AP
There was so much that was different about Saturday's Florida State-Miami game. No Orange Bowl. No rankings in front of the teams' names. Empty seats at Dolphin Stadium.
But two things never change about this rivalry: the roller-coaster of bizarre plays and momentum swings and -- at least these past five years or so -- mind-numbingly horrific quarterback and special teams plays.
The 'Noles manhandled the 'Canes for the first 30 minutes. FSU's defense, which came into the game ranked third in the country, suffocated Miami QBs Robert Marve (17-of-41, 121 yards, two INTs) and Jacory Harris (3-of-7, 32 yards, one INT). Meanwhile, FSU's offense -- just two weeks removed from a nightmarish 12-3 loss to Wake Forest -- continued what it first showed off last week against Colorado: a drastically improved running game. Behind the youngest starting offensive line in the country (three freshmen and two sophomores), the 'Noles ran for 326 yards on the night. Their most effective play was the QB keeper -- Christian Ponder gashed Miami's defense for 146 yards on 18 attempts, most of it the first half.
Late in the first half, the 'Noles led 24-0 on the scoreboard and 270-11 in total yardage. By early in the fourth quarter, Miami had cut the deficit to 34-32 while barely having to lift a finger on offense. At one point the TV camera caught Bobby Bowden standing in the rain on the sideline with that same look of disbelief we've seen umpteen times in this rivalry.
Give the 'Canes credit for mounting such an admirable comeback, but FSU did everything in its power to try to surrender the lead. An Antone Smith fumbled handoff on his own 18-yard line led to Miami's first touchdown. Twice, the 'Noles botched punt snaps in front of their own end zone. The first resulted in a safety and, on Miami's subsequent play, a 51-yard halfback touchdown pass, cutting the 'Noles' lead to 31-22.
Just when it appeared FSU had regained momentum, going up 34-22 and picking off a potential Marve touchdown pass, Ponder (14-of-31, 159 yards, one TD, two INTs) did his best Chris Rix impersonation, lobbing the ball into the air while backpedaling into his own end zone. 'Canes LB Sean Spence picked it off and scored, closing the gap to 34-29. Then came the next botched punt snap, followed by a Miami field goal.
Eventually, Smith dashed for a 20-yard touchdown to go back up by two scores, but the game wasn't over until Miami scored on a tackle-eligible to get it to 41-39 but failed to recover a last-second onsides kick -- all taking place in what appeared to be a monsoon.
Ah, just another FSU-Miami game.
While there were certainly bright spots for these two rebuilding programs -- FSU's defense was dominant and its running game surprisingly effective, while Miami freshman Travis Benjamin (who scored on an 18-yard run, 51-yard catch and gained nearly 200 return yards) looked like the second coming of Devin Hester -- they're still much closer to their 2006 selves than their 2000 selves.
FSU's (3-1) defense gives it a chance to contend in the wide-open ACC this year, but only if Ponder becomes a more consistent passer. Miami, which dropped to 2-3, is in for another year of growing pains.
Esti Ginzberg
Damaris Lewis
Men's Grand Slam All-Time Leaders
Roger Federer's Grand Slam Titles
Comments (17) Add A Comment
Correction: Miami's last TD was followed by an extra point, not a two-point conversion.
That aside, this column is right. As a Nole fan, I was horrified by how we tried to give this game away. I also thought "Chris Rix" with that Ponder interception in his own end zone. Ugh.
jaxman
Middleburg , FL
Total Comments (62)
I will say as a noles fan myself we looked great on offense... I was nervous with ponder all night because he had been throwing off his back foot all night... but he made big plays for us when we needed them.... a 20 yard throw on a 3rd and 15 we had to have.... FSU needs to work on special teams... they almost coast us a game against miami again.... I am also verry happy to see us run the ball pretty well again.... but you know... that interception he threw while sitting in the back of his own end zone isnt so much the player.... we are talking about a kid starting his 5th football game against miami in what mandel called a monsoon... I more so question the play call.... to me it was more play call you would have seen when chris rix was playing more so then when he threw a chris rix type pass
kidomac
Oakdale , LA
Total Comments (20)
Yes we almost handed another squeaker to the 'Canes. It was a sloppy performance by special teams but I think we can see a lot of positive from this game. Seminoles now know they can win the tight ones (even when those games shouldn't have been) go into a hostile enviornment and win the big rivalry games. Growing pains yes but success also! And it really was a monsoon out there. Go 'Noles!
NextStopNRT
Total Comments (2)
OMG!!! What a finish! I need to buy a portable defib machine for our games against Miami. I'd like to have blown them out, but against the U, I'll take a win any way we can get it. Our D and our running game are looking good.
On a side note, Miami's Travis Benjamin is frightening.
eyesWIDEopen
In The Bay, FL
Total Comments (1871)
im a diehard canes fan and as deflated by the loss as i am we as fans should be encouraged. after last weeks heart breaking loss and the horrible first half these kids didn't quit. last years team would have gave up at half. heck they might have got on the bus at half and not even been in the building for the start of the third quater. we are a year or so away. this years class was focused on linebackers and recievers. it looks like the upcoming class they are focusing on the secondary and d-line. the kids play hard and you can see thier talent and heart. there will be ups and downs this year. we need to be patient. we will be back sooner rather than later. as much as i hate to say so are the noles. college football is better when both schools are relevant.
evillcane
Evansville , IN
Total Comments (1)
The gave review... 600 comments... TomahawkNation.com
FSUncensored.blogspo…
Tuscaloosa , AL
Total Comments (5)
Stewart! You are one of the great college football writers, but a rolling blog during the day with comments on several games would be more interesting/useful than a wrap-up of just one game. Right now we dorky fans with laptops don't have many places for live interaction as games are going on. This piece is great, but frankly I'm not that interested -- no offense -- in getting another full report of a single game. Just thinking out loud.
oklahomazeppelin
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (54)
yeah ... and while you're at it, could you create a special blog where indignant MWC fans could go and whine amongst themselves.
toe slide 360
Total Comments (156)
Look, I'm a die hard Florida fan, so I have no hidden agenda here. Have any of you guys knocking the MWC actually watched Utah or BYU play? Utah beats OSU who trashes USC. 'Nuff said.
ChiefBroom
Johns Creek, GA
Total Comments (48)
Gotta disagree with you on one thing. Yesterday showed that we're a lot closer to our 2000 selves than 2006. 5 games = 188 points. Great defense and when the offense needed a drive they came up with it. This would have been an absolute BLOW-OUT but for 3 mistakes and some bizarre plays. We dominated the Hurricanes except in special teams.
PedroNole
Boca Raton, FL
Total Comments (1)
May have been a slopfest, but it sure was entertaining. That rain was REALLY coming down in the 4th
etc_04
Total Comments (363)
CNN bias to the Big 10 is deplorable. On a day when Vandy knocks off Auburn, once again, all Stewie can write about is his buckeyes. Can you hear Springsteen's Glory Days playing in the background? Can you hear it? Cover the SEC so we can get familiar with which team is gonna blow OSU out in January, will ya?
BTSDD
Vandalia , OH
Total Comments (1)
Stewart, I have to disagree, I thought Ponder actually played well. If you look at his 1st pick, the receiver (Carr) should've gone for the ball at the highest point. He was knocked backwards on his 2nd interception, which was a great play call by the way, just poor blocking. That, and he had three easy passes dropped by receivers. He'd have gone 19 for 31 or so. Moreover, he stayed composed and kept leading FSU on long offensive drives, something we Noles fans haven't seen in a long time.
SLC Nole
Sandy , UT
Total Comments (4)
Correction he was hit when releasing the ball in the back of the enzone.
nolez63
Raleigh , NC
Total Comments (1)
Am I the only 'canes fan that wonders what in the world happened to happened to our running game? That's where we've had our success this year. So Marve starts out with three pass plays? (the third one being intercepted). Great way to start the game! Instead of learning from that, we keep passing the whole game, like we forgot about Graig Cooper? I can take a loss to the Seminoles, lord knows we have derailed their season our fair share of times. But what really disapponts me in this loss is the utterly incomprehensible offensive game plan.
sl5337
Atlanta , GA
Total Comments (1)
Stewart, it is too bad that FSU is not an SEC team or we would be in the polls right now (Auburnis there with 2 losses!!). I think even if we win the next three contests (NC State on the road, V Tech at home and then Ga Tech on the road, you (and the rest of the pollsters out there) will more than likely suffer internal pain adding us to the list. No one likes us anymore.
Regardless - we are a good program - and we are working hard out there. Props are due but we will wait patiently. As always.
Go Noles. Miami WhU?
NoleFan4Life
Palm Harbor , FL
Total Comments (1)
Did you watch the Utah/OSU game? Utah may have won the game, but it was nothing to get excited about. Oregon State beat them everywhere, but the scoreboard.
Unfortunately, your hidden agenda does get revealed...you tied in USC. Just about every SEC fans takes any opportunity to knockdown USC. I'm not blaming you. But, just don't claim neutrality along the way.
silars
Total Comments (1644)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.