With Florida State set to host Miami on Saturday, FSU fans would rather reflect on a 7-game win streak over the rival Hurricanes rather than some of the darker moments in the rivalry. What happened on this day 25 years ago however, is too significant to ignore.
The Seminoles were ranked third in the country as they invaded the famed Orange Bowl on Oct. 3, 1992. The opponent was No. 2 and defending national champion, Miami.
The Hurricanes had defeated FSU the year prior in Tallahassee by a 17-16 score. The Seminoles had a chance to win the game late, but Gerry Thomas’ 34-yard field goal in the waning seconds sailed wide right. Unfortunately for the Seminoles on that hot October afternoon in South Florida, history would repeat itself.
Things couldn’t have started much better for the Seminoles as speedy Tamarick Vanover returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0. Unfortunately for FSU, that would be the only time it would find the end zone.
That would also serve as the only score of the first quarter after both teams missed field goals, but Miami wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second period. After Dane Prewitt’s 24-yard field goal put the Hurricanes on the board, eventual Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta found tight end Coleman Bell for a 29-yard touchdown just before the midway point of the second quarter.
FSU was able to take advantage of excellent starting field position late in the first half as kicker Dan Mowrey was able to put two early misses behind him and even things before the break with a 22-yard field goal to knot the score at 10.
With less than three minutes to play in the third quarter, Mowrey put FSU back in front with a 28-yard field goal and doubled the lead to 16-10 with a 41-yard kick with 9:05 to play in the contest. After being held off the scoreboard for more than 30 minutes of football time however, Miami had an answer. Torretta’s second touchdown pass of the game — this one a 33-yard strike to Lamar Thomas — put Miami up 17-16 with 6:50 to play.
Vanover may have returned the opening kickoff for a score, but with less than three minutes to play, the Hurricanes used their special teams to get on the scoreboard as FSU punt returner Corey Sawyer was tackled in the end zone for a safety. The Seminoles were able to force a punt and get the ball back with 1:35 inside their own 20-yard-line.
Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward, who finished with 261 yards passing and two interceptions, led a spectacular drive with the biggest play being a 25-yard strike to Kez McCorvey on 4th-and-12. Ward was able to lead FSU all the way to the Miami 22-yard-line, but with just seconds remaining, the Seminoles were forced to settle for the tie as Mowrey came on for his sixth field goal attempt of the day.
Just like Thomas the year prior, Mowrey’s kick sailed wide and Miami prevailed, 19-16. The Seminoles outplayed Miami statistically but four turnovers and three missed field goals were too much to overcome.
Eventual Butkus Award winner Marvin Jones finished with nine tackles to lead the Seminoles while Corey Sawyer intercepted the future Heisman winner. As for Torretta, he completed just 20 of his 48 pass attempts for 241 yards, but came through with the game on the line.
The 19-16 loss to Miami would serve as the only blemish for the Seminoles, who finished the season with an Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska and a No. 2 national ranking. Miami would run the table for the regular season before being handled by Alabama in its bid to win a second straight national championship, falling 34-13 in the Sugar Bowl.
The Seminoles would rebound to win the national championship the following year, but a missed last-second field goal for a second straight year in 1992 would cost them the chance at consecutive titles. It happened on this day 25 years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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