Miami-Florida State rivalry: 5 unforgettable moments in rivalry history
By Joe Romano
3. Wide Left – 2002
The Miami-Florida State rivalry may be known best for one thing, missed field goals. The first of those to make the list was not the first but the fourth of the five missed kicks that define this rivalry. In 2002 the Miami Hurricanes were coming off a national championship run with one of the most talented teams in college football history.
The pesky Florida State Seminoles were the Hurricane’s seventh opponent this year and they were riding a 27 game winning streak. Miami was able to score late in the comeback to go up by a single point. Florida State answered, driving into field goal position. Kicker Xavier Beitia missed a 43-yard field goal that would have given the Noles the victory.
It was the fourth time in just over ten years that a Seminoles kicker missed a game-winning field goal against the Hurricanes. Miami would go on to an undefeated record before losing a controversial National Championship to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
2. Wide Right II – 1992
Another missed field goal, this time the second occurrence for the Florida State kicker. A year after the first occasion (more to come), Florida State watched their kicker lose the game for them.
In 1992 Miami was undefeated and the defending national champions. They were on a 20 game winning streak, but ranked second in the country. A tough performance earlier in the season knocked them out of the top spot.
Florida State was prepared for the battle as the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown for FSU. The game would go back and forth all evening, neither team taking commanding control. A safety was the key score for the Hurricanes late when FSU’s punt returner got called for an illegal forward pass. Heisman candidate Charlie Ward was able to push the Seminoles into position for a game-tying field goal with no time left. Kicker Dan Mowrey pushed the 39-yard attempt wide right. For the second time in two seasons, Florida State lost to Miami on a last-second field goal going wide right.