LONE STAR STATEMENT

This embroidered patch commemorates the 56th Cotton Bowl Classic, played on January 1, 1992, between FSU and the Texas A&M Aggies. It was a gritty, old-school slugfest that the Noles won 10-2, an unusually low-scoring affair for a Bobby Bowden-led team, but one that showcased FSU’s defensive dominance. QB Casey Weldon, a Heisman Trophy finalist, orchestrated a patient, efficient offense, while Butkus Award winner LB Marvin “Shade Tree” Jones Sr. and the Seminole defense suffocated the Aggies all day. The win capped an 11-2 season and marked FSU’s sixth consecutive bowl victory, a streak that cemented Bowden’s reputation as one of the top bowl-game coaches in the nation. It also came during FSU’s ascent into elite national territory, just one season before they’d join the ACC and win their first national title in 1993. This patch was worn by players during the game and now serves as a powerful memento of a decade-defining win deep in the heart of Texas.