Cyrus Lawrence fumbled a pitchout that Ron Simmons claimed for the Seminoles at the Tech 11. Promptly, Stockstill passed 11 yards to Johnson for the TD.

With 8:30 left in the third period, FSU pushed the score to 21-7. Bobby Butler's interception set up the Seminoles at Tech's 30. The running of Sam Platt and Whiting - mostly the latter - led to the 1, and Stockstill sneaked over.

Early in the last quarter, punter Dave Smigelsky fumbled a low fourth-down snap that he should have handled well enough, and fell on the ball. That gave FSU possession at the Tech 28.

Platt took charge, running for 19 of the needed yards, scoring from the 10 - giving him 108 yards in 24 carries, making it the sixth game this season he's topped 100.

Following an interception by freshman linebacker John Houston, Capece kicked a 42-yard field goal with 5:55 left.

With seven points for the game, Capece hiked his season total to 99 - busting the national season record for a kicker of 97 set by Penn State's Matt Bahr in '78.

Racking up 324 yards, including 181 rushing against a team that had been tied for the national lead in total defense, FSU limited the Gobblers, now 7-2 to 140. In previous games, no opponent had scored more than 18 points on Tech.

FSU's Rohn Starke punted seven times for a 45.7 average, including one 60-yarder. "I believe that kicking game is probably the best since the coaching days of General Bob Neyland at Tennessee," said Tech Coach Bill Dooley in tribute. "The FSU defense is great, but that kicking game is unbelievable."

Once again FSU's defense seemed to be led by linebacker Reggie Herring, credited by the press box with 15 tackles that included two quarterback sacks.

In addition to running 11 times for 60 yards, Whiting topped FSU receivers with three catches. Hardis Johnson caught only two, but both were block-busters.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Virginia Tech
7
0
0
0
7
Florida State
0
14
7
10
31

1st   0- 7  Opp, 25, pass (kick), 0:46 
2nd   0- 7  Bill Capece, 54, field goal failed, 8:07 
      7- 7  Hardis Johnson, 45, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 2:19 
     14- 7  Hardis Johnson, 11, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 1:28 
3rd  21- 7  Rick Stockstill, 2, run (Bill Capece, kick), 8:30 
4th  28- 7  Sam Platt, 9, run (Bill Capece, kick), 8:02 
     31- 7  Bill Capece, 42, field goal, 5:55 
     31- 7  Opp, 54, field goal failed, 1:59 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 14 8 Rushes-yards 45-181 46-86 Passing 143 57 Att-Comp-Int 20-10-2 16-5-3 Total Yards 65-324 62-143 Punt Returns 3-10 2-5 Kickoff Returns 2-18 1-17 Interception Ret. 3-16 2-16 Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0 Punts 7-45.7 7-43.3 Sacks By-Yds 3- 1- Fumbles-Lost 1-0 3-1 Penalties-Yds 5-65 2-10 3rd Down Conversions 6-15 4-16 Time of Posession 29:50 30:10 Attendance 51,487 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Sam Platt 24 108 1 12 Michael Whiting 11 60 0 23 Ricky Williams 6 15 0 5 Ken Burnett 1 3 0 3 Rick Stockstill 3 -5 1 5 --------------------------------------------- FSU 45 181 2 23 Opp 46 86 0 11 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Hardis Johnson 2 56 2 45t Michael Whiting 3 37 0 19 Sam Childers 2 17 0 10 Ricky Williams 1 14 0 14 Sam Platt 1 11 0 11 Rick Houston 1 8 0 8 --------------------------------------------- FSU 10 143 2 45t Opp 5 57 1 25t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 8 16 1 121 2 45t Kelly Lowrey 2 4 1 22 0 14 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 10 20 2 143 2 45t Opp 5 16 3 57 1 25t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 3 10 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 10 0 Opp 2 5 0 5 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 1 10 0 10 Larry Harris 1 8 0 8 --------------------------------------------- FSU 2 18 0 10 Opp 1 17 0 17 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 7 320 60 ---------------------------------------- FSU 7 320 60 Opp 7 303 50 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reggie Herring 8 7 15 2.0- 2.0- . . . . . . . Mark Macek 1 5 6 . . . . . . . . . Ron Hester 4 2 6 1.0- 1.0- . 1 . . . . . Ron Simmons 2 3 5 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Arthur Scott 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . . Monk Bonasorte 1 2 3 . . 1- 0 . . . . . . Paul Piurowski 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Scott McLean 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . . James Gilbert 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Alphonso Carreker 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . David Ponder . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Bobby Butler 1 . 1 . . 1- 12 . . . . . . John Houston . 1 1 . . 1- 4 . . . . . . Keith Jones . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Ricky Williams . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Michael Whiting 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Ernie Sims 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 30 32 62 3.0- 0.0 3.0- 0.0 3- 16 1 . 1- 0 . . . Opp 28 51 79 3.0- 1.0- 2- 16 4 . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   62  Eric Ryan
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
12  Kelly Lowrey
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
31  Ernie Sims
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
46  Mark Rodrigue
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
##  NAME
-----------------------------
55  John Houston
56  Jerry Coleman
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
63  Lee Adams
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
80  Keith Lester
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
87  Phil Williams
93  Rick Houston

Florida State 17, Florida 13

12/06/1980, Tallahassee, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, December 7, 1980, page 57, by Bill McGrotha.

One more time, 17-13!
TALLAHASSEE, FL - A yellow flag flew to the green, dyed-for-TV grass as Wayne Peace threw his 24th pass. The clock showed 1:03 left in the game.

Florida had an illegal receiver downfield on the fourth-down play.

The dominant Seminoles among the biggest crowd (53,772) ever to see a football game in Tallahassee rocked with whoops that maybe could have been heard in Sopchoppy.

For the first time all Saturday, it seemed, they could breathe.

Florida State quarterback Rick Stockstill retreated and twice fell on the ball for losses - and it was over.

The Seminoles had won one of the hairiest - one of the best - of all games in the 23-year series, 17-13!

And now Coach Bobby Bowden will narrate the film for boosters at some future time, and when it comes to where Florida was leading 13-3 in the second quarter, he will say: "Now, we got 'em right where we want 'em." There will be roars of appreciative laughter, as his knowing listeners reflect upon the many times Bowden teams have pulled ones out of the fire after trailing early.

There is also the possibility of more such playful jokes after the Orange Bowl, where on Jan. 1 the Seminoles face Oklahoma, with indeed a chance to emerge as the Nation's No. 1 college team - swinging, perhaps, on whether Notre Dame upsets Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and Florida State tops the Sooners.

On this Saturday, however, it was anything but a laughing matter. Florida pushed the Seminoles around in that first half in this 10-1 season like none other, except Nebraska.

In the end, it was the Seminoles' fourth straight conquest of their rivals. "It was awesome - a great feeling," said FSU linebacker Paul Piurowski. "I don't know how it would feel to win the World Series in four games, but I think it would feel like this."

Piurowski, who led the Seminoles in tackles with 15, was one of several Seminole seniors Florida coach Charley Pell sought out in the dressing room afterward. Pell walked in and shook hands, extending congratulations. "I've never been so happy to see a graduation take place," said Pell, of those seniors' last stand against Florida. "We should come and cheer at the FSU graduation ceremony."

The Seminoles won it, the book will say, on a 20-yard pass from Stockstill to Hardis Johnson with 31 seconds gone in the last quarter, putting the final 17-13 score on the board - but they won it n a whole lot more than that.

Twice in the last quarter Keith Jones, another one of those seniors, intercepted passes, the last time at the FSU eight with 3:59 left.

Like so many other opponents before it, Florida was shut out by superb FSU defense in that last half. The Seminoles finished the season unscored upon in that vital last quarter, a not inconsiderable feat. In the last half of this season FSU outscored foes 193 to 21, and in the closing quarter 96 to 0.

But Florida, on 226 yards in the first half, took away Florida State's chances of finishing as the Nation's No. 1 statistical best on defense. After intermission, Florida netted only 31 yards but the 257 total was enough to award No. 1 to Pittsburgh.

Two wide receivers - FSU's Johnson and Florida's Tyrone Young - were acclaimed the game's outstanding players by ABC, which televised the game nationally. Johnson collared seven passes for 107 yards and both Seminole touchdowns. Young snared five for 109 and UF's lone TD.

"Florida State deserved to win," said Pell. "They came back after the half with excellent adjustments."

FSU, first time it got the ball, jumped out front 3-0 on Bill Capece's 44-yard field goal after a drive from the Seminole 31 sparked by the running of Sam Platt.

But Tailback Sam Platt, with a busted shoulder, soon went down and out of the game for good after netting 29 yards on six carries. Trainer Don Fauls thinks he has a fair chance of being able to play in the Orange Bowl.

Then Florida went against the grain with imaginative offensive work that placed the Seminoles squarely on the ropes. Essentially, the Gators shed their four-wide-receivers offense that they had used the last three games in favor of one that utilized two tight ends for blocking and got the running game going.

Meanwhile, freshman quarterback Peace was evading the rush - and nose guard Ron Simmons - with maneuvers left and right, dropping straight back to pass only sparingly.

One net result was Florida punted only once in the opening half, on its opening series.

A bit later the Gators drove to midfield before Reggie Herring claimed a James Jones fumble.

Then, in a magnificent drive, Florida moved from its 12. On third down at his 47, Peace lofted a lovely pass that Young gathered in well behind the defender James Harris, scoring on a 53-yard pass. FSU had checked off on its defensive signal to cover that play, but Harris had not heard the checkoff call.

Early in the second quarter, David Little intercepted a tipped pass thrown by Stockstill, setting up the Gators at FSU's 36. Brian Clark soon kicked a 38-yard field goal for 10-3.

On its next series, UF drove from its 23, mostly on the running of Johnnell Brown and Jones, but an 18-yard pass to Young was also a big key. Clark put through a 36-yard field goal, making it 13-3 with 1:48 left in the half.

Except for their opening series, the Seminoles never threatened prior to intermission.

From the third-quarter kickoff, FSU moved in a splendid drive, 82 yards to a touchdown.

Ricky Williams, in for Platt, provided the spark. The first six times on that drive Stockstill handed the ball to Williams, who accumulated 39 yards to Florida's 43. (Williams finished with a game-high 75 for 21 carries).

The Stockstill passed to Johnson at the 31, the 21 and - three plays later - nailed him with a 19-yard strike for a TD that narrowed the score to 13-10.

An aroused defense gave Florida only one first down in the third quarter - on an interference call. Mark Dickert got off two tremendous punts, one a 55-yarder, to keep the Seminoles on their side of the field.

Late in the quarter, after the second Dickert punt (from the UF end zone), the Seminoles moved from their 45. On third down, Johnson made an extraordinary diving catch of a Stockstill shot for a 29-yard pickup to UF's 32. Four plays later, on first down, Stockstill hit a wide-open Johnson for the winning TD.

For the day, Stockstill completed 11 of 18 (eight of nine in the second half) for 137 of the Seminoles' total 275 yards.

Moments later, Jones intercepted a Peace pass at the Florida 30. Four plays more, and Capece's try for a field goal from 48 yards out was wide left.

The Gators moved, on Peace passes, to FSU's 20. On third down, end Arthur Scott sacked Peace for minus-15. Bowden said later it might have been the game's biggest play. After that, Clark was way short on a 52-yard try for three points.

Once more Florida threatened, Peace passing the Gators to the FSU 40. Then Jones made an acrobatic, somersaulting interception at the Florida eight of a pass that teammate Monk Bonasorte had tipped.

FSU nursed the ball out to the 23 before Stark - who had a 61-yard punt earlier - booted one to UF's 44.

Then Peace, who hit on nine of 24 throws for 160 yards, threw four straight futile passes against a laid-back, waiting defense.

Florida had four turnovers - three on interceptions - versus FSU's two. The Gators were penalized six times for 40 yards, the Seminoles four for 47.

"The difference in the second half was we played with enthusiasm," said Stockstill. "We'll have to play better than this, though, to beat Oklahoma."

Florida goes into the Tangerine Bowl against Maryland with a 7-4 record.

It was Florida State's 16th straight victory in friendly Campbell Stadium.

"I was surprised by the type of game it was," said Bowden. "I thought they'd either beat us, or we'd beat them good.

"The key to this game was when we came out in the third quarter and stuck it to them."

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Florida
7
6
0
0
13
Florida State
3
0
7
7
17

1st   3- 0  Bill Capece, 44, field goal, 8:28 
      3- 7  Opp, 53, pass (kick), 2:31 
2nd   3-10  Opp, 38, field goal, 9:55 
      3-13  Opp, 36, field goal, 1:48 
3rd  10-13  Hardis Johnson, 19, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 10:12
4th  17-13  Hardis Johnson, 20, pass from Rick Stockstill (Bill Capece, kick), 14:24
     17-13  Bill Capece, 48, field goal failed, 12:21
     17-13  Opp, 52, field goal failed, 8:15 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 16 16 Rushes-yards 49-138 40-97 Passing 137 160 Att-Comp-Int 18-11-2 25-9-3 Total Yards 67-275 65-257 Punt Returns 1--3 4-24 Kickoff Returns 3-52 1-19 Interception Ret. 3-0 2-18 Fumble Returns 1-0 0-0 Punts 6-40.5 3-44.7 Sacks By-Yds 2- 1- Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-Yds 4-47 6-40 3rd Down Conversions 7-15 8-14 Time of Posession 32:16 27:44 Attendance 53,772 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 21 75 0 14 Sam Platt 9 29 0 6 Michael Whiting 9 26 0 8 Rick Stockstill 10 8 0 6 --------------------------------------------- FSU 49 138 0 14 Opp 40 97 0 20 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Hardis Johnson 7 107 2 28 Ricky Williams 2 17 0 12 Sam Childers 1 14 0 14 Michael Whiting 1 -1 0 -1 --------------------------------------------- FSU 11 137 2 28 Opp 9 160 1 53t Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 11 18 2 137 2 28 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 11 18 2 137 2 28 Opp 9 25 3 160 1 53t Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 1 -3 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 -3 0 Opp 4 24 0 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 1 30 0 30 Larry Harris 1 11 0 11 Ken Burnett 1 11 0 11 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 52 0 30 Opp 1 19 0 19 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 6 243 61 ---------------------------------------- FSU 6 243 61 Opp 3 134 55 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 6 9 15 2.0- . . . . . . . . Reggie Herring 1 9 10 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Monk Bonasorte 3 6 9 . . . 3 . . . . . Jarvis Coursey 2 5 7 1.0- . . . . . . . . Ron Simmons 1 5 6 1.0- . . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 2 4 6 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . James Harris 3 3 6 . . . . . . . . . Mark Macek 2 2 4 . . . . . . . . . Keith Jones . 3 3 . . 2- 0 1 . . . . . Bobby Butler 2 1 3 . . 1- 0 . . . . . . James Gilbert 1 2 3 1.0- 1.0- . . . . . . . Garry Futch . 2 2 . . . . . . . . . Larry Harris 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 24 51 75 6.0- 0.0 2.0- 0.0 3- 0 4 . 1- 0 . . . Opp 31 47 78 2.0- 1.0- 2- 18 2 . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
OG   63  Lee Adams
OG   70  Greg Futch
OT   72  Ken Lanier
OT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
RT   67  Mark Macek
LT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
40  Gary Henry
43  Homer Thomas
44  Ricky Williams
46  Mark Rodrigue
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
##  NAME
-----------------------------
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
62  Eric Ryan
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
71  Bob Merson
73  Barry Voltapetti
76  Alphonso Carreker
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
87  Phil Williams

Oklahoma 18, Florida State 17

01/01/1981, Miami, Fla.

Click here for program cover

From the Tallahassee Democrat, January 2, 1981, page 23, by Bill McGrotha.

Sooners pull it out 18-17.
Seminoles fall in Orange Bowl.

MIAMI, FL - Taking Oklahoma downfield in a hurry, quarterback J.C. Watts passed 11 yards to Steve Rhodes for a touchdown, then hit Forest Velora with a two-point pass.

The clock showed 1:27 left in the game.

And thus it was Florida State's proud football team lost an 18-17 heartbreaker before 71,043 in the 47th Orange Bowl here Thursday night.

It was a crisp evening in Miami, totally fair, no wind worth mentioning, the temperature about 64 degrees for the 8:15 kickoff.

From the goal, Ricky Williams was stopped at the 12 on an opening kickoff return. Sam Platt ran four straight times, up to the 33.

Rick Stockstill hit a pair of passes but one, to Hardis Johnson, was for a 6-yard loss. Oklahoma got the ball at its 36 after Stark's punt and an 18-yard runback.

Moments later, J.C. Watts, going wide, fumbled when hit by Ron Simmons and Mark Macek claimed the ball for FSU at the Oklahoma 43.

Platt was twice stopped, and Stockstill struck down for a loss of 2 while scrambling, but Stark's punt was downed on the Sooner 3 by Kelly Lowrey.

The running of Watts and Buster Rhymes netted only 7, and a punt - mishandled by Gary Henry - placed FSU on its 42.

Scrambling again, Stockstill tucked the ball in and moved for 10 to the Oklahoma 48. Mike Whiting dug for 7, then caught a short pass for 7 more, at the 34.

Stockstill, however, lost 6. Ricky Williams got 10 on a burst up the middle. But Williams was tripped up for a loss of 2 on the next play.

Dave Capece's 49-yard try for a field goal was short.

Michael Keeling was wide on a field goal attempt from 34 yards out.

From the 20, Williams skipped for 14 to the 34, then ripped off 7 more on the following play. Two more runs brought a first down at the 45.

A holding penalty knocked the Seminoles back to their 30.

Williams, on the draw, picked up 6. He got 7 more on a wide run, and a face-mask penalty for 15 helped FSU to a first down at the Sooner 42.

On fourth down near the 32, with about a foot to go, Stockstill was ruled short on a sneak, and Oklahoma took over.

Watts led to a first down at the 27.

Linebacker Paul Piurowski grabbed Watts for a yard loss. Then, on the next play, he forced a fumble out of Watts with a bruising tackle. Monk Bonasorte covered the ball for FSU at the 30.

Short passes to Dennis McKinnon and Sam Childers reached the 47. On three straight runs, Platt struggled to the Oklahoma 39.

A third-down Stockstill keeper brought a key first down at the 34. Two plays later Williams popped for 13 to the 19, then dug for 6 more to the 13.

Whiting charged to the 10, where it came to fourth-and-1 with less than a minute remaining. As the team lined up, Stockstill saw something on defense he did not like and called a quick time out.

Then Williams took a quick handoff and spun off the left side for an easy touchdown. Bill Capece added a point as the clock showed 49 seconds.

A forward fumble that rolled out of bounds enabled the Sooners to pick up 24 yards to FSU's 49.

James Gilbert sacked Watts for minus-8.

With eight seconds left, Watts hit Jim Rockford with a fourth-down pass at the FSU 37, providing time for one last play with two seconds to go.

Keeling, only three-for-nine on previous field-goal tries this season, was true from 53 yards out, cutting the score to 7-3.

From the Tallahassee Democrat, October 2, 1981, page 6, other edition.

Among other things, it was the first time this season the Seminoles had yielded a point in the fourth quarter.

Interestingly, FSU out-ran Oklahoma, 212 yards to 156. The Sooners had a 284-to-263 edge in total yardage.

Once again the Seminoles played a game without a turnover. Oklahoma had five - all fumbles.

After one of those fumbles, the Seminoles moved 70 yards to a second-quarter touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Ricky Williams, the Seminoles' leading charger with 99 yards in 19 carries, scored on a quick run from the 10.

About then the bad bounces started for the Seminoles. A Sooner fumble rolled forward and a chasing Seminole kicked it out of bounds for a 25-yard Oklahoma gain.

That helped set up a rather incredible 53-yard field goal by Keeling as time ran out in the half. It was the longest field goal in the history of the Orange Bowl.

On a 12-play drive of 88 yards from the second-half kickoff, the Sooners took a 10-7 lead. On fourth-and-2 Watts got loose for 21 yards to the 8. A couple of plays later David Overstreet scored from the 4.

Watts netted 48 yards on 25 carries, completed seven of 12 passes for 128, but bare statistics hardly tell the full story of his worth.

Bill Capece, who earlier had missed field goals from 49 and 44 yards out, tied it 10-10 with a 19-yarder late in the third quarter. The Seminoles had covered a Watts fumble at the 17, later had a first down at the 1 after a pass-interference call. But an illegal-procedure penalty knocked FSU back as Mike Whiting appeared to score.

OU drove to a first down at FSU's 37, but again fumbled. On its next possession, there came the bad snap on the punt, with FSU grabbing the lead 17-10.

Moving from its 31 after Oklahoma's final kickoff, Florida State almost got within field-goal position as Stockstill completed passes that led to the Sooners' 45. But the clock was catching up with the Seminoles, who had no timeouts left.

On the last play, Capece attempted a 62-yard field goal that would have won it. He's made them from that distance in practice. This one was short.

"I knew we had them all the way," kidded Barry Switzer, the Oklahoma coach.

  1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Oklahoma
0
3
7
8
18
Florida State
0
7
3
7
17

1st   0- 0  Bill Capece, 49, field goal failed, 3:44 
2nd   0- 0  Opp, 34, field goal failed, 13:31
      7- 0  Ricky Williams, 10, run (Bill Capece, kick), 0:49 
      7- 3  Opp, 53, field goal, 0:00 
3rd   7-10  Opp, 4, run (kick), 8:59 
      7-10  Bill Capece, 44, field goal failed, 4:24 
     10-10  Bill Capece, 19, field goal, 0:13 
4th  17-10  Bobby Butler, 0, fumble recovery/return (Bill Capece, kick), 11:07
            Note: Snap goes through punter's hands and Butler recovers  
                  the ball in the end zone.                             
     17-18  Opp, 11, pass (pass), 1:27 
     17-18  Bill Capece, 62, field goal failed, 0:00 


TEAM STATISTICS
FSU OPP First downs 23 18 Rushes-yards 60-212 55-156 Passing 51 128 Att-Comp-Int 15-11-0 12-7-0 Total Yards 75-263 67-284 Punt Returns 1--6 1-18 Kickoff Returns 3-40 3-66 Interception Ret. 0-0 0-0 Fumble Returns 5-0 0-0 Punts 4-42.5 2-37.0 Sacks By-Yds 3- 3- Fumbles-Lost 1-0 7-5 Penalties-Yds 6-73 4-35 Time of Posession 33:28 26:32 Attendance 71,043 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 19 99 1 14 Michael Whiting 9 55 0 16 Sam Platt 17 45 0 9 Rick Stockstill 14 9 0 11 Kurt Unglaub 1 4 0 4 --------------------------------------------- FSU 60 212 1 16 Opp 55 156 1 29 Receiving No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Ricky Williams 2 27 0 16 Sam Childers 2 12 0 7 Dennis McKinnon 1 8 0 8 Michael Whiting 3 6 0 7 Hardis Johnson 2 1 0 7 Sam Platt 1 -3 0 -3 --------------------------------------------- FSU 11 51 0 16 Opp 7 128 1 42 Passing C- A- I Yds TD Lng ----------------------------------------------- Rick Stockstill 11 15 0 51 0 16 ----------------------------------------------- FSU 11 15 0 51 0 16 Opp 7 12 0 128 1 42 Punt Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Gary Henry 1 -6 0 --------------------------------------------- FSU 1 -6 0 Opp 1 18 0 18 Kickoff Return No Yds TD Lng --------------------------------------------- Dennis McKinnon 1 17 0 17 Ricky Williams 1 12 0 12 Ken Burnett 1 11 0 11 --------------------------------------------- FSU 3 40 0 17 Opp 3 66 0 26 Punting No Yds Lng ---------------------------------------- Rohn Stark 4 170 48 ---------------------------------------- FSU 4 170 48 Opp 2 74 42 |---------Tackles---------| |---Sacks---| |---Pass Def---| |-Fumbles-| Blkd DEFENSIVE STATISTICS UT AT Total ForLoss No - Yards Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Piurowski 8 4 12 . . . . . . 2 . . Bobby Butler 8 . 8 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Monk Bonasorte 5 2 7 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Jarvis Coursey 4 3 7 . 1.0- . . . 1- 0 . . . Reggie Herring 7 . 7 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . James Harris 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Arthur Scott 2 3 5 . . . . . . . . . Mark Macek 2 1 3 . 1.0- . . . . . . . James Gilbert 3 . 3 . 1.0- . . . . . . . Ron Simmons 3 . 3 . . . . . . . . . Gary Henry 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . . Alphonso Carreker 1 . 1 . . . . . 1- 0 . . . Harvey Clayton 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . Garry Futch . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . Rohn Stark 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FSU 49 17 66 . 3.0- 0.0 . . . 5- 0 2 . . Opp 65 22 87 . 3.0- . . . . . . . STARTERS
Pos  ##  OFFENSE
----------------------------------
QB   11  Rick Stockstill
WR   19  Kurt Unglaub
WR   22  Hardis Johnson
FB   27  Michael Whiting
TB   29  Sam Platt
C    58  John Madden
LG   63  Lee Adams
RG   70  Greg Futch
RT   72  Ken Lanier
LT   75  Tom Brannon
TE   84  Sam Childers
Pos  ##  DEFENSE
----------------------------------
CB   21  Bobby Butler
FS   28  Keith Jones
CB   33  James Harris
LB   39  Reggie Herring
SS   42  Monk Bonasorte
NG   50  Ron Simmons
LB   53  Paul Piurowski
DE   54  Arthur Scott
DE   64  Jarvis Coursey
DT   67  Mark Macek
DT   79  Garry Futch
PARTICIPANTS
##  NAME
-----------------------------
 3  Rohn Stark
 6  Dennis McKinnon
 7  Mike Smith
12  Kelly Lowrey
16  Jeff A. Ledbetter
17  Bill Capece
20  Ken Burnett
24  Harvey Clayton
30  Larry Harris
31  Ernie Sims
40  Gary Henry
44  Ricky Williams
46  Mark Rodrigue
47  Brian Williams
51  James Gilbert
##  NAME
-----------------------------
52  Sam Restivo
55  John Houston
60  Scott McLean
61  Brent Brock
65  Trent Barnes
66  Redus Coggin
76  Alphonso Carreker
80  Keith Lester
81  Zeke Mowatt
83  Ron Hester
85  David Ponder
87  Phil Williams
93  Rick Houston
94  Mark Sims
99  Ricky Render