Forgotten Teams That Almost Were: A Series
The 2012 Florida State Seminoles
Most fanbases have at least one, but likely a few more. A team that could have (should have, would have) gone the distance if not for an uncharacteristically poor game or freak injury that kept them from winning it all. We kick off this series with the 2012 Florida State Seminoles. A team likely well forgotten by those outside the FSU fanbase. One that had the talent to make a run at the BCS Championship, but finished the season 11-2; the springboard to FSU's 2013 national championship season.
Record: 11-2 (Orange Bowl win over NIU)
Notable Offensive Players:
QB: EJ Manuel
RB:: Chris Thompson, Devonta Freeman, James Wilder, Lonnie Pryor
WR: Rashad Greene, Kenny Shaw, Rodney Smith, Kelvin Benjamin
K: Dustin Hopkins
Notable Defensive Players:
LB: Christian Jones, Telvin Smith, Vince Williams
CB: Lamarcus Joiner, Xavier Rhodes, Ronald Darby
DE: Tank Carradine, Bjorn Werner
DT: Timmy Jernigan
S: Tyler Hunter
Overview:
2012 was meant to be the year for the Noles. Returning a ton of production and led by senior QB Ej Manuel, Florida State was a popular pick nationally to have a strong year. ESPN Analyst Kirk Herbsteit identified FSU as one of two non-SEC teams he believed had the ability to win the national title. The returning production paired with a relatively easy schedule had folks excited about what the Noles could accomplish. After winning their first 3 games by a combined score of 176-3, the first true test of the season was a primetime game in Doak Campbell Stadium against #10 Clemson. Clemson was 3-0 and led by QB Taj Boyd and future NFL receivers Deandre Hopkins & Sammy Watkins. Manuel picked the perfect time for perhaps the best game of his FSU career. Ej finished 27 of 35 for 380 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a few big time throws he hadn't consistently made. Clemson led 28-14 and 31-21 before Florida State ripped off 28 unanswered points. A late Clemson touchdown closed the gap as FSU would win the top 10 matchup 37-49.
Unfortunately, the high vibes and undefeated season would only remain another two weeks as FSU had a night game at NC State on the calendar. As FSU fans know all too well, Raleigh isn't kind to the Noles who would drop the game in a heartbreaker. After leading 16-0 at halftime, the Noles offense went anemic as they were shutout in the second half. The defense couldn't hold on; giving up a 4th down touchdown with 16 seconds left and the Noles fell 16-17. In the BCS, non-playoff era, that single loss was enough to dash the hopes of FSU playing for a national championship. FSU would go on to win 5 games in a row (including over Miami) after the loss and went into rivalry weekend 10-1 with a matchup against the #4 Florida Gators; also 10-1. As good as Ej Manuel was against Clemson earlier in the year, he had an equally tough time against the Gators. In a game he left briefly after a hit to the head, Manuel would finish 18 of 33, for 182 yards and 3 interceptions. Despite being down 13-0, FSU scored 20 unanswered points to take the lead deep into the 3rd quarter. However, that Gators would find momentum to score 24 unanswered of their own to effectively put the game away. A Florida State touchdown with no time left on the clock slightly closed the gap, but the Noles fell 37-26.
Despite the two heartbreaking losses, the 2012 season was a success and necessary stepping stone. The Noles went onto beat Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game (21-15) for their first conference title since 2005, and first of three in a row. The Noles would also beat NIU in the Orange Bowl 31-10. RB Lonnie Pryor claimed the game's MVP (5 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs), and Ej Manuel became the first quarterback to ever start and win four bowl games. Ej would go on to be a first round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills.
2012 will always be a bitter sweet season for Florida State. While they returned FSU to the top of the ACC, beating 2 of their 3 rivals and winning a New Year's Six bowl, they had the talent necessary to win a national championship. The rest, as they say, is history. The following season freshman James Winston would take over the reigns of the offense, leading Florida State to an undefeated season and their first national championship since 1999. They defeated Auburn 34-31 at the Rose Bowl to close out the BCS era. 2013 doesn't happen without 2012. The leaders of the 2013 team went through the highs and lows of 2012, and were prepared to not let another opportunity slip through their fingers.
The 2012 Florida State Seminoles deserve their flowers.
Side note: For those of you too young to remember, Chris Thompson was one of the best running backs in the country. Unfortunately a handful of knee injuries hindered his future, but his ability when healthy was second to none.
