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'Noles toughest competition is last season's team

By DARRELL FRY

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 29, 2000

COLLEGE PARK, Md -- I know what you're thinking.

Of all the things swimming through your mind, this is what you're wondering. This is what you want to know, what you probably need to know.

Are they better?

You didn't have to ask whether the Seminoles beat Maryland on Thursday night. That would be like asking whether Marion Jones won any medals at the Olympics (For the record, Florida State won 59-7).

No, the more pertinent question would be did FSU open up a bigger can of whup-tail on Maryland than it did last year when it won 49-10? Or did Chris Weinke look even more like a polished, veteran quarterback than he did a year ago when he burned the Terps with a school record-tying six touchdown passes before sitting out the fourth quarter?

In essence, are the 'Noles better?

As second-ranked FSU (5-0) clobbers more and more hapless opponents like Maryland (2-2), that question begs to be answered. It's the kind of thing that almost always follows a national champion. When you've proven to be incomparable, who else is there to compare you to except you?

So, are they better?

That might be easier to answer next week after the Seminoles play at No. 10 Miami. Or after the Nov. 4 clash with No. 7 Clemson. The Georgia Tech game notwithstanding, the 'Noles haven't been tested. Certainly not by anyone of any repute.

Surely, Miami and Clemson will tell us just how rickety FSU's special-teams coverage is. They will tell us just how shallow FSU is at linebacker and defensive back, and if all those freshman and sophomore defensive-line starters are capable of being exposed.

But given what we know now, this team at least is as good as last season's national champion. You can't really say more without seeing what FSU does against a Nebraska or a Florida or a Kansas State.

"I think they're better," said ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso, who has been picking FSU to play Kansas State for the national title. "They're better defensively. They've got more weapons. I mean, they don't have Peter Warrick anymore, but now they've got five guys who can make big plays. I just like them better."

Do you see it?

The problem is, the 'Noles rarely look as impressive as we think they should. They have so much talent every year that you expect them to win almost every game.

Sure, they smoked North Carolina 63-14 a few weeks ago, but didn't you think they should have won by more? It was the same thing against Maryland on Thursday. The 'Noles led 32-7 at the half, but they probably should have been up 43-0.

After all, FSU started a first-quarter drive at the Maryland 17 but didn't score. Before that, FSU started at the Maryland 34 and moved just 8 yards in seven plays and settled for a field goal.

And Maryland scored its only points on an inside handoff that sprang into a 74-yard run.

Know what? Last season's team was the same way. It didn't pummel teams nearly as much as it probably should have, yet it still walked away with all the hardware.

Remember the opener against Louisiana Tech when FSU led only 14-7 at the half? Or the Clemson game when FSU trailed 14-3 in the third quarter and slipped by on a fourth-quarter field goal?

The 'Noles traditionally haven't gotten everything out of all they have. But luckily for them, winning a national title hasn't required it.

That said, this team is undeniably better than last season's in some ways, starting with defense. Last season FSU didn't so much beat people as it outscored them.

Although this team isn't as explosive offensively without Warrick, it still packs plenty of punch. Just ask the Terps. But its defense can impact games, which couldn't be said of last season's squad.

Before Thursday, FSU's defense ranked second in the nation against the run (39.8 yards) and eighth in points allowed (9.5 per game). It got a safety against the Terps in the second quarter, which means the defense has scored in every game this season (three safeties, an interception and a fumble for touchdowns).

"You know, we haven't maxed out yet," Weinke said. "We're progressing each week, and we can still get better. So I think the potential for this team is much better."

Still, it's hard to put all your trust in this year's squad because it's so thin in places. If anything happens to senior cornerbacks Clevan Thomas and Tay Cody or any of the starting linebackers, FSU will have to rely on a bunch of green freshmen and sophomores.

And if Weinke goes down against Miami or Clemson or Florida like he did against Maryland with a sprained foot, do you really think Marcus Outzen can lead this team? Fact is, this team may be better, but there's one glaring difference. The 1999 team won a national title. This one hasn't.

At least, not yet.

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