“How many games have we lost due to missed field goals?” This question was posed from Dennis Nobles, the jumps coach at FSU. He has been at FSU fourth longest of any coach at the University. Bobby (33 years), 11 (29 years), Mickey (24 years), and Coach Nobles (23 years).
He has seen as much of Seminole athletics as any other member of the athletic department. So as he asked his question, it is important to consider where we were.
Every Tuesday, the 3 time defending NCAA Champion track and field runs stadiums at Doak S Campbell. We start around 3:45 and end around 5. On the field, practicing, were FSU kickers. They were there with a trainer… and a prosthetic leg.
That’s right, a fake leg decorated like a kickers leg. It wears the shoe of one kicker, the sock of another kicker, and a knee brace of the injured kicker. It goes with them everywhere. Practice, locker room, training room, road games. You can’t make this stuff up.
They kicked from short and from long; the right hash mark and the left. I looked at him and said, “Six in my lifetime. I’ve been in attendance at three.”
Florida State football has lost six games in the recent past due to field goals. Five were against Miami- 91, 92, 00, 02, 04 (Orange Bowl). One was against Penn State- 06 (Orange Bowl).
It is possible if Jerry Thomas hits the field goal in 1991 we run the table (like we did) until we go to Gainesville. With a trip to the title game on the line, we beat UF at the swamp and play in the national title game.
In 1992 if Dan Mowrey hits then we run the table. Maybe it is FSU v. Bama, and don’t have to hope the Gators beat Alabama so we can rematch Miami in the title game. The damn Gators screw us again.
In 2000 we play OU in the BCS Title game. In 02 we lose a heartbreaker in Coral Gables and still play in the Sugar Bowl against UGA.
The last two years are just salt in the wounds. Either way, we are looking at possibly 2 more trips to the national championship game.
I have a friend named Paul who gets a little angry when this is brought up. “Yeah, I’m angry at God. How could He let us lose that way? I understand He let us lose, but the same way more times than I can count on my hand?! I was at the 91 game. It was awful!”
I am not here to say if he should be angry at God… after all God is God. But he makes a great point. We lost the same way time and time again.
As I stood with my coaches watching the kickers practice, one more question was asked. “Why do you think they don’t have a kicking coach?”
You think after so many losses the same way, you would think the program would make a change. But hey, we kept Jeff Bowden for six year.
At least we have a prosthetic leg that goes everywhere with our kickers. Maybe it should be a coach instead.
Hopefully the Wake game doesn’t come down to a kick.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Florida State Football articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
2 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete