The Daily Nole

25-Year Nole Anniversary: Wide Right I

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For Florida State fans, it’s a day that will live in infamy and it happened on this day 25 years ago. Against the rival Miami Hurricanes, the Seminoles have heard it twice more over the years…wide right. It was first heard in 1991.

It was No. 1 vs. No. 2 as Miami came to Doak Campbell Stadium on Nov. 16, 1991. The top-ranked Seminoles had defeated Miami in its last trip to Tallahassee and many felt that 1991 would finally be the year head coach Bobby Bowden broke through with his first national championship.

The Hurricanes drew first blood with a touchdown less than two minutes in, but the FSU defense stiffened and thanks to a short Gerry Thomas field goal and a Paul Moore touchdown, the Seminoles took a 10-7 lead into the locker room. Thomas would add a third quarter field goal and another early in the fourth quarter to extend the FSU lead to 16-7, but his final attempt will be the one everyone remembers.

After a 45-yard field goal earlier the quarter, the Hurricanes were able to regain the lead with just more than three minutes to play on a 1-yard plunge by fullback Larry Jones, 17-16.

With a national championship and perhaps the Heisman Trophy on the line, FSU quarterback Casey Weldon marched the Seminoles into the Miami red zone. Edgar Bennett kept the drive alive with a fourth down run and FSU was aided by a pass interference penalty on Miami cornerback Ryan McNeil.

With 29 seconds remaining, Thomas was sent onto the field to attempt a 34-yard field goal. Attempting from the left hash mark, Thomas’ kick was pushed to the right and Miami prevailed, 17-16.

After losing at Florida two weeks later, the Seminoles would circle the wagons to beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl and finish ranked fourth nationally. Miami however, would go on to share the national championship with Washington.

The miss in 1991 began a string of unfortunate ending against rival Miami.

FSU would lose at Miami the following year 19-16 on a late missed field goal by Dan Mowrey. In 2000, the Seminoles fell to the Hurricanes 27-24 on a missed field by Matt Munyon as time expired. Xavier Beitia missed a potential game-winning field goal in 2002 on a kick that sailed left in a 28-27 loss to No. 1 Miami.

Many wondered if the Seminoles would have lost to the Gators later in the 1991 season had Thomas’ kick gone through. It’s a question still being asked 25 years later.

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

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