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Seminoles Need Help After Loss

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By BRENT KALLESTAD

The Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State dropped back to where it started just a few days ago - ranked 24th nationally and looking for help to win its division in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In control of its destiny for only a week, the Seminoles (6-2, 3-2 ACC) slid back to where they've been for most of the past few years - counting on someone else to help them out.

And Clemson, the ACC's preseason favorite, has stumbled to a 4-4 record and already fired Coach Tommy Bowden, visits Saturday (3:30 p.m.), followed by Boston College and then a visit to Atlantic Division-leading Maryland on Nov. 22.

Luck ran out Saturday for the Seminoles, who had rallied from a pair of 10-point deficits in wins against North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.

After wiping out a 14-point deficit, Florida State looked like it was going to pull another out before Marcus Sims fumbled into the end zone with only 45 seconds left, giving Georgia Tech a 31-28 win Saturday - snapping the Seminoles' 12-game winning streak against the Yellow Jackets.

Bowden said it was the first time in his long coaching career he lost a game with a last minute fumble in the end zone.

"You've got to get it out of your mind," Bowden said during taping of his postgame show. "Put everything on Clemson."

The Seminoles fell from No. 16 to 24th in The Associated Press poll.

Bowden said freshman running back Jermaine Thomas and sophomore backup quarterback D'Vontrey Richardson would likely be more involved with the offense going down the stretch.

Thomas has averaged 8.4 yards, while Richardson is averaging 8.6 yards a carry.

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