67 Days Until FSU Football: FSU Snaps Alabama’s Win Streak in 1967

There are 67 days until Florida State football begins the 2018 season against Virginia Tech. As part of the offseason, we’re doing a countdown that highlights players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Wednesday, it was former defensive end DeMarcus Walker recording 68 tackles during his All-American 2016 season.

Today, it’s the 1967 FSU squad pulling off an incredible tie against the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Virtually nobody gave Florida State a chance versus the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1967. They weren’t wrong to think so: the year before, Alabama went 11-0 and won the Sugar Bowl whilst giving up a total of 37 points in 10 regular season games.

The Crimson Tide entered 1967 with a No. 2 ranking and were expected to make another national title run. All they had to do was dispose of unranked Florida State, who barely won six games in the season prior and had already lost its opener vs. Houston.

What transpired at Legion Field that day still befuddles college football historians. FSU went blow-for-blow with Alabama and dished out 37 points against the Crimson Tide on the way to a 37-37 tie.

The Seminoles raced to a 14-0 lead that stunned the record-setting 71,299 fans in attendance. FSU quarterback Kim Hammond passed to Ron Sellers for the first touchdown, while Walt Sumner returned a punt for a score shortly after.

Quarterback Ken Stabler and Alabama fought back with two quick scores of their own to go up 15-14 entering the second quarter. Perhaps Alabama just needed a wake-up call?

Florida State took back the lead in the second quarter with a field goal, and looked poised to make a statement after Chuck Eason intercepted a pass from Stabler. But FSU committed a turnover of its own on the ensuing drive, allowing Alabama to ram it in for a touchdown and a 22-17 advantage.

Hammond led the way once more by passing to three different receivers and eventually Larry Green for a touchdown. It was 24-22 Seminoles as the teams went into the locker rooms.

The third quarter was much less exciting, with the only score being a field goal from FSU. As the fourth quarter began, Florida State held a 27-22 lead. Could the Seminoles actually pull it off?

Fans certainly got their money’s worth in the final frame. Alabama regained the lead twice only to see Florida State come right back and match the Tide each time. First it was a toss from Stabler to make it 30-27. FSU evened it up with another field goal. Then it was a long drive resulting in Alabama’s fullback Ed Morgan punching it in for a 37-30 advantage.

FSU went 65 yards in 11 plays to tie it up 37-37 after another Hammond touchdown pass — this one to Bill Moremen. Alabama had a chance to win it with over a minute left, but Stabler was intercepted in FSU territory to end the threat. FSU tried to heave a couple Hail Mary’s before a final interception secured the 37-37 deadlock.

(Garnet and Great Archive Collection)

Hammond ended with 280 passing yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Ron Sellers had another stellar stat line of 13 receptions, 165 yards, and one touchdown. Chuck Eason had two interceptions and Dale McCullers recovered one fumble for the FSU defense.

It was a tie on the scoreboard. But given FSU’s status and Alabama’s expectations, it was effectively a loss for the Crimson Tide. The 37-37 tie broke Alabama’s 17-game winning streak and knocked the Crimson Tide down to No. 9 in the polls. They finished the season 8-2-1 with a loss in the Cotton Bowl.

Florida State struggled to maintain the energy next week vs. NC State. It lost 20-10 and it began to look like the Alabama game was a fluke. But the Seminoles turned the corner after that defeat, reeling off seven straight wins to conclude the regular season. They were chosen to face off against Penn State in the Gator Bowl. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they tied the Nittany Lions, 17-17.