Virginia Tech

Hokies

Clemson

Tigers ©

Played September 3, 1988

at Memorial Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Virginia Tech 0                                
Clemson © 2 2 1 0 .667 1 1 0 .500         1 0 0 1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Virginia Tech

0

7

0

0

7

Clemson

7

24

6

3

40

 

The 4th ranked Clemson Tigers of coach Danny Ford opened the 1988 season with a strong returning core of talent led by All-American CB Donnell Woolford & All-ACC performers OT Jeff Nunamacher, RB Terry Allen, & NG Mark Drag while the Virginia Tech Hokies of coach Frank Beamer were led by freshman QB Will Furrer.  The Tigers scored the last 5 times they had the ball in the 1st half on their way to a 40-7 rout of the Hokies.  Clemson RB Joe Henderson scored the only points of the 1st quarter when he broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.  Allen scored on a 15-yard run as Clemson pushed the lead to 14-0.  Virginia Tech’s only points came on a 5-yard touchdown run by RB Rich Fox before Clemson got a 4-yard touchdown run from QB Rodney Williams leaving the score Clemson 21 Virginia Tech 7.  A 15-yard touchdown run by RB Tracy Johnson & a 38-yard field goal by PK Chris Gardocki finished the 1st half scoring for the Tigers as they took a 31-7 lead to the locker room.  Henderson’s 19-yard touchdown run accounted for the only points of the 3rd quarter & Gardocki hit a 43-yard field goal in the 4th quarter to close the scoring.  Clemson QB Rodney Williams finished with 72 yards passing while Furrer threw for 116 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Clemson finished the season 10-2; ACC Champions, ranked 9th nationally while the Hokies finished 3-8.  Virginia Tech would play for The Belt again in 10 weeks.

 

 

 

 

Furman

Paladins

Clemson

Tigers ©

Played September 10, 1988

at Memorial Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Furman 0                                
Clemson © 2 3 1 0 .750 2 1 0 .667         1 0 0 1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Furman

0

3

0

0

3

Clemson

7

6

7

3

23

 

The 3rd ranked, 1-0 Clemson Tigers of coach Danny Ford hosted the 1-0 Furman Paladins coached by Jimmy Satterfield.  Furman became the second Division 1-AA team to play for The Belt – Division 1-AA Montana State had lost to Washington State in 1983.  This battle featured much stronger teams from both divisions.  Clemson All-ACC RB Terry Allen scored 2 touchdown & PK Chris Gardocki kicked 3 field goals as the Tigers retained The Belt with a closer than expected 23-3 victory over the Paladins.  Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run accounted for the only points of the 1st quarter.  Furman PK Glen Connally kicked a 48-yard field goal for the Paladins’ only points but Gardocki connected on kicks of 38 & 46 yards giving the Tigers a 13-3 halftime lead.  Allen’s 7-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter gave the Tigers what a appeared to be a secure 20-3 lead since the Paladins had been unable to mount an offensive threat.  Gardocki’s 31-yard field goal in the 4th quarter closed the scoring.  Furman held the ball for 34:36 of the game but 3 lost fumbles prevented them from challenging for the upset.  Clemson finished the season 10-2; ACC Champions, ranked 9th nationally while the Paladins finished 17-2, Southern Conference Co-Champs, & Division 1-AA National Champions in a 16-team championship tournament (what a novel idea).  Furman has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Florida State

Seminoles

Clemson

Tigers ©

Played September 17, 1988

at Memorial Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Florida State 0                                
Clemson © 2 4 1 0 .800 3 1 0 .750         1 0 0 1.000

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Florida State

0

7

14

3

24

Clemson

7

7

0

7

21

 

The 3rd ranked, 2-0 Clemson Tigers hosted the 10th ranked, 1-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden.  The Seminoles who had been top-ranked in pre-season, were loaded with talent including All-American CB Deion Sanders as well as QB Chip Ferguson, WR Terry Anthony, & OT Pat Tomberlin.  An opening loss to 8th ranked Miami stunned the Seminoles & they didn’t plan to fall to another ranked team.  Sanders returned a punt for a touchdown & a trick-play that goes down in college football history helped the Seminoles claim The Belt for the first time with a 24-21 victory over the Tigers.  Clemson took a 1st quarter lead with their own trick play as WR Chip Davis threw an option pass to an open WR Gary Cooper for a 61-yard touchdown giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.  Florida State tied the game in the 2nd quarter with a conventional 40-yard touchdown pass from Ferguson to RB Dexter Carter but the Tigers took a 14-7 halftime lead when QB Rodney Williams scored on a 7-yard touchdown run.  After Sanders returned a punt 76-yards for a touchdown & RB Dayne Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run Florida State appeared to have control of the game 21-14, if the defense could hold.  Clemson RB Tracy Johnson scored for the Tigers to tie the game at 21-21 with just 2:32 left in the game.  Clemson appeared to have a final shot as Florida State prepared to punt from their own 21-yard line with just 1:33 to play.  It appeared disaster had struck the Seminoles as the ball was apparently snapped over the punter’s head but Bowden had called a play that came to be known in football lore as the “puntrooksie”.  Williams, the blocking back, had intercepted the long snap & handed it between the legs of S LeRoy Butler who ran around the left end while 2 other Seminoles faked to the right.  Clemson finally realized what was happening & All-American CB Donnell Woolford finally knocked Butler out of bounds 78 yards later at the Clemson 1-yard line.  As brilliant as the gamble was, it still had not changed the score.  After getting stopped at the goal line on 3 straight plays, the Seminoles called a timeout with 0:35 to play & the clock stopped.  Problem was that Florida State had no timeouts left but the clock was stopped anyway.  Florida State scored a touchdown on the next snap but the score was called back after the confused officiating crew determined Florida State should not have been given the timeout.  Strangely, no penalty was assessed but the Seminoles had to try again for the score.  This time, Bowden opted to try a field goal even though his kickers had been 0 for 3 on field goal attempts in the game.  PK Richie Andrews’ 19-yard field goal kick was good & Florida State had an improbable 24-21 win.  The Tigers finished the season 10-2; ACC Champions, ranked 9th nationally while the Seminoles finished 11-1 & ranked 3rd nationally.  Clemson would play for The Belt again in 1999.

 

You Tube Video

 

 

 

Michigan State

Spartans

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played September 24, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Michigan State 0 0 3 0 .000 0 1 0 .000 0 2 0 .000        
Florida State © 1 1 0 0 1.000         1 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Michigan State

0

0

7

0

7

Florida State

7

6

0

17

30

 

Coach George Perles brought his 0-2 Michigan State Spartans to Tallahassee to meet the 9th ranked, 2-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden as the first Big Ten team to ever play in Doak-Campbell Stadium.  Florida State S LeRoy Butler returned an interception for a touchdown & while the defense held the Spartans to just 25 yards passing in a 30-7 victory over Michigan State in the Seminoles’ first Belt defense.  The Seminoles took a 7-0 lead in the 1st quarter when QB Chip Ferguson connected with WR Lawrence Dawsey for a 1-yard touchdown pass.  The 2nd quarter saw field goal from two Florida State kickers; PK Bill Mason hit from 21 yards & PK Richie Andrews kicked one from 48 yards as the Seminoles took a 13-0 halftime lead.  The Spartans got on the board in the 3rd quarter when QB Robert McAllister found All-Big Ten WR Andre Rison open on a 25-yard touchdown pass.  The 4th quarter was all Florida State as Andrews hit a 39-yard field goal, Butler returned the interception 26 yards for a touchdown, & RB Paul Moore scored on a 5-yard touchdown run after the Seminoles had blocked a Michigan State punt.  Ferguson finished with 215 yards passing with a touchdown while McAllister completed just 1 pass for 25 yards with a touchdown but 2 interceptions.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Spartans finished 6-5-1.  Michigan State would play for The Belt again in 2003.

 

 

 

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Tulane

Green Wave

Played October 1, 1988

at the Louisiana Superdome

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Florida State © 1 2 0 0 1.000 1 0 0 1.000 1 0 0 1.000        
Tulane 0 0 1 0 .000         0 1 0 .000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Florida State

10

21

0

17

48

Tulane

0

14

7

7

28

 

First-year coach Greg Davis & his Tulane Green Wave hosted the 6th ranked, 3-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden at the Superdome.  Florida State RB Sammie Smith rushed for 2 touchdowns as the Seminoles amassed 434 yards rushing & WR Terry Anthony caught 2 touchdown passes in a 48-28 victory over the Green Wave.  Florida State All-American CB Deion Sanders started the scoring when he returned an interception from Tulane QB Terrance Jones 34 yards for a touchdown giving the Seminoles a 7-0 lead.  PK Richie Andrews’ 33-yard field goal in pushed the Florida State lead to 10-0 in the 1st quarter.  The Green Wave scored in the 2nd quarter when Jones hit WR Jerome McIntosh on a 13-yard touchdown pass to keep Tulane within 3 points at 10-7.  Smith scored both his touchdowns in the 2nd quarter on runs of 6 & 8 yards before Tulane RB Rodney Hunter scored on a 35-yard touchdown run but the Green Wave still trailed 24-14.  The Seminoles took a 31-14 lead to halftime after QB Chip Ferguson connected with Anthony on a 26-yard touchdown pass.  Jones & McIntosh combined on a 9-yard touchdown pass for the only points of the 3rd quarter but Florida State still led 31-21.  The 4th quarter started with a 19-yard field goal by Andrews as the Seminoles pushed the lead to 34-21 before Jones & McIntosh scored their third touchdown of the game, this one came on a 15-yard pass.  Florida State finished the scoring with a 17-yard pass from Ferguson to Anthony & a 4-yard touchdown run by WR Lawrence Dawsey.  Ferguson finished with 141 yards passing with 2 touchdowns while Smith rushed for 213 yards with his 2 scores.  Jones threw for 241 yards with 3 touchdowns but 4 interceptions while McIntosh had 9 catches for 155 yards with his 3 touchdowns.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Green Wave finished 5-6.  Tulane has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

Georgia Southern

Eagles

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played October 8, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Georgia Southern 0                                
Florida State © 1 3 0 0 1.000 1 0 0 1.000 2 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Georgia Southern

0

0

3

7

10

Florida State

7

0

0

21

28

 

The 6th ranked, 4-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden hosted the 3-1 Georgia Southern Eagles of coach Erk Russell who were ranked 7th nationally in the 1-AA poll.  Georgia Southern was the second Division 1-AA team in the 1988 season to have a shot at The Belt as Furman had lost to Belt-holder Clemson earlier.  Both Division 1-AA teams used these games to harden their teams for playoff battles.  The Seminoles needed 3 touchdowns in the 4th quarter to subdue the upstart Eagles in a 28-10 victory.  The Seminoles scored the only points of the 1st half when QB Chip Ferguson connected with WR Lawrence Dawsey for a 9-yard touchdown pass in the 1st quarter but the Eagles hung tough using a ball-control offense to keep the explosive Florida State offense on the sidelines.  Georgia Southern eventually held the ball for 34:06 of the game that had all the trappings of a major upset.  The Eagles managed a 28-yard field goal by PK Mike Dowis keeping the upset hopes alive with the score 7-3 heading into the 4th quarter.  Early in the 4th quarter, Georgia Southern RB Gary Miller broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run giving the Eagles a 10-7 lead.  The Seminoles re-took the lead when Ferguson found WR Ron Lewis open for a 16-yard scoring strike with 8:47 left in the game.  Florida State then took advantage of 2 short punts by the Eagles to get good field position for 2 touchdowns.  RB Dayne Williams gave the Seminoles a 21-10 lead when he scored on a 23-yard run that finished a 4-play, 47-yard scoring drive & RB Chris Parker completed a 37-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to secure the win.  Ferguson finished with 247 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns but also threw 2 interceptions while Lewis added 7 catches for 140 yards with his touchdown.  Georgia Southern QB Raymond Gross threw for just 97 yards with an interception but also rushed for 59 yards.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Eagles finished 12-3 & lost to Furman in the Division 1-AA Championship game.  Georgia Southern has not played for The Belt again.

 

 

 

East Carolina

Pirates

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played October 15, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

East Carolina 0 0 1 0 .000         0 1 0 .000        
Florida State © 1 4 0 0 1.000 2 0 0 1.000 2 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

East Carolina

0

14

0

7

21

Florida State

14

14

3

14

45

 

The 5th ranked, 5-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden hosted the 1-5 East Carolina Pirates of coach Art Baker.  Florida State RB Chris Parker scored 2 touchdowns & QB Chip Ferguson threw for 2 more as the Seminoles rolled to a 45-21 win to retain The Belt.  The Seminoles took a 14-0 1st quarter lead when Parker scored on a 7-yard run & RB Marion Butts scored on a 2-yard run.  The Pirates rallied to tie the game at 14-14 in the 2nd quarter when RB Tim James scored on runs of 1 & 22 yards but Florida State scored the next 24 points to end hopes of an upset.  Ferguson threw touchdown passes of 17 yards to WR Ron Lewis & 23 yards to WR Terry Anthony for a 28-14 halftime lead.  Seminoles’ PK Bill Mason accounted for the only points of the 3rd quarter when he connected on a 20-yard field goal & Parker completed the scoring run with a 10-yard touchdown run early in the 4th quarter.  East Carolina QB Travis Hunter scored with 2:07 left in the game on a 2-yard touchdown run before Florida State back-up QB Peter Tom Willis found TE Dave Roberts for a 6-yard touchdown pass.  Ferguson finished with 150 yards passing with his 2 touchdowns while Parker added 158 yards rushing to his 2 scores.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Pirates finished 3-8 in Baker’s last season.  East Carolina would play for The Belt again in 1989.

 

 

 

Louisiana Tech

Bulldogs

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played October 22, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Louisiana Tech 0                                
Florida State © 1 5 0 0 1.000 3 0 0 1.000 2 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Louisiana Tech

0

3

0

0

3

Florida State

28

7

17

14

66

 

First-year coach Joe Peace brought his 3-3 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from Division 1-AA to Tallahassee to meet the 7th ranked, 6-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden.  All-American CB Deion Sanders & S Dedrick Dodge each returned an interception for a touchdown while the Seminoles’ defense recorded 2 safeties on blocked punts & held the Bulldogs to just 3 yards rushing in a 66-3 rout.  Florida State scored their first points when LB Howard Dinkins blocked a Louisiana Tech punt out of the end zone for a safety.  PK Bill Mason made the score 5-0 when he kicked a 34-yard field goal before S Stan Shiver blocked another Bulldogs’ punt out of the end zone giving the Seminoles a 7-0 lead.  Florida State got a more conventional 7 points when QB Chip Ferguson found WR Terry Anthony on a 26-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead.  When Dodge returned an interception from Louisiana State QB Conroy Hines 33 yards for a touchdown, the lead was 21-0 still in the 1st quarter.  RB Chris Parker finished the 1st quarter onslaught when he scored on a 5-yard touchdown run giving the Seminoles a 28-0 lead.  PK Matt Stover accounted for the only points the Bulldogs scored when he connected on a 52-yard field goal early in the 2nd quarter.  The only down note of the 2nd quarter for Florida State was an injury to Ferguson, a separated left shoulder, but back-up QB Peter Tom Willis completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Anthony as the Seminoles had a 35-3 halftime lead.  The 2nd half was no different as Willis threw to WR Lawrence Dawsey for a 5-yard touchdown pass before Sanders returned an interception from Bulldogs’ back-up QB Gene Johnson 30 yards for another touchdown.  Mason’s 35-yard field goal finished the 3rd quarter scoring for Florida State making the score 52-3.  In the 4th quarter, Florida State WR Bruce LaSane caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from QB Brad Johnson & a 52-yard touchdown pass from QB Casey Weldon for the final points of the game.  Willis finished with 151 yards passing with 2 touchdowns, Parker rushed for 127 yards with his score, & Anthony had 6 catches for 106 yards with his 2 touchdowns.  Hines threw for 133 yards with an interception in the loss.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Bulldogs finished 4-7.  Louisiana Tech moved to Division 1 in 1989 & would play for The Belt again in 2000.

 

 

 

Florida State

Seminoles ©

South Carolina

Gamecocks

Played November 5, 1988

at Williams-Brice Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Florida State © 1 6 0 0 1.000 4 0 0 1.000 2 0 0 1.000        
South Carolina 0 0 1 0 .000         0 1 0 .000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Florida State

14

17

14

14

59

South Carolina

0

0

0

0

0

 

The 5th ranked, 7-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden traveled to Columbia to meet the 15th ranked, 7-1 South Carolina Gamecocks of coach Joe Morrison.  Florida State back-up QB Peter Tom Willis threw 4 touchdown passes filling in for injured starter Chip Ferguson as the Seminoles routed the Gamecocks 59-0 to retain The Belt.  After South Carolina lost a fumble on their opening possession, Willis connected with WR Terry Anthony for a 44-yard touchdown on the Seminoles’ second play from scrimmage.  Florida State’s next touchdown came when LB Phil Carollo blocked a South Carolina punt & LB Tony Moss recovered before running 8 yards for the touchdown.  On the third play of the 2nd quarter Florida State S LeRoy Butler intercepted Gamecocks’ QB Todd Ellis & returned it 37 yards to the South Carolina 2-yard line.  Willis found TE Dave Roberts for the 2-yard touchdown pass giving the Seminoles a 21-0 lead.  Even when South Carolina tried a trick-play it backfired as S Dedrick Dodge intercepted a halfback option-pass from South Carolina’s RB Mike Dingle to set-up a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Marion Butts.  When PK Bill Mason hit a 31-yard field goal, Florida State had a 31-0 halftime lead.  The Seminoles first possession of the 2nd half was more of the same as Willis hit WR Lawrence Dawsey for a 12-yard touchdown pass.  Willis finished his day when he found Dawsey open for a 37-yard touchdown pass pushing the lead to 45-0 heading into the final quarter.  Two more touchdowns for the Seminoles finished the scoring with QB Casey Weldon scoring on a 2-yard run & RB Paul Moore scoring on a 4-yard run.  Willis finished with 271 yards passing completing 17 of 20 pass attempts while WR Bruce LaSane had 6 catches for 114 yards.  Ellis threw for just 79 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Gamecocks finished 8-4.  South Carolina would play for The Belt again in 1989.

 

 

 

Virginia Tech

Hokies

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played November 12, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Virginia Tech 0 0 1 0 .000         0 1 0 .000        
Florida State © 1 7 0 0 1.000 4 0 0 1.000 3 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Virginia Tech

0

7

0

7

14

Florida State

0

14

20

7

41

 

The 2-7 Virginia Tech Hokies of coach Frank Beamer had their 2nd chance at The Belt this season.  They had lost 40-7 earlier in the season to Clemson & the 5th ranked, 8-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden would be no easier.  Florida State RB Sammie Smith scored 2 touchdowns & the Seminoles scored 20 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter to secure a 41-14 victory over the Hokies.  Neither team was able to score in the 1st quarter but Smith scored on an 11-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter to give the Seminoles a 7-0 lead.  The Hokies responded with a 44-yard touchdown pass from QB Will Furrer to WR Jon Jeffries to tie the game at 7-7 before Florida State took a 14-7 halftime lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Dayne Williams.  The 3rd quarter ended any hopes Virginia Tech had of an upset when the Seminoles got touchdowns in a 1-yard run by RB Marion Butts, a 7-yard touchdown pass from QB Chip Ferguson to WR Bruce LaSane, & a 36-yard touchdown pass from QB Peter Tom Willis to WR Lawrence Dawsey for a 34-7 lead heading into the 4th quarter.  Smith’s second touchdown came on a 25-yard run to finish the scoring for Florida State before Virginia Tech got the final points of the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Lamar Smith.  Ferguson finished with 156 yards passing with his touchdown while Willis added 119 yards passing with his touchdown & RB Dexter Carter added 119 yards rushing for the Seminoles.  Furrer threw for just 99 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Hokies finished 3-8.  Virginia Tech would play for The Belt again in 1989.

 

 

 

Florida

Gators

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Played November 26, 1988

at Doak Campbell Stadium

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Florida 2 4 4 0 .500 2 2 0 .500 2 2 0 .500        
Florida State © 1 8 0 0 1.000 5 0 0 1.000 3 0 0 1.000        

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Florida

7

3

0

7

17

Florida State

21

3

21

7

52

 

The 5th ranked, 9-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden hosted the 6-4 Florida Gators of coach Galen Hall in their annual match-up.  The Gators were an under-performing team that had lost 4 of their last 5 games.  Florida State QB Chip Ferguson threw touchdown passes on the Seminoles’ first 3 possessions & the defense held Florida’s offense to 183 total yards in a 52-17 rout to retain The Belt.  Ferguson connected with WR Lawrence Dawsey on an 18-yard touchdown pass as the Seminoles took a 7-0 lead on their opening drive.  Florida WR Tony Lomack returned the ensuing kick-off 46 yards & QB Kyle Morris completed a 27-yard pass to TE Mark McGriff setting up the 1-yard touchdown run by All-SEC RB Emmitt Smith to tie the game at 7-7.  On Florida State’s next drive, Ferguson found TE Tom O’Malley on a 15-yard touchdown pass for a 14-7 advantage.  Florida State LB Kelvin Smith intercepted a Morris pass at the Florida 24-yard line & Ferguson capitalized with an 8-yard touchdown pass to RB Sammie Smith for a 21-7 lead.  Each team kicked a field goal in the 2nd quarter with PK Bill Mason making a 19-yard field goal for the Seminoles & PK John David Francis converting from 23 yards just before halftime.  Early in the 3rd quarter, Florida WR Kerry Watkins fumbled on a punt return & Florida State RB Marion Butts recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown giving the Seminoles a 31-10 lead.  RB Dayne Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 38-10 & on the next play from scrimmage, Florida State LB Tony Moss deflected a Morris pass to NG Odell Haggins who intercepted the ball.  Haggins returned the pick 11 yards for another Seminoles’ touchdown as the lead grew to 45-10 heading into the 4th quarter.  The 4th quarter saw both teams substitute liberally while each scored a touchdown.  Florida State’s came on a 10-yard touchdown pass from QB Peter Tom Willis to WR Terry Anthony while Florida scored with 3:07 left in the game on a 2-yard touchdown run by RB Willie McClendon.  Ferguson finished with 131 yards passing with 3 touchdowns & Smith added 109 yards rushing to his score for the Seminoles.  Morris threw for just 40 yards with 2 interceptions in the loss.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Gators finished 7-5.  Florida would play for The Belt again in 1999.

 

 

 

Florida State

Seminoles ©

Auburn

Tigers

The Sugar Bowl

Played January 2, 1989

at the Louisiana Superdome

  

 

Teams' Belt Records

 

Team

Belt

Reigns

Overall

Record

Home

Record

Away

Record

Neutral

Record

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

W

L

T

PCT

Florida State © 1 9 0 0 1.000 6 0 0 1.000 3 0 0 1.000        
Auburn 1 5 2 0 .714 2 0 0 1.000 2 1 0 .667 1 1 0 .500

 

                          Previous Belt Meetings:       None

 

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Florida State

10

3

0

0

13

Auburn

0

7

0

0

7

 

The 4th ranked, 10-1 Florida State Seminoles of coach Bobby Bowden met the 7th ranked, 10-1 Auburn Tigers of coach Pat Dye.  Seminole RB Sammie Smith rushed for 115 yards while the defense recovered 2 fumbles & intercepted Auburn QB Reggie Slack 3 times including one by All-American CB Deion Sanders in the Florida State end zone on the final play of the game to secure a 13-7 Seminole win.  Florida State opened the scoring by completing an 84-yard drive with RB Dayne Williams scoring on a 2-yard run.  PK Bill Mason connected on field goals of 35 & 31 yards as the Seminoles took a 13-0 lead.  Auburn got on the board with a 51-yard drive as Slack hitting Reeves on a 20-yard touchdown pass.  The defenses dominated the 2nd half, as neither team was able to score.  Florida State’s best chance was lost when Smith fumbled at the Auburn 1-yard line & the Tigers lost their best chance when Slack was called for intentional grounding at the Seminoles 15-yard line.  Auburn’s last chance came with 3:28 left after a Florida State punt pinned them at their own 4-yard line.  Slack converted 3 fourth down plays during the drive but with the ball at the Seminoles’ 22-yard line & just 0:05 to play, Sanders intercepted Slack’s final pass.  Florida State QB Chip Ferguson threw for 157 yards with an interception while Slack finished with 162 yards passing with a touchdown but 3 interceptions.  Florida State finished the season 11-1; ranked 3rd nationally while the Tigers finished 10-2, SEC Co-Champs, & ranked 8th nationally.  Auburn would play for The Belt again in 2007.

 

 

 

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