CHAPEL HILL -- Florida State's coming to town on Thursday and as far as
North Carolina is concerned, it's the old Florida State, the powerhouse
of the 1990s, not the current version, winless in the ACC and mired in
coaching turmoil.
"They're still Florida State," UNC cornerback Kendric Burney said.
"Growing up in the 90s, Florida State was pretty much all you heard
about in the ACC."
Tar
Heels coach Butch Davis gushed about the Seminoles, who are 0-3 in the
ACC, and compared quarterback Christian Ponder to Brett Favre. Davis,
who praises the opponent each Monday at his press conference, can be
forgiven for his impressions of FSU. As Miami's head coach in the late
1990s, Davis went 1-5 against Bobby Bowden's program.
But that was when Florida State was ripping off 14 consecutive seasons
in the top 5 and ACC titles with routine ease. The Noles come into the
first Thursday night ESPN game in Chapel Hill on a three-game losing
streak, 2-4 overall and one of three teams winless in the ACC (UNC and
N.C. State are the others).
On Oct. 5, the chairman of the university's board of trustees called
for Bowden, the school's coach since 1976 and owner of 12 ACC title and
two national titles, to resign and for coach-in-waiting, Jimbo Fisher,
to finish the season. The next day, school president T.K. Wetherell
said Bowden would finish the season. The Noles lost their next game,
49-44 to Georgia Tech at home and haven't played since.
FSU's main problems have been on defense, which ranks last in the ACC
in total defense (426.7 yards per game), run defense (172.8)and pass
defense (253.8). The Noles are 107th nationally in total defense and
90th in scoring defense (28.2 point per game).
"You can't look at that," UNC quarterback T.J. Yates said. "You can't
look at their record because that will give you a false sense of who
they are."
Comments
Hope that I am proven wrong tomorrow night, but...
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 12:50 — heelsno1...it is hard to envision a victory by the Heels when UNC is winless in ACC play and Carolina's offense is averaging a total of 5 points a game in conference play.
I realize that the 'Noles have not yet won an ACC contest either, but they are still Florida State and they still score in bunches (e.g. examine how their offense performed against Miami and GT...2 of the best ACC teams). Simply stated, the Tar Heels have not demonstrated enough offensive firepower to score in double digits much less compete and outscore another team in a shoot-out.
My wife and I will be there tomorrow night, and I hope the Heels provide the home crowd something positive enough to make it loud in Kenan Stadium.
Kudos!
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 14:15 — wsphutchA rational and cogent point offered by a UNC fan! I am not only completely impressed and utterly surprised; but b/c of this, I have newfound faith in my cross-conference brethren and will cheer for UNC tomorrow night ... well because of this and for the fact that I need the other Atlantic Division teams to lose (as my team certainly continues to do so).
Good point about the FSU loses so far. They have already tackled the top of their conference schedule (and in close games); and could now be looking to take it out on us 2009 bottom dwellers (Wake, UNC, NCSU ...). Here's to keeping everyone in the Atlantic Div in the hunt for a divisional title!
opened at -2 sunday.
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 08:21 — gvillegatrwas even on monday. it was -2 yesterday. -3 today? whose moving this blasted line?? go back down!
In my mind..
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 07:28 — UNC1998it's David vs. Goliath. FSU has all the pedigree. A home team being 3 pt. favorites is just push. I sure hope people come, and are loud. It's national TV and all that.
As long as they get a win
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 22:54 — chrismg1As long as they get a win they can pretend they are playing the Florida Gators for all I care.
Same old Noles
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 22:13 — JPDOhioare 3 point underdogs today. So goes the topsy-turvy world of college football 2009.