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Bowden Upbeat After Victory

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By DOUG BLACKBURN

The Tallahassee Democrat

Published: October 18, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is an eternal optimist.

Ask him if the glass is half full or half empty and five times out of five he's going to tell you the dadgum cup is overflowing.

But Bowden is decidedly upbeat about what happened Thursday night, when his 5-1 Seminoles found themselves in a hole in the fourth quarter on the road and they rallied for a 26-17 win against North Carolina State.

He knows the Florida State team that struggled to finish 7-6 the past two seasons might not have had the inner reserve to battle back and win a game it had no business losing.

However, beating the Wolfpack, a team that's 0-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, is one thing. Overcoming Virginia Tech, FSU's opponent next Saturday at Doak Campbell Stadium, is a different matter altogether.

"When you look at the polls from the last 10 years, Virginia Tech has been in the top 10 nearly every year," Bowden said Friday. "Now Florida State, let's see if you're ready for that next step.

"If we can beat them, it's a better sign that we're heading in the right direction."

FSU's Thursday night win in Raleigh kept it one-half game behind Wake Forest in the ACC's Atlantic Division. Virginia Tech, 5-1 and 2-0, leads the Coastal Division.

Bowden continues to be impressed with the development of sophomore quarterback Christian Ponder, who was 23 of 35 for a career-best 254 yards and one touchdown against N.C. State. Best of all, Ponder had zero turnovers as the Seminoles scored 13 unanswered points to close out Thursday's come-from-behind victory.

"I think it's very noticeable and it's something you're looking for," Bowden said. "He doesn't panic.

"They are doing a remarkable job. I'm talking about Jimbo Fisher and the quarterback and the offensive staff."

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