Colleges

With fewer big plays, FSU strikes little fear

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published November 16, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Sixteen isn't always so sweet.

The Florida State offense, once renowned and feared for its big-play ability, has just 16 plays of 25 yards or more this season. That's fewer than two a game. That's 12 fewer than they had in 13 games a year ago.

Lame-duck offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said senior receiver Chris Davis St. Petersburg Catholic and sophomore tailback Antone Smith have "probably given us the closest thing to big plays this year."

Smith had an 80-yard run against Duke and a 60-yard run against Rice. That's Nos. 1 and 3 on the Sweet Sixteen list. Davis clocks in at No. 5 and 7 with a 55-yard reception against Maryland and 37-yarder against Virginia. Senior tailback Lorenzo Booker has four big plays, three of which were catch and runs (73, 43 and 34 yards).

But the Seminoles need more. And fast.

"It really just comes down to players going out there and doing it," quarterback Drew Weatherford said. "Every play is designed to score a touchdown if everybody does his job. It really comes down to execution and players stepping up and making those plays."

One more run

Coach Bobby Bowden maintains that as long as he's healthy and he has talent on the field, he's entertaining no thoughts of retiring.

"You keep wanting one more championship, one more championship," he said. "I'm sure if you got it, you'd say, 'One more championship.' It never stops."

If he got one more, would he rethink that?

"It could happen," he said in one of the lighter moments Sunday. "Let me win one and I'll worry about that decision."

Eight teams out

Only Georgia Tech, Duke and Virginia Tech haven't beaten the Seminoles in an ACC game.

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347.

[Last modified November 16, 2006, 02:01:14]