Seminole Stories: Noles Upset Second-Ranked Eagles

The "lost decade" is in full swing on November 11th, 2007. The 5-3 Florida State Seminoles, led by junior quarterback Drew Weatherford, travel north to take on Matt Ryan's second-ranked, undefeated Boston College Eagles.

Weatherford is having one of the best games in his career. He's completed six passes to De'Cody Fagg for 111 yards and 9 to Preston Parker for 93 yards. He would finish with 354 yards and 2 TD. The defense is also playing an outstanding game, taking away multiple scoring opportunities for the Eagles.

It is a rainy night in Chestnut Hill and mistakes are the name of the game for Ryan and the Eagles. Despite two interceptions (Patrick Robinson and Tony Carter) by their Heisman-candidate quarterback, a fumble and a missed field goal, they find themselves down just three points with over a minute left. Just last week, Ryan had commandeered a two touchdown comeback with less than two minutes left in the game to beat Virginia Tech and throw his name into the Heisman discussion. This week he is facing a similar task at home.

On second and seven with 1:20 left in the game, Ryan takes the snap from his own 33 yard line. He drops back before stepping by a pass rusher into a short pass to his running back heading towards the left sideline. #10 Geno Hayes sees Ryan's eyes look to his check-down and breaks to the Eagle player in front of him. By the time Ryan sees the linebacker breaking, he's already thrown the ball. The Junior linebacker who has six career interceptions in the NFL, steps in front of the pass and heads for the end-zone. After out-sprinting a couple of BC lineman, Hayes trots in easily for six and stares down the poncho-covered crowd of Alumni Stadium.

Said crowd goes quiet. The ESPN announcers are in disbelief. Matt Ryan was on the fast track to a Heisman Trophy but the FSU defense had crushed the Eagles' plans. BC got the ball on the following kickoff but it only led to a turnover on downs and a Seminole victory. They needed two scores anyways. 'Noles win by 10.

via MarkWallheiser.com

I was at home watching with my parents. My mom had this bread that she was cooking for the first time during the game and the scent filled the house. She had finished baking it at the start of the fourth quarter, served it up with some butter and boom! Geno runs it back and we win the game. The "lost decade" was hard on our family but this bread, this magical grain which we later called "Victory Bread", was a glimpse of hope. The following weekend brought Virginia Tech, Christian Ponder's debut thanks to a Weatherford injury. We baked the bread and it seemed that was the reason Ponder brought us back... until Ponder fumbled it and the comeback came up short. We didn't care, we loved the bread and kept baking it the rest of the season.

Bread stories aside, this game was so much fun as a fan. It was strange territory as an FSU fan being an underdog, even in the lost decade. The Eagles were touchdown favorites at home, at night. Coach Bowden and the boys played their best game of the year and added Boston College to the list of second ranked teams to lose that season, the 4th in the previous 5 weeks. (Cal, USC, and, yes, USF before them).