1989 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 1989 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Bobby Bowden and played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium.

1989 Florida State Seminoles football
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 41–17 vs. Nebraska
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 3
Record	10–2
Head coach	Bobby Bowden (14th season)
Offensive coordinator	Wayne McDuffie (7th season)
Offensive scheme	No-huddle spread
Defensive coordinator	Mickey Andrews (6th season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Doak Campbell Stadium
Seasons ← 1988 1990 →

1989 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Miami (FL)			–					11	–	1	–	0
No. 2 Notre Dame			–					12	–	1	–	0
No. 3 Florida State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					9	–	2	–	0
No. 15 Penn State			–					8	–	3	–	1
No. 17 Pittsburgh			–					8	–	3	–	1
No. 21 West Virginia			–					8	–	3	–	1
Syracuse			–					8	–	4	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana			–					7	–	4	–	0
Akron			–					6	–	4	–	1
South Carolina			–					6	–	4	–	1
Virginia Tech			–					6	–	4	–	1
Louisiana Tech			–					5	–	4	–	1
Army			–					6	–	5	–	0
Louisville			–					6	–	5	–	0
East Carolina			–					5	–	5	–	1
Tulsa			–					6	–	6	–	0
Southern Miss			–					5	–	6	–	0
Tulane			–					4	–	8	–	0
Navy			–					3	–	8	–	0
Rutgers			–					2	–	7	–	2
Boston College			–					2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State			–					2	–	9	–	0
Cincinnati			–					1	–	9	–	1
Temple			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	12:30 p.m.	vs. Southern Miss	No. 6	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL	TBS	L 26–30	48,746	[1]
September 9	7:30 p.m.	No. 10 Clemson	No. 16	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	L 23–34	61,897	[2]
September 16	7:30 p.m.	at No. 21 LSU		Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	ESPN	W 31–21	75,524	[3]
September 23	7:00 p.m.	Tulane		Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 59–9	61,613
October 7	1:30 p.m.	at No. 17 Syracuse	No. 22	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY		W 41–10	49,832
October 14	12:00 p.m.	at Virginia Tech	No. 19	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	SUN	W 41–7	41,832	[4]
October 21	7:30 p.m.	No. 11 Auburn	No. 14	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ESPN	W 22–14	62,711	[5]
October 28	8:00 p.m.	No. 2 Miami (FL)	No. 9	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	W 24–10	62,602
November 4	2:00 p.m.	South Carolina	No. 6	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 35–10	61,852	[6]
November 18	2:00 p.m.	Memphis State	No. 5	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 57–20	57,511
December 2	7:30 p.m.	at Florida	No. 6	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	W 24–17	75,124	[7]
January 1	4:30 p.m.	vs. No. 6 Nebraska	No. 5	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	NBC	W 41–17	73,953
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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Personnel

1989 Florida State Seminoles football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 8 Terry Anthony Sr WR Shannon Baker RB 22 Edgar Bennett So OL John Brown RB 13 Dexter Carter TE Johnny Clower WR Lawrence Dawsey OL Hayward Haynes QB 14 Brad Johnson So TE Reggie Johnson WR Bruce LaSane RB 42 Amp Lee WR 7 Ronald Lewis Sr OL Kevin Mancini RB Paul Moore OL Mike Morris RB Chris Parker RB Maurice Pinckney TE Dave Roberts OL Robert Stevenson OL Michael Tanks QB, P Charlie Ward QB Casey Weldon QB 4 Peter Tom Willis Sr OL Tony Yeomans	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 27 Terrell Buckley Fr S 6 LeRoy Butler Sr LB 45 Kirk Carruthers So DL Keith Carter LB Howard Dinkins DB Dedrick Dodge DB Leon Fowler LB 97 Reggie Freeman  Fr OLB Kevin Grant DL 53 Odell Haggins Sr DT 78 Eric Hayes Sr DB Errol McCorvey LB Anthony Moss DL Henry Ostaszewski DB Bill Ragans LB Kelvin Smith LB Shelton Thompson DB John Wyche	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 9 Richie Andrews Jr K 43 Bill Mason  Jr	Head coach Bobby Bowden Coordinators/assistant coaches Chuck Amato (DL) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Rankings

Further information: 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	6 (2)	16	—	—	25	22	19	14	9	6	5	5	5	6	5	5	3 (2)
Coaches	6 (1)	16	—	—	20	20 т	16 т	13	8	5	4	5	5	6	5 (1)		2 (7)

Game summaries

Southern Miss

Florida State vs. Southern Miss

1 2 3 4 Total #6 Seminoles 10 0 13 3 26 • Golden Eagles 3 14 0 13 30 Date: September 2 Location: Gator Bowl Stadium, Jacksonville, FL Game start: 12:30 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 48,746 Television network: TBS

Scoring summary Q1 FSU Dexter Carter 11-yard run (Mason kick) FSU 7–0 FSU Bill Mason 24-yard field goal FSU 10–0 0:17 USM Chuck Davis 22-yard field goal FSU 10–3 Q2 USM Eddie Ray Jackson 3-yard run (Davis kick) Tied 10–10 0:11 USM Alfred Williams 4-yard pass from Brett Favre (Davis kick) USM 17–10 Q3 FSU Lawrence Dawsey 23-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Mason kick) Tied 17–17 FSU Dexter Carter 9-yard run (kick failed) FSU 23–17 Q4 USM Rickey Bradley 10-yard run (Davis kick) USM 24–23 6:57 FSU Bill Mason 27-yard field goal FSU 26–24 0:23 USM Anthony Harris 2-yard pass from Brett Favre (pass failed) USM 30–26

See also: 1989 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

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Clemson

Clemson at Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total • #10 Tigers 7 21 0 6 34 #16 Seminoles 0 10 6 7 23 Date: September 9 Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Clemson Tigers football team and Clemson–Florida State football rivalry

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At LSU

Florida State at LSU

1 2 3 4 Total • Seminoles 0 10 7 14 31 #21 Tigers 3 3 8 7 21 Date: September 16 Location: Tiger Stadium Television network: ESPN

See also: 1989 LSU Tigers football team

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Tulane

Tulane at Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total Green Wave 0 0 6 3 9 • Seminoles 17 14 21 7 59 Date: September 23 Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Tulane Green Wave football team

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At Syracuse

Florida State at Syracuse

1 2 3 4 Total • #22 Seminoles 10 7 17 7 41 #17 Orangemen 0 3 7 0 10 Date: October 7 Location: Carrier Dome

See also: 1989 Syracuse Orangemen football team

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At Virginia Tech

Florida State at Virginia Tech

1 2 3 4 Total • #19 Seminoles 7 17 10 7 41 Hokies 0 0 0 7 7 Date: October 14 Location: Lane Stadium

See also: 1989 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

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Auburn

Auburn at Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total #11 Tigers 3 0 0 11 14 • #14 Seminoles 3 16 3 0 22 Date: October 21 Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Auburn Tigers football team

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Miami (FL)

See also: 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (FL)	10	0	0	0	10
Florida St	14	0	7	3	24

Game information

First quarter FSU – Dexter Carter 37-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 14:37. Florida St 7–0. Drive: MIA – Randal Hill 8-yard pass from Gino Torretta (Carlos Huerta kick), 9:57. Tie 7–7. Drive: 80 yards. FSU – Edgar Bennett 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 5:11. Florida St 14–7. Drive: 82 yards. MIA – Carlos Huerta 44-yard field goal, 1:09. Florida St 14–10. Drive: Third quarter FSU – Amp Lee 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 2:20. Florida St 21–10. Drive: Fourth quarter FSU – Richie Andrews 41-yard field goal, 14:18. 'Florida St 24–10. Drive: Top passers MIA – Gino Torretta – TD, 4 INT FSU – Peter Tom Willis – 7/20, 129 yards, INT Top rushers MIA – FSU – Dexter Carter – 21 rushes, 142 yards, TD Top receivers MIA – FSU – Ronald Lewis – 3 receptions, 77 yards

#2 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at #9 Florida State Seminoles

at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

• Date: October 28, 1989
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 62,602
• TV announcers (ESPN): Ron Franklin and Kevin Kiley
• Recap/Box Score

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Prior to the Miami-FSU game, University of Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibis was tackled by a group of police officers for attempting to put out Chief Osceola's flaming spear. Sebastian was wearing a fireman’s helmet and yellow raincoat and holding a fire extinguisher. When a police officer attempted to grab the fire extinguisher, the officer was sprayed in the chest. Sebastian was handcuffed by four officers but ultimately released. Miami quarterback Gino Torretta, who started the game in place of injured Craig Erickson, told ESPN, "Even if we weren't bad boys, it added to the mystique that, 'Man, look, even their mascot's getting arrested.'"^[19]

South Carolina

South Carolina at Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total Gamecocks 0 7 0 3 10 • #6 Seminoles 7 14 14 0 35 Date: November 4 Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

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Memphis State

Memphis State at Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 6 7 0 7 20 • #5 Seminoles 17 34 0 6 57 Date: November 18 Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Memphis State Tigers football team

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At Florida

Florida State at Florida

1 2 3 4 Total • #6 Seminoles 7 3 7 7 24 Gators 3 7 0 7 17 Date: December 2 Location: Florida Field Game start: 7:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 75,154 Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary Q1 3:22 FSU Anthony 62 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 7–0 0:20 FLA Francis 46 yard field goal FSU 7–3 Q2 8:21 FLA Simmons 3 yard run (Francis kick) FLA 10–7 2:50 FSU Andrews 24 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q3 8:00 FSU LaSane 22 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 17–10 Q4 8:05 FSU Roberts 10 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 24–10 4:08 FLA E. Smith 2 yard run (Francis kick) FSU 24–17

See also: 1989 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry

• Peter Tom Willis 20/32, 319 Yds
• Terry Anthony 4 Rec, 126 Yds

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Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl)

Nebraska vs. Florida State

1 2 3 4 Total #6 Cornhuskers 7 3 0 7 17 • #5 Seminoles 0 21 20 0 41 Date: January 1 Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ Game attendance: 73,953 Game weather: Clear Referee: Jimmy Harper (SEC) TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary Q1 11:19 Neb Morgan Gregory 9-yard pass from Gerry Gdowski (Barrios kick) Neb 7–0 Q2 FSU Terry Anthony 14-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick) Tied 7–7 Neb Chris Drennan 39-yard field goal Neb 10–7 FSU Reggie Johnson 5-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 14–10 FSU Dexter Carter 10-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 21–10 Q3 FSU Paul Moore 1-yard run (kick failed) FSU 27–10 FSU Reggie Johnson 8-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 34–10 FSU Terry Anthony 24-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick) FSU 41–10 Q4 Neb Mickey Joseph 2-yard run (Drennan kick) FSU 41–17

Main article: 1990 Fiesta Bowl

See also: 1989 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

References

1. "S. Mississippi surprises Florida State". The Charlotte Observer. September 3, 1989. Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Clemson hands FSU a 34–23 'routrooskie'". The Tampa Tribune. September 10, 1989. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Seminoles overtake Tigers 31–21". The Palm Beach Post. September 17, 1989. Retrieved November 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Seminoles hand VPI crushing setback". Winston-Salem Journal. October 15, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Sweet repeat for 'Noles". The Tampa Tribune. October 22, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "A porous defense, not a poor offense, betrays Gamecocks". Anderson Independent-Mail. November 5, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "FSU air attack down Gators 24–17". Press Journal. December 3, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "1989 Football - Year in Review".
9. "EAGLES GET A BREAK VS. SEMINOLES (FSU ISN'T ANGRY OVER A LOSS TO UM)". Sun-Sentinel. September 2, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
10. "Florida State Is Upset At Finish". The New York Times. September 3, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
11. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
12. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
13. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
14. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
15. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
16. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
17. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
18. "Miami Undone By Turnovers". The New York Times. October 29, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
19. "The true story of Sebastian the Ibis, a fire extinguisher and a near arrest". October 30, 2019.
20. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
21. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
22. NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.