Seminoles savor win against rival Gators
GAINESVILLE — Jimbo Fisher, wearing a charcoal-gray suit, came to his press conference a few minutes late.
FSU’s coach wanted to shower and change after getting doused with a celebratory bucket of water following the Seminoles’ 27-2 win over rival Florida.
He was excited, yet relaxed. The coach spoke of the present and the future, of dynasties and climbing metaphorical mountains.
“This team has really become what I thought it could become,” said a clearly satisfied Fisher. “We had some goals slip away from us this year with a couple of losses. This team was about one thing, class and character.”
FSU’s future, in Fisher’s mind, is bright. But finishing the 2015 season the right way was crucial to the program’s evolution. The No. 13 Seminoles (10-2) did just that Saturday evening with their convincing road victory against No. 12 Florida (10-2).
Although Fisher never articulated it, this was a rebuilding year. FSU lost substantial talent — including quarterback Jameis Winston — from the nucleus of the 2013 championship team and 2014 playoff squad. The inexperienced Seminoles remained competitive throughout the season, despite enduring nagging growing pains, but eventually dropped two out of three games in the second half of the year.
“Dealing with losses like that in the season, for people to come back and realize how much they have to play for, this season could’ve really easily turned the wrong way after Clemson,” quarterback Sean Maguire said. “Especially with NC State being the way it was and playing UF, this season could have been a lot different.
“It’s nice to go out the way we did. It’ll be great to go out with a bowl win.”
Not every season can be special, but Fisher wanted to make sure his team did not let a couple losses pile up. So Fisher could not help but gush as he recapped the tenacity in which his defense played with Saturday. Or how Maguire hustled to dive on a fumble in the end zone to give up a safety rather than a touchdown.
“That play may epitomize how these kids play, how much heart these kids have,” Fisher said. “They don’t feel sorry for themselves, they do whatever they’ve got to do. If there’s a mistake, they’re not going to maximize it, they’re going to minimize it.”
With the victory, FSU’s senior class recorded its 49th win, setting a school record.
“We lost two games earlier in the season, but we were never physically beaten,” FSU senior linebacker Reggie Northrup said. “We were beaten by a couple plays. ... No one really came out and beat us. We had to stay strong, our senior leadership, we led the way for the young guys.”
Senior defenders Terrance Smith and Lamarcus Brutus dug up part of Florida’s field to bury in FSU’s sod cemetery, while other seniors like Nile Lawrence-Stample hoisted a gator head, rejoicing over a third consecutive victory against the Gators.
After celebrating, sophomore running back Dalvin Cook made his way into a makeshift media room for visiting teams under the Swamp.
Tired from running the ball 26 times for 183 yards and two scores, Cook didn’t smile much. But he couldn’t be much happier. Not just with the win, but what it meant for him and his program going forward.
“I’m so proud of the group and how we kept fighting through the season and it came down to this last game against our rival,” Cook said. “It couldn’t get no bigger than this. We came through at the right time, so I’m proud of the guys.”