ORANGE DREAMS REALIZED

Following an undefeated regular season in 1979, Bobby Bowden led the Seminoles to their first-ever major bowl appearance, a matchup against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. This photograph captures a lighthearted moment as Bowden, phone in hand, receives confirmation of the bowl bid. The 1979 team finished the regular season 11-0 behind stars like QB Wally Woodham, TB Mark Lyles and a dominant defense that posted three shutouts and held five opponents to single digits. Notable wins included a 24-19 road victory over LSU and a 27-7 rout of Florida in Gainesville, Bowden’s first win at Florida Field. Though FSU fell to the Sooners, 24-7, in the Orange Bowl, the season marked the program’s emergence on the national stage and cemented Bowden as one of college football’s rising stars.