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In case you forgot, the Hurricanes have defeated their arch-rival Florida State four years in a row. Over those four matchups, we’ve seen some great endings, a historic comeback, as well as a historic beatdown in 2020. We’ve also been able to witness some memorable individual performances by certain Canes.
Miami beat FSU 52-10
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) May 5, 2021
42-point margin of victory was Miami's largest over FSU since 1976 -- Bobby Bowden's 1st season
Of those performances during the win streak, no Hurricane had a bigger day against the Seminoles than Gregory Rousseau in 2019.
The 2019 Miami-FSU matchup was met with nearly no national hype, both teams were stumbling into the November showdown with 4-4 records. It was one of the more strange “build-ups” for a Canes-Seminoles game I had ever seen.
It's going to be LIT.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 26, 2019
4-4 Miami at 4-4 FSU next weekend.
They'll both feel like they're 8-0 this week.
The way it should be, sort of.
Though heading into Tallahassee, Miami did have one thing going for them, and that was redshirt freshman defensive end Greg Rousseau. Since the very first game of that 2019 season, Rousseau had made it clear, he was a superstar.
Rousseau is a game changer on defense. Look at #15 absolutely blow up this 4th and 1 pic.twitter.com/f2DT0oEMJb
— Marsh (@hurricanesmarsh) October 14, 2019
The week prior against Pittsburgh on the road, Rousseau tallied 3 sacks and 7 tackles, as the Canes won in the final minute.
Just finished my evaluation on #Miami EDGE Gregory Rousseau and mannnn was I off....
— Daniel Alameda (@AlamedaViews) February 28, 2021
I see a MAJOR project and you’re drafting solely off of the athletic traits. He might be EDGE 5 for me.... #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/5QVQLC3ht0
Going up against a weak Florida State offensive line, Rousseau knew he could potentially have a big game, and he did not disappoint.
Rousseau terrorized the Seminoles all day long, constantly swarming quarterback Alex Hornibrook. Greg’s stat line read: 4 sacks, 8 tackles and 5 TFLs, in a 27-10 Hurricanes victory.
Rousseau blows past the FSU guard like he’s playing freshman level on NCAA Football. His 12th sack on the year pic.twitter.com/FIfkoVcGwA
— Marsh (@hurricanesmarsh) November 6, 2019
Miami scored early on, but until the fourth quarter, Rousseau’s domination kept me from going crazy watching the Dan Enos offense (the horror) struggle to move the ball. Thanks to Greg and the rest of the Canes defense, FSU didn't have much luck either. It was a funny game as a football fan, because I just wanted Miami’s offense to get off the field, so we could all keep watching Rousseau get another sack.
Gregory Rousseau leaves the University of Miami having never lost to the Florida State Seminoles: pic.twitter.com/AOVLj1TAxa
— GO ‘CANES! (@83_87_89_91_01) August 6, 2020
That game you could say was Rousseau’s coming out party to college football, because prior to that, it seemed only Miami fans were talking about #15 for the most part. But after a 4 sack day in a rivalry game on ESPN, that’s when the rest of the country realized how good Rousseau was.
Gregory Rousseau's FSU tape is nsfw, IOL had no answer for him.pic.twitter.com/b0Pb3GHoI4
— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) July 21, 2020
With 4 sacks against the Noles, Rousseau had compiled 7 sacks in just the last two games for Miami. For his play in Tallahassee, Rousseau earned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week.
Greg Rousseau. 7 sacks the last 2 games. He is absolutely incredible pic.twitter.com/mLvj6gISGp
— Marsh (@hurricanesmarsh) November 6, 2019
He finished 2019 with 15.5 sacks, 19.5 TFLs, 54 tackles and 2 forced fumbles, earning second-team All-American honors.
Gregory Rousseau was a nightmare for opposing offenses, putting up historic numbers in his redshirt freshman season! #ACCFootball pic.twitter.com/ZOMyM9LqsW
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) June 23, 2020
In a season where our frustration reached a new high as Miami fans, where the Hurricanes ultimately finished with a 6-7 record, Rousseau was a constant bright spot, him and Jimmy Murphy.