There was little drama on homecoming weekend on this day 25 years ago, but it was a significant day for Florida State nonetheless. In its initial season in the ACC, FSU finished a perfect 8-0 in conference to win its first of nine consecutive ACC crowns upon entering the conference.
As a new member of the ACC in 1992, the Seminoles were forced to complete late comebacks against Clemson and Georgia Tech earlier in the season. On Nov. 7, 1992 however, Maryland was no match for the sixth-ranked home-standing Seminoles in a 69-21 victory.
The Terrapins showed a bit of fight early as a 23-yard touchdown pass from John Kaleo to Richard Harris answered an 8-yard touchdown run from FSU quarterback Charlie Ward and knotted the game, 7-7. The next 49 points or seven touchdowns would belong to the Seminoles, who put up 858 yards of offense with the yards distributed almost evenly between the air and ground. All of this came without a turnover.
Ward accounted for 506 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns. Ward passed for 395 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 111 yards and a score. Two of Ward’s touchdown tosses went to Kevin Knox while fellow wide receiver Kez McCorvey and tight end Lonnie Johnson also caught touchdowns from the future Heisman winner. Although he didn’t find the end zone, Tamarick Vanover led the Seminoles with 107 yards receiving.
In an addition to Ward’s scamper to open the scoring, fullbacks William Floyd and Zack Crockett and running backs Clyde Allen and Tiger McMillon all rushed for scores. Allen found the end zone twice on a day where he carried the ball just five times for 103 yards.
The FSU defense ended the day with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Three of those stops behind the line of scrimmage came from linebacker Derrick Brooks. Derrick Alexander led the pass rush with a pair of sacks.
With the win, FSU improved to 8-1 before finishing 11-1 with a 27-14 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and a No. 2 national ranking. FSU would run the table in the ACC in each of the next two years and in seven of its first nine in the conference.
In now their 26th year in the ACC, the Seminoles have won the conference 15 times and finished a perfect 8-0 in ACC play on nine occasions. The first time it took place however, came on this day 25 years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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