Going For Win Twenty Years Ago

October 3rd, 1987. Miami 26 Florida State 25

This is the 20th anniversary of the FSU-Miami game in which Bobby Bowden went for the win and not the tie which cost FSU a shot at the national championship.

In a rivalry marked by missed kicks, it was a decision not to kick that cost Florida State in the biggest matchup between the two. There were more heralded games between Miami and Florida State, but the 1987 classic was when this became Miami vs. Florida State.

Tied at 19 with 2:32 to play, Miami had it third and seven on its own 27 when Steve Walsh audibled out of a short pass and floated a throw up the right sideline hitting Michael Irvin in perfect stride for a 73-yard score. The 'Noles came back with a gut-check drive converting one clutch fourth-down pass and finished with Ronald Lewis making a diving catch in the back of the end zone.

Bobby Bowden had said before the game that if it came down to a late decision, he'd kick the extra point and take the tie instead of going for two. But when the pressure was on, QB Danny McManus and the other FSU players lobbied furiously with Bowden to go for two and the win. Bowden relented.

McManus had Lewis wide open in the middle of the end zone, but he didn't see him, choosing to try a pass in the right corner of the end zone instead. But it was underthrown and broken up. Miami recovered the onside kick with 42 seconds to play and went on to win the national championship. Florida State rolled through the rest of its schedule without a problem and finished No. 2.