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By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 27, 2000
Good and Bad
FSU redshirt freshman Matt Munyon, a walk-on who won a three-player battle to fill the kicking void left by two-time All-American Sebastian Janikowski, hit the opening kickoff into the end zone. Coach Bobby Bowden greeted him with a pat on the helmet. A few moments later, Munyon missed his first extra-point attempt. Midway through the second quarter, he missed a 34-yard field-goal try, and he missed one from 27 in the fourth.
FSU linebacker Tommy Polley, who needed reconstructive surgery on his left knee after the Sugar Bowl, came in for the second series. On his first play he leveled running back Luke Staley, holding him to a 2-yard gain after a catch.
FSU quarterback Chris Weinke, who lost nearly 20 pounds in the off-season to become more mobile, showed that less is more early in the second quarter. He took off on a first down and dashed 21 yards to set up first and goal at the 6. His previous longest run was 8 yards.
FSU, which led the nation with 22 interceptions last season, ended the half with one by middle linebacker Jerel Hudson. It was the first of his career.
FSU scored 15 points in the first 121/2 minutes and won its 13th straight game, the longest current winning streak in Division I-A. The Seminoles also went scoreless for nearly the entire second half.