Florida State has beaten Virginia Tech 12 straight times since Bobby Bowden became the Seminoles' football coach in 1976.

FSU 28, Tech 21

Nov. 20, 1976, at FSU

Of note: The Seminoles score on a 97-yard run and passes of 75, 33 and 96 yards. With his team up 21-20, Tech's Roscoe Coles fumbles with 6 minutes left. Jimmy Jordan throws a 96-yard TD pass on the next play.

Quotable: "They had the big plays and that was the difference," Tech coach Jimmy Sharpe says.

Postscript: It is the season finale for the 5-6 Seminoles and the 6-5 Hokies. Coles finishes with 1,119 yards rushing, breaking his own Tech single-season mark.

FSU 23, Tech 21

Nov. 5, 1977, at Tech

Of note: The 15th-ranked Seminoles win on Dave Cappelin's 29-yard field goal with 4:57 left. Mickey Fitzgerald, who switched from tight end to fullback the previous week, runs for 115 yards for Tech.

Quotable: "I didn't know Fitzgerald would start until I read it in the paper," Bowden says.

Postscript: The Seminoles finish 10-2 after a Tangerine Bowl win; Tech finishes 3-7-1.

FSU 24, Tech 14

Nov. 11, 1978, at FSU

Of note: FSU outscores Tech 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Kenny Lewis, the father of the current Tech tailback, rushes for 126 yards for the Hokies.

Postscript: Tech finishes 4-7 in Bill Dooley's first year as coach; FSU finishes 8-3.

FSU 17, Tech 10

Sept. 29, 1979, at Tech

Big name: Freshman Cyrus Lawrence, who became Tech's career rushing leader, runs for 107 yards.

Of note: The 12th-ranked Seminoles improve to 4-0. Paul Davis picks off three passes in the end zone for Tech, which falls to 3-1. But the Lane Stadium crowd noise gives the Tech offense problems; sometimes the Hokies couldn't hear the play.

Quotable: "It would be nice not to cheer when we're not in a huddle. But you know how fans are. You can't tell them to stop cheering. I guess we're really not used to it," Tech QB Steve Casey says.

Bill Brill wrote: "My mother, who is well past 70 and suffering from arthritis, could have thrown the ball against the Hokies. The pass rush was almost completely absent."

Postscript: Tech finishes 5-6: FSU loses the Orange Bowl to wind up 11-1.

FSU 31, Tech 7

Nov. 8, 1980, at FSU

Big name: Current Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill throws two TD passes for FSU.

Of note: No. 3 FSU wins on Bowden's 51st birthday.

Quotable: When asked what makes FSU so good, Dooley says, "Athletes, experience, quickness, speed and size. Is that enough?"

Postscript: FSU loses the Orange Bowl to finish 10-2. Tech loses the Peach Bowl to finish 8-4.

FSU 41, Tech 14

Nov. 12, 1988, at FSU

Big names: Burt Reynolds, back for a reunion of FSU's 1958 team, is on hand to root for the fifth-ranked Seminoles. Dexter Carter runs for 119 yards. The threat of return man Deion Sanders throws the Tech punting game out of sync.

Quotable: "I told Frank [Beamer] that he's headed in the right direction and not to change a thing," Bowden says.

Postscript: FSU wins the Sugar Bowl to finish 11-1. Tech finishes 3-8 in Beamer's second season.

FSU 41, Tech 7

Oct. 14, 1989, at Tech

Big name: Peter Tom Willis throws for 338 yards and three TDs for No. 19 FSU.

Of note: At various times, Beamer pointed a finger in an official's face, made arm motions to sarcastically signal the officials to move FSU downfield, and fell to his knees to plead his case.

Quotable: "We played horrible," Tech cornerback Roger Brown says.

Bill Brill wrote: "Cam Young, a blameless fifth-year quarterback in the prime of mediocrity, had a grisly day."

Postscript: FSU wins the Fiesta Bowl to finish 10-2. Tech finishes 6-4-1.

FSU 39, Tech 28

Sept. 29, 1990, at FSU

Big names: Terrell Buckley has a 53-yard interception return for a TD to give No. 2 FSU a 32-28 lead late in the third quarter. Brad Johnson throws for 254 yards for FSU, which once trailed 21-3.

Quotable: "That was one of the greatest games I ever saw," Bowden says.

Bill Brill wrote: "Since a modest beginning, Florida State has become one of the nation's two or three finest football programs, while Virginia Tech is seeking an identity and a viable conference."

Postscript: FSU wins the Blockbuster Bowl to finish 10-2. Tech finishes 6-5.

FSU 33, Tech 20

Oct. 12, 1991, in Orlando

Big names: Buckley returns an interception 71 yards for a TD for No. 1 FSU. Casey Weldon throws two TD passes. Will Furrer throws for 317 yards. Antonio Freeman has four catches.

Of note: Tech moves the game from Lane Stadium to the Citrus Bowl for $800,000.

Quotable: "Florida State, two years ago, we had 40,000 people in Blacksburg. The last two times here, FSU hasn't drawn well," Tech AD Dave Braine says.

Postscript: Tech finishes 5-6. FSU wins the Cotton Bowl to finish 11-2.

The game

No. 2 Tech rebounds from a 28-7 deficit to take a 29-28 lead, but No. 1 FSU scores 18 in the fourth quarter to hand Tech its lone loss. Bobby Bowden wins his second national title and enjoys his first unbeaten season.

Big names

Redshirt freshman Michael Vick has 322 total yards. Andre Davis has a TD catch. Peter Warrick scores a Sugar Bowl-record 20 points. Chris Weinke throws four TD passes, including the winner with 12:59 left. Corey Simon recovers a fumble. Shayne Graham and Sebastian Janikowski each kick a field goal. Corey Moore is held to one tackle and no sacks.

Quotable

n "It was a good game for a while. Cinderella just had to leave at 12, though," FSU offensive guard Jason Whitaker says.

n "Boy, did [Vick] make some unbelievable plays," Tech head coach Frank Beamer says. "I've never seen a quarterback when people have him dead to rights and can't get him as many times. Have y'all ever seen anybody like that? About three or four times I was going, 'Duck, Michael.' I was afraid, oh Jesus, and all of a sudden here he goes. It was just unbelievable, just amazing talent."

Jack Bogaczyk wrote

"Michael Vick darted and danced through Florida State and into the Heisman Trophy favorite's role for next season."