Florida State University will once again welcome members of its 1999 national championship team, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024, as guest coaches for the Whataburger Spring Showcase, head coach Mike Norvell announced Monday. did.
Travis Minor, Tommy Pauley, Corey Simon and Peter Warwick will be the first team in college football history to be the No. 1 team in the nation. His 1999 team at FSU started the season No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, went 12-0 through the season, never relinquishing that spot, and won the Sugar Bowl with No. 2 Virginia. culminating in the program's second national championship, defeating Tech.
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“We look forward to celebrating the 1999 National Champion team at the Spring Showcase and would like to thank Travis, Tommy, Corey and Peter for their willingness to join us as guest coaches,” Norvell said. “All four players went on to have tremendous success at Florida State and other universities, and their stories are proof of what hard work and dedication can accomplish. We look forward to learning from the example and experience of our fans and thanking the 1999 team during the Spring Showcase. ”
Minor was a four-time All-ACC selection and was the conference's Rookie of the Year in 1997. He earned all-conference first-team honors in 1998 and was a second-team selection in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The Baton Rouge, La., native, who spent four years as a Seminole, ranks fourth in FSU history with 3,218 career rushing yards and seventh in program history with 28 rushing touchdowns. He also added 831 yards receiving and 85 yards returning kickoffs for a total of 4,134 yards, which was seventh in program history in the era before bowl game statistics counted toward career totals.
Minor was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played in 118 games over the next eight seasons, his first six with the Dolphins and the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the St. Louis Rams. Minor gained 3,720 all-purpose yards and emerged as a dynamic kickoff return specialist, averaging 21.7 yards per return and 2,016 total yards on 93 returns over his career.
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Polley earned All-America honors in 2000 and was named first team All-ACC in 1999 and 2000. His punt block in the Sugar Bowl gave FSU its second touchdown of the game and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. He finished his career with 289 tackles, including 19.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 14 pass breakups, six fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The Baltimore native achieved a career high with his 109 tackles in 1999, and in 2000 he reached his triple digits again with 100 tackles. His career total tackles still ranks him 19th on FSU's list of all-time tackles.
Pauley was a second round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played in all 16 regular season games (11 starts), recorded 85 tackles (4.0 points conceded), was named the 2001 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and was a member of the All-Rookie Team. Was chosen. In his NFL playoff debut, he had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown, helping the Rams defeat Green Bay 45-17 in the divisional round en route to Super Bowl XXXVI. Pauley spent four years with the Rams before signing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. He played in 73 games and started 64, recording 392 tackles, including 311 solo stops, and four interceptions.
Simon was a two-time first-team All-American and earned consensus All-American status in 1999 when he led the ACC with 21.0 tackles for loss as part of an 84-tackle season. He recorded a career-high 10 tackles in Clemson's 17-14 win, and had an interception and blocked punt in Virginia's 35-10 win. On the first drive of the Sugar Bowl, he made a no-gain tackle on third-and-1 at his own 4-yard line, then recovered a fumble on fourth-and-1 to end Virginia Tech's scoring run. Simon, a Pompano Beach native, finished his FSU career with 193 tackles, including 44.0 points for loss, 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, nine pass breakups and one interception. He was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in his 2010 year.
After his college career ended, Simon was selected No. 6 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent five seasons, in 2000 he was named to the NFC All-Rookie team and in 2003 he was selected to the Pro Bowl. During his stay in Philadelphia, he started four of his NFC Championship games and helped the Eagles advance to Super Bowl XXXIX. . He also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans during his eight-year NFL career.
Warrick was a two-time All-American and still holds the FSU record for career touchdowns with 32. His 3,517 career receiving yards are the most in ACC history and ranks second on FSU's all-time list, while Warrick also ranks second in program history with 207 receptions, 15 100-yard receiving games, and an average of 4.81 receptions per game. . The Bradenton, Fla., native was inducted into the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, had his jersey retired by FSU in 2018, and was a member of the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team in 2002.
One of the most impressive players in college football history, Warwick caught six passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns and added another score on a 59-yard punt return, earning him the MVP of the national title game. Was chosen. He was selected fourth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and spent five seasons with the Bengals. After helping Seattle win the NFC Championship Game, he played in Super Bowl XL, marking the team's first Super Bowl appearance.
This year's Spring Showcase will be on April 20th from 4pm. Due to ongoing construction within Doak Campbell Stadium, the facility will operate at limited capacity. Tickets and parking can be purchased by visiting or calling the Florida State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE (1-888-378-6653).
*Press release provided by Florida State Athletics
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