Got Noles to win ACC, big game but Im mighty fearful of crowd and whether Noles have letdown following Cane debacle--they claim no and had good practices, we shall see ...
gl, gregg
Title implications at stake
Can Cavaliers stop Seminole steamroller?
By John Galinsky / Daily Progress staff writer
October 18, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before the season, several publications (USA Today, Sporting News among them) picked Virginia to win the ACC football championship. Some predicted Maryland. Others went with N.C. State.
The consensus favorite, as usual, was Florida State. But after a few subpar seasons, the Seminoles seemed vulnerable. If nothing else, their reign of dominance appeared ready to give way to an era of parity.
But as No. 7 FSU (5-1, 4-0 ACC) prepares to face UVa (4-2, 3-1) at Scott Stadium tonight, an all-too-familiar scenario has unfolded over the first half of the season. The Seminoles have been the league?s dominant team, winning their four conference games by an average of 28 points, while no one else has emerged as a worthy challenger.
At this point, the Cavaliers may be the only team that can change the balance of power in the ACC. With a victory tonight, they would forge a tie for first place and create some real drama in the league race. If Florida State wins, it would own a two-game lead on every team except Maryland, which it already routed by 25 points.
?Huge game,? said UVa cornerback Almondo Curry. ?We?ve got to go through them to win the ACC. That?s all there is to it. We?ve got to beat Florida State or they?re probably going to win it again.?
The Seminoles have won or shared 10 of 11 ACC titles since joining the league in 1992. But they slipped in recent seasons. Maryland took the championship in 2001 when FSU lost to North Carolina and N.C. State. Florida State reclaimed it last season, but fell again to the Wolfpack and finished 9-5 overall.
Still, UVa coach Al Groh says he has not bought into the notion of ACC parity. Not yet, anyway.
?When we go a few years at a time - two, three, four years - and other teams than Florida State have won the conference championship, then I think it?d be fair to say that things have changed,? Groh said. ?That hasn?t happened yet. So until that happens, things look pretty much the same.?
The Seminoles sure look much like they did in the 1990s, when they went 62-2 in conference play. They lead the ACC in scoring defense, total defense, pass-efficiency defense and sacks. On offense, they are right behind N.C. State in points and yards.
Much-maligned quarterback Chris Rix has been steadier in his third season as a starter. He has the luxury of two deep threats in receivers P.K. Sam and Craphonso Thorpe. He can also hand the ball to a talented tailback triumvirate that includes Greg Jones, Lorenzo Booker and Leon Washington.
Defensively, Florida State has shored up its two main weaknesses from last season - its secondary and pass rush. With 10 returning starters, the Seminoles have given up just two touchdown passes (after allowing 21 last year) and recorded 22 sacks.
Nevertheless, the Cavaliers insist they won?t be intimidated.
?They?re very good players,? said defensive end Chris Canty, ?but they?re human, just like I am.?
FSU proved that last Saturday in an ugly 22-14 loss at home to No. 2 Miami. The Seminoles committed five turnovers and may have ruined their national championship hopes.
But the Cavaliers also are coming off a tough defeat, 30-27 in overtime at Clemson. Virginia rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit, then let two leads slip away. Because of that, tonight?s game will be a test of each team?s resilience.
?We had a pretty intense, pretty physical practice on Tuesday,? Groh said. ?I would say certainly they?re ready to go again.?
The crowd should be ready for something special. The game has been sold out since before the season. Under the lights and in front of an ESPN audience, the atmosphere may be like it was during Virginia?s historic upset of the Seminoles in 1995.
The Cavaliers ended up sharing the ACC title with the Seminoles that year, and they could share first place again by the end of the night.
?It?s a challenging opponent. It?s going to be an exciting environment,? Groh said. ?I think human nature being what it is, our guys are going to be excited. I?m sure theirs will be, too.?
gl, gregg
Title implications at stake
Can Cavaliers stop Seminole steamroller?
By John Galinsky / Daily Progress staff writer
October 18, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before the season, several publications (USA Today, Sporting News among them) picked Virginia to win the ACC football championship. Some predicted Maryland. Others went with N.C. State.
The consensus favorite, as usual, was Florida State. But after a few subpar seasons, the Seminoles seemed vulnerable. If nothing else, their reign of dominance appeared ready to give way to an era of parity.
But as No. 7 FSU (5-1, 4-0 ACC) prepares to face UVa (4-2, 3-1) at Scott Stadium tonight, an all-too-familiar scenario has unfolded over the first half of the season. The Seminoles have been the league?s dominant team, winning their four conference games by an average of 28 points, while no one else has emerged as a worthy challenger.
At this point, the Cavaliers may be the only team that can change the balance of power in the ACC. With a victory tonight, they would forge a tie for first place and create some real drama in the league race. If Florida State wins, it would own a two-game lead on every team except Maryland, which it already routed by 25 points.
?Huge game,? said UVa cornerback Almondo Curry. ?We?ve got to go through them to win the ACC. That?s all there is to it. We?ve got to beat Florida State or they?re probably going to win it again.?
The Seminoles have won or shared 10 of 11 ACC titles since joining the league in 1992. But they slipped in recent seasons. Maryland took the championship in 2001 when FSU lost to North Carolina and N.C. State. Florida State reclaimed it last season, but fell again to the Wolfpack and finished 9-5 overall.
Still, UVa coach Al Groh says he has not bought into the notion of ACC parity. Not yet, anyway.
?When we go a few years at a time - two, three, four years - and other teams than Florida State have won the conference championship, then I think it?d be fair to say that things have changed,? Groh said. ?That hasn?t happened yet. So until that happens, things look pretty much the same.?
The Seminoles sure look much like they did in the 1990s, when they went 62-2 in conference play. They lead the ACC in scoring defense, total defense, pass-efficiency defense and sacks. On offense, they are right behind N.C. State in points and yards.
Much-maligned quarterback Chris Rix has been steadier in his third season as a starter. He has the luxury of two deep threats in receivers P.K. Sam and Craphonso Thorpe. He can also hand the ball to a talented tailback triumvirate that includes Greg Jones, Lorenzo Booker and Leon Washington.
Defensively, Florida State has shored up its two main weaknesses from last season - its secondary and pass rush. With 10 returning starters, the Seminoles have given up just two touchdown passes (after allowing 21 last year) and recorded 22 sacks.
Nevertheless, the Cavaliers insist they won?t be intimidated.
?They?re very good players,? said defensive end Chris Canty, ?but they?re human, just like I am.?
FSU proved that last Saturday in an ugly 22-14 loss at home to No. 2 Miami. The Seminoles committed five turnovers and may have ruined their national championship hopes.
But the Cavaliers also are coming off a tough defeat, 30-27 in overtime at Clemson. Virginia rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit, then let two leads slip away. Because of that, tonight?s game will be a test of each team?s resilience.
?We had a pretty intense, pretty physical practice on Tuesday,? Groh said. ?I would say certainly they?re ready to go again.?
The crowd should be ready for something special. The game has been sold out since before the season. Under the lights and in front of an ESPN audience, the atmosphere may be like it was during Virginia?s historic upset of the Seminoles in 1995.
The Cavaliers ended up sharing the ACC title with the Seminoles that year, and they could share first place again by the end of the night.
?It?s a challenging opponent. It?s going to be an exciting environment,? Groh said. ?I think human nature being what it is, our guys are going to be excited. I?m sure theirs will be, too.?
