FSU, Notre Dame share heated football history

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida State and Notre Dame have played just six times, and all but one was decided by 10 points or less. The Seminoles and Fighting Irish havent played since 2003, so its hard to call the schools rivals. But in the weeks leading up to the Champs Sports Bowl matchup between FSU and Notre Dame on Dec. 29, many fans will be reflecting as much on the past as on the current teams. FSU holds a 4-2 edge in a series that includes a stunning Seminoles win at Notre Dame in 1981, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle in 1993, a neutral site game in 1994 at Orlando and an FSU rally in the 1996 Orange Bowl. While the three games in the mid-1990s may be the most memorable, a 1981 win at Notre Dame helped to show that FSUs program was on the rise. I think our mindset was that we were out to prove that Florida States program was just as good if not better than the established programs, said FSUs Mike Whiting, who had two touchdowns in the Seminoles 19-13 win that day. We went into that game with a chip on our shoulder. (Notre Dame is) one of those programs that has the mystique. That was a big win. You go up there and beat them in their own stadium. FSU-Notre Dame games have held a special meaning ever since that first matchup. Heres a look at the previous six games in the series. 1981: FSU 19, Notre Dame 13 Bobby Bowden grew up in Birmingham, Ala., but he followed Notre Dame football games on the radio each Saturday. So its no surprise that when Bowden retired, he fondly remembered a 1981 win at South Bend, Ind., as one of his favorite road victories. FSU had arguably the most challenging schedule in 1981 that college football has ever seen. The Seminoles played five straight road games against Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and LSU a stretch of games that fans took to calling Octoberfest. And despite returning just six starters from 1980, FSU defeated the Buckeyes, Irish and Tigers. The FSU-Notre Dame game was knotted at 3 at halftime, but Mike Whiting had a pair of second-half touchdown catches and ran for 71 yards on 15 carries to help FSU grab the 19-13 win. Ricky Williams ran for 135 of FSUs 250 rushing yards, and Mike Rendina kicked three field goals. And while Notre Dame ran for 218 yards, the Fighting Irish were kept out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. 1993: Notre Dame 31, FSU 24 No. 1 FSU was 9-0 coming into the game. No. 2 Notre Dame was also 9-0. It was billed as The Game of the Century and lived up to the hype. Notre Dame led 31-17 until the final minutes, when FSU quarterback Charlie Ward led the Seminoles down the field and found wide receiver Kez McCorvey for a 20-yard touchdown. The Fighting Irish went three-and-out on their next drive, and FSU quickly worked its way down the field. Ward had two passes deflected in the final 10 seconds of the game, and Notre Dame hung on. FSUs defensive players were frustrated by Notre Dames ability to put up 31 points and allowed 239 rushing yards. But Notre Dame lost to Boston College on a last-second field goal the following week, and FSU regained the top spot again capturing the national championship with an Orange Bowl win over Nebraska. 1994: FSU 23, Notre Dame 16 The next year in Orlandos Citrus Bowl, No. 8 FSU this time was facing a three-loss Notre Dame team. And the Seminoles earned the win because of their running game and defense. Rock Preston had 165 yards and Warrick Dunn also had 163 yards for FSU, which needed a late Dunn touchdown to break a 16-16 tie and grab the win. FSU racked up 517 offensive yards 332 on the ground. Notre Dame was held to just 83 passing yards and 138 yards on 33 carries. 1996: FSU 31, Notre Dame 26 Danny Kanell threw four touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter, to help FSU come back from a 26-14 deficit in the final 12 minutes. Kanell first found E.G. Green on an 11-yard touchdown pass, and he then connected with Andre Cooper on a 3-yard TD pass. FSU won a bowl game for an 11th straight year. The Seminoles defense struggled at times, allowing Notre Dame to run for 256 yards and accumulate 425 offensive yards. But FSU forced a fumble and recorded a safety on the Fighting Irishs final two drives to seal the victory. 2002: Notre Dame 34, FSU 24 No. 11 FSU was a heavy favorite to win but No. 6 Notre Dame stunned the Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium, the only time the teams have played in Tallahassee. Carlyle Holiday threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns as Notre Dame improved to 8-0. Notre Dame scored 17 third-quarter points in less than five minutes, capitalizing on FSUs mistakes. With an extra week to prepare, FSU fell flat offensively. Notre Dames defensive front held bruising FSU running back Greg Jones to just 34 yards on 14 carries. And quarterback Chris Rix threw two interceptions and fumbled once. 2003: FSU 37, Notre Dame 0 Rix looked like a different quarterback a year later, throwing for 327 yards and three touchdowns as FSU dominated Notre Dame. FSU led 17-0 at the half and cruised as Notre Dame struggled to make first downs. Rixs favorite target was wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe, who caught seven passes for 217 yards and two touchdown. The shutout loss to this day is one of the worst a Notre Dame team has suffered at home.