It was seven year ago when a little unknown school traveled north to face #19 FSU in Doak Campbell Stadium. Many FSU fans remember it as the “White Out Game”, but we also remember it as being the turning point for the program. What I am about to say will shock many Florida State Seminole fans but it is the hard truth. Thank You South Florida!
South Florida Bulls, a young team at the time came into Doak Campbell Stadium and defeated Florida State (17-7). As a young fan then, not knowing of what has happened and then slowly realizing that I was watching the end of a legend career in Bobby Bowden. This was a complete shock, We are Florida State. We don’t lose to these type of teams. They don’t belong on the same filed as us. Then B.J. Daniels arrived, a mobile QB out of Tallahassee Leon High School. He started his first game in his hometown against his favorite team, my team FSU. B.J. picked our defense apart and future Giants DE Pierre Paul shut down our Seminole passing attack by getting to Christian Ponder multiple times. Looking back at this game and seeing what came from it, I had a hard time understanding what happened, but as I got older I came to the conclusion that it was the game that turned our program around.
This game was hard on me, and I guaranteed most FSU fans felt the same thing. I was hearing things from fans that I never herd Seminole fans say and then it hit me like a linebacker sacking a QB on his blind side. My team, my program, my coach is dead. The mighty Seminoles that I grew up watching would of never have lost to a school like South Florida. My program became nothing, all those ten win seasons and major bowl wins were an after thought. This Seminole team was at best a 6-6 program.
Fast forward it to today. A little unknown school in South Florida makes its return to Doak Campbell to face #11 Florida State this Saturday Afternoon. As for myself and many FSU fans we remember 2009. The game that change our program, a game that made us become National Champions. This week, unlike 2009, the Seminoles are a heavy favorites and are expected to handle the Bulls quite easily. Still, we Seminole fans still remember the heart break back in 2009.
Do I see a repeat of 2009 happening this week in Tallahassee? NO. FSU should have their way with the Bulls. I do expect Head Coach Jimbo Fisher and staff to form a game plan in which keeps USF defense off balance and lets Everett Golson use his legs to extend plays. Look for USF to make some plays to keep this game close but FSU just has to much talent for USF to recover. Look for the Noles to win this game but not cover the (-28.5 point spread). The 2009 game is history but we have to remember what came from it.
FSU 40 South Florida 21
Feature photo credit: Jason Meunier
