The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 45

In This Section January 3, 1965 Sports Financial New, General New, (fifi i 11 If jVi 1 VfI tun in mi niinii ii i'iwwiimiii ii in. ii iniiiMii'Mtmiw wwiiiii i mati woiiwirt- onwuiiitimpi nirtranflr rkiTr(-WMiiiMiir'iifc'iiri'iiiiriM-iiirihif iir-iii t1 1 liiitiniiiiiMiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiii im 0 Gun Down Oklahoma seminoles iri 11 Airways platoon who signed professional contracts one month too soon. The sheer weight of statistics was staggering. Between them, Tensi and Biletnikoff shattered nine different bowl records. THE TEAMS picked up a total of 46 first downs.

Florida State gained 520 yards and Oklahoma tacked on 283. Significantly, however, in light of developments preceding this contest, the Sooners gained only 74 on the ground. In the early going there was little hint of what was to follow. The first pass FSU threw was intercepted. Oklahoma THEY MARCHED 89 yards the next time they got the ball.

And, again, it was Tensi to Biletnikoff for the payoff this time from the 10. With both teams playing it loose, errors and long plays featured the second half. Oklahoma covered a Biletnikoff fumble and Tommy Pannell cracked across from the one. THE BOWL rivals exchanged touchdowns the rest of the way. Don Floyd took a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tensi before.

Oklahoma struck back with its brilliantly- By BOB BASSINE Sport Editor JACKSONVILLE Steve Tensi, Fred Biletnikoff and their Florida State University eammate9 rendered the Gator Bowl record book obsolete as the Stanley Steamer here Saturday. In the process, they dumped Oklahoma, 36-19, in the wildest and highest-scoring of all the 20 Gator Bowl football classics. TENSI THREW five touchdown passes, four of them to Biletnikoff, and accounted for the pro-styled total of 303 yards. FSU's fancy flinging and nifty 95-yarder by Oklahoma were all that kept the record crowd of 50,408 awake in the second half after the Seminole9 had exploded for a 24-7 intermission lead. Oklahoma never gave up the ghost, but obviously was suffering from the loss of four members of its offensive noles on their road to victory, intercepting a pass and flashing 69 yards up the sidelines on a warm, sunny afternoon.

Oklahoma took advantage of a short Florida State punt, drove 38 yards and held a 7-6 lead when the first period ended. At that point, the Sooners should have packed up their maroon jerseys and caught the first airplane back to Oklahoma. FSU PICKED apart their defense in the second quarter like boarding house residents going after a Christmas turkey. Florida State took the lead for keeps on a 90-yard drive capped by a 15-yard Tensi to Biletnikoff pass. The Seminoles then recovered a fumble and went 64 yards, Tensi hitting Biletnikoff for the final seven.

executed 95-yard scoring pass. Ronnie Fletcher came in from the bench and threw lFSU shows Oklahoma its vastnrst of offense, see Top O' Morn, Pg. 3D deep to end Ben Hart, who was pursued upfield but never was caught. THEREAFTER, Biletnikoff hauled in his fourth TD aerial, this one from the seven. Oklahoma was stopped on the one by a hard-nosed FSU goal-line stand as the final whistle blew.

i CUOSSWHITE (O) (()) HHLETNIKOFF (FS) I I MM x. v55r J- was 1h BILETNIKOFF (FS)l' SHIELDS (0) (MACKENZIE vn vvYi L. held the ball for only two plays before Ehler returned the favor and scored his touchdown, tight-roping against the out-of-bounds marker most of the way. FSU'S KICKOFF was short and Oklahoma used its running game to gain field position. Florida State again couldn't move from deep in its territory and Oklahoma got the ball on the Seminoles' 38.

The Sooners used their running game to crunch downfield on sheer power and took the lead when Kennedy went over left tackle with 1:53 to play in the first period. The Seminoles took the ensuing kickoff on the 10 and, getting their passing game in gear, slashed upfield and scored after 2:44 of the second quarter. THE PERIOD'S second TD, next time FSU handled the ball, came at 6:28 with Tensi's passing again keying the effort. The third was more of the same with Biletnikoff converting one average gain into a 39-yard play by neatly stepping around an Oklahoma defender at midfield and racing to the 23. The touchdown came with only 37 seconds remaining on the clock.

Oklahoma's second TD, a weird one, was scored with 4:26 left in the third chapter. The Sooners intercepted a Tensi throw but couldn't capitalize. THEY PUNTED and Biletnikoff went the great circle route, moving laterally and backwards trying to pick up some blockers on the return. Instead he collided with teammate Phil Spooner, the ball popped free and Oklahoma's Jerry Goldsby recovered at the two. Pannell rammed across three plays later.

The Sooners kicked the point but FSU was offside and they elected to try again, this time for two. They didn't connect on a pass. FSU took the kickoff and this time marched 82 yards with Spooner picking up some valuable ground on hip-swinging runs and Tensi hitting Biletnikoff and Bill Dawson for two big gains. THE TD pass to Floyd, giving FSU a 30-13 advantage, came on the last play of the third quarter. FSU was on the go again just before the 95-yard Oklahoma TD.

But a Tensi pass from the 29 was picked off at the three. Jon Kennedy got two yards and Fletcher came in from the bench. The resulting score went on the board at the 11:22 mark. At this point, the Sooners were able to throw their only scare into FSU supporters since the game's opening stages. ON THE SECOND PLAY after the kickoff, Tensi rocketed a hard pass to Spooner.

The FSU halfback caught the ball, then fumbled it. Oklahoma covered at the Seminole 43 and, with a touchdown and conversion, could have moved to within field goal range. But FSU's aroused defense threw Oklahoma back on its side of the 50 and the Sooners' last hopes of getting back in the game were crushed. Oklahoma kicked over the goal, FSU took over on its 20 and again launched a long parade into payoff territory. The score came with 4:40 to play.

THE SOONERS took the kickoff and didn't relinquish the ball the rest of the game. The whistle blew after FSU held on four straight downs from the two. The Seminoles concluded their long season with nine victories, one loss and one tie. Oklahoma was 6-4-1. '1 i Af i VOILES (0).

11 L-v TENSI WINDS UP, TOSSES TO BILETNIKOFF WHO SPINS INTO PAY DIRT Charters' Gillinan By o. Pros Grab Seminole Stars Jones Impressed v4 A i ,1 FRED BILETNIKOFF 'Great receiver' STEVE TENSI Plenty of time Seminoles Rumble INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHINO FLORIDA STATE Spooner 121 (27) Gifl'-dmo 11(7)) Gren 10(2). ftlfl AUDUA Dinner knnHtf 32(13); 1. Brown 17(7); Pannell (3); minus 22(10). da ccmi Florida state-tmii, tt.

23 comn. 4 int 303 yards. Oklahoma pq 12 como. 1 Int. yaras; Flflcher, 7 ill.

3 comp. into rd5 FLORIDA STATE Biittmkoff 12- (n); cm- 17(1); Dawson 16(1); GiarcMno 14(2); Blanked- ship 17(1), OKLAMOHA Hart 1S(6); Rlngef 17(1); Brown 15(2); Panned 1211). PUNTINO FLORIDA STATE Howck M.O(l). OKLAHOMA Past 38 0(6). Ofcla.

Fit. St. 13 29 71 217 303 10-22 23-3 4 1 fi Passing ywdasa r'! br Fumbles lost Yards penalised Oklahoma Finritin Stala 1 35 i 52 iiH e-U run kick) past from Tensi failed) FSU-Biletnlkoff past from Tensi (Pa" failed) Fsu-enetnikotf 10 pass from Tensi (pass tailed) OU-Pennell run (pass failed) FSU-Floyd 14 pass from Tensi (pais fned L. OU-Hart pass from Fletcher (pass um) (kick failed) Attendance tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin particularly joyful memories. The players themselves were, of course, not happy, but didn't seem heavily dispirited either.

FLANKER BACK Ben Hart, a 200-pound sophomore from Texas, told Jones as he left: "We'll get 'em next time." For Gomer Jones, next time must seem a long way off this morning. TEN SI (FS) I 1 4 (FS) I admitted that FSU's defensive line did a "good job" of rushing his own passers. "WE REALLY hadn't figured on throwing as much as we wound up doing, he admitted, "and they did a fine job of rushing our passers." Jones wouldn't discuss any possible effects of the absence of the four Sooners who were declared out of the game for signing professional contracts Ralph Neely, Jim Grish-am, Lance Rentzel and Wes Skidgel. "I'd just rather not say anything about it, it would sound too much like sour grapes. Let's say we got beat by a better football team today, and leave it at that." WHEN SOMEONE asked what effect of the loss of the four offensive players might have had on his ive unit, JOnCS managed another half- hearted smile.

1 Yes. it had an effect on our defensive team, they had to play longer." Jones allowed the new boss (replacements for the 'pros') "did as well as they could under the circum- Stances In fact, I think all our kidS did Well. We certainly weren't lacking for morale." DDCCCm A 1 ttla wnro to pick out individuals on hiS Club he Cracked: Me? i I have the WOrSt Seat in the house. Ask me after I see the fllmS. uic iiiuia.

Jones compared the Sem- moles to Southern Califor- ma, which bombed the Sooners, 40-14, early in the season, and likened Tensi to USC's Craig Fertig. "Both Tensi and Fertig had fine days against us. In fact, I would say Florida State and Southern Cal are very similar teams. They (FSU) throw the ball very much like USC." UNTIL NEXT year, Gomer Jones will have trouble forgetting either Southern Cal or Florida State. And they will not be I rior'nla-Brcd Winners Saturday A Deck by First Cabin out of Aspidistra, bred by Tartan Farms Corp.

Won 8th race at Tropical. Paid $6.40, 3.00, 3.00. Dance More by Ever More out of Brown Dancer, bred by Sunshine Stud. Won 2nd race at Tropical. Paid $42,00, 14.60, 8.00.

Orlando tntinl (Sfntlntl Photos by Frank RussbII) reer which may have been the understatement of the year. PETER SON SAID he thought the win was a great thing for Florida State ''pre stige-wise with all those millions of people looking at our team on TV. I thought we put on a good show. "I thought our receivers did an outstanding job, both Don and Fred and some of the other fellows too, and I think Oklahoma played some outstanding football too." said Peterson. Gillman, incidentally, had high praise for Peterson and the entire FSU coaching staff calling the Seminoles "a fine and beautifully coached football team." if 4 BIBENT(FS) A Itoams the prior record of seven catches.

Floyd, sometimes called the most underrated player on the FSU squad, gained a tie for fourth place among the top receivers in Gator Bowl history, with five catches for 52 yards and one touchdown. I OR FULLBACK Howard Ehler of Tavares, who scored the Seminole's first tally on a 69-yard More pictures on Pg. 3 61) ramble with an intercepted pass, was the only scorer who will be back with the Seminoles next season. i I nikoff, who only grinned when a reporter asked him how much his pro contract calls for, had a hard time getting out of his uniform and into the shower as writers and well wishers swarmed around him. A friend who was trying to shield Biletnikoff from rters referred questions about his contract terms to an attorney for Oakland who could not be found in the area.

ASKED IF he thought this was his best game Biletnikoff said, "I guess so for scoring but I think I had a better game receiving against VPI." (The lone team to beat FSU in 1964) Tensi, also wearing nothing but a big grin and a towel, said, "I didn't know anything about it until the coach told me after the game," when advised of all the records he had smashed. The prior passing record was 13 completions in 21 attempts for no touchdowns and 215 yards by Georgia's John Rauch in 1948. TENSI completed 23 out of 36 for 303 yards and five touchdowns. Peterson finally had to ask sportswriters to let Tensi go and get his shower with the plea, "That boy has to get dressed for a banquet yet tonight." As he left, Tensi conceded, "I guess so" to the question of whether this was his best passing performance in his college ca By ROBERT W.DELANEY Sentinel Tallahassee Bureau JACKSONVILLE Two happy coaches beamed in the FSU dressing room Saturday aftec the Seminoles' spectacular defeat of Oklahoma in the 20th annual Gator Bowl game. One was Florida State coach Bill Peterson, happy about what the Tribe had done in the past and the other was San Diego Char- -ger coach Sid Gillman, happy about what he hopes some of the players will do in the future.

FOUR MEMBERS of the FSU squad had their names on San Diego contracts before they even reached the dressing room and the quartet included ace quarterback Steve Tensi who shattered all Gator Bowl passing records in the 36-19 win. Also signed by the pros immediately following the game was flanker back Fred iletnikof who proved his right to the All-America honors already given him, who inked a contract with Oakland. Standout linemen Avery Sumner, Dick Hermann and Jack Edwards, end Don Floyd and place kicking specialist Les Murdock also signed pro contracts Saturday, Hermann with Oakland, Sumner with Detroit and the other three with San Diego. GILLMAN'S INTEREST in Floyd, incidentally, was quite evident in the locker room when he congratulated the Madison, product and said, "You're gonna be okay kid, be sure and get that shoulder looked after right away." Floyd said he injured the shoulder in the first half but didn't think it was anything too serious and he was able to play enough in the second half to go into the Gator Bowl record book himself among the outstanding pass receivers in the game's history. Biletnikoff blasted records right and left with his four touchdowns on 13 passes caught for a total of 192 yards, nearly doubling By AL WHITMARSH Swtinel Staff JACKSONVILLE Oklahoma coach Gomer Jones has trouble spelling or ouncing Biletnikoff, but he'll unhappily attest to the fact there was a fellow by that name playing for the other team in the Gator Bowl here Saturday afternoon.

Florida State's Fred Biletnikoff caught four touchdown passes and set numerous records in a 36-19 FSU victory, and he also earned himself a new fan Gomer Jones. "WE KNEW in advance they were a very good passing team," Jones said, "I guess we found out just how good." "That No. 25, I can't pronounce his name I don't' think, is a great receiver," he said admiringly. "He's like a halfback really," Jones said, gesturing in the steamy and crowded Sooner dressing room. "He's a great ball carrier when he gets that ball." JONES SAID the Sooners' coverage plans for Biletnikoff call for sort of a man and a half.

"Wp had one man to ehnrt nn Hssn and we even tried triple coverage once in a whie. He's got such great moves we just couldn't get him often enough. "I thought at times we defended very well," he said. "But they've got a great passing team. Tensi Is a fine passer and he's got more than one good receiver.

That 25 is definitely the best, though, one of the best we've ever faced." LIKE THE Seminoles' other 10 opponents, Jones allowed the Sooners had no noticeable success in rushing Tensi. "We planned to put a good rush on him of course," Jones said, then added with a weak smile: "but we weren't able to do much. I don't think anybody has all year, have they?" On the other face of things, the Sooner Bossman a. KENNEDY (0)1 L. BROWN (Sentinel Photo by Don Ray) OKLAHOMA'S KEXXEDY PLOWS OVER FROM 0E Tor Sooners first touehdown in 1st quarter.