35-Year Nole Anniversary: FSU Wins at Notre Dame in First Meeting

The 1981 season may have been the last time that Florida State failed to make a bowl game, but that season as a whole had plenty of positives. The Seminoles may have finished just 6-5, but managed to collect victories at some of college football’s most pristine venues.

One week after defeating No. 7 Ohio State in Columbus, FSU won at Notre Dame in the first ever meeting between the Seminoles and the Fighting Irish. That 19-13 victory came on this day 35 years ago.

FSU arrived in South Bend ranked No. 20 in the country on Oct. 10, 1981. Notre Dame had ascended to No. 1 earlier in the year, but arrived unranked at 2-2 after losses to Michigan and Purdue.

Offenses were slow to get started on that Saturday afternoon in South Bend as the teams traded field goals in the first half. After Notre Dame took a 6-3 lead early in the second half, the Seminoles needed fewer than three minutes to respond.

Rick Stockstill found Michael Whiting early in the third quarter to give the Seminoles their first lead of the day and Mike Rendina’s second field goal of the day gave FSU a 13-6 lead heading to the final quarter. Notre Dame would score on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the game, but Stockstill’s second touchdown pass of the day to Whiting with 7:41 to go capped the scoring and the FSU victory.

Though Stockstill and Whiting hooked up for the Seminoles’ only two touchdowns, running back Ricky Williams was the star of the day for the FSU offense, rushing for 135 yards on 15 carries. Whiting finished the day with 115 total yards with 71 of those coming on the ground.

The FSU defense forced three Notre Dame turnovers and limited the Irish to just 256 yards of offense and just 38 through the air. James Harris and Harvey Clayton each recorded interceptions while Tommy Young led the team with 15 tackles and a forced fumble.

Since the 1981 contest in South Bend, Notre Dame and Florida State have met seven times, including three with both teams ranked in the top 10 and twice in bowls. FSU leads the all-time series 6-2.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson