QB Outzen on outside looking in

By BRIAN LANDMAN, TIMES WIRE REPORTS

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 1, 2000

NEW ORLEANS -- A year ago, Florida State quarterback Marcus Outzen was the center of media attention.

Now, he stood off to the side, watching reporters swarm around others and stroll by him with nothing more than a pleasant nod or wave. And that's assuming they recognized him.

"It's totally a different situation for me; I'm in the backup role -- where I was all year and where I was until Chris (Weinke) unfortunately got hurt," he said Friday at the Superdome. "I don't miss parts of it, but of course, I miss the playing time."

When Weinke injured his neck in November, 1998, Outzen was thrust into the starting job and the limelight.

He was shaky in his starting debut against Wake Forest, but then helped FSU beat Florida and made his third start in the national championship showdown against Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl.

"It was an overwhelming experience, for sure," said Outzen, who could take over next season if Weinke opts to enter the NFL draft early. "The game itself was a tough loss. You definitely learn how to take a loss in the worst way. But this team and myself, we've all bounced back from that."

Outzen struggled in that 23-16 loss, completing 9 of 22 passes for 145 yards. He ran for a 7-yard touchdown, but was sacked four times and threw an interception that was returned for a 54-yard touchdown. "The easiest thing is to blame it on the rookie quarterback," he said. "I've gotten a good bit of it, but that's part of it. I understand it."

"Marcus has handled it good," coach Bobby Bowden said. "But it is tough. It is tough because every time our people look back to that game, and think about us losing, they say, "Well, if only Chris had been there. ... If we hadn't lost Chris. ... It hurt Marcus a little bit and yet I think he realized our team didn't feel that way and our coaches didn't."

IS HE TALKING OR NOT?: Virginia Tech All-America defensive end Corey Moore, who won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman, mimicked writers and called their questions "dumb" before stalking off. Moore, one of Tech's most quotable players, acted annoyed by questions about his New Year's Eve plans, media distractions and Weinke, but later did a few brief interviews. "I know you have to write your little stories," he said.

GOTTA PLAY: Senior defensive back Todd Frier, a key member of the special teams, said his strained right forefoot will not keep him out. "I'm going no matter what," said Frier, who's wearing a pad and plans to take a cortisone shot. "I've got to. This is what you come to Florida State to play college football for, a chance to win the national championship. This is my last time."

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