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By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff WriterFSU 48, WAKE 24: Bobby Bowden becomes all-time winningest coach in I-A.
TALLAHASSEE - With his wife by his side, a box of cigars under his left arm and the game ball cupped in his right hand, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden walked much farther than merely the length of the field.
Bowden's was a victory stroll for the record book.
At least for the moment.
FSU's 48-24 rout of Wake Forest on Saturday, coupled with Penn State's loss, made Bowden the Division I-A all-time coaching wins leader with 339.
"We always play hard, but we wanted to play our hardest especially (tonight) for coach Bowden to get this win," said receiver Craphonso Thorpe, whose two touchdown receptions turned the game into a blowout.
"Words can't describe how we feel," added quarterback Chris Rix. "I know when we're with our families, we'll know we were a part of history."
In the end zone, the players gathered, raised their helmets and jumped up and down in a salute to their coach as the video scoreboard flashed images of Bowden through the years.
"It's very nice," said Bowden, who was doused with a bucket of water in the waning minutes, a ceremony that had not been done here in years. "But I can't get as excited about the 339 as a lot of people are because I know there's more to it. It's not like, "Oh boy. You're it.' I'm just ahead right now.
"When Joe broke Bear's (Bryant) record, Bear couldn't do a darn thing about it; he was underneath. We broke Joe's, but Joe's still out there hunting and pecking. It's just something that happened. I admire him so much. To me, I feel privileged to be with him in this thing and no matter how it plays out is okay."
What is more important is the present, and Bowden is far less uncomfortable with the position his No.6 Seminoles (7-1, 6-0) find themselves in. With the win, they clinched at least a share of the ACC title for the 11th time in 12 seasons. That title ensures a Bowl Championship Series berth, perhaps in the Orange Bowl. Former Orange Bowl president Les Pantin Jr., an FSU alumnus, gave Bowden the cigars, each encased in an Orange Bowl ring.
Before booking any New Year's travel, however, keep in mind the Seminoles were No.5 in the first BCS poll and figure to move up at least one spot (Virginia Tech was No.3 and lost to West Virginia on Wednesday), perhaps two if they leapfrog Georgia.
"If your goal is to win the conference championship, that's one thing," Bowden said. "If your goal is to win a national championship, now you've got to win every doggone game. We've got to win every game no matter who it is. A loss is a loss. Two losses and you can forget about us."
The Seminoles rolled up 505 yards, their best total in more than a month and their second-highest point production (they had 56 against Duke) and most allowed by Wake Forest. That is not counting the record 159 yards Leon Washington had on seven punt returns, including an electrifying 65-yarder for a touchdown, which had not been done since Peter Warrick brought one back against Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
Still, the Demon Deacons, who beat Boston College and North Carolina State and almost upset Purdue, scored on a run by quarterback Cory Randolph to cut FSU's lead to 20-14 with a minute left in the opening half.
That all but silenced the 82,393 at Doak Campbell Stadium, but Rix and the offense answered. He hit four straight passes, capping a 39-second drive by avoiding the blitzing Kellen Brantley, rolling to his left and throwing a strike to Thorpe for a 25-yard touchdown and a 27-14 halftime lead.
"The coaches said, "Let's open it up,' and that's always good words to hear for a quarterback," said Rix, who bounced back from a mediocre performance with 339 yards on 22 of 34 passing and two touchdowns and ran for another score. "The receivers made great plays and it was crucial. They had momentum at that point and we didn't want them to go in the half with momentum and fortunately that score took a little air out of their wings and set the tone for the second half."
Though the defense was without cornerback Stanford Samuels (neck), linebacker Kendyll Pope (knee) and tackle Jeff Womble (tricep), all starters, and had to slow down a unique, always troublesome misdirection offense, the Demon Deacons did not really threaten again.
Former Gibbs star receiver Chris Davis scored on a 3-yard run with 19 seconds left, capping a 65-yard drive, but that hardly affected the post-game mood.
Defensive captain, linebacker Michael Boulware, and special teams captain, long snapper Brian Sawyer, dumped water on their coach with 3:27 left. Chants of, "Bob-by, Bow-den" cascaded from the stands.
"It was very special and truly a blessing," said Boulware, who explained he and Sawyer were the only ones brave enough to douse him.
"It's a great feeling for us," added sophomore defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, a former Chamberlain High star who had a sack. "Even if it wasn't his goal, he's there. And we were there to help him."