October 17, 1987

Louisville       14
Florida State  44

The Seminoles jumped out ahead 21-0 in the First Quarter, helped by a Deion Sanders punt return. 

Florida State led 34-0 at Halftime after a John Hadley interception return.
 
Sammie Smith had another big day running the ball with 166 yards and 2 TDs.

Louisville actually outscored the 'Noles 14-10 in the Second Half.

Box Score and Complete Statistics

Real Score: Florida State 32 Louisville 9

October 10, 1987

Florida State      23
Southern Miss.    7

Brett Favre quarterbacked Souther Miss. this season. 
In this game, Favre went 8 for 23 and could never get it going.

Florida State overpowered the Eagles from the start, but the Seminole defense still allowed 244 yards rushing and 107 to Gandy alone (on 28 carries).

Sammie Smith rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries for the Seminoles and continued his stellar season.

Boxscore and Complete Statistics

Real Score: Florida State 61  Southern Miss. 10

October 3, 1987

Florida State  20
Miami (FL)        3

It was pouring rain at Doak Campbell Stadium for this game. Torrential.

The Hurricanes jumped on top with an early field goal, but that was it for Miami (FL). The Florida State defense held down the Miami (FL) running game. Hurricane quarterback Steve Walsh had a horrendous 15 for 38 day in the rain.

All-American Deion Sanders returned an interception 54 yards in the First Quarter to set the tone for the Seminoles.

Florida State quarterbacks threw to 10 different players.
Sminole running back Sammie Smith ran for 132 yards to power the win.
(I wish it had turned out this way for real in 1987 - except for the rain.)

Box Score and Complete Statistics

Real Score: Miami (FL) 26  Florida State 25

September 26, 1987

Florida State   23
Michigan State  19

I knew this game would be a serious test of the Florida State run defense.

Lorenzo White was awesome this season, and he was this game as well - breaking off the Seminoles for 160 yards (but it did take 35 carries to get there). Michigan State's quarterback McCallister had a tough day passing the ball, but gashed Florida State for 75 yards and nearly carried the Spartans to a win.

The Spartans ruled the time of possession and kept the Seminole defense on the field, again and again.

In the end it was the Florida State running game and Sammie Smith that did it with his 143 yards on 13 carries - and a long gainer that set up the final Seminole touchdown.

Box Score and Complete Statistics

Real Score: Florida State 31  Michigan State 3

September 19, 1987

Memphis State  6
Florida State 23

(I got the defense straightened out this game against the Tigers, but the Seminole offense was sluggish. 
I probably like to run the ball a bit more than Coach Bowden did.
I think after this game I decided to balance out the offensive play-calls to more of a 60/40 pass to run ratio.)

No box score or game statistics available.

Real Score: Florida State 41  Memphis State 24

September 12, 1987

Florida State     35
East Carolina   27

(What I do remember about this game was that the Florida State defense could not stop the East Carolina running game.In the end, the Seminole passing game provided too many big plays and the Pirates were ultimately unable to catch up.
This was the second game in a row that was too close for comfort.
I needed to rally the defense - or call better defensive plays...)

No box score or game statistics available.

Real Score: Florida State 44  East Carolina  3

September 5, 1987

Texas Tech          23 
Florida State       30

Billy Joe Tolliver quartebacked Texas Tech this season. 
The Red Raiders withstood a Seminole charge in the First Quarter and were only down 17-10 at Half Time.
Tolliver threw a TD pass halfway through the Fourth Quarter to give the Red Raiders a 23-20 lead and send a shudder through the Seminole faithful.

Two minutes later quarterback Danny McManus hooked up with Ronald Lewis for a 53-yard touchdown that puts Florida State up for good. A Derrick Schmidt field goal closed out the all-too-close win for the Seminoles.

Box Score and Complete Statistics

Real Score: Florida State 40  Texas  Tech 16