Despite not playing in the ACC Championship Game and losing to Houston in the Peach Bowl, Florida State has still found a way to award its players rings in honor of the 2015 season.
The Seminoles tweeted out pictures of state championship rings on Monday. Florida State awarded the rings to its players after the Seminoles defeated in-state rivals Florida and Miami during the regular season.
#StateChamps pic.twitter.com/1084utCJZr
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) June 23, 2016
Florida State went 10-3 in 2015 after making the College Football Playoff in its 2014 campaign. The Seminoles lost their first regular season game in more than two years to Georgia Tech on a blocked field goal return. Florida State went on to lose to ACC Champion Clemson and also fell to Houston in the Peach Bowl.
But despite the losses, the team is still taking pride in the 2015 season, and it appears that Florida State players are also buying in. Seminoles long snapper Stephen Gabbard showed off his ring on Twitter.
State Champs but were looking for more #GoNoles pic.twitter.com/ydRu13zhhm
— Stephen Gabbard (@StephenGabbard) June 23, 2016
And while it is true that Florida State defeated both of its in-state rivals — beating the Gators 27-2 in Gainesville and the Hurricanes 29-24 in Tallahassee — the Seminoles’ naming themselves state champions is misleading. Florida and Miami haven’t played each other since 2013 and won’t do so again until 2019. So, it is impossible for the Gators and Hurricanes to achieve a 2-0 record like Florida State can.
Either way, it’s clear that the Seminoles are attempting to show everyone their dominance inside the state of Florida. This is just one jab in a list of many between these in-state rivals.
