Memorable FSU Games: First Ever FSU Game

This was the first game ever as FSU and was played against Stetson

Tallahassee, Fl, October 18, 1947 - Florida State University's garnet and gold gridders, untested, untried and undaunted, shocked a seasoned Stetson eleven and stunned a record crowd of some 8,000 grid iron fans in Centennial field's "bleacher bowl" with a bitterly contested battle that saw them bow 14-6 after leading until midway in the third quarter.

FSU, led by head coach Ed Williamson, struck through the air late in the second quarter when sophomore end Charles McMillan made a miracle catch of Don Grant's high forward pass into the southeast corner of the end zone, finally went down under the weight of a Stetson attack sparked by Byron Brasington and powered by big Jim Olson.

The garnet and gold team fumbled and made mistakes, their attack sputtered and stalled, and Stetson out statisticked them all over the place. But State's game team gave ground grudingly, fought for every inch, and won the plaudits of the entire crowd in their losing effort.

The Stetson team, going to the post for the third time this season after losing to Jacksonville Naval air station and winning from Southwestern of Memphis, had a smoother ground game, a sounder air attack and the experience. And they needed every edge to squeeze home ahead.

Trailing 6-0 at halftime the Hatters came roaring back after the intermission and crunched their way 85 yards to a score midway in the third period.

Big George Douglass, giant tackle who was acting as game captain for the Hatters, fell on Jim Olson's fumble in the end zone after the burly 205-pound halfback had carried the oval to the very brink of paydirt and fumbled.

In the closing minutes of the tilt Clarke McCullough, substitute signal caller for the central Florida eleven, dove over on a quarterback sneak for the final tally.
Byron Brasington, a fast and shifty halfback who was a constant threat to the State eleven all night kicked both points from placement.

While the Hatters dominated the final two periods with their offensive show the garnet and gold had their moments.