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FSU-Wake: 'It's Going To Be Electric In There'

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By COREY CLARK

Published: September 20, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - There are new video boards, a new sound system and a new team entrance.

But the Florida State Seminoles are hoping for an old-style crowd at Doak Campbell Stadium tonight when they take on No. 18 Wake Forest in an important early-season Atlantic Coast Conference showdown.

"I expect a packed house," FSU receiver Bert Reed said. "I expect it to be energetic from the kickoff to the end."

Said defensive end Everette Brown: "I can't wait. It's going to be electric in there."

It has been a long time since 24th-ranked FSU has played in a game of this magnitude. Two undefeated teams at night, playing before a national TV audience.

If the Seminoles can defeat the Demon Deacons, which they have not been able to do the past two seasons, it would be a statement for the program.

Especially considering what happened the last time Wake Forest visited Tallahassee. On Nov. 11, 2006, the Demon Deacons shut out the Seminoles 30-0. It was the first and only home shutout loss of Bobby Bowden's career at Florida State.

It hasn't been forgotten.

"It definitely left a sour taste in your mouth," FSU quarterback Christian Ponder said. "Everyone's still talking about it."

It's just another reason why the coaches and players are expecting the crowd to be energetic from the start.

"You need the homefield advantage," Bowden said. "And being a night game, these people around here are really acclimated to night. They seem to respond a lot better to night football."

Fans also have made a habit of responding to big games. Throughout the 1990s, when FSU lost only one home game (in 1991 to Miami), the Florida State fans always seemed to put the "advantage" in homefield advantage.

The current Seminoles are looking for that same type of raucous energy tonight.

"Our crowd knows it," Reed said. "I think they know their responsibility. They know what their job is, too. I feel like when we're out there, we're all Florida State. And they're a part of us, too."

The crowd will be a loud part, according to Brown.

"I know they will," he said. "They'll have all day to sleep in and get their rest. And then come out and be ready to go. And that's what we're going to need. We're going to need that 12th man out there on the field. We've got all the loudspeakers and all, but the crowd definitely will get to the game early and get into it."

No. 18 WAKE FOREST (2-0) AT No. 24 FSU (2-0)

At Stake

After back-to-back routs against I-AA opponents to start the season, FSU faces its first true test in its ACC opener. Wake Forest, the highest-ranked ACC team, looks to make it three straight wins against the once-mighty Noles, who lost 30-0 the last time these teams met in Tallahassee.

Keep An Eye On:

FSU - Preston Parker, the Seminoles' offensive MVP in 2007, returns after serving a two-game suspension to start the season. Will Parker be able to blend in seamlessly with Corey Surrency, Bert Reed and the other new Noles?

Wake Forest - QB Riley Skinner is 2-0 against FSU in his first two seasons, including a come-from-behind victory last October. In two starts against the Seminoles, Skinner has completed 36 of 46 passes for 353 yards with three touchdowns.

Key Stat

No BCS conference team from outside the Sunshine State has more Floridians on the roster than the 26 at Wake Forest.

Key Matchup

Florida State's ability to shut down Wake Forest's passing game. Through two games, QB Riley Skinner, a Jacksonville native who wasn't recruited by FSU, has executed the Deacons' short passing game almost to perfection, throwing for 473 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. His favorite target has been D.J. Boldin, younger brother of former FSU standout Anquan Boldin, who is averaging 9.7 catches and 93 yards per game.

Injury Update

FSU - LB Aaron Gresham (knee), RB Tavares Pressley (knee), DB Ed Imeokparia (knee), DB Dionte Allen (foot), OL Evan Bellamy (blood clot), OL A.J. Ganguzza, and DB Nick Moody (shoulder) are out.

Wake Forest - No injuries reported.

PREDICTION

Wake Forest 24, FSU 21

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