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Re: Official Retired Numbers thread
FLORIDA STATE
Since Florida State first fielded an intercollegiate football team 55 yerar ago, only seven numbers/jerseys have been retired. Those numbers/jeryseys: 2, 16, 17, 25, 28, 34, and 50 - belong to seven of the greatest players in FSU football history. Deion Sanders, Chris Weinke, Charlie Ward, Fred Biletnikoff, Warrick Dunn, Ron Sellers, and Ron Simmons. With his blessing, Sellers' #34 was brought out of retirement in 2003.
All of the numbers are retired other than #16 Chris Weinke, and #28 Warrick Dunn. The others are all retired, never to be used again unless the former player agrees.
#2 Deion Sanders
DEFENSIVE BACK • 1985-88
Deion Sanders is the finest defensive back in Florida State history and was so recognized when his jersey was retired in 1995. The winner of the 1988 Jim Thorpe Award signifying the nation's top defensive back, Sanders was a two-time All-American who electrified the nation with his acrobatic interceptions and remarkable moves as a punt returner. Sanders' legend grew over his junior and senior seasons with the widespread use of his nickname "Prime Time," but he remained one of the hardest working players in FSU history. His 14 career interceptions ranked second all-time when he left in 1988 and he held the career record for punt return yardage when he left with 1,429.
#16 Chris Weinke
QUARTERBACK • 1997-00
Chris Weinke literally rewrote the Florida State record book over his career as the Seminoles' quarterback. He set 26 school records, including both the FSU and Atlantic Coast Conference records for career passing yards with 9,839. He led the Seminoles to an undefeated season and the national championship as a junior in 1999. He became FSU's second Heisman Trophy winner as a senior in 2000, while leading the nation in passing with 4,167 yards and averaging 347.3 yards per game. Weinke compiled a remarkable 32-3 record as the starting quarterback at FSU, which ranked as the seventh best winning percentage in NCAA history. His 79 career touchdown passes ranked as the 12th best performance in NCAA history and his career passing yards placed him at 18th on the NCAA's all-time list. Weinke owned the first, second and fourth best passing games in FSU history headlined by a school record 536 passing yards against Duke in 2000. His accomplishments were even more impressive considering he suffered a potentially career-ending neck injury as a sophomore. Weinke's place among Florida State's all-time greatest players was recognized when his jersey No. 16 was retired in 2001, making it one of only seven retired numbers/jerseys in school history. His place among the ACC's all-time best was recognized when he was voted one of the 50 best players in the history of the conference.
#17 Charlie Ward
QUARTERBACK • 1989-93
Florida State's Charlie Ward began his senior season in 1993 chasing both the schools' first national championship and the Heisman Trophy. The 6-foot 2-inch, 190-pound football/basketball star would catch both and much more finishing the year as the most heralded athlete in the history of college football. Thousands of fans poured into Doak Campbell Stadium for a celebration of the national championship and Ward's Heisman, which included the surprise retirement of his number. He joined Fred Biletnikoff and Ron Sellers becoming only the third player in FSU history to be so honored. Ward's passing and running skills were already well known qualities by 1993, but his inspired leadership and poise under pressure during his senior year elevated him to one of the game's all-time greats. So exceptional was Ward's command of the offense that coaches moved him into the shotgun to allow him to make adjustments during the play. Ward set 19 school and seven Atlantic Coast Conference records over his two years as the starting quarterback for the Seminoles. A consensus All-American, Ward won over 30 individual awards in addition to the Heisman. Ward ranks second in career total offense at FSU with 6,636 yards and has the highest completion rate for a career (62.3%) and lowest interception percentage (2.90%). Ward set the FSU record for touchdown passes in
a season with 27 in 1993.
#25 Fred Biletnikoff
WIDE RECEIVER • 1962-64
Biletnikoff played wide receiver at Florida State from 1961-64 under Head Coach Bill Peterson. He was FSU's first consensus All-American. As a senior, he ranked fourth in the nation with 57 receptions for 11 touchdowns, not including four touchdown catches in the Gator Bowl. Following his collegiate success, Biletnikoff went on to star for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League for 14 years. During that time, he played in four Pro Bowls and was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XI.
#28 Warrick Dunn
RUNNING BACK • 1993-96
Warrick Dunn's four-year career at Florida State established him as one of the most popular players in all of college
football and the finest running back in school history. Dunn is the only Seminole ever to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. His 3,959 career rushing yards broke Greg Allen's school record set in 1984. He also broke Allen's single season rushing record when he ran for 1,242 yards as a junior in 1995. Dunn has the record for most touchdowns scored in a career with 49 over four seasons and rushed for over 100 yards more times (21) than any player at FSU. He was a three-time All-ACC selection as well as a member of the ACC all-academic team. He was selected to the first team Football Writer's All-America squad as a senior and earned second team Associated Press honors that same year.
#34 Ron Sellers
FLANKER • 1966-68
Sellers remains the most prolific receiver in FSU history. He held most of the NCAA receiving records from the end of his senior season in 1968 until 1987. A flanker for Florida State from 1966 to 1968, he accumulated 3,979 yards on 240 receptions. Sellers' career was marked by consistency, quality and quantity. He caught passes in 30 consecutive games, averaging 119.9 yards per game. Sellers also led Florida State to three bowl games during his playing days.
#50 Ron Simmons
NOSEGUARD • 1977-80
The greatest defender in Florida State history, Ron Simmons' number 50 was retired in 1988. Simmons anchored the center of the defense that took FSU to a pair of Orange Bowl appearances in 1979 and 1980, resulting in FSU's highest national rankings ever at that time. A dominating noseguard and the Tribe's first two-time consensus All-American, Simmons seemed to camp out in opponents' backfields. He totaled an FSU record 25 quarterback sacks and 44 tackles for loss — a mark that held top ranking at FSU for 23 years. He was the first Seminole defender to have his number retired.
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07-21-2009, 01:40 AM
