1976 Florida State Seminoles football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1976 Florida State Seminoles football Florida State Seminoles old logo.svg 150 Independent 5–6 Bobby Bowden 1st George Haffner 1st Multiple Jack Stanton 1st 4–3 Jimmy Black Jeff Leggett Joe Camps Rudy Thomas Doak Campbell Stadium The 1976 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University as an independent during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles compiled a record of 5–6. Florida State played home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. This would be the last time the Seminoles would finish with a losing record until 2018. Despite the 5-6 record, this season was the start of a turning point for the program, with the season being the first under Bobby Bowden, who would turn around the program, as well as capture multiple national championships during his 34-year tenure that lasted until 2009. Schedule 1976 AP September 11 l y Memphis State Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 12–21 30,194 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pensacola-news-journal-florida-state/180954629/ The Pensacola News-Journal Florida State: Seminoles swamped, 21–12 September 12, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 l y Miami (FL) Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL rivalry 0–47 22,710 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-um-embarrasses-seminole/180896854/ The Miami Herald UM embarrasses Seminoles, 47–0 September 19, 1976 September 11, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 l y Oklahoma 4 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK 9–24 71,184 https://www.newspapers.com/article/panama-city-news-oklahoma-pressed-to-bea/180954697/ Panama City News Oklahoma pressed to beat Seminoles September 26, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 w Kansas State Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 20–10 30,353 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fsu-wins-first-rallies/180954778/ The Miami Herald FSU wins first, rallies by Kansas State October 3, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w y Boston College 13 Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 28–9 22,866 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-fsu-upsets-bc-28/180954852/ Tallahassee Democrat FSU upsets B.C. 28–9 October 10, 1976 September 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 l Florida 12 Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL rivalry 26–33 42,803 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-fsus-respect-is/134271444/ The Pensacola News-Journal FSU's respect is at expense of Gator win October 17, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 23 l y Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL 19–31 58,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/panama-city-news-herald-gargis-paces-aub/134268903/ Panama City News-Herald Gargis paces Auburn over Florida State October 24, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com October 30 l Clemson Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL rivalry 12–15 21,473 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-clemson-tops-fsu-no-wi/139628483/ The Miami Herald Clemson tops FSU; No winning season October 31, 1976 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 6 w Southern Miss Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 30–27 29,173 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74300791/fsu-rallies-downs-southern-mississippi The Miami Herald FSU rallies, downs Southern Mississippi November 7, 1976 March 24, 2021 Newspapers.com November 13 w y North Texas State Fouts Field Denton, TX 21–20 3,850 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-late-2-point-convers/169156741/ The Palm Beach Post-Times Late 2-point conversion gives Seminoles 4th win November 14, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 w Virginia Tech Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 28–21 16,148 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90593360/fsu-ends-on-high-note/ Pensacola News Journal FSU ends on high note November 21, 1976 December 14, 2021 Newspapers.com NoleFan.Org - 1976 season. Game summaries Florida 1976 Florida Gators football team Florida State Seminoles 2; text-align:center collapsed #12 Florida Gators at Florida State Seminoles October 17 Florida 10 10 7 6 Florida St 0 17 6 3 Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida 42,803 Recap/Box First quarter FLA – David Posey 27-yard field goal, 11:05. Florida 3–0. Drive: 77 yards. FLA – Larry Brinson 15-yard run (David Posey kick), 5:50. Florida 10–0. Drive: Second quarter FSU – Dave Cappelen 21-yard field goal, 13:41. Florida 10–3. Drive: 82 yards. FLA – David Posey 54-yard field goal, 11:20. Florida 13–3. Drive: FSU – Rudy Thomas 10-yard run (Dave Cappelen kick), 8:10. Florida 13–10. Drive: 70 yards. FSU – Kurt Unglaub 26-yard pass from Jimmy Black (Dave Cappelen kick), 0:47. Florida St 17–13. Drive: 80 yards. FLA – Wes Chandler 23-yard pass from Jimmy Fisher (David Posey kick), 0:10. Florida 20–17. Drive: 93 yards. Third quarter FSU – Jimmy Black 2-yard run (kick blocked), 6:25. Florida St 23–20. Drive: 80 yards. FLA – Willie Wilder 5-yard run (David Posey kick), 3:14. Florida 27–23. Drive: 69 yards. Fourth quarter FLA - 2-yard run (kick failed), 7:44. Florida 33–23. Drive: FSU – Dave Cappelen 27-yard field goal, 5:19. Florida 33–26. Drive: Top passers FLA – Jimmy Fisher – 9/12, 139 yards, TD FSU – Jimmy Black – 14/17, 211 yards, TD, INT Top rushers FLA – Willie Wilder – 98 yards, TD FSU – Jeff Leggett – 15 rushes, 76 yards Top receivers FLA – Wes Chandler/Jimmy Stephens – 4 receptions FSU – Ed Beckman – 6 receptions, 113 yards Roster 1976 Florida State Seminoles y Mike Barnes WR Ed Beckman TE Jimmy Black QB Jackie Flowers WR Mike Good OL Wade Johnson OL Jimmy Jordan QB Larry Key RB Mike Kissner OL Greg Lazzaro TE Jeff Leggett RB Mark Lyles RB Mark Meseroll OL Alan Risk OL Vic Rivas OL Tom Rushing OL Bill Sawyer OL Jon Thomas OL Rudy Thomas RB Kurt Unglaub WR Joe Camps DB Aaron Carter LB Walter Carter DL Jimmy Heggins DL Ivory Joe Hunter DB Bobby Jackson DB Willie Jones DL Joe Joyner DB Mike Kincaid DB Rudy Maloy DL Detroit Reynolds LB Jeff Ridings DB Gary Rose DL Abe Smith DL Mike Stewart LB Nat Terry DB Scott Warren DL Gary Woolford DB Dave Cappelen K Bobby Bowden George Haffner (offensive coordinator) Kent Schoolfield (wide receivers) References Florida State Category:Florida State Seminoles football seasons Florida State Seminoles football Category:Long stubs with short prose