Throughout 46 prior bowl games, Florida State has had its fair share of players who have stood out close to home. Jacksonville native Leon Washington was recently inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame for his performance against West Virginia to conclude the 2004 season and no one will forget the way that Miami native Dalvin Cook ran in last season’s Orange Bowl victory over Michigan.
Staying in-state has been the most common destination for FSU at bowl season — 23 times — but with the Seminoles heading to Louisiana to take on Southern Mississippi in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, we decided to take a look at the five best bowl performances from Seminoles who weren’t Florida natives in their home states. In case you’re wondering, cornerback Kyle Meyers is the only scholarship player for FSU from Louisiana.
5. Travis Minor, RB
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1, 1998 vs. Ohio State
Stats: 12 carries, 53 yards rushing, 9 receptions, 55 yards receiving
The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but Baton Rouge native Travis Minor wrapped up his freshman season with 108 total yards in a 31-14 win over Ohio State to close the 1997 campaign. Minor led the Seminoles with 53 yards rushing and nine receptions.
4. Eric Thomas, QB
Peach Bowl – Dec. 30, 1983
Stats: 7-for-13 passing, 99 yards passing, 2 touchdowns, one interception, 41 yards rushing, touchdown
Like Minor against Ohio State, FSU quarterback Eric Thomas did put up incredible numbers in the 28-3 Peach Bowl victory over North Carolina to conclude the 1983 season, but the redshirt sophomore from Lake Park, Georgia accounted for three total touchdowns in the victory and was named the game’s MVP. Thomas got the FSU offense started with a pair of first quarter touchdown passes to Weegie Thompson to allow the Seminoles to gain control. He put the contest away with a 1-yard sneak for a score in the game’s final minute.
3. Warrick Dunn, RB
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 2, 1995
Stats: 14 carries, 58 yards rushing, 9 catches, 51 yards receiving, 1-for-1 passing, 73 yards passing, touchdown
In a rematch against rival Florida that was dubbed the “Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter”, Baton Rouge native Warrick Dunn wasn’t his usually explosive self, but still finished with a team-high 109 yards from scrimmage. That however, wasn’t what he was known for that night. With the score tied 3-3 early in the second quarter, FSU dialed up a trick play and a lateral to Dunn was chunked by the then sophomore to ‘OMar Ellison for a 73-yard touchdown to go up 10-3. The pass served as the longest in Sugar Bowl and FSU bowl history at the time as the Seminoles led the rest of the way in a 23-17 win.
2. Lorenzo Booker, RB
Emerald Bowl — Dec. 27, 2006
Stats: 27 carries, 91 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns, 5 catches, 117 yards receiving
In a match-up of 6-6 teams in San Francisco, Florida State was looking to avoid its first losing season in 30 years. Senior running back Lorenzo Booker, a native of Venture, California, saw to it that wouldn’t happen in a 44-27 FSU victory over UCLA. Booker accounted for a career-high 208 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns. Booker got the scoring started with a 25-yard touchdown run and added a 3-yard score late to give the Seminoles a 10-point advantage during a fourth quarter where the Bruins were outscored, 21-0.
1. Greg Reid, CB
Chick-fil-A Bowl — Dec. 31, 2010
Stats: 5 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 4 pass break-ups, 2 punt returns, 53 punt return yards
FSU was looking for its first 10-win season in seven years as it faced SEC East champion South Carolina in Atlanta to conclude the 2010 season. Valdosta native Greg Reid had a monster night and set the tone early with a crushing hit that forced a fumble and star South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore out of the game. Reid would be all over the field, finishing the evening with two forced fumbles, four pass break-ups and a 26.5 yards per punt return average with a long of 28 yards in a 26-17 victory.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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