2009 Florida State Seminoles football team

The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented the Florida State University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Bobby Bowden in his 34th and final season as head coach, the Seminoles compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing third in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Florida State was invited to the Gator Bowl, where the Seminoles defeated West Virginia. The team played home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Bowden retired at the end the year after leading Florida State to 33 consecutive winning seasons. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was named his successor. == Schedule == == Rankings == == Game summaries == === Miami (FL) === Miami's defense stops Florida St. to back up Harris' final TD drive === Jacksonville State === Florida State steals win from lower-division Jacksonville State === BYU === Ponder drives Seminoles to decisive win over No. 7 Cougars === South Florida === Daniels steps in for injured Grothe, lifts USF to first ever win over FSU.[link removed] === Boston College === BC blows 18-point lead, barely holds off FSU.[link removed] === Georgia Tech === Nesbitt, Yellow Jackets hand third straight loss to Bowden's Seminoles.[link removed] === North Carolina === Ponder rallies Seminoles from deficit to knock off North Carolina.[link removed] === NC State === Florida St. edges NC State late in barnburner === Clemson === Spiller rushes for 165 yards, touchdown as Clemson routs Florida St.[link removed] FSU starting quarterback Christian Ponder was injured in the 4th quarter and had to leave the game. His injury required surgery and he did not return to participation until the teams non-contact drills in the spring of 2010. Redshirt Freshman E.J. Manuel took over for the injured Ponder, getting his first start the following week against Wake Forest. === Wake Forest === Thomas, Manuel help Florida State roll past Wake[link removed] === Maryland === Florida State edges Maryland on last-minute TD to become bowl eligible === Florida === Tebow accounts for five TDs in final home game as a Gator[link removed] === West Virginia—Gator Bowl === The final game for Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato. Bowden goes out a winner as Seminoles dispatch Mountaineers[link removed] == Personnel == === Recruits === == Statistics == === Team === ==== Scores by quarter ==== Updated after the Maryland game on November 21. === Offense === ==== Passing ==== ==== Rushing ==== ==== Receiving ==== === Defense === === Special teams === == References ==