After whiffing on the ACC title for the first -- and only -- time since it joined the conference in 1992, Florida State appears intent on not letting that happen again in the 2002 season.

Last spring, FSU only had one scholarship QB, and Chris Rix had never had much experience breaking the huddle, much less leading a college dynasty. But after an 8-4 season that included both hard knocks and highlights, the 20-year-old sophomore looks ready to pilot the team back to the top five. Just importantly, his teammates showed they are ready to let him lead them.

"This year, we're all focused on the same goal the national championship" says veteran WR Talman Gardner. "We're all moving in the same direction."

Gardner says aside from the team's inexperience last season, the program was still reeling from the February death of linebacker Devaughn Darling.

Without 2000 Heisman winner Chris Weinke to lean on, the team was lost. "Everything starts with your quarterback," Gardner says. "And if he doesn't know what to do, the whole offense will be out of sync."

While Rix did get some competition this spring from sophomore Adrian McPherson and JC transfer Fabian Walker, he never lost his grip on the starting job. In Saturday's Garnet-and-Gold game, Rix was 12 of 19 for 125 yards with one interception. FSU coach Bobby Bowden was pleased with the performance and with the change in his squad. "We just look further along. It ain't even close," Bowden says.

In addition to becoming more of a leader, Rix says he's not trying to take off and run as much as he did in 2001. Many times last year, he seemed too interested in showing off his 4.5 speed, and often got in trouble. In addition, he has studied more film and continues to refine his mechanics with his personal QB coach Steve Clarkson, who has worked with Rix on not trying to throw everything 100 miles per hour. "He's learning how to create touch and he still tends to overstride a little," Clarkson says. "But he has gotten much more accurate."

Other reasons for Bowden to smile this spring has been the emergence of RB Willie Reid, who shifts back from WR. Reid and Nick Maddox figure to provide a good change of pace to the power running of Greg Jones. Meanwhile, P.K. Sam established himself as a legit playmaker, something FSU didn't have too much of with Anquan Boldin, Gardner and Robert Morgan all nursing injuries this spring. That trio should be 100 percent by fall, but expect Sam to be a big factor in FSU's passing game.

Defensively, star DT Darnell Dockett and NT Travis Johnson sat out as did big-time LB Kendyll Pope, but DE Alonzo Jackson provided a spark and might be ready to give the 'Noles a pass-rushing presence, something they simply did not have in 2001. Jackson, who had three sacks Saturday, was voted the spring's most dominating player.

One other big plus came in the secondary where sophomore FS Kyler Hall, who was mostly a special teamer last season, proved to be a lights-out hitter. He might not have the savvy that last year's FS Chris Hope had, but Hall could be the enforcer in the back line that FSU hasn't had in some time.

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.