Another sad return in Atlanta for Florida State

If you’re a Georgia Tech fan, you remember the night of Oct. 24 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo and some of his teammates didn’t fail to notice a particularly meaningful landmark on the way to the Seminoles’ practice for Thursday’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Houston either upon their return to Atlanta. Even if he had, his teammates wouldn’t have let him. On the way from the hotel to Georgia Tech’s practice facility, which FSU has borrowed this week, team buses drove past Bobby Dodd Stadium.

“Some of my specialists were like, ‘Wow, we lost there,’” Aguayo said Monday.

For Yellow Jackets fans and just about all college football fans not wed to the garnet and gold, the proceedings Oct. 24 at 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW in Atlanta were memorable, euphoric and even miraculous. Tech’s 22-16 win over undefeated and then-No. 9 FSU, sealed by a 78-yard touchdown return of Aguayo’s blocked field-goal try as time expired, permanently etched Tech defensive back Lance Austin’s name into school lore and created a highlight that will help define the 2015 season.

That the Seminoles may have been in need for some grounding is understandable. FSU won the national championship in 2013 at 14-0 and followed it by reaching the College Football Playoff semifinal at 13-0 before losing to Oregon. FSU won its first six games of the 2015 season before rolling into Atlanta for what has turned out to be the first of two visits.