Throughout my entire life sports have always played a huge part of my life. From the days when I could first play catch with my dad all the way up to today it still remains the biggest thing in my life. Sports are the main reason I aspire to one day work in the field of sports media whether that be a writer or working in the front office of a team in the media relations department. But no other sport has had more of an impact on my life than Florida State football, particularly the teams of the late 90s.
Being born and raised in Tallahassee made it easy for me to get involved more actively in the teams. I was constantly surrounded by the news about the team and it was completely impossible to avoid it. As anyone who has ever lived in this city for an extended period of time knows, this is a city consumed by football. Not only on the college level, but also at the high school and youth levels Tallahassee is known for producing great football talent. Currently there are 11 NFL players who grew up here and played in the same city leagues as I did growing up.
But it was especially in the late 90s when the Florida State football dynasty was at its highest that my interest in the sport was born. In 1997 when I was only six years old my father, a graduate of Florida State, began taking me to games every Saturday. It became an almost religious experience. We would go and revisit with all of my dad’s friends from high school and college and they would talk about the game and how they thought it would happen. Now some people would refer to my father and his friend’s view of FSU football as cynical, but during the late 90s, particularly 1999, it was near impossible to say anything bad about the program.
That season was particularly special, Florida State entered the season as the preseason number 1 ranked team and the favorite to win it all after losing in the championship game in the previous season. The team was loaded with stars and idols of mine as a child such as Chris Weinke, Travis Minor, Snoop Minnis, Mario Edwards, and most of all Peter Warrick. He was the first time I was ever left speechless by a football player. I had seen the game played for a solid 3 seasons before this year, but I had never seen someone so electrifying with the ball in his hands. He was the catalyst in a team that seemed unbeatable at all points throughout the season. My dad and I went to every home game that year, and by the end of the year we had a 10-0 record with only one game remaining, a trip to our arch rivals at the University of Florida. This time my whole family made the trip and we were there to watch the Noles finish an undefeated season and secure a spot in the national title game.
When it came time for the championship game my whole family gathered around the TV in our living room to watch, what was for me, the most important event of my life at the time. We watched as the Noles jumped out to an early lead and would hold on to it throughout the entire game. I remembered so overcome with emotion that I was brought to tears even though I was nine and it was a very uncool thing to cry. But I just couldn’t help it; it was truly one of the more special nights in my lifetime.
Looking back now at those years I reflect fondly on how important they were to me. I realize that when I am critical of the team that I should be grateful for even having good years to look back upon. It was one of the best periods of my life, and although many people may view it as just sports I believe that that period helped mold me into the man I am today.
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