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FSU-Miami Matchup Not Quite What It Used To Be

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2008

The same statement could have been made two decades ago.

"Miami and Florida State, to me, are very much in the same boat," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "We're both pretty equal."

Two decades ago, that was true. The FSU-Miami matchup was a national-championship elimination game.

But when the Seminoles (3-1, 0-1 ACC) meet the Hurricanes (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday afternoon at Dolphin Stadium, for the second straight season, both teams are unranked (at least one of the teams in the game was ranked from 1978-2006).

The state's game with more national significance will be played tonight at Raymond James Stadium, when No. 10-ranked USF (5-0) hosts Pittsburgh.

"South Florida's improvement is as good as any this state has ever seen - probably as good as most states have ever seen," Bowden said. "It seems like South Florida came along a lot faster than we did.

"Their staff has done a tremendous job. The kids they are getting, it's amazing what they have done. It would be hard to measure the speed of the program's growth, but it's faster than anybody else has done it."

The Seminoles, meanwhile, must settle for baby steps. Last week's 39-21 victory against Colorado was a good start. Defeating Miami will keep FSU in contention for a spot in the ACC Championship Game in Tampa.

"There's so much parity out there now," Bowden said. "It's getting to the point where anybody can beat anybody, no matter what the record is. Last weekend was the perfect example when four top 10-ranked teams were upset. Some of those teams lost to unranked teams.

"We probably won't see the dominating records like we did before. With the limitations on signings, there are times when you might see a quarterback out there, but you can't get him because you've already got three quarterbacks on scholarship.

"All that means is he's going to play against you and probably beat you. It's just a lot more even out there now."

Even with FSU and Miami, once the unquestioned kings of college football. Both featured learn-on-the-go quarterbacks (FSU's Christian Ponder and UM's Robert Marve) and rigorous rushing defenses. The teams are mirror images.

Just like before, the game is about survival.

But this time, it's about surviving in the ACC.

SWEET 16: The three rushing touchdowns against Colorado gave Seminoles RB Antone Smith 16 for his career, tying him for ninth all-time at FSU, along with William Floyd and William McCray. Greg Allen (1981-84) is No. 1 with 44 rushing TDs.

DOLPHIN STADIUM: FSU is 2-3 at Dolphin Stadium, with three consecutive losses in the Orange Bowl's postseason game (including a 13-2 defeat against Oklahoma to decide the 2000 national championship). The Seminoles' only regular-season game at the stadium was a 48-10 victory against Maryland in 1996.

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