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Friday, October 8
 
Miami hasn't beaten 'Noles since '94

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Heisman Trophy hopeful Peter Warrick won't play when top-ranked Florida State attempts to extend a 44-game home unbeaten streak Saturday against Miami (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, No. 19 AP).

Peter Warrick
Peter Warrick was the early front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.

Warrick has been indefinitely suspended and fellow wide receiver Laveranues Coles was kicked off the team after they were arrested Thursday on charges they were allowed to underpay for clothes at a department store.

Coach Bobby Bowden tried to put the situation to rest, knowing how difficult Miami has been for his Seminoles at times in the past.

"I told the kids no matter what distractions are out there, we want our full concentration on the University of Miami," he said. "It's probably as distracting to me and some of the coaches more than everybody else because we're faced with decisions.

"You're sitting there looking at film, and all that time something inside of you tells you that you don't feel good."

The Seminoles (5-0) have not lost at home since Miami's 17-16 victory in 1991. Miami also derailed Florida State's title hopes in 1992.

The 1991 game wasn't decided until Florida State's Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yard field goal by inches with only 25 seconds left.

Miami's 1991 come-from-behind win was the third time in five years the Hurricanes ruined Florida State's national championship aspirations.

"Miami has beaten us when everything was riding on it," Bowden said. "They won the national championship when we could have won it."

Miami (2-2) hasn't beaten the Seminoles since 1994, when Warren Sapp terrorized Danny Kanell in the Orange Bowl.

Bowden thinks Miami coach Butch Davis has returned the Hurricanes to their old form.

"They're back," Bowden said. "To me, Miami is a 4-0 club. They are so close to being undefeated."

Miami opened the season with victories over Ohio State and Florida A&M before losing to No. 2 Penn State 27-23 and by the same score to East Carolina.

"It's not fun to play a wounded team," said Bowden, noting Miami also has had an extra week to prepare for the game.

"It gives them two weeks to study us and be more familiar with what we're doing and an extra week to practice for us. Our kids will have to ... overcome that. We're expecting a very tough game."

Florida State won last year's game 26-14 at Miami, the closest of the last four games during a span in which the Seminoles have averaged 37 points to the Hurricanes' 11.7.

In the last two games at Tallahassee, the Seminoles won 47-0 and 41-17.

"People expect us to lose this game, so we have nothing to lose," Miami defensive tackle Matt Sweeney said. "People aren't giving us a chance, but that gives us extra motivation."





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