Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993                   TAG: 9310160190
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.                                LENGTH: Long

SEMINOLES, NOT THEIR RANKING, UVA'S NO. 1 CONCERN

"I tend to look at the No. 1 ranking [in 1991] as something of a gift," said senior cornerback Greg McClellan, one of more than 40 players who remain from that Virginia team. "If it does happen, beating No. 1 would be bigger."

Nobody associated with the Cavaliers is losing perspective, however. Virginia, a 27-point underdog today against top-ranked Florida State, will play four of its next five games against teams it lost to last season.

"If we beat Florida State and lose four of our next five, what good does that do us?" said defensive tackle Ryan Kuehl.

"If the alternative was to lose to Florida State and win four of the next five, there's no question what I would want, not that I'd want to lose any of them."

As great as the spread on the UVa-Florida State game is, it does not compare with Virginia Tech's homecoming game with Temple at 1 p.m. today. The Hokies are such overwhelming favorites that there is no line.

It is the first of three consecutive home games for the Hokies (3-2 overall, 0-2 Big East), whose lone road victory last year was against the Owls. Temple (1-4, 0-2) has given up 56 to 62 points in each of its last four games.

Virginia (5-0 overall, 3-0 ACC) must beat Florida State to have realistic hopes of an ACC championship, but clearly there is more at stake for the Seminoles (6-0, 4-0) in a 4 p.m. game that will be shown by ESPN.

Florida State, ranked between No. 2 and No. 5 in the country after each of the last five seasons, took a giant step toward its first national championship when it beat Miami 28-10 on Saturday.

"The team that wins this one is in the driver's seat for the conference championship, which you must win to get the bowl you want at the end of the year," said Bobby Bowden, the Seminoles' coach.

"The way I've approached it is, it's as important as any game on our schedule the rest of the way."

That's what he's saying this week. Before meeting Miami, Bowden said that was Game of the Century I and that upcoming games with Notre Dame (Nov. 13) and Florida (Nov. 27) would be Game of the Century II and Game of the Century III, respectively.

So, where does that leave the Virginia game?

"Heh, heh, heh," said Seminoles defensive back Clifton Abraham, doing his best Beavis and Butthead impersonation. "It's the second game of October."

Abraham still has fond memories of Florida State's trip to Charlottesville last year, when he had an interception in the Seminoles' 13-3 victory. He learned only recently that UVa quarterback Bobby Goodman had used up his eligibility.

"We were having a conversation last week and I asked, `Is Bobby Goodman still the [UVa] quarterback?' " Abraham said. "They said, `No, they've got a guy named Willis?' I said, `Who's that?' "

You can be sure that Florida State is aware of UVa sophomore Symmion Willis, the Division I-A leader this week in passing efficiency. Wally Burnham, the Seminoles' linebackers coach, called Willis "a young Charlie."

As far as anybody knows, that was the first time anybody has compared Willis to Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward, last year's ACC Player of the Year and the leading candidate this year for the Heisman Trophy.

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams says Ward is better than 24 of 28 starting quarterbacks in the National Football League, although he was 11-of-29 for 128 yards against UVa last year.

"If he wants to take those stats again, I'll gladly give them to him again," Kuehl said of Ward. "I'd even give him a couple more completions and a few more yards."

Ward had 11 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown, and Kuehl "personally missed him five times. I don't want to put him up on a pedestal or anything, but if I get a sack, I might try to get some kind of souvenir."

The Cavaliers have six sacks this season - they averaged almost three a game last season - so they might have to rely on a pass defense that has 13 interceptions, five more than any other ACC team.

At the very least, Virginia will have to score some points. FSU has not scored fewer than 27 in its last 10 games, and the Seminoles have given up only three touchdowns all year - one on a 1-yard drive following a blocked punt.

Remarkably, Florida State defenders have accounted for six touchdowns, three by outside linebacker Derrick Brooks, who is not expected to play after irritating a nerve in his neck against Miami.

"I need to get me a `pick' [interception] and run one back," said Abraham, who has scored two touchdowns, both on blocked punts. "If I don't, a victory and a shutout will have to do."

It will be Virginia's first visit to 72,589-seat Doak Campbell Stadium, described by Abraham as a "burial ground" for Seminoles opponents. UVa has one victory in its history over a Top 10 team (No. 9 Clemson in 1990).

"I think we'll score," said Kuehl, who has allowed himself to think the improbable. "If we could beat No. 1, it's something you'd never forget. I don't know if you're supposed to think about that, but you do."