FSU It's Time - Seminole News And Views: October 2006

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

FSU Retro Look Back: Deion Sanders

It's Prime Time! Ask any sports enthusiast and they will tell you that is the description for Deion Sanders, arguably the most gifted athlete to ever play for the Seminoles.

Sanders was a star in three sports for the Florida State Seminoles, participating in football, baseball, and track. Beginning his freshman year, he started in the Seminoles' secondary, played outfield for the baseball team that finished fifth in the nation, and helped lead the track and field team to a conference championship. It was clear Sanders was an exceptional athlete on a national level.

At Florida State, under head coach Bobby Bowden, Sanders was a two time consensus All-American cornerback in 1987 and 1988, and a third team All-American in 1986, intercepting 14 passes in his career, including three in bowl games, and managed to return one interception 100 yards for a touchdown. He won the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988 and is widely considered to be the best cornerback to ever play college football. He was also a punt returner for Florida State, leading the nation in 1988 with his punt return average, and breaking the school's record for career punt return yards. His jersey at Florida State, #2, was retired in 1995, only the second jersey retired in school history (after Ron Simmons's #50 in 1988.).

Sanders was inducted into the FSU Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Petrino To FSU?

"Bobby Bowden will leave Florida State when Bobby Bowden decides to leave. But when he does...the two coaches most likely to succeed him are Bobby Petrino (Louisville) or Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia)."
Montgomery Advertiser

Tuesday Practice Report: Preparing For Virginia

The Florida State football team practiced for 21 periods in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) Tuesday in preparation for its noon showdown Saturday against Virginia.

Former Seminole linebacker Garth Jax (1982-85) - who played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Cowboys and Cardinals - attended practice, as did former Cleveland Brown and Carolina Panther Nick Maddox (1999-2002).

During 7-on-7 pass skeleton, quarterback Xavier Lee was 6-for-8 with the first team, including a 20-yard pass to Preston Parker.

Tommy Keane worked at quarterback with the second team and also went 6-for-8 in 7-on-7.

Safety Roger Williams and cornerback Jamie Robinson had pass breakups during 7-on-7.
The second team had the upper hand in 11-on-11 with Keane going 2-for-2, including a 20-yard pass to Richard Goodman, while defensive end Kevin McNeil had a tackle for a loss against the first team offense.

QUOTES:

Head Coach Bobby Bowden:

(on Alex Boston's condition)

"Well I sure hope he can come back and play. Whether he starts or not isn't the most important thing. If he can just come in and play some it would be a real help."

(on more starters playing on special teams from now on)

"We have had to put some starters back on that team. It was a good example last week. You can lose that way just as easy as you can lose any other way. So he still has some walk ons out there, but I know he has replaced some of them."

Alex Boston:

(on slowing gaining more playing time after hurting ankle)

"Yeah, just easing me back in, and I was just being cautionary. Just trying to get in as many plays as I can and just seeing how it felt up there (at Maryland) in the cold weather."

Lorenzo Booker:

on about splitting carries)

"I don't think it's so much about that. There might be a guy who's hot. I just think that when it comes to running the ball, it has to be consistent."

(on how well the line blocked at Maryland)

"It was definitely the best they've blocked in a long time. Sometimes I was surprised that the hole was as big as it was. It was like I wasn't getting touched at all, so it really made my job easier."

Notable Quotes

Bobby is the beloved father of Florida State football, but now the children are struggling with the dilemma of how to tell dear old dad that it might be time for him to check into the home for retired icons. And the thing is, they have to do it tactfully and gracefully without hurting his feelings.
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel

Buster Davis Named Semifinalist for Bednarik Award

Florida State University senior linebacker has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award which is presented to the nation's top defensive player. The Bednarik Award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club and was first presented in 1994 in honor of former Philadelphia Eagle standout Chuck Bednarik.

Davis is Florida State's defensive captain and team leader in tackles through seven games with 63. He has been ranked among the ACC leaders in tackles throughout the season and enters Saturday night's game against Maryland ranked second in the conference and 31st in the nation with a 9.0 tackles per game average. Davis recorded his season-high of 12 tackles in the Seminoles' victories over both Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 4 and Troy on Sept. 9.

2006 Bednarik Award Semifinalists
Gaines Adams, Clemson
H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh
Mkristo Bruce, Washington State
Dan Connor, Penn State
Buster Davis, Florida State
Daymeion Hughes, California
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Quentin Moses, Georgia
Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas
Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State
Brandon Siler, Florida
Eric Weddle, Utah
Patrick Willis, Mississippi
Lamar Woodley, Michigan

New Poll

There is a new poll question: Do you believe Bobby Bowden is being unfairly criticized?

Poll Results

Results of the poll: Assuming Weatherford is healthy, who do you think should start game against Virginia this Saturday? was an overwhelming Xavier Lee by 95.2%.

My Buys and Sells : FSU Coaching Staff

Head Coach Bobby Bowden- A CEO is supposed to know his staff and make the tough decisions. Bobby Bowden either unable or unwilling to make tough decisions. I am selling.

Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews- Still one of the best defensive minds in college football. Excellent at making second half adjustments. I am buying.

Offensive Coordinator Jeff Bowden- Has the job because his father is head coach. Does not have the skills or intelligence to be in the position. I am selling.

Offensive Line Coach Mark McHale- Offensive line has not gotten the job done for several years and therefore he is not coaching the players. I am selling.

Running Backs Coach Billy Sexton- Running backs are not being developed to their full potential. Time for Sexton to move on. I am selling.

Linebackers Coach Kevin Steele Linebackers corps still one of the best and the coach is one of the reasons why. I am buying.

Defensive Ends Coach Jody Allen- Allen does good job developing the defensive ends. I am buying.

QB Coach Daryl Dickey- Not coaching QBs and having them play to their potential. I am selling.

Defensive Tackles Coach Odell Haggins- Haggins is doing an ok job. I am buying.

Tight Ends and Recruiting Coach John Lilly- More play from tight ends and recruiting has been ok but needs to attract more players with character. I am buying.

Graduate Assistant James Colzie- Former player and motivator. I am buying.

Strength and Conditioning Coach Jon Jost- Unusual amount of injuries. One has to wonder about this aspect of the program. For now I am buying.

Inside FSU Football

Linebacker Jae Thaxton is out after suffering recurring symptoms of the concussions that have forced him to miss 14 games the last two seasons. He returned Saturday after missing four games this season and was limited to 11 plays.

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Receiver De'Cody Fagg (ankle) and linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) are not expected to play.
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Xavier Lee said his cellphone had been ringing nonstop since Saturday. He even received a voice mail Monday morning from former FSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward.

Ward reached out to Lee last season when the former prep All-American was dissatisfied with his role as a backup.

''He's been telling me to keep my head up,'' Lee said. ``He's a legend around here, so I definitely see him as a mentor and listen to what he has to say

ACC Opposition Honors: Virginia

Virginia guard Branden Albert was tabbed ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his play in the Cavaliers' 14-7 win over visiting NC State Saturday. The 6-7, 306-pound sophomore from Glen Burnie, Md., graded out at 78 percent and had key blocks on both of Jason Snelling's rushing touchdowns in the Cavaliers' 14-7 win over NC State.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Monday Practice Report: Preparing for Virginia

Doak Campbell Stadium is the site of the Raycom/Lincoln Financial Sports ACC Game of the Week as Florida State welcomes Virginia to Tallahassee for a noon kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 4th.

• The Seminoles worked out in shorts and helmets for 10 periods Monday night, starting with agility drills before going into special teams and individual position drills. Most of periods were spent with the offense and defense working against the scout teams.

• The television networks will exercise their six-day option for the Florida State vs. Wake Forest football game with an announcement of game time coming this Sunday, November 5th.

Head Coach Bobby Bowden

(on Drew Weatherford)

"We've got Drew in a boot and he'll have that boot on today and have it on tomorrow. I guess the biggest hope is that he will be able to play Saturday. I guess we won't know until we get the boot off whether he can practice the rest of the week. That's how we stand now."

"The biggest hope is that he can play (Saturday) but we won't know the answer to that until Wednesday. Xavier would have to start. I really didn't want to say that, but might as well. The fact that the doctor has put im (Drew) in a boot for two days and then to just try to find out is he is going to play? My big hope right now is that he will be available."

(on availability of other players)

"De'Cody (Fagg) won't be ready this week, Geno (Hayes) is probably still out a week at least. I believe (Jae) Thaxton will be out as well. He tried to play last week and get back to where he used to being hit but I don't think he can do it."

(on how Xavier Lee will play over a period of time)

"I don't worry about that. I saw what he did. I saw what he is capable of doing and I was very pleased with it."

(on comfort level of having Xavier play after he's had one start)

"Well, the good thing is you've seen him in a game. Up to then, you're just not sure. You had that second quarter against Duke and you've had other times but he might be the kind of guy that you give him the ball and say okay it's your game. Some pitchers are that way I understand. It might be a good sign. You don't know what the future holds but thank goodness Xavier's here."

(on the season)

"It's been one of those years, like I told them (the team), you didn't lose a game; time ran out. We've all heard that expression. We've been in every game right down to the wire. Could of won it and we didn't. First time I've been through that because in the past, my past, plenty of times I've lost four games in my career, and seven and eight games but they're usually blowouts. These have all been close games."

Offensive Coordinator Jeff Bowden

(on Xavier Lee's play Saturday)

"He (Xavier Lee) looked like a totally different person in that game. He sat in the pocket; he never seemed rattled or flustered. I didn't think he rushed things; he just looked like a poised kid out there which was totally different from any other game that he's been in there. I couldn't put a finger on why that was. If I had been him and got told just before kickoff that I was going to start, I would have been a little more nervous, but that was not his reaction. I expected a little more nervousness early."

(on the upcoming week and decisions regarding the quarterback)

"The number one thing we have to do right now is find out how healthy Drew (Weatherford) is right now. So we won't know that until we see him running around on the field. You got to throw off that right foot and that is where you have to put all that pressure, so it's one of those wait and see type of things."

(on running the ball)

"We ran the ball better, and there is no question how much that helps us. All of a sudden our play action passes were better. You really need to be able to do both. Until we can start backing that up from week to week there are going to be games where they aren't going to allow it. You can see it throughout this league that there are teams that are going to give you fits. And when we can't run the ball, we had better be able to throw it. When we can't throw the ball, we had better be able to run it. So you have to be prepared to do both. The fact that we were able to run the ball pretty well was big. The most encouraging thing about our running game was that we had 10-, five-, six- and seven-yard runs that when we get a little better, they become 10-, 15- and 20-yard runs. And that is how close we are. That's not every time, but we are getting close."

Defensive Coordinator Mickey Andrews

(on the wind during the Maryland game)

"The weather had an effect on the game. It changed the team on offense as far as how much throwing. Probably the kicking game was what it affected the most. If you were kicking the ball into the wind it would just knock it down. Whoever received with the wind in their face didn't get a chance to return, while the team returning with the wind had the ball knocked down and would get a chance to return."

(on the number of starters on special teams)

"You'd rather have none. If we're scoring a lot of points, we will be having to cover a lot of kickoffs. Our defensive people play about 50 percent of the game, so we'd rather not have them out there. Some people, however many plays they play, that is it for them. What does that mean? We have to be in better conditioned. You have to be better conditioned mentally because you have to fight through being tired. You are going to have more to learn. There is more to learn than just being on offense or defense if you are going to be on special teams. You are involved in a lot more meetings, meaning you miss out on other meetings."

(on play of Rodney Gallon at linebacker in Maryland game)

"Rodney Gallon played an excellent game. He made some excellent plays. Here is a guy who was really better than he thought he was and it took him to this point to go out there and play like it. He made a few key plays and had a very solid performance. That was encouraging; it was the first time he has stepped up and played at that level."

Quarter back Drew Weatherford

"Well it was obviously an unfortunate situation that I wasn't able to go on Saturday. We didn't find out until Wednesday in practice that I had actually injured a tendon in my ankle. We tried to let it rest on Wednesday and Thursday. I didn't do anything on those two days. I went in on Thursday, got an MRI and an X-Ray and had the doctors take a look at it. They saw a lot of inflammation and swelling around my tendon, but they didn't see any damage to it. They are hoping that it's just a strained tendon rather than a torn one. But there is definitely discomfort and inflammation. The coaches thought on Saturday night that the best case scenario was to let me rest and give Xavier (Lee) the opportunity to come in. I was only about 70 percent and I wouldn't have been able to beat the rush or run at all. I would have loved to go out there and give it my best effort but the coaches thought it was best to give Xavier the nod."

(on how ankle issue happened)

"It happened on Wednesday just after we finished up quarterback drills. I just planted on my right foot and turned and I did something to aggravate it or make it flare up. We aren't really sure what happened, but I wasn't able to play."

Quarterback Xavier Lee

(on being named the starter for Saturday's game)

"I going to just prepare the same way I did last week, just work really hard in practice. Everything carries over from the practice field to the game so I am really going to work hard at that. I am going to watch film that much harder and correct my mistakes from last game and try not to make them this game and move forward and play it play-by-play."

"I wasn't 100 percent sure (that he would get the start once he saw Drew in a boot), I hate to jump to conclusions. I hate to see him go down like that but it's an opportunity for me and I am going to try to run with it. Drew's a great player and I respect him a lot."

Linebacker Rodney Gallon

(on how it felt to get a lot of playing time at linebacker in Maryland game.)

"I just felt really comfortable out there. They put me in there. I've played a lot of special teams and I was just trying to do my best out there. I had the boys behind me, you know Buster and Lawrence. I'd been practicing hard all week and I've just waiting for a long time for this opportunity to come and I just went ahead and try to take the chance when I got it. I just try to do my best."

"It's been probably since high school that I've gotten that many snaps but I just thank God that I was in there. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win. We've been through our ups and downs and I just want to be a big part of us getting back to winning."

Xavier Lee To Start Against Virginia

Florida State quarterback Xavier Lee will start Saturday's game against Virginia, FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said after practice Monday.

Lee had a strong performance in his first start in FSU's 27-24 loss to Maryland on Saturday in place of injured Drew Weatherford.

Weatherford was wearing a walking boot and didn't practice Monday. He also is expected to be out Tuesday. Bowden hopes he'll be available on Saturday if needed.

My View: Leadership Needed

FSU President T.k. Wetherell answered critics of the FSU football program by saying the following on Saturday: "It's all going to work out. You don't change horses in midstream. You don't step on Superman's cape, and you don't sell Coca-Cola stock if you live in Gadsden County.

This kind of statement is indicative of an arrogance that is taking this program downward. I am not sure what it will take for the president to understand that it is time for wholesale changes. A half empty stadium? Booster contributions declining? No bowl game? A losing season?

It is time for leadership and if he cannot exercise that leadership, maybe he should step aside and let someone do what is necessary.

Bizarre Bobby Bowden Quotes

"Won't work. I see that a lot. They don't want to fire the coach so you have to get rid of so and so. I don't work that way. I believe in loyalty to my guys. If they aren't working hard, I will get someone else. The public wants a hanging. I won't play that game. If you want to put me out of coaching, try to get me to play that game. "
Interview with ESPN's Joe Schad when asked what he would do if president or athletic director asks for coaching changes

Q & A: Bobby Bowden Sunday Teleconference- Part 1

During his Sunday teleconference, Bowden also talked about costly breakdowns in the kicking game and the continuing criticism he is receiving now that the Seminoles have slipped to 4-4 after losing three of four games in October.

In terms of getting ready in practice, do you make that decision on Monday? What's your normal course of action, in particular if you decide to make a change?

Bowden: Well, it might be that we can't answer that. It might be that the doctors say Drew's not ready, and the answer is already there by the doctors. Or it could be that Drew is ready to go again, and so is Lee, and we'd have to decide, 'Well, which one of you is going to get the first reps?' We don't have to decide who is going to play until game time. But I don't think it's a drastic situation. You had a first-team quarterback who couldn't play. Then you've got a second-teamer who got in there and played like lights out, you know. So it's a nice problem

Can you talk more about the way Drew was injured and how much he could have played against Maryland if he had been needed and how limited he might have been?

Bowden: Drew, Wednesday, I believe . . . This is the way I understand it. Now somebody had in the paper today, or somewhere I heard, that he was hurt in his room or something. But we were out there practicing Wednesday and I noticed, I was up in my tower, and I noticed that while we were running plays that he was sitting over there on the bank with ice on his ankle. I was thinking, 'What in the world has happened here?' Of course, I stayed up on the tower, and Xavier got all the reps. I noticed he was going first team and Drew was not there. When I came down I asked what was wrong with Drew, and the trainer said he turned his ankle. They say he was just warming up and it was kind of like he tripped and something was wrong with his ankle. I said, 'Well, do you think he will be OK for Saturday?' The trainer said 'Yeah, I think he will.' So anyway I thought he would be out at practice. Well, he was there but he didn't do anything again. So then I talked to the trainers and they said they will do what they need to do to it. 'I'm sure he'll be ready by Saturday.' Now, so Friday Ð we didn't work out Friday Ð he was better. That was the only response I got, that he was better. Then Saturday, Daryl (Dickey) and Jeffrey (Bowden) informed me that we would probably have to start Xavier in the ballgame because Drew . . . The doctors were a little concerned about Drew if he plays. He could get knocked out for the year, and so and so. I said, 'Well, let's wait until the warm up . . . Lets warm up and be sure. I think he'd be less likely to make mistakes, so let's warm up before the ballgame. So we warmed up, and everybody agreed, including the doctors, that Drew should be held out. So anyway, that's the way that went.

Did you go into the game trying to simplify the game plan for Xavier or were you confident with all the practice he got during the week that he could execute what you wanted to do against Maryland?

Bowden: I don't think we changed a thing.

When do you make a decision on who starts Saturday?

Bowden: When will we make a decision? I'm not sure. If it's close, it will probably be as late as we can make it. If we felt like we should do this or do that . . . And a lot of it is we've got to wait to see how is Drew's ankle? Then go from there. I feel much secure now by what I saw happen the other night. It makes you feel like you've got two quarterbacks instead of one. Now comes, how are you going to use them?

You said you had never seen it from Xavier in practice, and he hadn't done it in games, but that was about as good a game as a quarterback has played for you in a long time.

Bowden: Well, it sure was. It most certainly was. It reminded you of some of those great days that Chris Rix had. He had great days like that, just not every week. But now, that was an amazing thing. We put him in for one quarter at Duke and he had three interceptions in one quarter. Now you put him in again in the fourth quarter and he does real well. The question is, 'How's he going to play now?' In the past it's kind of been that way . . . But that is the first time that, boy, he really made some things happen. I was wanting him to run, and yet, it seemed like when I put him in the game he was reluctant to run. He'd run and kind of get to the sideline, and I wanted him to take off and try to score, and he did that yesterday. I don't think anybody told him to. I didn't tell him to.

Antone Smith was talking today about the calm Xavier had in the huddle. Is that one of the things that surprised you?

Bowden: No, it didn't surprise me a bit. He's calm. He's a calm individual. What disturbed me was what happened when you snapped that ball and got into trouble, what would he do with it. And in the game Saturday, he did just opposite of what I had been seeing.

Xavier said, and some of his teammates confirmed it, that he had done well working with the ones and twos Wednesday and Thursday. Had you built up a little more confidence, a little more comfort, even knowing that Drew might be ready to play, from those two days of seeing Xavier playing?

Bowden: Yes. Yes. Watching him work Wednesday and watching him work Thursday, and I watched him very closely. I usually spend most of my time watching our quarterbacks. I watched him closely. I said, 'Gee, it looks like he knows what we are trying to do.' He was doing it pretty good in practice. So yeah, I felt much better about it. If I hadn't felt better about it, I don't know what I would have done. But after watching him work out Wednesday and Thursday, and then Daryl and Jeff both felt better about him.

The defeat is obviously deflating, but did you sense that there was something invigorating about the offensive performance that may provide something of a silver lining in a season in which some goals have already disappeared?

Bowden: Well, we might have had as many drives for touchdowns and for scores . . . Maybe as any game this year except the ones like Duke and Rice where the other team was out-manned. We probably had more drives for touchdowns, because they didn't give us nothing. What was the closest touchdown we drove? They didn't turn it over a time, did they? So anyway, you had to drive a long way to score, and we hadn't done that frequently. That was very encouraging.

Now I looked at the film . . . We lost the game in the kicking game, that's where we lost the game. That's the thing that disturbs me the most. I'm going to address it with our coaches when we meet (Monday morning). We've got so many guys on our kicking team that normally would never even be playing that are going out on punts and going out on kickoffs, and missing tackles. I think we've got people . . .. We're simply going to have to put some starters over there. You know, we did that with (Geno) Hayes in the Duke game. We put Hayes on the kickoff team because we got ripped the week before by N.C. State. They brought that kickoff back 60 yards and we had walk-ons and subs in there. So Kevin said we are going to have to put first-teamers back in there because we can't afford to give up that kind of yardage. So we started Hayes against Duke and he gets hurt. That's the only thing you are scared of. If you've got a big lead, you can go ahead and get them out. Well, the other night, we had a lot of . . . I looked at the numbers of kids, and wondered, 'What in the world is he doing in there?' But again, it's a case you've got (all the injuries). Usually the people you want on your kickoff are your defensive backs and linebackers. We had so many of them hurt we had to use a lot of walk-ons.

Anyway, when I look at that game Saturday, if we could have won the kicking game, there's no doubt that we would have won the game.

Is it fair to say that if Drew is healthy that Xavier has forced a difficult decision?

Bowden: Yes. Yeah, like I said, the only way I know how to address it, is that it's a good problem, but it is a problem because there is going to be a lot of disagreement whichever way you go. That's where you have to call on your kids to have great unselfishness, and see what happens. But again, if Drew doesn't get better, it ain't a choice.

You've had a policy that a guy can't lose a starting job because of an injury. How do you weigh wanting to be faithful to that policy with what a kid does when he comes into a situation like that and provides a spark you might not otherwise have? Is that part of the difficulty of making a decision about who starts?

Bowden: I don't know where that . . . statement came from. Yes, I do. We used to have that rule when I first came here that you can't lose your job through injury, that if you came back you got your job back. That a guy had to beat you out on the field. Now we stuck by that sometimes, but there have been plenty of other times that we haven't stuck by it. That's kind of a rule of convenience. We're going to play the guy that we think can help us win.

Since you are 4-4, is this something the team can rally around with the competition between Drew and Xavier?

Bowden: Well, they've got to do that. The competition will probably help. But you have to remember this . . . Even though (Xavier) had a tremendous game, and even though he surprised everybody, and even though he gave us a running (game), we still lost the game. We still lost the game, so you have to keep that in mind, in fact, too. But, again, what are we going to do about that? Right now I don't know. We'll have to . . . I think I will have to have input from the coaches, and I think we'll have to watch practices this week and see what we are seeing.

You've talked about how Xavier has never come to you and said he wanted to transfer because he wasn't playing, but a lot of kids in his situation might have looked to leave. So Xavier has to be a little different in that regard. Did that surprise you about him?

Bowden: Does it surprise me? No. Now let me say this - had he left, it would not have surprise me. I've always said stick with it, stick with it, stick with it. I can give him good examples. That's what history can give you. I can say, 'Do you remember we had ol' Casey Weldon and we had Brad Johnson here, and Casey beat out Brad in the middle of his junior year. Both of them were juniors. Casey won out when he went into the Auburn game and led us to a lot of scores, So here is Brad, with another year of eligibility, and so does Casey, and (Brad) is a second-team quarterback. But he stayed with it . . . Now, the pros are going to find you no matter where you are. If you are second, third or fourth team, they are going to find you . . . So anyway, Brad Johnson gets drafted and Casey gets drafted. Well, Brad is still playing pro ball, and Casey played a certain amount of years. But it just happened that one of them was better off as a college quarterback.

I tell them that. 'Men, this is what happened in the past. Don't get impatient.' If you've got the stuff, they are going to find you wherever you are and you don't have to transfer to some little ol' school or go out west or somewhere else. They are going to find you.

You never know what's going to happen. What if the other guys gets injured? You are starting. And that's exactly what happened. So I think (Xavier) has enough maturity not to leave.

Now do you remember we had another quarterback when we had (Danny) Kanell. Kanell had another year. This other quarterback had another year, so he left and I never heard from him again. Nice kids. Great kid. But I never heard from him again. He could have gotten discovered here just as good as anywhere else.

So I think Lee is smart enough to see that and is mature enough not to do anything stupid.

Have the doctors given you any indication that Drew will be ready to go this week?

Bowden: I haven't talked to them. Unless it's something tricky, I would guess he would be about ready. But it could be . . . Randy Oravetz explained to me that it's like a foreign object in there . . .You get a chip on your knee, on your cartilage in your knee . . . If you have a cartilage that chips, it will get in the joint there and it might not bother you, then all of a sudden it falls into a position where it feels like your knee is coming off. Then in another day, it works out again. So that could be the type of thing he has in his ankle, something that is floating around in there that got into a bad position, and kind of locked it up . . . I don't know. Randy or the doctors could give you their side of that.

Stats Close Up:FSU-Maryland Game

Penalties: Number-Yards....... 13-100
Fumbles: Number-Lost.......... 1-1
Net Yards Per Punt.......... 10.8
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 4-5

Game Balls: FSU-Maryland Game

* Xavier Lee- 286 yds. and 2 TDs

* Chris Davis- 132 yds. and 1 TD

* Antone Smith- 88 yds. and 1 TD

Notable Quotes

"It's all going to work out. You don't change horses in midstream. You don't step on Superman's cape, and you don't sell Coca-Cola stock if you live in Gadsden County.”
T.K. Wetherell referring to FSU football program

What They Are Saying About the Seminoles

"... the Seminoles 4-4, 2-4 ACC don't seem despondent.
They have a quarterback controversy that has infused not only some drama between Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee but some enthusiasm about the possibilities.

"I feel much more secure now by what I saw happen the other night," coach Bobby Bowden said the day after a 27-24 loss at Maryland. "It makes you feel like you've got two quarterbacks instead of one. Now comes how you're going to use them."
St. Pete Times

"I can’t blame Florida State fans for feeling a bit giddy in the midst of its worst record in three decades. After all, the spark provided by quarterback Xavier Lee is something this program and its fans needed.
Badly.

Lee’s performance in Saturday’s loss at Maryland was eye-opening, especially from a player who had shown little to even warrant a starting look all season. But Lee was cool and calm and nothing like the calamity of the Duke game."
Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post

"Saturday night's 27-24 loss at Maryland officially eliminated the Seminoles (4-4, 2-4) from title contention.

Oddly enough, Sunday's mood around the players and coaches was surprisingly upbeat, considering the Seminoles still need two victories just to become bowl-eligible.

"I think in each game you see things happen that either leave a bad taste in your mouth, or a good taste," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday. "I had more good taste left in my mouth after [Saturday] night than I had bad."
Florida Times Union

"FSU got as close as the Maryland 18-yard line on its final series. But a potential game-winning touchdown turned, following a sack and a penalty, into a long field goal. And that barely got off the ground.

Maryland fans flooded the field, although beating FSU hardly seems notable these days in the ACC. As many teams have done it this season as have not.

Bowden now has plenty to mull without glancing toward the standings."
Orlando Sentinel

"The decision won't be announced until later in the week, possibly as late as the day of the game, but the most intriguing question surrounding Florida State football at the moment is whether Xavier Lee or Drew Weatherford will be the starting quarterback against Virginia.

"It's going to be exciting to see, I can tell you that," FSU running back Antone Smith said of the reborn quarterback competition on Sunday."
Tampa Tribune

" Bowden was not ready Sunday to proclaim Lee the starter. Weatherford missed Saturday's game after sustaining a sprained ankle in a midweek practice, and Bowden usually doesn't take a starting job away from a player because of an injury.

On Sunday, however, Bowden said that rule is not etched in stone.

''We're going to play the guy that we think can help us win,'' he said."
Miami Herald

Monday Morning Quarterback:FSU-Maryland Game

What can you say? Four losses with more to come. Bobby Bowden seems not that concerned.
Bobby Bowden Coaching: Same old stuff although Lee was a surprise.
Grade: D

Running Game: Running game did have some promise.
Grade: C-

QB: Xavier Lee looked poised and definitely has the potential-and he can scramble. Plus he had no INTs.
Grade: B+

Offensive Coaching: Offense showed promise but too many dropped passes and weird play calling.
Grade:C+

Receivers: By and large the receivers did good but there were too many dropped passes especially critical ones.
Grade:B-

Defensive Coaching:Defense gave up too many big plays.
Grade:C-

Intangibles/Special Teams Play: Stupid penalties were disastrous. Field position was horrible.
Grade:F

Upcoming FSU Opponents Scores for Past Weekend

Virginia 14 NC State 7
Jason Snelling ran 17 yards for his second touchdown with 1:31 to play Saturday and Virginia beat North Carolina State 14-7.

Snelling, who carried 20 times for 99 yards, broke off an 18-yard run down the left side on the play before go-ahead run. He then took another handoff and went up the middle, breaking free and dragging several defenders into the end zone with him.

The Cavaliers (4-5, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), coming off a 23-0 victory against North Carolina nine days earlier, were seeking consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1952. They came up 4:48 short when Daniel Evans hit John Dunlap in the back of the end zone from 8 yards out. John Deraney's extra point tied it at 7.
FSU plays Virginia on Nov. 4

Wake Forest 24 North Carolina 17
Riley Skinner threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ken Moore and Jon Abbate intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal No. 24 Wake Forest's 24-17 victory over North Carolina on Saturday.

Abbate picked off Joe Dailey on the game's final play after the Tar Heels drove to the Wake Forest 3 with 41 seconds left.

The Demon Deacons (7-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won seven of eight to start the season for the first time since 1979 and third time in school history. They swept Tobacco Road rivals North Carolina, N.C. State and Duke for the first time since 1987.
FSU plays Wake Forest on Nov. 11

Western Michigan 18 Eastern Michigan 15

Mark Bonds' 19-yard touchdown run with 5:04 left put Western Michigan ahead for good in an 18-15 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. After being held to a field goal through three quarters, the Broncos (6-2, 4-1 Mid-American) rallied for scoring drives of 65 and 50 yards in the final quarter, winning their third consecutive game and remaining in the hunt for the MAC West title.
FSU plays Western Michigan on Nov. 18

Florida 21 Georgia 14

Florida coach Urban Meyer was the first to toast his defense -- an appropriate gesture even if this wasn't supposed to be a cocktail party anymore.
The defense forced two fumbles and intercepted two passes, helping the ninth-ranked Gators beat Georgia 21-14 on Saturday and continue their recent dominance in the rivalry.
FSU plays Florida on Nov. 25