By Darin 
On November 16, 1991, college football’s landscape shifted beneath the pressure of a 34-yard field goal attempt in Tallahassee. The matchup between the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles and the No. 2 Miami Hurricanes was more than just a fierce rivalry game; it was a high-stakes, de facto national championship elimination match. The winner would be perfectly positioned to claim the title, while the loser faced utter heartbreak.
The game lived up to its billing, a brutal, low-scoring defensive slugfest. With the Hurricanes holding a precarious 17-16 lead in the final minute, the Seminoles drove the ball deep into Miami territory, setting up what seemed like an inevitable victory. With just 29 seconds remaining, FSU kicker Gerry Thomas lined up for a routine 34-yard field goal. The crowd held its breath.
The snap was good, the hold was good, and the kick sailed… wide right.
Article from Nov 17, 1991 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida)
The miss was immediately immortalized as “Wide Right I,” the first in a haunting series of near-misses that plagued Florida State against their bitter rivals. The historic significance of this moment is monumental. It didn’t just decide a single game; it directly launched Miami to a 12-0 season and a share of the National Championship. For FSU, it became the cruel birth of a recurring, agonizing nightmare—the symbol of how close they were to ultimate glory, only to see it slip away by inches.
The loss, which cost FSU their own undefeated season and chance at a title, fueled the rivalry for the next decade, defining the pinnacle of college football’s golden era. The term “Wide Right” transcends a simple score; it represents the fine line between championship destiny and crushing defeat, forever linking one missed kick to two legendary programs.