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Seminoles Focus Shifts To Gators

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By STEVE ELLIS

The Tallahassee Democrat

Published: November 24, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Florida State players were still thawing out from their chilly but victorious experience against then-No. 22 Maryland late Saturday when the questions about Florida began.

Their answers about Saturday's opponent weren't prefaced as they sometimes are, explaining how they had not watched film of the Gators yet.

"We know," receiver Preston Parker said.

Then he added: "We know they've got weapons just like we got weapons."

More talent, really.

And more at stake.

The 10-1 Gators are very much in the hunt for a national title.

FSU has stayed alive in its pursuit of an ACC Atlantic Division title and a place in the Dec. 6 ACC Championship Game in Tampa. The Seminoles need Maryland to beat a Boston College team that will be without its starting quarterback, Chris Crane.

FSU has lost four consecutive games to Florida and has not defeated a top-10 ranked Gators team since 2000. Last year's 45-12 shellacking to Tim Tebow & Co. still stings.

The Gators enter Doak Campbell Stadium on a sizzling six-game winning streak in which they have scored at least 42 points in every game. No SEC team has ever done that until now.

A fast start from FSU would certainly help against Florida.

"We talk about coming out strong," quarterback Christian Ponder said. "Against every team it's going to be important, but yeah against Florida, it will be big."

While some players walked out of the locker room already thinking about Florida, Derek Nicholson promised to savor the win over Maryland on the flight to Tallahassee.

"And then we got to get ready for those boys in Gainesville," he said.

•Junior defensive end Everette Brown, who had 3.5 sacks and forced a fumble during Saturday's win, was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.

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