1988 NCAA Tournament
The 1988 Tournament was based on the final AP rankings. Last year's champion Michigan State didn't make the tournament. The big news was #16 Washington State's upset over #1 Notre Dame. #12 Arkansas beat #5 West Virginia and #11 Oklahoma State beat #6 UCLA.
National Semi Final #1 (Florida St Seminoles v Miami, Fl Hurricanes)
December 31st, @ The Rose Bowl, Temp 56, Clear, Wind 5mph
Two bitter rivals from the state of Florida traveled to California for the right to play in the championship game.
Unfortunately the game didn't quite live up to the hype as the Seminoles raced out to a big 28-6 halftime lead and and cruised in the second half for a 38-16 win. Florida State took the opening kick and went right down the field and scored on a Chris Parker 1 yard run. After forcing a Miami punt, FSU got the ball back but the Hurricanes forced a turnover when Willis Peguese sacked Chip Ferguson and caused a fumble. Bill Hawkins recovered for Miami. Miami went three and out and on the punt the Seminoles blocked Tim Kalal's punt. On their first play after the block Sammie Smith ran 15 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0. Carlos Huerta kicked a field goal to make it 14-3 early in the second. Bernard Clark then intercepted Ferguson on the next series which set up another Huerta field goal to make it 14-6. Ferguson came back and marched FSU down the field and tossed an 11 yd TD pass to Dayne Williams to make it 21-6. Miami's next drive stalled and then disaster struck them as FSU again blocked Kalal's punt. On the very next play Ferguson threw a 25 yd TD pass to Ron Lewis to make it 28-6 at halftime. Miami took the second half kick and scored on a 12 yd Cleveland Gary run to make it 28-13. Miami then got the ball right back when Bobby Harden intercepted Ferguson. They had to settle for a field goal, but it was now 28-16. The Seminoles managed to stem some of the Hurricanes momentum with a 37 yard Richie Andrews field goal and it was now 31-16. Ferguson threw a 7 yard TD pass to Terry Anthony in the 4th quarter to finish out the scoring. MVP: Chip Ferguson (Florida St) - 222 yds passing, 3 TD, 159 rating. For Florida St: Chip Ferguson 20/28, 222, 3 TD, 2 INT...Sammie Smith 58 yds rushing, TD...Terry Anthony 4 Rec, 44 yds, TD... For Miami: Steve Walsh 24/49, 209, INT...Cleveland Gary 20 yds rushing, TD...Andre Brown 5 Rec, 70 yds...Rod Carter 17 Tackles... |
National Semi Final #2 (Clemson Tigers v Michigan Wolverines)
December 31, 1988 @ The Orange Bowl, Temp 68, Partly Cloudy, Calm
The Michigan Wolverines scored a late touchdown to pull out a win over the Clemson Tigers in a low scoring, yet entertaining game.
Clemson took the opening kick and got points on a 34 yard Chris Gardocki field goal. Michigan responded on their first possession with a 2 yard Tony Boles touchdown run to make it 7-3. The second quarter was controlled by the defenses and featured four punts. At the half it was still 7-3 Michigan. The third quarter was a continuation of the second quarter. All punts, no points. In the fourth quarter Gardocki kicked a 22 yard field goal to make it a 7-6 game. After forcing another Michigan punt, Clemson got in Gardocki range again and again he converted. His 43 yard field goal put Clemson up 9-7 with 7:34 to play. The Michigan offense then took over and pounded the ball at Clemson they ate up over 6 minuets of clock and Tony Boles put them back on top with a 22 yard run. Michigan goes up 14-9 with just 1:05 to play. Clemson was able to reach the Michigan 46 yard line before running out of time. MVP: Tony Boles (Michigan): 93 yds rushing, 2 TD, winning 22 yd TD run 1:05 4th For Clemson: Rodney Williams 14/25, 132 yds...Tracy Johnson 57 yds rushing...Keith Jennings 6 Rec, 32 yds For Michigan: Michael Taylor 8/9, 29 yds...Tony Boles 93 yds rushing, 2 TD |
National Championship (Michigan Wolverines v Florida St Seminoles)
January 7th, 1989 @ The Louisiana Superdome, Dome
In a very well played and close championship game it was the Florida State Seminoles that came out on top over the Michigan Wolverines 24-10 to win their first championship.
Michigan got the ball first and put points on the board with a 42 yard Mike Gillette field goal. Florida State got the ball and on a drive that saw five penalties called, four on FSU, the Seminoles found the end zone on a Chip Ferguson to Ron Lewis 19 yd pass. FSU leads 7-3 after one. In the second quarter Tony Boles scored on a 17 yard run to put Michigan up 10-7. Later in the quarter Ferguson tossed his second TD pass, this one an 8 yarder to Terry Anthony to put FSU back on top 14-10. Gillette had a 41 yard field goal attempt at the end of the half, but his kick missed. There was no scoring in the third quarter and the game entered the fourth quarter with FSU still on top 14-10. Midway into the fourth Ferguson threw his third TD pass of the game. This one a short 4 yarder to Lawrence Dawsey and it was now 21-10 FSU. That scoring drive started from their one yard line with 4:50 to play in the third quarter. It was a 99 yard, 24 play drive that lasted 11:38. Michigan was then faced with a 4th and 1 from their 17, not wanting to turn the ball over that deep in their territory they elected to punt. FSU turned that into a 34 yard Bill Mason field goal to make it 24-10 with 4:04 to play. That was the last of the scoring and the Seminoles take home the 1988 championship. MVP: Chip Ferguson (Florida St) 254 yards passing, 3 TD, 162 rating For Michigan: Michael Taylor 6/21, 31 yards...Tony Boles 85 yards, TD...Trip Welborne 13 Tackles For Florida St: Chip Ferguson 21/31, 254, 3 TD, INT...Sammie Smith 64 yds rushing...Chris Parker 64 yds rushing...Terry Anthony 6 Rec, 92 yds, TD... |