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Bowden Happy To See Noles Deliver In Clutch

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

Updated: 11/04/2007 11:45 pm

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has been at the top and looked down at the rest of the college football world. He knows what it takes to win national titles, meaningful bowl games and road stops such as FSU's 27-17 victory at No. 2-ranked Boston College on Saturday.

It takes some offense, some defense and some special teams. It usually takes some luck and good fortune. But most of all, it takes attitude laced with confidence from past success.

FSU has been lacking in that department in recent years, unable to come through in the clutch against top teams.

Finally, playing on their largest stage of the season, the Noles delivered against Boston College, knocking the undefeated Eagles from national title contention. They also likely knocked Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan from the Heisman race, intercepting the senior three times, including linebacker Geno Hayes' 38-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final two minutes.

So, what's next for the Noles? That's what Bowden wants to find out as FSU returns to practice today to begin preparing for a tough road game at Virginia Tech.

"We haven't been up at the top in so long," Bowden said Sunday. "It's been so long since we have been able to successfully mingle with the upper crust. We haven't done anything yet. We just beat the No. 2 team in the country. For us to get back up there, we've still got a ways to go."

If the Noles can duplicate much of what they did at Boston College, they should be in position to win at Virginia Tech.

Consider that in Saturday's victory over BC - only the second time in 10 regular-season tries FSU has beaten a No. 2-ranked team - FSU didn't commit a turnover but forced four. The Noles surrendered 478 yards, but they stopped Ryan and the Eagles when it mattered most, with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter. And quarterback Drew Weatherford looked sharp for the second consecutive game since returning to the starting lineup, throwing for 354 yards on 29 of 45 passing.

"I thought he did a great job of leading our football team," FSU offensive coordinator Fisher said. "His presence in there was excellent. The last three or four weeks I really feel we are starting to get an identity."

That's partly due to the offensive players finally gaining a better grasp of Fisher's playbook, which is considerably more complicated than that of former OC Jeff Bowden. Early in the season, Fisher threw it all at the Noles, and they struggled. He has recently scaled back some parts of his offensive scheme and the results have followed. FSU is averaging 493 yards of total offense its past two games, and Weatherford has thrown for back-to-back 300-yard games.

"When we didn't execute it early in the year, it wasn't because the kids weren't sold on what we were doing," Bowden said. "They were trying to grasp it. They were trying to get the whole picture. I think what's happening now, is that they are beginning to get the picture."

That picture has been a lot more pleasing to Bowden's eyes recently, especially the play of Weatherford the past two games.

"This is what I expected going into this year," Bowden said. "We haven't had a redshirt junior quarterback start for us in a while, and that's when our quarterbacks usually start. Now he's producing the way I thought you should."

Reporter Scott Carter can be

reached at (850) 294-3088

or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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