Older Noles know the name, as well as the accompanying fame, of Kim Hammond. He came off the bench in 1967, his senior year, to become an All-American and lead an exciting comeback win over the gators in Hogtown. What made it even more dramatic was Hammond himself coming back from being knocked woozy in the first half to direct the winning drives. He was inducted into FSU's Hall of Fame in 1978. Part of Hammond's entry into the Space Coast Hall of Fame includes this video, with rare historical highlights from his remarkable but brief Seminole playing days.

FSU opponents always knew when Buster Davis was on the field -- both by his jarring hits and his relentless chatter. A Walter Camp and American Football Coaches 2nd Team All-American, Davis had 127 tackles and eight sacks over his career from 2003-06. As a pro he had good years at Detroit, Indy and Houston. In early 2011 he had an offer to go north of the border to play for Canadian Football League champion Montreal. But Buster knew it was time for a change. Not from football -- just to a different place on the field.

Signing on as a grad assistant at the University of South Dakota, Davis was given a big role in coaching the Coyotes' linebackers. He saw it as a first step on a long journey to being a head coach in college or the NFL. His ultimate goal? A return to Doak Campbell Stadium as the face of the program.

Here's part one of our recent interview with the articulate Mr. Davis, as he talks about his days as a Seminole and how he matured, both on and off the field.

What was your favorite game at FSU?

Davis: It would probably have to be that Penn State game (2006 Orange Bowl). That'll go down in history as one of the greatest games at Florida State because of the rivalry between Coach Paterno and Coach Bowden -- going back and forth for the most wins. Playing in the Orange Bowl...a BCS game. Even though we came out on the short end of the stick, it was still a great competitive game. And it signified what both programs have meant to college football.

What's your favorite memory of playing Florida?

Davis: Probably my senior year when I was able to wear number 50, Ron Simmons retired jersey. I had talked to Ron about a year and a half before that. I had bugged Monk Bonasorte about it, because he had introduced me to Ron one day. And I became a fan ever since. I wanted to wear number 50 the whole year, but he wouldn't give it to me, just let me pick one game to wear it. So I picked that game, my last game at Doak. And that truly meant a lot to me. Then, of course, we were playing our rival. So the whole day was a great experience.

What's the game you wish you could play over?

Davis: That Penn State game was so big for us. If we'd made one extra point we'd never have gone to overtime. We would have won the game. So that's one of the games I'd like to play over.

What's the story of how you came to sign with FSU?

After your first year at FSU, you had thoughts of transferring. Why was that?

Davis: I thought about it, you know. But one thing I pride myself on is not quitting anything I do. And it was probably the best decision I ever made, which was to stay at Florida State, because I met so many great people there and had so many great moments on the field. A lot of times freshmen have those moments where they just want to be on the field, and sometimes it's kind of hard to not be playing. But you live and you learn. And I was fortunate enough to have a coach like Kevin Steele to come and raise me, pretty much, those other four years I was in school. He had a dramatic impact on my life, on and off the field. And that propelled me to be successful there and also in the NFL.

What are some of the things Coach Steele did to mold your character and career?

Davis: The thing he brought was professional experience. I remember the first day I met him. I had a meeting with him, and I had missed a class. And he ran me for that, something that happened when he wasn't even there (yet). So he pretty much taught me how to be a professional in college. Which I think is so key because it raises the bar for those particular players you expect greatness out of. And that's what Coach Steele brought to me. It's the same thing I bring to the players I coach right now -- molding them to act like professionals, even if they're in college.

And by being a professional in college you mean…?

Davis: Just everything. You know, on the field, how to think like a pro, how to practice like a pro. Off the field, how to watch film -- because a lot of players don't know how to watch film, what to look for. Taking notes. And then also, in the classroom. Being on time. I think that had the biggest impact on us -- time management. I think a lot of guys in college forget about that. But it's a lesson that goes with you throughout life. Well, time management was an issue for me, so he ran me a couple of times. That's one of the things I learned from him that filters down to the guys I coach now.

What did you learn from Coach Andrews that you use today as a coach?

Davis: Two things in particular: Discipline and being tough. And those are things I demand out of my players. You can go a long way in the game by being disciplined and being tough. Coach Andrews definitely brought those out in us. If you weren't tough, you weren't going to play.

And he also taught the competition factor. Often times people don't realize that the competition factor is huge when it comes to upper echelon football. If you can compete at Florida State, you can compete in life. I tell people that what you do in college football directly affects your life. It's the things you learn (in football) that people who don't play a sport, they don't understand. So football teaches you much more than just the game.

Who's the coach you learned the most from at FSU?

Davis: I can remember sitting in Coach Bowden's office, once I got a little older, talking about important things in life. But I learned so much from everybody I came in contact with at Florida State. I learned a tremendous amount from Coach Andrews, Coach Steele, Coach Bowden, Dave Hart -- being on a committee with him, I learned a lot about what to expect from an athletic director. So it was kind of an all-around learning carousel at Florida State.

Whatever Nole fans think about Greg Carr, they probably don't think of him as one of Florida State's greatest receivers. But stats don't lie. And Carr's numbers put him up there with the Noles all-time best.

• Only Peter Warrick has caught more Seminole touchdowns   than Carr (29).

• He's tied with Warrick and Ron Sellers for 4th in all time   Season TD Catches (12).

• He's fifth in all time Career Receptions with 148.

• He's fifth in Career receiving yards (2574)

At 6'6" the guy made it look easy, leaping over smaller DBs like they were Pop Warner kids. Yet Carr had more going for him than just being a jump ball artist. That was his role under Jeff Bowden. But when Jimbo Fisher became offensive coordinator, Greg learned to run better routes and become a more complete receiver.

Signed as a free agent by San Diego in 2009, Carr made it all the way to the final cutdown. But in 2010, he found a good fit with Winnipeg of the Canadian League. Joining the team in mid-season, he scorched opponents with 31 receptions for 568 yards and four TDs in only seven games.

Now Carr is out to prove he can once again dominate DBs, putting up numbers that will make NFL teams take notice and dial his agent's number.

We spoke to him about his ambitions and his FSU career during Winnipeg's pre-season camp.

How's the transition going from American football to the Canadian game?

Carr: "I'm still learning. Instead of being stationary like in the states, I'm able to move back and forth. Here, I'm more of an X motion receiver who can move up and down the line, so that adjustment wasn't too bad."

Are they using you like FSU did in a lot of jump ball situations?

Carr: "I'd say it's more of a variety of things. There's more to it than just the jump ball because there are more things you can do in the Canadian game."

How do you think you've grown as a receiver in your CFL career?

Carr: "I think I've grown a lot. I've gotten accustomed to the game, what you can and can not do. But I've still got a lot of things I can improve at. So it's an exciting time for me. I just want to continue and get better."

What did you do during the off season?

Carr: "I was actually in Tallahassee working out, and spending time with my family."

When you think of your playing days at FSU, what game comes to mind first?

Carr: I would have to say winning an ACC Championship my freshman year. That was a big game. But I just remember everything -- my teammates and just that whole environment then being at Florida State. My biggest memory would probably be my first touchdown, and with my Mom there. That was an exciting experience for me and my family.

At FSU did you have specific jump ball plays, where it was just, "Go up and get it, Greg"?

Carr: "Yes, at times that's exactly what it was. It was just our coaching staff believing that I could make a play because I was a better player than the DB I was going up against. There were times that even Coach Bowden would tell me, "We're going to throw one up to you and we need you to make the play." And I just tried to play to the best of my ability. "

You played for two different offensive coordinators. How did things change with Jimbo Fisher?

Carr: "I would say there were different demands with Coach Fisher. He was more about getting your whole game together. He was focusing more on your weaknesses rather than your strengths. He wanted to get your weaknesses up to the same level as your strengths. That was my biggest adjustment. He'd say, 'You're not going to be able to just go up and get the jump ball. I want you to able to run this route and that route.' And we also had more double moves when Coach Fisher came."

Would you say it made you a more complete player under Fisher your last two years?

Carr: "Yeah, I would say so."

Even though your production dropped off in 2007 and '08?

Carr: "I'd say I was much improved as a route runner and just understanding the whole scheme. So while the production wasn't there, at the same time I thought I was a better player for it."

People remember you for the jump ball, but they never talk about your excellent hands?

Carr: "If I go up with the DB and we both have our hands on the ball and I snatch it away from him, a lot of people just assume that I beat him on the jump ball. People didn't take into consideration that 'he has strong hands.' It's one thing to be able to jump for the ball, and something else to have strong hands to go up and get it. You have to have the right timing. You have to know how to position yourself, and all the rest. There was far more to it than just being 6'6"."

What's the big difference between the defensive backs you faced in college and the ones you go up against in the pros?

Carr: "In college, I didn't think a lot of DBs took the time to study a receiver. While in the pros you have guys that do the film work -- who will study your moves, and who will understand that 'nine times out of ten when he does this, he's going to do that…' As a receiver, you have to be more creative with the things you do (in the pros). You can't just go to the same move every time, because guys will key on that."

What do you recall most about Coach Bowden?

Carr: "The thing that always stuck with me about Coach Bowden was that everybody knows he loves to win, but he was a guy who wanted to do it the right way. He wanted you to go out there and not only represent Florida State, but represent your family. He told us we've gotta go out and enjoy it and be the best player you can be. But at the same time, keep family first and keep your priorities in order. It was great playing for a guy who was well respected for winning. But winning wasn't everything for him, because he understood it's more about doing things the right way."

You grew up in gator country. How did you end up at Florida State?

Carr: "I wasn't a gator fan. I was a Michigan Wolverines fan. And my favorite player was Charles Woodson. So I wanted to get away from home, and Florida was recruiting me and I thought Gainesville was too close to home. Miami was too far away from home. But Florida State in Tallahassee was just right. And then I was more familiar with the guys who came in my recruiting class, like Xavier Lee and Kenny O'Neal. That helped make it a more comfortable decision for me."

Are you hoping to get a call again from an NFL team?

Carr: "I'm looking at it. That's something I want. But at the same time I'm just taking advantage of the opportunity I have here and want to make the best of it. And if it comes, it comes. But if not, I'm perfectly fine being in the great city of Winnipeg. This is a very nice place to be."

Focus. Motivation. Goal setting.

Three things every player needs, no matter how much talent they're blessed with. Those who don't have it often look to their coaches and team leaders for it.

Not Larry Key. With him, it seemed to come as naturally as his speed and great moves.

In the second part of our interview with no. 44, Larry talks about his personal goals for every game. This clip begins with Key describing his 97-yard TD run against Virginia Tech in 1976, still one of the longest in the history of FSU Football.

Florida State fans know all too well who the Noles last 1000-yard rusher was. But too few remember, or maybe never knew, who was the first FSU running back to hit the 1000-yard mark.

That would be Larry Key in 1977.

Small but fast and shifty, Larry was often greeted by the jingle of keys -- whether at Doak, on the road, or even off the field. Especially during crucial game moments, when FSU fans would signal who they wanted to get the ball by shaking their key chains like Mississippi State fans wave their cowbells.

Though he didn't know it when he signed with FSU in 1974, Larry's timing was excellent. His Nole career would fall right in the middle of the coaching transition from Darrel Mudra to Bobby Bowden. Key flourished under Bowden's rebuilding, going from 522 yards rushing in 1975 to 1117 during the Noles ten win season in '77.

In the first of our multi-part interview, Larry talks about the highs and lows of his days in Garnet & Gold. (By the way, you can tell by his 'fro that this team picture was shot in Larry's pre-Bowden years. Beginning in 1976, long hair and mustaches became a memory if you planned to play at FSU.)

It's been 417 games since Florida State took the field with a new head football coach. And now that the Bowden years are beginning to fade, most Nole fans like to remember the good times. One of them is Doc Lawrence. Since graduating from FSU, he's been a journalist with a long career in print, online, broadcasting, and television. A regular contributor to Wines Down South, he's launching a new syndicated radio show to be heard throughout the Southeast. Today, Doc shares a memory of a coach who was never too busy for people he didn't even know.

Some of my favorite personalities are chefs, folk artists musicians and occasional sports celebrities. I include Mario Batali, the late Howard Finster and Willie Nelson in this assemblage and among the sports stars, no one has brought more joy to me than Bobby Bowden. I first crossed paths with him in 1976, where he met with a small group in an Atlanta hotel to chat about his plans as head coach for FSU. He was the most relaxed man I ever met and he was funny. The kind of humor that doesn't offend.

Over the years I saw him speak before auspicious gatherings like the Atlanta Touchdown Club and even churches where he would stand in for a minister rather admirably. You could look for piousness or some self-serving motive, but you'd leave empty handed. Bowden was true to his core beliefs and about as fairminded as any spiritually based fellow I know. If one of his purposes was to lead others by his example, he did a fine job by my standards.

One season, Bowden played a killer schedule that included road games with Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Notre Dame, LSU and Nebraska, all in a row and all on the road.

The fearsome schedule caught the imagination of major newspapers all over America and Bowden, to the surprise of the sports world, came home with victories. His comments after defeating Notre Dame still bring chuckles. "Today Touchdown Jesus (a reference to the statue at the Notre Dame field), is a Southern Baptist." Bowden is a Southern Baptist. Over the years Bowden seemed to be LSU's curse, winning regularly. On one fateful night in Baton Rouge, FSU lost convincingly and LSU fans threw oranges at the
Seminole bench, celebrating a bid to play in Miami's Orange Bowl game. Bowden was asked what he thought about the debris thrown on the field: "I'm just thankful they weren't invited to the stone bowl," he said.

One beautiful autumn morning, I drove over to FSU's stadium with my then young son and noticed people going in and out of the athletic offices adjacent to the stadium. We walked in and I noticed a door open on the second floor balcony. Why we walked up the stairs, I'll never know. But, sitting at a desk with framed photos of Bear Bryant and Dolly Parton was Bobby Bowden reading what appeared to be letters.

"Come on in," he said, and after introductions requested that my son call him when he reached his junior year in high school. "Be sure," he said with laughter, "to ask for only me if you are six four and weigh around 220 pounds and run fast."

Before leaving, he went to his closet and gave my wide-eyed son an autographed poster of Deion Sanders who would go on to make consensus All-American that season before becoming a NFL legend.

I've interviewed numerous coaches and a fair share of jocks. Most are congenial and some are good with people. But none ever came close to Bowden's easygoing ways. He put a good face on college football and was always just a phone call away if you needed him.

Bob Neal, the distinguished sportscaster, was once a play-by-play college football announcer for Ted Turner's TBS and covered several FSU games. He introduced Bowden once to an Atlanta VIP gathering and said that one thing he admired about the coach was that Bobby made college football fun.

Bobby Bowden, the man who introduced "dadgummit" into football's lexicon, has earned a good rest with days on the links and long vacations with family and friends to faraway places. I will miss him each time I see another insincere overpaid windbag coach talking mindless trash to a television camera.

by Bob Perrone

The 2009-10 Florida State women’s golf team completed one of their finest seasons in school history. They won three tournaments, came in second twice and finished the year in 10th place in the NCAA Championships. The future looks bright for the Lady Seminoles as only two of the golfers are graduating and five of the top six will be returning.

Tenth place is their best finish so far in the NCAA tournament, but they did place higher in national level tournaments that preceded the NCAA. The NCAA did not govern women’s athletics until the 1981-82 school year and the Lady Seminoles did not join the NCAA until the next season.

Women’s golf did not become a varsity sport until 1968 when Florida State hosted the Fifth Annual Florida Intercollegiate Golf Tournament for women; however, FSU had some excellent women golfers before then.  Jo Ann Whitaker and Mary Lena Faulk are two of those golfers. They were probably good enough to make the men’s team in 1948 as they both shot close to women’s par which translated to about six extra strokes from the men’s tees. Whitaker won the Florida Women’s State Amateur Tournament that year and Faulk later joined the LPGA and became an outstanding player.

In 1968 the governing body for women was the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), and they first sponsored Division of Girl’s and Women’s Sport (DGWS) tournaments starting in 1969-70. In the 1972 DGWS Golf Championship, Florida State tied for second place with Arizona when the two-member team of Cynthia Peterka and Janet Lester shot 641, two shots behind Miami.

The next year the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) replaced the CIAW and beginning in 1977 FSU was a regular in the AIAW finals. Colleen Walker, Linda Lupica and Patti Belcher led the 1977 and 1978 teams to 13th and 15th place finishes. Laurie Rusk and Lea Ann Duke in 1977 and Fran Kocsis and Debbie Warford in 1978 were also important team members.

In 1980, two additional freshmen, Jane Geddes from South Carolina and Marla Anderson from Jacksonville provided two more pieces of the puzzle. Anderson, Guilbault, Young, Geddes along with Nancy Scranton improved to 15th place in 1980 and looked to do even better the next year.

After the first two rounds the Lady Seminoles were in third place, eight shots behind Georgia and four behind Tulsa. The ladies came through on the third round and shot a 298, tying the best round of the tournament. That gave them a one shot lead over the Bulldogs going into the final round. The two teams were neck-and-neck that last day and Georgia actually led through the 17th hole, but key birdies by the Seminoles and bogies by the Bulldogs opened the door for FSU and the team of Lisa Young, Barbara Bunkowsky, Jane Geddes, Michele Guilbault and Marla Anderson won FSU’s first national golf championship. Young finished the tournament in 3rd place, one stroke behind the leaders and Bunkowsky placed 14th. Young, Bunkowsky and Guilbault earned AIAW All-American honors.

The Noles were primed (pun intended) for a big season in 1988. Loaded with playmakers like Prime Time, Sammy Smith, Ronald Lewis, Edgar Bennett, Leroy Butler and Dexter Carter, FSU had the Canes in the cross hairs. It was to be a signature win in a nasty rivalry, at the Orange Bowl, and on national TV. Nole players were so jacked they produced a now infamous video that included lyrics like, "Our code is simple, We're the best in the land."

Famous last words. It was all Miami, 31-0.

Fans on both sides say it was the over-the-top swagger of the rap that fired up UM. Another take is that FSU went into the game far too over-confident. Now Dexter Carter has a new perspective that we haven't heard before, as he explains in this short clip from our recent interview.

While Dexter isn't proud of his impulsive reaction, it's probably what Seminole fans will most remember him for -- even though he had nearly 150 yards on the night. Seldom has Doak seen a louder, more intense crowd than that 1989 game (background here from Frank D. Nole). And when 5'9" Dexter embarrassed stud linebacker Bernard "Tiger" Clark (now LB coach for the Pitt Panthers), the place exploded.

Today Carter has moved on from coaching RBs at FSU and runs his own program of summer camps for young players from six to 17. And though he coaches kids in his camps to control their emotions, he doesn't mind telling the story of the night his got the best of him.

If you were at Doak in 1987, or glued to the annual TV Game of the Century that was FSU - Miami, then you recall the heart stopping finish. Ronald Lewis caught a TD in the back of the end zone, just a hair from the end line, to bring the Noles to within one point. Then, with 42 seconds left, Bobby Bowden rolled the dice. Forget the dadgum extra point. It was win the game and a possible national championship on a two-point conversion attempt.

That's where Pat Carter played his biggest role as an FSU tight end. Pat went on to have a decade-long NFL career, followed by a coaching gig at Detroit. But among his biggest football regrets is the two-point pass play that he never laid a single finger on. He joined us recently to look back at the highlights and lowlights of his Seminole career.

What would you consider your biggest win at FSU?

"I guess to me it would have to be the Florida game my senior year, just for the simple fact that we finally got one after losing the first three. I knew if I didn't get this one I was going to be shut out. And I just didn't want that to happen."

Talk about a game that probably isn't your favorite -- the '87 game against MIami?

"That was a tough one. We just didn't close it. We had the game and we didn't take care of our business as we should have. And we lost to a really good team. Now they weren't a better team. And it's funny, every time I saw Coach Bowden he said that the '87 team was his best team. And we didn't even win it. But Miami was the only one we lost."

It came down to the two point conversion and the pass to you in the end zone, which was just a little short.

"Yeah, it was short. It was supposed to go to the back corner pylon. And when I looked up I saw the ball was short. I wish I just could've been able to make a play back there -- maybe just tipped it up to myself. But unfortunately it fell short. And the Miami players, they always like to make the claim they were in the right position. But if Danny (McManus) had thrown that to the back pylon, they would've been done. That's one of the plays we always practiced, and it's unfortunate we didn't execute it."

"I've read over the years that there was, though I just don't recall there being one. I do remember that after the play I was behind the decision. I mean, I wasn't mad that we didn't kick it. We had to go for it. So I commend the decision. I was totally behind it."

"That would be it. To be honest I'd like to play that whole game over. If we played ten times, I think FSU would've won seven of those. Don't get me wrong. That Miami team was loaded. But we made stupid plays to turn the ball over. Those are unfortunate. But we played very uncharacteristic."

"True, but Lonnie Johnson still had more TD catches (ten vs. Carter's seven). Of course, the one disclaimer I always bring up is that they didn't count our catches in bowl games back then, but they do now. Because I got another 15 catches in bowl games that they didn't even count."

"Well, blocking was a big thing. I remember Coach (Wayne) McDuffie would say, you aren't going to get on the field until you can block. So really, I had to make a name for myself blocking and caught a few passes here and there. But they turned me loose my senior year and allowed me to showcase my skills."

"Loved it. Initially, I didn't. It took me awhile to love it. And really, that's how I played ten years in the pros because of my blocking."

"The best example of that was when I played in Houston. My neighbor three houses down was Bubba McDowell, the same guy who knocked the ball down in that two-point conversion try. So every year when FSU played Miami, he would always remind me of that. That was back in '94, when we both played for the Oilers and lived in the same subdivision."

Who did you want to beat more back then, Miami or Florida?

"I can honestly say I hated Florida more -- on and off the field. But I wanted to beat Miami even more because I had some pretty good friends down there. So I would call Miami a gentleman's rivalry, where Florida was just a straight, diehard 'I hate you.' "