College football: NC State 20-FSU 15

Castillo takes permanent memory of 'best six years'

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published November 6, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - While most of his teammates walked dejectedly into their locker room, Florida State senior David Castillo headed the opposite direction.

He went to midfield, knelt, took out a pair of scissors and carefully cut a healthy chunk of sod from the Seminole logo that he then put in a plastic bag.

"I'm just blessed," said Castillo, who has endured and overcome seven surgeries during his career. "I've been here for six years, and it's been the best six years of my life. I owe Florida State so much, and I owe the fans and the coaches and all my teammates. They never gave up on me.

"Coach ( Bobby) Bowden gave a small-town kid from Palm Beach Gardens a chance when everybody else was saying I was too small and not big enough or quick enough; he gave me a chance to play Division I college football. I owe him the world and I owe this team everything."

The sod will go into an engraved case that he plans to display prominently.

"It'll go in my Seminole room someday when I get a house, because Lord knows I have enough Seminole memorabilia to last me a lifetime," he said.

INJURY UPDATE: FSU star defensive end Kamerion Wimbley sprained his MCL in his left knee in the waning minutes of the first half and didn't return. He had crutches but walked off the field without using them.

"I'm questionable for the upcoming week, but I know I'll be back for the Florida game and the rest of the season," he said.

CAREER DAYS: FSU junior linebacker Buster Davis had a career-high 13 tackles, and senior Brodrick Bunkley, a former Chamberlain nose guard, had a career-high 10 tackles, five for a loss.

BLOCK PARTY: Former Bay area standouts Anthony Houllis (Tarpon Springs) and Marcello Church (Lakewood) each blocked a punt to give FSU four blocks on the season. The last time FSU blocked two punts in game was in 2001 against Duke.

TEN THE HARD WAY: The past five meetings between FSU and North Carolina State have been decided by 10 points or fewer; the Wolfpack has won three of those games.

HOMECOOKING: FSU has now lost its home finale in consecutive seasons, something it hadn't done since 1983 and 1984. Those came to Miami, then Florida.

FIRST START: Oft-injured defensive end Willie Jones made his first start for the Seminoles, a perk as one of 26 seniors honored in his home finale.

FAMILIAR FACES: Former FSU stars Alex Barron and Jerome Carter, both with the St. Louis Rams, and Terrell Buckley were on the sideline. Buckley recently retired after a 13-year NFL career.

EARLY FINALE: The game marked the Seminoles' earliest home finale since 1962, when they lost to Houston 7-0 on Nov. 3. For trivia buffs in the bay area, the earliest end to the home schedule in FSU history came Nov. 1, 1958, against Tampa, a 43-0 FSU win.

SOLEMN MOMENT: FSU fans observed a moment of silence before the game to honor alumnus William Wood, 44, who died in military service in Iraq on Oct. 27. He was posthumously promoted to colonel. FSU president T.K. Wetherell stood with Wood's parents during the national anthem.

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 02:15:12]