Florida's last two wins over rival Florida State have been the most lopsided in the series in nearly four decades. Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden tipped his cap and admitted last year the Gators simply had better players at many positions.
Bowden cites his team's youth this year and believes FSU has closed the gap on UF.
"We're getting closer," Bowden said Sunday. "Next year, we should be neck-and-neck."
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- When Bobby Bowden finally decides to slip quietly into retirement, he believes Florida State fans will remember the good times -- and not the program's recent slide -- that happened during his storied coaching career. One question: Does his career have any chance at a storybook ending?
FSU's dramatic 29-26 home victory over Maryland Saturday helped an already wounded Seminole Nation avoid further grief, if not slow a potentially uncomfortable showdown with its iconic coach. Instead, the Seminoles (6-5) breathed a collective sigh of relief and became bowl eligible for the 28th straight year.
Another streak is on the line at top-ranked Florida next Saturday.
Much of the credit for Clemson's turnaround this season goes to its offense. Let us count the ways.
During Clemson's current five-game winning streak -- the program's longest in three seasons -- the Tigers have scored at least 38 points in each game, a program first. During that span, Clemson has averaged 42 points per game, 425 total yards per game, 6.87 yards per play and 220 passing yards a game.
No wonder the Tigers, who had lost three of their first five games by a total of 10 points, are positioned to clinch their first trip to the ACC title game with a home victory Saturday against struggling Virginia.
Of course, Clemson's success on offense revolves around all-purpose back and Heisman Trophy hopeful C.J. Spiller. Spiller needs 103 all-purpose yards to break the ACC single-season record of 2,054, held by Virginia's Thomas Jones.
In last Saturday's victory over N.C. State, Spiller had a 16-yard touchdown run, caught a 34-yard scoring pass and threw a 17-yard touchdown to Xavier Dye, becoming the first Clemson player to do all three in one game.
Will Florida State and the NCAA see eye-to-eye and make nice?
FSU officials and representatives presented the university's appeal before the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee in Indianapolis Sunday. The Seminoles argued to overturn one penalty handed down earlier by the NCAA in the university's academic-misconduct scandal -- the order to vacate wins in football and nine other sports.
School and NCAA officials worked together to investigate the claims and concluded with a deal that FSU believed would solve eligibility questions of athletes involved. But the NCAA Committee's punishment could cost football coach Bobby Bowden 14 victories and the men's 2007 track team its outdoor national championship.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State fans are speculating that Bobby Bowden's coaching future at FSU might be tied into the Seminoles' bowl eligibility. This much is known for certain: Bowden's status will be determined at season's end. And FSU's bowl chances will become much clearer on Saturday.
The Seminoles' hopes of a strong finish now rest on the shoulders of redshirt freshman quarterback E.J. Manuel. Manuel will make his first career start at Wake Forest following the season-ending shoulder injury to Christian Ponder.
Florida State needs two more victories in its final three games to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing season since 1976. The Seminoles will have to accomplish both without their starting quarterback.
Redshirt junior Christian Ponder will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery in two weeks, FSU coach Bobby Bowden told his weekly luncheon crowd Monday at FSU's University Center.
Ponder suffered a Grade 3 separation of his right (throwing) shoulder late in the game against Clemson Saturday, and had already been ruled out of Saturday's game at Wake Forest. Heralded recruit E.J. Manuel will get his first start against the Demon Deacons.
Bobby Bowden turned 80 on Sunday, but he wasn't in the mood to celebrate.
Bowden's Florida State Seminoles lost a key ACC game at Clemson and also their starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, possibly for the season with a separated shoulder in the process on Saturday. Talk about a family funk.
Bowden's son, Terry, whose coaching staff includes younger brother Jeff, saw his undefeated and top-ranked Division-II North Alabama Lions tumble in four overtimes on Saturday, too. And Bowden's son-in-law, Jack Hines, the defensive coordinator at Colquitt County High (Ga.), opened the weekend with a defeat on Friday.
"Our whole family got whipped. We ain't celebrating nothing," Bowden quipped Sunday.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Tuesday's weather in Florida's state capital was Sunshine State-perfect for early November. Aubry Boyd opened his eyes and welcomed the bright, 75-degree day with a wish he has repeated for the past 14 years.
"Every day I wake up hoping it's a better day than it was yesterday," Boyd told FanHouse. "I am not complaining because I am still here. I still want to be part of life."
Paralysis and a motorized wheelchair have not stolen Boyd's genuine love for vitality and people. He still talks hoops, politics, religion and women over cold suds and wings with the fellas. He still wants to make a difference.
Boyd's smile and personality -- continued sources of pleasure and inspiration -- were on display Tuesday night when the Florida State basketball program honored one of its own.
It's becoming clear that Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turn 80 on Sunday, wants to coach the Seminoles in 2010.
The feisty Bowden has tipped his hand many times since coming under fire from high-level boosters, fans and the media following a 2-4 start.
Consecutive victories over North Carolina and North Carolina State have helped quiet restless critics -- and a victory Saturday at Clemson would vault FSU into second place in the ACC Atlantic Division -- and Bowden said Wednesday he will make the final call on who replaces retiring Mickey Andrews as defensive coordinator.
However, Bowden also stressed that head coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher will make a strong contribution to the process, so don't expect a disagreement conspiracy between the pair.
Florida's last two wins over rival Florida State have been the most lopsided in the series in nearly four decades. Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden tipped his cap and admitted last year the Gators simply had better players at many positions.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- When Bobby Bowden finally decides to slip quietly into retirement, he believes Florida State fans will remember the good times -- and not the program's recent slide -- that happened during his storied coaching career. One question: Does his career have any chance at a storybook ending?
Much of the credit for Clemson's turnaround this season goes to its offense. Let us count the ways. 
Will Florida State and the NCAA see eye-to-eye and make nice?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State fans are speculating that Bobby Bowden's coaching future at FSU might be tied into the Seminoles' bowl eligibility. This much is known for certain: Bowden's status will be determined at season's end. And FSU's bowl chances will become much clearer on Saturday.
Florida State needs two more victories in its final three games to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing season since 1976. The Seminoles will have to accomplish both without their starting quarterback.
Bobby Bowden turned 80 on Sunday, but he wasn't in the mood to celebrate.
It's becoming clear that Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turn 80 on Sunday, wants to coach the Seminoles in 2010. 
