Remember When

In honor of the career of Florida State Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews, who announced this week that he will retire at the end of the year, Remember When turns back the clock to a memorable chapter in the Florida State-Clemson rivalry. The year was 1988 and preseason number one FSU, who had fallen to no. 10 after an opening day blowout loss to Miami, was pitted against no. 3 ranked Clemson on September 17. While Andrews's D did its job well that day it was the special teams that delivered a needed victory for the Seminoles, as told by The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia:

Florida State 24 CLEMSON 21: Only adventurous Florida State (2-1) coach Bobby Bowden would go for fake punt on 4th-and-4 on own 21YL, with score knotted at 21-21, 1:31 left. CB LeRoy Butler ran 76y with ball to set up 19y FG for K Richie Andrews with 32 secs left. On play, ball was snapped to FB Dayne Williams, while P Tim Corlew pretended it went to his right and over his head. Williams placed ball between Butler's feet and then joined O-line in blocking formation to right to "protect" Corlew. Tigers fell for fake and went for Corlew, leaving entire left side open for Butler. Clemson returner-CB Donnell Woolford knocked down Butler at 1YL. Bowden later said he remembered play from Jerry Claiborne, and opted for unusual gamble because tie result would have eliminated FSU from national title picture. Tigers (2-1) had knotted game only 1 min earlier on FB Tracy Johnson's 19y run. Special teams were fruitful for Seminoles as CB Deion Sanders returned 3rd Q punt 76y for team's 2nd TD. Clemson's opening score also had been trick play: WR Chip Davis pulled up on apparent E-around run and threw 61y TD to WR Gary Cooper.

Florida State would finish the season with an 11-1 record, good for third nationally behind Notre Dame and Miami. Clemson would go 10-2 that season and finish no. 9 in the nation.