COLLEGE TOWN, FL (WTXL) — Florida State dropped its ACC opener to SMU 27-24 Monday night at Doak Campbell Stadium after a power outage delayed kickoff by nearly two hours.
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The outage put everything on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes before the game got underway at 9:15 p.m. Even when the lights returned, there was no scoreboard, no PA system, and no coach-to-player helmet communication.
SMU struck first, but FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels answered with his legs, running 8 yards to tie the game at 7.
After a few stalled drives, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings found Pittman Junior wide open for the score, putting the Mustangs ahead 14-7. The Seminoles answered with a long run to get into scoring position but had to settle for a field goal. SMU added a field goal of its own to lead 17-10 at halftime.
At halftime, a major announcement came for the FSU Marching Chiefs. The band is now the first college marching band from Florida to be invited to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Florida State came out of the break ready to answer. The Seminoles picked off Jennings on SMU's first possession of the second half, and after a muffed punt, FSU kept the ball. Ousmane Kromah finished the drive on the ground to tie the game at 17. Neither team scored again in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Jennings connected with Smith, who took it 79 yards for the touchdown to put SMU ahead 24-17. Daniels responded by finding Samuel Singleton Junior, who took it 39 yards to the house, tying the game again at 24.
FSU picked off SMU again on the Mustangs' next possession, but neither offense could capitalize as the defenses traded stops with the clock winding down.
SMU got one final chance. With 21 seconds left, Nick Reed knocked through a 20-yard go-ahead field goal to put the Mustangs up 27-24. Florida State tried to keep the play alive with laterals on the final drive, but SMU shut it down.
Daniels said the team handled the lengthy delay well.
"In terms of just sitting in the locker room and the delay, I think we handled it great. You know, guys were moving around in the locker room. We had great energy, you know, moving around, just continuing to prepare for the game, and I think we handled it very well."
FSU head coach Mike Norvell said the team needs to improve in the small details.
"Everybody in the program, you know, has to improve. We have to be better because you only get so many of those opportunities...and I want so bad for these players just to be able to understand what they can accomplish, understand what they can do, and then we gotta go do it too. And so, at the end of the day, it's just, it's a lot of little things, man. We harp on ways — from communication to details, fundamentals, technique — but in that moment of truth, that's going to show up."
Florida State falls to 0-1 in ACC play with the loss. The Seminoles have the weekend off before visiting Alabama on Sept. 19.
UPDATE:
Game delayed due to power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium. Both teams have headed back to the locker room and will return when power is restored. The game will resume when the lights come back on. Teams will have a 10-minute warm-up period.
Original:
Florida State opens ACC play Monday night against SMU at Doak Campbell Stadium — and thousands of fans are making it a Labor Day tradition.
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Thousands of Florida State fans in Tallahassee are mixing Labor Day celebrations with garnet and gold as the Seminoles open ACC play Monday night against SMU.
Florida State enters the game 1-0, hosting the Mustangs in their first-ever trip to Doak Campbell Stadium.
Andrew Richterkessing, an FSU fan, said:
"It's Labor Day, right, you wanna enjoy your day off, we're gonna have the best experience here we got the best parties one of the best football programs of all time. What a better way to enjoy your day off and celebrate with your friends and your family and watching one of the best teams perform."
From tailgates to family traditions, fans are turning the three-day weekend into a full day of Seminole football.
Josh Wallenfelz, another FSU fan, said:
"I grew up here, so the school means a lot to me. I went here, grew up watching the games, and I don't get to see my friends and family. You know, as much as I would like to, it's a great opportunity to have a day off of work. I figured, you know, when I have this opportunity again, so I want to come over and see all my friends, so you only gotta do this about six times a year, so I want to take advantage of it."
FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell said the Monday night schedule and the stakes of the matchup have the program energized.
"A little bit different week schedule, just with playing Monday night, but excited for a conference opener back in Doak. Gonna be in an electric, electric atmosphere, national TV. This is a championship-caliber opponent game, all part of it here to kick off ACC play, and very excited for what's in front of us, the opportunity that's there."
The two programs have met only once before. SMU beat Florida State 42-16 in Dallas two years ago. Monday night gives the Seminoles their first shot at the Mustangs on their home turf.
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