Countdown to Kickoff: 69 Days

The 1984 season was pegged to be one of the best in Auburn history. The Tigers had to replace a few key position people like Randy Campbell, but Auburn had a returning junior in Bo Jackson and most of the Defense from the 83 SEC Champions and winners of the 84 Sugar Bowl (and in most eyes, the uncrowned National Champions from that season, but I digress). The season, however, did not go as planned. The preseason #1 fell in the Kickoff Classic to #14 Miami and then went out to Austin, TX and took another loss to the Horns. Auburn returned home for two wins over Southern Miss and Tennessee before hitting the road and getting a hard-fought win over a game Ole Miss team to move the record to 3-2 (2-0 SEC).

That takes us to one of the most talked about, unseen games in Auburn football history. #16 Auburn traveling to the erector-set stadium that was Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL to take on #9 Florida State. The reason it was unseen mainly is because back in those days, the NCAA’s restraints on how many football games could be broadcasted were just coming off and the College Football Association (CFA) was just starting to form to have teams have their games shown. So, again, for whatever reason, a #9 vs #16 fell through the TV broadcasting cracks and we are left with eye-witness accounts and coach’s film for this unbelievable football game. The Noles hit the 84 season wide open, blowing out everyone they faced in their first four games, including victories over that same Miami team that beat the Tigers to begin the season. The Noles did hit a road bump the previous week against Memphis State in a 17-17 tie on the road before getting the Tigers.

As the game began, Auburn took the opening kick and was able to march around 70 yards, aided in large part to a 51 yard Pat Washington to Freddy Weygand pass to set up the Tigers inside the FSU 5. Auburn needed to go for it on 4^th down and got it in for the touchdown thanks to Brent Fullwood and the Tigers took the 7-0 lead. On the Seminoles opening drive, they were able to get it deep in Auburn territory but was forced to try a field goal and it was 7-3. Both teams traded punts for most of the 1^st quarter until Auburn was able to power out a field goal, thanks to an Auburn Defense forced fumble. The Noles finally were able to break through after a blocked punt gave FSU the ball at the Auburn 3 yard line to tie things up at 10. With the momentum mounting in the home team’s favor, the Auburn offense took the field, which leads us to our COUNTDOWN PLAY OF THE DAY, Collis Campbell taking the handoff 69 yards to the house! Let’s throw it to Jim Fyffe and Pat Sullivan…

We will pause the game there as Auburn has taken a 17-10 lead over FSU, midway through the 2^nd quarter. 69 days till kickoff, WAR EAGLE EVERYONE!