After what feels like an eternity to the faithful in garnet and gold, winning football has returned to Florida State.
From 1982 to 2017, the Seminoles made a bowl game every year. From 1977 to 2017, it had a winning season each year.
That streak culminated in a 42-13 Independence Bowl blowout of Southern Mississippi on this day five years ago.
After a 3-6 start, FSU had won three straight games to get to 6-6 as it arrived in Shreveport on Dec. 27, 2017. With head coach Jimbo Fisher off to Texas A&M, it was up to interim Odell Haggins to deliver the Seminoles a winning season. The Golden Eagles arrived with a record of 8-4.
It was Southern Miss that scored first as Kwadra Griggs’ 5-yard touchdown run capped a 78-yard drive. Down 6-0, FSU scored 33 straight points.
Quarterback James Blackman would pass for 233 yards and an Independence Bowl-record four touchdowns. Auden Tate was on the receiving end of three of those touchdown tosses. Cam Akers also caught a touchdown while Jacques Patrick rushed for another.
Akers led all rushers with 94 yards. The FSU defense held the Golden Eagles to just 260 yards.
More
Box Score and Recap:
ESPN
Photos:
Garnet and Great
Highlights:
FSU proceeded to suffer through four straight losing seasons with just one bowl appearance over that stretch. At 9-3, FSU will look to get to 10 wins and perhaps finish in the top 10 with a Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma later this week. Its last bowl win served as the largest margin of victory for the Seminoles in a bowl since beating Wisconsin in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl by an identical 42-13 score. It came on this day five years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.
