Swofford’s grand plan was to put Miami and FSU in separate divisions, play the ACC Championship Game in the State of Florida and have the two powerhouses annually face off in front of sellout crowds and a big national TV audience.
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The Noles are looking for their sixth straight win over the Hurricanes as Florida State is a ideal 5-0 against Miami with Jimbo Fisher as head coach. Golson isn’t the talent Jameis Winston is, but he’s winning regular season games, throwing for 291 yards and a score in the victory over Miami.
The fortunes of both programs have gone in different directions since that game.
Roberto Aguayo drilled three field goals including a crucial 53-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) have a six-game winning streak over the Hurricanes (3-2, 0-1), their longest winning streak in the series since winning seven straight from 1963-72.
Last week I touched on the bubble screen and how much I hate it. I still hate it and we still have had no success with it. That might work against Savannah State or Florida A&M, but when you are going against All-American secondaries like Florida State, you are not fooling anyone and your receivers that are caught in the play are not coming up with the blocks to spring the ball carrier.
“It shows we got that fight in us”.
Miami used to be the big dogs on the yard, but now all it can do is bark like it did when it created a Web site to clown FSU fans who voiced their opinions online earlier this week. And fans have taken to flying banners calling for the firing of coach Al Golden. Just about everyone is expecting the worst from this team, now that it has come up short against Miami.
Florida State will retire the jersey of two-time consensus All-American linebacker Marvin Jones (1990-92) at halftime of Saturday night’s game.
“That altercation really got the adrenaline going”, Aguayo said. “It’s about the Coastal as well because a lot of our dreams and aspirations – everything we want to accomplish as a team and individually – it runs through the Coastal”.
Golson’s turnover problems were repeatedly addressed by the media while he shopped his services this spring, but he has 106 attempts this season without one. “We can’t let this linger”, said Kaaya, who had a career-high 405 yards with three touchdowns against FSU.
Miami had one final chance to rally, but the drive stalled on its own 44 when Kaaya’s pass intended for Herb Waters was incomplete. Tight, afraid of failure, more concerned with avoiding mistakes of technique than with tearing the other guy’s eyes out, the Hurricanes have tiptoed through too many ACC games, and too many non-conference contests as well.
COOK’S HEALTH: Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, who scored the go-ahead touchdown in last year’s game, is probable after straining his left hamstring in last week’s 24-16 win at Wake Forest.
After an open date, the Louisville football team gets a tall task this week in facing Florida State and superstar running back Dalvin Cook.
Miami lost its last outing 34-23 against Cincinnati on Thursday, getting a 106-yard receiving performance from Shaq Washington in a losing cause at Nippert Stadium.
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DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – DeMarcus Walker, Florida State, Jr., 6-3, 281, Jacksonville, Fla. Miami has allowed just four sacks, which is tied for first in the ACC. That’s not likely to happen, as Florida State is fifth in the country against the pass this year. “He still utilizes his quickness and his ability to run and make plays, breaks tackles in the backfield….”
