Here's more of what you did when the kick went wide left - posted Oct. 15
Oct. 15, 2002
Celebrate with a 28-27 Hurricane Score T-shirt!
Coral Gables, Fla (www.hurricanesports.com) — –
Linda J. Ferara, Rhodesdale,MDI was at the game 2 years ago with my youngest daughter suffering from dehydration and laryngitis when the fantastic Hurricanes won as the kick went wide right. This year since I couldn’t be there I watched it on TV in my other daughter’s home in Hokie Country. As they set up for the kick I had to walk in the other room because I couldn’t just sit and watch. I walked back into the family room in time to see the ball go wide left. I jumped and screamed and scared the new puppy my daughter has. I sure can’t wait for the Hurricane/Hokie game this year!
Bob Kropa, Princeton, FloridaAt first, I stood in Section C of the OB with my mouth open. I could not believe they even had a chance to kick it. Then, I watched him kick it. It was almost complete silence in the OB at least to me. I could not tell if he missed it from where I was sitting. Then I heard the fans in the endzone erupt. We erupted along with them and wer jumping up and down hugging each other…what a game.
Rodney Davis, Sylva, NC: Sitting in the Orange Bowl on the South Side just above the tunnel, I was staring at the great names of Testaverde, Mira, and Highsmith. And I could see Sapp, Lamar, McKinnie on the sidelines. It was in slow motion. I’d like to say I was worried but the tradition and Orange Bowl mystique told me there was nothing to worry. When the ball went left, tears were the only thing left in me. I felt like I’d been playing. I laid on the Orange Bowl floor hugging another Cane Fan with a smile and smirk that only a CANES win over the NOlES can bring!!
Jimmy Johns, APO, AP: I was standing in my living room at 4:30am by myself because my son fell asleep in Okinawa, Japan. I knew the Hurricanes after playing soooo bad were still going to win. But, then the shanked punt, I said to myself; could it be, Wide Right IV. I was at Wide Right II and III. Missed #1 because I was stationed in Germany at the time. Then, after we missed the sack, I couldn’t stand to watch the game. I turned the tv off but turned it right back on. Couldn’t believe my eyes. It happened again. I started chanting,C A N E S Canes, Canes, Canes, goooo Canes. I couldn’t go to sleep, I was so pumped.
Frank Warren, Miami, FL: TOOK MY PULSE! I had emergency double by-pass surgery on July 3rd. Being a life long ‘Canes fan, I was a little worried about getting too excited. First those two scores in the last quarter to go ahead..then wide left I. I went through the roof and took my pulse along the way. No problem….the Betapace works great! Pulse rate: 60! Thank goodness for drugs. Go Canes!
Chris Carthew, Florence, KY: As FSU was driving I was thinking that it may be another wide right game, but I did not want to say it aloud, for fear of jinxing it. As the kick went up it didn’t look straight. I thought it was partially blocked. I yelled WIDE LEFT! before I even knew that it was no good. Lke everyone else, I went nuts, practially hugging all the fans around me. My girlfriend (who has never been to the Orange Bowl) was with me and I hoisted her up in the air. I was screaming and flailing my arms so much I didn’t realize that I hit another fan in the head. I was worried because #1, I hate FSU, and #2 I have never been to a game in which Miami has lost. This dates back to 1987. GO CANES!!!
carl ballinger, plant city, Florida: my daughter woke me up. i had fallen asleep when they went up 27-14 thinking the we were going to get mauled.
Bill Quarles, Jupiter, FL: I was sitting with my 10 year old son, Craig in the opposite end zone. With my binoculars I saw the low snap and for an instant smiled. I then watched the ball in the air to the right of the goal post. For that short moment I hoped it would stay to the right as usual. Then the ball crossed the right upright and, for what I thought was too long, stayed between the two post. To my relief the brown football crossed in front of the yellow left upright and the smile came back to my face. There were 3 nice FSU students in front of us and I patted them on the back and shook their hands. We then celebrated and high-fived all the Cane fans around us.
Wes Bradshaw, Rocky Mount, North Carolina: I looked around in stunned amazement. Then i proceeded to hug everyone around me that had on orange and green. I knew that if life had ended at that moment, it would have been totally worth it. Then I watched the FSU fans around me cry their eyes out. It was cool.
Stephen Strull, miami, fl: i was sitting in the general admission west endzone, and when there was :20 seconds left when i went to the tunnel to beat the traffic. I was about to leave when someone said there is one second left. When Xavier ( will be recieving flowers from me) missed i screamed ” HE MISSED IT , HE MISSED IT , HE MISSED IT ” AT the usher while grabbing his shirt.
Raul Jas: Chattanooga: WOW…WHAT A GAME! After i saw that kick go WIDE LEFT, i started to jump up and down and scream so loud that my neighbors started looking out their windows. Of couse i knew they would win since i was wearing my 2001 Sugar Bowl t-shirt i bought when i saw the canes beat the Gators. My heart was in my mouth the whole game. You know that Canes are champions when they didnt panic. They just went out a scored two TD’s late in the game to win it. BEST GAME I’VE EVER SEEN! GO CANES..”Its great to be a MIAMI HURRICANE!
George Pino, Miami, Fl: I was on the Canes sidelines and had a rear-view of the kick. I knew from the second FSU kicked the ball it was going to hook left. Before the ball reached the goal posts, I was running as fast as I possibly could towards the middle of the field. I saw AJ (#5) and hugged him then I proceeded to high-five Brett Romberg, DJ and Dorsey. It was absolute craziness and joy. Wide-left 1 !! What a feeling. As I was leaving the field, I sax Rix and let him know that the OB is “the Canes house – and we own the 4th quarter” !!
Go Canes !!!!!!!!
ADAM DOUNN, COOPER CITY FL: I WAS AT THE ORANGE BOWL.SECTION R ROW 42 SEAT 3.. WHEN HE MISSED I JUMPED UP AND DOWN WITH MY BROTHER AND DAD.WHAT A GAME ..THA CANES PLAYED GREAT THE LAST FEW DRIVES OF THE GAME..GO CANES #1
robert c jordan, gulfport ms: I was at the “Press Box” sports bar in Tampa, Florida. Half of the bar was “Canes,” and the other half was “Noles.” It was absolutely wild! When the kick went wide left we all jumped in a pile in the middle of the bar, as the “Noles” looked on in disbelief once again!
John Alvarado, Jax, FL: After leaving the Orange Bowl at the beginning of the 4th quarter to catch a flight back to JAX, crying like Ben Stiller at the end of “What About Mary,” (literally) my wife and friends and I were getting off at the Culmer Station walking across the street, I heard the honking, hootin & hollering from the traffic and someone with a radio told us they tried a field goal with 1 second left, I had a moment of silence and thought to myself, wide right IV, wide right IV…Please…
Then BAM! Wide Left I. I jumped up and down in the middle of traffic at the red light screaming YES…YES!!!
Victor Calero : Homestead, FL: I jumped up and down in the young alumni section (section A)and cried tears of joy and gave thanks to God!!! I also high fived anything orange and green in sight!!!
Victor Calero
Class of 1992
Joseph Caldwell, Wellington, FL: I was standing in the west endzone, and i thought i was going to either pass out or puke when, capshaws punt went for 3 yds. i couldnt beleive it. when fl states kick went wide left i was running up and down the stairs hugging and high fiving anybody in my way. i dont think i’ve ever been that excited at a game in my life, nor have heard a crowd as loud as the last 6 minutes of that game. my mother had to hold onto me as i picked my wife up in the air afraid we were going to be rolling down the stairs. we than tailgaited for 3 hours. what a great experience! any more of those and i hope theres a doctor nearby.
dave frantz: hummelston pa: sat in disbelief as i watched freddie kick a 4 yard punt. when it came down to the field goal attempt i sat on the edge of the couch unable to breathe. i began praying for wide right 4. i got wide left 1. i jumped off the couch fist in the air and punched the ceiling by accident. i then called every fsu fan i know while enjoying some victory yuengling lagers.
Brad Dzama: Morristown, NJ:I just started laughing. I then remebered those old bugs bunny cartoons where one of the characters falls for a stupid trick and the head disappears and a lolly-pop takes its place with the word “SUCKER!” written across it. Then I laughed even harder knowing that my seven week old son had just seen the Canes beat the Noles for the first time in his life, but it will certainly not be the last as the Canes will always be a cut above the Noles. After that, I just kept laughing; 4 field goal attempts- 4 misses! Suckers!
Dharma Merritt A: Santa Fe, NM: from my vantage point in the middle of the FSU cheering section, it was clear that the ball passed outside the left goal post. as soon as i saw the ref signalling that the kick was no good, it became one of the most memorable moments in my life. there were only 4 of us together in the middle of all of the seminole fans, and we were jumping around, screaming, and hugging each other, just revelling in the moment. i thought for sure we weren’t going to make it out of the stands. i held my index finger aloft for nearly 10 min following the game, am so proud of our ‘canes. i flew 2000 miles to see the game, and the trip was one of the best i’ve ever had. nothing better than beating them nasty ‘noles!!
John Newport E.: Palm Bay Fl.: Exhailed, and jumped up and down. For awhile… Then I sat back and reflected on what just took place..GO CANES!!!
Andrew Heaberlin- and- Jeff Howell: Casselberry Florida: Me And my cousin went absolutley craaaaaazzzzy! We jumped up and down and we hugged every Miami fan around us then immidiatley went around half of the oarnge bowl and gave hi-fives to almost 2000 people in a state of total bliss —-today is monday and I am still pumped up from saturday and I still have no voice!!!OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—- C-A-N-E-S CANES!!!!!!!
Stacy Snyder: Miami, FL: At first I didn’t know he had missed, so everything was delayed for about a couple seconds. But then after I realized that we had won, we all screamed and hugged and rubbed it in the faces of all the FSU fans sitting around us. WIDE LEFT I baby!!
david lee: lafayette, louisiana: i was on one knee with my face in my hand praying for a miss and when i heard it was no-good i jumped in the air, fist-pumping and hugged my 12 friends that were all watching the game at a friend’s house. god what a game. i was stressed out until 7pm that night–emotionally drained. david lee
Jared S. Lighter: Santa Clara, CA: I travelled from California to meet up with my sister Shana for the game and was in the East Endzone. We had to endure the taunts of the numerous FSU fans throughout the game as it looked liked FSU would win. As they lined up for the final kick it looked like cruel justice for FSU. As the kick went up it looked good and I looked away…I couldn’t stand that I would have to hear from the FSU fans right by us. Then as I looked back up I saw that the ball went wide of the post and we just went CRAZY! I went from my heart sinking to complete JOY!! We saw Wide Right I on tv in ’91, were at the games in the OB for Wide Right II in ’92 and Wide Right III in ’00.
Finally, after the game, home and sunburned I slept for 12 hours – I was exhausted. Hopefully I’ll recover in time to make it to Tempe on Jan 3rd. GO CANES!!!
Jared Lighter ’93 MBA
Jordan, Loperena, M: Lake Zurich, IL: I jumped up and down screaming happily and gave my dad a big high five.-jordan
LaMORRIS BACOTE, Summerville,SC : BEFORE FSU LINED UP I BEGAN TO PRAY SILENTLY. ONCE IT WENT WIDE LEFT I NEARLY JUMPED THROUGH THE ROOF.
Michael Rose P.: Lighthouse Point, FL: I grabbed my oxygen bottle then went outside to scream a bit, came back in and popped a bottle ofChampagne!!! Awsome ending to an awsome game. Just ask the boys to take it easy on the penalties though…
Herbold, Greg: Rockville, MD : After Rix completed that hailmary down to the 25 I thought it was over. I mean this guy has already hit from 45 and 42 and was talking trash afterwards. But on my knees in front of my TV I knew it as soon as he kicked it. I just jumped up and down looking for someone or something to hug! What an unbelievable game.
Bryan Botsford W.: McCook Nebraska: we called my best friend (big florida state fan) and we kept yelling wide left wide left
Mark Perl, Plantation, Florida: I was at the Game 4th row, behind the Hurricane Bench next to Frank Gore’s Father… I was holding my breath when, the Kick was up in the Air… Then I saw the kick go wide left, and imdediately following that I started going crazy…. Jumping up & Down and high fiving everybody in our section… I’ve been a season ticket holder for well over since I was 2 now i’m 28… And all I know is the rate we are going should we start not only saying the words repeat but I think threepeat would be a safe bet right now… 2002 is Great… But 2003 might get even better..
GO CANES!!!
By the Way Spring(one of my good friends) now must wear a U of M Shirt for a whole day.
diane merrie chobol : north lauderdale florida: My son and I were sitting and then we both jumped off the couch swinging our arms screaming at the top of our lungs WIDE LEFT WIDE LEFT NUMBER ONE. We were both so elated and jumping for joy that our hurricanes pulled out a nail biting winning game over the Noles.
Tobin Benham A.: Galveston, TX: !st we paused the Ulitmate TV before the kick, because I had to regroup and calm my wife. Then we watched, we screamed, we jumped and we watched it again and again…We then made our reservations in Scottsdale.
Lisa A. Varona, Overstreet, FL : I WENT CRAZY! I was at the stadium in section X about 25 rows up and we went CRAZY with happiness! We jumped, screamed, hugged, & antagonized some FSU fans that somehow had tickets next to us! It was the most emotional 4 hours of my life. It was the best game I have ever witnessed, but one thing is for sure, I NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE THAT AGAIN! I like to see our guys come out on top with less heart pounding drama!
I think they did an awesome job in the fourth quarter. It definitely makes the statement that the Hurricanes are a mighty team….It’s great, It’s great to be a Hurricane!
Frank Perez, Miami, Fl: I lowered my head before the kick and began a prayer. I could not watch. I called on every diety possible. Then all of a sudden everyone in Section W began jumping on me, screamming, hugging me. Tears of joy ran down my face. And it was then that I realized: GOD is a Canes Fan, too!
Marc A. Lalley, Atlanta, GA: I had 12th row seats on the FSU side right where Beitia made the kick. I didn’t know whether the kick was good or not for 2 seconds after it had passed the goal posts. Both teams ran out on the field and some FSU player thought the kick was good. A split second later I saw the Canes’ players jumping for joy. My best buddy, an FSU fan, collapsed in his seat and I jumped aroud the stands with the other Canes fans and we keep jumping up and down for 20 minutes until we all ran out of the stadium screaming.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!
Jason Sullivan, Newberry, SCI was sitting in section 13 and when the kick went wide left I turned to my right and hugged some guy I didn’t even know. Everybody in our section was going around giving high fives and shouting at the top of their lungs.
Erin Pilibosian, Baltimore, MD : Started jumping up and down “high-fiving” everyone around me at the Orange Bowl. I had tears in my eyes!
Christopher Novack, Jupiter, Florida : I have witnessed in person, Wide Right I, II, and III. Witnessing Wide Left I was a joy that I was able to share with my wife and six year old son in the Orange Bowl. After the shanked punt, I knew it would come down to a kick and with my family with me, I knew the Canes would prevail. After the game, only relaxation and food could calm the heartbeat. Go Canes!
Jarvis Brazzel E, St. Stephen, SC: While the kick was in the air I signaled no good for good luck. When the kick went wide left I jumped and yelled and screamed and my mother thought that I was going crazy. I took off my Hurricane T-shirt and spinned it around my head. My mother thought I was going crazy and almost committed me to the local mental hospital. Go canes! State Champs!! Who’s Next?
Angel Loor, Miami, FL : I was at the game. It was so hot and my voice was hoarse from screaming the whole game, but I stood up on my seat and yelled UNDEFEATED!!! People were complaining about how UM was playing but I told them that we could not be beat and that it would be WIDE RIGHT, but I was wrong it was WIDE LEFT… Good God Almighty what a game!!! Simply unbelievable.
Christopher P Wood, Columbus Oh/Sarasota Fl : I live in Columbus,Oh but moving back to Sarasota Fl andI flew in to see the game. I was in the east end zone and all I kept thinking the whole game was we will come back and win. After the shanked punt I though oh no not another game where it comes down to a final kick. I just sat down and everyone around me was yelling that I was going to miss it. I just put my head in my hands and almost started crying and waited to hear what happened. Everyone told me that I was the only person in the stands sitting down and not watching. This is the exact same thing I did when I was at the game for Wide Right II and Wide Right III. It works everytime. GO CANES! 83 87 89 91 2001
John G. Fields, Miami SpringsI was at Miami Springs Senior High for my Pre-game. I Had tickets but could not go because i had a game myself, but we watched at school. when the canes took the lead i jumped up in front and did the sebastion rally cry.” GO C A N E S Canes” coach lora said if i did not settle down i would be sent home. when the kick came and i saw it swing left i lost my mind. I started to pick up all my friends on my shoulder and ran around the school. I did sebastion’s rally call again and one of my coaches did it with me. lol. the rest of the day i did a tomahawck chop to mock the noles fans.
Ben Burgess, W, Mooresville, NC: I was unfortuantely in the FSU student section because my uncle is FSU alumni and that’s the only way I could get tickets to the game. There were only 4 other Canes fans near me. I was in section K on the left side of the horse shoe and could not see at all if the kick was good or not. However I soon realized when the whole section around me became dead silent and the rest of the stadium erupted. I jumped up and down with the other 4 Canes fans and screamed and yelled so much I lost my voice but it felt great as all the Noles fans around me just stared in disbelief. This was easily the best sports game I have ever seen in person.
Tony, Hodges, FlWent from an instant case of nausea to just sitting down and chilling for about 15 minutes. Took about a day and a half to recover.
Walter R. Courtenay III, Cary, N.C. : First off, let’s say that I about DIED when I saw the punt with a net gain of THREE YARDS. Secondly, I was cheering that we wasted so much time, then almost had a heart attack AGAIN when they had one freakin’ second left! THEN I STARTED PRAYING. “Dear God, don’t let them make this. I hope I don’t have to sell my soul for this. Please, God, let them miss…” over and over again, pacing in front of the TV. I saw the kick. I almost started crying right then and there. Then it sank in that the kick was going L-E-F-T! I jumped and screamed and yelled and was easily as happy if not happier than the guys on the field!!!!!!!! That was our “crap” game for the season (like B.C. and V.T. last year). But WE DID IT!!!!!!!GO CANES! GO CANES! GO CANES! GO CANES!
GORDON ROBERT ELLERY III, LAKE PLACID FL : AFTER TRAVELING 3 HOURS TO THE GAME AND SITTING IN THE STANDS FOR 2 HOURS PRIOR TO KICK OFF I GAZED UP WHERE AS WE ALL KNOW THERE WASNT A CLOUD IN THE SKY. I CLOSED MY EYES AND TOLD GOD THAT IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL LIKE THIS AND THATS THE REASON I GOT SEASON TICKETS.I ASKED HIM TO PLEASE MAKE HIM MISS THE KICK WIDE RIGHT,JUST SO I COULD RAG ON MY NOLES FAN FRIENDS.THE CROwD SEEMED TO QUIET. YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP. HE KICKED ITIT FELT LIKE FOREVER. THEN TO ME IT LOOKED GOOD AS ALL THE SEMINOLES RAN ONTO THE FIELD MY EYES SLOWLY GLARED DOWN TO SEE THE REFS ARMS SWING NO GOOD. AT THE SECOND IN TIME PANDAMONIUM BROK OUT IN THE STANDS I MUST HAVE HUGGED TEN OR TWELEVE PEOPLE I DIDNT KNOW BUT FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME WE WERE FAMILY WE WERE CANES FANS.I KNOW THIS PROBABLY SOUNDS REALY CHEESEY BUT IT WAS IN THE TOP THREE HAPPIEST MOMENTS IN MY LIFE!
A TRUE FAN
GORDON III
William Donaldson, Columbia, SC: Being that I am a long time die hard Miami Hurricanes fan from back in the 80’s… And I didn’t really have but one friend to Celebrate the joy with, I just jumped up against the wall as if I was one of the Canes who had just made the greatest come back in Hurricane History… I mean I was literally Bouncing off the wall… “Crazy Cane”
Man… I’m still checking for my heart beat… Love them Canes…
All the way in 2002-2003
Chip Herman, Blacksburg VAFirst of all I must say the worst thing you every want to do is watch a big game or any game with a god-awful Hokie fan. I dealt with everything from over rated chants to “now we see who the real team in the Big East is” through the whole game. After Miami took the lead in the 4th quarter they (Hokie fan) kept saying FSU still has time they’ve got 4 minutes, they’ve got 3 minutes and so on. Then as I dropped to my knees and watched the ball sail wide left I threw up my arms turn around and said “so how much time do they have left now”. It didn’t take a second before the “we’ve got your number watch out December 7th” talk came. All I said was “bring it, what you just saw is what National Champions are made of, when your precious Hokies win one then we’ll talk”
GO CANES
Chip Herman (the only Cane fan in turkey land)
Paul Nuzzo, Orlando, Fl: I was there for that memorable game at the orange bowl. I drove from Orlando to the game with a big FSU fan, also my friend. I prayed. When the ball sailed wide left, I was in shock and full of joy. I fell to my knees in the upper deck. I told my FSU friend don’t ever estimate the power of a champion. Nevertheless it was a long ride back to O-Town for that FSU fan stuck in my suv helplessly with the greatest cane fan of all time.
William (Bill) S. Brophy: Lakeland, FlWe were at the game and my wife and I jumped up in the air (I’m 64, she’s 60),grabbed each other and continued to jump up and down. We were shouting as loud as we could. As loud as I’ve cheered for the Canes since my first Miami game in 1946.
Robert Traylor H.: Manassas, VA: As diehard fans of 15 years, my father and I made the trip from Northern Virginia to see our Canes take on the Noles. Late in the game, my father told everyone around him in Section 24 that the Canes would score twice and win by 1. Lo and behold, he was right! When I saw the kick go wide left, I jumped up and down cheering like mad!…so much so, that I tripped on the binoculars and programs that were under my feet, bumping into the fellow Canes fans around me!…of course, no one was mad, we were just goin’ crazy, high-fiving, yelling, then catching our breath after having witnessed such an amazing victory! A few minutes later, thousands of us were on the ramps leading down from the stadium cheering “It’s Great…to Be…a Miami Hurricane!”. Indeed it is! Go Canes!
Alberto Santana: Miami, FL: I did what everyone else in the stadium did. Yell, scream, jump up and down, and then stood there for about 10 minutes in complete disbelief that we actually did it to them again. That’s no monkey but, a Gorilla on their backs.PS. I saw 6 of you leave early from Sec. B around row 30 or so when they went up 27-14. I told you!! I told you you guys were bad luck. Remember what else I said. Don’t tell your friends you were here for it.
Jay & Lora Brzezynski: Fairfax, VA: We were in Section 24 almost even with the goalpost and had a perfect view of that little ball passing just outside. We’ve been to or seen just about every game since ’84 and that was the most exciting one yet. I’ve never heard the Orange Bowl louder or seen people stick around so long after a game. Definately happy we made the trip down and makes Homecoming worth coming to! Hopefully we will continue to have REAL games for Homecoming.
Danny Vaughn, LK Mary, FLMe and my family were all around the big screen TV on the Floor Praying and when we looked up we here wide left and we all jumped up and ran around the house and gave hugs to every one my mom my dad grand ma and grand pa and we cryed because we were so happy we won !
Todd Moeckel, Inverness, Fl.: I had just called my family, who still lives in Miami, when FSU scored their last touch down and told them I don’t know if they could pull it off now. I just hung up the phone when Miami scored to make it 27-21. I was screaming my lungs out and then to watch Mcgahee catch that screen and go. My 3 year old daughter thought I was crazy when Geathers scored I was screaming so loud! But to watch that kick go wide left was PRICELESS. There are so many FSU fans in this area, and I loved watching the pissed off looks on their faces. GO CANES!!!!!
LaMORRIS BACOTE, Summerville,SC : BEFORE FSU LINED UP I BEGAN TO PRAY SILENTLY. ONCE IT WENT WIDE LEFT I NEARLY JUMPED THROUGH THE ROOF.
