32 Days Until FSU Football: Chris Weinke Wins 32 Games as Starting QB

There are 32 days left until Florida State football starts the 2018 season. As part of the offseason, we’re highlighting players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Wednesday, it was Florida State’s 33 unanswered points against Ole Miss in the 2016 season opener to give the Seminoles their biggest comeback victory in school history.

Today, it’s Chris Weinke and his 32 wins as FSU starting quarterback.

A former professional baseball player, Chris Weinke returned to college in 1997 at the age of 25. Weinke originally signed with the Seminoles in 1990.

Weinke attempted just 13 passes in 1997 and was expected to sit behind Dan Kendra in 1998. A knee injury to Kendra in the offseason however, forced the 26-year-old Weinke into action.

In his first career start — a Kickoff Classic contest against Texas A&M — Weinke led a second half comeback as the Seminoles topped the Aggies, 23-14. 12 days later in his first career road start, Weinke’s role as the FSU starter appeared in jeopardy. Weinke finished just 9-for-32 passing with six interceptions as the Seminoles were embarrassed by NC State, 24-7. It would be more than two years later before Weinke lost another start.

For the remainder of the 1998 season, Weinke did not throw another interception nor suffer another loss as starter. Unfortunately for Weinke, a neck injury in a Nov. 7 win over Virginia would end his sophomore season.

The following season saw Weinke lead the Seminoles to a 12-0 record and a national championship. That year, FSU became the first team to go wire-to-wire as the nation’s No. 1 team. Weinke capped the year with 329 yards passing and four touchdowns in a 46-29 win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl for the title.

In December 2000, Chris Weinke became the oldest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy. (Suzanne Plunkett/AFP/Getty Images)

The 2000 season would watch Weinke, at 28, become the oldest player ever to win the Heisman Trophy. While helping the Seminoles reach the national title game for a third straight year, Weinke passed for 4,167 yards and 33 touchdowns. In 13 games, Weinke passed for at least 300 yards on seven occasions, at least 400 yards four times at least 500 twice.

With losses to Miami and Oklahoma in 2000, Weinke finished his career with a school-record 32 wins and just three losses. Out of the 32 wins, 11 would come over ranked opponents. Weinke went 2-0 against Florida and 2-1 against Miami.

Weinke would be the first 3-year starter under the legendary Bobby Bowden at FSU. Since his tenure, the Seminoles have had 4-year starters like Chris Rix and another Heisman Trophy winner in Jameis Winston, but no other quarterback has managed to win 32 games.

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