Florida State University Athletics
Football Looks To Avenge Last Season’s Loss To N.C. State
9/13/1999 12:00:00 PM | Football
Sept. 13, 1999
#1 FLORIDA STATE vs. #20 NC STATE
Saturday, September 18
3:30 PM
ABC
Doak Campbell Stadium (80,000)
Tallahassee, FL
SETTING THE SCENE: No. 1 Florida State looks to avenge last season’s 24-7 loss to NC State with a 3:30 p.m. ABC matchup in Doak Campbell Stadium. The Wolfpack handed FSU its second-ever ACC loss in Raleigh a year ago. NC State took advantage of six Chris Weinke interceptions and an oustanding performance by WR Torry Holt, who returned a punt for a touchdown and caught nine passes for 135 yards and another score. The game will be the last of FSU’s season opening three-game home stand. The Seminoles outlasted Georgia Tech last Saturday in a 41-35 offensive showdown. Wide receiver Peter Warrick again led the way for the Tribe, catching eight passes for 142 yards and a score. Warrick also rushed three times for 31 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw. Travis Minor rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown while Weinke completed 16-of-29 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown. Georgia Tech’s 501 yards of total offense and 387 yards passing were the most ever given up by a Seminole defense in ACC competition. With the win, FSU extended the nation’s longest home unbeaten streak to 42 games. The Seminoles are undefeated against ACC foes at home with a mark of 30-0.
NC State has won three non-conference games to open the 1999 campaign, including a 23-20 victory at Texas in which the Wolfpack blocked three punts (two for touchdowns). NC State whipped William and Mary by the score of 38-9 in its last outing on Saturday. NCSU has scored more points against FSU than any other team in the ACC over the past two seasons (59). Quarterback Jamie Barnette calls the shots for the Wolfpack on offense (29-55, 320 yards), RB Ray Robinson is the top rusher (36-178 yards, 2 TD) and Chris Coleman is the top receiver (10-102 yards). Senior cornerback Lloyd Harrison, who led the ACC with seven interceptions in 1998, already has two this season.
TELEVISION: ABC. Talent: Brent Musburger, Dan Fouts, Jack Arute.
RADIO: Seminole Radio Network. Talent: Gene Deckerhoff, Peter Tom Willis.
COVERING THE SEMINOLES
CC Satellite Feed: Each Wednesday, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST starting on Sept. 1-Nov. 17. Satellite coordinates are Galaxy 6, transponder 7 3840 Mhz, 6.2/6.8Mhz. In cases of a missed feed, you can contact Microspace at (919) 850-4500 and they can normally refeed it.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Seminoles have not been beaten in Doak Campbell since a 17-16 (Wide Right I) loss to Miami in 1991. FSU’s record of 52-1-1 (.972) at home in the 1990s is the best in the country. The Tribe enters the 1999 campaign riding a 42-game home unbeaten streak. Bowden has a 118-16-2 record at Doak Campbell and is 67-2-1 at home since the middle of the 1987 season.
FSU ON THE TUBE
Florida State is accustomed to playing in front of the major network cameras and has posted a 118-35-4 record on television. Florida State’s first TV game was carried by ABC – the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl vs. Oklahoma St.
GLADDEN’S 25-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Jim Gladden is celebrating his silver anniversary as a member of the FSU coaching staff in 1999. Gladden’s tenure is even longer than Bobby Bowden and is the second-longest in school history. Gladden has coached the defensive ends since 1996 and guided several current NFL standouts at that position, including Peter Boulware (Ravens), Reinard Wilson (Bengals) and Andre Wadsworth (Cardinals).
COACHING CONTINUITY
Along with Jim Gladden, several FSU coaches have been with the program for a number of years. Bowden’s nine assistants average more than 18 years of collegiate experience (166 years total). Only one coach has departed since the 1993 national championship season. Billy Sexton (24th season), Chuck Amato (18th season) and Mickey Andrews (16th season) are next in line behind Gladden in tenure. FSU’s coaching staff tenure is second only to Penn State’s nationally.
‘NOLES PERFORM WELL IN CLASSROOM
In a USA Today poll that shuffled the Top 25 football teams and ranked them in terms of graduation rates (1989-92), FSU and Penn St. were the only two members of the football top five that were also ranked among the Top 10 in the graduation poll.
BOWDEN NEARS 300 VICTORIES
Bobby Bowden could become the fifth Division I-A coach to record 300 wins with FSU’s eighth victory this season. Bowden’s 294 wins rank second among active coaches behind only Penn State’s Joe Paterno.
ALL-TIME DIV. I-A COACHING VICTORIES
1. Paul “Bear” Bryant 323
2. Glenn “Pop” Warner 319
3. Amos Alonzo Stagg 314
4. Joe Paterno 307
5. Bobby Bowden 294
FSU & BOBBY BOWDEN’S SUCCESS
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
NC State returns 14 starters, seven on both offense and defense, from a 1998 squad that finished 7-5 overall. The Wolfpack played in the Micron PC Bowl, losing to Miami by a score of 46-23. All-American wide receiver Torry Holt has moved on to the NFL, but QB Jamie Barnette is back after leading the ACC in passing yardage (3,169) last season. Cornerback Lloyd Harrison, who was second in the nation with seven picks, sets the tone for the defense. NC State managed just 10 points in their second game against South Carolina, but got on track against William & Mary on Saturday with a 38 point showing.
NC STATE QUICK FACTS
Coach: Mike O’Cain (Clemson ’77)
Overall Record: 38-34 (Seventh Year)
Record at NC State: 38-34 (Seventh Year)
Location: Raleigh, NC
Nickname: Wolfpack
Colors: Red & White
Founded: 1889
Enrollment: 27,169
THE SERIES
Florida State leads the all-time series with NC State by a 13-5 count. The Wolfpack handed FSU just its second ever ACC loss in the last meeting between the two schools, defeating the Seminoles 24-7. In three meetings in Tallahassee since Florida State joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1992, FSU has outscored NC State 187-55 (62.3-18.3).
AMATO AN NC STATE GRADUATE
Florida State assistant head coach Chuck Amato, in his 18th season in Tallahassee, is a 1969 gradutate of North Carolina State, where he was a three-year letterman in football and wrestling there. Amato also began his coaching career at the school in 1968 as a student assistant. He stayed there through the 1979 season – working with the secondary, inside linebackers and holding defensive coordinator responsiblities his final six years.
BOBBY BOWDEN AT A GLANCE
Alma Mater: Howard (now Samford), 1953
Overall Record: 294-85-4 (33rd season)
Record at FSU: 221-53-4 (24th season)
Home Record at FSU: 118-16-2
Record vs. NC State: 6-1
Bowl Record: 16-5-1
1999 NC STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS Passing Jamie Barnette 29-55, 320 yds. (1 TD, 1 INT)Receiving Chris Coleman 10-102 yds. Ray Robinson 6-106 yds. Ryan Hamrick 6-63 yds. Andy Vanderveer 4-29 (1 TD) Rushing Ray Robinson 3-178 yds. (2 TD) Rashon Spikes 16-94 yds. Eric Leak 14-56 (1 TD)
1999 FLORIDA STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS Passing Chris Weinke 36-61-504 yds. (5 TD, 1 INT) Marcus Outzen 3-5-40 yds.
Receiving Peter Warrick 17-263 yds. (1 TD) Talman Gardner 3-60 yds. Robert Morgan 4-38 yds. Anquan Boldin 2-33 yds. (2 TD) Ryan Sprague 2-33 yds. Laveranues Coles 2-30 yds. Dan Kendra 2-13 yds. (1 TD)
Rushing Travis Minor 35-151 yds. (1 TD) Peter Warrick 5-66 yds. (2 TD) Nick Maddox 11-56 yds. Dan Kendra 9-31 yds.
PRESEASON NO. 1 FOR FIFTH TIME
Florida State opened the year at the top of the polls for the fifth time in school history. FSU was voted the AP preseason No. 1 in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995. In 1993, FSU became just the eighth team to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason and end up as national champion. Oklahoma (1956, ’74, ’75, ’85), Tennessee (1951), Michigan State (1952) and Alabama (1978) were the others.
94% OF OFFENSE IS BACK
Peter Warrick’s decision to return for his senior season means FSU lost just 274 yards of total offense from its 1998 totals. The Seminoles return their top five receivers and top four rushers along with every player who attempted a pass. Of FSU’s 385 points scored last year, 373 were scored by players who are back for the 1999 campaign. Former FB Lamarr Glenn and RB Raymont Skaggs, who transferred last week, had one touchdown each last season.
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN
Coach Bowden’s 1999 captains are WR Ron Dugans and OG Jason Whitaker (offense), DT Jerry Johnson and NG Corey Simon (defense) and LB Bobby Rhodes (special teams). Permanent captains are voted on by the team at the end of the season.
MINNIS, CARMICHAEL EXPECTED TO RETURN
Wide receiver Marvin Minnis, who missed the first two games with a broken foot, is expected to return this week and be available for the NC State contest. FSU’s receiving corp will be at full strength for the first team this year. Ron Dugans missed the first game with a broken hand while Laveranues Coles sat out due to a one-game suspension and a knee injury. In the opener against La. Tech, FSU was without its second, third and fourth receivers from 1998. Dugans and Coles both played against Georgia Tech. Offensive guard Jerry Carmichael, a starter last year, is also expected to play after rehabilitating his knee from an injury in the Fiesta Bowl.
‘NOLES IN PRESEASON MAGAZINES
In the preseason college football magazines, Florida State was picked No. 1 by Lindy’s, Street & Smith’s, Athlon’s and Football News (FSU was No. 2 in the Sporting News and SI with Penn St. No. 1). Peter Warrick, Corey Simon and Sebastian Janikowski were preseason All-America selections across the board. LB Brian Allen, CB Tay Cody, CB Mario Edwards, S Derrick Gibson, DT Jerry Johnson, RB Travis Minor, LB Tommy Polley, DE Jamal Reynolds, DE Roland Seymour, QB Chris Weinke and OG Jason Whitaker were listed on All-ACC preseason teams in at least one of the publications. Below are players rated nationally by position:
Brian Allen Lindy's No. 18 ILB
Ross Brannon Sporting News' No. 7 OT
Tay Cody Lindy's No. 15 CB
Ron Dugans Lindy's No. 27 WR
Mario Edwards Sporting News' No. 1 CB
Lindy's No. 17 CB
S. Janikowski Lindy's No. 1 K
Sporting News' No. 1 K
Jerry Johnson Lindy's No. 5 DT
Sporting News' No. 7 DT
Travis Minor Lindy's No. 7 RB
Sporting News' No. 7 RB
Tommy Polley Lindy's No. 13 OLB
Jamal Reynolds Lindy's No. 17 DE
Roland Seymour Lindy's No. 5 DE
Sporting News' No. 3 DE
Corey Simon Sporting News' No. 1 DT
Lindy's No. 1 DT
Tarlos Thomas Lindy's No. 11 OT
Peter Warrick Lindy's No. 1 WR
Sporting News' No. 1 WR
Chris Weinke Sporting News' No. 6 QB
WEINKE SETS ACC MARK
QB Chris Weinke established a new ACC record for consecutive passes without an interception in the Louisiana Tech game. Weinke’s touchdown pass to freshman Anquan Boldin tied Matt Blundin’s (Virginia) record of 231. The record was broken when Weinke hit Peter Warrick for five yards with 13:15 remaining in the first half. The streak ended at 237 when Weinke was intercepted just before the half. The streak of eight plus games without a pick ranks as one of the most impressive runs in school history. Since throwing six interceptions at NC State last year, Weinke had completed 126 passes in 237 attempts for 2,140 yards and 18 touchdowns without an interception. Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward put together a similar stretch (110-of-160 for 1,278 yards and 11 TD) during the 1993 season. After an INT in the first series at UNC that year, Ward rolled through the next four games before being picked off at Notre Dame.
BOLDIN & MADDOX MAKE EARLY IMPACT
True freshmen Anquan Boldin and Nick Maddox (who happen to be roommates) had an opportunity to contribute immediately in their rookie seasons with the Tribe. Boldin, who switched to WR from QB after three days of practice, stepped in against Louisiana Tech and caught a pair of TD passes. Maddox was FSU’s leading rusher in the opener.
PETER THE GREAT
Senior wide receiver Peter Warrick had his second 100-yard receiving game of the season in as many games with an eight-catch, 142-yard performance
against Georgia Tech last Saturday. Warrick scored a pair of touchdowns in the game, one on a 17-yard run when he lined up at quarterback in the
shotgun and the other on a 26-yard reception from Chris Weinke. Warrick ranks fourth all-time on Florida State’s career receptions list with 153 and needs 60 more catches to pass Ron Sellers as the Seminoles’ all-time leader. Warrick needs 75 yards today to pass E.G. Green for second place and 753 the rest of the season to pass Sellers as FSU’s career receiving yardage leader. Warrick’s touchdown reception against the Yellow Jackets tied Barry Smith for second place on the Seminoles’ all-time TD catches list with 25.
‘NOLES MOVING UP IN THE RECORD BOOK
Career Rushing Touchdowns
1. Greg Allen 44
2. Warrick Dunn 37
3. Amp Lee 30
4. Dayne Williams 24
5. Mark Lyles 20
6. Dexter Carter 17
6. Travis Minor 17
Career 300-Yard Passing Games
1. Danny Kanell 10
2. Thad Busby 8
3. Gary Huff 7
4. Charlie Ward 6
4. Peter Tom Willis 6
6. Bill Cappleman 5
7. Kim Hammond 4
8. Casey Weldon 2
8. Chris Weinke 2
Career Receptions
1. Ron Sellers 212
2. Kez McCorvey 189
3. E.G. Green 166
4. Peter Warrick 153
5. Mike Shuman 134
Career Receiving Yards
1. Ron Sellers 3,598
2. E.G. Green 2,920
3. Peter Warrick 2,846
4. Kez McCorvey 2,660
5. Barry Smith 2,392
Career Touchdown Catches
1. E.G. Green 29
2. Barry Smith 25
2. Peter Warrick 25
4. Andre Cooper 24
5. Ron Sellers 23
Career Scoring
1. Derek Schmidt 393
2. Scott Bentley 326
3. Warrick Dunn 294
4. Greg Allen 278
5. Dave Cappelen 240
6. S. Janikowski 230
LOCKER ROOM GETS UPGRADE
The Florida State football locker room got a much needed renovation over the summer. The new locker room is approximately twice as large after the expansion that took place underneath the North end zone adjacent to the old locker room. Also added were new larger wooden lockers, carpeting with a Seminole logo in the middle of the floor and a partition that allows the offense and defense to meet separately on game days.
MEGAVISION MAKES ITS DEBUT
The newly installed MegaVision was up and running for the for the first time in the Louisiana Tech game. The giant screen offers five different camera views (two network, three FSU) and a very clear picture. Students from Florida State’s school of communication assist with the operation. Seminole game highlights, replays, messages and footage of other games across the country are shown. MegaVision was installed in the North endzone scoreboard.
MINOR MAJOR IN WIN OVER GEORGIA TECH
Junior tailback Travis Minor busted out in the Seminoles’ win over Georgia Tech last week. Minor had his eighth career 100-yard rushing game when he
ran 22 times for 122 yards and an 18-yard score against the Yellow Jackets. It was the fourth 100-yard game in his last six, dating back to last year’s
win over Virginia. The Baton Rouge, La., native was held to 29 yards in the season-opener against Louisiana Tech. Minor’s performance against Georgia Tech elavated him into the school’s career top 10 in rushing yards. Minor now ranks 10th with 1,631 yards. His TD run against the Jackets was the 17th of his career, tying Dexter Carter for sixth place on the FSU career list.
COLES RETURNS
Senior wide receiver Laveraneus Coles made his 1999 debut in the win over Georgia Tech. Coles, who missed the season-opener because of suspension and a knee injury, caught two passes for 30 yards and also returned three kickoffs for 67 yards.
STRONGEST FSU SQUAD EVER
The 1999 team’s hard work in the weight room is documented by the results of summer testing. A record nine Seminoles bench pressed 500 pounds or more with DT Antoine Mirambeau leading the way at 535. OG Justin Amman, OL Donald Heaven, OG Montrae Holland, DT Jerry Johnson, LB Brian Allen, DE Jamal Reynolds, LB Bobby Rhodes and OT Todd Williams were the other eight to reach the 500-lb. plateau. Forty-four ?Noles benched at least 400 pounds.
RICHT FAMILY ADDS TWO
Offensive coordinator Mark Richt and his wife Kathryn had a busy summer as they adopted two orphaned children from the Ukraine. Zach (3) and Anya (2) join Jonathan (9) and David (4) as the two newest members of the Richt family. Richt and the offensive coaches moved their pregame plans up a month so he could join his wife in the Ukraine and complete the adoption process.
DOMINANCE AT DOAK
Florida State’s home unbeaten streak now stands at 42 games after last Saturday’s win over Georgia Tech. The Seminoles have the best home record in college football in the 1990s with a 52-1-1 mark (.972). FSU is 30-0 in ACC games at home and have outscored its opponents 1,442-374 for an average margin of 48.1-12.5.
DEFENSE CONSISTENTLY AT THE TOP
The Seminoles have ranked among the nation’s top 10 in total defense in six of the last eight years, including a No. 1 national ranking last year. FSU has been in the nation’s top 10 in rushing defense in seven of the last eight years (No. 1 in 1996, 1997 and No. 2 in 1998). In pass efficiency, the Tribe ranked first nationally last season and has been among the 10 best in five of the last six years. FSU has also ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense in four of the last six seasons.
ACC LEADS NATIONAL TV RATINGS
Over the last two years, the Atlantic Coast Conference has reached a new level of popularity among college football television viewers across the country. In 1997, the ACC had the highest rated game on ESPN (FSU vs. UNC), CBS (FSU vs. Florida) and NBC (Ga. Tech vs. Notre Dame). In 1998, the ACC had the two highest rated games on ABC (FSU vs. Florida and FSU vs. Texas A&M), the highest rated ESPN Thursday night telecast (Virginia vs. Auburn) and the highest rated ESPN Saturday prime time telecast (Ga. Tech vs. FSU).
FLORIDA STATE AND THE NFL
Over the last five years, FSU has had nine players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. During that time, 34 Seminoles have been drafted. With just four players drafted last year, the 1999 squad is loaded with players who will likely fill NFL rosters for years to come. NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., rated seven FSU seniors among the top 15 at their respective positions with Peter Warrick leading the way as the No. 1 ranked wide receiver. Eight juniors were rated among the top 10 at their positions for the 2001 NFL Draft. Chris Weinke and Sebastian Janikowski were the top rated QB and K in the country among the underclassmen.
FSU IN THE WEEKLY AP POLL
Since the middle of the 1989 season, Florida State has been ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 in 157 of the 162 weekly polls. Of the last 143 polls (11/12/90), the Seminoles have been out of the AP Top 10 just twice. Additionally, FSU has been at No. 1 for a total of 45 weeks.
POLLEY NAMED TO BUTKUS WATCH LIST
Junior weakside linebacker Tommy Polley was one of 65 players on the preliminary Butkus Award list. Polley was fifth on the team with 59 total tackles in 1998, had five tackles for loss and an interception. Against La. Tech, Polly recorded seven tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up. In the Butkus Award’s 14-year history, FSU has had two winners (Paul McGowan – 1987 and Marvin Jones – 1992).
SEMINOLE CLOTHING POPULAR
Listed below are results from the ESPN Chilton Sports Poll, that surveyed kids ages 12-17 from June 1998 to July 1999 and asked them which college team’s logo clothing they owned.
1. North Carolina 9.5% 2. Michigan 6.2% 3. Notre Dame 4.8% 4. Florida State 3.1% 5. Duke 3.0%COLLEGES PRODUCING THE MOST FIRST-ROUND NFL PICKS SINCE 1989 1. Florida State 15 2. Miami 14 2. Ohio State 14 2. Tennessee 14 5. Florida 13 6. Notre Dame 12 7. USC 11 8. Colorado 9 8. Michigan 9 8. Nebraska 9
IN THE RANKINGS Team USA Today/ESPN AP Florida State 1 1 Tennessee 3 2 Penn State 3 3 Florida 4 4 Michigan 5 6 Nebraska 6 4 Texas A&M 7 7 Wisconsin 8 9 Miami 9 8 Virginia Tech 10 10 Georgia 11 11 Ohio State 12 13 Georgia Tech 13 12 Purdue 14 14 Arkansas 15 15 Kansas State 16 16 Arizona 17 19 Alabama 18 18 Southern California 19 17 North Carolina State 20 20 UCLA 21 21 Texas 22 -- Arizona State 23 22 Colorado State 24 23 Marshall 25 -- Notre Dame -- 24 BYU -- 25
CODY, EDWARDS & THORPE
Cornerbacks Tay Cody and Mario Edwards are two of the 37 defensive backs on the Jim Thorpe Award ?watch list.? Florida State is one of just three schools to have two players mentioned (Nebraska and Tennessee). Two Seminoles have won the Thorpe Award – Deion Sanders (1988) and Terrell Buckley (1991).
MINOR, SIMON AND WHITAKER MENTIONED
There are several other Seminoles on the preliminary national award lists. RB Travis Minor (Doak Walker), NG Corey Simon (Bronko Nagurski & Outland) and OG Jason Whitaker (Outland) have been recognized on the preseason award releases. Coach Bowden is the keynote speaker at the Bronko Nagurski Award in December.
FIRST THREE OPPOSING QUARTERBACKS
The first three starting quarterbacks (Tim Rattay, Joe Hamilton and Jamie Barnette) on FSU’s schedule combined for 10,278 passing yards last season. Rattay was the nation’s passing leader in 1998 with 4,943 yards while Hamilton, FSU starting quarterback Chris Weinke and Barnette ranked 1-2-3 in ACC passing efficiency last season.
DEFENSE ATTACKED
Florida State’s defense was sliced for 501 total yards (387 passing and 114 rushing) by Georgia Tech last week. It marked the most yards an ACC team has ever gained against the Florida State defense. The Yellow Jackets 387 passing yards were also the most ever given up by FSU in an ACC game. Maryland passed for 380 yards in 1995 while Virginia had 498 yards of total offense that same season. It also marked the first time FSU had allowed 500 total yards since Florida gained 587 on Nov. 25, 1995.
FIVE GOES FOR SIX
LB Theon Rackley’s 10-yard interception return for a touchdown against La. Tech was the first defensive score for FSU since LB Sam Cowart returned a fumble for a TD at Florida in 1997. DE Tony Bryant was the last defender to return an interception for a score (Wake Forest, 1997).
1998 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (IN TERMS OF OPP. WINNING PERCENTAGE*)
Team Opp. Rec. Pct.
1. Auburn 74-34 .685
2. Missouri 66-36 .647
3. FSU 74-43 .632
4. USC 76-46 .623
5. LSU 65-41 .613
*Does not include bowl games.
RECORDS IN THE 1990s (PERCENTAGE*)
Team W-L-T Pct.
1. FSU 98-13-1 .878
2. Nebraska 96-15-1 .862
3. Florida 93-18-1 .835
4. Tennessee 90-19-2 .820
5. Marshall 101-25-0 .802
*1999 season not included
BLOCKED KICKS IN THE BOWDEN ERA
1998 10/3 Maryland Blocked FG
1997 11/8 UNC Blocked Punt
11/1 NC State Blocked Punt
1996 11/30 Florida Blocked Punt
9/28 UNC 2 Blocked Punts
Blocked FG
9/19 NC State Blocked Punt
1995 11/25 Florida Blocked Punt
11/11 UNC 2 Blocked Punts
Blocked Extra Pt.
11/23 UCF Blocked FG
11/9 Clemson Blocked Punt
1994 9/10 Maryland Blocked Punt
1992 9/5 Duke Blocked Punt
1991 10/19 Mid Tenn St Blocked Punt
1990 12/29 Penn State Blocked FG
10/27 LSU Blocked Punt
9/15 Ga. South. Blocked Punt
TOTAL BLOCKED KICKS
1976-1998 67 Blocked Punts, 19 Blocked Kicks
1976-1989 52 Blocked Punts, 14 Blocked Kicks
1990-1998 15 Blocked Punts, 5 Blocked Kicks
WARRICK MOVING INTO NCAA ELITE
Senior All-American Peter Warrick will rank in the top 10 in two NCAA receiving categories if he can at least duplicate his 1998 stats. If Warrick had exactly the same numbers this season, he would finish seventh on the NCAA all-time career receiving yardage list (3,815) and tied for seventh on the NCAA all-time career receiving touchdowns (35). Additionally, his 197 receptions would place him into a tie for 27th. Junior Sebastian Janikowski would tie for 17th in kicker career scoring (331) if he matched his point total of 123 from a year ago. That figure would put him just ahead of former Seminole kicker Scott Bentley’s total of 326.
OUTPASSING THE TOP PASSER
For just the second time as a La. Tech starter (22 of 24 contests), Tim Rattay was outpassed by his quarterback counterpart. FSU’s Chris Weinke threw for 242 yards on 20-of-32 passing, while Rattay threw for 240 yards on 28-of-48 passing. The other occassion for Rattay was against Auburn’s Dameyune Craig in 1997.
MINOR & THE 100-YARD MARK
In the final four games (UNC, UVA, Wake & Florida) of the 1998 regular season, TB Travis Minor has eclipsed the 100-yard plateau. He came up just short of the century mark in the Fiesta Bowl with 83 yards on 15 carries against Tennessee. Minor rushed for only 29 yards in the opener vs. Louisiana Tech, but bounced back with 122 yards in the 41-35 win over Georgia Tech. The junior from Baton Rouge, La., has nine career 100-yard rushing games. Of those nine, six have come against teams among the AP Top 25.
WARRICK LEADS ESPN HEISMAN RACE
Each week, ESPN ranks the Heisman candidates following Saturday’s games and Peter Warrick is listed number one following his efforts in the win over Georgia Tech. Ron Dayne, Jamal Lewis, Drew Brees and Shaun Alexander rounded out the top five. In the other award rankings, Warrick is No. 1 for the Biletnikoff and Maxwell Awards while Travis Minor (Walker No. 5), Jason Whitaker (Outland No. 5) and Sebastian Janikowski (Groza No. 1) were also listed.
HIGHS AND LOWS VS. NC STATE
Florida State posted its highest and lowest scoring games in their eight years in the Atlantic Coast Conference against North Carolina State. In fact, the Seminoles two largest margins of victory against an ACC opponent have come against the Wolfpack. Here is a list of the highs and the lows and the margins of victory:
WHERE BOLDIN STACKS UP
Here’s a look at where WR Anquan Boldin’s first career game stacks up against other FSU greats.
Charlie Ward (’89) – 4 punts for 39.0 avg. in loss to Southern Miss.
Kez McCorvey (’91) – 4 catches for 33 yds. in win over BYU
Tamarick Vanover (’92) – 1 catch for 16 yds., 2 rushes for -5 in win over Duke
Warrick Dunn (’93) – 8 rushes for 68 yds. in win over Kansas
Peter Warrick (’96) – 2 catches for 36 yds., 1 rush for -5 in win over Duke
Travis Minor (’97) – 2 rushes for 5 yds. in win over USC
Anquan Boldin (’99) – 2 catches for 33 yds. (2 TD), 1 rush for 13 yds. in win over La. Tech
DEFENSE DOMINANT AT DOAK
Florida State’s defense has been one of the country’s best throughout the decade. Its dominance of ACC opponents at home is particularly impressive. Since joining the league in 1992, FSU is allowing just 10.8 points per game in 30 home games against conference foes. Twenty of the 29 opponents have not scored more than 14 points, 15 of the 29 have note scored more thatn 10 and seven have been shutout. In fact, only four ACC teams have scored 20 or more points on the Tribe at Doak Campbell Stadium (FSU 48, NC State 35 in 1997, FSU 31, Virginia 24 in 1996, FSU 59, Duke 20 in 1994, FSU 69, Maryland 21 in 1992).
AGAINST THE TOP 25
The Seminoles have been tough on Associated Press Top 25 teams since joing the ACC in 1992. Over that span, FSU is 33-8-1 against ranked foes. Against league teams that are ranked, Florida State has posted a 18-1 mark with the only loss coming at No. 24 Virginia, 33-28, in 1995. The Seminoles have won 15 of their last 16 regular season games against ranked teams.
DEFENSE SLAMS DOOR ON LA. TECH
After giving up one touchdown and 189 yards of total offense (six yards rushing, 183 yards passing) in the first half, the Seminole defense gave up only 80 yards (13 rushing, 67 passing) in the second half. The 19 total yards rushing for La. Tech was the lowest total for an opponent since FSU held Wake Forest to (-1) yard rushing in 1997.
SEMINOLES 30-4 AT AP NO. 1
FSU holds a 30-4 record as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Poll. The first loss, which came in FSU’s first game as the nation’s top team, was a 31-0 season-opening defeat at Miami in 1988. The Tribe also lost to Miami (1991), Notre Dame (1993) and Florida (1996) while in the top spot.
BOWDEN TALK
“What ever we are, Georgia Tech looked just as good. Our game reminded me of a tennis match, we needed to break their serve.
“Joe Hamilton’s performance was as good as any quarterback has had in our stadium in a long time. Their offense is so hard to defend. We won’t face another team this year that features the option. The option forces a discipline defense. If a team can option and pass the ball it just kills you. Georgia Tech was great at it. They have a great offense. I think it’s ideal and people ask why don’t you run it? Well, you’ve got to recruit a quarterback who can run and usually they don’t pass as well. Hamilton does, but he’s a senior who has played four years.
“We faced two great passers over the first two weeks of the season,both of them Heisman Trophy candidates. (Tim) Rattay would really be up there for it if he were at a bigger school.
“(Dan) Kendra surprised me with how well he played. I thought it would take him five games to be where he was not guessing about what to do. He’s a quarterback who has never really played much fullback, has not even practiced it much in scrimmage situations. He’s still learning how to block. We were worried not about him not blocking a guy, but about him knocking himself out while he was blocking.
“I’m not alarmed about our defense. I think everything is correctable. We might not face anything like that again all year. It might be just what we needed. All our defense heard all summer was how great they are. Our offense found out last week (against Louisiana Tech) that they’re not as good as everyone was saying. This week the defense found out. It’s a wake up call. Maybe Penn State got one this week too.
“The one phrase I won’t use is revenge (in preparing for NC State). People press when they play for revenge. I’ll talk about a team that just whipped us for the last six quarters. It’s an undefeated NC State team which dominated us the last six quarters.
(About Weinke’s recovery after six interceptions at NC State last year) “I think it’s one of the great lessons of competitive sports. You’re not down and out unless you just give up. It showed Chris’ determination and intelligence. He goes through the next eight games with no
interceptions.
“We took a little out of the offense after the NC State loss last year, but not that much. We didn’t have to rework the offense.
“As the NC State game progressed we talked about whether we should take him (Weinke) out, whether a more mobile quarterback might do better against them. After the game, you wonder if he (Weinke) is going to be the answer or not, but that really did not last long. Maturity got Weinke through that. He’s played pro baseball. He’s struck out a few times.
(About whether he should have run the ball more last year at NC State) “I have a tendancy to panic. We should have run the ball more at NC State last year, but it was me insisting we get down the field quickly
and score.
“NC State is a hungry football team. My first 10 years here, we probably led the country in punt blocks a lot of those years. It was the only way we could win, to block a kick or use a trick play. NC State is getting after punts – they’re hungry.”
FSU IN THE ACC & NCAA RANKINGS
INDIVIDUAL
Category Player Per Game Avg. ACC Rank NCAA Rank
Rushing Travis Minor 75.5 4
Receiving Yds P/G Peter Warrick 131.5 1 10
Receptions P/G Peter Warrick 8.5 1 8
Passing Efficiency Chris Weinke 152.2 2 23
Total Offense Chris Weinke 239.5 3 34
Scoring Sebastian Janikowski 11.00 2 32
Peter Warrick 9.00 4 42
All-Purpose Yds. Peter Warrick 172.00 3 19
Interceptions Chris Hope 0.5 3
Theon Rackley 0.5 3
Field Goals Sebastian Janikowski 2.0 2 8
Per Return Avg. ACC NCAA
Kickoff Returns Laveranues Coles 22.33 3 44
TEAM
Category Per Game Avg. ACC Rank NCAA Rank
Total Offense 431.00 4 34
Rushing Offense 155.00 5 57
Passing Offense 276.00 3 23
Scoring Offense 41.0 1 14
Total Defense 385.0 8 81
Rushing Defense 66.5 1 18
Passing Efficiency Defense 154.6 9 102
Scoring Defense 21.0 5 47
Kickoff Returns 20.2 5 61
Punt Returns 10.0 7 44
Net Punting 43.5 1 7
1st Downs Per Game(Off.) 26.5 1
1st Downs Per Game (Def.) 20.0 6
3rd Down Conversions (Off.) 51.6 3
3rd Down Conversions (Def.) 41.4 5
Turnover Margin 1.00 2 27