Colleges

Fisher checks view from the sideline

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Jimbo Fisher called the game from the field Saturday, eschewing his usual spot up high in the press box.

"Being down on the sideline, I liked that a little better," he said. "I could try to communicate and look in a guy's eyes because when you look in a guy's eyes, you know if he's with you or drifting off."

Although he apparently went through spurts of being with him and drifting off, quarterback Xavier Lee liked having his coach at field level, too.

"It helped us a lot," he said. "It was good to have face-to-face contact."

WHAT KICKING WOES? Although the Miami game has been a low point for so many FSU kickers through the years, senior Gary Cismesia, who had what proved to be the game-winning field goals each of the last two seasons, hit all five of his attempts and tied his career high.

"I can't go out and celebrate," he said. "We still lost."

He was frustrated he was so busy from short range; he had field goals of 23, 31 and 33 yards (to go with a pair of 45-yarders) and, obviously, wanted the offense to score touchdowns.

THE CENTURY CLUB: For the first time this season, FSU had a tailback run for 100 yards. Junior Antone Smith, who had just 322 yards on 96 attempts (a 3.4 average) gained 114 on 22 carries (5.2 average) against Miami. As a team, the Seminoles had 158 yards rushing.

"We were clicking at times and we ran the ball a lot tonight," Smith said. "That was a good thing. It showed we can run the ball if we want to."

A FIRST: FSU senior safety Anthony Houllis, the former Tarpon Springs standout, came up with his first career interception that led to a 45-yard field goal by Cismesia and a 29-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.

DALY SURPRISE: Miami surprisingly promoted junior placekicker Daren Daly, who had punted and handled some kickoffs, and he hit both extra points and a 44-yard field goal in the first half. Daly had begun his college career as a walk-on punter at FSU in 2004 (he saw no action) then didn't play football in 2005. He replaced struggling Francesco Zampogna, who was 9 of 14 on field goals. Zampogna got into the scoring by throwing a touchdown on a fake field goal.

INJURY LIST: FSU sophomore cornerback Jamie Robinson injured his right hip pointer in the first half and didn't return.

AWARD WATCH: Miami junior defensive end Calais Campbell has been named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker) and the Hendricks Award (top defensive end).

RECOGNIZING SLIGER: FSU had a moment of silence and showed a 60-second video honoring former school president Bernard Sliger, who died on Oct. 10. Sliger helped guide FSU into the ACC back in 1991. Banners reading, "Thanks Bernie," were hung behind the goalposts and at other places around Doak Campbell Stadium and two "B" monograms were painted on the field.

FSU players wore a special "BV" decal on their helmets to honor Billy Vizzini, the director of Coaches Video and a member of the video staff since 1994, who has been ill.

[Last modified October 21, 2007, 00:27:18]