On This Day at FSU: Peter Warrick's Career Day Secures Bowden's 200th Win
It was on this day 20 years ago in 1997 when Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden recorded his 200th victory as coach of the Seminoles and 273rd overall. On the road at #15 Clemson's Death Valley, Bowden's 200th FSU victory was greatly aided by a career day by redshirt-sophomore wide receiver, Peter Warrick.
Warrick finished the game recording 8 receptions for 249 yards, an average of 31.1 yards per catch. Two of those catches went for touchdowns, one of 48 yards and a critical 80-yarder in the 4th quarter which turned out to be the difference in the 35-28 game. Warrick also added 123 punt return yards on 4 attempts which included one for a 90-yard touchdown.
Warrick's 31.1 yards per catch is still the highest average by an FSU player with at least 7 receptions in the game.
His 249 receiving yards is still one of the most recorded by an FSU wide receiver, only Ron Sellers with games of 260 yards on 14 receptions and 259 yards on 16 receptions in 1968 have gone for more yardage. It put Warrick in an elite club of FSU wide outs who have recorded 200+ yards receiving, a list to this date which still remains at only seven players ever.
At the time, the 123 total punt return yards were good for second all time at FSU, behind only Bobby Jackson's 137 yards against Virginia Tech in 1974. Willie Reid (180, 2006) and Leon Washington (159, 2003) have since had games with more PR yardage, however both did so on 7 attempts.
Warrick's 372 all-purpose yards and 3 touchdowns is still one of the most complete and dominating all-around performances by a wide receiver in Florida State history. It helped Bowden win his 200th game early in his 22nd season at Florida State and go on to finish 1997 with another undefeated season (8-0) in the ACC.