Another streak on the line
FSU wants to earn 41st consecutive winning season
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State football team continued one of its storied traditions, clinching bowl eligibility during its regularseason finale on Saturday.
Now, the Seminoles turn their attention to prolonging another prestigious streak.
Florida State will end its tumultuous season playing in its NCAA record 36th consecutive bowl game against Southern Mississippi in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN.
A win for the Seminoles (6-6) would also clinch the program’s 41st consecutive winning season.
“We are honored to be playing in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl and representing Florida State University in Shreveport,” interim head coach Odell Haggins said in a statement. “We are happy to extend our bowl streak that means so much to everyone associated with the program.”
One of the quirkiest seasons in Florida State history began with a preseason No. 3 ranking and losing quarterback Deondre Francois for the season to a knee injury during the highly anticipated opener against then-No. 1 Alabama.
After Hurricane Irma postponed games in Week 2 and 3, the Seminoles lost their first three home games of the season and dropped to 2-5 for the first time since legendary coach Bobby Bowden’s first season with the Seminoles in 1976.
Then, in the midst of a strong finish with four wins in their final five games, Jimbo Fisher agreed to become coach at Texas A&M. Fisher accepted one of the richest contracts in college football history — a 10-year deal worth $75 million guaranteed.
Florida State ended its regular season Saturday, the first game after Fisher resigned Friday to take his new post, with a 42-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
“It was just a roller coaster,” standout safety Derwin James said of his team’s season.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year with injuries, hurricanes and different stuff. That’s no reason for excuses, no reason to point a finger at anyone. Being able to get through it and get this last home win to get to a bowl game was just a great feeling.”
While Fisher wanted to coach FSU one last time, the Seminoles rallied around Haggins, the longtime defensive tackles coach who served as a bridge for past and current Seminoles.
Haggins will finish his 24th season with the program, leading FSU in the final month of the season, with guidance he has received throughout his life from his longtime mentor — FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.
And Haggins will prep for the bowl with unique experience. The Seminoles endured a loss during his senior season to quarterback Brett Favre and Southern Miss in 1989.
During FSU’s game against ULM, Haggins received several ovations from fans for his longtime commitment to the program. He was grateful FSU athletics director Stan Wilcox and school president John Thrasher approached him to be the Seminoles’ interim coach.
More important, he hopes to keep the Seminole players together to end their season on a high note while the program searches for its next head coach.
Haggins is eager to lead FSU to a win over Southern Miss, which finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA play this season.
“The head coach is gone and people are saying our season is in shambles,” Haggins said after the game. “But I’m going to say it again: we have life and life lessons. Sometimes we have a tough season like this, but we just grow.
“We are Florida State and we are not going anywhere.”