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    Sunday, December 10, 2006

    Nole Bowls: 1977 Tangerine Bowl


    1977 Tangerine Bowl, Orlando, FSU 40 Texas Tech 17

    This was Bobby Bowden's second year at FSU and his first FSU bowl game. Florida State (10-2), making its first bowl appearance in seven years, demolished Texas Tech, 40-17, in the now defunct 32nd Tangerine Bowl.

    A record breaking crowd of 44,502 witnessed almost total domination by the Seminoles, who became the only Division I school currently playing major college football in Florida to achieve 10 victories in a single season.

    FSU jumped ahead with 5:50 remaining in the opening quarter on a 23 yard Dave Cappelen field goal. It stayed that way until Mike Mock of Texas Tech evened the count with a 24 yarder early in the second quarter. At that point, however, the Seminoles took over. It was a 93 yard kickoff return by Larry Key following the Tech field goal that gave the Seminoles the lead for good.

    Later in the same quarter, quarterback Jimmy Jordan found tight end Grady King on a 37 yard scoring pass that boosted the Seminole lead to 16-3 at intermission.

    The Seminoles continued to add to their cushion in the third quarter. First Jordan found Mike Shumann with a 40 yard scoring toss. Next Cappelen booted a 22 yard field goal. That made it 27-3.

    Tech returned to the board with 7:46 remaining in the quarter on a 44 yard scoring pass to make it 27-9. The count remained that way until Wally Woodham found Roger Overby on a 15 yard scoring toss to increase the Seminole lead with just 3:34 left.

    Neither team was through yet, however. Tech came back to score on a 21 yard run by Billy Taylor and with just 48 seconds remaining, FSU completed the scoring on a 44 yard pass involving Woodham and Chip Sanders.

    The defenders were so impressive that it was hard for observers to decide who should win the Most Valuable Player Defensive trophy. The sportswriters covering the contest picked end Willie Jones while the Mizlou TV network, which telecast the game across the nation, tagged the other end Scott Warren.

    Jordan, however, took MVP honors for the game and offense. The rifle armed sophomore had his best game as a Seminole, completing 18 of 25 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

    Many thought the offensive and game award should have gone to Key, playing his final game for the Garnet and Gold. He rushed for 83 yards in 21 attempts, caught six passes for another 100 yards and returned an additional three kickoffs for 131 more yards.

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