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Playmakers Priority No. 1 For Seminoles

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The message Florida State coach Bobby Bowden delivered to the Noles following their 45-12 loss at Florida on Saturday was a simple one.

"I told them to look at that scoreboard up there and don't ever forget it," Bowden said Sunday. "All of us thought we could win this game. I thought we could win this game. Shoot, we couldn't even slow them down."

Not nearly as simple as Bowden's postgame speech is the task of recruiting, signing and developing players into difference-makers such as Florida QB Tim Tebow and WR Percy Harvin. Bowden is convinced that quest is the most important one facing his program.

In Saturday's loss - FSU's worst loss to the Gators in 24 years - Tebow had 351 total yards and Harvin had 157 yards rushing and 67 yards receiving.

"You want to go out and find a couple of those guys," Bowden said. "Maybe it's not a receiver. Maybe it's a running back, maybe it's a linebacker, maybe it's a defensive back. We need to find a couple of great players that can make plays for us to win games."

STAYING THE COURSE: Bowden is hoping that after making the largest staff overhaul of his career last offseason, FSU's coaching stays intact next season. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is expected to receive consideration for a head coaching job.

"This group really worked good together," Bowden said. "The chemistry was very good. Now that we've had a year together, you've got to look it like this: This year, our coaches were learning these players and learning what they could do. We go into this spring knowing what they can do. We will probably be a little ahead in that area."

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Senior K Gary Cismesia accounted for all 12 of FSU's points, kicking four field goals, including a school-record 60-yarder as the first half ended. ... In his final regular-season game, senior WR Joslin Shaw of Plant City had a career-high 24-yard run, helping set up Cismesia's first field goal for FSU's only lead of the game.

WHAT WENT WRONG: The Noles seemed to forget how to tackle, and quite frankly, looked inept at times trying to defend Tebow and Harvin.

"We could never stop those guys, couldn't even hardly slow them down," Bowden said. And once again, the Noles stalled in the red zone, failing to score a touchdown on three drives inside UF's 20 in the first half.

INJURY REPORT: Redshirt freshman CB Ochucko Jenije (ankle) left the game and did not return, but other than that, FSU reported no injuries.

Scott Carter

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