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Shuffled Lineup Doesn't Hurt Noles' Defense

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By STEVE ELLIS

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 21, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews mixed up the starting lineup a little bit Saturday night - a move that paid off in the first half.

Jamie Robinson, who started at free safety over Darius McClure, separated the football from Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner with his knee just as the Demon Deacons seemed set to score a touchdown late in the first half.

One-time S Kenny Ingram, fresh off a huge hit delivered last week against Chattanooga, and CB Korey Mangum both jumped on the loose ball at FSU's 2-yard line. It was Ingram's first start at the weakside linebacker spot he has been playing this season.

Ingram also broke up a pass late in the first quarter, then repeated that feat later in the half when Wake Forest went for it on fourth down on FSU's 11-yard line. Skinner's pass to what appeared to be an open receiver wasn't quite high enough to get over the outstretched arms of the 6-foot-6 Ingram.

Budd Thacker, back after serving his four-game suspension dating to last season, started at defensive tackle, but he shared playing time with Hillsborough High graduate and freshman Moses McCray, who started the first two games.

Kendall Smith, who lost his starting role to Ingram, still got plenty of time in place of Ingram and got his first sack and forced his first fumble as a Seminole.

NOTHING SHORT ABOUT IT: FSU coaches hinted during the week that Graham Gano, who tore cartilage of his right knee on Aug. 18, could be available to try short field goal attempts and extra points. But there was nothing short about Gano's first attempt of the 2008 season.

With FSU trailing 3-0 and 7:24 remaining in the first half, Gano attempted a 52-yard field goal. The kick was long enough but went wide left.

PUMPED UP: FSU players gave this the big-game treatment - at least before the whistle blew. With helmets high in the air as they lined up the near hash mark, the Seminoles were going crazy. A little too crazy for one referee, who pushed back freshman Nigel Carr before the pregame coin toss.

But for all that enthusiasm, FSU extended its scoreless home streak against Wake Forest to six quarters.

FSU committed three turnovers in the first half to make it 11 turnovers in the past 10 quarters against the Demon Deacons.

NEGATIVE YARDAGE: WR Corey Surrency accounted for 30 yards in the first half, but not how his coaches would have wanted. He had two penalties for chop blocks and no catches before halftime.

Surrency wasn't the only receiver to be hit with a big penalty. Preston Parker took FSU from a third-and-1 on its first drive of the second half to third-and-16 on a personal foul.

Steve Ellis

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