Resembling movie gunslingers with quick draw reputations, Christian Ponder and Tyrod Taylor will make for an entertaining shootout in the ACC's championship thriller. But it's far from the first time a Nole and Hokie QB have found themselves in a duel. Two more that stand out over the years were Chris Weinke versus Michael Vick in the 1999 Sugar Bowl, and Gary Huff and Don Strock in 1972.
That's right, we're talking 38 years ago in 1972. Fact is, the FSU-Va. Tech relationship goes back even further than that.
A 55-YEAR OLD GRIDIRON RELATIONSHIP:
• Florida State has played Va. Tech more than any other team besides UF and Miami.
• Tech is FSU's second oldest ongoing rivalry. Only Miami goes back further (1951).
• The Noles lead the series 22 - 11 - 1.
• The series began in 1955 when FSU lost to the Hokies 24-20.
• The Seminoles first win over Tech was in 1957, 20-7. (Note: Back then Va. Tech was known as VPI, or Virginia Polytechnic).
• FSU’s only loss in 1964 was to Va. Tech, 20-11, when the Noles had a breakout 9-1-1 season featuring the passing of Steve Tensi to Fred Biletnikoff.
• Florida State’s biggest margin of victory was 41-7 in 1989.
• Tech’s biggest was 56-21 in 1974 during the Noles nightmare 1-10 season.
• The lone tie in the series was 10-10 in 1969.
• The Hokies were a regular fixture on the schedule through the 60s and 70s when both teams were independents. It's safe to say that FSU and Va. Tech was more than a series to the two teams and their fans back then. Ask a Nole or Hokie from that pre-ACC era and they'll tell you it was a bona fide rivalry.
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