The 2012 Florida State Seminoles football team, variously Florida State or FSU, represented Florida State University in the sport of American football during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Seminoles were led by third-year head coach Jimbo Fisher, and played their home games at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. They were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, playing in the Atlantic Division. 2012 marked the Seminoles' 21st season as a member of the ACC and their eighth in the ACC's Atlantic Division.
During the 2012 season, Florida State won its first ACC title since 2005, advancing to their first BCS bowl since that season as well, and won ten regular season games for the first time since the 2003 season. The Seminoles also won their first BCS game since the 2000 Sugar Bowl. The team also tied the school record for most games won in a single season and finished in the top ten of both major polls for the first time since the 2000 season.
Forthcoming season After the completion of the 2011 season, the Seminoles signed a highly rated recruiting class in February 2012 and completed spring practice the following April. With seventeen returning starters from the previous season, Florida State entered their 2012 campaign ranked as the number seven team in the nation and as a favorite to win the Atlantic Division and compete for the ACC championship and possibly a national title.
Preseason Before the start of the season, the Seminoles were scheduled to play the West Virginia Mountaineers on September 8, but the game was canceled by the Mountaineers so they could make room for their nine-game Big 12 schedule. With the late cancellation, Florida State was forced to add another Football Championship Subdivision team to its schedule. Because of this, Florida State needed an additional win to be eligible for a bowl game.
On August 1, 2012, Florida State kicked senior cornerback and punt return specialist Greg Reid off the team. Coach Fisher announced Reid's dismissal for what he described as a violation of team rules. The dismissal came three weeks after Reid was charged with marijuana possession after being stopped by a Georgia state trooper near his home in Valdosta, Georgia.
Former Penn State tight end Kevin Haplea also transferred to Florida State in the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.
Spring Game The annual 'Garnet and Gold Game' was held on April 14 at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium and the garnet team was victorious, winning by a score of 35–20. The game was televised on ESPNU with former FSU player Danny Kanell as commentator.
Postseason Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops left his position at Florida State to take the job as head coach at Kentucky. D. J. Eliot left his position as defensive ends coach to assist Stoops at Kentucky as defensive coordinator. Eddie Gran, who served as runningback coach and special teams coordinator as well as associate head coach, also left the staff to serve as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati.
Personnel 2012 was Jimbo Fisher's third year as the Seminoles' head coach. During his previous two years with Florida State, he led the Seminoles to an overall record of 19 wins and 8 losses (19–8). Mark Stoops and James Coley returned to their positions as coordinators.
Coaching staff Florida State Seminoles coachesHead coach Jimbo Fisher Assistant coaches Eddie Gran – Associate head coach, running backs coach and special teams coordinator Rick Trickett– Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Greg Hudson – Assistant head coach and linebackers coach Mark Stoops – Defensive coordinator and secondary coach James Coley – Offensive Coordinator and tight end coach Dameyune Craig – Quarterbacks Coach/recruiting coordinator Lawrence Dawsey – Passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach D. J. Eliot – Defensive ends coach Odell Haggins – Defensive line coach Vic viloria – Head strength and conditioning coach
Returning starters
Key losses OT Zebrie Sanders WR Bert Reed LB Nigel Bradham S Terrance Parks S Mike Harris P Shawn Powell CB Greg Reid (dismissed from team)
Transfers TE Kevin Haplea
Offense Player Class Position EJ Manuel Senior Quarterback Lonnie Pryor Senior Full Back Devonta Freeman Sophomore Running Back Rodney Smith Senior Wide Receiver Jacob Fahrenkrug Senior Offensive Lineman Bryan Stork Junior Center Garrett Faircloth Junior Offensive Lineman Bobby Hart Sophomore Offensive Tackle
Defense Player Class Position Björn Werner Junior Defensive End Everett Dawkins Senior Defensive tackle Anthony McCloud Senior Defensive tackle Brandon Jenkins Senior Defensive End Christian Jones Junior Linebacker Vince Williams Senior Linebacker Xavier Rhodes Junior Cornerback Lamarcus Joyner Junior Safety
Special teams Player Class Position Dustin Hopkins Senior Placekicker
Media Florida State football was broadcast on the Florida State University Seminoles Radio Network and the games were called by Gene Deckerhoff.
Rankings
Entering the 2012 season, Florida State was ranked No. 7 in both the AP and Coaches' Preseason Polls. ESPN ranked the Seminoles number seven before the season. Florida State was ranked No. 9 in the first Harris Poll. In the initial BCS poll, Florida State was ranked No. 14. Florida State finished the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the coaches' poll.
*Source: ESPN.com: 2012 NCAA Football Rankings
Schedule
Game summaries Murray State
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To open the season, Florida State faced an FCS opponent, the Murray State Racers. This game was the first between the two teams. Coming into the game, Florida State held a 17–0 record against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision.
Florida State dominated the Racers throughout the game, winning 69–3. Florida State opened the scoring and scored 14 points in the first quarter, with Rashad Greene returning a 47-yard punt return from kicker Dustin Hopkins and a 1-yard touchdown run from Lonnie Pryor. Florida State added another fourteen points in the second quarter as the result of an 18-yard touchdown run from Lonnie Pryor and a 6-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuel to Kenny Shaw. Murray State scored its first and only points near the end of the first half on a 28-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Florida State scored 20 points. James Wilder Jr. had a 9-yard touchdown run, Dustin Hopkins kicked a 23-yard field goal, Lonnie Pryor had a 1-yard touchdown run, and Dustin Hopkins kicked another 30-yard field goal. Florida State scored another 21 points in the fourth quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run from James Wilder Jr. and two 1-yard touchdown runs from Debrale Smiley.
EJ Manuel led the team in passing with 188 yards and one touchdown; James Wilder Jr. led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns; Kenny Shaw led the team in receiving with 4 receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown. Xavier Rhodes recorded one interception and Karlos Williams returned a punt for a touchdown. Dustin Hopkins successfully attempted two field goals. The Seminoles totaled 606 yards of offense in the game, with 285 rushing yards and 321 passing yards while holding Murray State to 156 total yards of offense.
Savannah State
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For their second game of the season, Florida State faced another FCS team, the Savannah State Tigers. This was also the first meeting between these teams. Prior to the game, the Seminoles were installed as 70 1/2 point favorites, reportedly making Savannah State the biggest underdogs in any college football game ever.Brooks, Matt (September 6, 2012) Savannah State is Biggest Underdog in College Football History Against Florida State. The Washington Post Retrieved September 6, 2012.
Florida State held the Tigers scoreless, winning 55–0. Florida State opened the scoring and scored 35 points in the first quarter, with a 61-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuel to Rodney Smith, a 6-yard touchdown run from Chris Thompson, an 8-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Greg Dent, a 9-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Kelvin Benjamin, and a 5-yard touchdown run from Devonta Freeman. Florida State added another thirteen points in the second quarter as the result of a 19-yard touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. and another 1-yard touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. with a subsequent failed point-after-attempt from kicker Dustin Hopkins, ending his streak of 145 consecutive extra point attempts. Florida State scored another seven points in the third quarter as the result of a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Coker to Kelvin Benjamin.
E.J. Manuel led the team in passing with 161 yards and three touchdowns; Devonta Freeman led the team in rushing with 7 carries for 69 yards and one touchdown; Rodney Smith led the team in receiving with 3 receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown. The Seminoles totaled 413 yards of offense in the game, with 167 rushing yards and 246 passing yards while holding Savannah State to just 28 total yards of offense.
The game was delayed in the second quarter, used a running clock after halftime and later called with 8:49 left in the third due to weather.
Wake Forest
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Florida State opened ACC play against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The teams last met the previous season with Wake Forest upsetting the Seminoles 35–30 in Winston-Salem. Florida State has struggled against Wake Forest recently, losing four out of the last six before this game.
Florida State shutout a team for the second week in a row by holding Wake Forest scoreless for the second time in three years and winning 52–0. Despite a sluggish start, Florida State scored first with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from EJ Manuel late in the first quarter. Another touchdown in the first quarter came from Rashad Greene with a 60-yard punt return. After a fourteen-point first quarter, the Seminoles scored twenty-four more points in the second with a 74-yard touchdown run and an 80-yard touchdown run from Chris Thompson, a field goal from Dustin Hopkins, and a 20-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Rodney Smith. Florida State dominated the second half of the game as well. The Seminoles added seven points in the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Kenny Shaw. They finished off the game with seven points in the fourth quarter courtesy of an 18-yard touchdown run from Debrale Smiley.
E.J. Manuel led the team in passing with 176 yards and two touchdowns; Chris Thompson led the team in rushing with 9 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns; Kelvin Benjamin led the team in receiving with 4 receptions for 44 yards. Dustin Hopkins successfully attempted one field goal. The Seminoles totaled 612 yards of offense in the game, with 385 rushing yards and 227 passing yards while holding Wake Forest to 126 total yards of offense. The victory improved Florida State's all-time record against the Deacons to 24–6–1.
Clemson
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Following its meeting with Wake Forest, Florida State hosted the Clemson Tigers in a key division game. Clemson defeated Florida State the previous season 35–30 at Death Valley en route to the Atlantic Division title and an ACC Championship. The winner of this game has represented the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship Game for the past three years with Clemson winning the division title in 2009, Florida State winning the division title in 2010 and Clemson taking the division title the following year. ESPN's College Gameday was on the campus of Florida State University for the game. The program previously visited the school for a game against Oklahoma during the 2011 season. It is their eighth time hosting and the show's twenty-fourth appearance at an FSU game.