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Expect FSU to keep reins tight on Rix

By BRIAN LANDMAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 8, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- Redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Rix has his proverbial license and has shown stellar potential behind the wheel of Florida State's offensive machine.

But in tonight's home opener against Alabama-Birmingham, coaches still may only permit him to drive slowly in the driveway, not the freeway.

So, look for another conservative game plan.

"Each game, we can step it up," coach Bobby Bowden said of what he and his staff can ask of Rix and backup, freshman Adrian McPherson. "Here's a guy who went out and played and hadn't taken a snap in college football ever. He got through it and I thought he performed admirably."

Rix, shouldering the pressure of succeeding Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, completed 9 of 18 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. A conservative game plan helped him avoid throwing an interception.

"Of course, for us to be at our best, he's got to be able to handle the whole package," Bowden said. "That takes time."

But the Blazers may speed up that timetable.

They return 10 starters from a defense that was one of the nation's best last season. Mel Kiper Jr. rates defensive end Bryan Thomas and defensive tackle Eddie Freeman among the top 5 seniors at their positions. In their opener against overmatched Division I-AA Montana State, the Blazers allowed minus-1 yard rushing and 155 overall.

This isn't a team to be bland and predictable against. "They're awfully good," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said.

The Blazers are looking to vent. A dozen players, including quarterback Jeff Aaron, were named in a multimillion civil lawsuit that alleges they and more than a dozen other current and former UAB athletes had sex with a 15-year-old female over a period of months. The suit also alleges that school officials and coach Watson Brown were aware of rumors about the situation and didn't take steps to investigate or stop it. None of the players was suspended for the opener and, despite a published report on ESPN.com, all made the trip to Tallahassee and will play, athletic department spokesman Grant Shingleton said.

"There's been no word, no hint of any problem like that," he said.

The key to beating the Blazers seemingly rests with passing the ball. Last season, Cincinnati, for one, threw for 351 yards.

"If we throw the ball well, I ought to feel pretty good, but we ain't proven to be that yet. Just okay," Jeff Bowden said.

Remember. Rix had no latitude to audible and, as promised, FSU showed uncommon determination at running the ball. Rix lined up in the shotgun with four wide receivers, a formation that has been synonymous with FSU since the Charlie Ward era, exactly twice against Duke.

In those two plays in the final moments of the first half, Rix hit senior receiver Javon Walker for 16 yards, then found junior tailback Nick Maddox for a 26-yard touchdown.

That sure caught the eye of Brown.

"I saw him get better as the game went on," he said. "I think once you get one under your belt, you're ready to roll. They did a good job with him, started him a little slow on the things they wanted him to do and as that game went on they put more on him to make plays."

How much more will they ask tonight? FSU coaches haven't forgotten Weinke's second game as a starter in 1998. He threw six interceptions in a stunning loss at North Carolina State. Later, the coaches confessed they threw too much of the playbook at Weinke and scaled it back.

"I think it's going to be a progression," Rix said. "I am not going to be given the freedom Weinke was given his senior year, but, yeah, I am going to be a little more free that if I see something to change a play. I am looking forward to that."

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