History of Florida State Seminoles football in Timeline

The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University, competing in NCAA Division I FBS and the ACC. Coached by Mike Norvell, they play home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. The Seminoles were formerly part of the ACC Atlantic Division.

1902: Start of Athletic Program

In 1902, Florida State University traces the start of its athletic program when Florida State College played the first of its three seasons of football.

1902: Establishment of Football Program

In 1902, Florida State's football program was first established.

1904: Final Season of 'The Eleven'

1904 was the final season for "The Eleven", Florida State College's varsity football team. During their existence from 1902-1904, the Florida State players wore gold uniforms.

1905: Men Barred from Attending Florida State

In 1905, men were barred from attending Florida State College.

1909: FSC Eleven Veterans Found City Team

In 1909, several veterans of the FSC Eleven founded a city team named the Tallahassee Athletics, but this folded after one season.

1936: AP Poll Began Selecting Top 20 Teams

In 1936, the AP Poll began selecting the nation's Top 20 teams.

1936: First Place Wire-to-Wire

The Seminoles under Bowden were the first college football team in history to be ranked first place wire-to-wire (i.e., from preseason to postseason) since the AP began releasing preseason rankings in 1936.

1947: Tallahassee's Only Organized Football Team

Except for the Tallahassee Athletics team founded in 1909, until 1947, Tallahassee's only organized or collegiate football team were the team from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes (now Florida A&M University).

1947: Resumption of Play and Adoption of 'Seminole' Nickname

In 1947, Florida State resumed playing football and adopted the 'Seminole' nickname.

1947: Football Returns to Florida State

In 1947, following the renaming of the Florida State College for Women to Florida State University and allowing men to attend, football returned to the university, beginning with the 1947 season.

1948: Success Under Coaches Veller and Nugent

From 1948 through 1959, the Seminole football program achieved much success under coaches Don Veller and Tom Nugent.

October 7, 1950: First Game at Doak Campbell Stadium

On October 7, 1950, Doak Campbell Stadium hosted its first game. The Seminoles won against Randolph-Macon College Yellowjackets 40–7. The facility had a seating capacity of 15,000 at the time.

1950: Undefeated Season

In 1950, Florida State achieved its first undefeated season.

1950: UPI/Coaches Poll Selects Top 20 Teams

In 1950, the UPI/Coaches Poll began selecting its Top 20 teams on a weekly basis.

1951: First Florida State Player Sent to NFL

Since 1951, Florida State has sent 306 players to the National Football League.

1958: First Win Over an SEC Opponent

In 1958, Coach Tom Nugent led the Seminoles to their first win over an SEC opponent with a 10-0 victory against Tennessee.

1959: Success Under Coaches Veller and Nugent

From 1948 through 1959, the Seminole football program achieved much success under coaches Don Veller and Tom Nugent.

1960: Bill Peterson Arrives as Head Coach

In 1960, Bill Peterson became the head coach, initiating the Seminoles' move to national prominence.

1962: AP Poll Reduced to Top 10 Teams

From 1962, the AP Poll only recognized the Top 10 teams.

1962: Birth of the Sod Game Tradition

In 1962, before the game against Georgia, Dean Coyle Moore challenged the team to "Bring back some sod from between the hedges at Georgia." After an 18-0 victory, team captain Gene McDowell pulled a piece of grass from the field, initiating the sod game tradition.

October 1964: Seminoles Ranked Number One By Dunkel College Football Index

In October 1964, after a 48-6 win over Kentucky, the Dunkel College Football Index ranked the Seminoles at the top of their poll. Bill Peterson was named UPI national coach of the week after this program changing victory.

December 16, 1967: Ernest Cook Signed

On December 16, 1967, Florida State signed Ernest Cook, a fullback from Daytona Beach. Cook ultimately switched his allegiance to Minnesota.

1967: Robert Urich Plays on the Seminoles

From 1964 to 1967, actor Robert Urich was a back up center on the Seminoles football team. He was playing on a football scholarship.

1967: AP Poll Reduced to Top 10 Teams

Until 1967, the AP Poll only recognized the Top 10 teams.

1968: Third Straight Bowl Bid

In 1968, Florida State claimed their third straight bowl bid, becoming the first major college in Florida to achieve this distinction.

1968: AP Poll Expanded Back to Top 20 Teams

In 1968, the AP Poll expanded back to recognizing the Top 20 teams.

1968: Calvin Patterson Plays for Seminoles

In the fall of 1968, Calvin Patterson became the first African American student to play for the Seminoles as a starter for the Florida State freshmen football team.

1970: First African American Varsity Player

In the fall of 1970, J. T. Thomas became the first African American to play in a varsity game for the Seminoles.

1971: Larry Jones Appointed Head Coach

In 1971, Larry Jones was appointed as the sixth head coach at Florida State.

1973: End of Larry Jones's Tenure

In 1973, Larry Jones's tenure as head coach ended with a losing record of 15-19.

1974: Darrell Mudra Hired as Head Coach

In 1974, Darrell Mudra was hired to be the seventh coach of the Seminoles.

1975: End of Darrell Mudra's Tenure

In 1975, Darrell Mudra's tenure as head coach ended with a losing record of 4-18.

1977: Start of Winning Seasons Streak

In 1977, Florida State began a streak of 41 straight winning seasons.

1981: Clemson Wins ACC Championship

In 1981, Clemson won one of the ACC championships that made them a strong program.

1984: First use of the Seminole War Chant

In 1984, the Seminole War Chant was first used in a game against Auburn. The chant was started by members of the Marching Chiefs.

1984: Florida State Drafted Player

Since 1984, Florida State has had a player drafted in each NFL draft.

1987: Start of Top 5 Finishes Streak

From 1987 to 2000, FSU set an NCAA record for most consecutive Top 5 finishes in the AP football poll – receiving placement 14 years in a row.

1987: Start of Top Four AP Poll Ranking Streak

In 1987, Florida State began a streak of finishing ranked in the top four of the AP Poll, which lasted for 14 consecutive years.

1989: Sebastian the Ibis Incident

In 1989, during a game against Miami, University of Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibis was tackled by police officers at Doak Campbell Stadium while attempting to put out Chief Osceola's flaming spear. Sebastian was later released.

1989: AP Poll Expanded to Top 25 Teams

In 1989, the AP Poll began recognizing the Top 25 teams.

1990: UPI/Coaches Poll Expanded to Top 25 Teams

In 1990, the UPI/Coaches Poll expanded to the nation's Top 25 teams.

1991: Casey Weldon runner-up for Heisman Trophy

In 1991, Casey Weldon finished as runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

1991: Clemson's Last ACC Championship Until 2011

In 1991, Clemson won their last ACC Championship until 2011.

1992: Annual Jefferson-Eppes Trophy Game Begins

From 1992, the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy game between Florida State and Virginia was played annually.

1992: Start of Consecutive Conference Games Winning Streak

In 1992, Florida State began a 29-game conference winning streak, the longest in ACC history.

1992: Florida State joins the ACC

In 1992, Florida State joined the ACC and proceeded to win the next 9 ACC Championships in a row.

1992: Joined Atlantic Coast Conference

In 1992, Florida State joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

1993: Charlie Ward wins Heisman Trophy

In 1993, Charlie Ward was awarded the Heisman Trophy.

1993: National Championship Win

In 1993, under head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles won a national championship.

1995: Creation of the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy

In 1995, Florida State and Virginia began competing for the Jefferson–Eppes Trophy. The Seminoles have won it 14 times.

1995: End of Consecutive Conference Games Winning Streak

In 1995, Florida State concluded a 29-game conference winning streak, the longest in ACC history.

1999: First Bowden Bowl

In 1999, Bobby Bowden's son Tommy was hired, leading to the first meeting between father and son as opposing head coaches in Division I-A history. This game was the first "Bowden Bowl".

1999: National Championship and Undefeated Season

In 1999, Florida State won a national championship and completed an undefeated season. The 1999 team was later recognized by ESPN as one of the top teams in college football history.

1999: National Championship Win

In 1999, under head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles won a national championship.

2000: National Championship Game Appearance

Between 1993 and 2000, the Seminoles played in five national championship games, claiming the championship twice.

2000: Chris Weinke wins Heisman Trophy

In 2000, Chris Weinke was awarded the Heisman Trophy.

2000: End of Top Four AP Poll Ranking Streak

In 2000, Florida State concluded a 14-year streak of finishing ranked in the top four of the AP Poll.

2002: Creation of the Florida Cup

In 2002, the Florida Sports Foundation and Florida Championships Awards, Inc. created the Florida Cup, a trophy for the round robin winner between Florida, Florida State, and Miami. Then governor Jeb Bush endorsed the idea.

November 20, 2004: Bobby Bowden Field Dedication

On November 20, 2004, the field at Doak Campbell Stadium was officially named Bobby Bowden field as Florida State hosted intrastate rival Florida.

2005: End of Annual Jefferson-Eppes Trophy Game

Through 2005, the Jefferson-Eppes Trophy game was played annually.

2006: Vacated Victories

As a result of the Florida State University academic-athletic scandal in 2007, the NCAA forced Florida State to vacate all of the victories in 2006 and 2007 in which the implicated athletes participated. FSU vacated 12 football victories from the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

2006: Win Vacated

In 2006, a win was vacated.

2007: Vacated Win

During the 2007 season, one win was vacated.

2007: Academic-Athletic Scandal

In the spring of 2007, several FSU athletes were accused of cheating in an online music history class, leading to scholarship reductions, vacated victories from 2006 and 2007, and probation for the university.

December 1, 2009: Bowden Announces Retirement

On December 1, 2009, Bobby Bowden announced he would retire from coaching after the Seminoles' game on New Year's Day 2010.

January 5, 2010: Jimbo Fisher becomes head coach

On January 5, 2010, Jimbo Fisher was appointed as the ninth head football coach in Florida State history after serving as offensive coordinator for three years and being named head coach-in-waiting in 2008.

2010: Bowden's Final Game

In 2010, Bobby Bowden coached his final game on New Year's Day against West Virginia, his former team, in the Gator Bowl. This marked his official retirement from coaching.

2011: Clemson Wins ACC Championship

In 2011, Clemson won the ACC Championship, ending a drought since 1991.

2012: Start of Consecutive Games Winning Streak

In 2012, Florida State began a 29-game winning streak, tied for the ninth-longest in college football and the longest in ACC history.

2013: Undefeated Season

In 2013, Florida State completed another undefeated season.

2013: Jameis Winston wins Heisman Trophy

In 2013, Jameis Winston was awarded the Heisman Trophy.

2013: Eleven Players Drafted to NFL

In 2013, a school record of eleven players were taken in the NFL draft.

2013: Florida Cup awarded to Florida State

In 2013, the Florida Cup was awarded to the Florida State Seminoles. Florida and Miami played in the regular season.

October 18, 2014: Record Crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium

On October 18, 2014, the record crowd for Doak Campbell Stadium was set at 84,431 during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

2014: End of Consecutive Games Winning Streak

In 2014, Florida State concluded a 29-game winning streak, tied for the ninth-longest in college football and the longest in ACC history.

2015: Jameis Winston Drafted

In 2015, Jameis Winston was selected with the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in the NFL draft, marking him as the highest Seminole ever drafted.

December 1, 2017: Jimbo Fisher Resigns

On December 1, 2017, Jimbo Fisher resigned as Florida State's head coach to accept a ten-year, $75 million contract with Texas A&M. Odell Haggins was named interim head coach.

December 5, 2017: Willie Taggart Hired as Head Coach

On December 5, 2017, Willie Taggart became the new head coach at Florida State after leaving Oregon.

2017: End of Winning Seasons Streak

In 2017, Florida State concluded a streak of 41 straight winning seasons.

November 3, 2019: Willie Taggart Fired

On November 3, 2019, Willie Taggart was fired as head coach of Florida State after a loss to Miami and a 4-5 record. Odell Haggins was once again named interim head coach.