Post by FIUMAN on Sept 7, 2006 22:48:25 GMT -5
Troy is going to take on Florida State this saturday at 6pm
Florida State's home opener won't have the glitz of its first game, but the team can't afford a letdown with its national title hopes now looking more promising.
After beginning the season with a win over their archrivals, the ninth-ranked Seminoles open a run of three straight home games when they face Troy on Saturday.
Gary Cismesia made a 33-yard field goal with 8:01 left to put Florida State ahead for good in its come-from-behind 13-10 win at then-No. 12 Miami on Monday.
It was perhaps the most anticipated game of the opening week of the season, and gave the Seminoles' national title hopes a big boost as a loss would have likely dashed any hopes at a championship.
"You get a win like this, you can really start rolling," said Florida State linebacker Buster Davis, who had 12 tackles.
Before the season, Davis said he believed the Seminoles were national title contenders, even after five losses in 2005. He also said the biggest step toward that goal would be beating Miami on opening night.
"He backed it up," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose team jumped two spots in the poll Tuesday.
Florida State's passing game came up big in the opener as Miami's defensive front held the Seminoles to 1 yard on 25 rushes. Drew Weatherford was solid, throwing for 175 yards, 62 of them on a pair of pivotal third-down conversions that set up the Seminoles' lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles' defense was dominant in the second half, holding Miami to 17 yards.
"It just shows character on the part of the whole entire team," Weatherford said.
Joe Surratt had a 1-yard touchdown plunge for Florida State on the first play of the final quarter, and De'Cody f*gg had three catches for 60 yards.
The Seminoles host No. 18 Clemson on Sept. 16, and Rice the following week. They play only three more road games all season, against North Carolina State, Duke and Maryland.
Troy opened the season with a 38-0 win over Division I-AA Alabama State last Saturday.
Now, the Trojans have more difficult tests awaiting. After playing Florida State, they travel to Georgia Tech, No. 21 Nebraska and UAB in consecutive weeks.
Troy coach Larry Blakeney summed it up as a "very rigorous schedule." The Trojans' first game was anything but rigorous as they gained 429 total yards while holding the Hornets to 134.
The game marked the Troy debut for quarterback Omar Haugabook, who gave himself mixed reviews after going 20-for-32 for 171 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. He left the game after cramping up in the hot, humid weather.
"It could have went a lot better," said Haugabook, a junior college transfer. "I started out slow. I was a little nervous coming out. As the game progressed, I got to feeling kind of into the game and had an OK game."
The Trojans didn't have to settle for just watching film of Florida State. They got to watch the Seminoles on TV Monday night, and Blakeney is hoping Florida State's shortened preparation and recovery time in between games will help his squad.
"If you're a Trojan, you've got to hope it's an advantage," he said. "We need all the help we can get, and we'll take it."
Florida State leads the all-time series 4-1. This is the teams' first meeting since Sept. 29, 1951, when the Seminoles won 40-0.
After beginning the season with a win over their archrivals, the ninth-ranked Seminoles open a run of three straight home games when they face Troy on Saturday.
Gary Cismesia made a 33-yard field goal with 8:01 left to put Florida State ahead for good in its come-from-behind 13-10 win at then-No. 12 Miami on Monday.
It was perhaps the most anticipated game of the opening week of the season, and gave the Seminoles' national title hopes a big boost as a loss would have likely dashed any hopes at a championship.
"You get a win like this, you can really start rolling," said Florida State linebacker Buster Davis, who had 12 tackles.
Before the season, Davis said he believed the Seminoles were national title contenders, even after five losses in 2005. He also said the biggest step toward that goal would be beating Miami on opening night.
"He backed it up," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose team jumped two spots in the poll Tuesday.
Florida State's passing game came up big in the opener as Miami's defensive front held the Seminoles to 1 yard on 25 rushes. Drew Weatherford was solid, throwing for 175 yards, 62 of them on a pair of pivotal third-down conversions that set up the Seminoles' lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles' defense was dominant in the second half, holding Miami to 17 yards.
"It just shows character on the part of the whole entire team," Weatherford said.
Joe Surratt had a 1-yard touchdown plunge for Florida State on the first play of the final quarter, and De'Cody f*gg had three catches for 60 yards.
The Seminoles host No. 18 Clemson on Sept. 16, and Rice the following week. They play only three more road games all season, against North Carolina State, Duke and Maryland.
Troy opened the season with a 38-0 win over Division I-AA Alabama State last Saturday.
Now, the Trojans have more difficult tests awaiting. After playing Florida State, they travel to Georgia Tech, No. 21 Nebraska and UAB in consecutive weeks.
Troy coach Larry Blakeney summed it up as a "very rigorous schedule." The Trojans' first game was anything but rigorous as they gained 429 total yards while holding the Hornets to 134.
The game marked the Troy debut for quarterback Omar Haugabook, who gave himself mixed reviews after going 20-for-32 for 171 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. He left the game after cramping up in the hot, humid weather.
"It could have went a lot better," said Haugabook, a junior college transfer. "I started out slow. I was a little nervous coming out. As the game progressed, I got to feeling kind of into the game and had an OK game."
The Trojans didn't have to settle for just watching film of Florida State. They got to watch the Seminoles on TV Monday night, and Blakeney is hoping Florida State's shortened preparation and recovery time in between games will help his squad.
"If you're a Trojan, you've got to hope it's an advantage," he said. "We need all the help we can get, and we'll take it."
Florida State leads the all-time series 4-1. This is the teams' first meeting since Sept. 29, 1951, when the Seminoles won 40-0.