Florida State Football: Top 5 moments from the 2018 season

Florida State football gave fans little reason to celebrate in 2018, but there were a few bright spots among the wreckage.

There weren’t many bright spots for the Seminoles in 2018, with Florida State suffering its worst season in 36 years and setting a bunch of new records, albeit not the kinds you want to remember.

The 2018 season included a loss to Syracuse for the first time in 52 years, the end of a five-year winning streak against the Florida Gators, a home blowout loss to the Clemson Tigers, tied for the worst in program history, as well as the demise of the nation’s longest bowl streak.

There were few bright spots for the Noles in 2018, but a few moments do stand out.

5. Before the season started

The Noles capped off opening weekend with a primetime matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Labor Day. The whole ESPN hype machine was there, complete with the signature voices of Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, who called the game.

The Noles came out dancing. They looked loose and happy. It was different than anything seen under previous regimes. A DJ blasted rap music.

The stands erupted as legendary former Florida State and Virginia Tech head coaches Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer met at center field for the coin toss. The two coaches had met on a number of occasions during their long and illustrious careers, including once for a national championship in the 2000 Sugar Bowl. They also helped steer the two programs to the longest bowl streaks in the nation—a distinction now held by Virginia Tech alone.

If you’re a fan of Florida State football—or just a fan of the game in general—you probably had the chills. And then the Noles kicked off and all the energy and good will left the stadium, replaced by panic and disbelief.

The Noles open the 2019 season against Boise State in Jacksonville, and let’s just say expectations might be a bit more sedate.