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FSU QB Weatherford Returns As Starter

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2007

Updated: 10/22/2007 10:18 pm

TALLAHASSEE - Former Land O' Lakes High star Drew Weatherford has his old job back. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden announced Monday that Weatherford, who started the first four games of the season before being replaced by Xavier Lee, will start Saturday's homecoming game against Duke.

Weatherford lost the job to Lee when he failed to ignite the offense in the first half against Alabama on Sept. 29. Lee came in and led the Noles to a 21-14 win. Lee won his first start against N.C. State, but in back-to-back losses to Wake Forest and Miami, Lee's inconsistency and performance drop-off in the second half of both losses prompted Bowden and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher to make the change.

''Jimbo and I feel [Lee] is better coming off the bench,'' Bowden said. ''He's a better closer. He just seems to more loose when he comes in under those circumstances.''

Fisher said there is no set plan to play Lee against Duke, and that Weatherford has earned another shot to start.

''It's Drew's game,'' Fisher said. ''He has shown great maturity and is a team player. When Xavier throws something, who is the first guy to greet him when he comes out? He hasn't complained or said anything. He has been FSU all the way.''

Weatherford has started 27 games the past three seasons, compared to Lee's six. Weatherford said Fisher made it clear why the move was made.

''He told me at this point, it's not about who's starting,'' Weatherford said after practice Monday night. ''It's about winning games. Obviously, I'm glad to be back on the field, but we've got to start playing better and stop making mistakes so we can win these ballgames.''

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT: FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is determined to reverse his unit's breakdowns in the fourth quarter of the last two games. In Saturday's 37-29 loss to Miami, erratic Miami QB Kirby Freeman drove the Hurricanes 83 yards on seven plays with less than three minutes remaining for the decisive score.

''We should not have let it happen,'' Andrews said. ''We are going to work on our fourth-quarter attitude. It's attitude as much as anything else. We are not accountable to the extent that we need to be. We are going to try and finish like we are supposed to.''

THACKER'S STATUS: Starting DT Budd Thacker has missed the last four games because of a fractured toe and injured ankle. Thacker is close to returning physically, but Bowden hinted following Monday's practice that his return is not guaranteed due to a ''university issue.''

Bowden declined to provide further details.

NOLE NUGGETS: WR Greg Carr is nursing a sprained wrist and is questionable for the Duke game … WR Damon McDaniel is the father of a newborn son. McDaniel left the team last week to return home to Virginia to be with his family. Bowden hopes to have McDaniel, who was not at practice Monday, back by the end of the week … K Gary Cismesia was named ACC Special Teams Player of the Week for his five field goals Saturday against Miami. Cismesia has made 13-of-16 FGs this season … The FSU at Boston College game on Nov. 3 will be played at either 3:30 p.m. on ABC, or 7:30-8 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC. ESPN/ABC will announce its decision no later than Sunday.

Scott Carter, Michael McGuffee

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