North Carolina State has defeated FSU the past two seasons and three of the past five, a big reason it was a trendy preseason pick to win the ACC championship.
Coach Chuck Amato, a longtime FSU defensive assistant, has seen his team struggle defensively, allowing an average of 412.2 yards, but it can share the title thanks to the offense and star quarterback Philip Rivers.
"They've been more successful against us than anybody else in the ACC and . . . it starts with their quarterback," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said. "Rivers is probably the best quarterback in the conference, probably one of the best in the country; maybe the best in the country."
Despite an unorthodox motion, almost Danny Wuerffel-like, Rivers has parlayed a quick release and uncanny accuracy into record-breaking numbers. He's fourth nationally in passing efficiency, completing 72.2 percent of his passes with 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He's fifth in NCAA history with 12,311 career yards.
". . . . When I think of N.C. State football, there's one name that always came into my mind . . . and his name is Roman Gabriel," Amato said. "He was an All-American. He threw for 2,900 yards in three years. Philip's thrown for more than 3,000 yards three straight years. It took 40 years to replace Roman Gabriel. I just hope it doesn't take 40 more to replace Philip Rivers."
STANFORD SAMUELS, GOT A MINUTE?
Florida State senior cornerback Stanford Samuels has seen it all in his six seasons. (The NCAA granted him an extra year of eligibility because of injuries.) With his final home game this weekend, he recently took a minute to chat with Times staff writer Brian Landman.
BL: Let's play a little word association. What comes to your mind when you hear, "last home game?"
SS: Dominate. It's the only way to go out. Dominate. Go out on top.
BL: Bobby Bowden.
SS: Dominance. He's dominated the college world ever since he got here. He's a legend.
BL: Chuck Amato. (He recruited Samuels to FSU out of Miami.)
SS: The reason I'm here.
BL: Florida State University.
SS: Pipeline. A breeding ground.
BL: Gators.
SS: Hate.
BL: Hurricanes.
SS: Winless. I haven't beat them.
BL: Fatherhood. (He has a 4-year-old son, Stanford III.)
SS: Responsibility. Big responsibility.
BL: The NFL.
SS: Let's get there. Let's get there.
QUOTABLE
"It's a game we've got to have, but we felt like we had to have that one (Saturday), too. We've known that every game, to stay in the national picture, we had to win every game. We knew that last week. But we do have to come back and gather up and see where we broke down and see if we can't get it back."
- Bobby Bowden on bouncing back Saturday against North Carolina State.
OFFBEAT
Fans poured onto the field Saturday night at Clemson, tearing down the goal posts in both end zones and parading around the field with them. It was a sight these Seminoles have seen too often at their expense.
The same reaction happened at North Carolina in 2001 and at Louisville and North Carolina State last season.
The good news? FSU didn't have to pay to replace the goal posts.
BOWL METER
The Seminoles can clinch the ACC title outright for a ninth time in 12 years Saturday. A win also would wrap up a Bowl Championship Series berth, most likely in the Orange Bowl. A loss could mean another shared ACC title (they shared it in 1995 and '98), imperil a BCS berth and send the Seminoles to Jacksonville for, gulp, the Gator. Not exactly a return to glory.
