Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 2, 1995 TAG: 9511020079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Charter members of that organization are the three ACC football teams - Duke, North Carolina State and Wake Forest - against whom Florida State has scored at least 70 points and amassed more than 700 yards in total offense this season.
Virginia could hold the Seminoles to exactly 40 points and 400 yards and it would be their lowest output of the season, one reason that UVa coach George Welsh says of FSU's offense:
``It will take its place as one of the best in the history of college football.''
Moreover, it's an aroused Florida State team that visits Charlottesville tonight for a game that will be televised by ESPN starting at 8. The Seminoles, who had been ranked No.1 for nine consecutive weeks, dropped to No.2 while they were idle last week.
``Gosh, you would hope our kids would really respond to that,'' FSU coach Bobby Bowden said Wednesday. ``You would hope it would be a lot [of motivation].''
The Seminoles (7-0 overall, 5-0 ACC) face a Virginia squad at less than full strength after an injury to leading receiver Patrick Jeffers. Jeffers, coming off a career-high seven receptions in a 17-16 loss to Texas, aggravated an old hamstring injury in practice and is not expected to play.
Mike Groh, named Wednesday as one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award that goes to the nation's top senior quarterback, will have the services of tight end Bobby Neely for only the third game this season.
In addition, 24th-ranked Virginia (6-3, 5-1) has the ACC's lone 1,000-yard rusher to this point in junior Tiki Barber.
``They are a team that can beat us,'' Bowden said. ``My opinion of Virginia has not changed since the beginning of the year, when I thought they would be a solid No.2 [in the ACC] and maybe beat Florida State.
``Gosh, they've had some tough losses. Our game, in my opinion, would have been a No.1 versus a No.6 [in the country] if they had not lost those one-point games.''
The Cavaliers were beaten on the last play in road losses at Michigan (18-17) and Texas and now find themselves scrounging for the one victory that will qualify them for bowl consideration. The oddsmakers, who have installed Florida State as a 17-point favorite, don't think it will come tonight.
``It's not that they're invincible,'' said Welsh, whose 1989 team was a 10-point underdog when it beat Penn State 14-6 in the biggest upset of his UVa tenure. ``They're just better than anybody else and they don't help you.''
Some teams were able to move the ball on the Seminoles early in the season - Clemson rushed for more than 300 yards in a 45-26 loss - but that was when linebackers Darryl Bush and Todd Rebol were injured. Bowden said Wednesday that Florida State is the healthiest it's been all season.
The Seminoles are led by quarterback Danny Kanell, whose 25 touchdown passes in seven games are two short of the ACC record, and tailback Warrick Dunn. Dunn, who has carried 92 times for 861 yards, is threatening the Division I-A record for per-carry average.
``Dunn and [back-up Rock] Preston go for 15 yards where mortals go for five,'' Welsh said.
Maybe the least-known great player in the ACC is Florida State wide receiver Andre Cooper, a one-time Seminoles basketball player who has 43 receptions for 607 yards and a conference-high 11 touchdowns. E.G. Green has eight touchdown catches.
They will test a UVa pass defense that has intercepted at least one pass in 25 consecutive games, but also has yielded an ACC-high 245.9 yards per game. Sophomore Joe Williams will draw his first regular-season start in place of injured senior Joe Crocker.
Undoubtedly, Florida State is not the ideal opponent for a debut. Welsh said the Cavaliers will have to avoid turnovers, pick up first downs when they have the ball and score touchdowns - not kick field goals. Defense is another matter.
``They're going to score,'' Welsh said. ``Kanell's going to complete passes. All you can do is limit the long runs and the passes. There's no question, if we're going to win, we've got to play at a higher level than we've played all year.''
by CNB