BITTERSWEET IN THE BIG EASY

This souvenir football features the official Nokia Sugar Bowl logo and Wilson NCAA branding, commemorating FSU’s appearance in the 2003 Sugar Bowl. While the game itself ended in a tough 26-13 loss to Georgia, FSU’s berth in the BCS matchup marked their third Sugar Bowl trip under coach Bobby Bowden. Items like this capture the pageantry and prestige of major bowl games in the early 2000s, when BCS showdowns regularly shaped the national title race and college football was reaching new heights of visibility.