Prior to Saturday's thrilling clash between the Top-ranked Sooners and 5th-ranked Seminoles, the game was billed as likely the most electric Tallahassee atmosphere since #1 UF and Danny Wuerffel invaded Doak in 1996.

All the elements were in place: a unanimous #1 opponent steeped in college football history, an 8pm kickoff time, the first visit by ESPN's hype machine "Game Day" in 8 years, and a hungry Seminole fan base ready to taste relevance again.

Everybody saw the freight train of inevitability roaring down the tracks adjacent to Gaines Street, including both members of the Sports Media and "sports bloggers" (Sports Media's punk cousin). The foretold explosion occurred on an improbable 3rd & 28 prayer that instantly claimed a spot in FSU folklore. How does that moment rank among the most frenzied moments in Doak's memoirs? I dare you to name one greater.

Please follow me after the jump (go ahead and jump!) and participate in the poll.

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When the 2010 schedule was released, a match-up in faraway Norman, Oklahoma against Bob Stoops' Sooners became an instant "Must Attend" football game. An informal straw polling of friends and family taught me that Oklahoma knowledge was sparse at best. "Name a city in Oklahoma other than Oklahoma City" yielded Tulsa a few times, Stillwater a couple times, and nothing else. So nobody in my inner circle of trust knows anything about Oklahoma? (besides J.C. Watts and the Rogers and Hammerstein musical classic) This sounds like a job for The K-Man!

Continue reading to learn what we discovered in the nation's 20th-largest state.

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"Tomahawk Nation (FSUncensored) makes a good point, that legally this is the first offense for (Rod) Owens, and should be treated as such. I agree, in regards to his enrollment at FSU, if any other student got a DUI it wouldn’t matter at the Monday morning class. But, there’s that other part to Rod’s FSU status, as a football player, and in my opinion, zero-tolerance should be shown here. SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PLAYERS."_ Scalpem.com

These words were blogged on a fellow FSU site on April 6, 2009. During the early morning hours following Florida State's annual Spring "Game", wide receiver Rod Owens was arrested for DUI while driving with his headlights off near campus. Although this was the first known screw up for the man beloved by teammates as "Old School", the FSU receiving corp could ill-afford another black eye:

-Preston Parker was dismissed from the team 2 months earlier after 3rd or 4th embarrassing strike.

-Corey Surrency and Bert Reed missed multiple games each during the 2008 season for violating team rules.

-5 FSU receivers were suspended prior to the 2008 Boston College game following a Royal Rumble-style brawl in the Student Union.

The hits just kept coming for 3rd year Florida State receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey's troubled bunch. Though unfair to a first-time offender, Nole fans would've partly understood if Bobby Bowden released 5th-year senior Rod Owens and his measly 30 career catches and 1 touchdown.

Fortunate for Rod, the Nole offense, and interested parties like this author, FSU lifted Rod's team suspension prior to the season opening against Miami. In return, Ruby Rod Owens carved out a pleasant place for himself in Seminole football lore.

SLUGGISH START FOR A SPEEDY RECEIVER

Rod Owens showed off his wheels at FSU before even joining the football team. As a senior at Jacksonville's Wolfson High School, Rod won state titles in the long jump, triple jump, 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles during a meet held at FSU's Mike Long track.

As a part of the 2005 recruiting class, the 6-foot, 183lb. Owens inked his letter of intent along with Richard Goodman and Fred "The Louse" Rouse. 5-star Rouse's career burned out quickly at Florida State and ended in a bloody mess at Lorenzo Booker's apartment less than 6 months after he stepped on campus. Both Goodman and Owens were overshadowed by the highly ranked Tallahassee product while checking in as low 3-stars in the Rivals.com database.

True freshman Rod caught a 5-yard TD pass from Drew Weatherford during meaningful first half minutes against the Citadel in 2005, Rod's second game as a Nole. He finished the season with 9 catches and tore his ACL following the ACC Championship game against Virginia Tech. After a redshirt season in 2006, Owens returned to the field in 2007 but only managed 21 catches and no scores over the next 2 seasons as a role player.

The redshirt senior found himself at a serious career crossroads while sitting a Tallahassee jail cell during the early morning hours of April 5th, 2009.

(Picture above: #86 Rod Owens sitting next to Bert Reed hours before his arrest. Photo courtesy of TRMNole)

After the jump, find out how Rod surprised everyone with a standout senior season that ranks favorably amongst FSU's Rolodex of superb wide receivers.

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After a wonderful experience in College Park, Maryland last year, I became hooked on the concept of FSU road game adventures. Hooked. Despite my season ticket holder status, the BYU game was circled on the calendar as the "must attend" game behind only perhaps Miami. The distance, the landscape, the unique culture.....it's a best-case scenario for the Seminole Road Warrior.

Having just arrived home from the weekend, there's not a single unpleasant moment to share from the time spent in Utah. Flying across the country after a huge win against a Top 10 opponent makes the travel a breeze, and I'm not sure this article would be so peachy if we fall to the Cougars. If you weren't fortunate enough to make the trip and wonder what you missed, feel free to keep reading.

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Monday night's showdown between bitter in-state rivals Florida State and Miami is drawing close. The nation will be watching as these 2 former elite programs attempt to continue the long, arduous journey back to the top of the college football landscape. But I'm also interested in the performance of California-based electro-pop band, "LMFAO". This duo has exploded onto the scene with their smash hit, "I'm in Miami, Bi***", and the Tipper Gore-friendly radio version, "I'm in Miami, Trick". They'll be performing on the Tennessee Street Strip this Sunday, along with Miami's own world famous trance DJ, the dopamine-depleted George Acosta. It should be a guido...er, good time for all.

This catchy shirt had me thinking: When in fact can you confirm that you're actually in Miami, bit**? Let's break it down, anti-Bud style. You're about to enter the No-Stat Zone.

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The K-Man was on hand this Saturday to represent Tomahawk Nation at the SCGO FSU 2009 Kick-Off party. I've got some photos and tidbits to share.

(from left to right: Keith Jones, Andre Cooper, Corey Sawyer, William Floyd, Tom Block)

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(click images for larger views)

The wait is finally over and pre-ordering has begun! Become one of the many Tomahawk Nation supporters showing their pride under the lights of Doak on a rockin' Labor Day evening against the Canes. 

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Although I'm not a fan of threads based on, "Dude, I totally owned this Gator fan last night at A.J.s! He finally admitted that UF never went wire-to-wire..Pwned!", I wanted to share a little Seminole tale from far away.

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I subscribe to an ultimate brand of the Butterfly Effect, in which one minuscule event alters the course of history in profound ways. Don't listen to that hack Emmett Brown with his bogus Polaroid photograph, telling you "hurry, you must repair the past!"

What happens to Lorraine McFly when she looks at her son one day and realizes he's the young crush that saved her from the most traumatic event of her life, a violent sexual battery outside The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance? When the insane reality finally sets in, Mrs. McFly is overdosing on prescription sleeping pills while Doc pulls off his latest intercentury courtship.

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