Florida State

1959 Seminoles
(Authentic Reproduction)
 

Great things were expected from new head coach Perry Moss who had quarterbacked Illinois to a Big Ten Championship as an All American. Hired from the Wisconsin staff, he got off on the wrong foot with FSU fans because of his reputation as an itinerant coach and a severe lack of team depth. The players certainly looked good on the field as Moss put his mark on the program by altering the uniforms. He changed the standard metallic type of gold that the Seminoles had been using for their base helmet color, and altered it to a Sunflower gold, adding large, rounded-style four-inch garnet identifying numerals on each side and finishing it with a one-inch garnet center stripe. Many players wore the white plastic Adams two-bar masks for a very distinctive appearance. Unfortunately, using a new Split-T offense, the team did not play as good as they looked. Finishing the season with but twenty-seven healthy players, the Seminoles 4-6 mark included a number of poor losses, including a 9-0 homecoming defeat by underdog William And Mary. One of the injured was end Tony Romeo who required knee surgery after the opening game and who then hoped to return in '60. Center Jack Hardy won his second letter and was helped by the huge (for the day) Don Donatelli at 231 pounds. Two-way star Bud Whitehead continued to shine and his backfield mate FB Jack Espenship was potent as a runner or blocker. QB Joe Majors finished his career as FSU's all time leading passer, and stuck with the Oilers in ’60. Backfield help came from speedy RB Fred Pickard. An unbeaten freshmen team gave great promise for the next few years but with three games remaining in the season, Moss accepted a contract to jump to the Canadian Football League and once again, the Seminoles were in the market for a new head football coach.

If interested in any of these Florida State helmets please click on the photos below.