For the first time since the mid-1970s, Florida State football has suffered through consecutive losing seasons.
The Seminoles were unable to overcome six turnovers, including five from quarterback James Blackman, on Tuesday in a 20-14 loss to Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. After going 5-7 in 2018, FSU finishes the year with a record of 6-7.
While the setting is pristine, El Paso historically hasn’t been a great place for Florida State to spend its holidays. With Tuesday’s loss, FSU fell to 0-3 all-time in the Sun Bowl.
Among bowl games, the Sun Bowl is the only bowl that FSU has played in multiple times and has yet to garner a victory. Tuesday’s 6-turnover, 6-point loss to the Sun Devils may have actually been Florida State’s showing in college football’s second oldest bowl.
The most recent appearance before Tuesday came on Christmas Eve of 1966 when FSU fell to Wyoming, 28-20. Kim Hammond passed for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Ron Sellers in that contest, but the Cowboys managed 229 yards rushing to -21 for the Seminoles. A future NFL star with the Miami Dolphins, Jim Kiick rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns for Wyoming in the win.
The Sun Bowl on New Year’s Day 1955 was just FSU’s second bowl appearance ever. In that one, FSU was trounced by Texas Western — now UTEP — by a 47-20 score. FSU led 7-0 in the contest, but after the Seminoles lost star Lee Corso to injury, the home-standing Miners responded with 41 unanswered points. Texas Western quarterback Jesse Whittenton accounted for five total touchdowns.
The only other bowl games in which FSU has appeared and not won are the now defunct Bluegrass Bowl, the Music City Bowl and the Rose Bowl. FSU fell to Oklahoma State 15-6 in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl. With more than 20 players suspended, FSU lost 35-28 to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2007. The Seminoles concluded the 2014 season with a Rose Bowl loss to Oregon in what served as college football’s first-ever national semifinal.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
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