Florida Schools Set For Saturday Showdowns
Sept. 16, 1999
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Football Writer
By the time Sunday afternoon rolls around, the state of Florida may bethetalk of college football.
On Saturday, it’s No. 20 North Carolina State at No. 1 Florida State,No. 2Tennessee at No. 4 Florida and No. 3 Penn State at No. 8 Miami. The resultscould produce a first – and a second and third, for that matter – in the nextAssociated Press’ Top 25 poll.
As in:
No. 1 Florida State.
No. 2 Florida.
No. 3 Miami.
Never in the poll’s 63-year history have the three major Florida teamsbeenranked 1-2-3, but they have come close. Early in 1992, there was a No. 1Miami,No. 3 Florida State and No. 4 Florida.
Yes, the Seminoles, Gators and Hurricanes have been good, great infact, formost of the past 15 years. And hardly a season goes by without one, two orevenall three, playing a leading role in the national championship picture.
But rarely have all three played host to big games on the same day.
“I can’t remember one,” Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. “Miami andPenn State is mighty big, Florida and Tennessee is mighty big and ofcourse, usand NC State is big, too. I would bet you there’s never been a day like thisone.”
For a chance at a Sunshine State 1-2-3 sweep in the poll, all three wouldobviously need to win, with the Hurricanes needing a big boost from thevoters.While the Vols and Nittany Lions would drop in the poll, Miami would also haveto move ahead of co-No. 4 Nebraska, No. 6 Michigan and No. 7 Texas A&M.
Sounds good, but it won’t be easy.
The Wolfpack (3-0) upset the Seminoles 24-7 last season as Chris Weinkethrew six interceptions.
“They’re a hungry football team,” Bowden said. “It’s an undefeated teamthat has dominated us the last six quarters.”
Tennessee ended a five-game losing streak against the Gators with a 20-17overtime win at Knoxville in 1998. But the Vols have not won in The Swampsince1971, and the Gators have major-college best 29-game home winning streak.
“Our Gator fans get extremely pumped for Tennessee and Florida State,”Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. “Those are the two teams that bring out theextra passion, extra noise level. Our fans have been waiting for this onesincethe FSU game in 1997. That was the last time it’s really been loud here.”
The past four Penn State-Miami games were decided by six points orless, themost memorable being the Lions’ 14-10 win in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl that gavecoach Joe Paterno the second of his two national titles.
“I think it’s typical of all three programs over the past 10-12 yearsthatwe’ve had successful teams,” Miami coach Butch Davis said. “With big games,you’re going to get a big amount of exposure. This is a big game for us, andI’m sure Steve feels the same way with Tennessee coming in and Bobby Bowdenwith NC State.”
Florida State, Florida and Miami have been so good for so long, each hasbeen designated as a “Famous Major College Dynasty” by the NCAA.
Combined, the teams have won 279 games in the 1990s, six national titlessince 1983 – Miami has four, Florida State and Florida one each – and producedfour Heisman Trophy winners. During three seasons, 1990-92, the schoolswere intheir “dynasty” stage simultaneously.
Florida State
Under Bowden, in Seminoles have won 10 or more games in each of thelast 12seasons, never finished lower than No. 4 in the final AP poll and have gone10-2 in bowl games.
There’s been one national title, in 1993, and Bowden is stillsearching forhis first perfect season. The NCAA says the Seminoles dynasty years were1987-95, but it sure looks like college sport’s ruling body ended the run toosoon.
Florida
From the time Spurrier took over in 1990, the Gators have usually been inthe title chase. With the Fun ‘N Gun offense, Florida is 93-18-1 this decade,with four straight SEC titles from 1993-96, 10 wins in each of the past sixseasons and a national championship in ’96.
The 1996 season is an example of how dominant these sunshine teams canbe.Florida State beat Florida in the final regular-season game, and then theGators defeated the Seminoles in a rematch at the ’97 Sugar Bowl to claimtheirone and only national crown.
Miami
Florida State and Florida have dominated under one coach, Miami hadthree inits dynasty years of 1983-92. The Hurricanes won their first title underHowardSchnellenberger in 1983, the second under Jimmy Johnson in ’87 and the nexttwounder Dennis Erickson in ’89 and ’91.
During that span, the ‘Canes were an incredible 107-13, set an NCAArecordwith a 58-game home winning streak from 1985-94 and produced Heisman winnersVinny Testaverde (’86) and Gino Torretta (’92).
For the past few years, Davis has steadily rebuilt the Hurricanesfollowingthree years of NCAA probation that severely restricted recruiting. Lastseason,Miami was 9-3 after closing out with big wins over UCLA and NC State.
A 23-12 win over Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic last month gave fans aclear indication the Hurricanes are once again a team to be reckoned with.
The biggest reason the Hurricanes are back, and Florida football has beenthriving for years?
Recruiting. Now that Miami is able to sign a full complement of recruits,the Hurricanes are able to keep pace with the Seminoles and Gators for thestate’s cream of the crop high school stars.
“You go to the three schools and there are plenty of (high school)playersdown here,” Bowden said. “If we get the best ones, then we’re all going tohave a good chance at having good ballclubs.”
