College football

'Noles play to their inexperience

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published November 7, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - For weeks, coach Bobby Bowden marveled at how his youngsters, particularly second-year freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford , had performed beyond their years.

"Then last night," Bowden said Sunday morning, "we began to make freshman mistakes."

The 20-15 loss to North Carolina State at Doak Campbell Stadium "exposed" the Seminoles as less mature than they might have seemed, he said.

Weatherford threw three interceptions, two in the final moments that sealed the loss. He also completed half his passes (19 of 38), his worst percentage since the opener against Miami.

"I'll watch it probably more than I would a normal (game) film just because there's a lot of things I can learn from it," he said. "I made a lot of mistakes, and hopefully I can correct those."

Other youngsters can take a cue from him in that approach. FSU's young receivers didn't do a good job of getting off the line. The inexperienced and injury-riddled offensive line also struggled to protect Weatherford or create openings for tailbacks Lorenzo Booker and Antone Smith , prompting the Seminoles to essentially abandon the run. The Seminoles had eight rushes in the second half.

In other words, "exposed."

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING ... : First and goal at the 5, down a touchdown, 2:44 left, what do you do? Well, the Seminoles planned to pass.

"We purposely got in that formation (where) we had run 100 percent of the time," Bowden said. "The other team knows that. So, we're going to fake it and get two guys out."

Weatherford was tripped by his lineman and fell for a 7-yard loss. He threw an interception on the next play.

LEE'S STATUS: Bowden met with backup quarterback Xavier Lee 's mother, Gloria Postell , last week and explained what's happening.

"I think she had a pretty good understanding when she left," he said, adding that he stressed to her that her son would be wise to stay the course, keep working and competing for time.

"He has no intention of leaving. People put those ideas out there. That ain't his idea. His mother just wanted to know what his future held here at Florida State. ... I watch him every day. I think anybody who saw the game knows he needs some work. He's got great potential, but he needs a lot of work."

[Last modified November 7, 2005, 01:10:19]