Richard Goodman News

Not more than 24 hours after Florida State earned bowl eligibility with its 29-26 victory against Maryland, some notes, quotes, thoughts and observations, not necessarily in that order: Let's start this thing off with the way yesterday's game started off: With a couple of nice tributes.

On Saturday, the Florida State Seminoles found out they could play well without their star quarterback.

Game Info Kickoff: noon at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, N.C. Broadcasts: TV a ' ESPNU; Radio a ' 1080-AM Weather: 10% rain chance, about 66 Quick Slant So it comes down to this for Florida State: Win on Saturday and keep alive hope of extending its 27-year bowl streak.

It's like that age-old question about the tree and the forest. If a cornerback plays well, but doesn't make any interception, does it count? Does it make a sound? Does it get noticed at all? That's what Florida State senior cornerback Patrick Robinson has been experiencing all season long.

CLEMSON, S.C. - Bobby Bowden joins today a group of five college football coaches who were still coaching at the age of 80.

Home may be where the heart is, but for Florida State this season the road has been where the success has been.

Florida State 's running game ranks 98th nationally and the Seminoles are averaging just 116.3 rushing yards per game, but FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher insisted after practice on Thursday that his ground game wasn't struggling.

TALLAHASSEE -- Seniority apparently doesn't mean much for Florida State football players when it comes to securing game tickets from teammates.

Enough time. That's what it came down to when Justin Mincey decided to participate in the second half of this season rather than take a redshirt.

College Football News takes a look at tomorrow's contest against Florida State. NC State will be looking to upset the Seminoles.

Before Lawrence Dawsey talks X's and O's with his receivers, he brings up A's, B's and C's. 'We do grade check and class checks every day before the meetings,' Florida State receiver Bert Reed said.

When Tuesday's driving rain finally let up, the Florida State football team headed off to the turf field and turned their full attention to Saturday's homecoming opponent - N.C. State.

Florida State enters today's game against North Carolina on the mend following a rough bye week.

In Week Eight of our Thursday night primer, the National Football Post highlights some of the keys to tonight's Florida State-North Carolina game, including top players and matchups that NFL scouts will be watching.

Florida State players and coaches have had 12 days to reflect on the Seminoles ' worst start since 1976 - 12 days to attempt to fix an offense plagued by missed opportunities and 12 days to fix a defense that is by far the worst in Mickey Andrews' 25-plus seasons here as defensive coordinator.

Thursday night games haven't been kind to Florida State's football program. Yet the Seminoles see the game at North Carolina this week in the positive light of showing the nation they are better than their 2-4 start suggests.

Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher one day will replace Bobby Bowden as the Seminoles' head coach, but Fisher on Tuesday denied internet reports that he and FSU have agreed to terms on a head coaching deal.

Before we look ahead, it's time to look back. Oh, you might not want to, given the Seminoles' 2-4 start.

With Florida State losing three games by seven or fewer points, Bobby Bowden has pointed to several plays that could have made the difference in a winning record.

There's no coaching manual for guiding a football team through a week of distractions like the one Florida State has endured.