70-Year Nole Anniversary: FSU Scores First Football Win

Top-25, top-10 finishes, 10-win seasons, bowl victories and ACC titles have become common for Florida State football over the last 30 years. The Seminoles haven’t had a losing season since 1976, have made a bowl in each season since 1982 and own three national championships.

All that success however, had to start somewhere. On this day 70 years ago, FSU picked up its first win on the gridiron upon reviving the program.

After a winless 0-5 campaign during the inaugural season of 1947, the Seminoles opened the 1948 season on Oct. 9, 1948 at home against Cumberland College. The result? A 30-0 win for the first in program history.

The Seminoles racked up 426 yards of offense while holding the Bulldogs to just 133 yards. Ernie Reddick got the scoring started for FSU with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

That was followed by a pair of touchdown runs each from Ken MacLean and Red Parish. MacLean finished with 146 yards rushing on 16 carries while Parish added 111 yards on eight carries in the victory.

As for the FSU defense, Hugh Adams, Dick Peterson and Ralph Chaudron all had interceptions. For the day, FSU forced four turnovers and nine punts in the victory.

The contest would be the first for the Seminoles under head coach Don Veller, who went on to compile a 30-4 record over his first four seasons before a 1-8-1 campaign in his final season of 1952. Over the last 70 years, much has changed for Florida State, but the first victory came on this day seven decades ago.

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