Date: November 18, 2000
Location: Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.
Opponent: No. 4 Florida Gators
In November 2000, Tallahassee, Florida was the epicenter of the international news cycle. Almost two weeks after Election Day 2000, the eyes of the world were drawn to the Florida’s capital city, eagerly awaiting the final recount results of the divisive Bush-Gore presidential election. The American Presidency hung in the balance.
For the people of Tallahassee, however, the annual Florida State-Florida football game served as more than a mere respite from the political drama and international attention. Perhaps something more important—college football national title implications—hung in the balance on that chilly, damp Saturday night of November 18th.