FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 2004 SPRING FOOTBALL OUTLOOKgraphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/... · FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY 1 2004 SPRING FOOTBALL ... Last

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

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2004 SPRING FOOTBALLOUTLOOK

By Rob Wilson

F lorida State head coach Bobby Bowden is hoping for a productive springsession in 2004, but a large number of off-season surgeries will prob-

ably mean that full scrimmage opportunities will be few and far between.The practices will be particularly important for the defensive side of the foot-ball as Mickey Andrews and his staff must replace seven starters from the2003 team. Offensively, the Seminoles’ only starters lost were senior tailbackGreg Jones and junior wide receiver P.K. Sam, who left early for the NFLdraft.

“Overall, the first thing we want to accomplish in spring is to find outwho is going to replace what you lost,” said Bowden who will be coachinghis 29th spring practice beginning March 2nd. “Who’s going to move up tostarting positions? The thing about spring training is you give everybody apretty good shot to show where they belong. That’s the starting place everyspring is to get our depth chart in order. This is the first team, this is secondteam, this is third team. So that’s our first goal.

“Our situation is the complete opposite of what it was last spring, butthe goal remains the same. Last year, we had everybody back on defense soyou used the spring to develop depth there. Offensively, we were trying toreplace practically the entire offensive line and Anquan Boldin among oth-ers. This year, we’ve got to find a lot of starters on defense, but it looks likeyour spring on offense will be mostly players trying to take someone’s posi-tion away. The good thing on defense is that we did play a lot of players lastyear and we’ve got a good idea of what they can do. Now, they must go outand win positions.”

Complicating the effort to develop a solid first and second team comingout of spring is the fact that the Seminoles will be missing a number of keyplayers due to injury. The offense will be without All-America tackle AlexBarron (shoulder surgery), All-America candidate wide receiver CraphonsoThorpe (leg fracture), starting center David Castillo (shoulder surgery), pos-sible starting tailback Leon Washington (ankle surgery), wide receiver WillieReid (ankle surgery) and fullback James Coleman (shoulder surgery). Inaddition, five players will miss at least the first half of spring practice with amedical evaluation scheduled following spring break to determine their sta-tus. They include: All-America candidate offensive tackle Ray Willis (shoul-der scope), starting offensive guard Bobby Meeks (shoulder scope) and start-ing rover Jerome Carter (shoulder scope), potential starting wide receiverChris Davis (ankle) and linebacker Ray Piquion (shoulder scope).

“I said the same thing last year, but it’s true again — this is going to bea very thin spring because of injuries,” said Bowden. “It is getting to thepoint where nobody can field two teams and play a true spring game. Somany of the players who are missing spring are either starters or pushing tobe starters so it will be hard to get any continuity especially on the offensiveside of the ball.

“Our No. 1 priority is to determine who is going to replace the starter welost. Then we will just focus on trying to get better as football players and asa football team. By that I mean stressing the fundamentals. Blocking, tack-ling, throwing, catching, running routes and defending. Use the time to makeeach player a better, more sound, football player.”

In contrast to last season, the Florida State offense will be counted on toplay in top form early in the season as young starters get a chance to develop

on defense. While it will not be apparent during spring, the FSU offensiveline should be the backbone of an extremely talented unit. The Seminoleswelcome back all five starting offensive linemen, including consensus All-American Alex Barron and two-year starter Ray Willis who should also con-tend for All-America honors. Matt Meinrod started every game as a sopho-more last year at guard , and Bobby Meeks and Ron Lunford shared playingtime at the other guard position. FSU coaches used last season to developdepth on the line as well and true sophomore John Frady has proved his metalat center along with sophomore Mario Henderson who started the OrangeBowl at split tackle. Redshirt freshman David Overmyer will get his first realchance to show coaches he’s ready to play this spring, both Eric Broe andMatt Heinz could provide solid back-ups at guard if they can overcome inju-ries that sidelined them for most of last season. Senior Brian Ross missed allof last year after breaking his leg last spring, but he should be healthy andready to compete at center in March.

Lining up behind center will be Bobby Bowden’s first-ever four-yearstarter at quarterback in Chris Rix. The rising senior has a chance to set anumber of Florida State passing records, and his ability to run and throwmakes him one of the nation’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Consistent playwill be what the coaches ask of the veteran during the spring and early part ofnext season. Only one scholarship player is listed behind Rix on the depthchart at quarterback and he is sophomore Wyatt Sexton. He impressed coacheslast spring with his poise in the pocket and proved his arm strength during thefall, but he lacks game experience.

While Greg Jones is gone along with his three years of starting experi-ence at tailback, FSU coaches are very pleased with the performance of po-tential starters Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker. Walk-on Marlon Napierwill be asked to carry a lot of the load in the spring with Washington out, butdepth next fall must come from a talented group of incoming freshmen. Full-back looks very deep and strong as well although Orange Bowl starter JamesColeman will miss spring with an injury. Junior B.J. Dean shared startinghonors last year and is solid and coaches are pleased with junior Chad Canfieldat the position. Sophomore Torrance Washington showed great promise as atrue freshman in 2002 but missed all of last season with an injury. He willuse the spring to make a case for playing time once again.

The receiver position took an unexpected hit with the early departure ofP.K. Sam to the NFL, but the good news for FSU fans is that All-Americacandidate Craphonso Thorpe’s rehabilitation of his fractured leg is right onschedule. He broke the leg in overtime against NC State and missed theFlorida game and the Orange Bowl. A pair of seniors, Dominic Robinsonand Chauncey Stovall, proved they could be counted on last season and will

INSIDE…2004 Personnel Chart ................................. 22004 Rosters ................................................ 3Head Coach Bobby Bowden ....................... 5Assistant Coaches ....................................... 82004 Spring Bios ......................................... 92004 Signees .............................................. 152003 Final Statistics .................................. 18Game-By-Game Review ........................... 22

Craphonso Thorpe led the team in all receiving categories as ajunior in 2003 and was named one of 10 semifinalists for theBiletnikoff Award.

2004 SPRING PROSPECTUS

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2004 PERSONNEL CHARTSTARTERS RETURNING .................................... 14Offense ..................................................................................................... 9

Defense .................................................................................................... 4

Punter/Placekicker .................................................................................... 1

Offense: QB-Chris Rix, Sr.; FB-B.J. Dean, Jr.; WR-Craphonso Thorpe, Sr.;

TE-Paul Irons, Sr.; OT-Alex Barron, Sr.; OT-Ray Willis, Sr.; OG-Bobby

Meeks, Sr.; OG-Matt Meinrod, Sr.; C-David Castillo, So.

Defense: DE- Eric Moore, Sr.; RV -Jerome Carter, Sr.; CB-Bryant McFadden,

Sr.; FS-B.J. Ward, Sr.

Specialists: PK- Xavier Beitia, Sr.

STARTERS LOST .............................................. 10Offense ..................................................................................................... 2

Defense .................................................................................................... 7


Offense: TB-Greg Jones, Sr.; SE- P.K. Sam, Jr.

Defense: DE-Kevin Emanuel, Sr.; DT-Darnell Dockett, Sr.; DT-Jeff Womble,

Sr., LB-Michael Boulware, Sr.; LB-Kendyll Pope, Sr.; LB-Allen Augustin,

Sr.; CB-Stanford Samuels, Sr.

Specialists: P- Jessie Stein, Sr.

LETTERMEN RETURNING ................................. 53Offense ................................................................................................... 27

Defense .................................................................................................. 23

Specialists ................................................................................................ 3

Offense: OT- Alex Barron, RB- Lorenzo Booker, OG- Eric Broe, FB- Chad

Canfield, TE- Donnie Carter, C- David Castillo, FB- James Coleman, WR-

Chris Davis, FB- B.J. Dean, C- John Frady, OT- Mario Henderson, TE- Matt

Henshaw, TE- Paul Irons, OG- Ronnie Lunford , OG- Bobby Meeks, OG-

Matt Meinrod, RB- Marlon Napier, WR- Willie Reid, RB- Ryan Reynolds,

QB- Chris Rix, WR- Dominic Robinson, WR- Lorne Sam, QB- Wyatt Sex-

ton, WR- Chauncey Stovall, WR- Craphonso Thorpe, RB- Leon Washing-

ton, OT- Ray Willis.

Defense: DB- Anthony Bredwood, DT- Brodrick Bunkley, DE- Darrell

Burston, LB- Marcello Church, CB- Antonio Cromartie, LB- Buster Davis,

DE- Chauncey Davis, DT- Clifton Dickson FS- Kyler Hall, DE- Charles

Howard, DT- Travis Johnson, CB- Bryant McFadden, LB- Sam McGrew,

DE- Eric Moore, LB- A.J. Nicholson, RV- Claudius Osei, LB- Ray Piquion,

CB- Gerard Ross, LB- Ernie Sims, CB- Leroy Smith, FS- B.J. Ward, FS- Pat

Watkins, DE- Kamerion Wimbley.

Specialists: PK- Xavier Beitia, P- Chris Hall, DS- Cory Niblock.

LETTERMEN LOST ........................................... 18Offense ..................................................................................................... 5

Defense .................................................................................................. 11


Offense: RB- Greg Jones, OT- Andrew Henry-Kennon, WR- Joey Kaleikini,

WR- P.K. Sam, QB- Fabian Walker.

Defense: DB- Kasey Anderson, LB- Allen Augustin, LB- Michael Boulware,

CB- Rufus Brown, DT- Darnell Dockett, DE- Kevin Emanuel, LB- Nate

Hardage, LB- Kendyll Pope, RV- Gordy Reid, CB- Stanford Samuels, DT-

Jeff Womble.

Specialists: DS - Brian Sawyer, P- Jesse Stein.

provide leadership for the group this spring. Coach Jeff Bowden will not beable to determine much in terms of depth among his receiving corps withWillie Reid and Chris Davis missing practices, but sophomore Lorne Samshould benefit from the extra scrimmage snaps in spring. Signee DecodyFagg will get a head start on his career as well since he enrolled in Januaryand will go through spring.

Coach Bowden suggests the tight end position is as deep and talented asits been in years. The Seminole returns game tested veterans Paul Irons, MattHenshaw and Donnie Carter. All have the ability to catch and run the deeperpatterns giving FSU’s offense yet another dimension.

Defensively, Coach Andrews and his staff are probably more disappointedthan the offensive coaches with limited numbers for scrimmages. He wantsto come out of spring with a good idea of his first and second team players.While the loss of seven starters would suggest to most programs that the unitwould be weak, FSU’s heavy use of back-ups last season provided valuableexperience for both coach and player, which explains the optimism surround-ing the defensive staff.

The Seminole front seven was gutted with only senior Eric Moore re-turning among the defensive line and linebackers. However, Moore appearsready to take his place as the next great FSU rush end. Junior KamerionWimbley has played a lot of snaps and looks like he will be the man to beat atright end. Senior Chauncy Davis and Darrell Burston have also seen actionat the key position. Willie Jones should be full speed by next season andready to make a charge and coaches will get their first hard look at redshirtfreshman Alex Boston.

The interior defensive line was one of the real strengths of last yearsteam, but both Darnell Dockett and Jeff Womble are gone. Travis Johnsonmoves into his senior year with a great deal of playing experience as doesCharles Howard who can play any of the front four positions. Junior BrodrickBunkley and sophomore Clifton Dickson will try and use the spring to win astarting job. Coaches will also watch the progress of redshirt freshmen AndreFluellen and Chris Bradwell closely.

The bad news for linebackers coach Kevin Steele is all three of his start-ing linebackers are gone. The good news is names like Ernie Sims, A.J.Nicholson, Sam McGrew, Ray Piquion, Buster Davis and Marcello Churchhave already been called many times on the stadium p.a. and there will befierce competition to see who emerges as the three new first teamers. All thereturning players have considerable game experience which means regard-less of how it shakes out, FSU will have the luxury of depth at the positionnext year.

Six seniors are scattered among the listing of players available in theFSU secondary. The Seminoles return starting corner Bryant McFadden whocould contend for All-America honors. A groin injury kept him all but out ofthe Orange Bowl game, but he had a great year in 2003 and should be a starin 2004. Also returning is Leroy Smith who played in all 13 games last year,starting three. Smith tied for the team lead with three interceptions and is anoutstanding veteran. Also returning for his true sophomore season is AntonioCromartie who lacks only experience to become a star. Junior Gerard Rossand redshirt freshman Jhermaine McAroy will use the spring to prove tocoaches they are ready for playing time.

FSU is very solid at both safety positions with returning starters andback-ups at both free safety and rover. Senior Jerome Carter should have abreakout year in 2004. He is backed up by a pair of seniors with startingexperience themselves in Kyler Hall and Claudius Osei. Senior B.J. Wardhas already set the school record for his blocked kicks on special teams, buthis play at free safety was outstanding last year. Junior Pat Watkins will belisted behind the veteran at the position and all he did was tie for the team-lead with three interceptions.

Special teams will be a focus in the spring with the departure of deepsnapper Brian Sawyer and punter Jesse Stein. Sawyer made every singlespecial teams snap for the last four years. Sophomore Myles Hodish is hop-ing to fill the role this spring. Coaches had planned on using senior ChrisHall as the punter last year, but opted instead to use the senior Stein. Thepunting duties will be passed to Hall this spring and coaches feel good abouthis ability to handle the role. Placekicker Xavier Beitia returns for his seniorseason having hit 76.1 percent (51-of-67) of his field goal attempts over hiscareer. He made 19 of his 25 attempts last year for 76.0 percent. Redshirtfreshman Chase Goggans will get a chance to see what he can do during thespring before coaches get a look at incoming freshman Gary Cismesia in thefall.

“With Miami set as the opening game you know that motivation is notgoing to be a problem,” said Bowden who will enter his 29th season at FSUin 2004. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we have real talent out there.Injuries, as always, will be a key. Leadership is essential. We got goodleadership last year and I expect to get good leadership this year. The sched-ule is as demanding as ever and we will basically run through the schedulewithout a week off, but I don’t mind that if injuries are not a problem. I’mexcited about next year and ready to get going.”


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2004 SPRING ROSTERSNUMERICAL

NO NAME

1 Craphonso Thorpe

3 Leon Washington

5 Chris Davis

8 Bryant McFadden

11 Gerard Ross

13 Antonio Cromartie

14 Matt Henshaw

15 Chauncey Stovall

16 Chris Rix

18 Lorne Sam

19 Wyatt Sexton

20 Torrance Washington

21 Dominic Robinson

22 Pat Watkins

22 Marlon Napier

23 Jerome Carter

24 B.J. Ward

26 Willie Reid

27 Claudius Osei

28 Lorenzo Booker

29 Willie Jones

30 Ryan Reynolds

31 Roger Williams

32 Leroy Smith

33 Jhermaine McAroy

34 Ernie Sims

35 B.J. Dean

36 James Coleman

38 Paul Irons

39 Marcello Church

41 Kyler Hall

42 Anthony Bredwood

44 Sam McGrew

47 Xavier Beitia

48 Chris Hall

49 Chad Canfield

51 Buster Davis

52 Brodrick Bunkley

54 A.J. Nicholson

55 Eric Moore

56 Ray Piquion

57 Matt Heinz

59 Charles Howard

62 Cory Niblock

63 David Castillo

ALPHABETICALNO NAME POS HGT WGT CLASS HOMETOWN

70 Alex Barron OT 6-6 308 Sr. Orangeburg, S.C.

47 Xavier Beitia PK 5-10 198 Sr. Tampa, Fla.

28 Lorenzo Booker RB 5-11 187 So. Ventura, Calif.

98 Alex Boston DE 6-3 225 Fr. Bartow, Fla.

93 Chris Bradwell DT 6-5 265 Fr. Alpharetta, Ga.

42 Anthony Bredwood CB 5-10 195 Sr. Palm Bay, Fla.

65 Eric Broe OG 6-6 316 So. Norcross, Ga.

52 Brodrick Bunkley DT 6-3 291 Jr. Tampa, Fla.

92 Darrell Burston DE 6-2 228 So. Fayetteville, Ga.

49 Chad Canfield FB 5-10 236 Jr. Apopka, Fla.

88 Donnie Carter TE 6-4 255 Jr. Waycross, Ga.

23 Jerome Carter RV 6-0 219 Sr. Lake City, Fla.

63 David Castillo C 6-2 304 Jr. Palm Beach, Fla.

39 Marcello Church LB 6-1 233 Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla.

36 James Coleman FB 6-0 245 Jr. Tallahassee, Fla.

13 Antonio Cromartie CB 6-3 197 So. Tallahassee, Fla.

51 Buster Davis LB 5-11 248 So. Daytona Beach, Fla.

94 Chauncey Davis DE 6-2 258 Sr. Auburndale, Fla.

5 Chris Davis WR 6-0 176 So. St. Petersburg, Fla.

35 B.J. Dean FB 5-11 258 Jr. Tuscaloosa, Ala.

97 Clifton Dickson DT 6-4 308 So. Miami, Fla.

96 Andre Fluellen DT 6-4 270 Fr. Cartersville, Ga.

67 John Frady OL 6-4 298 So. Jacksonville, Fla.

48 Chris Hall P 5-10 220 Jr. Centreville, Va.

41 Kyler Hall FS 6-0 194 Sr. Live Oak, Fla.

57 Matt Heinz OG 6-4 268 Jr. Tallahassee, Fla.

75 Mario Henderson OL 6-7 307 So. Lehigh Acres, Fla.

14 Matt Henshaw TE 6-4 231 Jr. Brentwood, Tenn.

76 Myles Hodish DS 6-0 229 Jr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

59 Charles Howard DT 6-3 265 Sr. Lake Butler, Fla.

38 Paul Irons TE 6-2 242 Sr. New Orleans, La.

99 Travis Johnson DT 6-5 290 Sr. Sherman Oaks, Calif.

29 Willie Jones DE 6-1 242 Jr. Miami, Fla.


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64 Matt Meinrod

65 Eric Broe

67 John Frady

70 Alex Barron

71 Brian Ross

72 Ron Lunford

73 Bobby Meeks

74 Dontrell Stills

75 Mario Henderson

76 Myles Hodish

77 Ray Willis

79 David Overmyer

82 D.J. Norris

83 Joslin Shaw

88 Donnie Carte

92 Darrell Burston

93 Chris Bradwell

94 Chauncey Davis

95 Kamerion Wimbley

96 Andre Fluellen

97 Clifton Dickson

98 Alex Boston

99 Travis Johnson

SCHOLARSHIPSDeCody Fagg

Chase Goggans

Matt Root

Barry Wright

NON-SCHOLARSHIPSSteven Bookins

Mike Buscemi

Brett Cimorelli

Keir Edwards

Julius Francis

Darren Golema

Robert Hallback

Ryan Hotchkiss

Anthony Houllis

Thomas Keane

Mikhal Kornegay

Charles Martland

29 Chris Martin

John Peacock

Patrick Pratt

Garrision Sanborn

Jarrel Simpson

Ronnie Williams

Douglas Winson

Jeffery Wooden

72 Ron Lunford OL 6-5 358 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla.

29 Chris Martin DB 6-0 193 Fr. Tallahassee, Fla.

33 Jhermaine McAroy DB 6-1 168 Fr. Pensacola, Fla.

8 Bryant McFadden CB 6-0 186 Sr. Hollywood, Fla.

44 Sam McGrew LB 6-3 226 Jr. Crawfordville, Fla.

73 Bobby Meeks OG 6-3 299 Sr. Aldine, Texas

64 Matt Meinrod OG 6-4 297 Jr. Tampa, Fla.

55 Eric Moore DE 6-4 244 Sr. Pahokee, Fla.

22 Marlon Napier RB 5-9 211 Sr. Tallahassee, Fla.

62 Cory Niblock OL 6-4 301 So. St. Augustine, Fla.

54 A.J. Nicholson LB 6-2 235 Jr. Winston-Salem, N.C.

82 D.J. Norris DE 6-3 252 Fr. Pace, Fla.

27 Claudius Osei RV 6-0 197 Sr. Tallahassee, Fla.

79 David Overmyer OL 6-5 284 Fr. Lilburn, Ga.

56 Ray Piquion LB 6-0 212 Sr. Miami, Fla.

26 Willie Reid WR 5-10 186 Sr. Kathleen, Ga.

30 Ryan Reynolds RB 5-11 187 Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

16 Chris Rix QB 6-4 210 Sr. Santa Margarita, Calif.

21 Dominic Robinson WR 6-1 205 Sr. Diamond Bar, Calif.

71 Brian Ross C 6-2 290 Sr. Raleigh, N.C.

11 Gerard Ross CB 6-2 190 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla.

18 Lorne Sam WR 6-2 206 So. Buford, Ga.

19 Wyatt Sexton QB 6-3 206 So. Tallahassee, Fla.

83 Joslin Shaw WR 5-10 183 Fr. Plant City, Fla.

34 Ernie Sims LB 6-0 220 So. Tallahassee, Fla.

32 Leroy Smith CB 5-10 190 Sr. Quincy, Fla.

74 Dontrell Stills OL 6-1 268 Jr. Lakeland, Fla.

15 Chauncey Stovall WR 6-2 216 Sr. Gifford, Fla.

1 Craphonso Thorpe WR 6-2 177 Sr. Tallahassee, Fla.

24 B.J. Ward FS 6-3 208 Sr. Dallas, Texas

3 Leon Washington RB 5-9 202 Jr. Jacksonville, Fla.

20 Torrance Washington FB 6-1 241 So. Madison County, Fla.

22 Pat Watkins FS 6-4 204 Jr. Tallahassee, Fla.

31 Roger Williams RV 6-1 192 Fr. Warner Robins, Ga.

77 Ray Willis OT 6-6 320 Sr. Angleton, Texas

95 Kamerion Wimbley DE 6-4 228 Jr. Wichita, Kan.


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BOWDEN RECORDSAMFORD W L T PCT1959 9 1 0 .9001960 8 1 0 .8891961 7 2 0 .7781962 7 2 0 .778Total (4 years) 31 6 0 .838

WEST VIRGINIA W L T PCT1970 8 3 0 .7271971 7 4 0 .6361972 (Peach) 8 4 0 .6671973 6 5 0 .5451974 4 7 0 .3641975 (Peach) 9 3 0 .750Total (6 years) 42 26 0 .618

FLORIDA STATE W L T PCT1976 5 6 0 .4551977 (Tangerine) 10 2 0 .8331978 8 3 0 .7271979 (Orange) 11 1 0 .9171980 (Orange) 10 2 0 .8331981 6 5 0 .5451982 (Gator) 9 3 0 .7501983 (Peach) 8 4 0 .6671984 (Citrus) 7 3 2 .6671985 (Gator) 9 3 0 .7271986 (All-American) 7 4 1 .6251987 (Fiesta) 11 1 0 .9171988 (Sugar) 11 1 0 .9171989 (Fiesta) 10 2 0 .8331990 (Blockbuster) 10 2 0 .8331991 (Cotton) 11 2 0 .8461992 (Orange) 11 1 0 .9171993 (Orange) 12 1 0 .9231994 (Sugar) 10 1 1 .8641995 (Orange) 10 2 0 .8331996 (Sugar) 11 1 0 .9231997 (Sugar) 11 1 0 .9231998 (Fiesta) 11 2 0 .8461999 (Sugar) 12 0 0 1.0002000 (Orange) 11 2 0 .8462001 (Gator) 8 4 0 .6672002 (Sugar) 9 5 0 .6432003 (Orange) 10 3 0 .769Total (28 years) 269 67 4 .797

CAREER TOTAL 342 99 4 .773

HEAD COACHBOBBY BOWDENMost college football fans will

remember the 2003 football sea-son as the year in which BobbyBowden’s 342nd career win made himthe all-time winningest coach in Divi-sion 1A history. However, Bowden andFSU fans will likely remember his 28th

season at FSU as being the one in whichhe reestablished his program as one ofthe nation’s elite. The Seminolesstormed into the Orange Bowl on theheels of a breathtaking win over intrast-ate rival Florida, its 11th ACC champi-

onship in 12 years and a return to the familiar 10-win season land-mark.

Bowden and his staff did a remarkable job last season consider-ing they entered the year with an offense that included just one senior(tailback Greg Jones) and a defense that would face some of the nation’stop offenses. Bowden led FSU (10-3) to its 18th 10-win season in his28 years. The Orange Bowl was the Seminoles’ 22nd consecutive bowlgame and the fifth BCS bowl game for FSU in the six-year existenceof the national championship arrangement.

While the prospects for the 2004 season are extremely bright,Bowden and his staff will face a challenge very much the opposite oflast season. The offense will be loaded with returning starters at everyposition except tailback and flanker, and a defense that will be tryingto find replacements for seven returning starters.

Bowden took over an FSU program prior to the 1976 season thathad won just four games over the previous three seasons. He hasremained at FSU, despite offers from NFL teams and several presti-

gious college football programs. Bowden’s loyalty has meant theworld to Florida State University and its athletics program.

Bowden’s record at Florida State is 269-67-4. The totals includea 140-20-2 record in Tallahassee, 31-8-1 record at neutral sitesand 98-39-1 in an opponent’s stadium. He has built those num-

bers against some of the nation’s toughest schedules, earning re-spect for his team, attracting top players to his program and estab-

lishing his reputation asa competitor in the pro-cess.

Bowden achievedimpressive num-

bers in his previouscoaching stops including a

31-6 record at his alma materSamford University between 1959

and 1962, and 42-26 at West Virginiafrom 1970-75. But what he has done at FSU is

simply phenomenal. Eighteen times in 28 years, his Semi-noles have won 10 or more games in a season. FloridaState had been to just eight bowls in the 29 years beforehim. The 2004 Orange Bowl marked the Seminole’s 25thsince his arrival, including a string of 22 in a row and 18“New Year’s Day” trips. He is, by far, the winningest

coach ever at Florida State as his win total is greater thanthe previous seven Seminole head coaches combined.

Florida State is the only school to finish among the(Associated Press) Top Five for 14 consecutive sea-

sons. The Seminoles finished first twice (1993, 1999),second twice (1987, 92), third, four times (1988, 89, 97,99), fourth, five times (1990, 91, 94, 95, 96) and fifth in2000. No team in college football history can match therun.

Over the past 12 years, Florida State has played inthe Atlantic Coast Conference. Since joining the leaguein football, FSU is 90-6 and has claimed 11 ACC cham-pionships and set the league record for consecutive vic-tories. Bowden picked up ACC Coach of the Year titlesin 1993 and 1997.

Part of the secret to Bowden’s success in his longrun at FSU is that the elements of the job that seem toturn into chores over the years for most coaches, re-cruiting, speaking engagements, public functions, pressresponsibilities, come easily for Bowden.

“I feel great physically,” said Bowden who turned74 last season. “I’ve always been a people person. I


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NCAA ALL-TIME BOWL WINSCOACH NO RECORD

1. Joe Paterno* 20 20-10-12. BOBBY BOWDEN* 19 18- 8-13. Paul “Bear” Bryant 15 15-12-24. Tom Osborne 12 12-13-0

Lou Holtz* 12 12- 8-26. Don James 10 10- 5-0

John Vaught 10 10- 8-08. Bobby Dodd 9 9- 4-0

Johnny Majors 9 9- 7-010. John Robinson* 8 8- 1-0

Terry Donahue 8 8- 4-1Barry Switzer 8 8- 5-0Darrell Royal 8 8- 7-1Vince Dooley 8 8-10-2

ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES#COACH WINS

1. BOBBY BOWDEN* .................................................. 3422. Joe Paterno* ................................................................ 3393. Paul “Bear” Bryant ..................................................... 3234. Glenn “Pop” Warner ................................................... 3195. Amos Alonzo Stagg .................................................... 3146. LaVell Edwards ........................................................... 2597. Tom Osborne ............................................................... 2558. Lou Holtz* .................................................................. 2439. Woody Hayes ............................................................... 23810. Bo Schembechler ........................................................ 234#Division 1-A only; *Active

enjoy getting to know people, so the recruiting is still a lot of fun forme. I like going into a player’s home and meeting his parents andfamily. I don’t have any desire to slow down on all the elementsoutside of the actual game that some people find hard. I understandwhy it grinds away at some people, but it just doesn’t on me. I guessI’ve always been able to put football in its place.”

He has developed the most consistently successful program inthe history of college football. FSU won more games in the decade ofthe 1990s than any other program. The win over Wake Forest onOctober 25 of last season allowed him to pass Joe Paterno to becomethe all-time winningest coach.

“To be honest, it doesn’t really feel like I should be there,” saidBowden of the feat. “It’s not something that I sat down 40 years agoand said ‘you know if I coached long enough and was successful maybeI could get there.” That type of thought never entered my mind. Idon’t really think about it. Maybe when I’m done I’ll look back oneverything.”While Bowden has not spent much time looking back, most of thenation has spent time looking in at his program’s extraordinary suc-cess. Just imagine a college basketball program advancing to the Fi-nal Four for 14 years in a row. Even more startling is the thought ofplaying in the national title game five times in eight seasons. Butthat’s just what the Seminoles have done over the last few years. FSUset an NCAA record with 14 straight Top Five finishes and the 2001Orange Bowl was the Tribe’s third straight national title game andfifth in eight years.

Like few other coaches before him, Bowden has created unrealexpectations for his program. He has coached his Florida State teamsso very close to perfection that for some, anything short of anothernational championship is a down year. The last time FSU did notfinish the season ranked was following a 7-4-1 record in 1986. Over


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NCAA ALL-TIME BOWLWINNING PERCENTAGE

COACH APP W L T PCT1. Bobby Dodd 13 9 4 0 .6922. BOBBY BOWDEN* 27 18 8 1 .6853. Joe Paterno* 30 20 9 1 .6834. Don James 15 10 5 0 .6675. Terry Donahue 13 8 4 1 .6546. Barry Switzer 13 8 5 0 .6157. Lou Holtz* 22 12 8 2 .591

Bill Yeoman 11 6 4 1 .5919. Earle Bruce 12 7 5 0 .583

10. Johnny Majors 16 9 7 0 .563*Active

BOWDEN IN THE BOWLS(18-8-1)

YEAR TEAM BOWL OPPONENT SCORE1972 West Virginia Peach NC State 13-491975 West Virginia Peach NC State 13-101977 Florida State Tangerine Texas Tech 40-171979 Florida State Orange Oklahoma 7-241980 Florida State Orange Oklahoma 17-181982 Florida State Gator West Virginia 31-121983 Florida State Peach North Carolina 28- 31984 Florida State Citrus Georgia 17-171985 Florida State Gator Oklahoma State 34-231986 Florida State All-American Indiana 27-131987 Florida State Fiesta Nebraska 31-281988 Florida State Sugar Auburn 13- 71989 Florida State Fiesta Nebraska 41-171990 Florida State Blockbuster Penn State 24-171991 Florida State Cotton Texas A&M 10- 21992 Florida State Orange Nebraska 27-141993 Florida State Orange* Nebraska 18-161994 Florida State Sugar Florida 23-171995 Florida State Orange Notre Dame 31-261996 Florida State Sugar* Florida 20-521997 Florida State Sugar Ohio State 31-141998 Florida State Fiesta* Tennessee 16-231999 Florida State Sugar* Virginia Tech 46-292000 Florida State Orange* Oklahoma 2-132001 Florida State Gator Virginia Tech 30-172002 Florida State Sugar Georgia 13-262003 Florida State Orange Miami 14-16*National Championship Game

the 17 seasons since that year, Florida State has won 179 games andlost just 31 with one tie.

In the fickle world of “big-time” college sports some forget whatit is all about. Sure, Bobby Bowden is proud of his two nationalchampionships, his place among the all-time greats, and a footballprogram that is the model for the entire country. But he has alwayspointed to the fact that there are more important things in life. Hemakes time for charity and to give to his church. He has never walkedpast an admiring child without a wink and a smile. He greets totalstrangers. He listens and he cares.

One of Bowden’s greatest coaching achievements revolves aroundhis success in bowl games. His 18-8-1 record and .700 bowl winningpercentage rank first all-time. Only Joe Paterno (20) has won morebowl games. Indeed, Florida State’s eighth head coach has inked hisname on the list of legends while coaching Samford for four years,West Virginia for six and 28 years at FSU.

What Bobby Bowden means to Florida State University off theplaying field cannot be measured. Respect, sincerity, class, honesty,charisma, charm and humor; just a few of the words that describe anddefine this man better than wins, losses or coaching records.

It has been well chronicled how the Birmingham, Ala., native leftsnowy West Virginia to come to Florida State and save the program.Three seasons after he first walked across the campus, he had takenFSU to within one game of a national championship.

Rising above Bowden’s coaching accomplishments, though, arehis credentials as a man. Friendly and outgoing, he is a deeply reli-gious man who believes strongly in the strength of the family. Heloves people. His personality and charm are bigger than life and hehas become somewhat of a folk hero. An engaging speaker, Bowdenis constantly in demand and most free evenings will find him on thespeaking circuit. His off-season travel schedule would exhaust any-one. Sunday morning will usually find him in the pulpit of a churchsomewhere in the south. Outside of football, Bowden has an intenseinterest in World War II history and he is a voracious reader on thesubject. He traced his ancestry to parts of Germany and has visitedthe country several times.

Bowden was an outstanding football player at Woodlawn HighSchool in Birmingham, Ala., and went on to Alabama as a freshmanquarterback, fulfilling a lifelong dream to play for the Crimson Tide.He lasted one semester in Tuscaloosa before high school sweetheartAnn Estock lured him back to Birmingham. They soon married andBobby transferred to Howard College (now Samford University) inBirmingham. The two celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in

the same year (1999) that FSU won its second national championshipand Bowden coached his only undefeated team - the only team ever togo wire-to-wire as the AP No. 1 in college football history.

Bowden served as an assistant football coach and head track coachat Samford/Howard from 1954-55. He left his alma mater to serve asAlthletic Director and Head Coach at South Georgia Junior Collegefrom 1956-58. He returned to Samford as head coach from 1959-62.He joined the Florida State coaching staff under head coach BillPeterson as wide receivers coach from 1963-65. During that time, hecoached Seminole receiver T.K. Wetherell who is now president ofFSU. Bowden moved on to West Virginia serving as offensive coor-dinator from 1966-69 before taking over as the Mountaineer’s headcoach from 1970-1975. He was named FSU’s head coach in January1976 and has been with Florida State since that day.

Bowden’s faith and family have always been most important tohim. The nation can follow son Tommy’s career as head coach atClemson as well as Terry, who is ABC’s college football studio ana-lyst. The Bowden’s oldest son, Steve, co-wrote a book entitled “TheBowden Way” with his dad that hit the Wall Street Journal’s best sellerlist. Youngest son, Jeff, will be in his 11th season on the FSU staff in2004 and his fourth as offensive coordinator. The four boys, daugh-ters Robyn Hines (who is married to Clemson linebacker coach JackHines), Ginger Madden, along with 21 grandchildren make up theBowden clan.


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Billy SextonASSISTANT HEAD

COACH/RUNNING BACKS27th Season at FSU

Mickey AndrewsASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SECONDARY

20th Season at FSU

Jimmy HegginsOFFENSIVE LINE18th Season at FSU

Jon JostSTRENGTH

& CONDITIONING3rd Season at FSU

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSJoe Ostaszewski ................................................. Offensive LineTBA ................................................................ Defensive Backs

SUPPORT STAFFRandy Oravetz ...................................................... Head TrainerAl Soumah ...................................................... Assistant TrainerDavid Walls .................................................... Assistant TrainerDave Delegal ............................................ Equipment ManagerKeith Graham ............................ Assistant Equipment ManagerMark Rodin ................. General Manager, Seminole ProductionsBilly Vizzini .................................... Director of Video ServicesCraig Campanozzi ........................... Videographer CoordinatorMatt Elliott .......................................................... VideographerBen Odom ............................................................ VideographerMatt Ayer ................................................... Recruiting Assistant

ASSISTANT COACHES

John LillyTIGHT ENDS/RECRUITING

COORDINATOR9th Season at FSU

Jeff BowdenOFFENSIVE

COORDINATOR/WIDERECEIVERS

10th Season at FSU

Odell HagginsDEFENSIVE TACKLES

10th Season at FSU

Jody AllenDEFENSIVE ENDS

4th Season at FSU

Daryl DickeyQUARTERBACKS3rd Season at FSU

Kevin SteeleLINEBACKERS1st Season at FSU


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2004 SPRING BIOS#70 ALEX BARRONOFFENSIVE TACKLE6-6, 325, SENIORORANGEBURG, SC

Senior offensive tackle who returns for his se-nior season after earning All-America honors ayear ago…named an FWAA, Walter Camp, As-sociated Press, and CollegeFootballNews.comfirst team All-American as a junior…started 12

of 13 games at split tackle last season…third Seminole offensive line-man in the last two years to receive All-America honors…voted FirstTeam All-ACC at the tackle position last season…will be held out ofspring practice after having shoulder surgery during theoffseason…filled the role of departed All-American Brett Williams in2003…a part-time starter as a sophomore in 2002, finishing with sixstarts on the year while rotating with Williams and RayWillis…regarded as one of the top pass blockers in the nation…helpedthe Seminole passing offense rack up 3,409 yards through the air lastyear…also blocked for a group of running backs that averaged 4.6yards per carry.

#47 XAVIER BEITIAPLACEKICKER5-10, 198, SENIORTAMPA, FL

Senior who returns for his fourth season as thestarting kicker…ranks fourth in Florida State his-tory with 298 career points…kicked a career-long48-yard field goal last season against Wake For-est (10/25)…totaled over 100 points in each of

the last two seasons…scored 12 or more points in five games lastseason…totaled a career-high 17 points, including a perfect 4-for-4on field goals against Colorado (9/20)…on pace to become FSU’s all-time leading scorer…made 50-of-51 (98%) extra point attempts thisseason and was 19-of-25 (76%) on field goals…has made 18 of hislast 22 field goal attempts…holds FSU’s bowl record for longest fieldgoal made, a 50-yard field goal in the 2002 Gator Bowl against Vir-ginia Tech.

YEAR XPTM-XPTA PCT FGM-FGA PCT LONG POINTS2001 44-48 .917 13-14 .929 50 832002 51-51 1.000 19-28 .679 47 1082003 50-51 .980 19-25 .760 48 107CAREER 145-150 .967 51-67 .761 50 298

#28 LORENZO BOOKERTAILBACK5-11, 187, SOPHOMOREVENTURA, CA

Sophomore tailback expected to battle LeonWashington for the starting job vacated by GregJones…played in 10 games for the Seminoleoffense last season and totaled 395 all-purposeyards…rushed for 25 yards on eight carries

against Miami in the Orange Bowl…scored the first touchdown ofthe game on a nine-yard run…named the ACC’s Rookie of the Weekfollowing his performance at North Carolina (8/30) in the seasonopener…recorded a career-high 132 total yards and 87 yards rushingwith one touchdown along with 45 yards receiving on four receptionsat UNC…had three games with 11 or more carries including a career-high 12 at Notre Dame (11/1)…third on the team with 343 yards rush-ing this season behind Leon Washington and Greg Jones…averaged5.4 yards per carry in 2003 as a redshirt freshman…broke a career

YEAR ATT YARDS AVG TD LONG2003 62 343 5.4 3 71

#52 BRODRICK BUNKLEYDEFENSIVE TACKLE6-3, 291, JUNIORTAMPA, FL

Played in all 13 games and started two atnoseguard (Virginia and Wake Forrest) for aninjured Jeff Womble…came into the season shar-ing FSU coaches Defensive Newcomer of theyear honors with sophomore teammate A.J.

Nicholson…ranked 3rd among defensive lineman with 38 tackles (19solo, 19 assisted)…recorded a career high eight stops for loss thisseason…also had five QB hurries, two pass break-ups, one and a halfsacks, and a fumble recovery.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2003 19 19 38 8 1.5 2 1 1 0 0

#23 JEROME CARTERROVER, 6-0, 219, SENIORLAKE CITY, FL

A ferocious tackler and a staple in the Seminolesstingy defensive backfield…started all 13 gameshis junior season…earned All-ACC HonorableMention and ranked 4th on team with 78 tackles(45 solo, 33 assisted)…recorded a season highnine tackles in both Miami and Virginia games…also registered five tackles for loss, two inter-

ceptions, two QB hurries, two pass break-ups, and a forced fumble onthe season…had five tackles, an interception return for 30 yards andone tackle for loss including half a sack against Miami in the OrangeBowl.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2001 7 4 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 02002 60 34 94 1.5 1 3 0 0 0 02003 45 33 78 5 0.5 2 1 0 2 0CAREER 112 71 183 6.5 1.5 6 1 0 2 0

#63 DAVID CASTILLOCENTER, 6-2, 304, JUNIORPALM BEACH, FL

Returning starter for the Seminoles atcenter…voted second team All-ACC at centerin 2003…will miss spring practice after under-going shoulder surgery…granted a medical hard-ship and will be listed as a junior in 2004...started12 of the 13 games at center while battling nu-

merous injuries last year…missed his only start of the year at Vir-ginia, but played the majority of the game…calls the defensive frontsfor the FSU offensive line…helped lead an offensive line for an of-fense that totaled 1,734 yards rushing…named the Most ValuableOffensive Player, Most Dependable Offensive Lineman and the MostOutstanding Offensive Player following 2003 spring practice…workedon an offensive line for an offense that ranked among the ACC’s topthree in scoring offense and total offense.

#36 JAMES COLEMANFULLBACK, 6-0, 245, JUNIORTALLAHASSEE, FL

A part-time starter at fullback in 2004 who willbattle B.J. Dean and Torrance Washington forstarting honors this season…will be held out ofspring practice after undergoing off-seasonshoulder surgery…played in all 13 games andstarted four at fullback for the Seminoles (Mary-

land, NC State, Florida and Miami in the Orange Bowl) last


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season…the FSU offense didn’t start a fullback in two games…cameto Florida State as a walk-on in the fall of 2002…earned a scholarshipprior to the start of the 2003 season…had a career-long 14-yard carrylast season against NC State (11/15)…laid the big hit that opened thehole for Leon Washington’s game winning touchdown run in the sec-ond overtime against NC State…rushed for nine yards on two carriesin the Orange Bowl vs. Miami…helped lead the way for the Seminolerushing attack that totaled 1,734 yards.

YEAR ATT YARDS AVG TD LONG2002 0 0 0.0 0 02003 12 37 3.1 0 9CAREER 12 37 3.1 0 9

#13 ANTONIO CROMARTIECORNERBACK6-3, 197, SOPHOMORETALLAHASSEE, FL

Appeared in all 13 games this year for theSeminoles…led the team in kickoff return yardsand ranked 4th in ACC with 22 returns for 527yards… one of only five true freshman to seeaction this year…had a career game in the vic-tory against Duke recording four tackles and re-

turning an interception 71 yards for a score…finished the year with19 tackles (17 solo, two assisted) and two pass break-ups…had twokickoff returns for 41 yards in the Orange Bowl against Miami.

TACKLESYEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR. INT TD2003 17 2 19 1 0 2 0 0 1 1

KICK-OFF RETURNSYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVG TD LONG2003 24 568 23.7 0 62

#94 CHAUNCEY DAVISDEFENSIVE END6-2, 258, SENIORAUBURNDALE, FL

A junior college transfer who joined the teamlast spring…appeared in all 13 games for theSeminoles his junior season…blocked a punt andreturned it 31 yards for a score in the victoryagainst Colorado…totaled 18 tackles (14 solo,

four assisted) on the season… both his eight tackles for loss and nineQB hurries ranked 4th on the team…named Tomahawk player of theweek for his two intimidations, two QB hurries, two QB knock-downand one sack performance in the 35-10 victory versus Maryland…alsoregistered four pass break-ups, two sacks, and one forced fumble thisyear.

YEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2003 14 4 18 8 2 4 1 0 0 1

#5 CHRIS DAVISWIDE RECEIVER6-0, 176, SOPHOMOREST. PETERSBURG, FL

A game-breaking wide receiver expected to havea big season in 2004…has drawn comparisonsfrom the coaching staff to former FSU All-American Peter Warrick…will miss the earlyportion of spring drills with an ankleinjury…started the Duke game (9/27) in the

Seminoles four wide receiver set…played in all 13 games for theFlorida State offense…could also see time as a punt returner…broughtback 12 punts for 111 yards with a long of 38 as a freshman…third onthe team with 23 receptions…fourth on the team with 264 receivingyards…had at least one reception in 11 of the 13 games…hauled in aseason-best four receptions at North Carolina (8/30)…recorded a sea-son-high 57 yards receiving against Wake Forest (10/25)…posted threeor more receptions in four games (North Carolina, Maryland, Colo-

rado and Wake Forest)…had two touchdowns on the year, one in theseason opener at North Carolina and one against Miami (10/11).

YEAR REC YDS AVG TD LONG RUSH GAIN LOSS NET TD2003 23 264 11.5 2 24 3 21 11 10 0

#35 B.J. DEANFULLBACK5-11, 258, JUNIORTUSCALOOSA, AL

Junior who started seven games at fullback lastseason, playing in 11…will have to hold offJames Coleman and Torrance Washington to winthe starting job this year…expected to be heldout of contact (knee) during the early portion of

spring practice…made the move over from linebacker in the spring of2002…led all fullbacks with 61 yards rushing on 20 carries in2003…also caught four passes for 30 yards…had a career-high fourcarries in back-to-back games at Virginia (10/18) and against WakeForest (10/25)…sixth on the team with 61 yards rushing…had at leastone carry in nine of the ten games he played in…helped lead the wayfor the Seminole rushing attack that totaled 1,624 yards.

YEAR ATT YARDS AVG TD LONG2002 1 5 5.0 0 52003 20 61 3.0 1 9CAREER 21 66 3.2 1 9

#48 CHRIS HALLPUNTER5-10, 220, JUNIORCENTREVILLE, VA

Serves as backup punter to starter JesseStein…played in three games this season andhad three punts this season for a 49.3average…had one punt for 54 yards againstMaryland (9/6), one for 50 yards against Colo-

rado (9/20) and one for 44 yards at Duke (9/27)…has a career averageof 43.6 yards per punt.

YEAR NO YDS AVG LONG TB FC I20 BLKD2002 NO STATS2003 3 148 49.3 54 1 0 0 0CAREER 3 148 49.3 54 1 0 0 0

#41 KYLER HALLFREE SAFETY6-0, 194, SENIORLIVE OAK, FL

A hard-hitting safety with tremendous footballknowledge who shared time with Jerome Carterat the Rover position…played in all 13 gamesand totaled 28 tackles (18 solo, 10 assisted) onthe season…also credited with four pass break-

ups and a tackle for loss…had four tackles in the Orange Bowl againstMiami.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2001 3 6 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 02002 23 13 36 0 0 1 0 2 1 02003 18 10 28 1 0 4 0 0 0 0CAREER 44 29 73 1 0 5 0 2 2 0

#59 CHARLES HOWARDDEFENSIVE TACKLE6-3, 265, SENIORLAKE BUTLER, FL

Credited as being one of the most effective passrushers on the defensive line by teammates andcoaches…splits time playing defensive end anddefensive tackle in long yardage situations…played in all 13 games and totaled 24 tackles


11

(11 solo, 13 assisted) on the season…ranks second on the team withfour quarterback sacks…also had six tackles for loss and seven QBhurries.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU INT2000 7 10 17 0 0 0 02001 10 14 24 2 2 0 02002 Redshirted2003 11 13 24 6 4 0 0CAREER 28 37 65 8 6 0 0

#38 PAUL IRONSTIGHT END6-2, 242, SENIORNEW ORLEANS, LA

One of 10 returning starters on the Florida Stateoffense…will be pushed by Matt Henshaw andDonnie Carter for starting honors this season as FSUboasts three very good tight ends…started ninegames a year ago, including the Orange Bowl…theSeminoles did not start a tight end in four

games…third among the tight ends with 79 yards receiving…had a ca-reer-high three receptions for a career-high 42 yards at Duke (9/27).

YEAR REC YARDS AVG TD LONG2001 1 5 5.0 1 52002 1 1 1.0 0 12003 6 79 13.2 0 20CAREER 8 85 10.6 1 20

#99 TRAVIS JOHNSONDEFENSIVE TACKLE6-5 • 290 • SENIORSHERWOOD OAKS, CA

A dominating defensive lineman who played inall 13 games this season…totaled 36 tackles (17solo, 19 assisted) on the season…also registeredthree stops for loss, eight QB hurries, a forcedfumble, a recovered fumble, and a shared

sack…had four or more tackles in four games (North Carolina, Mi-ami, Notre Dame, and Clemson)…had two tackles in the Orange Bowlagainst Miami.

YEAR SOLO ASST TOT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT2001 12 19 31 8 2 0 1 1 02002 21 29 50 10 2.5 0 3 1 02003 17 19 36 3 0.5 0 1 1 0CAREER 50 67 117 21 5 0 5 3 0

#72 RON LUNFORDTIGHT GUARD6-5, 358, JUNIORJACKSONVILLE, FL

Junior battling Bobby Meeks for the starting jobat tight guard….played in 12 games in 2003 andstarted three at the tight guard…can play both atthe guard and the tackle spot on the offensiveline… blocked for a group of running backs that

averaged 4.6 yards per carry…proved himself to the coaches duringspring practice last year when he was the only tackle and had to playevery snap at times…has the largest jersey (58) and pant size (46) onthe team… worked on a line for an offense that ranked among theACC’s top three in scoring and total offense last season.

#8 BRYANT McFADDENCORNERBACK6-0, 186, SENIORHOLLYWOOD, FL

Proved to be an excellent cover guy with shut-down corner capabilities…played in 12 of the13 games and started nine for the Seminoles(missing two with a groin injury) …went most

of the season unnoticed cause teams avoided throwing hisway…allowed very few catches on the season and broke-up nine ofthe opposing team’s passes…a solid tackler recording 28 stops (23solo, five assisted, one for a loss)…forced three fumbles…had onefumble recovery.


#44 SAM McGREWLINEBACKER6-3, 226, JUNIORCRAWFORDVILLE, FL

An outstanding inside linebacker who played inall 13 games for the Seminoles…played behindsenior starter Allen Augustin at middlelinebacker…an anchor on special teams for thesecond straight year…when in action shows

signs of a great future at Florida State…registered 19 tackles (13 solo,6 assisted)…also had two stops for loss, one sack, one QB hurry, andone forced fumble…posted two tackles in the Orange Bowl againstMiami.

YEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2002 3 5 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 02003 13 6 19 2 1 0 1 0 0 0CAREER 16 11 27 2 1 0 1 0 0 0

#73 BOBBY MEEKSTIGHT GUARD6-3, 299, SENIORHOUSTON, TX

Returning starter at tight guard…started ninegames at tight guard last season, including theOrange Bowl…missed two games due to ashoulder injury…had his shoulder scoped dur-ing the offseason and could miss the start of

spring practice…will have to hold off Ron Lunford and Eric Broe tokeep his starting job…his quickness makes him a good runblocker…blocked for a group of running backs that averaged 4.6 yardsper carry…helped FSU finish among the ACC’s top three in scoringand total offense.

#64 MATT MEINRODSPLIT GUARD6-4, 297, JUNIORTAMPA, FL

Returns as split guard after starting all 13 gamesat the position last year…emerged as one of theteam’s most consistent lineman with good handsand quick feet…earned ACC honorable mentionin 2003…great run blocker for a group of run-

ning backs that averaged 4.6 yards per carry…backs totaled 1,734yards on the ground…named the Most Improved Offensive Linemanand was given the King of the Boards award for the offense during2003 spring drills…played in 12 games as a freshman in 2002.

#55 ERIC MOOREDEFENSIVE END6-4 • 244 • SENIORPAHOKEE, FL

Emerged as the next premiere pass-rusher towear the Garnet and Gold…started 12 out of the13 games missing the Duke game due to a handinjury…the only non-senior starter on the de-fensive line and earned All-ACC Second Teamhonors…led the Seminole defense with seven

and a half sacks and ranked second on team with 15 QB


12

hurries…totaled 25 tackles (21 solo, four assisted), 12 stops for loss,four pass break-ups, and one forced fumble…had one solo tackle, onepass break-up and recorded his first-career interception in the 2004Orange Bowl against Miami.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU INT2001 8 7 15 2 1 0 02002 20 5 25 11 3 1 02003 21 4 25 12 7.5 5 1CAREER 49 16 65 25 11.5 6 1

#54 A.J. NICHOLSONLINEBACKER6-2, 235, JUNIORWINSTON-SALEM, NC

Played in all 13 games and started 3 (Duke, WakeForrest, and Notre Dame) for an injured KendyllPope…proved to be an outstanding footballplayer recording 55 tackles (36 solo, 19 assisted),three tackles for loss, two pass break-ups, four

QB hurries, three recovered fumbles (ranking 1st on team), and oneforced fumble…against Duke (his first start) he recorded seven tack-les (one for loss), two fumble recoveries returning one for a touch-down, one QB hurry, and a 4th down stop…had four tackles againstMiami in the Orange Bowl.

YEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2002 14 9 23 1 1 0 0 0 0 02003 36 19 55 3 0 2 1 3 0 1CAREER 50 28 78 4 1 2 1 3 0 1

#56 RAY PIQUIONLINEBACKER6-0, 212, SENIORMIAMI, FL

A physical linebacker that played in all 13 gamesthis season…played as the second string strongside linebacker behind senior MichaelBoulware…proven to be a dependable player ondefense as well as on special teams…recorded

16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assisted), one tackle for loss, a QB hurry, a passbreak-up, and two fumble recoveries…had an interception againstMaryland but it was called back due to a penalty…recorded a fumblerecovery in the Orange Bowl against Miami.

YEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 02002 1 10 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 02003 7 9 19 1 0 1 0 2 0 0CAREER 8 19 30 1 0 1 0 2 0 0

#26 WILLIE REIDWIDE RECEIVER5-10, 186, SENIORKATHLEEN, GA

Versatile player who has seen time at both widereceiver and tailback during his career…backedup P.K. Sam at split end last season…expectedto contend for starting honors this season afterSam departed early for the NFL…will be held

out of spring drills after having surgery on his ankle…began the yearat receiver, but moved to tailback after Leon Washington and LorenzoBooker were injured early in the season...has also seen time as a kick-off returner…brought two kicks back for 62 yards at Florida…rushednine times for a season-high 48 yards in the opener at NorthCarolina…carried eight times for 30 yards and a touchdown vs.Maryland…ran for 45 yards on four carries against Colorado...recordeda season-high 50 yards receiving on three catches in the UNCgame…caught his only TD pass of the season vs. Miami…caught aseason-high five passes for 39 yards against Colorado.

RUSHINGYEAR CARRIES YARDS AVG TDS LONG2002 27 130 4.8 1 28

2003 34 175 4.7 2 38CAREER 61 305 4.75 3 38

RECEIVINGYEAR RECEPTIONS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2002 6 37 6.2 0 142003 20 189 9.4 1 43CAREER 26 226 7.8 1 43

KICK RETURNSYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2002 1 12 12.0 0 122003 3 80 26.7 0 45CAREER 4 92 19.4 0 45

#16 CHRIS RIXQUARTERBACK6-4, 210, SENIORSANTA MARGARITA, CA

The first four-year starter at quarterback in theBowden era…started all 13 games at quarter-back last season…has compiled a 24-10 recordin his 34 career starts…ranks second all-time atFSU in career passing yardage, touchdown

passes and total offense...had his first 3,000-yard passing season in2003 with 3,107 yards…tallied 23 touchdowns through the air against13 interceptions…threw for a career-high 394 yards on 30-of-39 pass-ing with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win overColorado…also threw for 300 or more yards against Wake Forest (339)and Notre Dame (327)…has totaled three touchdown passes in threeof FSU’s last four games (Notre Dame, NC State andFlorida)…completed 14-of-19 passes for 256 yards without throwingan interception in leading the Seminoles to a 38-34 win at Florida…52-yard touchdown pass to P.K. Sam with 0:55 remaining was the game-winner against the Gators…hit Craphonso Thorpe for a 79-yard touch-down at Virginia, the longest completion of his career…second on theteam only to Greg Jones with five rushing touchdowns on theseason…ranked fifth on the 2003 team in rushing with 130 yards on89 attempts...ran for a season-high 41 yards and scored once on eightcarries against Georgia Tech.

YEAR ATT COMP INT PCT YDS TD LONG2001 286 165 13 .577 2,734 24 632002 225 118 7 .524 1,684 13 562003 382 216 13 .565 3,107 23 79CAREER 893 499 32 .559 7,525 60 79

#21 DOMINIC ROBINSONWIDE RECEIVER6-1, 205, SENIORDIAMOND BAR, CA

Senior receiver who played in all 13 games ayear ago and started the final two games of theseason…stepped in for an injured CraphonsoThorpe as the starter at flanker in the win atFlorida…finished fourth on the team with 285

receiving yards on 16 catches…led all Seminole receivers with a ca-reer-high 102 yards on five catches and one touchdown against theGators…hauled in a 35-yard strike from Chris Rix for FSU’s firstscore of the game…made the biggest catch of his career in the fourthquarter at UF when Rix hit him for 24 yards on fourth down and14…Rix’s next pass was the game-winner to P.K. Sam with 0:55remaining…had just one catch in the three games prior to the careerday at Florida…totaled 60 yards on three catches against Duke...secondto Leon Washington in punt returns with 125 yards on 12returns…brought back two punts for 34 yards vs. Georgia Tech andtwo for 31 yards vs. Wake Forest…helped FSU rank second in theACC in team punt return average (11.1 yards per return).

RECEIVINGYEAR RECEPTIONS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2002 9 143 15.9 0 222003 16 285 17.8 1 35CAREER 9 143 15.9 9 22


13

PUNT RETURNSYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2001 16 162 10.1 0 312002 6 35 5.8 0 162003 12 125 10.4 0 21CAREER 34 322 9.5 0 31

#19 WYATT SEXTONQUARTERBACK6-3, 206, SOPHOMORETALLAHASSEE, FL

Redshirt sophomore who will serve as the No. 2quarterback…will get plenty of work this springas FSU lists just two scholarship quarterbackson the roster…played in five games this season(North Carolina, Colorado, Duke, Wake Forestand Notre Dame)…only pass attempts came

against North Carolina and Duke…completed 2-of-3 passes for 47yards at UNC and went 1-for-2 for nine yards against Duke…is theson of Florida State assistant head coach/running backs coach BillySexton.

YEAR ATT COMP INT PCT YDS TD LONG2003 5 3 0 .600 56 0 45

#34 ERNIE SIMS IIILINEBACKER6-0, 220, SOPHOMORETALLAHASSEE, FL

Played in all 13 games as a true freshman… fin-ished 10th on team with 42 tackles …one of onlyfive true freshman to see action this year…sawtime on special teams as well as at linebacker…recorded 31 solo and 11 assisted tackles in 2003,

including three QB hurries, two stops for loss, two pass break-ups,and one forced fumble…had a season high 10 stops versus WakeForrest and nine stops versus Duke…had three tackles against Miamiin the Orange Bowl.

YEAR SOLO AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2003 31 11 42 2 0 2 1 0 0 0

#32 LEROY SMITHCORNERBACK5-10, 190, SENIORQUINCY, FL

An outstanding corner with big play ability…played in all 13 games and made three starts(Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Clemson) hisjunior year for the Seminoles…tied for 1st alongside safety Pat Watkins with three interceptions

on the season…ranked 1st for interception yardage with 122…returnedan interception 90 yards for a touchdown (5th longest in FSU history)in the shut-out victory against Notre Dame…ranked 4th on team withseven pass break-ups and 5th among defensive backs with 32 tackles(25 solo, seven assisted)…also recorded two fumble recoveries thisseason.


#15 CHAUNCEY STOVALLWIDE RECEIVER6-2, 216, SENIORGIFFORD, FL

Senior who will push for the starting job at splitend…backed up P.K. Sam at the position a yearago…finished his first season at FSU (2003) thirdon the team in receiving yards, catching 19 passes

for 340 yards with two scores…played in all 13 games…started fourgames when the Seminoles opened with a three or four receiverset…led all receivers at the Orange Bowl with 79 yards on four catchesagainst Miami…recorded a career-high 131 yards on four catches andscored one touchdown at Clemson…other TD came in the win overDuke as totaled 28 yards on two receptions…caught at least one passin nine games…ranked second among the receiving corps with a 17.4yards per catch average.

YEAR RECEPTIONS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2003 19 340 17.9 2 71

#1 CRAPHONSO THORPEWIDE RECEIVER6-2, 185, JR.TALLAHASSEE, FL

An All-America and Biletnikoff candidate assenior in 2004…the Seminoles’ big-play receivera year ago as he led the team with 994 yards and11 touchdowns on 51 catches…regarded as oneof the country’s fastest wide receivers, Thorpe

won the 100 and 200 at the ACC Outdoor Track Championships inthe spring of 2003 to lead FSU to the men’s title and was named ACCOutdoor Track Performer of the Year…missed the Florida game andthe Orange Bowl after breaking his leg in overtime against NCState…will be held out of spring drills as well…a first team All-ACCselection and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist last season...started thefirst 11 games of the season at flanker before the injury…his receiv-ing yardage total of 994 yards ranks 11th all-time at FSU while his 11touchdowns tied for the sixth-highest in school history…seven of the11 touchdown grabs were on plays of at least 25 yards…was third inthe ACC with an average of 90.4 receiving yards per game…had apair of 200-yard receiving games…caught eight passes for 205 yardsand scored two touchdowns against Colorado…hauled in seven passesfor a career-high 217 yards and two TD’s at Notre Dame (the mostreceiving yards ever recorded against the Fighting Irish)...went overthe century mark at Virginia with three receptions for 104yards…caught six passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdownsagainst Wake Forest…had five receptions for 76 yards and two touch-downs in the win over NC State…returned two kickoffs for 62 yards,including a 43-yarder vs. Georgia Tech.

RECEIVINGYEAR RECEPTIONS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2001 15 286 19.1 1 512002 17 377 22.2 4 722003 51 994 19.5 11 79CAREER 83 1657 20.0 16 79

KICK RETURNSYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVG TDS LONG2001 26 561 21.6 0 412002 11 222 20.2 0 382003 2 62 31.0 0 43CAREER 39 845 21.7 0 43

#24 B.J. WARDFREE SAFETY6-3, 208, SENIORDALLAS, TX

A phenomenal two-sport athlete who started alltwelve games for the Seminoles at FreeSafety…led team in blocked kicks for secondstraight year with three blocked field goals rais-ing career total to a record tying seven

blocks…five of seven blocked kicks have led to Seminole scores andall came in victories…ranked 3rd on team with 80 tackles (40 solo, 40assisted, three for loss)…totaled six pass break-ups, an interception,and two fumble recoveries…had six tackles against Miami in the Or-ange Bowl…his seven-career blocked kicks ties him with Bobby Butler(1977-80) for most career blocked kicks.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT BLKD2002 26 25 51 0 0 2 0 0 0 42003 40 40 80 3 0 6 0 2 1 3CAREER 66 65 131 3 0 8 0 2 1 7


14

#3 LEON WASHINGTONTAILBACK5-9, 202, JUNIORJACKSONVILLE, FL

Junior who will step in as the starter at tailbackafter backing up Greg Jones last season…willbe pushed by Lorenzo Booker and both playerswill see a great deal of playing time…will beheld out of spring practice after undergoing anklesurgery…FSU’s second-leading rusher 2003

despite missing four games with a dislocated elbow…also sees timeas a kickoff and punt returner…rushed for a season-high 121 yards on17 carries against NC State…led the Seminoles to a 50-44 doubleovertime victory over the Wolfpack with the game-winingtouchdown…totaled 65 yards on 15 carries in the win overFlorida…rushed 13 times for 69 yards at Virginia…added 90 yardson 10 receptions this season…established a new school record with159 yards on seven punt returns vs. Wake Forest…broke BobbyJackson’s 29-year old mark of 137 yards, set against Virginia Tech on11/16/74…had a punt return for a TD (65 yards) against the DemonDeacons…totaled 126 yards on three kickoff returns in the win overFlorida.

RUSHINGYEAR ATT YARDS AVG TD LONG2002 60 273 4.5 1 182003 74 387 5.2 1 27CAREER 134 660 4.9 2 27

PUNT RETURNYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVERAGE TD LONG2002 34 392 11.5 0 322003 16 189 11.8 1 65CAREER 50 581 11.6 1 65

KICKOFF RETURNSYEAR RETURNS YARDS AVG TD LONG2002 13 368 28.3 1 972003 8 125 24.6 0 77CAREER 21 565 26.9 1 97

#22 PAT WATKINSFREE SAFETY6-4, 204, JUNIORTALLAHASSEE, FL

An exceptional mix of height, speed, and greatfootball instincts…played in all 13 games hissophomore season and made his first start of theseason against Miami in the Orange Bowl…tiedfor the team lead along with cornerback LeroySmith with three interceptions…ranked 3rd on

team with eight pass break-ups and 5th with 62 tackles…forced onefumble this season and returned a fumble 25 yards for a score late inthe 38-34 victory against Florida...received Tomahawk player of theweek award for his eight tackle, three pass break-up, one interception,one knock-em-back, one fourth down stop performance in the open-ing game versus North Carolina…led the team with nine tackles (sevensolo) in the Orange Bowl.

YEAR UT AT TT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2002 4 6 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 02003 45 17 62 0 0 8 1 1 3 1CAREER 49 23 72 0 0 8 2 1 3 1

#77 RAY WILLISOFFENSIVE TACKLE6-6, 325, SENIORANGLETON, TX

Started all 13 games for the Seminoles at tighttackle as a junior in 2003…teams with AlexBarron to give Florida State what could be thebest set of offensive tackles in the country….willbe held out of the of the first portion of springdrills (shoulder scope), but may get some work

during the second half of spring practice…one of five returning start-ers on this year’s offensive line…the only three-year starter along theoffensive front…has started 24 games at offensive tackle over his four-year career…a dominating run blocker who helped FSU running backsaverage a combined 4.6 yards a carry in 2003…named ACC Offen-sive Lineman of the Week twice as a junior (9/8 following the Mary-land game and 11/17 following the NC State game)...FSU offensefinished second in the ACC in scoring, third in pass offense, fourth inpass efficiency and third in total offense in 2003…one of three Semi-nole offensive linemen to start every game last season (Alex Barronand Matt Meinrod).

#95 KAMERION WIMBLEYDEFENSIVE END6-4, 228, JUNIORWICHITA, KS

Played in all 13 games for the Seminoles andstarted 1 (Duke) replacing an injured EricMoore…recorded 38 tackles (30 solo, eight as-sisted), six and a half tackles for loss, two and ahalf sacks, two pass break-ups, seven QB hur-

ries, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery on theseason…awarded Tomahawk Player of the week by defensive stafffor an eight tackle (four for loss), two sack, two 3rd down stop, twopass deflection, one forced fumble performance against Colorado.

YEAR UT AT TOT TFL QS PBU FC FR INT TD2002 13 4 17 0 0 1 0 2 0 02003 30 8 38 6.5 2.5 2 1 1 0 0CAREER 43 12 55 6.5 2.5 3 1 3 0 0

Senior rover Jerome Carter, who ranked fourth on last year'steam in total tackles, is one of four returning starters on theSeminole defense.


15

COURTNEY ABBOTT6-9, 335, OL

ATLANTA, GA (WESTLAKE)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 29 ranked offensivetackle in the nation...can squat over 500 lbs. and benches from 300 to360 lbs...nickname is “Baby Shaq”...has great speed for a player hissize...also played basketball for Westlake...picked Florida State overFlorida, LSU, Virginia and Kentucky.

DUMAKA ATKINS6-4, 280, OL

SARASOTA, FL (BOOKER)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 11 rated offensive guardin the nation...as a junior, he graded out at 93% on the offensive lineand earned all-area and all-district honors...earned honorable mentionall-state for class 3A...named first-team all-state as a senior...has a300 lb. bench press and can squat 475 lbs...was a member of teamFlorida in the 2004 California-Florida Bowl played on January 2...older brother, Baraka, plays defensive end for the MiamiHurricanes...picked Florida State over Michigan, Florida, LSU, Iowaand Ohio State.

GEOFF BERNIARD6-8, 320, OL

LAFAYETTE, LA (ST. THOMAS MORE)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 46 rated offensive tacklein the country...earned first-team all-state honors, all-district for 5-AAAA, first-team all-Lafayette parish, and first-team all-Acadianaarea as a junior...has tremendous size, quickness, and strength...candevelop into a very good offensive lineman...would like to major inbusiness at FSU...picked Florida State over South Carolina, Tennes-see and Tulane.

J.R. BRYANT6-1, 170, DB

MIAMI, FL (KILLIAN)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 3 rated cornerback inthe country...named to the Riddell Footwear all-america team...PrepStar Top 100 Dream Team member...No. 2 rated defensive backon the Tallahassee Democrat Sunshine 75...played both wide receiverand cornerback during his senior season...had 10 catches and two TD’sas well as 37 tackles and four INT’s...as a junior, he rushed for 168yards and three TD’s, returned 12 kickoffs (two for touchdowns) andalso returned 15 punts (two for touchdowns)...on defense from hiscornerback position, he had 34 tackles, six pass break-ups and oneinterception...was a member of the Florida squad in the 2004 Califor-nia-Florida Bowl, returning a third quarter interception for atouchdown...has been timed at 4.50 in the 40...picked Florida Stateover Miami, Florida, Ohio State and NC State.

GREG CARR6-6, 200, WR

CITRA, FL (NORTH MARION)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 21 rated wide-receiverin the nation...all-state selection as a junior for Class 3A...recorded 42catches for 1,142 and 13 TD’s...a two-sport athlete who also playedbasketball at North Marion.

TONY CARTER5-9, 175, DB

JACKSONVILLE, FL (MANDARIN)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 2 rated cornerback inthe nation...named to the Tallahassee Democrat Sunshine 75...one ofthe fastest players in the state of Florida with a consistent 4.30 in the40-yard dash...had 4 INT’s, blocked 2 kicks, and scored 5 TD’s allwhile splitting time at quarterback and wide receiver in addition to hisregular cornerback duties his senior year...earned third-team all-statehonors for class 6A after tallying 43 tackles and 9 INT’s...was theMVP of the Nike camp held in Gainesville in the spring of 2003...as a

junior he made it to the state finals in the 110-M hurdles...was also amember of the East squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl inSan Antonio played on January 3...picked Florida State over Tennes-see and North Carolina.

GARY CISMESIA5-11, 209, PK

BRADENTON, FL (LAKEWOOD RANCH)A two-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 15 rated kicker in thenation...garnered first-team All-American from Kicking.com...was theManatee County MVP and was named all-area for Manatee andSarasota counties...made 12-of-14 field goals, including all five at-tempts from over 50 yards...in addition, 89% of his kickoffs went fortouchbacks...earned first-team all-state honors as a junior...pickedFlorida State over Georgia Tech.

JACKY CLAUDE6-4, 290, OL

MIAMI, FL (EDISON)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 8 rated offensive guardin the nation...fifth rated offensive lineman on the Tallahassee Demo-crat Sunshine 75...an extremely talented lineman who moves verywell...did not give up a sack and had 35 pancake blocks during hissenior season...earned All-Dade County honors and was also namedfirst-team all-state for class 5A...helped his team to an 11-2 record asa senior...again did not allow a sack and had 29 intimidation blocks asa junior...earned first-team All-Dade County and second-team all-statehonors...played for team Florida in the 2004 California-Florida Bowlon January 2...has been timed at a 4.90 in the 40...picked Florida Stateover Miami, Auburn, Ohio State and NC State.

2004 SIGNEES

Chris Rix, the first four-year starting quarterback in the Bowdenera, ranks second all-time at FSU in career passing yardage.


16

EMMANUEL DUNBAR6-5, 265, DL

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (DEERFIELD BEACH)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 12 rated strong sidedefensive end in the country...fourth rated defensive lineman on theTallahassee Democrat Sunshine 75...as a senior he had 112 tacklesand 16 sacks...earned first team all-state honors for class 6A...was all-area as a junior...played for team Florida in the 2004 California-FloridaBowl played on January 2 and was also a participant in the Dade/Broward All-Star game...a big time talent and can play defensive endor defensive tackle...has excellent size and can really move...has beentimed at 4.70 in the 40...would like to major in education at FSU...picked Florida State over Oklahoma, NC State and Virginia Tech.

JAMAAL EDWARDS6-0, 202, RB

GREENSBORO, NC (DUDLEY)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 7 rated running back inthe nation...named to the Superprep Elite 50...PrepStar Top 100 DreamTeam member...the No. 2 rated player on the North Carolina Top 25...earned his first recognition at age 13 when he became the NationalJunior Champion in the 100-yard dash...has a time of 10.7 seconds inthe 100 meters...as a senior he rushed for 2,000 yards and 22 TDs...rushed for 2,387 yards on 346 carries (6.9 average) and 31 TDs inleading his team to the 3A championship game his junior season...wasa member of the North Carolina squad in the Shrine Bowl of the Caro-linas, pitting all-stars from North Carolina against all-stars from SouthCarolina...the North Carolina team won 21-12 as Jamaal had 11 car-ries for 88 yards in the game...has been timed at 4.40 in the 40...wouldlike to major in physical education/sports medicine at FSU...pickedFlorida State over North Carolina, Tennessee and Clemson.

DeCODY FAGG6-3, 185, WR

QUINCY, FL (HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY)Enrolled at Florida State in the spring of 2004...attended Shanks HighSchool...originally committed to Florida State in 2003 before going toHargrave Military Academy...broke his leg at the beginning of theseason at Hargrave...a four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 15rated wide receiver in the nation...voted one of Florida’s Super 75 bythe Florida Times Union...ranked in Rivals Southeast Top 100...oneof Florida’s Top 100 by the Orlando Sentinel...also ranked No. 27 inRivals.com Florida Top 100...as a senior, recorded 41 catches for 808yards and 11 TDs...made class 2A first-team all-state and was namedthe class 2A Player of the Year...scored four TDs in Shanks’ first roundplayoff loss to Walton 49-48 (OT)...was selected to play in the 2003California-Florida Bowl...earned all-conference and all-county hon-ors as a junior...tallied 29 catches for 585 yards...has been timed at4.40 in the 40...picked Florida State over Florida and Georgia.

TREVOR FORD6-1, 187, DB

MIAMI, FL (NORTHWESTERN)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 6 rated cornerback inthe nation...PrepStar Top 100 Dream Team member...finished with48 tackles, 5 INTs and 11 pass break-ups his senior season...was namedall-Dade honorable mention as a junior after totaling 75 tackles, 3INT’s and 15 pass break-ups...was a member of team Florida in the2004 California-Florida Bowl and recorded the game ending inter-ception that helped preserve the win for team Florida...has been timedat 4.40 in the 40...picked Florida State over Miami and Kansas State.

RODNEY GALLON6-0, 210, LB

TALLAHASSEE, FL (LINCOLN)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 9 rated outside line-backer in the nation...named to the Tallahassee Democrat Sunshine75...as a senior he had 135 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 3fumble recoveries...earned first-team all-state honors for class 4A...had106 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries dur-ing his junior season...a member of team Florida in the California-Florida Bowl played on January 2, where he tallied 8 tackles as teamFlorida beat team California 24-22...has the speed to play sideline tosideline...has been timed at 4.50 in the 40...would like to major in

sport management at FSU...picked Florida State over Auburn, Ten-nessee and Nebraska.

KENNY INGRAM6-6, 200, DB

ORLANDO, FL (EDGEWATER)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 14 rated safety in thenation...a two-sport athlete who also played basketball atEdgewater...helped lead his team to the 6A State Championship in2003...totaled 60 tackles and five INTs as a senior...as a junior, herecorded 60 tackles (35 unassisted tackles and 25 assisted) along withsix INTs...was a member of team Florida in the 2004 California-FloridaBowl...has been timed at 4.51 in the 40...picked Florida State overMiami, Florida and Georgia.

AARON JONES, III6-3, 270, DT

ORLANDO, FL (EDGEWATER)A five-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 10 rated defensive tacklein the nation...USA Today second-team defense all-american...regardedas the top defensive tackle in the state of Florida...earned all-league,all-area and all-state honors while racking up 80 tackles and five sackshis senior season...as a junior, he earned all-league, all-area and all-state honors...totaled 69 tackles, including 49 unassisted, 15 tacklesfor loss and 11 sacks...has a great combination of size and speed...hasbeen timed at 4.80 in the 40...was starter for the East squad in the2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX...his father,Aaron Sr., was a first round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers andplayed nine seasons in the NFL...would like to major in business/criminology at FSU...picked FSU over Miami, Georgia and NC State.

XAVIER LEE6-4, 200, QB

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (SEABREEZE)A five-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 1 rated dual threat quar-terback in the nation...named to the Superprep Elite 50...PrepStar Top100 Dream Team member...regarded by some as the top quarterbackprospect in the country...holds Florida’s all-time record for passingyards (9,082), completions (549) and TDs (98)...named Florida’s Mr.Football for 2003...earned first-team all-state and 3A Player of theYear...in 10 games during the 2003 season he rushed for 567 yards on104 carries with 10 TDs...was 198-for-361 (54%) for 3,133 yards, 37TDs and only 7 INTs...was again named first-team all-state as a juniorand was named 3A Player of the Year for the second straightyear...rushed for 461 yards and 13 TDs and was 188-for-304 (62%)passing for 3,075 yards with 33 TDs and 10 INTs...was a member ofthe East squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl played on Janu-ary 3, 2004 in San Antonio, TX...has been timed at 4.50 in the40...picked Florida State over Texas and Auburn.

CORNELIUS LEWIS6-4, 305, OL

JACKSONVILLE, FL (RAINES)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 20 rated offensive guardprospect in the nation...named to the Florida Times Union Super 24team...very strong, quick and agile for a player his size...garnered all-Gateway conference honors in 2003...helped lead his team to a 9-1record in 2003 as they advanced to the second round of the stateplayoffs...earned all-Gateway conference, all-First Coast and third teamall-state honors as a junior...picked Florida State over Tennessee andNorth Carolina.

LAMAR LEWIS5-9, 188, RB

JACKSONVILLE, FL (TRINITY CHRISTIAN)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 24 rated all-purposeback in the country...fourth rated running back in the Tallahassee Demo-crat Sunshine 75... as a senior he had 1,600 yards and 22 TD’s inhelping his Trinity Christian team to the 1A state championship, de-feating Ft. Meade 17-7...earned all-state honors as a junior after tally-ing 1,900 yards and 27 TDs...from his DB spot he had 50 unassistedtackles, 31 assisted tackles, 5 INT’s and 12 pass breakups...has beentimed at 4.40 in the 40...picked Florida State over Georgia Tech, WakeForest and Florida.


17

JOE MANNING6-0, 175, DB

TALLAHASSEE, FL (LINCOLN)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 29 rated cornerback inthe country...another in the long line of talented players coming out ofLincoln High School...as a senior he had 71 tackles, 5 INTs and 7 passbreakups...also blocked 3 punts and 2 extra points on specialteams...earned all-Big Bend honors and second-team all-state honorsfor class 4A...was also a member of team Florida in the 2004 Califor-nia-Florida Bowl played on January 2...a ferocious hitter and playsthe game extremely hard...has been timed at 4.50 in the 40...wouldlike to major in sport management at FSU...picked Florida State overAuburn, Tennessee, Nebraska and Syracuse.

DARIUS McCLURE5-11, 188, DB

ADAMSVILLE, AL (MINOR)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 36 rated cornerback inthe county...as a senior he had 49 tackles, 1 INT and 3 forcedfumbles...also returned 3 punts for TDs and blocked a FG for a TD....onoffense, he rushed for 265 yards on 12 carries and had 3 TD’s...caught4 passes for 104 yards and 1 TD...is a hard hitting safety who can runextremely well...has been timed at 4.50 in the 40...would like to majorin business management at FSU...picked Florida State over Auburn.

KENNY O’NEAL6-1, 195, WR

OAKLAND, CA (SKYLINE)A four-star player by Rivals.com and some feel he is a top five widereceiver nationally...named to the Superprep Elite 50...originally fromGeorgia as he transferred to Oakland from Benedictine MilitarySchool...as a senior, he caught 35 passes for 850 yards and 24 TDswhich included four kickoff returns for TDs...was the Georgia state5A champ in the 100M as a sophomore and his best time in the 100Mis 10.3 seconds...has been timed at 4.30 in the 40...his dad, KennyO’Neal, Sr. was a tight end for the New Orleans Saints...picked FloridaState over Georgia, Florida, LSU and Oregon.

JOE SURRATT6-1, 255, FB

PACE, FL (PACE)A two-star player by Rivals.com...a big bruising fullback with goodspeed...rushed for 958 yards on 176 attempts (5.4 average) with 13TD’s in just nine games during his senior season...also had nine re-ceptions for 109 yards...earned honorable mention all-NorthwestFlorida honors...has been timed at 4.70 in the 40...picked Florida Stateover Auburn, Clemson, Southern Mississippi and South Florida.

JAE THAXTON6-3, 225, LB

HARTWELL, GA (HART CO.)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 9 rated inside linebackerin the nation...also the No. 75 player in the Rivals Top 100 as well asthe No. 8 player in the Georgia Top 50...averaged 20 tackles per gamefor his career at Hart Co., set the school record tackles with more than500 for his career...as a senior he amassed over 160 tackles, four sacksand two fumble recoveries...tallied over 150 tackles his junior seasonearning all-state and all-area honors...his sophomore season he to-taled 201 tackles...very quick and has great size for a linebacker...hasbeen timed at 4.60 in the 40...picked Florida State over Georgia, LSUand Florida.

LAWRENCE TIMMONS6-3, 225, LB

FLORENCE, SC (WILSON)A three-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 4 rated outside line-backer in the nation...named to the Superprep Elite 50...PrepStar Top100 Dream Team member...named South Carolina’s Defensive Playerof the Year...earned all-state honors at linebacker his senior seasonafter tallying over 150 tackles and two sacks...also had 47 catches forover 800 yards and five TDs at tight end...selected all-state as a tightend his junior season...had 42 reception for 680 yards and 14 TDs...ondefense he had 95 tackles and four sacks...was selected to play in the

2003 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas pitting North Carolina All-Starsagainst the South Carolina All-Stars...has been timed at 4.60 in the40...picked Florida State over Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina andGeorgia.

JONATHAN WARREN6-1, 190, DB

MADISON, FL (MADISON)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 26 rated safety in thenation...a hard-hitting safety who is strong against the pass and therun...earned All-North Florida honors with 65 tackles and two INTsas a junior...as a sophomore he had 13 INTs...his Madison Countyteam finished runner up in the state 2A championship, losing toChaminade...he rushed for 81 yards on only 5 carries (16.2 average)and led the team with 9 tackles...also competed in track, participatingin the 100M, 400M, 4x100, long jump and the high jump...was a mem-ber of team Florida in the 2004 California-Florida Bowl held on Janu-ary 2...has been timed at 4.50 in the 40...picked Florida State overFlorida.

DREW WEATHERFORD6-3, 205, QB

LAND O’ LAKES, FL (LAND O’ LAKES)A four-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 6 rated pro-style quar-terback in the country...No. 2 quarterback on the Tallahassee Demo-crat Sunshine 75...as a junior he earned all state honors after going151-215 (70 %) for 2,494 yards, 37 TDs and 2 INTs...was the TampaTribune’s Pasco County Player of the Year...completed 172 passes on341 (50%) attempts for 2,639 yards and 20 TDs as a senior...also rushedfor 470 yards and 10 TDs...played safety as well and had 120 tacklesand 8 INTs as his team finished 8-5 in 2003...was named Florida’s 4APlayer of the Year as well as the St. Pete Times 2003 All SuncoastPlayer of the Year...was one of the QBs for Team Florida in the Cali-fornia-Florida Bowl played on January 2...originally from Texas, hisfather and grandfather played for SMU...a classic pro-style quarter-back who has a great arm and very good skills...has been timed at 4.70in the 40...picked Florida State over Tennessee, South Carolina, NorthCarolina and NC State.

BARRY WRIGHT6-1, 220, LB

COFFEYVILLE, KS (COFFEYVILLE CC)Enrolled at FSU in the spring of 2004...a four-star player byRivals.com...a native of Pensacola, Fla. (Woodham High School)...hadan outstanding senior season as he totaled 156 tackles and 14 sacks...in2003 at Coffeyville CC, he tallied 89 tackles and four sacks in leadinghis team to a 9-2 record...earned all-conference and JUCO all-americanhonors...extremely fast linebacker with the speed to cover the fieldside to side...has been timed at a 4.40/40...picked Florida State overSouth Carolina and West Virginia.

Defensive end Eric Moore recorded a team-high 7.5 sacks in 2003.


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TEAM STATISTICS FS OPPSCORING ....................................................................... 419 ............. 217

Points Per Game ..................................................... 32.2 ............ 16.7FIRST DOWNS .............................................................. 278 ............. 218

Rushing ................................................................... 116 ............... 77Passing .................................................................... 133 ............. 118Penalty ...................................................................... 29 ............... 23

RUSHING YARDAGE ................................................. 1734 ........... 1552Yards gained rushing ............................................. 2096 ........... 1948Yards lost rushing .................................................... 362 ............. 396Rushing Attempts .................................................... 469 ............. 472Average Per Rush ..................................................... 3.7 .............. 3.3Average Per Game ................................................ 133.4 .......... 119.4TDs Rushing ............................................................. 20 ................. 7

PASSING YARDAGE................................................... 3505 ........... 2768Att-Comp-Int ............................................... 438-249-13 . 449-247-15Average Per Pass ...................................................... 8.0 .............. 6.2Average Per Catch .................................................. 14.1 ............ 11.2Average Per Game ................................................ 269.6 .......... 212.9TDs Passing .............................................................. 26 ............... 12

TOTAL OFFENSE ........................................................ 5239 ........... 4320Total Plays ............................................................... 907 ............. 921Average Per Play ...................................................... 5.8 .............. 4.7Average Per Game ................................................ 403.0 .......... 332.3

KICK RETURNS: #-YARDS ..................................... 40-912 ...... 50-1072PUNT RETURNS: #-YARDS .................................... 41-456 ........ 27-144INT RETURNS: #-YARDS ........................................ 15-258 ........ 13-322KICK RETURN AVERAGE .......................................... 22.8 ............ 21.4PUNT RETURN AVERAGE ......................................... 11.1 .............. 5.3INT RETURN AVERAGE ............................................. 17.2 ............ 24.8FUMBLES-LOST ........................................................ 29-12 .......... 28-18PENALTIES-YARDS ................................................ 91-835 ........ 90-770

Average Per Game .................................................. 64.2 ............ 59.2PUNTS-YARDS ...................................................... 61-2549 ...... 77-3029

Average Per Punt .................................................... 41.8 ............ 39.3Net punt average ..................................................... 39.4 ............ 33.4

TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME ................................. 28:59 .......... 30:413RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS .................................. 58/175 ........ 61/213

3rd-Down Pct ......................................................... 33% ............ 29%4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS ...................................... 8/19 .......... 10/25

4th-Down Pct ......................................................... 42% ............ 40%SACKS BY-YARDS .................................................. 36-228 ........ 25-169MISC YARDS ................................................................... 68 ............. 102TOUCHDOWNS SCORED .............................................. 52 ............... 23FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS ....................................... 19-25 .......... 19-30PAT-ATTEMPTS .......................................................... 50-51 .......... 20-21ATTENDANCE ........................................................ 498895 ....... 399247

Games/Avg Per Game ...................................... 6/83149 ...... 6/66541

SCORE BY QUARTERS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT TotalFlorida State 93 110 102 101 13 419Opponents 53 69 54 34 7 217

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/GJones, G. 13 144 655 37 618 4.3 7 53 47.5Washington, L. 9 74 421 34 387 5.2 1 27 43.0Booker, L. 10 62 343 9 334 5.4 3 71 33.4Reid, W. 13 34 175 16 159 4.7 2 38 12.2Rix, C. 13 89 309 179 130 1.5 5 19 10.0Dean, B.J. 11 20 61 0 61 3.0 1 9 5.5Coleman, J. 13 12 37 0 37 3.1 0 9 2.8Davis, Chr. 13 4 26 11 15 3.8 0 21 1.2Napier, M. 4 8 19 6 13 1.6 0 12 3.2Thorpe, C. 11 3 21 10 11 3.7 0 13 1.0Reynolds, R. 6 4 7 0 7 1.8 1 3 1.2Sam, L. 13 1 6 0 6 6.0 0 6 0.5Walker, F. 7 4 8 3 5 1.2 0 5 0.7Sam, P.K. 13 2 8 4 4 2.0 0 8 0.3Sexton, W. 5 3 0 17 -17 -5.7 0 0 -3.4Team 13 5 0 36 -36 -7.2 0 0 -2.8Total 13 469 2096 362 1734 3.7 20 71 133.4Opponents 13 472 1948 396 1552 3.3 7 49 119.4

PASSING GP Effic Att-Cmp-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/GRix, C. 13 137.93 382-216-13 56.5 3107 23 79 239.0Walker, F. 7 137.26 50-30-0 60.0 342 3 71 48.9Sexton, W. 5 154.08 5-3-0 60.0 56 0 45 11.2Team 13 0.00 1-0-0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0Sam, P.K. 13 0.00 0-0-0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0Total 13 137.72 438-249-13 56.8 3505 26 79 269.6Opponents 13 108.93 449-247-15 55.0 2768 12 81 212.9

RECEIVING GP No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/GThorpe, C. 11 51 994 19.5 11 79 90.4Sam, P.K. 13 50 735 14.7 5 67 56.5Davis, Chr. 13 23 264 11.5 2 24 20.3Reid, W. 13 20 189 9.4 1 43 14.5Stovall, C. 13 19 340 17.9 2 71 26.2Booker, L. 10 19 86 4.5 0 20 8.6Robinson, D. 13 16 285 17.8 1 35 21.9Washington, L. 9 10 90 9.0 0 18 10.0Jones, G. 13 9 52 5.8 0 16 4.0Irons, P. 13 6 79 13.2 0 20 6.1Carter, D. 13 5 99 19.8 1 50 7.6Henshaw, M. 11 5 94 18.8 2 46 8.5Sam, L. 13 4 102 25.5 0 45 7.8Dean, B.J. 11 4 30 7.5 0 9 2.7Coleman, J. 13 4 26 6.5 0 14 2.0Kaleikini, J. 13 2 27 13.5 1 15 2.1Hallback, R. 1 1 9 9.0 0 9 9.0Napier, M. 4 1 4 4.0 0 4 1.0Total 13 249 3505 14.1 26 79 269.6Opponents 13 247 2768 11.2 12 81 212.9

PUNT RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD LongWashington, L. 16 189 11.8 1 65Robinson, D. 12 125 10.4 0 21Davis, Chr. 12 111 9.2 0 38Davis, Cha. 1 31 31.0 1 14Total 41 456 11.1 2 65Opponents 27 144 5.3 0 17

INTERCEPTIONS No. Yds Avg TD LongSmith, L. 3 122 40.7 1 90Watkins, P. 3 -8 -2.7 0 0Carter, J. 2 38 19.0 0 30Samuels, S. 2 30 15.0 0 30Brown, R. 1 0 0.0 0 0Cromartie, A. 1 71 71.0 1 71Womble, J. 1 0 0.0 0 0Moore, E. 1 1 1.0 0 1Ward, B.J. 1 4 4.0 0 4Total 15 258 17.2 2 90Opponents 13 322 24.8 3 58

2003 FLORIDA STATE RESULTSOverall Conf

Date Opponent Score Record Record Time Attend 8/30 North Carolina* W 37-0 1-0-0 1-0-0 3:28 59,800 9/06 MARYLAND* W 35-10 2-0-0 2-0-0 3:27 82,885 9/13 GA TECH* W 14-13 3-0-0 3-0-0 3:18 82,133 9/20 COLORADO W 47-7 4-0-0 3-0-0 3:25 83,294 9/27 Duke* W 56-7 5-0-0 4-0-0 3:07 24,37010/11 MIAMI 14-22 L 5-1-0 4-0-0 3:31 84,33610/18 Virginia* W 19-14 6-1-0 5-0-0 3:13 62,87510/25 WAKE FOREST* W 48-24 7-1-0 6-0-0 3:42 82,39311/01 Notre Dame W 37-0 8-1-0 6-0-0 3:40 80,79511/08 Clemson* 10-26 L 8-2-0 6-1-0 3:35 81,00011/15 NC STATE* W 50-44 9-2-0 7-1-0 4:14 83,85411/29 Florida W 38-34 10-2-0 7-1-0 3:30 90,407 1/01 vs Miami 14-16 L 10-3-0 7-1-0 3:40 76,739

Total Attendance ................................... 974,881 ............... 74,991 averageHome Attendance ................................. 498,895 ............... 83,149 average*Indicates conference game

2003 FINAL STATISTICS


19

KICK RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD LongCromartie, A. 24 568 23.7 0 62Washington, L. 8 197 24.6 0 77Reid, W. 3 80 26.7 0 45Thorpe, C. 2 62 31.0 0 43Church, M. 1 0 0.0 0 0Canfield, C. 1 0 0.0 0 0Carter, D. 1 5 5.0 0 5Total 40 912 22.8 0 77Opponents 50 1072 21.4 0 63

FUMBLE RETURNS No. Yds Avg TD LongBrown, R. 1 17 17.0 0 17Watkins, P. 1 25 25.0 1 25Nicholson, A.J. 1 23 23.0 1 19Ward, B.J. 1 3 3.0 0 3Total 4 68 17.0 2 25Opponents 4 102 25.5 1 77

|—— PATs ——|SCORING TD FGs Kick Rush Rcv Pass DXP Saf PointsBeitia, X. 0 19-25 50-51 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 107Thorpe, C. 11 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 66Jones, G. 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 42Rix, C. 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 30Sam, P.K. 5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 30Booker, L. 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18Reid, W. 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 18Henshaw, M. 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12Washington, L. 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12Davis, Chr. 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12Stovall, C. 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 12Watkins, P. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Kaleikini, J. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Davis, Cha. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Robinson, D. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Carter, D. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Nicholson, A.J. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Reynolds, R. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Cromartie, A. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Smith, L. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Dean, B.J. 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 6Total 52 19-25 50-51 0-0 0 0-0 0 0 419Opponents 23 19-30 20-21 1-1 0 0-1 0 0 217

TOTAL OFFENSE G Plays Rush Pass Total Avg/GRix, C. 13 471 130 3107 3237 249.0Jones, G. 13 144 618 0 618 47.5Washington, L. 9 74 387 0 387 43.0Walker, F. 7 54 5 342 347 49.6Booker, L. 10 62 334 0 334 33.4Reid, W. 13 34 159 0 159 12.2Dean, B.J. 11 20 61 0 61 5.5Sexton, W. 5 8 -17 56 39 7.8Coleman, J. 13 12 37 0 37 2.8Davis, Chr. 13 4 15 0 15 1.2Napier, M. 4 8 13 0 13 3.2Thorpe, C. 11 3 11 0 11 1.0Reynolds, R. 6 4 7 0 7 1.2Sam, L. 13 1 6 0 6 0.5Sam, P.K. 13 2 4 0 4 0.3Team 13 6 -36 0 -36 -2.8Total 13 907 1734 3505 5239 403.0Opponents 13 921 1552 2768 4320 332.3

FIELD GOALSFGM-FGA Pct 01-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Lg Blk

Beitia, X. 19-25 76.0 0-0 9-10 4-7 6-8 0-0 48 2

FIELD GOAL SEQUENCE Florida State OpponentsNorth Carolina ............................................ (26),41 .......................... 51,37Maryland ........................................................... 28 ............................. (44)Georgia Tech ........................................................ - ..................... (35),(45)Colorado ................................... (20),(26),(27),(29) .......................... 22,42Duke .................................................................... - .......................... 43,42Miami ................................................................... - ......... 22,(27),(22),(19)Virginia ................................ (34),(38),(47),(39),38 .................................. -Wake Forest ............................................. (48),(43) ............................. (32)

Notre Dame ...................................... (40),(44),(22) .............................. 24Clemson ..................................................... 40,(46) ...... (23),(35),(32),(37)NC State ...................................... (36),(25),(24),32 ........................ (21),37Florida ............................................................. (28) .. (47),48,(47),(42),(28)Numbers in (parentheses) indicate field goal was made.

PUNTING No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 BlkdStein, J. 57 2401 42.1 58 8 11 16 1Hall, C. 3 148 49.3 54 1 0 0 0Team 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0Total 61 2549 41.8 58 9 11 16 1Opponents 77 3029 39.3 65 1 16 20 1

ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KOR IR Tot Avg/GThorpe, C. 11 11 994 0 62 0 1067 97.0Washington, L. 9 387 90 189 197 0 863 95.9Sam, P.K. 13 4 735 0 0 0 739 56.8Jones, G. 13 618 52 0 0 0 670 51.5Cromartie, A. 13 0 0 0 568 71 639 49.2Reid, W. 13 159 189 0 80 0 428 32.9Booker, L. 10 334 86 0 0 0 420 42.0Robinson, D. 13 0 285 125 0 0 410 31.5Davis, Chr. 13 15 264 111 0 0 390 30.0Stovall, C. 13 0 340 0 0 0 340 26.2Rix, C. 13 130 0 0 0 0 130 10.0Smith, L. 13 0 0 0 0 122 122 9.4Sam, L. 13 6 102 0 0 0 108 8.3Carter, D. 13 0 99 0 5 0 104 8.0Henshaw, M. 11 0 94 0 0 0 94 8.5Dean, B.J. 11 61 30 0 0 0 91 8.3Irons, P. 13 0 79 0 0 0 79 6.1Coleman, J. 13 37 26 0 0 0 63 4.8Carter, J. 13 0 0 0 0 38 38 2.9Davis, Cha. 13 0 0 31 0 0 31 2.4Samuels, S. 12 0 0 0 0 30 30 2.5Kaleikini, J. 13 0 27 0 0 0 27 2.1Napier, M. 4 13 4 0 0 0 17 4.2Hallback, R. 1 0 9 0 0 0 9 9.0Reynolds, R. 6 7 0 0 0 0 7 1.2Walker, F. 7 5 0 0 0 0 5 0.7Ward, B.J. 13 0 0 0 0 4 4 0.3Moore, E. 12 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.1Watkins, P. 13 0 0 0 0 -8 -8 -0.6Sexton, W. 5 -17 0 0 0 0 -17 -3.4Team 13 -36 0 0 0 0 -36 -2.8Total 13 1734 3505 456 912 258 6865 528.1Opponents 13 1552 2768 144 1072 322 5858 450.6

Tailback Leon Washington led the Seminoles in punt return yardsand was second only to Greg Jones in rushing yards last season.


20

|——Tackles——| |-Sacks-| |—Pass Def—| |-Fumbles-| BlkdDEFENSIVE LEADERS GP Solo Ast Total TFL/Yds No-Yds Int-Yds BrUp QBH Rcv-Yds FF Kick Saf58 Boulware, M. 13 78 33 111 4-17 2.5-15 . 4 2 . 1 . .40 Augustin, A. 13 52 30 82 7-26 4.0-22 . 2 4 . 1 . .24 Ward, B.J. 13 40 40 80 3-7 . 1-4 6 . 2-3 . 3 .23 Carter, J. 13 45 33 78 6-14 0.5-3 2-38 2 2 . 1 . .22 Watkins, P. 13 45 17 62 . . 3-8 8 . 1-25 1 . .9 Pope, K. 10 38 18 56 7-26 3.0-16 . . 2 1-0 2 . .

54 Nicholson, A.J. 13 36 19 55 3-5 . . 2 4 3-23 1 . .45 Dockett, D. 13 30 25 55 17-42 1.5-15 . . 16 . 2 . .34 Sims, E. 13 32 10 42 2-5 . . 2 3 . 1 . .91 Womble, J. 11 18 22 40 6-15 1.0-8 1-0 . 8 1-0 . . .10 Samuels, S. 12 31 9 40 2-4 0.5-3 2-30 11 2 . 2 . .52 Bunkley, B. 13 19 19 38 8-16 1.5-11 . 2 5 1-0 1 . .95 Wimbley, K. 13 30 8 38 7-33 2.5-16 . 2 7 1-0 1 . .99 Johnson, T. 13 17 19 36 3-10 0.5-7 . . 8 1-0 1 . .90 Emanuel, K. 13 26 8 34 10-30 3.0-15 . 2 14 . 4 . .32 Smith, L. 13 25 7 32 . . 3-122 7 . 2-0 . . .8 McFadden, B. 12 23 5 28 1-2 . . 9 . 1-0 3 . .

41 Hall, K. 13 18 10 28 1-8 . . 4 . . . . .55 Moore, E. 12 21 4 25 12-55 7.5-48 1-1 4 15 1-0 1 . .27 Osei, C. 13 20 5 25 . . . 2 . . . . .59 Howard, C. 13 11 13 24 6-37 4.0-34 . . 7 . . . .7 Brown, R. 13 18 4 22 3-8 . 1-0 6 . 1-17 . . .

44 McGrew, S. 13 13 6 19 2-8 1.0-4 . . 1 . 1 . .13 Cromartie, A. 13 17 2 19 . . 1-71 2 . . . . .94 Davis, Cha. 13 14 4 18 8-26 2.0-8 . 4 9 . 1 1 .56 Piquion, R. 13 7 9 16 1-2 . . 1 1 2-0 . . .39 Church, M. 13 9 4 13 . . . . . . . . .42 Bredwood, A. 13 4 1 5 . . . . . . . . .33 Anderson, K. 13 3 2 5 . . . . . . . . .51 Davis, B. 7 4 1 5 1-1 . . . 1 . . . .97 Dickson, C. 6 . 4 4 . . . . . . . . .47 Beitia, X. 13 2 1 3 . . . . . . . . .92 Burston, D. 5 3 . 3 1-12 1.0-12 . . 3 . . . .46 Hardage, N. 3 2 . 2 . . . . . . . . .11 Ross, G. 13 2 . 2 . . . 1 . . . . .3 Washington, L. 9 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . .

70 Barron, A. 13 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .63 Castillo, D. 13 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .38 Irons, P. 13 . 1 1 . . . . . . . . .35 Dean, B.J. 11 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .73 Meeks, B. 11 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .5 Davis, Chr. 13 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .

28 Booker, L. 10 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .6 Jones, G. 13 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .4 Sam, P.K. 13 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . .

TM Team 13 1 . 1 1-1 1.0-1 . . . . . . .Total 13 763 394 1157 122-410 36-228 15-258 83 114 18-68 25 4 .Opponents 13 521 362 883 90-302 25-169 13-322 44 6 12-102 11 4 .

TOTAL TACKLES UA-A TOT NC MD GT CU DU UM VA WF ND CLEM ST UF UMBoulware, M. 72-31 103 4-1 5-0 6-2 2-2 3-3 9-2 11-5 3-2 4-4 13-3 7-6 5-1Boulware, M. 78-33 111 4-1 5-0 6-2 2-2 3-3 9-2 11-5 3-2 4-4 13-3 7-6 5-1 6-2Augustin, A. 52-30 82 3-1 2-4 4-5 4-2 1-2 9-1 6-3 1-1 4-1 3-4 8-4 4-0 3-2Ward, B.J. 40-40 80 3-4 4-1 2-3 5-0 1-5 6-6 1-1 1-3 1-6 4-5 3-3 6-0 3-3Carter, J. 45-33 78 6-1 0-1 2-5 1-4 2-3 4-5 5-4 6-1 5-1 4-4 4-2 3-0 3-2Watkins, P. 45-17 62 4-4 2-0 3-1 4-1 1-0 2-2 2-3 3-1 6-0 1-3 6-0 4-0 7-2Pope, K. 38-18 56 2-3 3-3 5-1 - DNP 5-1 7-3 DNP DNP 5-4 5-1 3-1 3-1Dockett, D. 30-25 55 4-4 3-4 2-2 3-2 3-2 3-2 - 1-2 2-2 1-1 3-2 4-0 1-2Nicholson, A.J. 36-19 55 2-0 4-2 1-0 3-2 5-2 3-2 2-0 9-3 3-3 2-1 0-1 1-0 1-3Sims, E. 32-10 42 2-1 2-0 1-0 2-0 7-2 2-0 1-0 7-3 5-1 0-1 - 2-0 1-2Samuels, S. 31-9 40 3-3 1-1 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 - DNP 4-0 4-1 5-0 6-0 2-2Womble, J. 18-22 40 2-1 2-2 1-3 1-3 2-3 3-2 DNP DNP 2-3 1-2 2-2 2-0 0-1Bunkley, B. 19-19 38 3-2 2-2 1-2 1-2 2-1 1-1 - 3-2 2-3 2-2 2-2 - -Wimbley, K. 30-8 38 0-1 0-2 3-0 7-1 8-0 - 1-0 3-0 4-1 2-0 1-1 1-0 0-2Johnson, T. 17-19 36 2-3 1-2 1-1 1-1 0-2 2-2 - 2-1 2-2 2-2 1-2 2-0 1-1Emanuel, K. 26-8 34 4-1 4-0 3-0 1-1 6-0 0-1 0-1 3-0 - 1-1 3-0 - 1-3Smith, L. 25-7 32 1-2 1-0 2-1 2-0 3-0 1-0 3-1 3-1 1-1 2-1 3-0 2-0 1-0McFadden, B. 23-5 28 3-0 1-0 4-0 2-0 1-0 0-2 4-0 2-1 3-2 1-0 DNP 1-0 1-0Hall, K. 18-10 28 1-1 4-0 1-0 1-0 2-3 0-1 1-0 2-0 1-2 1-1 1-1 - 3-1Moore, E. 21-4 25 1-1 2-0 4-1 2-0 DNP - 1-0 3-0 1-0 3-1 1-1 2-0 1-0Osei, C. 20-5 25 2-0 3-1 - 0-1 2-0 1-0 2-0 1-1 0-2 4-0 1-0 1-0 3-0Howard, C. 11-13 24 1-2 1-2 1-0 1-2 2-1 0-1 - 1-1 1-2 2-1 1-0 - 0-1Brown, R. 18-4 22 2-0 - 2-1 0-1 1-0 2-1 2-0 - 2-0 1-0 2-0 2-0 2-1Cromartie, A. 17-2 19 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 4-0 1-0 1-0 3-1 1-1 - 1-0 1-0 1-0McGrew, S. 13-6 19 1-0 2-2 - - 2-0 1-0 - 1-0 1-0 3-1 1-1 1-0 0-2Davis, Cha. 14-4 18 1-0 1-1 0-1 - 3-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 - 2-0 2-1 2-0 -Piquion, R. 7-9 16 2-1 1-2 - 1-1 1-2 - - - 0-2 2-0 0-1 - -Church, M. 9-4 13 1-1 1-0 1-0 1-0 - - - 1-1 1-2 - 1-0 1-0 1-0


21

RUSHINGNo-Yds/TD NC MD GT CU DU UM VA WF ND CLEM NCS UF UM

Jones, G. 144-618/7 8-59/1 14-88/2 14-13/0 9-26/1 8-79/1 13-15/0 20-96/0 12-60/1 7-9/0 7-12/0 17-81/1 9-42/0 6-38/0Washington, L. 74-387/1 1-27/0 DNP DNP DNP DNP 6-26/0 13-69/0 6-30/0 4-23/0 3-6/017-121/1 15-65/0 9-20/0Booker, L. 62-334/3 11-87/1 7-42/0 DNP DNP DNP 2-1/0 1-0/0 7-33/0 12-35/0 - 3-72/1 11-39/0 8-25/1Reid, W. 34-159/2 9-48/0 8-30/1 5-21/0 4-45/0 8-15/1 - - - - - - - -Rix, C. 89-130/5 7-13/2 8-15/0 8-41/1 5-17/0 7-6/0 12-0/0 5-18/0 8-23/1 8-6/0 5—8/0 4—7/0 7—7/1 5-13/0Dean, B.J. 20-61/1 2-11/0 3-5/0 1-1/0 - 1-6/1 2-12/0 4-12/0 4-12/0 1-2/0 1-0/0 DNP DNP 1-0/0Coleman, J. 12-37/0 1-2/0 2-11/0 2-2/0 - - 2-7/0 1-3/0 1-3/0 - - 1-0/0 - 2-9/0Davis, Chr. 4-15/0 1—6/0 - - - - - - - 1-21/0 - - 1—5/0 1-5/0Napier, M. 8-13/0 DNP DNP DNP 3-11/0 2-4/0 DNP DNP 1—1/0 2—1/0 DNP DNP DNP DNPThorpe, C. 3-11/0 - - 1-16/0 1—10/0 - - - - - - 1-5/0 DNP DNPReynolds, R. 4-7/1 DNP 2-3/0 DNP 2-4/1 - - - DNP - DNP DNP DNP DNPSam, L. 1-6/0 - - - - - - - - 1-6/0 - - - -Walker, F. 4-5/0 - - DNP - 2-2/0 DNP DNP 1-2/0 - 1-1/0 DNP DNP DNPSam, P.K. 2-4/0 1—4/0 1-8/0 - - - - - - - - - - -Sexton, W. 3—17/0 1—1/0 DNP DNP - 2—16/0 DNP DNP - - DNP DNP DNP DNPTeam 5—36/0 - 1—6/0 1—3/0 - 1-0/0 - - 1—24/0 1—3/0 - - - -

RECEIVINGNo-Yds/TD NC MD GT CU DU UM VA WF ND CLEM NCS UF UM

Thorpe, C. 51-994/11 7-83/0 5-56/1 4-34/0 8-205/2 1-43/1 1-48/0 3-104/1 6-66/2 7-217/2 4-62/0 5-76/2 DNP DNPSam, P.K. 50-735/5 1-8/0 3-113/1 3-43/1 10-119/0 4-40/0 9-95/0 2-21/0 4-66/0 2-54/1 3-21/0 5-61/1 3-84/1 1-10/0Stovall, C. 19-340/2 - 2-16/0 2-33/0 - 2-28/1 1-5/0 1-9/0 2-31/0 - 4-131/1 1-8/0 - 4-79/0Robinson, D. 16-285/1 - - 1-26/0 2-27/0 3-60/0 2-21/0 - 2-17/0 - 1-32/0 - 5-102/1 -Davis, Chr. 23-264/2 4-39/1 3-25/0 1-6/0 3-22/0 2-28/0 2-28/1 2-13/0 3-57/0 1-24/0 - 1-13/0 1-9/0 -Reid, W. 20-189/1 3-50/0 2-9/0 1-3/0 5-39/0 2-3/0 1-18/1 1-13/0 - 2-11/0 2-46/0 1-3/0 - -Sam, L. 4-102/0 1-45/0 - - 1-27/0 1-6/0 - 1-24/0 - - - - - -Carter, D. 5-99/1 - 1-3/0 - - 2-57/1 - - - - 1-5/0 - 1-34/0 -Henshaw, M. 5-94/2 - 1-9/0 - DNP DNP - �- 2-58/0 - - - 1-20/1 1-7/1Washington, L. 10-90/0 1-11/0 DNP DNP DNP DNP 1-15/0 1-2/0 1-18/0 1-16/0 4-23/0 - 1-5/0 -Booker, L. 19-86/0 4-45/0 - DNP DNP DNP 2-1/0 - 4-39/0 2-3/0 6-9/0 - 1-3/0 -Irons, P. 6-79/0 1-18/0 - 1-1/0 - 3-42/0 - - - - 1-20/0 - - -Jones, G. 9-52/0 1-13/0 - 1-16/0 3-8/0 - - 1-3/0 - 1-1/0 - 1-8/0 1-5/0 -Dean, B.J. 4-30/0 - - 1-6/0 1-6/0 - - - - 1-9/0 1-9/0 DNP DNP -Kaleikini, J. 2-27/1 - - - - 1-12/0 - - 1-15/1 - - - - -Coleman, J. 4-26/0 1-5/0 - - 1-1/0 - 1-6/0 - - - - 1-14/0 - -Hallback, R. 1-9/0 DNP DNP DNP DNP 1-9/0 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNPNapier, M. 1-4/0 DNP DNP DNP 1-4/0 - DNP DNP - - DNP DNP DNP DNP

PASSING GAME-BY-GAMERix, C. Att Comp Int Pct Yards TD Long Sack YdsNorth Carolina 26 17 0 65.4 232 1 43 1 11Maryland 29 16 1 55.2 228 2 67 2 17Georgia Tech 30 15 2 50.0 160 1 26 0 0Colorado 39 30 0 76.9 394 2 66 0 0Duke 25 16 0 64.0 274 2 50 3 17Miami 42 20 2 47.6 235 2 48 3 27Virginia 25 12 0 48.0 189 1 79 1 7Wake Forest 34 22 1 64.7 339 2 46 1 10Notre Dame 31 17 3 54.8 327 3 51 3 16Clemson 31 16 2 51.6 194 0 26 3 14NC State 32 15 1 46.9 183 3 33 2 16Florida 19 14 0 73.7 256 3 52 1 5Miami 19 6 1 31.6 96 1 52 1 7TOTALS 382 216 13 56.5 3107 23 79 21 147

Walker, F. Att Comp Int Pct Yards TD Long Sack YdsNorth Carolina 8 5 0 62.5 38 0 17 0 0Maryland 1 1 0 100.0 3 0 3 0 0Colorado 7 5 0 71.4 64 0 27 0 0Duke 7 5 0 71.4 45 1 16 1 2Wake Forest 6 3 0 50.0 28 1 15 0 0Clemson 21 11 0 52.4 164 1 71 0 0TOTALS 50 30 0 60.0 342 3 71 1 2

Sexton, W. Att Comp Int Pct Yards TD Long Sack YdsNorth Carolina 3 2 0 66.7 47 0 45 0 0Duke 2 1 0 50.0 9 0 9 2 16TOTALS 5 3 0 60.0 56 0 45 2 16

Team Att Comp Int Pct Yards TD Long Sack YdsColorado 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0TOTALS 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0

Anderson, K. 3-2 5 - 1-0 - - 2-0 - - 0-1 - - - - 0-1Bredwood, A. 4-1 5 - 1-0 - - - - - - 2-0 - 1-1 - -Davis, B. 4-1 5 1-0 - DNP 0-1 1-0 DNP - DNP 1-0 1-0 DNP DNP DNPDickson, C. 0-4 4 0-1 0-1 DNP - 0-2 DNP - - DNP DNP DNP DNP DNPBurston, D. 3-0 3 - - DNP 1-0 1-0 DNP DNP 1-0 DNP DNP DNP DNP DNPBeitia, X. 2-1 3 - 1-0 - - 1-1 - - - - - - - -Washington, L. 1-1 2 - DNP DNP DNP DNP 1-0 - - - 0-1 - - -Hardage, N. 2-0 2 DNP DNP DNP - 2-0 DNP DNP DNP - DNP DNP DNP DNPRoss, G. 2-0 2 - - - - 1-0 1-0 - - - - - - -Irons, P. 0-1 1 - - - - - 0-1 - - - - - - -Sam, P.K. 1-0 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1-0Castillo, D. 1-0 1 - - 1-0 - - - - - - - - - -Davis, Chr. 1-0 1 - - - - - 1-0 - - - - - - -Jones, G. 1-0 1 - - 1-0 - - - - - - - - - -Meeks, B. 1-0 1 - - - - DNP - DNP - - 1-0 - - -Team 1-0 1 - - - 1-0 - - - - - - - - -Booker, L. 1-0 1 - - DNP DNP DNP - - 1-0 - - - - -Dean, B.J. 1-0 1 - - - - - - - - 1-0 - DNP DNP -Barron, A. 1-0 1 - - - - - - - - - 1-0 - - -


22

By DAVID DROSCHAKAP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The Florida State fanschanted his name and Bobby Bowden was more thanhappy to tip his cap as he left Kenan Stadium undervastly different circumstances this time.

Chris Rix ran for a pair of short touchdowns andthrew for another score as the 13th-ranked Seminolesreturned to the scene of their worst regular-season lossin 16 years and beat North Carolina 37-0 Saturdaynight.

The Florida State offense, dominated by its de-fense in spring and fall scrimmages, rolled up 301yards and 18 first downs in the opening 30 minutes tobuild a nice working margin.

The Seminoles finished with 29 first downsand 553 yards of total offense as North Caro-lina was shut out in a season opener for the firsttime since 1966.

Rix had four turnovers in an embarrassing41-9 loss to the Tar Heels here in 2001 — histhird career start and the program’s most lop-sided regular-season loss since Auburn beat theSeminoles 59-27 in 1985.

But two years later, Rix secured his spot as FSU’sstarting quarterback by playing a near flawless game.He completed 11 of his first 12 passes with a pair of 1-yard scoring runs in the opening half and a 7-yard TDpass late in the third quarter.

The junior finished 17-of-26 for 232 yards asBowden won his 333rd game while improving to 26-2 in openers at FSU.

North Carolina showed its fans little improve-ment on defense — the team’s sore spot during lastyear’s 3-9 record.

The Seminoles’ gameplan was to spread outthe Tar Heels and use their speed. It worked fromthe start as Rix was able to hit receivers or runningbacks with swing passes or short routes that turnedinto big gains.

Florida State averaged 10.4 yards a play in thefirst quarter as Greg Jones, coming off knee surgery,scored on a 5-yard run to open the scoring. Less thantwo minutes later, a 43-yard pass by Rix set up hisfirst short keeper.

Freshman Lorenzo Booker, a nice complementto the powerful Jones, showed off his speed and cut-back ability on the first play of the second quarter,racing 21 yards for his first career TD and a 21-0 lead.

Rix then capped a 79-yard drive with a 1-yardsneak 1:08 before halftime.

Florida State’s new offensive line looked im-pressive as the Seminoles rushed for 236 yards.

The highlight of the ground attack came latein the first quarter when Jones bulled over all-ACCdefensive back Dexter Reid when he lowered hisshoulder, knocking off Reid’s helmet at the tail endof a 21-yard rush.

North Carolina’s only scoring chance of the firsthalf came on field goal attempts, but Dan Orner waswide right from 51 and 37 yards.

The loss was the Tar Heels’ seventh straight atKenan Stadium, tying a school record for consecu-tive home defeats set in 1987-88.

Florida State’s deep running back corps was dealta blow when Leon Washington was lost with a dislo-cated right elbow injury while returning a punt in thefirst quarter.

Game 1 • August 30 • Kenan Stadium • Chapel Hill, NCFLORIDA STATE – 37NORTH CAROLINA – O

SCORE BY QUARTERSFlorida State 14 13 10 0 37North Carolina 0 0 0 0 0

SCORING SUMMARYFirst Quarter

FS - Jones, G. 5 yd run (Beitia, X. kick), 5-69 1:56, FS 7 -NC 0

FS - Rix, C. 1 yd run (Beitia, X. kick), 3-70 0:54, FS 14 -NC 0

Second QuarterFS - Booker, L. 21 yd run (Beitia, X. kick), 6-66 3:00, FS 21

- NC 0FS - Rix, C. 1 yd run (Beitia, X. kick blockd), 13-79 5:00,

FS 27 - NC 0Third Quarter

FS - Davis, Chr. 7 yd pass from Rix, C. (Beitia, X. kick), 9-80 4:23, FS 34 - NC 0

FS - Beitia, X. 26 yd field goal, 8-27 1:14, FS 37 - NC 0

TEAM STATISTICSFS NC

First Downs 29 17Rushes-Yards 42-236 27-72Passing Yards 317 223Passes Att-Comp-Int 37-24-0 47-27-2Total Offense Plays-Yds 79-553 74-295Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 0-0Punt Returns-Yards 3-37 1-10Kickoff Returns-Yards 1-13 0-0Interception Returns-Yards 2-8 0-0Punts (Number-Avg) 3-46.7 6-43.0Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1Penalties-Yards 4-35 4-42Possession Time 30:26 29:34Sacks By: Number-Yards 1-7 2-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Booker, L. 11-87; Jones, G. 8-59; Reid,

W. 9-48; Washington, L. 1-27; Rix, C. 7-13; Dean,B.J. 2-11; Coleman, J. 1-2; Sexton, W. 1-minus 1; Sam,P.K. 1-minus 4; Davis, Chr. 1-minus 6. NC: McGill,R 12-48; Durant, D 6-22; Scott, C 5-10; Parker, W 1-4; Pollock, J 1-2; Stephens, CJ 2-minus 14.

PASSING-FSU: Rix, C. 17-26-0-232; Walker, F. 5-8-0-38; Sexton, W. 2-3-0-47; Sam, P.K. 0-0-0-0. NC:Durant, D 18-31-1-145; Baker, M 5-10-1-20;Stephens, CJ 4-6-0-58.

RECEIVING-FSU: Thorpe, C. 7-83; Booker, L. 4-45;Davis, Chr. 4-39; Reid, W. 3-50; Sam, L. 1-45; Irons,P. 1-18; Jones, G. 1-13; Washington, L. 1-11; Sam,P.K. 1-8; Coleman, J. 1-5. NC: Pollock, J 8-71; Ma-son, M 5-25; Blizzard, B 3-29; Rumley, D 2-52; Dunn,J 2-21; Lewis, J 2-8; Scott, C 2-0; Mitchell, D 1-9;Curry, C 1-9; Russell, B 1-minus 1.

UNC Notes…FIRST TIME STARTERS FOR

FLORIDA STATEFive different players started for their firstcareer games for Florida State against NorthCarolina. Offensively guard Matt Meinrod andwide receivers Craphonso Thorpe andChauncey Stoval were starters. Defensivelydefensive end Eric Moore and cornerbackBryant McFadden were starters for the firsttime during their Seminoles careers.

SEMINOLES SHOW THEIRDEPTH IN THE FIRST

QUARTERFlorida State utilized 56 players during the firstquarter of its season opener against NorthCarolina.

RIX IN THE FIRST QUARTERAGAINST THE TAR HEELS

Chris Rix completed eight of nine passes for125 yards during the first quarter against NorthCarolina. Rix was eight of 21 for 112 yards inChapel Hill Sept. 22, 2001 that last time theSeminoles played on the road against the TarHeels.

FIRST QUARTER SHUTOUTNOT THAT UNUSUAL

FSU held UNC scoreless in the first quarter oflast year’s game in addition to holding its firstfour opponents of the season scoreless in thefirst quarter. FSU led Iowa State 17-0, Virginia9-0, Maryland 6-0 and Duke 3-0 beforeLouisville entered the second quarter tied atthree with FSU. On the flip side, FSU’s 14 firstquarter points tonight were more than FSUscored in the first half of all but one of its gameslast year. The Seminoles scored 17 in KansasCity against Iowa State in the 2002 seasonopener.

HALFTIME SHUTOUTFSU held three teams scoreless over the first halfin 2002. North Carolina trailed 17-0, Maryland30-0 and Virginia 23-0.

RIX FINDING THE ENDZONESeminole quarterback Chris Rix scored a careerhigh two rushing touchdowns in the first halfagainst North Carolina. His previous single gamecareer high was one against six different teams,most recently against Clemson Oct. 3, 2002 inDoak Campbell Stadium.

BEITIA HAS PAT BLOCKED–FIRST MISS IN 81 ATTEMPTS

North Carolina blocked the point after touchdownattempt by Xavier Beitia on Florida State’s fourthtouchdown of the first half. It was Beitia’s firstmiss since Oct. 21, 2001 a streak of 80consecutive PAT attempts made. Entering thegame, his streak was the fourth longestconsecutive PAT streak in the nation.


23

By BRENT KALLESTADAssociated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Greg Jones ran fortwo touchdowns and Chris Rix passed for two moreSaturday night as No. 11 Florida State wiped outan early 10-point deficit and defeated Maryland35-10.

Florida State (2-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Con-ference) is now 14-0 against Maryland. The 35points were the fewest Florida State has scored inseven home wins over Maryland.

Jones broke free for a 44-yard touchdown runwith 11:29 left in the first half to give the Semi-noles a 14-10 lead. On a third-and-two, the 240-pound Jones took a pitch, broke to the right side-line and outran Maryland’s defenders.

The run pushed Jones past 2,000 yards forhis career, making him only the ninth Florida Stateplayer to surpass that milestone.

The victory was coach Bobby Bowden’s334th, leaving him just three behind all-time leaderJoe Paterno of Penn State among Division IAcoaches. He also tied former Virginia coach GeorgeWelsh for the most ACC wins with 85.

Jones scored his second touchdown on a 1-yard run to culminate a 99-yard drive that gave theSeminoles a 21-10 lead with 5:38 left in the half.A 67-yard pass from Rix to P.K. Sam was the bigplay on the nine-play scoring drive.

Sam later caught a 34-yard touchdown passthat gave Florida State a 28-10 lead in the finalseconds of the third quarter. Willie Reid’s 2-yardTD run completed the scoring.

Maryland (0-2, 0-1 ACC) started fast butcouldn’t sustain anything offensively againstFlorida State’s speedy defense, which hasn’t al-lowed a touchdown this season.

The Terrapins managed only 197 total yards,and quarterback Scott McBrien, who spent mostof his night scrambling under pressure, completedonly 6 of 18 passes for 61 yards.

D’Qwell Jackson intercepted Rix on FloridaState’s first offensive play and ricocheted off twowould-be Seminole tacklers to maintain his bal-ance on a 58-yard scoring return that gave Mary-land a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.Jackson also blocked a field goal try by FloridaState’s Xavier Beitia when Maryland held an early10-7 lead.

Maryland took a 10-0 lead on a 44-yard fieldgoal by Nick Novak before Florida State scoredon an 18-yard pass from Rix to Craphanso Thorpe.

In a schedule quirk, Florida State opens theseason with three straight league games and al-ready has a leg up on Maryland and North Caro-lina State — two teams thought to be ACC con-tenders this season. Wake Forest upset N.C. State34-24 Saturday.

SCORE BY QUARTERSMaryland 10 0 0 0 10Florida State 7 14 7 7 35


UM - D.Jackson 58 interception return (Novak kick),13:06.

UM - FG Novak 44, 10:06.

Game 2 • September 6 • Doak Cambell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 35

MARYLAND – 10FSU - Thorpe 18 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 7:28.

Second QuarterFSU - Jones 44 run (Beitia kick), 11:29.FSU - Jones 1 run (Beitia kick), 5:38.

Third QuarterFSU - P.K.Sam 34 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :07.

Fourth QuarterFSU - Reid 2 run (Beitia kick), 9:06.

TEAM STATISTICSUM FSU

First downs 13 23Rushes-yards 31-73 46-196Passing 124 231Comp-Att-Int 14-31-1 17-30-1Return Yards 89 56Punts-Avg. 7-44.0 7-43.0Fumbles-Lost 3-2 2-0Penalties-Yards 6-55 10-81Time of Possession 26:07 33:53Attendance 82,885

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-MD: Maldanado 9-41, Perry 10-32,

McBrien 4-22, Walker 1-1, Allen 2-1, Parson 1-0,team 1-(minus 1), Evans 3-(minus 23). FSU: Jones14-88, Booker 7-42, Reid 8-30, Rix 8-15, Coleman2-11, P.K.Sam 1-8, Dean 3-5, Reynolds 2-3, team1-(minus 6).

PASSING-MD: McBrien 6-18-1-61, Evans 7-12-0-57,Harrison 1-1-0-6. FSU: Rix 16-29-1-228, Walker1-1-0-3.

RECEIVING-MD: Walker 4-41, Fenner 2-12, Parson1-23, Harrison 1-14, Williams 1-9, Miller 1-8,Smith 1-7, Perry 1-5, Abiamiri 1-4, Davis 1-1.FSU: Thorpe 5-56, P.K.Sam 3-113, Davis 3-25,Stovall 2-16, Reid 2-9, Henshaw 1-9, Carter 1-3.

Maryland Notes…SEMINOLES IN HOME

OPENERSWith tonight’s win, FSU has now won 14consecutive home-openers, dating back to its34-23 loss to Clemson in 1989. Bobby Bowdenis 26-2 in his 28 home openers at Florida State.

JUST THREEIn two games this season, the Seminole defensehas yet to allow a touchdown. The Terps scoredin the first quarter on an interception return.The FSU defense has allowed just a field goalin eight quarters of play.

HEY, HEY P.K.Wide receiver P.K. Sam had a career night. Thejunior recorded his first career 100 yard gamewith 113 yards. His previous career-high was96 yards against Duke last season on a career-high seven receptions. In the first half, Sam’s67-yard reception in the second quarter washis career-high and marked the Seminoles’longest play from scrimmage this season.

MR. JONESTailback Greg Jones’ 44-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter wasFSUís longest rush of the season. With thatcarry, Jones surpassed the 2,000 yard mark.He needed just 24 yards coming into tonightísgame and now has 2,064 for his career.

LEROY’S SECONDLeroy Smith’s interception in tonight’s firstquarter was the juniorís second of his career,but first ever with return yards. In last year’sDuke game, Smith snagged his first careerinterception but for no return. Tonight’sinterception was returned for 32 yards. Theinterception marked the 39th consecutive gamethat the Florida State defense has forced aturnover. The last time FSU’s defense did notforce a turnover was on September 9, 2000 vs.Georgia Tech.

MULTI GREGGreg Jones recorded two touchdowns intonightís first half. For his career, Jones nowhas four multi-touchdown games. His others:

2002 Virginia ....................................... 2Clemson ...................................... 3

2001 Wake Forest ................................ 2

RIX MOVES TO 7THWith Chris Rix’s touchdown pass to CraphonsoThorpe in tonight’s first quarter, the juniorquarterback moved into a tie for 7th place with39 touchdown passes on FSU’s all-time list. Heis now tied with Jimmy Jordan and BillCappleman.


24


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State coachBobby Bowden said he had no idea how his 10th-ranked Seminoles managed to beat Georgia Techon Saturday night.

“It was like checkers (and) they were a jumpahead of us,” Bowden said after his team scoredtwo touchdowns in the final 7:09 for a 14-13 vic-tory. “They did a better job of anticipating whatwe were going to do than we did of what they weregoing to do.”

Chris Rix shook off two interceptions to runfor one touchdown and pass for another as theSeminoles avoided becoming Georgia Tech’s sec-ond upset victim in as many weeks.

Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Con-ference) defeated Auburn 17-3 a week ago and wason the verge of its first ACC victory in a dozentries against the Seminoles.

Georgia Tech’s P.J. Daniels ran 47 yards fortouchdown and Dan Burnett kicked two field goalsas the Yellow Jackets built a 13-0 lead midwaythrough the fourth quarter in hopes of pulling offtheir second big upset in as many weeks.

Reuben Houston’s leaping interception ofRix’s pass intended for Craphanso Thorpe in theend zone snuffed out the Seminoles first scoringthreat of the game early in the fourth quarter andset up Daniels scoring run — the first touchdownallowed this seasons by Florida State.

Dawan Landry’s interception of another Rixpass ended Florida State’s first offensive threat ofthe game early in the third quarter.Rix’s 5-yard touchdown pass to P.K. Sam, andXavier Beitia’s extra point put Florida State aheadwith 2:57 left.

The Seminoles (3-0, 3-0 ACC) averted theirfirst home shutout in Bowden’s 28 seasons whenRix scored on a 3-yard run with 7:09 left to pull towithin 13-7.

Georgia Tech freshman quarterback ReggieBall, who was sacked six times, threw a pass thatwas intercepted by Pat Watkins at the Seminoles20 with 29 seconds left to seal the victory.

Florida State allowed Georgia Tech only 69yards offense and three first downs in the secondhalf.

The Yellow Jackets had Florida State bam-boozled most of the first half, running 42 plays toonly 15 for the Seminoles. Tech had the ball for23:06, compared to Florida State’s 6:54.

But Georgia Tech lost a great scoring oppor-tunity in the first quarter when it failed to score onfour running plays from the Florida State two.

Florida State’s lone first down in the half cameon a penalty.

Florida State fumbled on the first play of thegame, a 16-yard reverse run by Thorpe that ac-counted for all but 10 of its yards by halftime.

Burnett’s field goals — covering 35 and 45yards — gave Georgia Tech a 6-0 halftime lead asFlorida State fans booed the Seminoles off the fieldat the break.

The victory leaves Bowden as the most win-ning coach in ACC play with 86 career conferencevictories, one more than former Virginia coachGeorge Welsh. Florida State is 12-0 against Geor-

Game 3 • September 13 • Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 14GEORGIA TECH – 13

gia Tech since joining the league in 1992.Bowden, second on the Division I-A victory

list, has 335 — just two less than Penn State’s JoePaterno.

SCORE BY QUARTERSGeorgia Tech 0 6 0 7 13Florida State 0 0 0 14 14

SCORING SUMMARYSecond Quarter

GT - FG Burnett 35, 14:10.GT - FG Burnett 45, 7:49.

Fourth QuarterGT - Daniels 47 run (Burnett kick), 12:26.FSU - Rix 3 run (Beitia kick), 7:09.FSU - P.K. Sam 5 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 2:57.

TEAM STATISTICSGT FSU

First Downs 13 14Rushes-Yards 39-112 32-91Passing 128 160Return Yards 92 36Comp-Att-Int 12-25-1 1 5-30-2Punts 5-44 5-41Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1Penalties-Yards 7-56 8-90Time of Possession 33:32 26:28Attendance 82,133

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-GT: Daniels 19-113, Eziemefe 4-11,

J.Jackson 1-4, J.Smith 2-1, Ball 13-(minus 17).FSU: Rix 8-41, Reid 5-21, Thorpe 1-16, Jones 14-13, Coleman 2-2, Dean 1-1, team 1-(minus 3).

PASSING-GT: Ball 11-24-1-116, Higgins 1-1-0-12.FSU: Rix 15-30-2-160.

RECEIVING-GT: J.Smith 4-64, Curry 4-39, Daniels2-4, Landry 1-12, McGuire 1-9. FSU: Thorpe 4-34, Sam 3-43, Stovall 2-33, Robinson 1-26, Jones1-16, Dean 1-6, Davis 1-6, Irons 1-(minus 1), Reid1-(minus 3).

Tech Notes...ALL-TIME PASSING

QB Chris Rix moved into 6th place on FSU’sall-time passing yards list. He surpassed BillCappleman (1967-69) who had a career 4,904yards. With tonightís 160, Rix has 5,038 careerpassing yards, making him just the sixthquarterback in FSU history to pass for 5,000 ormore career yards.

SACK ATTACKAfter having five sacks on the season, theSeminole defense surpassed that total in tonight’sgame alone with six sacks. Six differentSeminoles recorded sacks in tonight’s game.Eleven different guys have recorded sacks forFSU this season.

DO YOU REMEMBER?In 1992, FSU trailed Georgia Tech 18-7 after threequarters and Charlie Ward orchestrated animpressive comeback, leading the Tribe to 22 fourthquarter points. FSU won the game, 29-24. In 2001,FSU trailed 15-12 after three quarters, but ChrisWeinke guided FSU to 14 fourth quarter points.

BOWDENÍS FIRST IN ACCVICTORIES

With tonight’s win, Bobby Bowden moved intofirst place for all-time ACC victories with 86.He surpassed former Virginia coach GeorgeWelsh, who had 85 wins in 19 seasons. This isFSU’s and Bowden’s 12th season in the ACC.Overall, the Tribe is 86-5 in ACC play.

SCORELESSWhile the Seminoles have held their opponentswithout an offensive touchdown in 10 straightquarters, tonight’s game marked the first timethis season that FSU was held scoreless in thefirst quarter and in the first half. In the 2001and 2002 meetings with the Yellow Jackets, FSUwas also held scoreless in the first quarter. Techscored first in both those games.

THE LAST TIMEThe last time FSU was shutout in the first halfof a game was in the national championshipgame vs. Oklahoma on January 3, 2001. In thatgame, FSU went scoreless through threequarters and managed a safety in the fourthquarter and fell 13-2. The last time FSU wasshutout in the first half of a home game wasSeptember 20, 1986. FSU trailed UNC 7-0 atthe half and the game resulted in a 10-10 tie.

WE TRAILED ’EM HEREBEFORE

The last time FSU trailed at halftime in a homegame was vs. Georgia Tech on Dec. 1, 2001.The Tribe was down 10-7 at the break and cameback to win 28-17. Last year, FSU trailed justthree times at halftime and went 1-2 in thosegames. At Wake Forest, FSU trailed 21-17 andwon 34-21. At NC State, FSU trailed 10-7 andlost 17-7. In the Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia, FSUtrailed 17-7 and lost 26-13.


25


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State’sweak running game was mere afterthought againstColorado.

Quarterback Chris Rix and receiverCraphonso Thorpe saw to that, combining on twolong scoring plays in the 10th-ranked Seminoles’47-7 victory Saturday.

And the Colorado offense was suffocatedthrough most of the game, managing its lone scoreon an 81-yard pass from Erik Greenberg to speed-ster Jeremy Bloom in the second quarter.

Although the Seminoles (4-0) couldn’t gettheir running game untracked for the secondstraight week, Rix passed for a career-high 394yards in three quarters, completing 30 of 39 at-tempts. Backup Fabian Walker added 64 yards asthe Seminoles totaled 458 yards passing.

And Thorpe, who was nearly benched after acouple of critical drops in last week’s 14-13 winover Georgia Tech, came up with the best game ofhis career.

The Atlantic Coast Conference 100- and 200-meter champion, Thorpe scored on passes of 56and 37 yards and finished with 205 yards on eightcatches — both career bests.

P.K. Sam chipped in with a career-high 10passes for 119 more yards as the Seminoles rolledup 551 yards offense compared to Colorado’s 275.Colorado (2-2) managed only 39 yards in the sec-ond half and Greenberg, who finished 14-of-30 for192 yards, was sacked four times. Brian Calhounled Colorado with 118 yards on 21 carries.

Aside from an 81-yard touchdown pass,Greenberg spent most of his first collegiate startrying to avoid Florida State’s pass rush led by endKamerion Wimbley.

The 230-pound sophomore, Wimbley createdhavoc all afternoon for Colorado. He had a pair ofsacks among his seven tackles, including four forlosses and swatted down a pass, forced a fumbleand recovered another fumble.

The Seminoles led just 10-7 in the secondquarter before breaking the game open with 37straight points.

Greg Jones scored on a 1-yard run on the firstplay of the fourth quarter, and Chauncey Davis’31-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown aminute later gave Florida State a 40-7 lead.

Ryan Reynolds, who began the season as thefifth-team tailback, scored his first career touch-down on a 3-yard run with 3:10 left to completethe scoring.

Beitia’s three first half-field goals and Rix’s37-yard touchdown pass to Thorpe helped theSeminoles to a 16-7 lead.

Florida State took a 10-0 lead on the TD andBeitia’s first field goal, a 20-yard chip shot.

Colorado pulled to 10-7 midway through thesecond quarter when Greenberg found Bloom atmidfield and he outran the Seminoles secondaryfor an 81-yard scoring play.

Xavier Beitia kicked four short field goals forFlorida State while Colorado’s Kevin Eberhartmissed two field-goal attempts in the first half, from42 and 22 yards.

Bowden has 336 career coaching wins - sec-

Game 4 • September 20 • Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 47

COLORADO – 7ond all time to Penn State’s Joe Paterno, who has338, among Division I-A coaches.

SCORE BY QUARTERSColorado 0 7 0 0 7Florida State 7 9 10 21 47


FSU - Thorpe 37 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 9:27.Second Quarter

FSU - FG Beitia 20, 8:19.CO - Bloom 81 pass from Greenberg (Crosby kick), 7:59.FSU - FG Beitia 26, 2:13.FSU - FG Beitia 27, :01.

Third QuarterFSU - FG Beitia 29, 12:33.FSU - Thorpe 56 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 6:05.

Fourth QuarterFSU - Jones 1 run (Beitia kick), 14:57.FSU - Cha. Davis 31 blocked punt return (Beitia kick),

13:41.FSU - Reynolds 3 run (Beitia kick), 3:10.

TEAM STATISTICSCO FSU

First downs 13 26Rushes-yards 38-83 24-93Passing 192 458Return Yards 102 76Comp-Att-Int 15-31-0 35-47-0Punts 9-38.4 4-46.3Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0Penalties-Yards 9-70 7-75Time of Possession 33:05 26:55Attendance 83,294

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-CO: Calhoun 21-118, Vickers 4-18, Cae-

sar 3-5, Cox 1-(minus 5), team 1-(minus 8), Bloom1-(minus 8), Torp 1-(minus 14), Greenberg 6-(mi-nus 23). FSU: Reid 4-45, G.Jones 9-26, Rix 5-17,Napier 3-11, Reynolds 2-4, Thorpe 1-(minus 10).

PASSING-CO: Greenberg 14-30-0-192, Higgins 1-1-0-0. FSU: Rix 30-39-0-394, Walker 5-7-0-64, team0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING-CO: Hackett 6-46, McCoy 5-34, Bloom1-81, Donahoe 1-14, Calhoun 1-12, Sypniewski1-5. FSU: P.K.Sam 10-119, Thorpe 8-205, Reid5-39, Chr.Davis 3-22, G.Jones 3-8, Robinson 2-27, L.Sam 1-27, Dean 1-6, Napier 1-4, Coleman1-1.

Colorado Notes...BEITIA CAREER HIGH

With four field goals in today’s game, FSUkicker Xavier Beitia recorded his career high.He had hit three field goals in two previousgames (2002 at Maryland and 2001 atVirginia). The last time an FSU player kickedfour field goals in a game was when BrettCimorelli hit four in a 54-7 win vs. Clemsonon November 4, 2000. Prior to today’s contest,Beitia had just one field goal for the season.Beitia put up a career high 17 points in today’swin. His previous high was 13 points vs.Virginia in 2001 and Maryland in 2002.

BIG GAME FOR THORPECraphonso Thorpe had a career-high 205yards on a career-high eight receptions intoday’s game and added a career-high twotouchdowns. Thorpe’s previous career-highswere 83 yards and seven receptions vs. UNCthis season. The last time an FSU playerrecorded 200 yards receiving was exactly sixyears to the day. Peter Warrick had 249 yardreceiving at Clemson on September 20, 1997.FSU won that game 35-28. The 205 yards putsThorpe in 8th place on FSU’s single gamereceiving yards list.

P.K. HAS A DAYWide receiver P.K. Sam recorded a career-high10 receptions for a career-high 119 yards. Hisprevious single game career high was seven vs.Duke last year and 113 yards vs. Maryland thisseason. The last time an FSU player recorded10 or more receptions in a game was PeterWarrick (11) on October 23, 1999 in a 17-14win at Clemson. Sam now has two, 100 yardreceiving games to his credit.

NATIONALLY SPEAKINGColorado is one of seven schools that FSU willplay this season that have earned a nationalchampionship in football. Those seven opponentshave combined for a total of 18 nationalchampionships and 20 total if you add FSU’s pairto the mix. The National Champs are NotreDame (8), Miami (5), FSU (2), Clemson,Colorado, Florida, Georgia Tech and Maryland.

GOAL LINE STANDFor the second consecutive game, the FloridaState defense has stopped its opponent on thegoal line in the first quarter of the game. Lastweek vs. Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets wereinside the two-yard line and FSU kept them fromscoring on four straight rushing attempts. OnCU’s first drive today, the first drive of the gamein fact, the Buffs were on the five, rushed for nogain, lost five yards, regained five yards andmissed a 22-yard field goal when it hit theupright.

IN THE HOUSEToday’s attendance is 83,294 which ranks thirdon the Doak Campbell Stadium’s Top 25 crowdslist.


26

By AARON BEARDAssociated Press Writer

DURHAM, N.C. — Chris Rix threw twotouchdown passes and A.J. Nicholson and An-tonio Cromartie added defensive touchdowns asNo. 6 Florida State beat Duke 56-7 on Saturdaynight.

B.J. Ward blocked two field goals for theSeminoles (5-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference),who got rushing touchdowns from three play-ers and improved to 12-0 in the series.

Chris Douglas had a 10-yard touchdownrun in the first quarter for Duke (2-3, 0-2), whichlost a record 27th straight ACC game.

Florida State scored touchdowns on its firstthree drives and took a 28-7 halftime lead.

The Seminoles widened their lead three playsinto the second half in unusual fashion. Nicholsonscooped up Mike Schneider’s fumble at the BlueDevils 23, fumbled it en route to the end zone, butpicked it up in stride and scored. He was creditedwith a 3-yard TD return for a 35-7 lead.

Cromartie added a 71-yard interception re-turn for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Things won’t get much easier for the BlueDevils. After winning two straight games for thefirst time in five years, they have lost two straightheading into a stretch that includes home gamesagainst Wake Forest and North Carolina State,and road games at Maryland and Tennessee. Allfour teams have been ranked this season.

The Seminoles had 157 yards on their first15 plays, including a 53-yard run by Greg Jonesand a 50-yard pass from Rix to Donnie Carter,en route to a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

On its first drive, Florida State marched 80yards in five plays — keyed by Jones’ big run— to take a 7-0 lead on a 6-yard run by B.J.Dean just 97 seconds into the game.

Florida State’s next drive went 92 yards,ending with a 2-yard run from Jones with 6:30left in the quarter. The Blue Devils aided thatdrive with a roughing-the-kicker penalty, giv-ing the Seminoles a first down.

Duke responded with an 82-yard touch-down drive, ending with Douglas’ 10-yard scorethat cut the deficit to 14-7 with 1:17 left in thequarter.

But Florida State wouldn’t let Duke buildany momentum. Cromartie returned the ensu-ing kickoff 62 yards, and the Seminoles pushedthe lead to 21-7 on Willie Reid’s 1-yard run onthe first play of the second quarter.

Just before halftime, Rix completed a 43-yard TD pass to Craphonso Thorpe, whooutjumped a defender to make a spectacularcatch, for the 28-7 lead at the break.

Duke had its chances to keep the gameclose, but came up empty on two second-quar-ter drives. On the first, Ward blocked BrettGarber’s 43-yard field-goal attempt. On the sec-ond, Schneider lost a fumbled to end a 53-yarddrive. Ward also blocked Garber’s 42-yard at-tempt in the third quarter.

SCORE BY QUARTERSFlorida St. 14 14 14 14 56Duke7 0 0 0 7

Game 5 • September 27 • Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NCFLORIDA STATE – 56

DUKE – 7SCORING SUMMARY

First QuarterFSU - Dean 6 run (Beitia kick), 13:23.FSU - Jones 2 run (Beitia kick), 6:30.DU - Douglas 10 run (Garber kick), 1:17.

Second QuarterFSU - Reid 1 run (Beitia kick), 14:56.FSU - Thorpe 43 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :57.

Third QuarterFSU - Nicholson 3 fumble return (Beitia kick), 13:35.FSU - Carter 7 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 4:34.

Fourth QuarterFSU - Stovall 16 pass from Walker (Beitia kick), 12:31.FSU - Cromartie 71 interception return (Beitia kick),

2:40.

TEAM STATISTICSFSU DUKE

First Downs 24 17Rushes-Yards 31-96 45-106Passing Yards 328 169Return Yards 137 11Comp-Att-Int 22-34-0 15-34-1Punts 4-43 5-44Fumbles-Lost 3-2 2-2Penalties-Yards 8-90 10-107Time of Possession 23:42 36:18Attendance 24,370

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Jones 8-79, Reid 8-15, Dean 1-6, Rix

7-6, Napier 2-4, Walker 2-2, team 1-0, Sexton 2-(minus 16). DU: Douglas 19-48, Wade 3-17,Dargan 6-17, Dapolito 2-10, Fryer 3-7, Landrum1-3, Elliott 1-3, Schneider 10-1.

PASSING-FSU: Rix 16-25-0-274, Walker 5-7-0-45,Sexton 1-2-0-9. DU: Schneider 12-27-0-132,Dapolito 1-4-1-13, Smith 2-3-0-24.

RECEIVING-FSU: Sam 4-40, Robinson 3-60, Irons3-42, Carter 2-57, Davis 2-28, Stovall 2-28, Reid2-3, Thorpe 1-43, Kaleikini 1-12, Hallback 1-9,Sam 1-6. DU: Johnson 3-35, Landrum 3-9, Dou-glas 2-46, Dargan 2-11, Powell 1-25, Roland 1-18, Pastore 1-13, Sharpe 1-6, Love 1-6.

Duke Notes...FIRST DEFENSIVE TDS OF

THE YEARSophomore linebacker A.J. Nicholson, aWinston-Salem, N.C., native who is makinghis first career start tonight in front of alarge group of family and friends, scoredFlorida State’s first defensive touchdown ofthe season on a fumble recovery in tonight’sthird quarter. The last FSU player to scorea TD on a fumble recovery was MichaelBoulware at NC State last year on November23.

Freshman cornerback AntonioCromar-tie scored FSU’s second defensiveTD when he intercepted a pass for a TD inthe fourth quarter. The last FSU player tointercept a pass and run it back for a TDwas Kendyll Pope last year vs. Florida onNovember 30, 2002. Last year, FSU scoredfour defensive touchdowns.

BLOCKING B.J.In tonight’s third quarter, B.J. Ward recordedhis second blocked field goal of the game,tying an FSU record for blocked field goalsin a game held by J.T. Thomas (2 vs.Louisville, Sept. 12, 1970) and for blockedkicks in a game held by Thomas and JoeWessel (2 vs. Temple, Sept. 29, 1984). Thetwo blocked field goals gives Ward six forhis career, just one shy of the FSU record ofseven held by Bobby Butler (1977-80).

FIRST STARTSSophomores A.J. Nicholson (linebacker), EricBroe (offensive guard) and Kamerion Wimbley(defensive end) all made their first career startstonight.

MORE SECOND HALFFIRSTS

Tight end Donnie Carter scored his first careertouchdown in tonight’s game on a seven-yardreception in the third quarter. Heading intothe game, Carter, who moved this season totight end from defensive tackle, had just onecareer reception for three yards. In the firsthalf, Carter snagged a career-long 50-yardpass. It was FSU’s first touchdown by a tightend since Paul Irons’ score at Virginia onOctober 20, 2001.

Quarterback Fabian Walker recorded hisfirst touchdown pass of the season when heconnected with Chauncey Stovall in the fourthquarter.

Chauncey Stovall recorded his firstcareer touchdown on a 16-yard reception fromWalker. Antonio Cromartie scored his firstcareer touchdown in the fourth quarter.

THE LAST TIMEThe last time FSU scored 56 or more pointswas in a 58-14 win at NC State on October28, 2000.


27

By JOSH DUBOWAP Football Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jarrett Payton puton his dad’s No. 34 Chicago Bears jersey beforegoing to bed on the eve of his first college start.

He waited four years for this moment and itcouldn’t have been any sweeter.

Payton caught a 14-yard touchdown pass andran for a career-high 97 yards, and No. 2 Miamiforced five turnovers in a 22-14 win Saturday overNo. 5 Florida State.

All signs pointed toward Florida State head-ing into its annual showdown with Miami.

The Seminoles (5-1) had four blowout wins,a dominating defense and the home-field advan-tage. The Hurricanes (6-0) were missing leadingrusher Frank Gore and an underdog for just thesecond time in 38 games.

But the Hurricanes won behind an opportu-nistic defense. Sean Taylor intercepted two passes,returning one 50 yards for a score, and Miami builta 22-0 lead to win for the 40th time in 41 games.

Miami didn’t need to rely on a missed fieldgoal by Florida State this year; the Seminoles havelost four times since 1991 on a missed kick.

They made plenty of other mistakes. FloridaState had a punt blocked, lost an accidental onsidekick and turned the ball over five times in a stretchof seven possessions.

Jon Peattie kicked three field goals, KellenWinslow caught seven passes for 106 yards andthe defense held Florida State to 61 yards rushing.Payton’s career got off to a promising start whenhe ran for 262 yards as a freshman despite beingdistracted by the cancer that killed his father. Thena variety of injuries held him back until this year.Each team turned the ball over five times in therain — even Payton fumbled once — and the of-fenses struggled to move the ball on a field full ofpuddles that Bowden called the worst his team hasever played on.

Miami’s Brock Berlin threw three intercep-tions, including one that set up Willie Reid’s 18-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter to makeit 22-7.

On the next possession, Winslow fumbled atthe end of a 39-yard reception. The Seminoles thenmounted an 18-play drive that ended on Rix’sincompletion on fourth down from the 5.

Florida State’s Chris Davis had a 17-yardtouchdown catch on the last play in the final meet-ing between the schools before Miami joins theSeminoles in the ACC next season.

The game started with a good omen forFlorida State when Peattie missed a 22-yard fieldgoal - wide left, just as Xavier Beitia did at the endof last year’s 28-27 Seminoles loss.

Nothing else went right for Florida State inthe half.

On the next possession, Joel Stein got off aclean punt that was waved off because of a whistlethat blew from the Miami section. Jarrell Weaverblocked the second try, setting up Peattie’s 27-yardfield goal.

Brian Monroe shanked the ensuing kickoffbut even that worked for Miami. Darnell Jenkinsraced down the sideline and caught the pop-up kickat the 33 for a most unusual onside kick recovery.

Game 6 • October 11 • Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 14

MIAMI – 22Peattie then kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it6-0.

After Taylor’s first interception, Miami drove75 yards, capped by Berlin’s screen pass to Paytonthat made it 12-0.

Late in the half, Taylor intercepted a floaterfrom Rix, ran down the sideline and hurdled a tack-ler on his way into the end zone for a 19-0 lead. Itwas Miami’s eighth touchdown return this year.

After Rix fumbled to open the second half,Peattie kicked his third field goal.

SCORE BY QUARTERMiami 6 13 3 0 22Florida State 0 0 7 7 14


UM - FG Peattie 27, 5:16.UM - FG Peattie, 22, 3:17.

Second QuarterUM - Payton 14 pass from Berlin (pass failed), 11:26.UM - Taylor 50 interception return (Peattie kick), 3:11.

Third QuarterUM - FG Peattie 19, 11:26.FSU - Reid 18 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 4:51.

Fourth QuarterFSU - Davis 17 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 0:00.


First Downs 13 20Rushes-Yards 34-131 37-61Passing 181 235Return Yards 83 3Comp-Att-Int 15-28-3 20-42-2Punts 4-40 5-31Fumbles-Lost 3-2 6-3Penalties-Yards 10-65 5-35Time of Possession 28:42 31:18Attendance 84,336

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-UM: Payton 26-97, Parrish 1-17, Geathers

2-11, Berlin 3-4, Moss 2-2. FSU: Washington 6-26, Jones 13-15, Dean 2-12, Coleman 2-7, Booker2-1, Rix 12-0.

PASSING-UM: Berlin 15-28-3-181. FSU: Rix 20-42-2-235.

RECEIVING-UM: Winslow 7-106, Payton 2-15,Parrish 2-14, Hill 2-6, Moore 1-35, Beard 1-5.FSU: Sam 9-95, Davis 2-28, Robinson 2-21,Booker 2-(minus 1), Thorpe 1-48, Reid 1-18,Washington 1-15, Coleman 1-6, Stovall 1-5.

Miami Notes…BOWDEN ONE BEHIND

PATERNOFlorida State head coach Bobby Bowden hastotaled 337 career wins, one behind PennStateís Joe Paterno on the list of all-timewinningest Division IA coaches. Bowden andPaterno are two of only five coaches to reachthe 300-win plateau, joining Bear Bryant andAmos Alonzo Stagg. Penn State (2-5) is openthis week and finishes the season at Iowa, vs.Ohio State, at Northwestern, vs. Indiana andat Michigan State. To put the Bowden andPaterno win totals in perspective, the nextactive coach on the list is South Carolina’sLou Holtz and he is almost 100 wins behindwith 242 career victories.

SECOND HALF DEFENSIVEDOMINANCE

Florida State’s defense leads the nation withjust four touchdowns allowed through the firstsix games of the season and only one of thosescores has come in the second half. The defenseis allowing nearly 100 yards of total offense lessin the second half than in the first half throughits first six games of the season and has allowedfour opponents (Maryland, Georgia Tech,Colorado and Duke) less than 100 yards of totaloffense in the second half.

RIX NOW SECOND AT FSUAND 15TH IN THE ACC INCAREER TOTAL OFFENSE

Chris Rix moved into second place on FloridaState’s all-time total offense list against Miamiand enters Saturday’s game against Virginiawith 6,711 career total offensive yards. With acareer-high 411 yards of total offense againstColorado, Rix surpassed Thad Busby (1994-97/5,883 career total offensive yards), Gary Huff(1970-72/6,086) and current Denver BroncoDanny Kanell (1992-95/6,176) on theSeminoles’ all-time list. Last week vs. Miami,Rix totaled 235 yards of offense to move pastCharlie Ward (6,636 yards) on the all-time FSUlist.

REID FINDS END ZONETHROUGH THE AIR

Sophomore Willie Reid caught an 18-yardtouchdown pass from Chris Rix against Miamifor his first career receiving touchdown. He hastwo rushing touchdowns and one receivingtouchdown this year for a single season career-high of three for the season. Reid is tied forthird in the team statistics with threetouchdowns in six games this season. He hadonly one touchdown (rushing against Virginiaon Aug, 30, 2002) in 10 games during hisfreshman season. Reid is the only player on theteam with at least one touchdown receiving andat least one touchdown rushing.


28

By HANK KURZ Jr.AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — BobbyBowden isn’t chasing Joe Paterno anymore.

Chris Rix threw a 79-yard touchdown passto Craphonso Thorpe and Xavier Beitia kicked fourfield goals Saturday night as No. 7 Florida Stategave Bowden his 338th career coaching victory,19-14 over Virginia.

The victory moved the 73-year-old Bowdeninto a tie with Penn State’s Paterno for first placeon the Division I-A coaching victories list. TheNittany Lions were off Saturday.

Bowden, in his 28th year at Florida State and38th as a head coach, got some help from Virginia.The Cavaliers (4-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference)turned the ball over twice and lost 17 yards when theball was snapped prematurely on a key late third-downplay, the huge loss killing Virginia’s chances.

The Seminoles (6-1, 5-0) then ran out theclock, driving inside the Cavaliers 10 as Virginiaburned its timeouts before time ran out.

Florida State also won with defense, holdingthe Cavaliers to minus 5 rushing yards on just nineattempts as Virginia tried to win on the arm of MattSchaub. He was 39-for-53 for 326 yards and twotouchdowns, but was still setting his offense whenthe biggest snap of the night sailed by.

Until then, the Cavaliers looked poised to takeit to the wire.

Alvin Pearman, starting in place of injured WaliLundy, set a school record with 16 catches for 134yards for the Cavaliers, and Heath Miller caught ninefor 77 yards. Each also pulled in a touchdown passfrom Schaub, with Miller’s 8-yarder midway throughthe third quarter making it 16-14.

But Beitia added his fourth field goal, a 39-yarder, later in the quarter and the Seminoles’ de-fense made all the stops it needed at the end.

The Seminoles had a chance to push their leadto eight with 8:39 to play, but Beitia’s 38-yard fieldgoal was low and sailed wide left.

Schaub promptly hit Pearman for 14 yards andthe Cavaliers were facing a third-and-3 from their 42.Schaub was still setting up the offense and wasn’t evenlooking when the ball suddenly was snapped past him.But the time Schaub slid and covered it, it was for adrive-killing 17-yard loss.

Rix, who was 12-for-25 for 189 yards and noturnovers, then kept the ball on the ground as theSeminoles chewed up the clock and hung on.

The Seminoles went three-and-out on theirfirst series, two-and-gone on their second. Rix hitThorpe near midfield as cornerback AlmondoCurry slipped, and the ACC sprint champion blazeduntouched down the right sideline when safety JayDorsey inexplicably didn’t even hit him.

Virginia drove 92 yards in just over threeminutes for its first touchdown late in the first half,Pearman taking a swing pass from Schaub 21 yardswith 13 seconds left to make it 13-7. The throwwas Schaub’s 33rd of the half, while the Cavaliersran the ball just four times.

Virginia outgained the Seminoles 222-201 inthe half despite having possession for less than 11minutes, but the turnovers made the difference.

Florida State turned a first-quarter intercep-tion by B.J. Ward on a tipped ball at Virginia’s 42

Game 7 • October 18 • Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VAFLORIDA STATE – 19

VIRGINIA – 14and a fumble recovery by Leroy Smith at midfieldin the second quarter into field goals by Beitia.

SCORE BY QUARTERSFlorida State 10 3 6 0 19Virginia 0 7 7 0 14


FSU - Craphonso Thorpe 79 yd pass from Chris Rix(Xavier Beitia kick)

FSU - Xavier Beitia 34 yd field goalSecond Quarter

FSU - Xavier Beitia 38 yd field goalVA - Alvin Pearman 21 yd pass from Matt Schaub

(Connor Hughes kick)Third Quarter

FSU - Xavier Beitia 47 yd field goalVA - Heath Miller 8 yd pass from Matt Schaub (Connor

Hughes kick)FSU - Xavier Beitia 39 yd field goal

TEAM STATISTICSFS VA

First Downs 18 17Rushes-Yards 45-208 9-25Passing 189 326Comp-Att-Int 12-25-0 12-54-1Return Yards 57 114Punts-Avg 5-37.2 8-28.5Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1Penalties-Yards 5-45 5-35Time of Possession 37:12 22:48Attendance 62,875

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Jones 20-96, Washington 13-69, Rix

5-18, Dean 4-12, Coleman 1-3, Booker 1-0; UVA:Pearman 7-24, Schaub 1-0

PASSING-FSU: Rix 25-12-0-189-1; UVA: Schaub 53-39-1-326-2, Hagans 1-0-0-0-0

RECEIVING-FSU: Thorpe 3-104, PK Sam 2-21, Davis2-13, L. Sam 1-24, Reid 1-13, Stovall 1-9, Jones 1-3,Washington 1-2; UVA: Pearman 16-134, Miller 9-77, Sawyer 4-37, Anderson 4-26, Hagans 2-7, Will-iams 1-24, Isaiah 1-12, Luzar 1-5, Mines 1-4.

Virginia Notes...BOWDEN TIES NO. 1

With tonight’s win, Head Coach Bobby Bowdenhas tied Joe Paterno for first place on the all-time Division IA victory list with 338 careerwins.

BEITIA TIES MARKSKicker Xavier Beitia tied his career-long tonightwith a 47-yarder in the third quarter. He firsthit a 47-yarder vs. UNC is 2002. He also hit a50-yard FG in his freshman season (2001) inthe Gator Bowl win vs. Virginia Tech. Beitiaalso tied his career-high with four field goalstonight, however all four of tonight’s were for34 yards or more. He also had four FGs(ranging from 20 to 29 yards) in the Coloradowin on Sept. 20 and finished the contest scoringa career-high 17 points. Beitia’s 38-yard missin the fourth quarter tonight was his fifth attemptof the game — tying his personal record. Healso attempted five (made two) at Wake Forestin 2002.

Beitia went 4-for-5 tonight on fieldgoals and all four were for 34 yards or more.Prior to tonightís game, Beitiaís season-longwas a 29-yarder in the Colorado game. He isnow 9-for-12 for the year and 41-for-54 for hiscareer. With 13 points tonight, Beitia movedinto 6th place on FSUís all-time scoring listwith 245 points. He surpassed Dave Cappelen(1976-79) who finished his career with 240points.

MOST SINCE…UVA’s Matt Schaub’s 53 passing attempts and39 completions tonight is the most by anopposing quarterback since Scott Milanovichof Maryland went 46-for-62 in 1995 — whichis the most ever by an opposing QB. UVA’s AlvinPearman’s 16 receptions is the most by anopposing player since Tory Holt of NC Statecaught 12 vs. the Seminoles in 1997. Pearman’smark ties the record of 16 catches by GeroySimon of Maryland in 1995.

6-1 STARTFlorida State is 6-1 for the first time since the2000 season when the Seminoles last played inthe National Championship game. FSU went11-2 that year, was the ACC Champion and hada final ranking of No. 5.

THE LAST TIME…FSU held UVA to just five yards rushing on nineattempts. The last time FSU held an opponentto 50 yards rushing or fewer was vs. Florida in2000 (-1).

FIRST STARTSSophomores Ron Lunford (tight guard) andBrodrick Bunkley (noseguard) and truefreshman John Frady (center) all made theirfirst career starts tonight.


29

Oct. 25, 2003By BRENT KALLESTADAssociated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As the final min-utes ticked away, the Florida State crowd startedchanting “Bobby Bowden! Bobby Bowden!”

Forty-four years after coaching his first collegegame, Bowden reached the pinnacle Saturday.

He became major college football’swinningest coach with his 339th career victory andclinched at least a tie for another Atlantic CoastConference title as sixth-ranked Florida State keptits national title hopes alive with a 48-24 victoryover Wake Forest.

“It’s just something that happened,” saidBowden, who has been reluctant to talk about sur-passing longtime coaching friend Joe Paterno ofPenn State. “I’m kind of uncomfortable about itbecause it ain’t over. I expect Joe to come backand he will and I’ll do the best I can do.”

Bouncing back from an 9-5 season a year agoand an 8-4 mark in 2001, Bowden has Florida Stateaimed toward a 10-win season for the 18th time inhis 28 years at the school.

Florida State (7-1, 6-0) holds a two-game leadover several conference schools with only two leaguegames left — Nov. 8 at Clemson and Nov. 15 againstNorth Carolina State. A victory over either would giveFlorida State the outright championship and an auto-matic berth in a BCS bowl game.

The Seminoles, 89-5 since joining the ACCin 1992 with 11 titles in 12 seasons, were just toostrong for Wake Forest.

They took the lead for good late in the firstquarter and built it to 48-17 late in the game toremain perfect against the Demon Deacons in adozen league showdowns.

The 74-year-old coach was joined on the side-lines at the end of the game by his wife of 54 years,Ann, before an brief game-ending ceremony tosalute the achievement.

Junior quarterback Chris Rix, coincidentallymatched Bowden’s victory total by passing for 339yards and a pair of scores before leaving the gameafter the third quarter.

Rix, who also ran for a touchdown, huggedhis coach after the record victory.

Rix threw a pair of touchdown passes toCraphonso Thorpe on plays covering 25 yards and10 yards, the first giving the Seminoles a 27-14halftime lead.

Wake Forest (4-4, 2-3) did lead briefly, 7-3,in the first quarter when Jason Anderson caught a38-yard pass from Cory Randolph.

Rix scored on a 1-yard run with 1:38 left inthe quarter as the Seminoles regained the lead 10-7 and Leon Washington raced 65 yards with a puntreturn less than two minutes later to give FloridaState a 17-7 advantage.

Washington set a Florida State single-gamerecord with 159 yards on seven punt returns.

Greg Jones’ 3-yard TD run gave Florida State a41-17 lead after three quarters. Xavier Beitia startedthe scoring with 48-yard field goal and added a sec-ond from 43 yards in the second quarter.

Former walk-on Joey Kaleikini, a senior,caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from FabianWalker with 3:27 left in the game for his first ca-

Game 8 • October 25 • Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 48WAKE FOREST – 24

reer touchdown and the Seminoles’ final score.Randolph scored on a 13-yard run with a

minute left in the second quarter and Chris Davisscored on a three yard run for WAKE Forest with25 seconds left.

SCORE BY QUARTERSWake Forest 7 7 3 7 24Florida State 10 17 14 7 48


FSU - FG Beitia 48, 11:43.WF - Anderson 38 pass from Randolph (Wisnosky kick),

5:56.FSU - Rix 1 run (Beitia kick), 1:38.

Second QuarterFSU - Washington 65 punt return (Bietia kick), 14:45.FSU - FG Beitia 43, 4:21.WF - Randolph 13 run (Wisnosky kick), 1:00.FSU - Thorpe 25 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :15.

Third QuarterFSU - Thorpe 10 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 10:45.WF - FG Wisnosky 32, 6:38.FSU - Jones 3 run (Beitia kick), :10.

Fourth QuarterFSU - Kaleikini 15 pass from Walker (Beitia kick), 3:27.WF - Davis 3 run (Wisnosky kick), :25.

TEAM STATISTICSWFU FSU


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-WF: Birgs 14-70, Randolph 16-50, Barclay

16-50, Bryant 1-25, Davis 3-21, Taylor 1-15, team1-(minus 1). FSU: Jones 12-60, Booker 7-33,Washington 6-30, Rix 8-23, Dean 4-12, Coleman1-3, Walker 1-2, Napier 1-(minus 1), team 1-(mi-nus 24).

PASSING-WF: Randolph 8-14-0-96, Bryant 0-1-0-0. FSU:Rix 22-34-1-339, Walker 3-6-0-28.

RECEIVING-WF: Anderson 5-91, Warren 1-4, Davis1-3, Birgs 1-(minus 2). FSU: Thorpe 6-66, Sam 4-66, Booker 4-39, Davis 3-57, Henshaw 2-58,Stovall 2-31, Robinson 2-17, Washington 1-18,Kaleikini 1-15.

Wake Notes…COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S

KINGToday’s win over Wake Forest gave FSU headcoach Bobby Bowden his 339th career victory,making him the winningest football coach inDivision I-A history. Bowden surpassed PennState’s Joe Paterno (338) with the win.

NEW RECORDSWith 159 punt return yards today, sophomoretailback Leon Washington broke a 29-year oldSeminole record. The previous record was 137yards set by Bobby Jackson vs. Virginia Techon Nov. 16, 1974. The team record for singlegame punt return yardage was also broken withFSU’s 216 yards today. The previous recordwas 171 yards in that same game vs. VirginiaTech in 1974.

CLINCHED AT LEAST ASHARE

Today’s win over Wake Forest assured theSeminoles at least a share of their 11th ACCtitle. Prior to this season, since joining the ACCin 1992, FSU has won eight league titlesoutright and shared two others (with Virginiain 1995 and with Georgia Tech in 1998). FSUis the only undefeated team in ACC play thisseason.

RIX CONTINUES TO CLIMBWith 339 passing yards in today’s win, QBChris Rix now has 6,469 career passing yardsand moved into second place on the FSUCareer Passing Yards list. He entered the gamein fourth place all-time and passed DannyKanell (6,372) and Gary Huff (6,378). ChrisWeinke is FSU’s all-time leader with 9,839passing yards.

With two passing TDs today, Rix movedinto fourth place on FSU’s all-time career TDpassing list with 50 career touchdowns. Hepassed Charlie Ward who had 49.

With 362 yards of total offense today,Chris Rix now has 7,280 yards of total offensefor his career, moving him into 12th place onthe ACC Career Total Offense list. That totalstands second on FSU’s all-time list.

ISN’T IT IRONICWith 339 yards passing in three quarters of playtoday, starting QB Chris Rix helped head coachBobby Bowden earn career victory #339.

X SETS MARKKicker Xavier Beitia, who tied his personalrecord with four field goals last week atVirginia, recorded his career-long with a 48-yard field goal in today’s first quarter. Beitiahas hit a 50-yarder but it was in the 2002 GatorBowl. His previous career-long was 47 yards— a mark he set twice: last week at Virginiaand vs. UNC on November 16, 2002.


30

By TOM COYNEAP Sports Writer

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Chris Rix got re-venge of historic proportion on Notre Dame.

Benched following a loss to the Irish last sea-son, Rix passed for 327 yards and three touchdownsto lead the Seminoles to a 37-0 victory over NotreDame on Saturday, the second worst home loss inIrish history.

The Seminoles (8-1) did more than win, theyshowed the Irish once again that they can’t com-pete with the college elite. The Irish, held score-less at home for the first time since 1978, fell to 2-6 for the first time since 1963.

Craphonso Thorpe had seven catches for 217yards, including TD catches of 35 and 38 yards tohelp the Seminoles (8-1), who lost 34-24 last yearto the Irish.

The victory was the 340th of Bowden’s ca-reer, moving him two ahead of Penn State’s JoePaterno.

The Irish are 4-9 since that win, and the 37-point loss, the ninth worst defeat in Notre Damehistory, marks the third time the Irish have beenrouted this season.

Notre Dame lost 45-14 to Southern Califor-nia two weeks ago and 38-0 to Michigan on Sept.13. The Irish have been shut out twice in a seasonfor first time since 1960.

The Irish also have been beaten by 31 pointsor more points 20 times, including four times intheir last 10 games.

Rix wasted no time in getting back at the Irish,completing a 38-yard pass to Thorpe on the firstplay from scrimmage. The pass was the longest ofseason against the Irish and set up a 40-yard fieldgoal by Xavier Beitia.

It remained the longest pass play of the sea-son until the third play of Florida State’s next pos-session, when Rix threw a 51-yard pass to Thorpe.That set up a 6-yard TD pass from Rix to P.K. Sam,which gave the Seminoles a 10-0 lead.

Rix, who completed 17 of 31 passes with threeinterceptions, then threw a 35-yard TD pass toThorpe late in the first quarter as Florida State tooka 17-0 lead — the most points the Seminoles havescored in the first half this season.

Rix threw three interceptions Saturday, butnone of them hurt them. Vontez Duff interceptedRix’s pass and returned it 55 yards to the Florida9, but the Irish couldn’t score as the Seminoleskept Notre Dame from scoring three times insidethe 10-yard line.

The Irish, who gave up 31 straight points inthe loss to Southern Cal two weeks ago, have beenoutscored 68-0 at home since late in the first quar-ter against USC.

Notre Dame managed just one first down oneight possessions in the first half. When BradyQuinn connected with Maurice Stovall for NotreDame’s second first down with 10:47 left in thethird quarter, many in the crowd of 80,795 stoodand gave a mock cheer.

Later in the quarter the Irish fans were so quietthe tomahawk chop was echoing through the stadium.

Notre Dame has lost three straight at homefor just the fifth time ever and for the first timesince 1984 under Gerry Faust.

Game 9 • November 1 • Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, INFLORIDA STATE – 37

NOTRE DAME – 0SCORE BY QUARTERS

Florida State 17 6 7 7 37Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 0


FSU - FG Beitia 40, 10:42.FSU - Sam 6 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 8:01.FSU - Thorpe 35 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :39.

Second QuarterFSU - FG Beitia 44, 9:49.FSU - FG Beitia 22, :55.

Third QuarterFSU - Thorpe 38 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 11:34.

Fourth QuarterFSU - L.Smith 90 iterception return (Beitia kick), 8:59.

TEAM STATISTICSFSU ND

First Downs 18 15Rushes-Yards 37-98 30-146Passing 327 175Comp-Att-Int 17-31-3 20-52-3Return Yards 133 65Punts-Avg 4-37 8-41Fumbles-Lost 3-0 3-0Penalties-Yards 6-50 8-77Time of Possession 28:42 31:18Attendance 80,795

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Booker 12-35, Washington 4-23,

C.Davis 1-21, G.Jones 7-9, Rix 8-6, Sam 1-6, Sims1-2, Napier 2-(minus 1), team 1-(minus 3). ND:J.Jones 18-76, Grant 8-42, Quinn 4-28.

PASSING-FSU: Rix 17-31-3-327. ND: Quinn 20-52-3-175.

RECEIVING-FSU: Thorpe 7-217, Sam 2-54, Reid 2-11,Booker 2-(minus 3), Davis 1-24, Washington 1-16,Dean 1-9, G.Jones 1-(minus 1). ND: Jenkins 5-73,McKnight 3-23, Stovall 3-21, Fasano 3-18, Jones 2-24, Grant 2-5, Powers-Neal 1-6, Clark 1-5.

Notre Dame Notes…FIRST TIME

With today’s win, FSU becomes the first teamever to beat Notre Dame on All Saints’ Day.Heading into the game, ND was 13-0-1 in gameson November 1st.

A BIG SHUTOUTPrior to today, the last time the Seminolesrecorded a shutout vs. a non-conferenceopponent was on September 23, 2000 when FSUtopped Louisville, 31-0. FSU now has twoshutouts this season, including, ironically, alsoa 37-0 win at UNC in the season-opener. Thelast time FSU recorded two shutouts in the sameseason was in 1997 when the Tribe blankedMiami, 47-0, and Georgia Tech, 38-0, but bothgames were played in Tallahassee. Before thisseason, the only other time FSU recorded twoaway-game shutouts in the same season was in1964 when the Seminoles opened the seasonwith a 14-0 win at Miami and a 10-0 win atTexas Christian. Overall, FSU now has two ormore shutouts in the same season 13 times.

The last time the Irish were shutout atNotre Dame Stadium was in 1978 when ND lost3-0 to Missouri.

Overall, the Seminoles have held anopponent scoreless for three quarters in fivegames this season, including today’s contest.Only Wake Forest, who scored the most pointson FSU this season with 24, scored in all fourquarters against the Seminoles.

RIX UP TO THREEWith three passing touchdowns today, QB ChrisRix moved into third place on the Florida Stateall-time career TD pass list. He now has 53 forhis career, surpassing Gary Huff (1970-72) whofinished his career with 52. He is five awayfrom passing Danny Kanell (1992-95) who had57.

RIX RECORDS NUMBERSEVEN

With 327 yards in today’s game, QB Chris Rixrecorded his seventh career 300-yard game andhis third of the season. Rix’s career-high is 394yards passing vs. Colorado on September 20,2003.

CAREER HIGH FOR CROWide receiver Craphonso Thorpe recorded acareer-high 217 yards receiving today afterracking up 124 yards in the first quarter alone.Itís the second career 200+ yard game (and third100+) for Thorpe, whose previous career highwas 205 yards vs. Colorado on September 20,2003. The total is the most receiving yards areceiver has ever recorded against Notre Dame.

MOST SEE ACTIONAll but 16 Seminoles who are available to playsaw action in today’s first quarter — that’s atotal of 56 players in the first quarter.


31

By PETE IACOBELLIAP Sports Writer

CLEMSON, S.C. — Tommy Bowden finallygot the better of dear old dad.

Charlie Whitehurst threw for one touchdown andran for another and Clemson likely ended FloridaState’s national title aspirations with its first victoryever over a top three team, 26-10 Saturday night.

The Tigers (6-4, 4-3 ACC) snapped an 11-game losing streak to the third-ranked Seminolesand gave Tommy Bowden his first win in five triesover his father, Bobby. Fans tore down bothgoalposts after Clemson’s biggest win in years.

Aaron Hunt added four field goals and theTigers held the Seminoles (8-2, 6-1) to their few-est points of the season and just 11 yards rushing.

This Bowden Bowl wasn’t about family re-unions or good-natured stories, but about theyounger Bowden’s job security. The Tigers lost toWake Forest 45-17 last week, and just about ev-eryone expected Bobby — on his 74th birthday,no less — to show little mercy as his team tried towrap up the league crown and move closer to achampionship game.

But the Tigers played like they didn’t want tolose their coach. And the Seminoles never showedthe poise and power they usually display.

Chris Rix missed his target on several throwsand was intercepted by Tye Hill in the first quarterto end Florida State’s only first-half drive insideClemson territory.

Down 16-0 in the third quarter at Clemson’s30, Rix threw three straight passes nowhere nearhis receivers and the Seminoles settled for XavierBeitia’s 46-yard field goal. Rix ended 16-for-31for 194 yards and two interceptions.

Whitehurst continually made the game’s big-gest plays. A 17-yard pass to Kevin Youngbloodled to Hunt’s second field goal from 35 yards outand a 6-0 Clemson lead.

With 2:50 to go in the half, Whitehurst led a65-yard touchdown drive — 51 on a pass toYoungblood. Whitehurst finished it off himselfwith a 1-yard scoring run with 15 seconds left thatmade it 13-0.

Whitehurst, the son of former Green Bayquarterback David Whitehurst, lofted a pass to awide-open Derrick Hamilton for a 58-yard touch-down that gave Clemson a 23-3 lead late in thethird quarter.

The Seminoles scored their lone touchdown,a 71-yard reception from backup Fabian Walkerto Chauncy Stovall, with 2:14 left — far too lateto make a difference.

Many of the same fans chanting “FireBowden” last week earlier at Wake Forest stoodand cheered as Tommy cross through the swarmof people rushing the field to talk with his father.

Florida State hurt itself with silly penalties.A pass interference call on cornerback Rufus

Brown kept one Clemson field goal drive going. TwoClemson series later, Brown was about to be flaggedfor another interference call when defensive tackleDarnell Dockett inexplicably ran into Youngblood longafter the play ended. Dockett, the team leader with 14tackles for losses, was ejected.

Still another Seminoles personal foul gaveClemson a first-and-goal just before Whitehurst’s

Game 10 • November 8 • Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SCFLORIDA STATE – 10

CLEMSON – 26touchdown run.

Florida State had already clinched a tie for its11th league title in 12 seasons. It can wrap up theconference’s spot in the Bowl Championship Se-ries next week against North Carolina State.

Clemson had not beaten Florida State since1989 when Danny Ford was in his final seasonwith the Tigers.

SCORE BY QUARTERSFlorida State 0 0 3 7 10Clemson 3 10 10 3 26


CU - FG Hunt 23, 8:25.Second Quarter

CU - FG Hunt 35, 14:56.CU - Whitehurst 1 run (Hunt kick), :15.

Third QuarterCU - FG Hunt 32, 6:39.FSU - FG Beitia 46, 3:25.CU - Hamilton 58 pass from Whitehurst (Hunt kick),

1:23.Fourth Quarter

CU - FG Hunt 37, 8:29.FSU - Stovall 71 pass from Walker (Beitia kick), 2:14.

TEAM STATISTICSFSU CU


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Jones 7-12, Washington 3-6, Walker

1-1, Dean 1-0, Rix 5-(minus 8). CU: Coleman 12-50, Jasmin 14-50, Whitehurst 19-39, Hamilton 3-12, Currie 1-2, team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-FSU: Rix 16-31-2-194, Walker 11-21-0-164.CU: Whitehurst 17-27-1-272.

RECEIVING-FSU: Booker 6-9, Stovall 4-131, Thorpe4-62, Washington 4-23, Sam 3-21, Reid 2-46,Robinson 1-32, Irons 1-20, Dean 1-9, Carter 1-5.CU: Hamilton 6-123, Coleman 5-38, Youngblood4-80, Baham 1-23, Grant 1-8.

Clemson Notes…SPREADING THE WEALTH

FSU has had at least seven different receiversrecord a reception in every game this season.Chris Rix connected with nine different receiversin the game.

TIGERS ON THE SCOREClemson’s 26 points is the most allowed by theFlorida State defense this season and the mostsince Georgia scored 26 in the Sugar Bowl onJanuary 1, 2003.

STOVALL SHINES ATCLEMSON

Junior wide receiver Chauncey Stovall had acareer-high four receptions for a career-high 131yards and one touchdown. His 71-yardtouchdown reception was also a career long.Stovall became the third different Seminole widereceiver to have a 100-yard receiving game thisseason. Florida State has had three 100-yardreceivers in the last four games.

FABIAN WALKER HASCAREER NIGHT

Fabian Walker’s 11 completions and 21 attemptsfor 164 yards (all in the fourth quarter) were allcareer-highs. His 71-yard touchdown pass toChauncey Stovall was also a career-longcompletion. Walker came into the game 19-for-29for 178 yards with two touchdowns on the season.

BACK IN THE LINEUPJunior offensive guard Bobby Meeks is makinghis first start since the Miami game on October11. Senior linebacker Kendyll Pope is makinghis first start since Virginia on October 18.

TRAILING EARLYFlorida State has only trailed three times thisseason at the end of the first quarter (Maryland,Georgia Tech and Miami). The Seminoles are 2-1 in those games with the only loss comingagainst Miami (October 11). Tonight marks thethird time this season that Florida State has notscored in the first quarter (Georgia Tech andMiami). The Seminoles only had nine offensiveplays in the first quarter, the lowest since taking15 offensive snaps against Georgia Tech.

TRAILING THE TIGERSTonight is the fourth time over the 17 meetingsbetween FSU and Clemson that the Seminoleshave gone into the half trailing Clemson. TheSeminoles were behind 14-3 at the half inClemson before winning 17-14. FSU trailed 28-10 in 1989 in Tallahassee and went on to lose34-23. FSU was behind 14-7 to Clemson in 1988and won 24-21.

GETTING THE FIRST PICKJunior Jerome Carter recorded his first careerinterception tonight. It’s his 21st career start.


32


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — LeonWashington’s 12-yard touchdown run gave No.13 Florida State a 50-44 double-overtime vic-tory over North Carolina State on Saturday,wrapping up the Seminoles’ 11th Atlantic CoastConference title in 12 years.

Florida State (9-2, 7-1) also locked up itsfourth BCS game in five years after surviving abrilliant performance by North Carolina State’sPhilip Rivers.

The ACC’s career passing leader, Rivers com-pleted 28 of 38 passes for 422 yards and four touch-downs and ran for another score.

But North Carolina State (7-4, 4-3) gambledand lost in the second overtime. Instead of trying afield goal, the Wolfpack went on fourth-and-1 atthe Florida State 16 and Rivers’ pass for JerrichoCotchery was broken up by Allen Augustin at the5.

Then Washington reeled off successive runsof 13 and 12 yards to give the Seminoles the winin their first home overtime game.

Washington finished with 121 yards on 17carries.

Florida State took a 44-37 lead in the firstovertime on 4-yard TD throw by Chris Rix toCraphonso Thorpe, but North Carolina State coun-tered on a 7-yard scoring throw from Rivers toTramaine Hall.

Regulation play ended when North CarolinaState’s Derek Morris blocked a 32-yard field goaltry by Florida State’s Xavier Beitia with only 2seconds left.

The Seminoles had gotten the ball with 2:13remaining when the Wolfpack’s Brian Clarkfumbled after a catch on his own 42.

Beitia had already kicked three field goalsfor the Seminoles, his last one putting them intoa 37-30 advantage midway through the finalquarter.

North Carolina State tied it at 37 with 4:06left on Rivers’ 44-yard touchdown pass to Hall.Rix threw two touchdown passes to Thorpe andanother to P.K. Sam, and Lorenzo Booker raced71 yards for another score.

Florida State got a huge break in the lastminute of the half when T.A. McLendon fumbledon a third down at his own three and the Semi-noles’ Brodrick Bunkley recovered. After a run forno gain and a penalty, Rix zipped a 7-yard scoringpass to Thorpe to make it 20-17 at halftime.

The Wolfpack had taken a 20-10 lead, in partbenefiting from a couple officiating calls. FloridaState was called for holding on a fourth down punt,giving the ‘Pack a first down at its 42.

Six plays later, Cotchery’s second touchdownon a short pass from Rivers was allowed althoughhe fumbled right at the goal line.

Rix’s 12th interception of the season resultedin a 43-yard touchdown return by 285-poundWolfpack tackle Alan Halloway. Under pressure,Rix threw the ball across the field right to Halloway,who then brushed off the quarterback on his wayto the end zone.

Cotchery made 10 catches for 135 yards andtwo touchdowns in the game.

Game 11 • November 15 • Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLFLORIDA STATE – 50

NC STATE – 44SCORE BY QUARTERS

NC State 14 6 10 7 7 0 44Florida State 7 10 17 3 7 6 50


FSU - Jones 6 run (Beitia kick), 6:47.NCS - Cotchery 17 pass from Rivers (Kiker kick), 4:25.NCS - Halloway 43 interception return (Kiker kick),

2:51.Second Quarter

FSU - FG Beitia 36, 8:28NCS - Cotchery 7 pass from Rivers (kick failed), 2:08.FSU - Thorpe 8 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :23.

Third QuarterFSU - FG Beitia 25, 9:22.NCS - FG Kiker, 20, 5:18.FSU - Booker 71 run (Beitia kick), 4:18.NCS - Rivers 6 run (Kiker kick), 2:56.FSU - P.K. Sam 15 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 1:39.

Fourth QuarterFSU - FG Beitia 24, 7:19.NCS - Hall 44 pass from Rivers (Deraney kick), 4:06.

First OvertimeFSU - Thorpe 4 pass from Rix (Beitia kick).NCS - Hall 7 pass from Rivers (Deraney kick).

Second OvertimeFSU - Washington 12 run.

TEAM STATISTICSNCS FSU


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-NCS: McLendon 21-51, Rivers 11-27,

Cotchery 1-12, Davis 1-2, team 1-0. FSU: Wash-ington 17-121, Jones 17-81, Booker 3-72, Thorpe1-5, Coleman 1-0, Rix 4-(minus 7).

PASSING-NCS: Rivers 28-38-0-422, McLendon 0-1-0-0, FSU: Rix 15-32-1-183.

RECEIVING-NCS: Cotchery 10-135, T.Hall 10-126,Clark 3-90, Williams 3-66, McLendon 2-5. FSU:Thorpe 5-76, P.K. Sam 5-61, Coleman 1-14,Chr.Davis 1-13, Jones 1-8, Stovall 1-8, Reid 1-3.

NC State Notes…IT’S OURS

With today’s win, Florida State has earned itsninth outright ACC title in its 12 years in theleague. Overall, FSU has either won outrightor shared 11 ACC titles in the past 12 seasons.

OVERTIME GAMESToday’s game was just the second ever overtimegame for Florida State and the first ever playedat Doak Campbell Stadium. FSU is now 1-1in overtime games.

SCORING, SCORING ANDMORE SCORING

Ironically, the last time FSU was involved in agame where the combined score was 94 wason September 16, 1995 when the Seminolesdefeated NC State by a score of 77-17 in DoakCampbell Stadium. The last time FSU allowedan opponent to score 44 or more points was inthe 1996 National Championship game at theSugar Bowl when Florida defeated FSU 52-20 on Jan. 2, 1997. The last time an opponentscored 44 or more points at Doak CampbellStadium was 46 points by East Carolina onSept. 3, 1984. FSU won 47-46.

ON THE RUNFor the first time this season, FSU had threerunning backs record 70 or more rushing yardsin a single game. Led by Leon Washingtonís121 yards, Greg Jones had 81 and LorenzoBooker 72. Before today, the last time FSUhad this occur was vs. Virginia in 2001 whenGreg Jones (107), Eric Shelton (95) and NickMaddox (76) combined for 278 yards. FSUhad a season-high 272 yards rushing in todayísgame. The last time FSU rushed for more thanthat was vs. Miami on October 12, 2002 whenthe Tribe recorded 296 yards rushing.

LEON HITS CENTURY MARKSophomore tailback Leon Washington recordeda season-high 121 yards rushing to earn hissecond career 100-yard rushing game. Hiscareer high is 134 yards vs. Florida last year.

THANKS DEFENSEThe Florida State defense has forced at leasttwo turnovers in nine games this season,including todayís contest. As a result, the FSUoffense has scored 13 times off of thoseturnovers, including two offensive scores offturnovers in four games.

BOOKER BOOKED ITFreshman Lorenzo Booker’s 71-yardtouchdown run is the longest rush by an FSUplayer since Davy Ford scored an 82-yardtouchdown in the fourth quarter of the 2000Clemson game. Itís also the longest run by afreshman since Travis Minor had an 87 yardTD run vs. Virginia on October 25, 1997 onthe first play of the game.


33

By EDDIE PELLSAP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — P.K. Sam ran a twist-ing, whirling, falling-down pass route for a 52-yardtouchdown that lifted Florida State to a 38-34 vic-tory over Florida on Saturday, a spectacular gamethat was marred by a brawl at midfield after thegame ended.

Sam’s catch with 55 seconds remainingpushed No. 9 Florida State (10-2) to the 10-winplateau for the first time since 2000. No. 11 Florida(8-4) had its five-game winning streak halted, alongwith any hopes of sneaking into the SoutheasternConference title game.

The last touchdown, the third TD throw ofthe day for Chris Rix, was a thrilling climax to agame that had a bit of everything — great playsand back-and-forth scoring.

The lead changed hands four times in thefourth quarter. With 2:55 left, Florida went ahead34-31 on Ben Troupe’s 26-yard touchdown catchfrom Chris Leak in the back of the end zone.Troupe got one foot down; the official staredhard at the play, and initially brought his armsto the side, as though he were going to call itincomplete. But he raised his hands to signal atouchdown.

Indeed, it was a barnburner, a game thatwill be debated and rehashed for years to come,although there’s no changing the result now. TheSeminoles defeated their archrivals for the fifthtime in six years. They are ACC champions andwill go into their BCS bowl on a high.

The Gators, meanwhile, won’t make it to theSEC title game next week. Tennessee’s win overKentucky made it almost impossible, and Florida’sloss itself ended all hope. The honor, instead, willofficially go to Georgia on Sunday. Florida stillhas a chance to make it to Atlanta, on Jan. 2, ifPeach Bowl representatives offer them a bid, asexpected.

Whatever their bowl, the Gators will have morethan a month to stew over this heartbreaking loss.

Who were the stars? It’s hard to list them all.For FSU, Rix threw for 256 yards on only 19

attempts. Dominic Robinson caught five passesfor 102 yards, nicely filling the hole left when lead-ing receiver Craphonso Thorpe was lost for theyear earlier this month. Linebacker Pat Watkinsreturned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown to tiethe game at 24 late in the third quarter.

Florida had its share of great performances, too.Troupe caught two touchdowns and finished with 121yards receiving. Leak threw for 273 yards and caughta 30-yard pass from Andre Caldwell, one of severalFlorida gadget plays that worked. Cornerback KeiwanRatliff basically sealed his All-American status, scoop-ing a fumble and going 77 yards for his fourth touch-down of the season and a 24-17 lead.

SCORE BY QUARTERSFlorida State 7 10 7 14 38Florida 3 3 18 10 34


UF - FG Leach 47, 6:05.FSU - Robinson 35 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 1:46.

Game 12 • November 29 • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FLFLORIDA STATE – 38

FLORIDA – 34Second Quarter

FSU - FG Beitia 28, 7:31.UF - FG Leach 47, 5:31.FSU - Henshaw 20 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 5:02.

Third QuarterUF - Troupe 25 pass from Leak (Leak run), 13:25.UF - FG Leach 42, 7:44.UF - Ratliff 77 fumble return (Leach kick), 6:10.FSU - Watkins 25 fumble return (Beitia kick), 2:49.

Fourth QuarterUF - FG Leach 28, 8:01.FSU - Rix 1 run (Beitia kick), 5:01.UF - Troupe 26 pass from Leak (Leach kick), 2:50.FSU - Sam 52 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), :55.

TEAM STATISTICS FSU UF


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-FSU: Washington 15-65, Jones 9-42,

Booker 11-39, Davis 1-(minus 5), Rix 7-(minus7). UF: Carthon 13-62, Leach 9-48, Fason 8-21,Kight 1-7, Wynn 2-2, Brown 1-2.

PASSING-FSU: Rix 14-19-0-256. UF: Leach 22-36-0-273, Caldwell 1-1-0-30.

RECEIVING-FSU: Robinson 5-102, Sam 3-84, Carter1-34, Henshaw 1-20, Davis 1-9, Washington 1-5,Jones 1-5, Booker 1-(minus 3). UF: Perez 5-45,Troupe 4-121, Kight 3-55, Caldwell 3-22, Carthon3-16, Fason 2-7, Small 2-7, Leach 1-30.

Florida Notes…RUNNING DOWN HILL IN

THE FIRST HALFFSU’s 102 yards rushing in the first half is themost since the second game of the season whenthe Seminoles rushed for 147 yards againstMaryland (9/6) in the opening 30 minutes.

MOST POINTS INGAINESVILLE

Florida State’s 38 points against the Gators asthe most points the Seminoles have scored inGainesville. The previous high had been 37points during the 1977 contest. This is alsoFlorida State’s first victory at Ben Hill GriffinStadium since 1999 when the Seminolesprevailed 30-23.

DOUBLE-DIGIT VICTORIESThe win over the Gators gives Florida State a10-2 record on the year. It is the Seminoles first10-win season since the 2000 campaign whenthey posted an 11-2 record. Under coach BobbyBowen, Florida State has amassed 18 double-digit win seasons.

SCHOOL RECORD FOR KICKRETURN YARDS

Leon Washington’s 28-yard kickoff return in thefourth quarter helped Florida State set theschool record for team return yards (215) in asingle game. The previous record was 209against Florida on November 28, 1992 inTallahassee.

4TH QUARTERTOUCHDOWNS

The pair of touchdowns by the Seminoles — aone-yard rush by Chris Rix and a 52-yard passfrom Rix to PK Sam — are their first twotouchdowns in the 4th quarter since the Miamicontest on October 11. In that game, Rix threwa pair of touchdown strikes to Chris Davis andWillie Reid in the final stanza against theHurricanes.

FOURTH QUARTERCOMEBACKS

The fourth-quarter comeback by Florida State— a one-yard run by Rix and a 52-yard pass toP.K. Sam — is its second of the season. The firstof the year came versus Georgia Tech onSeptember 13. Both instances have included atouchdown run by Chris Rix and a touchdownpass to Sam. Against the Yellow Jackets, Rix ranfor a three-yard score and threw a five yardstrike to Sam.

NEWCOMERS TO THESCORING COLUMN

Three of Florida State’s touchdowns today wereproduced by players who were cross the goalline for the first time in their career (DominicRobinson, Matt Henshaw and Pat Watkins).


34

Game 13 • January 1 • The Orange Bowl • Miami, FLFLORIDA STATE – 14

MIAMI – 16By MARK LONGAP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — Florida State didn’t wantthis rematch. Now everyone knows why.

Jarrett Payton ran for 131 yards, Jon Peattiekicked three field goals and Miami shut out theSeminoles in the second half to give the Hurri-canes a 16-14 win in the Orange Bowl on Thurs-day night.

It was No. 10 Miami’s fifth consecutive vic-tory in the heated series — its longest winningstreak since 1957. No. 9 Florida State lost con-secutive bowl games for the first time since the1979 and 1980 seasons.

Like several other memorable games in thisstoried rivalry, the outcome was decided by akicker.

Not only did Peattie hit a career-long 51-yarder to give the Hurricanes the lead in the thirdquarter, but Florida State’s Xavier Beitia misseda 39-yarder with 5:30 to play.

And yes, it was wide right.“I missed it,” Beitia said. “There’s nothing

else to say. I didn’t make the kick. What is thereto say? I didn’t make the kick. Nothing else tosay. There were seven minutes left. I didn’t makethe kick.”

It was the fifth time a Florida State kickerhas missed a decisive kick in this rivalry. Beitiaalso missed a 43-yarder wide left against Mi-ami as time expired in 2002, and the Hurricaneswon 28-27.

“We’ve got something on their kicker,” Mi-ami linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. “I don’tknow what it is, but I’m glad we got it.”

Added linebacker D.J. Williams: “It feelsgreat to beat anyone, but it’s especially sweet tobeat your biggest rival. Maybe it’s a mystique,some kind of a curse. I know it’s always in theback of their kicker’s mind.”

Miami (11-2) sealed the latest victory witha defensive stand with less than two minutes toplay. Chris Rix’s final pass fell incomplete. Rixwas 2-of-12 for 18 yards in the second half —another poor performance against Miami.

He threw two interceptions in the first meet-ing.

“What you had was two great defensesthere, and it really came down to who made thefewest mistakes is going to win,” Florida Statecoach Bobby Bowden said. “If we’d kicked thatball through the goal post, we’d have been allright.”

This game wasn’t as close as the final scoreindicated. The Hurricanes outgained FloridaState 375 yards to 206 yards and scored the fi-nal 13 points. They also finished with 218 yardsrushing.Payton provided many of the big plays on of-fense, and Sean Taylor, Vince Wilfork and oth-ers did the damage on defense.

But Peattie was equally effective.His 51-yarder came a play after Miami

punted. Florida State (10-3) was penalized 5yards for illegal substitution, moving the Hurri-canes into field-goal range.

Peattie also connected from 32 and 44yards. He had one blocked from 45 yards with

2:18 remaining, but it didn’t matter. Miami setup the attempt when D.J. Williams ran 31 yardson a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from Miami’sown 32.

“That was really a great call,” Bowden said.“It was a gutty call.”

It was the second of three meetings in lessthan 11 months between the instate rivals. Mi-ami beat Florida State 22-14 in October, and theyare scheduled to open the 2004 season in Mi-ami — the Hurricanes’ first game as a memberof the Atlantic Coast Conference.

No one wanted this rematch in the OrangeBowl. And when the Bowl Championship Se-ries announced the pairings early last month,coaches, players and fans were disappointed.

But once the initial shock wore off, every-one realized what they were getting — an in-tense rivalry game between two of collegefootball’s top programs.

The game certainly proved that.Trailing 14-10, the Hurricanes were in po-

sition to take the lead before halftime with theball at the 13. But the Seminoles sacked BrockBerlin on consecutive plays — the first sacksagainst Miami in the last five meetings.

Miami settled for Peattie’s second field goaland a 14-13 deficit at the break.

Peattie opened the scoring with a 32-yarderon the first possession.

Florida State scored touchdowns on con-secutive possessions in the second quarter to takea 14-3 lead. Lorenzo Booker took a direct snapand ran around the right end for a 10-yard scoreon the first play of the second quarter.

Four plays after an 8-yard punt by BrianMonroe, Greg Jones ran up the middle for 24yards and set up Chris Rix’s 7-yard touchdownpass to Matt Henshaw. Jones broke through theline, eluded two linebackers and then ran overAll-America safety Sean Taylor at the 15.

The Hurricanes scored on the ensuing pos-session — behind more strong runs by Payton— to make it 14-10. Payton turned the corneron the left side and gained 46 yards, then hadruns of 6 and 2 yards to set up Tyrone Moss’ 3-yard touchdown.

Payton ran for 97 yards in the first meet-ing, which was played on a sloppy field in Tal-lahassee. He did most of damage then betweenthe tackles. He was more effective Thursdaynight outside, showing a rare burst of speed.

“It’s not like they beat the heck out of us orwe beat the heck out of them,” Bowden said.“One play. They made one more than we did.That doesn’t have to necessarily be a kick....Those two teams tonight are about as evenlymatched as two teams can be.”

SCORE BY QUARTERSMiami 3 10 3 0 16Florida State 0 14 0 0 14


UM - FG Peattie 32, 11:32.Second Quarter

FSU - Booker 9 run (Beitia kick), 14:54.

FSU - Henshaw 7 pass from Rix (Beitia kick), 8:41.UM - Moss 3 run (Peattie kick), 5:34.UM - FG Peattie 44, 0:00.

Third QuarterUM - FG Peattie 51, 10:19.


First downs 16 10Total Net Yards 375 206Rushes-yards 48-218 32-110Passing 157 96Punt Returns 3-23 1-6Kickoff Returns 3-63 4-66Interceptions Ret. 1(-3) 2-31Comp-Att-Int 14-29-2 6-19-1Sacked-Yards Lost 2-13 1-7Punts 5-25.2 7-43.6Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1Penalties-Yards 5-40 10-85Time of Possession 36:08 23:52Attendance 76,739

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHING-UM: Payton 22-131, D.J.Williams 1-31,

Moss 15-31, Berlin 6-12, Parrish 1-7, Geathers 1-6, Hester 1-2, team 1-(minus 2). FSU: Jones 6-38,Booker 8-25, Washington 9-20, Rix 5-13, Coleman2-9, Davis 1-5, Dean 1-0.

PASSING-UM: Berlin 14-29-2-157. FSU: Rix 6-19-1-96.

RECEIVING-UM: Winslow 5-48, Geathers 4-41,Moore 3-52, Hill 1-10, Everett 1-6. FSU: Stovall4-79, Sam 1-10, Henshaw 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS -UM: Peattie 45 (BL). FSU:Beitia 39 (WR).

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