In a new segment we’re calling “Share Your Seminole Story”, we’re let our fans and readers sound off about a particular topic. We’re hoping to do this weekly and our first ever question was: Who is your favorite non-football FSU athlete of all-time?
From the Staff
For me, it’s definitely former Florida State basketball star Al Thornton. After being a 1-star recruit from Perry, Georgia, who was forced to redshirt, Thornton became the greatest Seminole to play for Coach Leonard Hamilton. As a senior during the 2006-07 season, Thornton finished second only to Boston College’s Jared Dudley for ACC Player of the Year.
I remember Thornton scoring 37 against Dudley as a junior in Chestnut Hill and 37 against Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium. In his final regular season game against Miami, Thornton scored a career-high 45 points — the most I had ever seen a FSU player score.
During my time as a student at Florida State, FSU football finished 7-6 twice, but one of my best sports memories as a student was when I got to storm the court in 2006 after we beat Florida, who happened to be the No. 1 team in America, defending national champions and our most bitter rival. That night, Thornton scored 28 points, got the better of Joakim Noah and simply wouldn’t let us lose.
Thornton went on to be a NBA Draft lottery pick of the Los Angeles Clippers and I actually met him prior to a game against the Magic in Orlando when he was a rookie in March of 2008. He seemed like a very nice guy and we actually talked about the basketball game Florida State had the next day against Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament.
-Mike Ferguson
Editor of Noled Out
Written Responses
In 2005/2006, I was on the staff of the FSU track and field team. I was immediately drawn to Garrett Johnson, the national champion shot putter and Rhodes Scholar from Tampa. Garret was the nicest guy you could hope to meet, and needless to say, brilliant.
One day I was preparing for the start of practice when Garrett and Walter Dix strolled up, took a seat, and began to lace up. Unbeknownst to Garrett, a baby squirrel had wandered from off the track, beneath the bench on which he was sitting. At that moment, another athlete walked by and casually pointed out the squirrel to Garrett. Garrett looked down, saw the squirrel, and nearly jumped out of his skin as he shrieked and ran for cover. I doubled over in laughter.
Garrett is a genuinely great person and one of my all time favorite ‘Noles. He represented our university like so few have. I am grateful to have spent even a little time in his presence.
Go ‘Noles!
-Kyle Smithey
2009 BS, 2010 MBA
Fort Collins, CO
Twitter Responses
@Noled_Out For me it's @jamesramsey23 He hustled all the time, gave it his best, and represented that C on his chest. http://t.co/dn7l8VxxAa
— Jason Gould (@confirmed104) January 14, 2015
That’s former Florida State baseball player James Ramsey. A captain of the team, Ramsey hit .339 and drove in over 200 runs during his FSU career.
@Noled_Out Dave Cowens great Celtics man
— jeffy (@youngjwy) January 12, 2015
Former FSU basketball star Dave Cowens went on to have a Hall of Fame NBA career with the Boston Celtics.
@Noled_Out Walter Dix …nobody a close 2nd
— Cigar City Nole (@surgeandsettle) January 12, 2015
Walter Dix led a national championship track & field team at Florida State and won a pair of bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
https://twitter.com/TheEsquireof212/status/554491020558467072
A two-time NBA champion, Sam Cassell helped lead Florida State to the Elite 8 in 1993.
@Noled_Out Michael Snaer, too clutch. Was really sad watching the last game he played in the NIT, knowing it was the end of his career.
— Henry (@seminole4life22) January 12, 2015
The leading scorer during Florida State’s run to the 2012 ACC championship, Michael Snaer hit seven game-winning shots during his time in Tallahassee.
https://twitter.com/Sportsgirl917/status/554545656484753408
Yep, we have Florida State golf fans also.
@Noled_Out Tim Pickett
— Simon (@simon0108) January 12, 2015
Tim Pickett was Leonard Hamilton’s first star player and an All-ACC selection.
https://twitter.com/NoleBiasBurge/status/554487086561366019
All good choices.
@Noled_Out I like it. I'll go with JD Drew. I consider him the GOAT for baseball.
— #LGM (@AVNOLES) January 11, 2015
J.D. Drew set a Florida State record by hitting .455 in 1997. He finished his career with over 250 RBIs.
https://twitter.com/GoCubsGoAP/status/554484936984768512
Bob Sura went on to have a long NBA career after helping Florida State reach the Elite 8 in 1993. Buster Posey was the Golden Spikes Award winner in 2008 and has gone on to win three World Series as catcher for the San Francisco Giants.
@Noled_Out Charlie Ward
— Delaware Chicken Farmer (@Brycearoni8) January 12, 2015
He’s not wrong. In addition to leading the Seminoles to the 1993 football national championship, Ward quarterbacked the basketball team to the Elite 8.
@Noled_Out Bernard James
— Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG) January 12, 2015
One of the great stories in Florida State athletic history, 6’10” Bernard James served for six years in the U.S. Air Force before going to Tallahassee Community College and eventually, FSU. As a senior, he helped the Seminoles reach the Sweet 16.
https://twitter.com/BKGin2505/status/554486879979307009
@Noled_Out Marshall McDougal
— ⚡️Josh P. 🍢 (@BoltsandNoles) January 12, 2015
Marshall McDougall was a star baseball player for Florida State, but had perhaps the greatest day for any hitter ever against Maryland in 1999, going 7-for-7 with six home runs and 16 RBIs.
Next Week’s Question
Do you have a pet or child you’ve named after a Florida State player, icon, landmark or nickname? Send your tweets to @Noled_Out. You can send written and long responses to [email protected].
Thanks to all who participated this past week!
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