Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By Compiled by Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 11, 2000
No. 3 FSU at Wake Forest
WHEN/WHERE: 3:30 p.m.; Groves Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.
RADIO: WWBA-AM 1040, WZHR-AM 1400, WXOF-FM 96.3, WAMR-AM 1320, WLKF-AM 1430, WOCA-AM 1370, WSPB-AM 1450.
RECORDS: FSU 9-1, 7-0 ACC; Wake Forest 1-7, 1-5.
COACHES: FSU -- Bobby Bowden (240-54-4, 25th season; 313-86-4 overall). Wake Forest -- Jim Caldwell (25-61, eighth season).
LINE: FSU by 48.
THE PLOT: The Seminoles have wrapped up their ninth Atlantic Coast Conference title in nine years and wouldn't be human if they weren't peeking ahead to next weekend's showdown against Florida. But the Seminoles can't afford to let up against the struggling Demon Deacons. They hold a tenuous lead over Miami for the No. 2 spot in the Bowl Championship Series standings.
ONE FOR THE BOOKS: A win would extend FSU's NCAA record streak of 10-win seasons to 14.
TALE OF TWO COACHES: Caldwell can tie Al Groh for the third-most wins in school history (26). Bowden can tie Amos Alonzo Stagg for fourth on the all-time Division I-A list (314).
SERIES HISTORY: FSU leads 15-2-1, including an 8-0 record since joining the conference in 1992. But the Seminoles are only 2-1 in Groves Stadium.
BOWDEN SAID IT: "I'll remind them of the BCS. That's the motivation there. Do you want to play in that thing; don't mess this one up. We will not talk about Florida one bit to them."
- Compiled by BRIAN LANDMAN
WHEN/WHERE: Noon; Orange Bowl.
TV: ESPN2.
RECORDS: Pitt 5-3, 2-2 Big East; Miami 7-1, 4-0.
COACHES: Pitt -- Walt Harris (18-24, fourth season; 29-48, seventh overall). UM -- Butch Davis (47-20, sixth season).
LINE: Miami by 20.
REWRITE HISTORY: One of three Butkus Award finalists, Miami's Dan Morgan will find out in December if he is the best linebacker in the nation. Today the senior from Taravella High may be able to make a claim to being the top linebacker in UM history. He should get the numbers to prove it. The middle linebacker is four tackles shy of breaking George Mira Jr.'s career mark of 490. Morgan has been the heart of Miami's defense, but in recent weeks his right foot has been bothering him. Despite the injury two weeks ago, Morgan had 11 tackles in Saturday's 41-21 win over then-No. 2 Virginia Tech.
YARDAGE RECORDS: UM senior Santana Moss is 61 yards short of breaking Michael Irvin's all-time receiving yardage record of 2,423. Moss had 154-yards receiving last weekend, moving him past senior Reggie Wayne and Lamar Thomas into second place.
GREEN OVERCOMES ADVERSITY: Legal troubles and injuries behind him, sophomore defensive end Jamaal Green is developing into the pass-rush threat UM expected. Green played a major role in shutting down Virginia Tech's option. Davis called Green's six tackles a "breakout game."
UM HAS EDGE: The last time Pittsburgh beat the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl was 1963 (31-20). But since these teams have met as Big East rivals, UM has a 6-1 edge, last losing 21-17 at Pitt in 1997. Miami has won 10 of the last 11 meetings. Since Walt Harris became coach, Pitt has become more competitive in Big East play. The Panthers offense features senior receiver Antonio Bryant, the nation's receiving yardage leader with an average of 148.86. Bryant has a string of four games with at least 100 yards in receptions. - Compiled by JOE FRISARO
WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m.; Citrus Bowl, Orlando.
RECORDS: VT 8-1, UCF 7-3.
COACHES: VT -- Frank Beamer (138-84-4, 20th season). UCF -- Mike Kruczek (20-12, third season).
PULLING RANK: That is what UCF would like to do for the first time. UCF has never defeated an opponent ranked in the Top 25 and is 0-7 against ranked teams. UCF, which is expecting a record crowd, needs to win to keep its slim bowl hopes alive. Then again, UCF is treating this like a bowl game.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION: Undoubtedly Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick would be the star, but he is likely out with a sprained right ankle. Star wideout Andre Davis is likely out also. But tailback Lee Suggs is another Hokies star who can ruin UCF's evening. Dave Meyer will start in lieu of Vick. Kruczek believes Beamer thinks Virginia Tech has enough talent to handle UCF without Vick. But if the Hokies are on the ropes and staring at consecutive losses to a Florida team, will Beamer risk sending Vick out to save the day?
HINSHAW HYPE: UCF boasts one of the nation's most productive wide receivers in Tyson Hinshaw. The 6-foot, 165-pound senior has caught 78 passes for 968 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ranks second nationally in receptions, seventh in receiving yards and 14th in yards per game. Hinshaw has been battling a separated left shoulder for two games but is still integral to a UCF win tonight.
WHEN/WHERE: Noon; Greene Stadium, Washington.
RECORDS: B-CC 8-1, 5-1 MEAC; HU 3-6, 3-3.
COACHES: B-CC -- Alvin Wyatt (27-15, fourth season). HU -- Steve Wilson (76-56, 12th season).
IS IT OVER?: B-CC quarterback Pa'tell Troutman, who separated his left shoulder in late October, was believed to be able to return this season, but that is in doubt. Troutman may not return in time for next weekend's Florida Classic. Fortunately, former Tampa Catholic star Allen Suber is a capable backup.
THE HISTORY: It is not on B-CC's side, which has not beaten Howard since 1995. The Wildcats gave up a 27-10 fourth-quarter lead in last season's game, allowing 21 unanswered points in the final eight minutes. But it was a pass interference infraction, called against B-CC to set up the final touchdown, that B-CC is still bitter about. - Compiled by JAMAL THALJI