1989 Florida State Seminoles football team

American college football season

1989 Florida State Seminoles football

Fiesta Bowl champion

Fiesta Bowl, W 41–17 vs. Nebraska

Conference| Independent
Ranking
Coaches| No. 2
AP| No. 3
Record| 10–2
Head coach|

* Bobby Bowden (14th season)

Offensive coordinator| Wayne McDuffie (7th season)
Offensive scheme| I formation, Pro set
Defensive coordinator| Mickey Andrews (6th season)
Base defense| 4–3
Home stadium| Doak Campbell Stadium

Seasons

<- 1988

1990 ->

1989 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Miami (FL) |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 1  | - | 0
No. 2 Notre Dame |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 12  | - | 1  | - | 0
No. 3 Florida State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 2  | - | 0
Northern Illinois |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 2  | - | 0
No. 15 Penn State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 1
No. 17 Pittsburgh |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 1
No. 21 West Virginia |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 1
Syracuse |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  | - | 0
Southwestern Louisiana |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  | - | 0
Akron |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 1
South Carolina |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 1
Virginia Tech |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 4  | - | 1
Louisiana Tech |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 4  | - | 1
Army |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
Louisville |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
East Carolina |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  | - | 1
Tulsa |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  | - | 0
Southern Miss |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Tulane |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  | - | 0
Navy |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Rutgers |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 7  | - | 2
Boston College |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Memphis State |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  | - | 0
Cincinnati |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 9  | - | 1
Temple |  |  | - |  |  |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles compiled a record of 10–2 with win in the Fiesta Bowl over Nebraska. Florida State played home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 2| 12:30 p.m.| vs. Southern Miss| No. 6|

* Gator Bowl Stadium
* Jacksonville, FL

| TBS| L 26–30| 48,746| [1]
September 9| 7:30 p.m.| No. 10 Clemson| No. 16|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)

| ESPN| L 23–34| 61,897| [2]
September 16| 7:30 p.m.| at No. 21 LSU| |

* Tiger Stadium
* Baton Rouge, LA

| ESPN| W 31–21| 75,524| [3]
September 23| 7:00 p.m.| Tulane| |

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL

| | W 59–9| 61,613| [4]
October 7| 1:30 p.m.| at No. 17 Syracuse| No. 22|

* Carrier Dome
* Syracuse, NY

| | W 41–10| 49,832| [5]
October 14| 12:00 p.m.| at Virginia Tech| No. 19|

* Lane Stadium
* Blacksburg, VA

| SUN| W 41–7| 41,832| [6]
October 21| 7:30 p.m.| No. 11 Auburn| No. 14|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL

| ESPN| W 22–14| 62,711| [7]
October 28| 8:00 p.m.| No. 2 Miami (FL)| No. 9|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL (rivalry)

| ESPN| W 24–10| 62,602| [8]
November 4| 2:00 p.m.| South Carolina| No. 6|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL

| | W 35–10| 61,852| [9]
November 18| 2:00 p.m.| Memphis State| No. 5|

* Doak Campbell Stadium
* Tallahassee, FL

| | W 57–20| 57,511| [10]
December 2| 7:30 p.m.| at Florida| No. 6|

* Florida Field
* Gainesville, FL (rivalry)

| ESPN| W 24–17| 75,124| [11]
January 1| 4:30 p.m.| vs. No. 6 Nebraska| No. 5|

* Sun Devil Stadium
* Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)

| NBC| W 41–17| 73,953| [12]

* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[13]

## Rankings

[edit]

Further information: 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| Final
AP| 6 (2)| 16| —| —| 25| 22| 19| 14| 9| 6| 5| 5| 5| 6| 5| 5| 3 (2)
Coaches| 6 (1)| 16| —| —| 20| 20 т| 16 т| 13| 8| 5| 4| 5| 5| 6| 5 (1)| | 2 (7)

## Game summaries

[edit]

### Southern Miss

[edit]

Florida State vs. Southern Miss  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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#6 Seminoles | 10 | 0| 13| 3 | 26
• Golden Eagles | 3 | 14| 0| 13 | 30

* Date: September 2
* Location: Gator Bowl Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
* Game start: 12:30 p.m. EDT
* Game attendance: 48,746
* Television network: TBS

| Scoring summary

Q1| | FSU| Dexter Carter 11-yard run (Mason kick)| FSU 7–0
| FSU| Bill Mason 24-yard field goal| FSU 10–0
0:17| USM| Chuck Davis 22-yard field goal| FSU 10–3
Q2| | USM| Eddie Ray Jackson 3-yard run (Davis kick)| Tied 10–10
0:11| USM| Alfred Williams 4-yard pass from Brett Favre (Davis kick)| USM 17–10
Q3| | FSU| Lawrence Dawsey 23-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Mason kick)| Tied 17–17
| FSU| Dexter Carter 9-yard run (kick failed)| FSU 23–17
Q4| | USM| Rickey Bradley 10-yard run (Davis kick)| USM 24–23
6:57| FSU| Bill Mason 27-yard field goal| FSU 26–24
0:23| USM| Anthony Harris 2-yard pass from Brett Favre (pass failed)| USM 30–26

See also: 1989 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

[14] [15] [16]

### Clemson

[edit]

Clemson at Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• #10 Tigers | 7 | 21| 0| 6 | 34
#16 Seminoles | 0 | 10| 6| 7 | 23

* Date: September 9
* Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Clemson Tigers football team and Clemson–Florida State football rivalry

[17]

### At LSU

[edit]

Florida State at LSU  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Seminoles | 0 | 10| 7| 14 | 31
#21 Tigers | 3 | 3| 8| 7 | 21

* Date: September 16
* Location: Tiger Stadium
* Television network: ESPN

See also: 1989 LSU Tigers football team

[18]

### Tulane

[edit]

Tulane at Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Green Wave | 0 | 0| 6| 3 | 9
• Seminoles | 17 | 14| 21| 7 | 59

* Date: September 23
* Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Tulane Green Wave football team

[19]

### At Syracuse

[edit]

Florida State at Syracuse  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• #22 Seminoles | 10 | 7| 17| 7 | 41
#17 Orangemen | 0 | 3| 7| 0 | 10

* Date: October 7
* Location: Carrier Dome

See also: 1989 Syracuse Orangemen football team

[20]

### At Virginia Tech

[edit]

Florida State at Virginia Tech  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• #19 Seminoles | 7 | 17| 10| 7 | 41
Hokies | 0 | 0| 0| 7 | 7

* Date: October 14
* Location: Lane Stadium

See also: 1989 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

[21]

### Auburn

[edit]

Auburn at Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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#11 Tigers | 3 | 0| 0| 11 | 14
• #14 Seminoles | 3 | 16| 3| 0 | 22

* Date: October 21
* Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Auburn Tigers football team

[22]

### Miami (FL)

[edit]

See also: 1989 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry

#2 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at #9 Florida State Seminoles

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Miami (FL) | 10 | 0 | 0| 0| 10
Florida St | 14 | 0 | 7| 3| 24

at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

* Date: October 28, 1989
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 62,602
* TV announcers (ESPN): Ron Franklin and Kevin Kiley
* Recap/Box Score

Game information

First quarter

* FSU – Dexter Carter 37-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 14:37. Florida St 7–0. Drive:
* MIA – Randal Hill 8-yard pass from Gino Torretta (Carlos Huerta kick), 9:57. Tie 7–7. Drive: 80 yards.
* FSU – Edgar Bennett 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 5:11. Florida St 14–7. Drive: 82 yards.
* MIA – Carlos Huerta 44-yard field goal, 1:09. Florida St 14–10. Drive:

Third quarter

* FSU – Amp Lee 1-yard run (Richie Andrews kick), 2:20. Florida St 21–10. Drive:

Fourth quarter

* FSU – Richie Andrews 41-yard field goal, 14:18. 'Florida St 24–10. Drive:

Top passers

* MIA – Gino Torretta – TD, 4 INT
* FSU – Peter Tom Willis – 7/20, 129 yards, INT

Top rushers

* MIA –
* FSU – Dexter Carter – 21 rushes, 142 yards, TD

Top receivers

* MIA –
* FSU – Ronald Lewis – 3 receptions, 77 yards

|

[23]

Prior to the Miami-FSU game, University of Miami mascot Sebastian the Ibis was tackled by a group of police officers for attempting to put out Chief Osceola's flaming spear. Sebastian was wearing a fireman's helmet and yellow raincoat and holding a fire extinguisher. When a police officer attempted to grab the fire extinguisher, the officer was sprayed in the chest. Sebastian was handcuffed by four officers but ultimately released. Miami quarterback Gino Torretta, who started the game in place of injured Craig Erickson, told ESPN, "Even if we weren't bad boys, it added to the mystique that, 'Man, look, even their mascot's getting arrested.'"[24]

### South Carolina

[edit]

South Carolina at Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Gamecocks | 0 | 7| 0| 3 | 10
• #6 Seminoles | 7 | 14| 14| 0 | 35

* Date: November 4
* Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 South Carolina Gamecocks football team

[25]

### Memphis State

[edit]

Memphis State at Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Tigers | 6 | 7| 0| 7 | 20
• #5 Seminoles | 17 | 34| 0| 6 | 57

* Date: November 18
* Location: Doak Campbell Stadium

See also: 1989 Memphis State Tigers football team

[26]

### At Florida

[edit]

Florida State at Florida  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• #6 Seminoles | 7 | 3| 7| 7 | 24
Gators | 3 | 7| 0| 7 | 17

* Date: December 2
* Location: Florida Field
* Game start: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 75,154
* Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
* Television network: ESPN

| Scoring summary

Q1| 3:22| FSU| Anthony 62 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 7–0
0:20| FLA| Francis 46 yard field goal| FSU 7–3
Q2| 8:21| FLA| Simmons 3 yard run (Francis kick)| FLA 10–7
2:50| FSU| Andrews 24 yard field goal| Tie 10–10
Q3| 8:00| FSU| LaSane 22 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 17–10
Q4| 8:05| FSU| Roberts 10 yard pass from Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 24–10
4:08| FLA| E. Smith 2 yard run (Francis kick)| FSU 24–17

See also: 1989 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry

* Peter Tom Willis 20/32, 319 Yds
* Terry Anthony 4 Rec, 126 Yds

[27]

### Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl)

[edit]

Nebraska vs. Florida State  |  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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#6 Cornhuskers | 7 | 3| 0| 7 | 17
• #5 Seminoles | 0 | 21| 20| 0 | 41

* Date: January 1
* Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ
* Game attendance: 73,953
* Game weather: Clear
* Referee: Jimmy Harper (SEC)
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Merlin Olsen

| Scoring summary

Q1| 11:19| Neb| Morgan Gregory 9-yard pass from Gerry Gdowski (Barrios kick)| Neb 7–0
Q2| | FSU| Terry Anthony 14-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick)| Tied 7–7
| Neb| Chris Drennan 39-yard field goal| Neb 10–7
| FSU| Reggie Johnson 5-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 14–10
| FSU| Dexter Carter 10-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 21–10
Q3| | FSU| Paul Moore 1-yard run (kick failed)| FSU 27–10
| FSU| Reggie Johnson 8-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 34–10
| FSU| Terry Anthony 24-yard pass from Peter Tom Willis (Andrews kick)| FSU 41–10
Q4| | Neb| Mickey Joseph 2-yard run (Drennan kick)| FSU 41–17

Main article: 1990 Fiesta Bowl

See also: 1989 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

## Personnel

[edit]

1989 Florida State Seminoles football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|

WR | `8` | Terry Anthony | Sr
WR | `` | Shannon Baker | Fr
RB | `22` | Edgar Bennett | So
OL | `` | John Brown
RB | `13` | Dexter Carter | Sr
TE | `` | Johnny Clower
WR | `29` | Lawrence Dawsey | Jr
OL | `` | Hayward Haynes
QB | `14` | Brad Johnson | So
TE | `` | Reggie Johnson | Jr
WR | `88` | Bruce LaSane | Sr
RB | `42` | Amp Lee | Fr
WR | `7` | Ronald Lewis | Sr
OL | `` | Kevin Mancini
RB | `` | Paul Moore | So
OL | `` | Mike Morris
RB | `` | Chris Parker | Jr
RB | `` | Maurice Pinckney
TE | `` | Dave Roberts | Jr
OL | `` | Robert Stevenson
OL | `` | Michael Tanks
QB, P | `17` | Charlie Ward | Fr
QB | `11` | Casey Weldon | So
QB | `4` | Peter Tom Willis | Sr
OL | `` | Tony Yeomans
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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DB | `` | Bryce Abbott
CB | `27` | Terrell Buckley | Fr
S | `6` | LeRoy Butler | Sr
LB | `45` | Kirk Carruthers | So
DL | `` | Keith Carter
DB | `` | John Davis | Fr
LB | `` | Howard Dinkins
DB | `` | Dedrick Dodge | Sr
DB | `` | Leon Fowler
LB | `97` | Reggie Freeman |  Fr
OLB | `` | Kevin Grant
DL | `53` | Odell Haggins | Sr
DB | `` | Chris Hall | Fr
DT | `78` | Eric Hayes | Sr
DB | `` | Errol McCorvey
LB | `` | Anthony Moss
DL | `` | Henry Ostaszewski
DB | `` | Bill Ragans
LB | `` | Kelvin Smith
LB | `` | Shelton Thompson
DB | `` | John Wyche
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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K | `9` | Richie Andrews | Jr
KR, DB | `` | Corian Freeman
K | `43` | Bill Mason |  Jr
P | `` | John Wimberly | Fr

Head coach

* Bobby Bowden

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Chuck Amato (DL)

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "S. Mississippi surprises Florida State". The Charlotte Observer. September 3, 1989. Retrieved March 28, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Clemson hands FSU a 34–23 'routrooskie'". The Tampa Tribune. September 10, 1989. Retrieved February 3, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Seminoles overtake Tigers 31–21". The Palm Beach Post. September 17, 1989. Retrieved November 12, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "FSU wallops Tulane – just like old times". The Orlando Sentinel. September 24, 1989. Retrieved June 4, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "FSU flattens Orangemen". The Roanoke Times & World News. October 8, 1989. Retrieved June 4, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Seminoles hand VPI crushing setback". Winston-Salem Journal. October 15, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "Sweet repeat for 'Noles". The Tampa Tribune. October 22, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Semonoles blow away Hurricanes". The South Bend Tribune. October 29, 1989. Retrieved June 4, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "A porous defense, not a poor offense, betrays Gamecocks". Anderson Independent-Mail. November 5, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Gators, 'Noles enjoy early feasts". The Orlando Sentinel. November 19, 1989. Retrieved June 4, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "FSU air attack down Gators 24–17". Press Journal. December 3, 1989. Retrieved November 11, 2023 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Seminoles KO Cornhuskers in Fiesta, 41–17". The Greenville News. January 2, 1990. Retrieved June 4, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "1989 Football - Year in Review".
14. ^ "EAGLES GET A BREAK VS. SEMINOLES (FSU ISN'T ANGRY OVER A LOSS TO UM)". Sun-Sentinel. September 2, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
15. ^ "Florida State Is Upset At Finish". The New York Times. September 3, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
16. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
17. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
18. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
19. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
20. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
21. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
22. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
23. ^ "Miami Undone By Turnovers". The New York Times. October 29, 1989. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
24. ^ "The true story of Sebastian the Ibis, a fire extinguisher and a near arrest". October 30, 2019.
25. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
26. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.
27. ^ NoleFan.org. Retrieved 2018-Oct-19.

* v
* t
* e

Florida State Seminoles football

Venues|

* Centennial Field (1947–1949)
* Doak Campbell Stadium (1950–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Florida Cup
* Clemson
* Florida
* Miami
* Virginia: Jefferson–Eppes Trophy

Culture & lore|

* Osceola and Renegade
* The War Chant
* Marching Chiefs
* FSU Hymns
* Sod Cemetery
* Wide Right I
* Wide Right II
* 1993 'Game of the Century'
* Choke at Doak
* 2015 Georgia Tech game
* Bob Crenshaw Award
* Tomahawk chop

People|

* Alumni
* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders
* Annual awards

Seasons|

* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905–1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
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* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number