# 1979 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 1979 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Bobby Bowden and played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State finished #6 in the AP poll and #8 in the UPI poll with an 11–1 record. The Seminoles' offense scored 326 points while the defense allowed 160 points. The Seminoles finished the regular season unbeaten for only the second time in program history and played in the Orange Bowl.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 8 | Southern Miss | No. 19 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | | W 17–14 | 45,467 |
| September 15 | vs. Arizona State | No. 18 | Tampa StadiumTampa, FL | | W 31–3 | 33,484 |
| September 22 | Miami (FL) | No. 14 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL (rivalry) | | W 40–23 | 47,679 |
| September 29 | at Virginia Tech | No. 12 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ABC | W 17–10 | 39,200 |
| October 6 | at Louisville | No. 9 | Fairgrounds StadiumLouisville, KY | | W 27–0 | 27,306 |
| October 13 | Mississippi State | No. 9 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | | W 17–6 | 48,701 |
| October 27 | at LSU | No. 7 | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA | ABC | W 24–19 | 67,197 |
| November 3 | at Cincinnati | No. 6 | Nippert StadiumCincinnati, OH | | W 26–21 | 14,539 |
| November 10 | No. 19 South Carolina | No. 7 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | | W 27–7 | 49,490 |
| November 17 | Memphis State | No. 5 | Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, FL | | W 66–17 | 48,021 |
| November 23 | at Florida | No. 5 | Florida FieldGainesville, FL (rivalry) | ABC | W 27–16 | 58,263 |
| January 1 | vs. No. 5 Oklahoma | No. 6 | Miami Orange BowlMiami, FL (Orange Bowl) | NBC | L 7–24 | 66,714 |
| Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||||

## Season summary

Mark Lyles led the team in rushing with 1011 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jimmy Jordan led the team in passing with 1173 yards and threw 13 touchdown passes. Jackie Flowers led the team in receiving with 37 catches for 622 yards and 7 TD receptions. Monk Bonasorte led the team with 8 pass interceptions. Bonassorte {DB}, Bobby Butler {DB}, Jackie Flowers {TE}, Mike Good {G}, Ken Lanier {OT}, Ron Simmons {NG} and Scott Warren {DE} were selected to the First team All-South Independent team. Ron Simmons was selected as a First team All-American. Bonasorte was a 3rd team AP All-American. Bobby Butler {DB}, Jackie Flowers, Mike Good, Jimmy Jordan {QB} and Ken Lanier were named as Honorable Mention All-Americans by the Associated Press and/or The Sporting News. Mark Lyles {RB} {Cincinnati}, Flowers {Dallas}, Walter Carter {DT} {Oakland} and Jordan {New England} were selected in the 1980 NFL draft.

### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Southern Miss | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • Florida St | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
Behind 14-3 with 10 minutes left in the last quarter, Florida State struck for two quick touchdowns and overtook Southern Mississippi 17-14 before 45,467 fans at Doak Campbell Stadium. Jimmy Jordan threw an 8 yard TD pass to Jackie Flowers, then a 65 yard punt return for a touchdown by Gary Henry with 6:28 put the Seminoles in front to stay.

### Arizona State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Arizona St | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| • Florida St | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
Florida State romped to an easy 31-3 football victory over Arizona State. It was 24-0 at halftime. Monk Bonasorte helped to provide 10 first half points with two interceptions. Wally Woodham threw 18 yards to Jackie Flowers for a touchdown. Mark Lyles ran 1 yard for a touchdown to give FSU a 14-0 lead. Dave Cappelen kicked a 42 yard field goal and Jimmy Jordan threw his first of two touchdown passes, an 8 yard pass to Grady King. In the 4th quarter he threw 15 yards to Ricky Williams for the final Seminole touchdown.

### Miami (FL)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miami (FL) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 23 |
| Florida St | 3 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 40 |
at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
* Date: September 22
* Game attendance: 48,432
Game information :
First quarter
FSU – Dave Cappelen 26-yard field goal, 9:12. Florida St 3–0.
MIA – Chris Hobbs 10-yard run (Dan Miller kick), 4:29. Miami (FL) 7–3.
Second quarter
FSU – Mark Lyles 4-yard run (Dave Cappelen kick), 12:30. Florida St 10–7.
FSU – Dave Cappelen 28-yard field goal, 6:21. Florida St 13–7.
FSU – Mark Lyles 1-yard run (pass failed), 0:22. Florida St 19–7.
Third quarter
FSU – Greg Ramsey 3-yard run (Dave Cappelen kick), 10:58. Florida St 26–7.
FSU – Greg Ramsey 2-yard run (Dave Cappelen kick), 1:52. Florida St 33–7.
Fourth quarter
MIA – Jim Kelly 2-yard run (run good), 11:29. Florida St 33–15.
FSU – Gary Henry 57-yard blocked punt return (Dave Cappelen kick), 10:00. Florida St 40–15.
MIA – James Joiner 9-yard run (run good), 7:58. Florida St 40–23.
Top passers
MIA
FSU – Wally Woodham – 9/14, 93 yards
Top rushers
MIA
FSU – Mark Lyles – 25 rushes, 85 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
MIA
FSU – Sam Platt – 3 receptions, 46 yards :
Miami jumped out to an early lead after the first quarter, but that would pretty much be all they could celebrate during this day in the Capital City. Two Mark Lyles touchdowns in the second quarter helped the Seminoles take a 19-7 lead at the half, while Greg Ramsey would add two rushing scores in the third quarter and the route was on. The Hurricanes scored a touchdown to open the fourth quarter, but Gary Henry’s return of a blocked punt cemented the outcome and Florida State was able to celebrate in their own locker room after defeating the Hurricanes at home for the first time, 40-23, pacing the Noles to the first undefeated regular season under Bobby Bowden.

### Virginia Tech

It was Virginia Tech's last chance to win. Fourth down and 13 at its 17. As Steve Casey rolled to pass, Seminole linebacker Paul Piurowski was bearing down on him. Casey slipped as he tried to maneuver, and Piurowski was on top of him at the 12 and the Florida State held on for a 17-10 victory. Trailing 7-0 in the 2nd quarter, the Seminoles struck on a Greg Ramsey 16 yard run and Jackie Flowers 18 yard TD pass from Jimmy Jordan. Dave Cappelen added a 20 yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. Wally Woodham and Jimmy Jordan combined for 322 yards passing, but threw 4 interceptions.

### Louisville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Florida St | 7 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 27 |
| Louisville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Blocking two punts, holding Louisville to just two first downs until 7:30 was left on the clock, Florida State's defense was again the dominant show as the unbeaten Seminoles won 27-0. FSU did it on two touchdowns, a couple of safeties and a field goal before 27,306 fans at Fairgrounds Stadium. Wally Woodham threw two touchdowns, one to Sam Platt (5 yards) and one to Sam Childers (1 yard). Bobby Butler fell on a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.

### Mississippi State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miss St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| • Florida St | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Putting two touchdowns on the scoreboard in the final six minutes of the first half, Florida State held on with its defense in the closing two quarters and claimed a 17-6 victory over Mississippi State. FSU scored on a one yard run by Mike Whiting, and on an 18 yard pass from Jimmy Jordan to Jackie Flowers. Dave Cappelen kicked a 46 yard field goal.

### LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Florida St | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| LSU | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
Jimmy Jordan gunned three touchdown passes as Florida State muscled past Louisiana State 24-19 before 67,197 in Tiger Stadium. Jordan completed 14 passes for 312 yards. In the 1st half, the Seminoles forced three LSU fumbles and recovered all three. Florida State, in the 2nd half, intercepted two passes. Monk Bonasorte recovered a fumble and intercepted two passes. Florida State totaled 436 yards of offense. Jordan’s TD passes went to Sam Platt (3 yards), Jackie Flowers (40 yards) and Hardis Johnson (53 yards).

### Cincinnati

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Florida St | 7 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 26 |
| Cincinnati | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
The sixth ranked Seminoles squeezed past Cincinnati 26-21 when Mike Whiting crashed into the end zone from eight yards out with 1:38 left to play. The Seminoles trailed 21-7 at the start of the fourth quarter. Ahead 7-0 after their first offensive series, FSU was stunned by a 21 point 2nd quarter onslaught by Cincinnati, a 17 1/2 point underdog. Wally Woodham led the charge in the 4th quarter with touchdown passes to Mark Lyles (7 yards) and Jackie Flowers (5 yards), followed by Whiting’s game winner.

### South Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| South Carolina | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Florida St | 10 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 27 |
A record Doak Campbell Stadium crowd of 49,490 saw the 9-0 Seminoles beat South Carolina 27-7. Wally Woodham completed 15 of 25 passes for 145 yards. Florida State nominated possession, 83 plays to 52, and totaled 381 yards to Carolina's 265. Mark Lyles ran for 132 yards on 25 carries and a 1 yard touchdown run. Dave Capellen kicked four field goals. Jimmy Jordan threw a 7 yard TD pass to Sam Childers.

### Memphis State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Memphis St | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| • Florida St | 3 | 21 | 28 | 14 | 66 |
Florida State clobbered Memphis State 66-17 before 48,021 at Doak Campbell Stadium. Memphis State's defense had given up just three touchdown passes. Quarterback Jimmy Jordan threw for that many in the second quarter. Two of those Jordan TD shots came in the last 45 seconds of the half, stretching a 10-3 lead to 24-3. Jordan’s touchdown passes were to Jackie Flowers (24 yards), Hardis Johnson (4 yards) and Grady King (5 yards). The defense and special teams got their shots in as well with Paul Piurowski returning an interception 29 yards for a touchdown and Keith Jones returning a blocked punt (by Bobby Butler) 16 yards for a touchdown. Mark Lyles, Ricky Williams, Keith Kennedy and Kelly Burney ran for touchdowns for the Noles.

### At Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Florida St | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
at Florida Field, Gainesville, Florida
* Date: November 23
* Game attendance: 58,263
* TV announcers (ABC): Jim Lampley & Lee Grosscup
Game information :
First quarter
FSU – Dave Cappelen 42-yard field goal, 4:23. Florida St 3–0.
Second quarter
FSU – Hardis Johnson 21-yard pass from Jimmy Jordan (Dave Cappelen kick), 0:11. Florida St 10–0. Drive: 71 yards.
Third quarter
FLA – Brian Clark 39-yard field goal, 11:39. Florida St 10–3.
FLA – Carl Prioleau 2-yard run (Brian Clark kick), 1:28. Tie 10–10.
Fourth quarter
FSU – Mark Lyles 20-yard run (Bill Capece kick), 12:31. Florida St 17–10. Drive: 80 yards.
FSU – Bill Capece 18-yard field goal, 10:46. Florida St 20–10.
FLA – Chris Faulkner 35-yard pass from Larry Ochab (pass failed), 2:21. Florida St 20–16.
FSU – Mark Lyles 2-yard run (Bill Capece kick), 1:10. Florida St 27–16.
Top passers
FSU – Wally Woodham – 7/10, 82 yards
FLA – Larry Ochab – 22/54, 270 yards, TD, 5 INT
Top rushers
FSU – Mark Lyles – 20 rushes, 151 yards, TD
FLA
Top receivers
FSU – Grady King – 6 receptions, 59 yards
FLA :
Florida hosted Florida State at Florida Field in a regionally televised contest on ABC-TV. A debatable ruling on an interception by FSU’s Walter Carter led to a Bill Capece field goal that gave the Seminoles a 20-10 lead in the fourth quarter. The game had been tied 10-10 early in the final period. Mark Lyles’ two fourth quarter touchdowns however, would be just what the Seminoles needed as FSU completed a perfect regular season. Lyles rushed for 151 yards while teammate Michael Whiting added 123 yards on the ground. Defensively, Florida State forced six turnovers for their third straight victory over rival Florida. The Noles went on to a 27-16 victory.

### Orange Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Oklahoma | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Florida St | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Mike Whiting gave the Seminoles a lead with his touchdown run, but that was their only score of the night. A fumbled field goal snap, three turnovers, over 100 yards of rushing by quarterback J. C. Watts and halfback Billy Sims, and 24 unanswered points by Oklahoma doomed the Seminoles. It all started with a Watts run for a touchdown in the second quarter to tie the game at seven. After the kickoff, the Seminoles turned the ball over on an interception, giving the ball back to Oklahoma. Stanley Wilson then scored a touchdown run to make it 14–7. Mike Keeling added a field goal late in the quarter to give the Sooners a 17–7 lead at halftime. The second half scoring was limited to one Oklahoma touchdown from 22 yards out in the fourth quarter; Watts ran for twelve yards before pitching the ball to Sims, who took it the rest of the way for a 24–7 lead, the final score. The Sooners ran for 411 yards on 59 carries, an average of nearly seven yards per attempt, while having twice as many total yards as the Seminoles.

## Awards and honors

Monk Bonasorte
* Associated Press – 3rd Team All-American
Bobby Butler
* Associated Press – All-American – Honorable Mention
Jackie Flowers
* Football News – 2nd Team All-American
* United Press International – 2nd Team All-American
* Associated Press – All-American – Honorable Mention
* The Sporting News – All-American – Honorable Mention
Mike Good
* Associated Press – All-American – Honorable Mention
Ken Lanier
* Associated Press – All-American – Honorable Mention
Ron Simmons
* American Football Coaches Association – 1st Team All-American
* Associated Press – 1st Team All-American
* Walter Camp – 1st Team All-American
* Football News – 1st Team All-American
* Kodak – 1st Team All-American
* United Press International – 1st Team All-American
* NCAA – Consensus All-American
* The Sporting News – All-American – Honorable Mention
Scott Warren
* Churchman's – 1st Team All-American
* Associated Press – All-American – Honorable Mention