Garnet and Great

The Day FSU Kicked a Field Goal to Beat Miami in the Orange Bowl

Okay, it was September 18, 1971. But you can still amaze your friends with the fact that FSU did beat Miami in the Orange Bowl on a 25-yd. field goal by a little barefoot kicker named Frank Fontes. And with just four minutes and 38 ticks left, the Noles held off two late Miami drives to walk off the winners.

Don Sparkman (1970 — '73) was a sophomore OL that day. Now a Ford executive in Detroit, Sparkman remembers it this way:

"It was a nationally televised game at 1 O'Clock. It was so hot that when we put our hands down on the AstroTurf — the Orange Bowl had one of the first versions of the stuff — it was like putting your hands on blazing asphalt. 

"I recall the game coming right down toward the end. It was pretty close the whole way. Even back then, just like today, Miami sent tons of players to the Pros. They were bigger than Florida State. They were faster than Florida State. But Frank was just an unflappable individual. So when we lined up to kick the field goal, there wasn't much doubt that Frank was going to make it."  

His Stock Is Still Rising

For the first time in 24 years, Rick Stockstill's business card doesn't say Assistant Coach. It now reads Head Football Coach, thank you. Though everybody at Middle Tennessee State — from student trainer to school President — believes "Savior" might be more appropriate after five losing seasons.

But long before he became known as an offensive whiz and recruiting genius, Rick led FSU to signature wins against Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Dan Marino (beating Pitt when Dan was a sophomore).

What are his memories of those landmark games in 1980 and '81? How does he compare Coach Bowden with Steve Spurrier, for whom he coached in 2005? And is the goal of someday succeeding Bowden the top rung on his career ladder?

Rick answers those questions and many more in our latest Garnet and Great feature.