The top-ranked, 7-0 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden met the 3-3 Clemson Tigers of first-year coach Tommy Bowden. The game was significant for many reasons; it featured a Belt match-up, Seminoles’ All-American WR Peter Warrick played for the first time in 3 weeks after the resolution of his Grand Theft charge, a father & son faced each other as head coaches for the first time in major college football, & Bobby Bowden tried to win his 300th game as a head coach. Florida State’s All-American PK Sebastian Janikowski kicked 3 field goals as the Seminoles retained The Belt with a 17-14 victory. Janikowski gave the Seminoles a 1st quarter lead with a 33-yard field goal but the 2nd quarter belonged to the Tigers. Janikowski actually missed the kick from 28 yards but the Seminoles were called for a delay-of-game penalty giving the All-American another chance from 33 yards. Clemson’s QB Woody Dantzler hit WR Rod Gardner on a 7-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead with 6:17 left in the 2nd quarter. The score came after Clemson ran a fake punt from the Florida State 46-yard line when Tigers’ P Ryan Romano threw a 23-yard pass to LB Braxton Williams. Dantzler then led an 8-play, 80-yard scoring with the quarterback carrying in from a yard out that sent Clemson to the locker room ahead 14-3. The Florida State defense took control of the 2nd half as the game got chippy; both teams were flagged for 85 yards in penalties including 3 personal fouls charged against the Tigers. The Seminoles did manage a Janikowski 33-yard field goal & a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Travis Minor in the 3rd quarter. Florida State again took advantage of their slow play calling on the 2-point conversion attempt as Clemson appeared to stop the try to hold the lead but the Seminoles had again snapped the ball late & got another chance from the 7-yard line. This time the ball was snapped on time & Florida State’s QB Chris Weinke threw a 7-yard pass to RB Dan Kendra to tie the game at 14-14. Janikowski added his 3rd field goal, this one from 39 yards, with 5:25 to play giving the Seminoles a 17-14 lead. Clemson’s last chance to push the game to overtime ended with 1:57 to play when PK Tony Lazzara’s 42-yard field goal attempt was short & wide left. Florida State’s QB Chris Weinke finished with 258 yards passing, Warrick had 11 catches for 121 yards, & Minor had 100 yards rushing with his touchdown, but it was Janikowski who proved the deciding factor giving Bobby Bowden his 300th career coaching victory. Dantzler finished with 102 yards passing & 86 yards rushing in the losing effort. Florida State finished the season 12-0; ACC Champions, & National Champions while the Tigers finished 6-6. Clemson has not played for The Belt again.
Pickin' Splinters
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