1993 Florida State vs. Notre Dame football game
Encyclopedia
The 1993 Florida State vs. Notre Dame Game was a regular season college football game between the unbeaten Florida State Seminoles
(ranked #1 in the nation), and the unbeaten Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ranked #2 in the nation). The game took place at Notre Dame Stadium
in South Bend, Indiana
on the campus of the University of Notre Dame
. The game is one of the 20th Century college football games to be coined a Game of the Century.
who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy
that season. Notre Dame came into the game ranked #2 in the country. Though Notre Dame was home they entered the game as the underdog to a powerful Bobby Bowden
led Florida State Squad. Notre Dame was led by head coach Lou Holtz
. This was the fourth time that Notre Dame had taken part in a Game of the Century. Notre Dame's 1935 showdown with Ohio State was their first appearance in one of these historic games. Their 1946 match up
against the Army Black Knights
was the second instance; and their 1966 match up against the Michigan State Spartans
was the third.
had exclusive rights to all Fighting Irish home games, and marketed the game as a "Game of the Century." The game was also hyped on ESPN
, to the point that College Gameday had its first ever on-campus broadcast at Notre Dame Stadium
. ESPN also showed footage in the week leading up to the game of FSU players touring the Notre Dame campus wearing green hats with shamrocks and gold-embroidered FSU initials on the front.
on 4th-and-20 for a touchdown. The pass bounced off of Notre Dame safety Brian McGee and into McCorvey's hands. Notre Dame then three-and-out on their next possession, giving Florida State one last shot. In just three plays, Ward had led Florida State to the Notre Dame 14 with three seconds to play. On the last play of the game, Ward rolled out and had his final pass attempt batted down by the Notre Dame defense; giving the Irish a 31-24 victory.
in the next week to earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl
. Its opponent in the Fiesta Bowl would have been Florida State, which surprisingly was only dropped to #2 in the polls.
The rematch was never to take place, though, as Boston College stunned Notre Dame, 41-39 on a last-second field goal, knocking Notre Dame from #1, and effectively knocking it out of the national championship picture. After the loss, Florida State retook the #1 spot in the poll and Nebraska
became the new #2, setting up a #1 vs. #2 match up for the National Championship
in the Orange Bowl
. Florida State would go on to win the game 18-16 on a last second field goal miss by Nebraska.
Notre Dame fans felt stifled by the polls, claiming that the Irish should have been given the Orange Bowl berth because of their win over Florida State. Notre Dame wound up earning a berth in the Cotton Bowl where it would defeat Texas A&M
24-21 and finish second in the polls.
1993 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 1993 Florida State Seminoles football team was the national champion of the 1993 college football season. The team finished with a 12-1 record.-Regular season:...
(ranked #1 in the nation), and the unbeaten Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ranked #2 in the nation). The game took place at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
on the campus of the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. The game is one of the 20th Century college football games to be coined a Game of the Century.
The build up
Florida State entered the game as the #1 team in the country, led by quarterback Charlie WardCharlie Ward
Charlie Ward, Jr. is a retired American professional NBA basketball player, college football Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O'Brien Award winner and a Major League Baseball draftee. Ward is considered one of the best all-around athletes in the last quarter century...
who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
that season. Notre Dame came into the game ranked #2 in the country. Though Notre Dame was home they entered the game as the underdog to a powerful Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
led Florida State Squad. Notre Dame was led by head coach Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz
Louis Leo "Lou" Holtz is a retired American football coach, and active sportscaster, author, and motivational speaker in the United States...
. This was the fourth time that Notre Dame had taken part in a Game of the Century. Notre Dame's 1935 showdown with Ohio State was their first appearance in one of these historic games. Their 1946 match up
1946 Army vs. Notre Dame football game
The 1946 Army vs. Notre Dame football game was a regular season college football game played on November 9, 1946. Army , then ranked Number 1 in the Associated Press college football poll, played the University of Notre Dame, of South Bend, Indiana, ranked Number 2, at Yankee Stadium in New York City...
against the Army Black Knights
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
was the second instance; and their 1966 match up against the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
was the third.
Television coverage
NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
had exclusive rights to all Fighting Irish home games, and marketed the game as a "Game of the Century." The game was also hyped on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, to the point that College Gameday had its first ever on-campus broadcast at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
. ESPN also showed footage in the week leading up to the game of FSU players touring the Notre Dame campus wearing green hats with shamrocks and gold-embroidered FSU initials on the front.
The game
Notre Dame outplayed Florida State the entire game to the tune of a 31-17 lead with 1:39 to play in the fourth quarter. The offense had hung its shoulders around their jr. back Lee Becton who had yet another 100+ yd afternoon. With 1:39, Ward drove Florida State down the field, and hit Kez McCorveyKez McCorvey
Kezarrick Montines McCorvey is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Detroit Lions . Although a standout wideout in college for the FSU Seminoles, Mccorvery was used primarily on special teams in the NFL and amassed only 2 career receptions...
on 4th-and-20 for a touchdown. The pass bounced off of Notre Dame safety Brian McGee and into McCorvey's hands. Notre Dame then three-and-out on their next possession, giving Florida State one last shot. In just three plays, Ward had led Florida State to the Notre Dame 14 with three seconds to play. On the last play of the game, Ward rolled out and had his final pass attempt batted down by the Notre Dame defense; giving the Irish a 31-24 victory.
Aftermath
Notre Dame found itself atop of the polls after the victory, and would only need to defeat Boston CollegeBoston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
in the next week to earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
. Its opponent in the Fiesta Bowl would have been Florida State, which surprisingly was only dropped to #2 in the polls.
The rematch was never to take place, though, as Boston College stunned Notre Dame, 41-39 on a last-second field goal, knocking Notre Dame from #1, and effectively knocking it out of the national championship picture. After the loss, Florida State retook the #1 spot in the poll and Nebraska
1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
became the new #2, setting up a #1 vs. #2 match up for the National Championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
in the Orange Bowl
1994 Orange Bowl
The 1994 Orange Bowl a 1993–1994 college football bowl game was played on January 1, 1994, for the national championship. This 60th edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Florida State Seminoles. Florida State came into the game 11-1, and ranked first in the nation....
. Florida State would go on to win the game 18-16 on a last second field goal miss by Nebraska.
Notre Dame fans felt stifled by the polls, claiming that the Irish should have been given the Orange Bowl berth because of their win over Florida State. Notre Dame wound up earning a berth in the Cotton Bowl where it would defeat Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
24-21 and finish second in the polls.
Further reading
- Whittingham, Richard. (December 1985). Saturday Afternoon: College Football and the Men Who Made the Day: Workman Pub Co. ISBN 0-89480-933-4 (Synopsis of several of the listed games)