Four 'Wide Rights' lead the unique history of key kicking miscues in Miami-Florida State

On Saturday night, Florida State and Miami volition conscionable successful Tallahassee for what's definite to beryllium the astir nationally anticipated variation of their rivalry successful years.

With Miami ranked No. 3 and Florida State ranked No. 18 successful the astir caller AP Poll, the Week 6 contention volition people the archetypal clip the 2 teams volition conscionable with each boasting Top 25 rankings since 2016. Coincidentally, 2016 was the past clip an improbable inclination that has helped specify the rivalry implicit the past 4 decades reared its head: failed tract extremity attempts.

Since 1990, 7 ranked showdowns betwixt the Seminoles and Hurricanes person been decided successful ample portion by unsuccessful tract extremity attempts. There person been missed kicks -- 4 to the right, and 1 to the left, to beryllium nonstop -- blocked kicks and fumbled holds implicit the years. And portion the celebrated Wide Right inclination exclusively benefitted Miami, Florida State has present been connected the winning broadside of a brace of captious botched kicks itself.

Regardless of team, 1 happening is definite heading into Saturday: if either the Seminoles oregon Hurricanes request to person a clutch tract extremity precocious on, you should astir apt marque definite you're watching. History tells america it could get interesting.

1991: Miami 17, Florida State 16

The chronology of kicking failures successful Miami-Florida State began connected Nov. 16, 1991, erstwhile the fable of Wide Right was born.

When the 2 teams met astatine Doak Campbell Stadium that Saturday, the stakes couldn't person been higher. The Seminoles were the No. 1 squad successful the country, portion the Hurricanes were No. 2, and a tightly contested matter lived up to the proximity of the 2 team's rankings. Eventually the crippled came down to a 34-yard tract extremity effort by Florida State's Gerry Thomas -- already 3-for-3 connected tract extremity attempts connected the time -- who was sent retired to springiness Florida State a 19-17 triumph arsenic clip expired.

Thomas' kick, however, sailed conscionable to the close of the uprights, earning the crippled the nickname Wide Right I. Why the roman numeral? Well, the 2 teams met again soon enough.

1992: Miami 19, Florida State 16

And successful 1992, Wide Right II occurred.

Once again, the Seminoles and Hurricanes met with undefeated records and top-five rankings connected the line. Similar to Wide Right I, Miami led precocious successful the game, and Florida State drove down the tract to acceptable up a tract extremity arsenic clip expired. Seminoles kicker Dan Mowrey was 3-for-3 connected the time arsenic helium lined up the would-be game-tying tract goal.

And erstwhile again, the effort sailed wide to the right. Miami would triumph its 3rd consecutive variation of the rivalry.

2000: Miami 27, Florida State 24

After 1992, the haunting of Wide Right would vanish for an eight-year stretch, but its bequest wasn't complete. The 2000 variation of Florida State-Miami brought Wide Right III.

With 4 minutes remaining successful the rivalry game, the Hurricanes led 20-10. Then things got brainsick -- the Seminoles scored 2 touchdowns successful conscionable nether 2 minutes of crippled clip to instrumentality the lead, earlier the Hurricanes recovered the extremity portion themselves to regain the pb with 46 seconds remaining.

Florida State inactive had clip to get to the borderline of tract extremity range, with Matt Munyon attempting a 49-yard effort arsenic clip expired. It went wide right.

"Wouldn't you cognize it?" legendary Florida State manager Bobby Bowden remarked aft the game. "He's been wide near each year, and past that happens. We had him retired determination beauteous far, though."

2002: Miami 28, Florida State 27

Before Wide Right could reenter the rivalry's lore, a little twist connected the curse occurred successful 2002: Wide Left.

The underdog Seminoles had built a 27-14 vantage aboriginal successful the 4th quarter, earlier the Hurricanes charged backmost to instrumentality the pb with back-to-back touchdowns. With the timepiece winding down, Florida State managed to thrust down the tract to acceptable up a imaginable game-winning tract extremity attempt.

With 1 2nd remaining, Xavier Beitia trotted retired for a 43-yard attempt. In a caller but arsenic fatal twist of destiny for the Seminoles, the footwear hooked wide near this clip around.

2003: Miami 16, Florida State 14

Wide Left wasn't the commencement of a caller trend, though. Rather, 2 years later, successful the 2004 Orange Bowl, Wide Right IV ...