2007 Florida State Seminoles football team
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Florida State Seminoles football
team represented Florida State University
during the 2007 college football season. Florida State entered the 2007 season coming off a 2006
that ended with an overall record of 7-6, which was head coach Bobby Bowden
's worst record since going 6-5 in 1981, matching that mark in 2007.
Tony Carter and Myron Rolle were named to the Thorpe Watch List http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072607aaa.html
Greg Carr, Andre Fluellen, and Myron Rolle were named to the preseason All-ACC Team
http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072507aad.html
Everette Brown, Jackie Claude, Geno Hayes, and Myron Rolle were named to the Preseason All-ACC Second-Team by Athlon Magazine
Greg Carr was named to the Maxwell Award watch list
Andre Fluellen, Tony Carter, and Myron Rolle were named to the Bednarik Award watch list.
Andre Fluellen was named to the Outland Trophy watch list
Tony Carter was named All-ACC Second-Team by The Sporting News and Rivals.com
Gary Cismesia was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award
http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110707aaa.html
(1st year)
Offensive Scheme: TBA
(24th year)
Base Defense: 4-3 Multiple
Clemson
Pregame Line: FSU -3.5
Florida State's terrible first half on both sides of the ball lead to a 24-3 deficit. The Seminoles made adjustments at halftime and swung the momentum in their direction holding Clemson
to just 46 yards in the 2nd half. FSU had 196 2nd half yards led by Running Back, Antone Smith. Drew Weatherford and the Seminole offense couldn't shake the Clemson pressure in the second-to-last drive of the game, getting to the Clemson 30-yard line, but falling short of the end zone.
UAB
Pregame Line: FSU -34.5
The Seminoles got off to another slow start. On Florida State's first drive, Drew Weatherford threw his first interception in 70-plus attempts and it was returned for a touchdown to put UAB up 7-0. The Seminoles scored 21 points in the third quarter to overcome a 17-3 deficit. They won the game, 34-24.
Colorado
Pregame Line: FSU -6
The game was mostly a defensive struggle. Late in the 1st quarter, Antone Smith broke away for a 36-yard touchdown run. For the rest of the game, Florida State's offense could not score, even when, at one point, their starting field position was at the Colorado 15-yard line. Instead, they had to settle for three field goals by Gary Cismesia. With 3:40 remaining in the game, Colorado scored a touchdown on a 4th-and-10 play from the Florida State 11-yard line. However, the 2-point conversion attempt failed, and the Seminoles recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory.
#24 Alabama
Pregame Line: FSU -3.5
The game got off to another very slow start. It was another first half full of defense. In the 2nd quarter, an ineffective Drew Weatherford was pulled for Xavier Lee
. After a halftime score of 0-0, Lee led a strong drive to put FSU up 7-0. After a forced fumble by Everette Brown, a toss sweep to Antone Smith put FSU up 14-0. Alabama used the FSU prevent defense to score a TD to make it 14-7. Lee then hit Decody Fagg on a 75 yard pass to put FSU up 21-7. Alabama scored late to make it 21-14, but FSU recovered the onside kick, and held on for a 21-14 win.
Xavier Lee, making his first start of the season at quarterback, ran 2 yards for the Seminoles' first touchdown 2:11 into the game, three plays after a 58-yard pass to Greg Carr on the game's first play. Although N.C. State (1-5, 0-3 ACC) led 10-7 in the first quarter, it was again plagued by four turnovers—boosting its number to 21 in coach Tom O'Brien's first year at the school. Michael Ray Garvin returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown to spark Florida State's scoring. Garvin, a track All-American who finished sixth in the 100 meters at the NCAA finals and ran a leg on Florida State's championship 400-meter relay team, gave Florida State a 17-10 lead early in the third quarter with his first interception of the season. The game was delayed late in the third quarter for 49 minutes because of a lightning threat. Greg Carr caught a 40-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to give the Seminoles a 24-10 lead. Daniel Evans was intercepted three times Saturday—once at the end of the half that killed a Wolfpack drive that had reached Florida State's 26. It was the first game against North Carolina State for former Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato, who returned to Florida State to be an assistant after getting fired by N.C. State after last season. The Seminoles snapped a string of eight straight losses against Atlantic Division rivals. N.C. State has now lost a dozen straight game against Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) schools.
Wake Forest
Pregame Line: FSU -4.5
Wake Forest's defense in the first half allowed two big plays that set up the Seminoles' two scoring drives, then shut them down after halftime. Wake Forest moved 80 yards in nine plays late in the third quarter to force a 14-14 tie - a drive that started when Alphonso Smith intercepted Lee in the end zone. Skinner capped the drive with a nifty play in which he faked a handoff to Adams, deked like he would roll right and instead reversed field and flipped to the wide-open tailback for a 6-yard score. The Demon Deacons forced five second-half punts, intercepted two passes and allowed 105 total yards after the break - with a good chunk coming after Swank's late kick. Florida State's rushing offense never could get going, finishing with 47 yards on 24 carries. Riley Skinner's 35-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Moore in the fourth quarter led the Demon Deacons past Florida State 24-21 and helped the sophomore quarterback improve to 2-0 against his homestate school that didn't recruit him. Skinner led the Demon Deacons 82 yards in nine plays, converting three third downs during their game-winning drive. The biggest came when Skinner sidestepped a pass rush, stepped forward in the pocket and found Moore, who had a step on cornerback Jamie Robinson at the goal line, for the easy score that put Wake Forest up 21-14 with 6:41 remaining. Florida State gave the ball right back to Wake Forest on the first play of its ensuing drive, when Chip Vaughn intercepted Xavier Lee's deep pass at the 26. The Demon Deacons milked the clock and set up Sam Swank's 48-yard field goal with 1:40 to play that made it a 10-point game. Lee scored on a 17-yard run with 17 seconds left to draw the Seminoles within three, but Wake Forest recovered an onside kick to seal it. The defending league champs rallied in the second half to follow up last year's stunning 30-0 rout in Tallahassee by claiming the first consecutive wins over the Seminoles (4-2, 1-2) in school history.
Miami
Pregame Line: FSU -5
Florida State and Miami both entered this game unranked for the first time since 1977. The teams exchanged turnovers (nine total, five by FSU) and scores, keeping things close for most of the game. With 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes, trailing 29-24, appeared to have lost their best chance to win when Kirby Freeman was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the Florida State 1. But Freeman, who replaced injured Kyle Wright in the first half, drove Miami 83 yards in under two minutes to take the lead 30-29 on a 13-yard pass to Dedrick Epps with 1:15 left. FSU quarterback Xavier Lee
, who was intercepted twice, then fumbled after being hit by Miami's Teraz McCray, and Colin McCarthy ran it in for the clincher. This was the first game since 2001 that was decided by more than a touchdown.
Florida State led 9-0 at halftime on three field goals by Gary Cismesia. After going more than five quarters without an offensive touchdown, the Seminoles made it to the end zone six minutes into the third quarter when Parker raced 9 yards with a short sideline pass from Drew Weatherford, giving Florida State a 16-0 lead. Parker scored his second TD late in the third quarter on a 14-yard run to make the score 22-0. After Cismesia kicked his fourth field goal, Duke (1-7, 0-5 ACC) avoided a shutout when Thaddeus Lewis lofted a 3-yard pass to a wide-open Brandon King in the right front corner of the end zone with 8:07 left. Florida State (5-3, 2-3 ACC) rolled up a season-high 534 yards and 30 first downs while holding Duke to 222 yards and 9 first downs. The Blue Devils managed only 49 yards and two first downs in the first half. Patrick Robinson had an interception for the fourth straight game. Florida State ended a two-game losing streak with a 25-6 victory over Duke, handing the Blue Devils' their 22nd straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss.
#2 Boston College
Pregame Line: FSU +7½
The game began in a frigid and soaking downpour, with wind gusts forecast at up to 50 mph as the remnants of Hurricane Noel proceeded up the East Coast. The rain had stopped by the end of the first quarter, but the winds battered the U.S. flag and played havoc with a couple of second-quarter field goal attempts. Drew Weatherford completed 29-of-45 passes for 354 yards for Florida State (6-3, 3-3), hitting Preston Parker nine times for 93 yards and a touchdown and De'Cody Fagg on six catches for 111 yards and a TD. Matt Ryan
finished 25-for-53 for two touchdowns and 415 yards—his fourth career 400-yard game, tying Doug Flutie
for the most in school history, but his interceptions were costly. Ryan was picked off once in the first quarter inside the Seminoles 10 by Patrick Robinson, making this his fifth consecutive game recovering an interception. Ryan also threw an interception early in the third that allowed Florida State to move into position for a 40-yard field goal that made it 10-0. Ryan led BC on a four-play, 70-yard drive over 63 seconds, hitting Ryan Purvis
for 26 yards to the Florida State 30, and then Brandon Robinson for the touchdown. The teams traded field goals, then Weatherford hit Fagg on a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Seminoles a 20-10 lead. Ryan hit Rich Gunnell on a 42-yard pass to the Florida State 6 with 7:24 left. Two plays later, including a penalty that moved the ball to the 3, Ryan hit a wide-open Purvis in the middle of the end zone to make it 20-17. BC forced a punt and got the ball back at its own 7 with 3:30 left and a chance to take the lead. Ryan moved the Eagles out to the 33 before Hayes ripped the ball free from Purvis on a pass across the middle. Geno Hayes returned Matt Ryan's third interception for a 38-yard touchdown with 1:10 to play to help Florida State beat second-ranked Boston College 27-17, ending the Eagles' run at an unbeaten season.
#11 Virginia Tech
Pregame Line: FSU +6½
Christian Ponder
had a solid showing after taking over for the injured Drew Weatherford, until the 4th quarter when he lost a fumble and threw two consecutive interceptions, which sealed the loss for the Seminoles. Emergency quarterback D'Vontrey Richardson came in for just one snap late in the 4th and was brought down in the endzone for a safety.
Maryland
Pregame Line: FSU -7½
#14 Florida
Pregame Line: FSU +14.5
Music City Bowl: Kentucky
Pregame Line:
The Seminoles entered the game without 34 players due to a various injuries, violating of team rules, and a large academic cheating scandal.
In September 2011 it was revealed through and interview in USA Today, Bowden had been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2007.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team represented Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
during the 2007 college football season. Florida State entered the 2007 season coming off a 2006
2006 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2006 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2006 college football season. Florida State entered the 2006 season as the defending ACC Champion, coming off an 8-5 record in 2005...
that ended with an overall record of 7-6, which was head coach Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
's worst record since going 6-5 in 1981, matching that mark in 2007.
Pre-season
The Seminoles were picked by the ACC media as the preseason favorite to win the ACC's Atlantic Division.Tony Carter and Myron Rolle were named to the Thorpe Watch List http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072607aaa.html
Greg Carr, Andre Fluellen, and Myron Rolle were named to the preseason All-ACC Team
http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072507aad.html
Everette Brown, Jackie Claude, Geno Hayes, and Myron Rolle were named to the Preseason All-ACC Second-Team by Athlon Magazine
Greg Carr was named to the Maxwell Award watch list
Andre Fluellen, Tony Carter, and Myron Rolle were named to the Bednarik Award watch list.
Andre Fluellen was named to the Outland Trophy watch list
Tony Carter was named All-ACC Second-Team by The Sporting News and Rivals.com
Mid-Season Awards
Myron Rolle was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110807aaa.htmlGary Cismesia was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award
http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110707aaa.html
Schedule
Recruits
Offense
Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Coach: Jimbo FisherJimbo Fisher
John James "Jimbo" Fisher is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently head coach at Florida State University....
(1st year)
Offensive Scheme: TBA
| Position | Number | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 11 | Drew Weatherford Drew Weatherford Andrew Skillern Weatherford is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Florida State University.-High school career:... |
RS Jr. |
| RB | 6 | Antone Smith Antone Smith Antoine Kemp-Smith is an American football running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2009... |
Jr. |
| FB | 35 | Marcus Sims | So. |
| WR | 81 | De'Cody Fagg | Sr. |
| WR | 9 | Richard Goodman | Jr. |
| TE | 45 | Charlie Graham | RS So. |
| LT | 76 | Daron Rose | So. |
| LG | 68 | Jacky Claude | Sr. |
| C | 67 | Ryan McMahon | RS Fr. |
| RG | 79 | David Overmyer | RS Sr. |
| RT | 73 | Shannon Boatman | RS Sr. |
Defense
Associate Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator: Mickey AndrewsMickey Andrews
-External links:* *...
(24th year)
Base Defense: 4-3 Multiple
| Position | Number | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 59 | Neefy Moffett | Jr. |
| NT | 96 | Andre Fluellen | RS Sr. |
| T | 93 | Letroy Guion | Jr. |
| DE | 98 | Alex Boston | RS Sr. |
| WLB | 10 | Geno Hayes | Jr. |
| MLB | 30 | Derek Nicholson | Jr. |
| SLB | 36 | Dekoda Watson | So. |
| CB | 4 | Tony Carter | RS Jr. |
| ROV | 3 | Myron Rolle | So. |
| FS | 8 | Roger Williams | RS Sr. |
| CB | 21 | Patrick Robinson |
Special Teams
| Position | Number | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | 12 | Gary Cismesia | Sr. |
| KR | 29 | Michael Ray Garvin | Jr. |
| KR | 5 | Preston Parker | So. |
| P | 43 | Graham Gano | Jr. |
| PR | 5 | Preston Parker | So. |
| LS | 65 | Garrison Sanborn | RS Sr. |
Injured Players
| Position | Number | Name | Class | Injury (Status) | Last Update |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FB | 32 | Joe Surratt | Sr | Fractured Right Fibula http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2007/08/18/bc.fbc.floridastpractice.ap/index.html?eref=si_ncaaf (Out Indefintely) | August 18, 2007 |
| LB | 55 | Jamar Jackson | Fr | Torn ACL http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/FSU03/708300380/1026 (Out for the Season) | August 30, 2007 |
| S | 47 | Mister Alexander | RS Fr | Torn ACL http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/seminoles/orl-fsubeat0607sep06,0,5338642.story (Out for the Season) | September 5, 2007 |
| RB | 33 | Jamaal Edwards | Jr | Left Shoulder (Out Indefintely) | November 10, 2007 |
| WR | 9 | Richard Goodman | Jr | Lower leg fracture (Out indefinitely) | October 29, 2007 |
Other Coaches
- Executive Head Coach/ Linebackers - Chuck AmatoChuck Amato-External links:...
- Assistant Head Coach/ Offensive Line - Rick Trickett
- Defensive Ends/ Special Teams Coordinator - Jody Allen
- Tight Ends/ Recruiting Coordinator - John Lilly
- Wide Receivers - Lawrence DawseyLawrence DawseyLawrence Leneir Dawsey is a former American football player in the National Football League and current wide receivers coach at Florida State University. He won the UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year award in 1991. Dawsey was an All-American at Florida State in 1990...
- Running Backs - Dexter CarterDexter CarterDexter Anthony Carter is a former running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets in the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round in the 1990 NFL Draft...
- Defensive Tackles - Odell Haggins
- Strength and Conditioning - Todd Stroud
- Graduate Assistant/ Defense - James Colzie
- Graduate Assistant/ Defensive Backs - Terrell BuckleyTerrell BuckleyDouglas Terrell Buckley is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League....
Game Capsules
Please Note: The records in parenthesis indicates the opposing team's record at the time Florida State played them, NOT Florida State's record.Clemson2007 Clemson Tigers football teamThe 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
(0-0)
Pregame Line: FSU -3.5Florida State's terrible first half on both sides of the ball lead to a 24-3 deficit. The Seminoles made adjustments at halftime and swung the momentum in their direction holding Clemson
2007 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
to just 46 yards in the 2nd half. FSU had 196 2nd half yards led by Running Back, Antone Smith. Drew Weatherford and the Seminole offense couldn't shake the Clemson pressure in the second-to-last drive of the game, getting to the Clemson 30-yard line, but falling short of the end zone.
- 2 bomb threats for a building on campus (not the stadium) were emailed to Clemson University Police. As a precaution, extra security was at the stadium. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3003222
- Ann Bowden, wife to Bobby (FSU Head Coach)Bobby BowdenRobert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
and mother to Tommy (Clemson Head Coach)Tommy BowdenTommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
, was not in attendance. - Florida State Safety, Mister Alexander, tore his ACL during the game and will be out for the rest of the season. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/seminoles/orl-fsubeat0607sep06,0,5338642.story
- Clemson jumped from 41 to 25 in the AP PollAP PollThe Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and from 35 to 26 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. - FSU fell from 19 to 36 in the AP PollAP PollThe Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and fell from 21 to 38 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
UAB2007 UAB Blazers football teamThe 2007 UAB Blazers football team represented the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the college football season of 2007, and was the seventeenth team fielded by the school. The team's head coach was Neil Callaway, who was entering his first season as the program's head coach...
(0-1)
Pregame Line: FSU -34.5The Seminoles got off to another slow start. On Florida State's first drive, Drew Weatherford threw his first interception in 70-plus attempts and it was returned for a touchdown to put UAB up 7-0. The Seminoles scored 21 points in the third quarter to overcome a 17-3 deficit. They won the game, 34-24.
- Antone Smith left the game with a concussion.
- Florida State dropped from the USA Today Coaches Poll.
- Florida State jumped from 36 to 35 in the AP Poll.
Colorado2007 Colorado Buffaloes football teamThe 2007 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins in his second season at Colorado and played their home games at Folsom Field. Colorado finished 6-7 after losing in the...
(1-1)
Pregame Line: FSU -6The game was mostly a defensive struggle. Late in the 1st quarter, Antone Smith broke away for a 36-yard touchdown run. For the rest of the game, Florida State's offense could not score, even when, at one point, their starting field position was at the Colorado 15-yard line. Instead, they had to settle for three field goals by Gary Cismesia. With 3:40 remaining in the game, Colorado scored a touchdown on a 4th-and-10 play from the Florida State 11-yard line. However, the 2-point conversion attempt failed, and the Seminoles recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory.
#24 Alabama2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a disappointing 6–7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, a former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a...
(3-1)
Pregame Line: FSU -3.5The game got off to another very slow start. It was another first half full of defense. In the 2nd quarter, an ineffective Drew Weatherford was pulled for Xavier Lee
Xavier Lee
Xavier Tyree Lee is an American football quarterback and wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Lee attended Seabreeze High School...
. After a halftime score of 0-0, Lee led a strong drive to put FSU up 7-0. After a forced fumble by Everette Brown, a toss sweep to Antone Smith put FSU up 14-0. Alabama used the FSU prevent defense to score a TD to make it 14-7. Lee then hit Decody Fagg on a 75 yard pass to put FSU up 21-7. Alabama scored late to make it 21-14, but FSU recovered the onside kick, and held on for a 21-14 win.
NC State (1-4)
Pregame Line:Xavier Lee, making his first start of the season at quarterback, ran 2 yards for the Seminoles' first touchdown 2:11 into the game, three plays after a 58-yard pass to Greg Carr on the game's first play. Although N.C. State (1-5, 0-3 ACC) led 10-7 in the first quarter, it was again plagued by four turnovers—boosting its number to 21 in coach Tom O'Brien's first year at the school. Michael Ray Garvin returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown to spark Florida State's scoring. Garvin, a track All-American who finished sixth in the 100 meters at the NCAA finals and ran a leg on Florida State's championship 400-meter relay team, gave Florida State a 17-10 lead early in the third quarter with his first interception of the season. The game was delayed late in the third quarter for 49 minutes because of a lightning threat. Greg Carr caught a 40-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to give the Seminoles a 24-10 lead. Daniel Evans was intercepted three times Saturday—once at the end of the half that killed a Wolfpack drive that had reached Florida State's 26. It was the first game against North Carolina State for former Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato, who returned to Florida State to be an assistant after getting fired by N.C. State after last season. The Seminoles snapped a string of eight straight losses against Atlantic Division rivals. N.C. State has now lost a dozen straight game against Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) schools.
Wake Forest2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football teamThe 2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe in his seventh season at the school and played its home games at BB&T Field. The team began its season with an Atlantic Coast...
(3-2)
Pregame Line: FSU -4.5Wake Forest's defense in the first half allowed two big plays that set up the Seminoles' two scoring drives, then shut them down after halftime. Wake Forest moved 80 yards in nine plays late in the third quarter to force a 14-14 tie - a drive that started when Alphonso Smith intercepted Lee in the end zone. Skinner capped the drive with a nifty play in which he faked a handoff to Adams, deked like he would roll right and instead reversed field and flipped to the wide-open tailback for a 6-yard score. The Demon Deacons forced five second-half punts, intercepted two passes and allowed 105 total yards after the break - with a good chunk coming after Swank's late kick. Florida State's rushing offense never could get going, finishing with 47 yards on 24 carries. Riley Skinner's 35-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Moore in the fourth quarter led the Demon Deacons past Florida State 24-21 and helped the sophomore quarterback improve to 2-0 against his homestate school that didn't recruit him. Skinner led the Demon Deacons 82 yards in nine plays, converting three third downs during their game-winning drive. The biggest came when Skinner sidestepped a pass rush, stepped forward in the pocket and found Moore, who had a step on cornerback Jamie Robinson at the goal line, for the easy score that put Wake Forest up 21-14 with 6:41 remaining. Florida State gave the ball right back to Wake Forest on the first play of its ensuing drive, when Chip Vaughn intercepted Xavier Lee's deep pass at the 26. The Demon Deacons milked the clock and set up Sam Swank's 48-yard field goal with 1:40 to play that made it a 10-point game. Lee scored on a 17-yard run with 17 seconds left to draw the Seminoles within three, but Wake Forest recovered an onside kick to seal it. The defending league champs rallied in the second half to follow up last year's stunning 30-0 rout in Tallahassee by claiming the first consecutive wins over the Seminoles (4-2, 1-2) in school history.
Miami2007 Miami Hurricanes football teamThe 2007 Miami Hurricanes football team was Randy Shannon's first as head coach of his alma mater. It also marked the last year that Miami played its home games in the Miami Orange Bowl. Miami was 5-7 for the season.- Changes :...
(4-3)
Pregame Line: FSU -5Florida State and Miami both entered this game unranked for the first time since 1977. The teams exchanged turnovers (nine total, five by FSU) and scores, keeping things close for most of the game. With 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes, trailing 29-24, appeared to have lost their best chance to win when Kirby Freeman was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the Florida State 1. But Freeman, who replaced injured Kyle Wright in the first half, drove Miami 83 yards in under two minutes to take the lead 30-29 on a 13-yard pass to Dedrick Epps with 1:15 left. FSU quarterback Xavier Lee
Xavier Lee
Xavier Tyree Lee is an American football quarterback and wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Lee attended Seabreeze High School...
, who was intercepted twice, then fumbled after being hit by Miami's Teraz McCray, and Colin McCarthy ran it in for the clincher. This was the first game since 2001 that was decided by more than a touchdown.
Duke (1-6)
Pregame Line:Florida State led 9-0 at halftime on three field goals by Gary Cismesia. After going more than five quarters without an offensive touchdown, the Seminoles made it to the end zone six minutes into the third quarter when Parker raced 9 yards with a short sideline pass from Drew Weatherford, giving Florida State a 16-0 lead. Parker scored his second TD late in the third quarter on a 14-yard run to make the score 22-0. After Cismesia kicked his fourth field goal, Duke (1-7, 0-5 ACC) avoided a shutout when Thaddeus Lewis lofted a 3-yard pass to a wide-open Brandon King in the right front corner of the end zone with 8:07 left. Florida State (5-3, 2-3 ACC) rolled up a season-high 534 yards and 30 first downs while holding Duke to 222 yards and 9 first downs. The Blue Devils managed only 49 yards and two first downs in the first half. Patrick Robinson had an interception for the fourth straight game. Florida State ended a two-game losing streak with a 25-6 victory over Duke, handing the Blue Devils' their 22nd straight Atlantic Coast Conference loss.
#2 Boston CollegeBoston College Eagles footballThe Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
(8-0)
Pregame Line: FSU +7½The game began in a frigid and soaking downpour, with wind gusts forecast at up to 50 mph as the remnants of Hurricane Noel proceeded up the East Coast. The rain had stopped by the end of the first quarter, but the winds battered the U.S. flag and played havoc with a couple of second-quarter field goal attempts. Drew Weatherford completed 29-of-45 passes for 354 yards for Florida State (6-3, 3-3), hitting Preston Parker nine times for 93 yards and a touchdown and De'Cody Fagg on six catches for 111 yards and a TD. Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan (American football)
Matthew Thomas "Matt" Ryan , nicknamed "Matty Ice," is the starting American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round as the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...
finished 25-for-53 for two touchdowns and 415 yards—his fourth career 400-yard game, tying Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
for the most in school history, but his interceptions were costly. Ryan was picked off once in the first quarter inside the Seminoles 10 by Patrick Robinson, making this his fifth consecutive game recovering an interception. Ryan also threw an interception early in the third that allowed Florida State to move into position for a 40-yard field goal that made it 10-0. Ryan led BC on a four-play, 70-yard drive over 63 seconds, hitting Ryan Purvis
Ryan Purvis
Ryan J. Purvis is an American football tight end who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
for 26 yards to the Florida State 30, and then Brandon Robinson for the touchdown. The teams traded field goals, then Weatherford hit Fagg on a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Seminoles a 20-10 lead. Ryan hit Rich Gunnell on a 42-yard pass to the Florida State 6 with 7:24 left. Two plays later, including a penalty that moved the ball to the 3, Ryan hit a wide-open Purvis in the middle of the end zone to make it 20-17. BC forced a punt and got the ball back at its own 7 with 3:30 left and a chance to take the lead. Ryan moved the Eagles out to the 33 before Hayes ripped the ball free from Purvis on a pass across the middle. Geno Hayes returned Matt Ryan's third interception for a 38-yard touchdown with 1:10 to play to help Florida State beat second-ranked Boston College 27-17, ending the Eagles' run at an unbeaten season.
#11 Virginia Tech2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football teamThe 2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
(7-2)
Pregame Line: FSU +6½Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings with the twelfth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and signed with them on July 31, 2011, shortly after the 2011 NFL lockout ended...
had a solid showing after taking over for the injured Drew Weatherford, until the 4th quarter when he lost a fumble and threw two consecutive interceptions, which sealed the loss for the Seminoles. Emergency quarterback D'Vontrey Richardson came in for just one snap late in the 4th and was brought down in the endzone for a safety.
MarylandMaryland Terrapins footballThe Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
(5-5)
Pregame Line: FSU -7½#14 Florida2007 Florida Gators football teamThe 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
(8-3)
Pregame Line: FSU +14.5Music City Bowl: Kentucky2007 Kentucky Wildcats football teamThe 2007 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head football coach was Rich Brooks, in his 5th year as Kentucky's head coach. The Wildcats played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky...
(7-5)
Pregame Line:The Seminoles entered the game without 34 players due to a various injuries, violating of team rules, and a large academic cheating scandal.
Notes
On March 6, 2009, Florida State University was put on probation for four years by NCAA for major violations in its athletics program. The school is required to reduce scholarships and vacate records during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. The violations include more than 60 student-athletes across 10 sports involving in the academic fraud, "as well as impermissible benefits, unethical conduct by three former academic support services staff members, and a failure to monitor by the university."In September 2011 it was revealed through and interview in USA Today, Bowden had been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer in 2007.