NO. 25’S LAST STAND

No Seminole has donned No. 25 since FSU retired WR Fred Biletnikoff’s number after his final game on January 2, 1965. It was the first retired number in program history, and for good reason. Biletnikoff emerged as the first big star for the Noles, garnering local and national headlines for his grit on the gridiron. He became the squad’s first consensus All-American in 1964 with 987 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That same year, he set Gator Bowl records with four touchdown catches and 192 receiving yards (since broken). Charlie Tate, head coach of rival Miami, gave No. 25 his props: “Biletnikoff’s not a good pass receiver. He’s a great one.” Biletnikoff left Tallahassee with 1,464 yards, 87 receptions and 16 touchdowns.