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Friday, December 13, 2002
Notebook: Not a Minor role
By Marc Connolly
BCSfootball.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Who would run the pigskin for the Seminoles?
That question was heard more times around the suddenly-influential state capital of Florida this week than "Do we have a President yet?"
Though the status of four-year starting tailback Travis Minor, and his ailing sprained right ankle, was said to be extremely poor, there was no need to summon a fullback (William McCray) or a flanker (Nick Maddox) to be the featured runner in Florida State's offense after all. Shortly after leaping from the questionable to the definite status in the injury report, the senior running back resumed his regular starting role against the Florida Gators in FSU's 30-7 victory over their rivals to the south on Saturday night.
"He planned on starting all week," said one Florida State official. "Only he knows certain plays, like in pass protection, so it was going to take a lot to get Maddox in there."
Despite a heavily-taped ankle, Minor appeared to have the same mobility he has displayed throughout the 2000 campaign, in which he's rushed for 923 yards and five TDs. The Seminoles got him the ball 27 times, including 20 clutch carries in the second half when they needed to chew the clock, for a total of 88 yards in a workmanlike effort.
"I kept telling Mark to watch the clock and control the clock," said Bowden. "We didn't see our fast-break offense at all tonight. We came out of the huddle all game."
Credit that to Minor's presence in the backfield. With Maddox or McCray in there, there's no way that game plan would have worked.
Minor was also clutch in helping chip-block feared pass-rusher Alex Brown, who failed to register a sack on a night when no Gator got to Chris Weinke.
Making a case for the old man
|  | | Atrews Bell scored Florida State's first touchdown and knew that Chris Weinke would lead the Seminoles to victory. |
Much of the postgame talk centered on the courageous play of Chris Weinke, and whether he's the player most deserving of the coveted Heisman Trophy, to be awarded on Dec. 9 at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York.
"I think he should win," said offensive coordinator Mark Richt. "He's the best player. Even in the Miami game, he had played in only one practice coming in and still had a great game. He brought us back with a chance to win it. He's been like that all season. He's maybe had one bad quarter of football all season long."
Would his old age of 28 -- older than half of the starting QBs in the NFL -- be a factor?
"Why? He's still only played four years," said Bowden.
Weinke discussed it, as well, now that he won't take the field until January.
"We'll wait and see what happens with the Heisman Trophy," said Weinke, after throwing for 353 yards and three TDs on 23-for-44 passing. "I have done everything I can for the things I have control of. I came out and answered the bell for every game this season, and beating Florida at home in my final regular season game is great. This is what I came to Florida State to do."
At this point, one would have to figure that the trophy is his should Josh Heupel and No. 1 Oklahoma fall in the Big XII Championship Game to No. 9 Kansas State on Dec. 2 in Kansas City.
What a long, strange trip it was
Here's the official word on Weinke and his magical mystery tour over the past 36 hours due to the his flu-like symptoms that was first reported early on Saturday morning.
The 28-year-old QB spent the day at the hospital on Friday -- from noon until 8 p.m.
"When I was laying in the hospital Friday, I was hoping it was just a 24-hour flu," said Weinke. "If we had to play Friday night, it would have been tough for me to go."
He headed straight from the hospital to the home of Florida State's team doctor, Dr. Kris Stowers. He stayed overnight at the home of Dr. Stowers in the bed of his 11 year-old son, Lucas, where he was hooked up to IV bags consisting of potassium and sugar throughout the night. Overall, he was issued two and a half liters of fluid to energize his system. Weinke finally was able to eat some solid food around 11 a.m. on Saturday, which was the only time he ate all day. The senior quarterback arrived at Doak Campbell Stadium at 5:30 along with Stowers, at which time FSU's trainers rated him at 80 percent health for the game. The doctors and trainers do not know if his sickness is the flu or if it came from something he ate.
Bowden didn't hesitate to name him the starter.
"I knew Chris wanted to play very bad," said the 71-year-old coach. "He has been a leader for this team all year."
His receivers knew he was fine as soon as they saw him.
"He came and talked to the receivers and said, 'Y'all ready to make some big plays,' and we did, like we have all year," said Atrews Bell, who caught FSU's first touchdown pass (17 yards) in the first quarter and finished with three receptions for 66 yards.
Two-headed monster? Not really
Though Steve Spurrier talked all week long about his plan to rotate quarterbacks Jesse Palmer and Rex Grossman, he went with Palmer for the most part. But, for the record, Grossman started the game and played just the first down when he handed the ball off to Robert Gillespie for a loss of three yards. Palmer (17-30 for 180 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs) took the reigns at that point for the rest of the half. Grossman came on in the second half and could only muster 98 yards on 10-for-16 passing.
As one could guess, a visor-less Spurrier wasn't pleased with his offense no matter who was under center.
"We needed to play better on offense tonight to win this game," said the Gators coach. "I wish we could have played offensively like we did here two years ago."
Careers of triumph
If you come to Florida State to play football, you're going to experience the agony of defeat as often as it snows in the panhandle. Yet, this year's senior class has been FSU's most successful to date, as far as winning percentage. With a 56-5 (.918) mark over five years, it has passed last year's class headlined by Peter Warrick, which went 55-6.
"Our seniors never lost a game here at home and it's just amazing what they have done," Bowden said. "It reminds me a lot of what Miami did at the Orange Bowl during the 1980s. I didn't think we would be able to do that, but we are getting close."
All 25 scholarship players -- including standouts Weinke, Minor, Jamal Reynolds and Tommy Polley -- joined their parents at a pregame ceremony held at midfield. Bowden trotted out to the group and hugged every mom present.
Of the 25 scholarship players, three have already received their diplomas and 13 more are on track to graduate in December. When Weinke graduates next month, he will have done so in a mere three-and-a-half years after spending six years playing minor league baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Luck of the crystal
The Florida State athletic department hopefully treated the Sears officials like dignitaries of the highest degree due to the luck the National Championship Trophy has brought to the Seminoles. Since the crystal ball started making its annual tour de stadium in 1993, it has presided on the sideline at Doak Campbell Stadium four times including Saturday night -- 1995 (Miami-FSU), 1996 (Florida-FSU) and 1999 (Georgia Tech-FSU). Each time has resulted in a Seminole win. In total, Bobby Bowden's squad has played with the Sears Trophy on the sideline more times than any other school (13), resulting in a 9-4 record. It goes without saying that Garnet and Gold fans hope to make it 10-4 at the FedEx Orange Bowl.
Shouldn't they be recounting votes?
With the fate of a nation hanging in the balance in Florida's state capital, several of the Sunshine State's most influential decision-makers were on hand at Doak Campbell Stadium. The long list included Governor Jeb Bush, Lieutenant Governor Frank Brogan, Secretary of State Katherine Harris, Speaker of the House John Thrasher and approximately 60 other legislators.
They Said It:
Snoop Minnis on Lito Sheppard's two pass interference calls: "That was the only way to stop me -- holding me."
Atrews Bell on FSU's receivers being better than last year's vaunted group: "(Peter) Warrick set standards that no one could ever reach, but I think we have collectively. We're a better receiving corps this year."
Bobby Bowden on the BCS: "The computer better not betray me this year. I'd rather have the computer decide who plays for the national championship than a person who may have some biases."
Chris Weinke on the top team in the land: "This is the best football team in the country right now. I believe we're playing as well as anyone in the nation."
Marc Connolly is a senior writer for ABC Sports Online.
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Chris Weinke finds Marvin Minnis all alone for a 51-yard TD strike.
Coach Bobby Bowden thinks beating Florida should help in the BCS.