Graduate of florida STATE universITY

Class of 2001

Graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Finance in April 2001. Best five years of my life in that period of time. As great as it was with the knowledge in the classroom, it was the out of the classroom real world experience in those five years which made every single dime I paid to FSU to attend worth the weight in gold.

Seminole Football

Became a fan the day that I stepped on campus in August 1996. From that point forward, I have so many memories of FSU Football for the past 30 years. Some good ones, some great ones, and some I wish I could forget (LOL). But I would not trade those experiences for the world, that includes BTW two national championships (1999 and 2013). I will always be Garnet and Gold until I am dead and cold.

Real world experience

While at FSU, I first learned the real-world experience of outside sales. Sold advertising products while a student at FSU and also worked one summer selling Cutco products door to door. Learned a lot about dealing with rejection, hating to hear the word "NO" but it made all the "Yes, we are moving forward" so much better. You can learn all you want in a classroom if you want to read books and recite information, but you learn so much more in the outside of the classroom with experience. Pain can be a great teacher, but experience can be a great motivator.

Tallahassee, Florida

Came to love that city, when I came to Florida State University; I was a young immature punk who had a ton of growing up to do. Yeah, those years in Tallahassee (including the first five as a student at Florida State) got that cured. So many life-changing memories (both in and out of college life) from the entire 16 years I lived there.

Florida state memories

2000 Nokia Sugar Bowl

What a moment to be in New Orleans on January 4, 2000. Was there to see my first-ever collegiate bowl game as Florida State defeated Virginia Tech 46-29 to capture Bobby Bowden's final national championship (second) and first ever unbeaten season of his magnificent career at Florida State. I remember the game, but the early Wednesday hours on Bourbon Street were a blur. That win was part of the 56 total wins by FSU when I was on campus from 1996-2000 and a part of the 35 total wins witnessed in person from 1996 to 2000.

29-0 at home in my five years on campus

Yeah, that is correct. Florida State had 29 games in Doak Campbell Stadium from 1996-2000, and I was able to attend them all. Their record in those games was a perfect 29-0. Florida State never lost a home game during my five-year tenure as a student at FSU. Incredible record that most FSU students most likely will never see in their lifetimes.

56-6 overall record for the Seminoles during my time on campus

During the five seasons that spanned 1996 to 2000, FSU Football played in 62 games. Won 56 of them. I was able to attend 38 of those games as a student, where the Seminoles went 35-3 in those games. Only losses I saw were to Florida, Miami, and Oklahoma.

First Day of Classes - 1996

Welcome to a different world, it was a culture shock being a 18 year punk kid who hadn't really grown up yet. But man alive, it was a different world when you are suddenly on your own and have to be an adult. Still remember those first day of classes on August 26, 1996 and getting used to being in college. Great experience and first indoctrination into a world that let me know adulting time had arrived.

Duke at Florida State - 1996

First football game I ever went to while attending Florida State was on September 7, 1996 when Duke came to town. Florida State defeated Duke 44-7 and that was the first of many times I would go on to see Florida State Football live. After that date, I went to well over 100+ games live for FSU (many of those were after graduation in 2001).

Wins over Florida and Miami

Beating the Gators and Hurricanes at anything is great, but especially in football. I was lucky enough to attend multiple games against the Gators and Canes at both home and on the road. During my five years at FSU, the Seminoles went a combined 8-3 against them. Went to the Swamp twice and Orange Bowl (not game but old Miami stadium) twice as well during my time there at Florida State.

Rushing the field after Florida State beat Florida in 1996 was incredible, it was the first UF-FSU game attended live in my lifetime. Beating Miami in 1997 was the first UM-FSU game I attended live. Going to the Swamp in 1997 burned after we lost, but 1999 was incredible. Going back to the old Orange Bowl for the first time in ten years in 1998 was awesome, but the 2000 experience burned after a loss. But win or lose, those memories are forever.

Intramural Sports

Loved being part of IM teams while at Florida State. Football, basketball, and hocky were the three sports I played. Miss those days, win or lose it was the fun of being with your teammates working towards one goal - WINNING. Those were the days when no social media was around thank God since we lost a few and don't want to talk about those (LOL). But the wins made the losses worthwhile.

Graduation

Graduation Day was incredible, graduated with a BS in Finance in April 2001