1989 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 1989 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles compiled a record of 10–2 with win in the Fiesta Bowl over Nebraska. Florida State played home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

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	I formation, Pro set
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	[4]
October 7	1:30 p.m.	at No. 17 Syracuse	No. 22	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY		W 41–10	49,832	[5]
October 14	12:00 p.m.	at Virginia Tech	No. 19	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	SUN	W 41–7	41,832	[6]
October 21	7:30 p.m.	No. 11 Auburn	No. 14	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ESPN	W 22–14	62,711	[7]
October 28	8:00 p.m.	No. 2 Miami (FL)	No. 9	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	W 24–10	62,602	[8]
November 4	2:00 p.m.	South Carolina	No. 6	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 35–10	61,852	[9]
November 18	2:00 p.m.	Memphis State	No. 5	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 57–20	57,511	[10]
December 2	7:30 p.m.	at Florida	No. 6	Florida Field Gainesville, FL (rivalry)	ESPN	W 24–17	75,124	[11]
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	[12]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

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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

Team	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

^{[14] [15] [16]}

Clemson

Clemson at Florida State

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

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

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

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

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

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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.'"^[24]

South Carolina

South Carolina at Florida State

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

Team	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

Personnel

1989 Florida State Seminoles football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 8 Terry Anthony Sr WR Shannon Baker Fr RB 22 Edgar Bennett So OL John Brown RB 13 Dexter Carter Sr TE Johnny Clower WR 29 Lawrence Dawsey Jr OL Hayward Haynes QB 14 Brad Johnson So TE Reggie Johnson Jr WR 88 Bruce LaSane Sr RB 42 Amp Lee Fr WR 7 Ronald Lewis Sr OL Kevin Mancini RB Paul Moore So OL Mike Morris RB Chris Parker Jr RB Maurice Pinckney TE Dave Roberts Jr OL Robert Stevenson OL Michael Tanks QB, P 17 Charlie Ward Fr QB 11 Casey Weldon So QB 4 Peter Tom Willis Sr OL Tony Yeomans	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB Bryce Abbott CB 27 Terrell Buckley Fr S 6 LeRoy Butler Sr LB 45 Kirk Carruthers So DL Keith Carter DB John Davis Fr LB Howard Dinkins DB Dedrick Dodge Sr DB Leon Fowler LB 97 Reggie Freeman  Fr OLB Kevin Grant DL 53 Odell Haggins Sr DB Chris Hall Fr 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 KR, DB Corian Freeman K 43 Bill Mason  Jr P John Wimberly Fr	Head coach Bobby Bowden Coordinators/assistant coaches Chuck Amato (DL) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt