Jimmy Jordan


Cyrus Lawrence


James Gilbert

Ed Richardson

Scott Warren

Sam Childers

• First up was fellow independent Virginia Tech, a team the Noles had played every season since 1961. The game would be telecast by ABC in the southeastern region at 12:30 ET.
• The Hokies of second-year coach Bill Dooley were also undefeated but against less-than-stellar opposition: @Louisville (15-14), Appalachian State (41-32), and William & Mary (35-14).
• Dooley: I think our football players are ready to accept the challenge of playing a team that's nationally ranked. ... They're putting a lot of points on the board. Any time you have an offense such as they have ... your defense is gonna get a test.
• The Seminole QB tandem of Jimmy Jordan and Wally Woodham had passed for 513y while FB Mark Lyles led the rushers with 211.
• Bobby Bowden: You now those Hokies are really going to have an advantage playing this one on their home field. Nothing is going to come easy this week.
• VPI featured a running attack with three solid ball carriers: Kenny Lewis (381y), Mickey Fitzgerald (198y), and freshman Cyrus Lawrence (192y). QB Steve Casey had passed for 382y and run for 111 more.

• Q1: The FSU offense was plagued by dropped balls and three INTs by CB Paul Davis, which tied a VPI record.
  The Hokies excited the crowd of 39,000 when Lawrence took a pitch from Casey and sped 40y down the sidelines. The TD culminated a drive that covered 88y in ten plays. VPI 7 FSU 0 (1:30 on the clock)
  Falling behind woke up the visitors' offense, which took the ensuing kickoff and drove 71y in only six plays to tie the game.
• Q2: The score came on the first play of the period when Greg Ramsey ran outside tackle and cut wide to pay dirt from 16y out. Dave Cappelen booted the PAT. FSU 7 VPI 7 (14:54)
  Jordan relieved Woodham with 10:13 left and marched the Seminoles 80y in 14 plays. Jimmy threw into the EZ from the 18 to Jackie Flowers who leaped high to take the ball from two Tech defenders near the back line. Two Jordan passes that looked like sure TDs had been dropped by Seminole receivers prior to the 6-pointer. The Jordan-Flowers combo also hooked up for the key play of the drive, a 24y completion when FSU faced a 3rd-and-22 at the Tech 37. That was one of four 3rd down conversions on the drive. FSU 14 VPI 7 (5:33)
  Jerome Pannell's 45y return on an INT gave the Gobblers a first down on the FSU 31 late in the period. But Dennis Laury's 32y FG try sailed wide left.
• Q3: Each team banged through a FG during the period. VPI took the kickoff and drove 53y to the 28, from where Laury connected on a 44-yarder to pull the Hokies within four points. FSU 14 VPI 10 (11:36)
  In the waning moments, Cappelen's boot from the 10 extended the lead back to seven. FSU 17 VPI 10 (1:07)
• Q4: Neither team scored in the final 15 minutes. FSU NG Ron Simmons, who always seemed to play his best before the TV cameras, won his third ABC-TV/Chevrolet Award as selected by the TV announcers. Ron was credited with eight tackles, including three for losses as the Noles held the vaunted VPI rushing attack to 164y on 47 carries, well below their 323y average coming into the contest.
  FSU 17 VPI 10

Statistics

• FSU led in first downs 23-13 and in total offense 436-282.
• Woodham completed 12-of-22 for 183y with 1 INT. Jordan hit 8 of 19 for a TD but 3 INTs and only 139y.

Bowden on his 100th victory as a head coach (against 43 defeats): She wasn't pretty, but she was a win. A lot of it on O has to do with the play calling, and I'm responsible for a lot of that junk we called.

• "Upset-minded" Louisville had lost their first two games to VPI and Miami but won their next two against Cincinnati and Drake.
• Vince Gibson led the Cardinals for the fifth season.

The FSU defense smothered the Cardinals and was directly responsible for 11 points, including two safeties.

• Q1: Midway through, Bobby Butler picked off a pass by Stu Stram and returned it 16y to give FSU great field position at the UL 30. Woodham fired a 15y pass to Gator Cherry to the 15. On the seventh and final play of the possession, Wally tossed a 5y pass to Sam Platt. FSU 7 Louisville 0
• Q2: Right after the period began, the Cardinals lined up to punt from deep in their territory. But C Jim Miller's high snap went through the outstretched hands of P Dave Betz and into the EZ. Betz picked up the ball and ran it out of the back of the EZ. The closest pursuer, NG James Gilbert, received credit for the safety. FSU 9 Louisville 0
  The Seminoles drove close enough for Cappelen to try a 29y FG, but he missed with 10:22 on the clock.
  38 seconds before halftime, another bad snap from Miller caused Betz to hurry a punt, and DE Ed Richardson blocked the kick. Butler fell on the pigskin in the EZ. Woodham's pass for the two-point conversion failed. FSU 15 Louisville 0 (0:38)
• Q3: Scott Warren produced the second safety when he blocked a punt out of the EZ after another faulty pass from C. FSU 17 Louisville 0 (7:14)
  The Seminoles started from their 44 after the free kick and marched to a TD in 13 plays. Lyles carried the ball eight times for 28y. After two unsuccessful runs from the 1, Woodham surprised the defense with a short scoring pass to TE Sam Childers. FSU 24 Louisville 0 (0:01)
• Q4: Cappelen ended the scoring with a 36y FG. FSU 27 Louisville (8:15)

L: John Madden breaks up a pass. R: Gator Cherry confronts a defender.

Statistics

• FSU held Louisville to a mere 93y in total offense, including a measly 7 rushing in 34 attempts. (Sacks count against the rushing total in NCAA football.) The Cards managed only five first downs.
• The Tribe offense kept the ball on the ground most of the night, amassing 23 first downs and 275y. FB Mark Lyles accounted for 118 of those in 22 carries.
• The Noles threw only 15 passes, the lowest number since the 1976 season. Eight were completed with 1 INT for just 60y.

• Mississippi State came off a big 28-9 win over Tennessee. New head coach Emory Bellard installed the wishbone offense that he invented while a high school coach in Texas. The Bulldogs deployed one of the best WRs in the country in Mardye McDole. The senior had only six receptions but averaged better than 30y per catch with three TDs. HB James Jones led the rushing attack with 202y. LB Don Edwards was the key man in the 4-3 defense. FSU D-coordinator Jack Stanton called MSU's front four "one of the best in the country."
• The Seminoles wanted revenge for a 55-27 thrashing in Starkville the year before in which the Dogs gained 596y of total offense. But scoring on the '79 defense would be much more difficult. Led by NG Ron Simmons, the Noles held Louisville to 97 total yards the previous week.
• Bobby Bowden announced that Wally Woodham would start at QB for the sixth straight week but said Jimmy Jordan would play "only if needed."

• Q1: Neither offense did much during the first 15 minutes, which ended scoreless.
  FSU RB Gator Cherry turned his ankle on the first series.
  Later in the period, Woodham was stunned by a jarring sack and replaced by Jimmy Jordan. Wally had completed 3-of-5 for 38y prior to being replaced.
  
  Keith Jones and Ivory Joe Hunter chase down a Bulldog.
• Q2: The Seminoles got the first break of the game on the Bulldogs' first possession of the period when RB James Otis Doss fumbled, and Monk Bonasorte recovered at the MSU 35.
  Jordan hit Jackie Flowers over the middle for 16. But three straight runs lost 3y, and Dave Cappelen missed a 37y FG.
  The Seminoles were fortunate that QB Dwayne Brown had a 60y run called back because of illegal procedure. Brown broke free on the option play and wasn't run down until he reached the 15. The drive then stalled, and a poor punt set up the first score of the game.
  Taking over on the MSU 44, Jordan drove FSU to a TD in seven plays. On second and 4, Jimmy hit Flowers over the middle for 9 and a first down at the 33. After two runs gained a first down at the 22, Jordan again went to Flowers, lofting the ball into the deep right corner of the EZ. Jackie couldn't catch it, but DB Willie Jackson was called for face guarding. That gave FSU a first down at the 1. Two plays later, Michael Whiting scored. Cappelen added his 200th career EP. Florida State 7 Mississippi State 0 (5:40 left)
  Jordan moved his offense 2y late in the period to double the lead. On 2nd and 10 from the FSU 38, Jimmy hit Whiting out of the backfield for 18y. Then the QB scrambled for 14y on 2nd down to move the chains to the 28. Staying with the passing game, Jordan hit TE Grady King on a slant pattern over the middle for 17. After two passes lost 6y, Jordan went to the team's leading receiver, Flowers, who outjumped two defenders and came down with the ball. Florida State 14 Mississippi State 0 (0:14)
  The Bulldogs gained only 50y, all on the ground, the entire half.
  Flowers on his TD catch: We both jumped up, and he (Jackson) took a swing at it and missed. That's when I blinked, grabbed it with my arms and fell down. I don't know how I caught it.
• Q3: Jordan's good play didn't carry over after the intermission. On FSU's second snap, he tried to hit King at midfield, but Kenny Johnson stepped in front of King and returned to the 24.
  On first down, Brown picked up 19 on the option. But that was the closest the Maroons could get. Dwayne pitched to Doss twice, but Doss fumbled the ball out of bounds both times to set up 3rd and goal at the 10. Forced to go to the air, Brown attempted to hit All-America SE Mardy McDole in the corner of the EZ, but Bobby Butler made a diving INT to stop the drive.
  Woodham returned to action but couldn't manage a first down, and Rohn Stark punted to the MSU 30, where Don Burrell fumbled, DE Edenbur Richardson recovering at the 29.
  The Bulldog D stiffened and forced a 46y FG by Cappelen. Florida State 17 Mississippi State 0 (6:17)
• Q4: With FSU determined to match the opponents' physicality, the Bulldogs had ten players leave the game with injuries.
  A Seminole drive ended when Flowers dropped a pass on 3rd-and-8 to force a punt.
  MSU lost a great scoring chance when Doss fumbled at the 5 after a jarring hit by DB Keith Jones. The ball rolled into the EZ where Richardson covered it for a touchback. It was the Dogs' third lost fumble of the evening to go with two INTs.
  The visitors avoided a shutout in the final minutes as Michael Haddix scored from the 2. Florida State 17 Mississippi State 7 (1:10)
  Years later, Monk Bonasarte remembered the Mississippi State game. They were running the dang wishbone. Against the wishbone, you just played as tight as you could on the line, and didn’t worry about the pass. We had Bobby Butler covering the receiver man-to-man. You just played run, and I had another one of those games with 15 tackles. My responsibility was to line up over the C, 4 or 5y behind the LBs, and let the LBs take blocks. I either had the pitch or QB on the option. That was a physical game. I got hit in the second or third quarter and got knocked out. I played another quarter, and finally came to my senses and didn't really know where the hell I was. They took me off the field, and I spent about two days in the hospital. When I looked at the film, I played a lot better not knowing what I was doing than when I did know what I was doing.

Statistics

• Woodham and Jordan combined to complete just 11 of 28 attempts for only 120y, five less than the FSU ground game. Wally was only 4-of-16 for just 44y.
• The Bulldogs piled up 282y in the second half but had only seven points to show for it.

Postgame

• Bowden: The defense played great again, but I was very upset with us offensively. I can't believe that we cannot play throw-and-catch any better than that. We threw so many bad passes that I was ready to pull my hair out. We had receivers d ropping balls time and again, or else they couldn't keep their feet inbounds when they did catch them. ... They were so physical. We looked like pygmies out there beside them. I'm sure that their size affected our QBs who had to throw over them, but I'm still disappointed we couldn't catch the ball. When someone pointed out that FSU got many breaks, Bobby replied: Oh, I don't know about getting that many breaks. We gave them a couple with those roughing the kicker calls to about even it out. ... I learned a long time ago that it doesn't matter how you win. Last year against MSU, we scored 27 points and had almost 500y of offense, but lost. I'd much rather have these 17 points and win.
• Jordan: I can't tell you what's wrong with the offense. We have the best offensive line since I've been here. The receivers are pretty much the same, but there is something missing.
• Flowers had his own explanation for the poor play of the receivers. Maybe the coaches have too much confidence in us, but we're just not practicing ball drills enough during the week. All we do is practice our routes. But I've been telling them we need more work on just catching the ball.
• Simmons: I thought they were aggressive. We knew we had to intimidate them from the beginning.
• Richardson, who recovered two fumbles: We really wanted the shutout. This had to be my best game. I played with some intensity. I gained some personal satisfaction from beating them after what they did to us last year.
• Bellard: We really started to compete in the second half, but you have to remember we had some important people out. We moved the ball pretty well in the first half, but we kept stopping ourselves with penalties. We didn't complete a pass because our protection for the passer broke down.

Florida State now enjoyed an off week before tackling the final five games of its schedule.

• Charlie McClendon's (forced) retirement was announced by LSU prior to the 1979 season. That allowed AD Paul Dietzel time to find a new head football coach ... the best available from among the ranks of proven head collegiate football coaches. The man Dietzel had his eye on was Bowden.
• Bowden recalled: At that time Florida State wasn't thought of. I had the support here [FSU], but it was kind of like Southern Mississippi – do you think they can do it? No. ... I was kind of in a quandary in Tallahassee, because I'm not sure we can do it. It wasn't just my thinking but anybody's thinking. It was like, "Bobby, if you get the LSU job, take it."
• According to Bowden, Dietzel had inquired as early as September about his interest in the job. Bobby made it clear that he wouldn't make any decision until after the season. Dietzel promised to call back every two weeks or so. So they agreed on a code. Dietzel would say, "This is his brother Paul" when contacting Bobby. The week before the LSU-FSU game, Dietzel told Bowden, "We want you."
• Bobby decided to base his decision on the outcome of the game in Tiger Stadium. If we go in with this undefeated football team and we can't beat them, they might just be a better program. We'll never be able to beat them. If they beat us, I just might take the job. But if we beat them, hey, maybe we can be as good as them.
• Early in the week, Bobby called the upcoming contest the biggest football game in FSU history. Little did anyone know the full significance of the statement.
• Jim Lampley on the ABC broadcast of the FSU-LSU game alluded to the rumors that Bowden would replace McClendon. However, word out of Tallahassee was that Florida State had offered a five-year extension.

The Tigers were 4-2 after beating Kentucky 23-19.

• LSU and Florida State had met only once - a 31-27 Tiger victory in the inaugural Peach Bowl in 1968. The 1979 game represented the first of five straight in Baton Rouge that former FSU AD John Bridgers had scheduled.
• Both teams alternated QBs. For LSU, Steve Ensminger was the better passer while David Woodley ran the option play better.
• FSU QB Wally Woodham was expected to be at full strength after undergoing wisdom tooth surgery during the open week.
• How much help in preparation would LSU get from their offensive line coach, FSU grad Jerry Bruner, who spent the previous three years on the staff at his alma mater? Bruner called NG Ron Simmons a one-man wrecking crew. Everybody that plays them has to double- or triple-team him. He looks like Mr. Universe. Simmons was the third fastest man on the team and bench pressed 525 lb. They have over 50 players that can bench press over 300 pounds. They don't have an offensive or defensive lineman who can't press over 300 pounds.
• The Times-Picayune previewed the game this way: If LSU backs can run with some success and the Tigers can keep the ball away from Seminoles, should be interesting game.
• The morning of the game, Bowden revealed to ABC Sports that Jordan would make his first start of the season and play the entire game. Bobby promised the offensive game plan would not be as conservative as those of the previous six contests.

67,197 gathered in the afternoon to view the game that was televised to 84% of the nation on ABC.

• Q1: The second play of the game set the tone for the first half. LSU FB Jude Hernandez took a pass from QB Steve Ensminger for 10 and a first down but fumbled. Monk Bonasarte, always Johnny on the spot, recovered at the LSU 32. It was not the last miscue that would hurt the Tigers badly.
  Jordan immediately went to the home run ball but overthrew Jackie Flowers at the goal line. A three-down completion for 26y on a wheel route to Michael Whiting put the ball on the 9. Three plays later, 3y toss to Sam Platt slanting in from the right inside of Whiting climaxed the drive. Florida State 7 LSU 0 (11:49)
  Two series later, a 20y completion to WR Carlos Carson and a 23y run by Hokie Gajan put the ball on the 8. With a chance to tie, the Bengals let Simmons break through and throw Ensminger back to the 13. On the next play, Steve connected with Carson from the 13 for an apparent TD. But offensive pass interference nullified the play. Following that frustration, Don Barthel's 45y FG try fell short.
  Shortly afterwards, Jordan threw down the middle to Flowers for 44y to the 15. But after three plays gained only 5y, Capellen missed a 27y FG.
  David Woodley took over at QB and led the Tigers to two first downs before a 3rd-down sack by blitzing DB Gary Henry forced a punt.
  On the final play of the period, LSU DB Chris Williams gathered in a Rohn Stark punt and raced 44y to the 5 as the period came to a close.
• Q2: On 3rd down, Gajan dove over from the 1. Florida State 7 LSU 7 (13:55)
  Even against the breeze, Jordan continued to pass two out of every three plays. But the first possession resulted in a three-and-out.
  Starting from their 45, LSU mounted a 10-play drive to take the lead. Gajan and Leroid Jones slashed off each corner for good gains to move the chains. Woodley did the honors on a keeper from the 2. But Barthel missed the PAT. LSU 13 Florida State 7 (7:22)
  The Tiger defense kept the momentum by pressuring Jordan and forcing punts on the next two FSU possessions. With three minutes left, LSU began to move again from their 29. Gajan's 28y scamper with a pitch moved the ball to the FSU 46. Two plays later, freshman TB Jesse Myles came into the game and fumbled the first handoff. Scott McLean recovered for FSU at their 48 with only 1:30 on the clock.
  But that was more than enough for the Noles to regain the lead. On the very first play, freshman WR Hardis Johnson broke behind the secondary on a post route, gathered in the pass at the 8, and fell into the EZ. Florida State 14 LSU 13 (1:22)
  
  Hardis Johnson snares TD pass behind Chris Williams.
  Amazingly, the Seminoles got another shot a points before the intermission. Lionel Wallis took a pass, began to run, but fumbled when hit, and Ivory Joe Hunter recovered at the FSU 46. Jordan threw deep on the first play to Grady King, but three defenders were all over him. After an incompletion, Johnson took a pass across the middle to the 34. FSU called a timeout with 5 seconds left and sent Bill Capece, the long kicker, to try a 51y FG that fell short and wide.
  LSU had outplayed the visitors but three turnovers had allowed FSU to leave the field with a one-point advantage. The Tigers outrushed FSU 139-23.
• Q3: Jordan continued to have trouble completing passes against the "Soul Patrol" secondary that included four future NFL players. Fortunately, Stark's punting kept the Tigers caged, twice punting inside their 10.
  Despite starting two possessions near midfield, the Seminoles could not get close enough even for a FG try. Midway through the period, Jordan threw long to Johnson down the left sideline at the 10. But Hardis had the ball go through his hands, bounce off his knee high into the air. That gave Willie Teal an opportunity to snag the INT and return to the LSU 45.
  The Bengals made one first down but could go no further. So the 15 minutes ended with no scoring.
  
• Q4: On the second play, Jordan threw a bomb to Flowers, 37y on the fly to the Tiger 35. The FSU gunslinger then overthrew Johnson sprinting into the end zone. Two plays later, Jimmy threw down the middle. The ball deflected off the hand of DB Williams to Flowers, who trotted into the EZ. Florida State 21 LSU 13
  
  Jackie Flowers grabs TD pass on deflection off Chris Williams.
  Woodley completed a 37y pass to Carson to the FSU 44. But two snaps later, David overthrew his receiver straight to Bonasarte, who made his sixth INT of the season.
  That started a drive that included a nice mix of passing and running to a 1st-and-goal at the 8. But Lyman White intercepted a 3rd down pass in the EZ and ran out to the 3 to repel the thrust.
  When three plays went nowhere, FSU got outstanding field position after Henry returned the punt to the 29.
  Staying on the ground, the Noles pushed to the 13, from where Cappelen booted a 31y FG. Florida State 24 LSU 13 (4:53)
  But the Tigers came right back. Ensminger fired to WR Tracy Porter for 19, then to Orlando McDaniel for 22 and 16 to the 12. From there, Ensminger lofted an alley oop to Carson running under it in the EZ. Steve's pass for two extra points was knocked down. Florida State 24 LSU 19 (3:22)
  With two timeouts remaining, McClendon decided to kick deep and hope that his defense could get a quick stop. But Jordan connected with Flowers for 29y to the LSU 48. Then FB Mark Lyles took the ball on a Statue of Liberty play and rambled to the 18 - a back breaker. On 4th down and less than 30 seconds left, FSU ran the ball rather than try a FG.
  With 0:08 on the clock, Ensminger threw a long desperation pass that the Monk took in (INT #7) to finally clinch the victory.
  The Noles carried Bowden across the field to greet McClendon.

Watch the entire game.

Statistics

• FSU outgained LSU 436-334. As expected, the Noles gained more aerial yardage (312-175), but the Tigers prevailed on the ground (but only 159-124).
• Jordan completed just 14 of 31 throws but gained an average of 22.3y per completion. Flowers led the Garnet receivers with six catches for 174y.

Emory Bellard

Mardye McDole

Paul Purowski and Jarvis Coursey pull down a Bulldog.

Monk Bonasarte drags down the ball carrier.

Gator Cherry

Michael Whiting

Edenbur Richardson

Michael Haddix

Charles McClendon

Ron Simmons


Steve Ensminger

David Woodley

Sam Platt

Carlos Carson

Hokie Gajan

Gary Henry

Chris Williams

Scott McLean

Hardis Johnson

Willie Teal

Ron Simmons


Gary Henry

• With Cincinnati having won only two of their seven games, Florida State rated a heavy favorite.
• But the Bearcats had come to Tallahassee in 1978 and nearly left with a victory. The Seminoles had to score with 1:29 remaining on Sam Platt's 54y TD reception to pull out a 26-21 victory.
• Bowden said, Cincinnati just scares the daylights out of me. His fear would be justified, especially with Ron Simmons sidelined with an injury.

• Q1: Monk Bonasarte intercepted a pass on the Bearcats' first series. Jimmy Jordan immediately led an eight-play TD drive that ended with FB Mark Lyles crashing over from the 1 less than five minutes into the game. Dave Cappelen booted the PAT. Florida State 7 Cincinnati 0 (10:55)
  But the Seminoles would not score again in the half. The Cats shut off FSU's vaunted passing game by double covering the wide receivers.
• Q2: After the home team failed to register a first down in the first 15 minutes, junior QB Tony Kapetanis from Coral Springs FL capped a 61y drive with a 15y completion to freshman WR Ralph Williams. Florida State 7 Cincinnati 7 (9:30)
  A little less than two minutes later following a fumble recovery by Don Phillips at the FSU 28, Kapetanis put Cincy in the lead with a 9y run. Cincinnati 14 Florida State 7 (7:36)
  In the final minutes, a 39y run by Ellis Johnson sparked a 69y drive that ended with a 1y run by Kapetanis to send the jubilant Bearcats to the locker room with a two TD lead. Cincinnati 21 Florida State 7 (0:39)
• Q3: Simmons went in to start the half. Even though not 100%, he made the difference as the Bearcats would score zilch the rest of the way.
  Jordan came back out for the first series but, when the lack of production continued, Wally Woodham took over on the next possession from the FSU 44. The move paid off as he led a 13-play drive that consumed 7:35 on the clock and carried over into the final period.
• Q4: After two fourth down plays succeeded, Wally hit Lyles with a 7y scoring pass. However, the two-point conversion attempt failed. Cincinnati 21 Florida State 13 (10:57)
  Cincinnati came right back and drove to the Tribe 28 before the drive stalled on a 7y sack.
  Woodham continued the FSU comeback by engineering a 10-play march that covered 65y to pay dirt. The score came on a 6y pass to WR Jackie Flowers, who caught the ball in the corner of the EZ. Once again, the two-point try misfired. Cincinnati 21 Florida State 19 (4:50)
  The Bearcats moved the sticks once on their next possession to eat up more time before FSU forced a punt. With the blocking wall set up beautifully, Gary Henry returned the boot 38y to the Cincy 40 with 2:40 left.
  On the first snap, Woodham threw a flare pass to Lyles. The big FB ate up 31y to the 9 - easy FG range. But after freshman Ricky Williams gained a yard, TB Mike Whiting bolted up the middle into the EZ. Cappelen booted the PAT. Florida State 26 Cincinnati 21 (1:38)

Statistics

• FSU dominated the statistics, rolling up 24 first downs to 13 for Cincy, winning the rushing battle 242-132 (142 of the ground yards coming from Lyles), and gaining more passing yards 168-106.
• But two lost fumbles contributed to the three-touchdown Q2 for the Bearcats.

Postgame

• Bowden on his QB coming off the bench to lead the victory: It's been like that for four years. If one is a little bit off, the other one goes in and has a hot hand. However, this game scared him. I thought we were beat. I thought we were whipped. ... They are a good team. They had a good game planned for us. Concerning the big plays by Henry and Lyles in the last minutes: I had a good alibi ready. Then those crazy guys go out and win the game.
• Woodham: I knew he'd make a change when he felt he needed to. Jimmy wasn't having a bad game. We just couldn't get anything going.
• Cincinnati coach Ralph Staub said Florida State "deserved to win." We were as ready for them as we possibly could be. We've got a lot of respect for them.

For Florida State, the row to hoe is even longer because it is an independent and can command no sympathy vote from conference boosters. The Seminoles' strategy is to point to its schedule. Among the undefeated six, the Seminoles had played the hardest slate going into last Saturday's games, the seventh roughest in the nation. Florida State was the only team among the biggies whose opponents had won more than they lost this year (28-23). A poor running game diminishes the Seminoles' credibility. But their defense, led by outstanding Nose-guard Ron Simmons, and an imposing passing game save the day, as it did last Saturday. Yet, Florida State still is not thought of as a big-enough football power—even though it is—to get serious national championship consideration. Which doesn't stop its players or fans from dreaming.

• An independent like Florida State, South Carolina came to Tallahassee ranked #19 thanks to their 6-2 record.
• Included in their list of victories were a 27-20 triumph at Georgia and home wins over Oklahoma State (23-18) and Ole Miss (21-14).
• But USC gained more national attention for its loss at South Bend two weeks earlier, an 18-17 heartbreaker.
• Worry wart Bowden feared the Gamecocks had just the recipe to derail his undefeated express.
  
  They're a ground control football team. They like to run the power sweep, they like to run the ends, they just move the football on you.
  Just like us, they have a lot riding on this one. A win over Florida State would help the national rankings and help put those Gamecocks into the bowl picture.
  
  
• The Noles had their own bowl pressure. A loss to South Carolina would erase any dreams of Orange or Sugar Bowl appearances.
• I just want to keep winning, said Bobby. Winning will take care of the bowl situation, and we'll worry about it when the time comes. Right now, the important thing is for me and this football team to be 9-0 around 10 p.m. Saturday night. ... We're tired and beaten up. There's no doubt about that.
• The Gamecocks' undisputed leader was TB George Rogers, fresh off a 217y effort in the 30-28 win over North Carolina State.
• USC had not turned the ball over in three days. Head coach Jim Carlen explained: We had problems turning the ball over early in the season. Our players and coaches have worked extremely hard to minimize our mistakes.
• The weather forecast listed a possibility of rain to dampen the FSU Homecoming for the 7 p.m. kickoff. The game had been a sellout for a week.

The rain stayed away, and the Seminoles played perhaps their best game of the season to score a surprisingly easy victory in their first home game in nearly a month before the largest crowd in Doak Campbell Stadium history - 49,490.

• Q1: Woodham started and quarterbacked the entire first half. The Seminoles took control on their first possession, marching 82y. Lyles plunged over from the 1. Florida State 7 South Carolina 0 (9:23)
  Two plays later, DE Scott Warren pounced on a Rogers fumble to set up a 19y FG by Cappelen, the leading scorer in Seminole history. Florida State 10 South Carolina 0 (5:31)
• Q2: A 90y drive ended with Davey kicking a FG from the 19. Florida State 13 South Carolina 0 (13:45)
  The visitors narrowed the deficit when Rogers rumbled 80y. Florida State 13 South Carolina 7 (13:33)
  Cappelen booted his third FG, a 50-yarder. Florida State 16 South Carolina 7 (5:51)
• Q3: Jordan took over the signal calling on the third series of the half and kept it the rest of the way.
  
• Q4: Sam Childers took a 7y TD pass from Jordan. The same duo connected for the two-point conversion. Florida State 24 South Carolina 7 (9:55)
  Cappelen put the icing on the cake with a 27y FG. Florida State 27 South Carolina 7 (7:01)

Statistics

• Lyles ran for 135y, his second straight game over the century mark.
• FSU led in first downs 23-9. USC won the rushing battle 214-177 (with Rogers producing 187) but the Noles more than made up for that deficit with a 204-51 passing edge.
• As usually happens, the victors won the turnover battle, recovering three fumbles to offset a bobble and INT by their offense.
• Woodham finished 15-for-29 with no INT and 145y. Jordan went 6-for-9 with an INT and 59y.

George Rogers

Jim Carlen

Rick Stockstill

Keith Kennedy

Kelly Burney

Richard Williamson

• Florida State was being mentioned as a candidate for both the Orange and Gator Bowls. Seminole fans rooted for Auburn to upend Georgia because that would send top-ranked Alabama to the Sugar Bowl.
• Coach Bowden: I personally think a major bowl would not be making any mis­take by grabbing us to play in their game. Florida State is a mighty exciting football team. We're ready to go someplace. All I would like is a major bowl, and by that I mean a bowl with a good payday.
• Bowden's Boys had to put aside distractions and take care of business against the Tigers and not look ahead to the annual finale with Florida.
• FSU could set a school record for consecutive triumphs - 14 - with a victory Saturday night in Doak Campbell Stadium.
• 4-5 Memphis State seemed to be an easy mark, having been beaten by Northeast Louisiana and Vanderbilt.
• Bowden: Our players need to realize that they cannot ever let up against any­body. We've become the hunted, and if either of our last two opponents could knock us off, it would make their season. We should win, but sometimes things that should happen don't come true.
• He cautioned his players not to speculate about bowls. You play football, and let me answer the phone.

• Q1: A jubilant sellout crowd of 48,021 saw the Noles take a while to get go­ing. Dave Cappelen kicked a 19y FG to take an early lead. FSU 3 Memphis State 0 (8:38)
  But later in the period, the Tigers tied it. FSU 3 Memphis State 3 (1:07)
  The Tribe then woke up and scored 49 straight points.
• Q2: FSU finally scored a TD on a 24y pass from Jimmy Jordan, playing his last home game, to Jackie Flowers. FSU 10 Memphis State 3 (8:34)
  It looked like the score would stand through halftime, but two TDs in 27 seconds changed that prospectus. First, Jordan connected with freshman Hardis Johnson on a 4y scoring pass to cap a 40y drive set up by the FSU defense, which forced the visitors to punt from inside their 10. FSU 17 Mem­phis State 3 (0:45)
  When Memphis mishandled the ensuing short kickoff, Mike Smith recovered for FSU on the 28. Three plays later, Jordan tossed a 5y pass to Grady King in the EZ. FSU 24 Memphis State 3 (0:18)
  Jimmy stayed on the sidelines during the second half. He finished 18-of-29 for 189y.
• Q3: The home team put the game out of reach with a 28-point explosion. The defense accounted for two of the TDs.
  LB Paul Piurowski picked off a pass and raced 29y to pay dirt. FSU 31 Mem­phis State 3
  Wally Woodham directed a 77y seven-play drive that ended when Mark Lyles scored from the 1, where a 24y pass to Phil Williams had planted the pigskin. FSU 38 Memphis State 3 (9:22)
  A short time later, DB Bobby Butler blocked a punt, and Keith Jones picked up the loose ball on the 16 and rambled over the goal line. FSU 45 Memphis State 10 (7:14)
  A 32y punt return by Gary Henry set up Ricky Williams' 8y run for the final TD of the period. FSU 52 Memphis State 3 (1:48)
  
• Q4: With substitutes playing for both sides, the Tigers ended their scoring drought on a 51y pass from Dennis Bradshaw to TE Ken Dunek. FSU 52 Memphis State 10
  With 3rd-string QB Rick Stockstill in charge, senior RB Keith Kennedy plun­ged in from the 1. FSU 59 Memphis State 10 (11:46)
  Later, another backup RB, sophomore Kelly Burney, did the honors from the 1. FSU 66 Memphis State 10 (5:58)
  In the last minute, the Tigers scored on an 11y Bradshaw pass to Anthony Parker. FSU 66 Memphis State 17 (0:11)

Statistics

The numbers reflected FSU's domination:

• 31-12 advantage in first downs.
• 525-239 in total yardage.

Postgame

• Bowden: I thought we might have had our minds on something else tonight. I think this game made the Orange Bowl people happy.
• Jordan: I don't think our minds were on the game in the first quarter. We were thinking bowl. There's no way I can express how happy I am about going to the Orange Bowl.
• Memphis State coach Richard Williamson praised the Seminoles as the best team his Tigers faced all season. All I can say is that we got beat by a great football team. We were beaten every way you can get beat. Everything Florida State did, they did well.

Larry Ochab

Cris Collinsworth

Scott Warren

Grady King

Walter Carter

Bill Capece

Chris Faulkner

Ivory Joe Hunter

• Florida had not won in over a year, and FSU had not lost in more than a year. So it looked like an easy task for the #5 Seminoles to complete their first undefeated regular season.
  
• On paper, it looks that way, said Bowden. But I always feel like this game is a tossup. The Gators need the game to help turn their program around, and we need it to achieve perfection. I think our minds are more on the game this week now that the bowl situation is cleared up. This game is for the bragging rights in the state. It's a game we must win.
• Six times the Seminoles had gone into the Florida game undefeated and been upset, although most of those games occurred early in each season. In 1971, Florida was winless when it met the unbeaten Noles but came away with a 17-13 victory.
• ABC televised the game nationally from Gainesville on the Friday after Thanks­giving.

Seminoles line up at Florida Field. L-R: Coach Jim Gladden, Garry Futch (79),
Rohn Stark (3), James Harris, James Gilbert (51), and Rick Stockstill (11).

The Seminoles earned a hard-fought victory that lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes.

• Q1: Wearing orange jerseys for the first time, the Gators came out fired up and made life tough for the FSU offense with a vigorous pass rush.
  Wally Woodham started at QB. Bowden made the decision because Jordan had started the nationally-televised tilt at LSU. So he gave his other senior the chance in this TV contest. The only scoring during the period came on Cappelen's 42y FG. The opportunity was set up by DT James Gilbert's INT of a tipped pass at the UF 18. FSU 3 Florida 0 (6:23)
  Before and after that three-pointer, Dave missed attempts from 41 and 46 as a swirling wind played havoc with both teams' kicking games.
  The Noles ended the period with only 70y of offense and three first downs.
  
  Ron Simmons menaces the Florida C.
• Q2: Early in the period, Francis "Monk" Bonasarte recovered his fourth fumble of the season to go with eight INTs, a FSU record. But Florida stopped a fourth down run to take over on their 46.
  Taking advantage of the wind at his back, walk-on junior QB Larry Ochab immediately threw to Collinsworth on a fly pattern down the right sideline to the 15. But the Noles held and Ryan Clark missed a 39y FG.
  Given a chance because of injuries to three other QBs, Ochab became something of a cult hero with fans who dubbed him "Dr. O."
  Jordan, the "Rifleman," took over at that point. But after a roughing the passer penalty produced one first down, the Noles had to punt into the wind.
  Ochab tried another long pass to Collinsworth, but Bobby Butler wrestled it away at the 21.
  But FSU failed to convert on 3rd down for the 7th time in eight chances.
  Enjoying good field position throughout the period and throwing on almost every down, the spunky Gators moved close enough for Clark to try a 46y FG that was partially blocked by Scott Warren.
  Starting from the 29, the Seminoles finally cranked up a TD drive. Jordan completed four passes along the way, including three to TE Grady King, preparatory to hitting a 21y play-action pass to Hardis Johnson in the EZ. FSU 10 Florida 0 (0:11)
  A few Seminole fans threw oranges on the field.
  The half ended with Gary Henry intercepting a long pass and returning it into UF territory.
  The Gators held the visitors to a mere 23y rushing in the half but had a net of -4 on the ground themselves.
• Q3: FSU headed into the wind again with Jordan at the helm. It didn't take Florida long to get its fourth sack.
  Receiving the punt at midfield, UF got on the board with a Brian Clark FG from the 30. FSU 10 Florida 3 (11:40)
  To add to the Gators' momentum, Johnson fumbled the kickoff and was tackled on the 4. Three plays later, LB Tim Golden intercepted Jordan and returned to the 7. But three incompletions in the EZ brought on Clark. A bad snap and hold resulted in Simmons smothering the kick at the 7:15 mark.
  Fired up by what the defense did, the FSU offense moved the ball deep into Florida territory on runs by Lyles and Michael Whiting. But the drive bogged down on the 14, and Capellan missed the FG.
  As usually happens when you let the underdog hang around, the Gators capitalized on a turnover to tie the score. After several punts, CB Bill Fiorillo picked off a Jordan aerial and returned 30y to the 4, where the QB knocked him out of bounds. Two plays later, TB Carl Prioleau plunged over from the 2. FSU 10 Florida 10 (1:28)
  Woodham returned to the field and engineered a drive that carried into the final 15 minutes. Starting from the 20, Whiting ripped off runs of 15 and 14 around LE.
  
• Q4: On 3rd-and-4, Wally found Whiting for a first down on the 36. On the next 3rd down, Woodham connected with King to the 20. On the next snap, Lyles burst over RT to the end zone. FSU 17 Florida 10 (12:31)
  
  Woodham: When they tied us up in the third quarter, we knew we had to get in there and put something together, or they were going to win the game. We had to come back, and we did.
  An errant official's call helped the Seminoles. On the first snap after the kickoff, Simmons hit Ochab as he threw and the ball went to DT Walter Carter, who was downed on the 10. A TV replays showed clearly that the ball bounced to Carter.
  Six officials and none of 'em saw it, snorted Pell after the game.
  Three runs sandwiched around a crucial 5y offside penalty against FSU made it 4th-and-goal from the 2. So Bill Capece, the kickoff specialist, tried his hand at a FG and padded the lead. FSU 20 Florida 10 (10:46)
  Far from giving up, the Gators responded with a long drive. The key play was a 51y scamper by Terry Williams to the 23 - Florida's longest running play of the year. But the drive stalled on the 21 and Clark missed his fourth attempt of the day.
  FSU stayed on the ground to run the clock. With the UF line wearing down, Lyles and Whiting ran for two first downs before the Gators held.
  Taking over on the 20 with 4:29 on the clock, Ochab passed his offense down the field. An interference call on 4th-and-19 gave the Gators a first down on the 25. From there, Dr. O scrambled to his right out of the pocket and threw into the EZ, where TE Chris Faulkner made a juggling catch while falling. The Gators went for two but CB Ivory Joe Hunter knocked away the slant pass. FSU 20 Florida 16 (2:21)
  On the onsides kick, a Gator caught the ball in the air. But Keith Kennedy had alertly signaled for a fair catch
  Rick Stockstill: Keith Kennedy was behind me, and when I signaled for a fair catch he hollered, "I got it, I got it." And then he thought I was going to take it. I was backpedaling to get to the ball when I was interfered with.
  Awarded the ball on the UF 39 after the 15y penalty for interfering with the fair catch, FSU gashed the exhausted defenders with handoffs to Lyles and Whiting until Lyles scored from the 3 to the great relief of Bobby Bowden and the Orange Bowl Committee members. FSU 27 Florida 16 (1:10)
  A barrage of oranges came from the stands.
  LB Paul Piurowski cut in front of an Ochab pass to register FSU's fifth INT of the afternoon.
  The Seminoles ended the game on the 1.

Watch a video of the game ...

Statistics

• Playing his final regular season game, Lyles ran for a career high 151y in 27 carries with two TDs. Whiting contributed 123y on 19 attempts. It was the first time during the season that the Tribe had two backs gain more than 100y in the same game.
• Ochab completed 22 of 54 passes for 270y but threw five INTs.
• Ron Simmons & Company held the Gators to 39y rushing.

• The opponent would be the Big 8-champion Oklahoma Sooners, appearing in the classic for the third year in a row and fourth time in five years. I feel I should almost apologize for being here, said coach Barry Switzer.
• It would be the final game for an exceptional group of seniors led by RB Billy Sims, who won the Heisman Trophy as a junior and, bothered early in the '79 season by nagging injuries, finished a close second to RB Charles White of USC in his senior year.
• Switzer's mock apology was a switch because, in the weeks leading up to the game, it was Bobby Bowden who had to vouch for his team being worthy of the Orange Bowl invitation. The #4 Seminoles, despite their marvelous record, were looked upon as Johnnies-come-lately to the big-time bowl scene. As a result, they were seven-point underdogs to the mighty Sooners.
• Bowden: If we could win, it would establish us. We haven't won year after year like Oklahoma. Whether we win or not, we've started it.

Much of the pregame hype centered around FSU's unique two-QB system.

• "Long-ball thrower" Jimmy Jordan, a 48% passer, reportedly would start ahead of the more conservative Wally Woodham, who started in eight of the eleven victories.
  Jordan did not find out he was starting until the bus arrived at the stadium for the game and he was told by Coach Bowden when he stepped off to go to the locker room.
• We throw to everybody, explained Bowden, who wouldn't reveal his starting signal-caller and joked that he might "toss a coin" to decide. We like to release all five eligible receivers and divide them. Then we see which ones the defense covers.
• By contrast, Oklahoma's wishbone offense was much more predictable - Sims, Sims, and more Sims. However, if you took away the option pitch to Billy, QB J. C. Watts could gash you as well.
  Switzer wrote in his 1990 autobiography: Before the kickoff I was on the field talking to Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. "Barry, I had a chance to hear J. C. Watts speak and I am really impressed. He preached at the University Baptist Church in Coral Gables on Sunday. I went back and told my coaching staff, 'I'm gonna warn you, if that kid can play football as well as he can preach, we are in for one hell of a night.'" Bobby's fears were well-founded.
• FSU's NG Ron Simmons had disrupted opponents' running game all season, but he might be negated against OU. Bowden even borrowed a reporter's notebook to diagram why Simmons would never play Sims "and might not even tough him all night."
• Bobby was asked if there was less pressure on his team than on #3 Oklahoma, considering fans would recall the Seminoles' 11-0 regular season with pride no matter what happened in the bowl. In that respect, yes, he said. But in other ways, all the pressure is on us. They are conference champions. We are independent. When you're independent, you only have one goal, and that's to win them all.
• FSU D-Coordinator Jack Stanton admitted stopping Sims was virtually impossible. I don't know if we can stop them. I'd be happy if we could just slow them down. We sure don't want to get blown out.
• The underdog's main hope was that the Sooners would self-destruct. Switzer said his club led the world in fumbles, losing 36 for the season.
• But Bowden wasn't particularly encouraged by that statistic. If they don't lay down the ball, they don't lose. And even when they fumble, they only lose once or twice a year. The 1979 edition had lost just once, 16-7 to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Their 17-14 victory over Nebraska in the finale had clinched another Big 8 title for the Crimson and Cream.
• Comparative scores revealed that OU had outscored FSU 382-319, but the Noles had a slight edge defensively, giving up 136 points to 138 for the Sooners.

Florida State Roster | Oklahoma Roster

• Q1: To cope with FSU's passing game, the Sooners played with only two LBs but five DBs. Beginning at their 20 with the kickoff, FSU ran FB Mark Lyles twice for 4y. Then Jordan misfired on a long out pass to bring on Rohn Stark and the punt team. Basil Banks, the second leading punt returner in the nation, took the ball on his 31 and tore through the coverage unit to the 10 where Scott Warren hit him from behind. That knocked the ball loose into the EZ where Ed Richardson covered it for FSU.
  Right back onto the field, Jordan started this time with a pass down the left sideline to Sam Platt for 22y. Then Jimmy went to the other side to Lyles out of the backfield for 11 more to the OU 48. With less than a yard to go, Jordan sneaked for the 1st down at the 47. After two incompletions, a short swing pass to Michael Whiting gained only 4. So Stark punted safely to the 18.
  As expected, Oklahoma started on the ground to gain a 1st down at the 31 on three plays. But the Noles stopped Sims' attempt to skirt RE for no gain. Watts tried his first pass unsuccessfully. Sims's 3rd-down run gained only half the needed 10y. So OU punted to Gary Henry, who returned 4y to the 26.
  Coach Bowden agreed to NBC's request to wear a live mike during the game. A cameraman on the sideline stood close as Bobby received the play from George Henshaw in the press box and relayed it to one of his WR messengers. Sideline reporter Bob Trumpy explained the FSU jargon, and commentator John Brodie, former NFL QB, explained each call to the TV audience before each play of the drive.
  After the game, he explained why he agreed to be miked: We are still in the selling business at Florida State. We are a young school, and we have had to fight more for what we've got. I felt it would be a plus.
  After two runs gained 7, Jordan stayed in a firm pocket and fired to Hardis Johnson down the middle for a 1st down on the 49. Another pass failed to connect before Jordan scrambled for 5. On 3rd down, he hit TE Grady King at the 35 to move the chains. Lyles took the ball on a Statue of Liberty play around RE to the 27. Taking a standard handoff on the next snap, Mark was hit behind the line but carried the tackler forward for a 1st down at the 23. Three more runs gained another 1st on the 13. Jordan then lofted a pass to the left corner of the EZ but it sailed out of bounds. However, OU was flagged for interference to put the ball on the 1. After Lyles was stuffed, Whiting dove over LT to pay dirt. Dave Capellan booted the PAT. Florida State 7 Oklahoma 0 (3:24)
  Oklahoma tried to establish the FB up the middle to open up the flanks for Sims and David Overstreet. After freshman Stanley Wilson gained 3 to the 27, Sims almost broke a big run around RE, but CB Bobby Butler made a saving tackle at the 32. Then Sims leaped forward to the 34. A measurement showed the ball inches short of a first down. That made a huge difference because Butler blocked the punt, Keith Jones returning it to the 17. Just like that, the underdog Seminoles had a chance to go two scores in front.
  Lyles plunged for a yard on the last play of the period. Florida State 7 Oklahoma 0
  
  Bobby Butler blocks Mike Keeling's punt.
• Q2: The next few plays would prove to be the turning point in the game. Lyles rammed to the 2. But before the next snap, FSU was called for delay of game. So Bowden sent in a new play: Left 82 and tell him I said to stick it in there. That was a quick slant-in to WR Jackie Flowers. Jordan did "stick it in there" but a moment after Jackie caught the ball, he was hit at the 1/2 yard line and lost the ball. The announcer thought it was a completed pass and a fumble, which FSU appeared to recover. But the officials ruled the pass incomplete to bring up 4th down. Bowden was heard asking, What did they call that? When he was told it was an incompletion, he said, That's ridiculous. He sent in the kicker with instructions to take another delay of game penalty to improve the angle of the kick from the right hash mark. After moving 5y back, the poor snap was mishandled by holder Rick Stockstill, and the Seminoles got nothing out of their great opportunity.
  Afterward, Bowden called this series the turning point. If we had scored and had a 10-0 lead or a 14-0 lead, I think it would have given us the momentum to have made a difference.
  Sims stared the OU possession by taking a pitchout around RE for 25y to the 39. The Noles then stuffed Overstreet up the middle. But Watts kept on the option play and scampered down the right sideline to the EZ for a 61y TD. Florida State 7 Oklahoma 7 (11:35)
  Watts: I felt like we were just kind of dead through the first quarter. We knew we could move the ball against them. Over on the bench, I said, "Let's get it going." ... Florida State always had somebody out there on Billy for the pitch. That left me plenty of room to cut upfield for yardage. Early in the second quarter, we had a third down and 15 at our 39 - an obvious passing down. But from the sidelines they called in an option play. I couldn't believe it but appreciated the confidence in me.
  After the 10-point turnaround, FSU needed to respond. But on 1st down, Jordan threw to a well-covered receiver down the left sideline. Senior FS Bud Hebert, one of 40 Texans on the OU roster, stepped in front of the throw and returned the INT to the 10.
  An offside penalty on the first play moved the ball to the 5. The Noles then stopped Wilson up the middle, but he bounced off the pile, escaped Simmons's tackle, and ran around LE to the EZ. Oklahoma 14 Florida State 7 (10:59)
  So a horrendous two minutes of action had seen the Noles go from an excellent chance to go up 14-0 or at least 10-0 to behind 14-7.
  Kelly Birney returned the kick 21y to the 35. Don Criqui pointed out to his NBC audience that the Seminoles had come from behind in Q4 16 times in the last two seasons. But the Sooner defense was smelling blood now. Whiting gained 4y on two carries. Then MG Richard Turner roared through and sacked Jordan on the 28. To make matters worse, P Stark juggled the snap, then rushed the kick to escape a rusher. The ball went out of bounds at the FSU 41 - a 13y boot.
  The Sooners continued to run to their right behind their RT and RG, both 270 lbs. Watts kept for 6, Sims added 3 more, and Overstreet plunged for the 1st down at the 29.
  J. C. Watts hands off to Billy Sims.
  Then OU sent David around LE to the 21. S Monk Bonasarte stalled the Sooner express momentarily when he nailed Watts for no gain. Undeterred, J. C. kept again and spun away from a tackler to come close to a 1st down at the 19. But a measurement was rendered moot when FSU was called for offside. With a new set of downs, Watts kept around RE, again did his patented spin move to elude a tackler, and ran to the 4. Faced with the prospect of a 14-point deficit, the Noles dug in. On 3rd-and-goal from the 3, Walter Carter rammed through and upended Watts back at the 6 before he could pitch the ball. So Mike Keeling booted a 24y FG. Oklahoma 17 Florida State 7 (3:08)
  Watts: When we jumped out to that 17-7 lead, that took the string out of them.
  Birney got another good return, this time to the 30. Out came Wally Woodham at QB. On 2nd and 9, Bowden sent in WR Sam Platt with instructions to run a reverse. It started promisingly but the fleet OU defense stopped him at the 35. Woodham threw his first pass on the next snap and shold have had a 1st down but Ardis Johnson dropped the ball. So Stark boomed a 59-yarder to the 6.
  On 1st down, Ivory Joe Hunter and Bonasarte smashed Overstreet so hard they knocked his helmet off. The Sooners ran out the clock. They amassed 149y rushing but gained not a single yard passing.
  Halftime Score: Oklahoma 17 Florida State 7
  Bowden was heard on the sidelines talking to his coaches upstairs: It really burns me up that we let the momentum get away from us. Then he responded to something said back to him: Yes, we can still win this ball game.
• Q3: Oklahoma, which kicked off to start the game, inexplicably elected to kick off to start the second half also. Needing to make a statement after making halftime adjustments, the Seminoles instead went three-and-out. After Lyles gained 2, Woodham threw two straight incompletions. The first was a flat pass to Lyles that was knocked down by a 220-lb DE - an example of the quickness of the OU defense. When his QB came to the sidelines, Bowden told him, Wally, we've got people open. Let's get them the ball.
  Starting from their 19 after a penalty on the punt, Oklahoma started fast when Sims broke into the clear through RT to the 45, where Butler fended off a blocker and made a TD-saving tackle. Then Wilson knifed through the middle for 8 before Billy moved the chains to the 43. But the inevitable happened on the next snap when OU fumbled, and Arthur Scott recovered for FSU at the 43.
  Woodham tried to pass three times unsuccessfully. The first time he couldn't find an open man and ran for 2y. Then he threw poorly the next two times. Stark's punt rolled to the 13.
  Sims ripped off 11 before Bonasarte and Butler knocked him down. Watts wiggled upfield for 13 more. Then J.C. surprised the defense with a pass to WR Freddie Nixon to the 44. Sims shot through LT for 7 and a 1st down at the FSU 48. Wilson broke through the line and the secondary again had to make the tackle after a 5y advance. Next, Sims went over the century mark with a 5y run that left the ball inches short of another 1st down. Another plunge took care of that. At long last, two straight stops by LB Reggie Herring, the second one for no gain by Sims on 3rd and 4, caused OU to punt into the EZ.
  With neither QB sharp, FSU ran the ball six straight times. Whiting and Lyles alternated to gain two first downs to the 48 and break a string of five possessions without a first down. With LBs shooting the gaps, Whiting lost 1 on two successive carries. Finally, Bowden called a pass, and Woodham hit TE Sam Childers on a crossing pattern for a 1st down at the 40. With the crowd alive, Wally scrambled for 4y. Then the promising drive came to an abrupt halt when Wally threw too far in front of a crossing receiver, and Hebert made a lunging INT, his second of the evening, at the 21.
  Oklahoma cranked up another relentless ground attack. After Sims gained 4, backup FB Weldon Ledbetter burst through the middle for a 1st down at the 34. Watts kept at RE - his favorite direction - to the FSU 44. Sims and Watts moved ahead 5 more as the scoreless quarter closed.
  Oklahoma 17 Florida State 7
• Q4: An incompletion brought out Keeling who punted to the 15.
  A short run and two incompletions caused Bowden to tell Jordan to loosen up.
  OU started at their 49 after the punt. Watts connected with Nixon wide open down the middle. Herring saved a TD with a tackle at the 22. But Sims fumbled on the next play and DT Mark Macek recovered at the 20.
  Jordan returned but didn't stay on the field long. When he threw long down the right sideline, Hebert grabbed his third pick at the 40.
  But Overstreet fumbled the pigskin right back on the 35, Macek being Johnny-on-the-spot for the second time.
  FSU broke the three-play turnover streak with a run by Whiting to the 38. Then Pratt took a reverse handoff around LE for 2 more. Jordan then hit Childress down the middle for a 1st down at the OU 48. After Whiting gained 4, Bowden called for a HB pass. But Mike didn't see an open man and ran to the 41. Bobby went back to the reverse, but Pratt couldn't get back to the line of scrimmage. "Punt the ball!" yelled the coach. The move paid off as the Noles downed the ball at the 1.
  The Sooners then started a boring, unimaginative, but effective 99y drive with all 15 plays on the ground. Wilson, Sims, and Watts alternated carries for five first downs to the OU 34. Then Watts kept the ball on an option at RE. 6y down the field he was hit by Butler and lateralled to Sims who took the ball in stride and steamed down the sideline to the EZ. Oklahoma 24 Florida State 7 (1:58)
  Watts: Billy kept telling me to pitch the ball to him, and I guess that could qualify as one of the latest pitches we've connected on for a touchdown.
  Jordan threw three incompletions, and FSU punted.
  The OU second string offense gained one first down on their way to running out the clock.
  FINAL SCORE: OKLAHOMA 17 FLORIDA STATE 7

Statistics

The numbers reflect the Sooners' dominance.

• First downs: Oklahoma 23 Florida State 12
• Rushing: Oklahoma 59-411 Florida State 35-82
• Passing: Oklahoma 4-2-0-36 Florida State 27-8-3-100
• Total Yards: Oklahoma 63-447 Florida State 62-182
• Turnovers: Oklahoma 4 Florida State 3
• Watts rushed for 127y to earn the Offensive MVP Award despite Sims gaining 164.
  In his 2010 book Called to Coach, Bowden wrote of the 1980 Orange Bowl: The Sooners had a quarterback named J.C. Watts, who was really dangerous running the football in the wishbone offense. His actual name was Julius Caesar Watts Jr., and he sure played like a conqueror. ... Sims was one of the best running backs I ever coached against.
• Hebert with his three INTs was a no-brainer for Defensive MVP.
• The Sooners held FSU to only eight completions for 100y.

Barry Switzer

Bobby Bowden

Jimmy Jordan

Wally Woodham

Billy Sims

J.C. Watts

Ron Simmons


Mark Lyles

Michael Whiting

David Overstreet

Stanley Wilson

Bobby Butler

NBC Reporter Bob Trumpy interviews FSU Alum Burt Reynolds.

Jackie Flowers

Freddie Nixon

Weldon Ledbetter