Of all the 85,000 people in Jordan-Hare Stadium here Saturday, none was more stunned by what Florida State accomplished than the Seminoles` coach, Bobby Bowden.
”I expected a dogfight until the last minute,” said Bowden after Florida State`s 34-6 drubbing of an Auburn team that had been ranked No. 6 in the nation. ”We had the game under control by halftime.”
Jumping on five first-half turnovers, the Seminoles had the Tigers down 27-3 in the first 30 minutes.
But Bowden was not about to let up. He remembered all too well the 26-25 loss to Miami earlier this year when Florida State blew a 19-3 lead in a game that ultimately might cost the fourth-ranked Seminoles (8-1) the national title.
”That was definitely brought up at halftime,” said quarterback Danny McManus. ”He said: `Don`t start celebrating yet. Remember the Miami game.` ” But even Bowden was ready to plan a New Year`s party, most likely a Fiesta, before the third quarter had ended. Oddly enough, it was an Auburn field goal following a turnover that convinced him this party was already over.
”If they had scored in a minute or two minutes, they might have gotten some momentum,” he said. ”But even though they got three points, it took them 6 1/2 minutes, and even I can divide that by 30 minutes.”
Instead, the Seminoles used simple addition, McManus` third touchdown pass of the game early in the fourth quarter.
Auburn (7-1-1) was leading the nation in takeaway ratio, but Florida State defensive back Deion Sanders said, ”It seemed they were trying to give the game away, and we took it.”
It started on the first play, and the Seminoles took the gift, a fumble by receiver Duke Donaldson, and turned it into a 7-0 lead with less than four minutes gone. ”That set the tone for us,” said Bowden.
But this game was decided by more than the six turnovers the Tigers eventually delivered into the Seminoles` grateful hands.
Even without them, Florida State was the better team. Auburn never got any offensive momentum, failing to score a TD for the first time since 1984.
The Tigers didn`t get a first down until the second quarter and made only one significant offensive play in the first half, a 50-yard pass from Jeff Burger to Lawyer Tillman to set up a field goal, their only points of the half.
”When your defense plays great, you can beat people,” said Bowden.
Auburn`s vaunted defense had its moments, but not enough of them. And not at the beginning, when Florida State took that first turnover and rammed it into the end zone.
”We saw we could score on them as easily as on anyone else,” said running back Sammie Smith.
Smith rushed for only 46 yards, but his presence opened up other opportunities. Tight end Pat Carter had seven receptions, many of them on critical third-down plays.
Explained McManus: ”When you`ve got a back like Sammie Smith and you play-fake to him, those linebackers are going to say, `Let`s get up on the line of scrimmage.` ”
When it was over, Bowden reacted like a man who has come safely through a haunted house. Florida State had never before won here, losing nine and tying one.
”We won decisively, and I honestly don`t know how,” said Bowden. ”I was shocked when someone told me we were three-point favorites. I said, `Are you kidding?` Even if we`re better than they are, we`re playing at Auburn. I could see us coming in here and playing a great game and losing by two.”
But McManus said, ”We`re tired of hearing people say we can`t win the big one.”
