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Five worst moments in FSU's season

By Brian Landman
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 30, 2002

• This is it • Gators more pathetic than hateable • FSU can't sink any deeper • Five worst moments in Florida's season • Five key players for Florida against FSU • Five key players for FSU against Florida • Divergent paths coming together

1. BUST-ED: A month after Adrian McPherson took over for Chris Rix at quarterback, Bobby Bowden dismissed him from the team for violating team rules. Two days later, McPherson was arrested and charged by Tallahassee police with a felony and a misdemeanor in connection with the theft, forgery and cashing of a $3,500 check from a local business.

2. WIDE LEFT: After dominating No. 1 Miami for much of the game on Oct. 12 at the Orange Bowl, the Seminoles found themselves down 28-27 in the waning moments. But Rix completed a couple of clutch passes to setup a 43-yard field-goal attempt for the usually automatic Xavier Beitia on the last play of the game. He missed, wide to the left, adding to a legacy of missed FSU field goals against the Hurricanes.

3. RIX PICK: On the first play of overtime at Louisville on Sept. 26, just about anything that could go wrong did. Rix pump-faked when he shouldn't have, then had the wet ball slip out of his hand and end up in the arms of Cardinals' Anthony Floyd. Louisville then scored on its first play to stun the Seminoles 26-20.

4. THREE THE HARD WAY. With the score tied at 10 against Notre Dame in the third quarter at Doak Campbell Stadium on Oct. 26, Rix threw an interception and fumbled on consecutive series, leading to 10 Irish points. On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Leon Washington fumbled, setting up another Irish score and a commanding 27-10 lead. That was 17 points in 4:35. That loss ignited outbursts in the locker room from players, many of them on defense, criticizing Rix and calling for a quarterback change.

5. UGLY STATE(MENT). With a chance to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title outright on Nov. 23 at North Carolina State, the Seminoles put on a dismal offensive showing. McPherson struggled mightily (8 of 20 for 80 yards) and FSU mustered just 177 yards. Its lone score in the 17-7 loss came compliments of a Michael Boulware interception return. The Wolfpack fans stormed the field and tore down both goal posts in a wild post-game celebration.

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