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Weatherford, Seminoles Just Trying To Stay Loose

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Michael McGuffee

Published: October 25, 2007

TALLAHASSEE Florida State wrapped up preparations for Duke on Thursday and will head into the weekend's matchup coming off consecutive losses and with QB Drew Weatherford back under center for the first time in three games.
According to Weatherford, the key to Saturday's match-up — a legitimate must-win for the Noles given the tough road ahead — is simply staying loose.
"I really think a lot of [our recent struggle] is just because we're playing uptight," Weatherford said. "We've just got to let loose and play football.
"The game plan is completely in and everybody feels real comfortable with what we're doing. [We need] to go out and just play fast and execute the things we've been doing since two-a-days and have a good time."
Weatherford will replace Xavier Lee this week as the starter against a Duke defense that has given up an average of 34 points and 438 yards of total offense per game. The redshirt junior has started both of the Seminoles' two previous wins against Duke, including a 2005 outing where he completed 24 of 32 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns.
"It's always good to have a good feel for teams and I feel like I do have a good feel for the teams coming up. But [Duke is] a different team than they were last year. They've come such a long way since I played them the first time."
The former Land 'O Lakes standout, who couldn't help but smile as he fielded more questions about the team's continued quarterback controversy, said the only difference this week is more reps in practice.
"It's almost kind of funny between (Lee) and I at this point," Weatherford said. "We've dealt with this a lot and what we keep telling each other is we just have to stay together. We don't want this situation to affect the team."
NOLES HONOR TRIBE: FSU will wear black uniforms for the second time in school history Saturday as part of an ensemble meant to honor the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The uniforms, sponsored by Nike, are all black with garnet numbers and gold piping and say "Seminoles" down one pant leg and "Unconquered" down the other. "Unconquered" refers to the fact that the Seminoles never signed a treaty with the U.S. government and therefore remain unconquered as a tribe to this day.
"I'm excited [to wear the black jerseys]," TB Antone Smith said Thursday. "I was more excited last year being that we hadn't lost in them before last year. But, at the same time, it's always a privilege to wear the uniform."
The team debuted the all-black uniforms in last year's 24-19 loss to Boston College.

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