



Jackets In College: Max Wettstein, Florida State University
FLORIDA STATE 16, FLORIDA 7
By Sports Staff
The Tallahassee Democrat
Wednesday, November 22, 1964
TALLAHASSEE, FL - The girls' school did it!...Oh, did it ever do it!
What it was was like absolutely and positively and emphatically and decisively.
Florida State University, clearly the best football team on the field on this sunny Saturday afternoon,
whipped what was supposed to be the University of Florida's best team ever. The score was 16-7.
The classic passing combination of Steve Tensi and Fred Biletnikoff busted Florida wide open with a
55-yard touchdown collaberation in the second quarter.
Then Les Murdock kicked three field goals, a 24-yarder, a 34-yarder and a 40-yarder.
The Seminoles were ahead 13-0 when Florida got its lonesome TD with 9:03 to play on the bright work of
Jack Harper, who caught a 35-yard pass from Steve Spurrier, then crashed in from six yards out on the
next play.
After that Florida tried an onside kick. FSU's Larry Williamson claimed it at Florida's 48, and the
Seminoles drove in from there for Murdock's decisive 40-yarder.
The trio of 3-pointers was a school single-game record, boosted Murdock's field-goal total for the season
to a school-record total of nine.
Immediately after the game Florida State accepted a bid to the Gator Bowl. If Georgia Tech beats Georgia
next Saturday in Athens the Yellow Jackets will be the opponent for the Jan. 2 classic in Jacksonville.
A packed crowd of 43,000 whooped it up before, after and during. Pre-game catcalls from the crowd
brought a mild jest from Florida Coach Ray Graves who smiled and said: "I think FSU may be
overemphasizing football."
Florida State had never beaten Florida, gaining only a 3-3 tie in six tries, all at Gainesville. Since 1947
when Florida State College for Women became Florida State University its athletes have endured "girl
school" taunts.
During the week Florida players wore stickers on their helmets in practice reading "Never, FSU, Never."
The thrust may have added considerable fuel to FSU's already blazing fire.
Florida State sprung an unusual offensive formation, with Red Dawson shifting from end to fullback. It was
designed to disrupt the work of the "monster" in Florida's defense. The device may have had telling
psychological impact. It appeared to confuse Florida for a time.
If Florida had planned to put a concentrated and continuous rush on Tensi, as it had most other passers
this season, execution verged on a total failure. Tensi had more than enough time to throw on almost
every attempt. He was thrown for a loss just once.
Against the top-rated pass defense in the country, Tensi struck for 190 aerial yards.
Pending a study of game films, an inevitable conclusion was that middle guard Jack Shinholser was a
considerable Seminole hero. Time after time Shinholser cracked Florida's offensive line, kept steady
pressure on UF's center and quarterback.
Florida State's magnificent defensive line cut Florida's vaunted running game into little pieces, limiting the
Gators to a net of 57 yards rushing.
Heralded Larry Dupree got just 20 yards in nine runs as Florida State choked off one UF effort after
another.
The Seminoles fumbled away the ball to Florida at the FSU 19 on the second play from scrimmage.
Florida fumbled twice in penetration to FSU's one, and the Seminoles claimed the last one.
Florida State was all of the first quarter getting out of that hole, had to call on the punting toe of John
Hosack three times before the period ended. And the sophomore, subbing for the injured Ed Pritchett,
responded big to the pressure, had a 32.5 average for four boots.
A significant tipoff to FSU's superiority was the fact that the Seminoles were obliged to punt only once
more after getting out of that first-quarter hole.
FSU's aggressive defense helped force five Florida fumbles, and the Seminoles claimed four of them. The
Tribe intercepted two passes. FSU lost two fumbles and had one pass intercepted.
Save for that early shot paved by the fumble and Florida's scoring drive, the Seminoles permitted no
deep exploration into their territory.
Lonesome end Charles Casey gave the Tribe trouble, but mainly in the last quarter with the Seminoles
rather comfortably ahead. He caught nine passes for 129 yards as Florida hit 12 of 24 throws for 178
yards. Spurrier completed nine of 20, and Tom Shannon, who started, three of four.
Tensi connected on 11 of 22 throws for 190 yards. Biletnikoff a decoy much of the way and well covered
by Florida, caught only two, for 78 yards. End Don Floyd latched on to seven, however, for 85.
FSU's two primary running backs, Wayne Giardino and Phil Spooner, each gained more on the ground
than the entire Florida team. Giardino had 72 yards in 19 carries, Spooner 71 in 21.
Spurrier was obliged to punt seven times, for a 34.2 average, and save for one to FSU's 10, none did
great damage. And Spurrier ended up with minus 17 yards rushing, was almost completely hemmed up on
his option rollouts.
The outcome, ending six years of FSU frustration against the Gators, left Florida with a 5-3 record. FSU
ended its regular season with a 8-1-1 chart, a showing exceeded only by an unbeaten 1950 season which
came at a time when the Tribe was playing in a lesser league.
Florida State ground out 15 first downs, Florida nine. The Seminoles netted 142 yards running, outdid
Florida in total offense, 332 to 235.
The game was remarkably free of rules infractions. There wasn't a single roughing penalty. Florida got
taxed a total of 24 yards, FSU just 10.
In the beginning Florida cut out a quick advantage.
The Seminoles won the toss, received. On the second play from scrimmage Giardino fumbled and Pat
Purcell recovered for Florida on FSU's 19.
Shannon fumbled but re-claimed it for a yard loss. Then Shannon threw to Gary Thomas at the 11 and
Dupree cracked the middle for a first down at the eight.
Two more whacks by Dupree and Florida was on the one with third down. Whereupon Shannon again
fumbled, and George D'Allesandro covered the ball for FSU at the two.
Spooner's running worked the ball to the 12, just short of a first down, and Hosack punted up to the
Florida State 45.
Alan Poe slashed for eight yards and Jack Harper made it a first down at the 34. But Shinholser smashed
Spurrier for a yard loss. Two passes missed and Spurrier punted into the end zone.
Three runs pushed FSU to its 29, and Hosack punted 36 yards to Florida's 35.
After Harper got nothing on a run, Florida went into action without huddling and Spurrier found Casey with
a 22-yard pass at FSU's 43.
But Poe was decked for minus two. Spurrier gained nothing on a run. A pass failed. Spurrier punted to the
10.
Spooner got four. Tensi, living dangerously, tossed to Floyd for six at the 20. And finally, in the last
minutes of the quarter, FSU forged a first down on Giardino's 3-yard stomp. But soon Hosack's third punt
of the quarter was necessary. He got a high snap, managed to get off a boot to Florida's 48.
John Feiber pounded for 11 yards to FSU's 41, and Dupree led on to the 37 as the second quarter
started. There a backfield-in-motion called stymied the Gators and Spurrier punted to the 17.
Tensi uncorked one to Floyd for nine but Giardino lost 10. Then Tensi threw long and Allen Trammell
intercepted at Florida's 47...About as good as a punt.
But Trammel got only two on a run and Feiber just three. Trying to sweep on third down Spurrier fumbled
and Howard Ehler topped the ball for FSU at the Seminoles' 45. It was FSU's first favorable field position
of the day.
Promptly Tensi dropped back, got plenty of protection and time, threw long, long to Biletnikoff who had
outrun Trammell. It was an easy catch at about the 13 and Biletnikoff cruised on in for six points on the
55-yard play. Murdock kicked the point for 7-0.
Florida got to its 37 on Shannon's 10-yard pass to Casey, but a holding call soon set the Gators back to
the 31. Shannon passed again to Casey, who fumbled at midfield. Maury Bibent recovered for the
Seminoles at the FSU 42.
Two Spooner runs lifted FSU to Florida's 45. Giardino was suddenly loose on a 19-yard ramble up the
middle to the 26. But Giardino then lost a yard. Two passes fell incomplete. Murdock's long field goal try
was wide to the right with 5:01 left in the half.
Florida couldn't move, punted to FSU's 34.
A Tensi to Red Dawson pass gained 22 to Florida's 40. Giardino slammed to the 30. Spooner lost a
couple but Tensi rolled for a first down at the 28 with 24 seconds to go. Then he lost 10. Then he passed
to Dawson for a short gain on the final play of the half.
At intermission FSU led in first downs, 6 to 5, in total yardage, 151 to 119. FSU had hit five of 12 passes,
Florida four of nine.
Marquis Baezler wheeled the kickoff out for Florida, got up to his 34, fumbled and Ehler grabbed the ball
for FSU.
Spooner, on a draw, dug to the 34. Spooner got two, Giardino four. Tensi threw to Floyd for a first down
at the 13. Spooner got to the six but it was erased by a backfield-in-motion call. Tensi found Floyd with an
11-yard pass at the seven.
Spooner was stopped at the six. On fourth down Murdock booted a field goal from a slightly wide angle -
an official 24-yarder. And FSU led 10-0.
On a key third-down play Dick Hermann nailed Dupree on a sweep, and Florida punted to FSU's 40.
Tensi sailed one to Biletnikoff and it might have been a 60-yard touchdown. All alone, Biletnikoff caught it
at Florida's 37, stumbled and slipped out of bounds. It was a 23-yard gain. But the Seminoles bogged
down, and Murdock's field-goal try was wide.
Still stalled, Florida punted, a 32-yarder by Spurrier to FSU's 49.
Giardino sprinted for five. Spooner struck for 15 to the 31. Giardino, in three carries got to the 21, but
fumbled on his last run and Jim Burkhart recovered for Florida.
Casey dropped a pass on FSU's 40 after getting behind an FSU defender. Might have scored on a
66-yard play had he held on. Then Shinholser whammed Spurrier for a loss of four. Then Spurrier punted
to the FSU 43.
A Tensi-to-Floyd pass picked up 18 to Florida's 37 on the first play of the final quarter. Giardino slashed
through for 14 to the 23, dug on to the 15 in two more runs.
On fourth down Murdock kicked a field goal from the 24 for a 13-0 lead.
And suddenly Florida struck.
Casey started it with a 10-yard catch from Spurrier. Then Casey caught another, for 14 yards at FSU's
47. Febier ran for six.
Then Spurrier hit Harper with a long one and Maury Bibent pulled him down on the six after a 35-yard
gain. On the next play Harper bulled into the end zone on a strong, determined off-tackle run. Jimmy Hall
added a point to narrow things to 13-7 with 9:03 to play.
Florida tried an onside kick, Guard Larry Williamson, in action for the ailing Dale MacKenzie, covered it for
FSU on the Florida 48.
Promptly the Seminoles moved in for a 3-pointer that virtually locked it up.
Tensi's 26-yard pass to Floyd at the 22 started the important movement. But the Tribe got stopped at the
21. Murdock socked home a 40-yarder on fourth down for a 16-7 lead with 6:42 left.
Florida came back throwing and Winfred Bailey intercepted a desperate Spurrier pitch at the FSU 34.
Tensi passed 11 yards to Floyd, but the Seminoles got no further than midfield, had to punt.
Florida, starting with 3:30 left, pushed quickly to FSU's 41 on two Spurrier passes to Casey. But Bill
McDowell intercepted one, raced to Florida's 32. The clock showed 1:42.
FSU stuck to the ground, and Florida held for three downs at the 24.
With less than a minute left, Florida got nowhere. Spurrier got slapped for a 6-yard loss by Frank Pennie,
back to the 13. Gary Thomas caught a short pass at the 14, and that ended it.




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