FSU’s 1993 National Title Team’s Silver Anniversary: Links, Bios and Credits

Over the last nearly two weeks, we put a lot of time and effort into recognizing the 25-year anniversary of Florida State’s 1993 national championship. We put together 12 different stories looking at different games and aspects of the magical season in Tallahassee.

A big thank you goes out to our readers and everyone who has had kind words along the way. We wanted to take this opportunity to put all the links in one place, so you can find every piece and read them in order. We hope you have enjoyed this series.

Author’s Purpose

I remember being eight years old as I watched the 1993 season unfold. It was my first full season watching the game of football and I recall so many great memories from that season. I wanted to use this platform and take the 25-year anniversary as an opportunity to revive some great memories for fans who were able to watch them and to give insight to younger fans who may not have been old enough to remember. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the former players who were willing to reflect on an incredible feat and give a unique perspective 25 years later.

–Mike Ferguson
Editor of The Daily Nole
Mike@TheDailyNole.com

Contents

Part I: Great Expectations
Big things had come to be expected of Florida State, but the 1993 team was ranked preseason No. 1 and faced a daunting slate with a young, but experienced core of players.

Part II: The Fast Break Offense a Well-Oiled Machine
With eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward at the helm, Florida State’s shotgun offense was an unstoppable force.

Part III: A Defense Competing for Every Blade of Grass
Led by defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, the FSU defense was one of the nation’s stingiest.

Part IV: Five Games, Little Resistance
FSU outscored opponents 238-14 and pitched three shutouts, thanks to two memorable goal line stands, over the first five games of the 1993 season.

Part V: Sweet Revenge
After losing three straight to rival Miami and two on last-second missed field goals, FSU got sweet revenge against its rivals to the south.

Part VI: Kanell Shines in Ward’s Absence
With Heisman Trophy frontrunner Charlie Ward sidelined with a side injury, redshirt sophomore Danny Kanell shined in his first career start.

Part VII: The Game of the Century
Florida State’s lone defeat in 1993 came in a match-up of No. 1 vs. No. 2 as Notre Dame held off the Seminoles in South Bend, 31-24.

Part VIII: Boston College Does the Unthinkable
One week after Florida State’s national title hopes had taken a hit, the Seminoles were given new life when Boston College pulled off an unlikely upset of Notre Dame in South Bend.

Part IX: Ward to Dunn Does in the Gators
Then freshman running back Warrick Dunn’s memorable 79-yard touchdown in the regular season finale against Florida changed momentum in the annual rivalry contest and served as a knockout punch.

Part X: FSU Prepares for Orange Bowl Rematch
Charlie Ward becomes Florida State’s first Heisman Trophy winner while the program turns its attention to undefeated Nebraska — a team that the Seminoles had defeated in the previous year’s Orange Bowl.

Part XI: Ward and Bentley Deliver FSU
The 11th part of the series remembers the final drive of the Orange Bowl and the irony of FSU’s first national championship being decided in the unlikeliest fashion as placekicking finally worked to FSU’s favor.

Part XII: Reflections 25 Years Later
The final part of the series is a reflection from the former players on what it means to have been part of the school’s first national championship 25 years later.

Voices

Clifton Abraham, CB

A Dallas native, Clifton Abraham was a 3-year starter for the Seminoles who recorded eight career interceptions and scored six career touchdowns. After earning honorable mention All-American honors in 1993, Abraham was a Consensus All-American as a redshirt senior in 1994. Abraham played three years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. Abraham was elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2008.

Derrick Brooks, LB

A native of Pensacola, Brooks was a 3-year starter at linebacker for Florida State and a Consensus All-American as a junior in 1993 and a senior in 1994. Brooks would go on to spend 14 seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was an 11-time Pro Bowler and the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Brooks helped the Buccaneers win their only Super Bowl that season. Brooks was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2014.

Kez McCorvey, WR

A sure-handed wide receiver, Kez McCorvey was a 4-year starter for Florida State. McCorvey led the Seminoles in receiving in each of his final two seasons, finishing with a career-high 966 yards in 1993 and 870 in 1994. McCorvey scored 16 career touchdowns. After earning honorable mention honors in 1993, McCorvey was named a first-team All-American by United Press International in 1994. McCorvey spent three years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. McCorvey spent one season as wide receivers coach at Middle Tennessee State under former FSU quarterback Rick Stockstill. He was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2005.

Todd Rebol, LB

A native of Punta Gorda, Todd Rebol was a 3-year starter for Florida State at linebacker. Rebol finished his career with 237 total tackles, nine for loss, 2.5 sacks and two career interceptions. Rebol had at least 60 total tackles in each of his final three seasons and was the fourth-leading tackler on the 1993 national championship team.

Clay Shiver, C

The younger brother of former FSU safety Stan Shiver, Clay Shiver started at least five games in each of his final four seasons at Florida State and 41 total. Shiver earned All-American honors in three different seasons. In 1995, he was a Consensus All-American selection. Shiver was a 3-time All-ACC selection and 2-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Shiver was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2001 after a short NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

References and Credits

Special thanks to the five former players, Bob Perrone and NoleFan.org, Getty Images, Tallahassee Democrat archives, Orlando Sentinel archives, New York Times archives, Sports Reference, Chris Holder at Garnet and Great, ABC Sports footage, NBC Sports footage and Jefferson Pilot Sports footage.

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