Battle of Florida Has National Implications

For four straight years, Florida State has been one of the nation's top teams. However, the Seminoles haven't been the best team in their own state.

Despite finishing fourth or higher in The Associated Press poll every year since 1987, Florida State has been overshadowed by Miami. The Hurricanes have beaten the Seminoles five of the past six years and finished with a higher ranking each season.

Losses to Miami in 1987 and 1988, Florida State's only defeats during that span, probably cost the Seminoles two national championships. Top-ranked Florida State is determined to reverse the trend Saturday when it meets No. 2 Miami in the most ballyhooed game of the season.

"I'm sick and tired of being second," linebacker Kirk Carruthers said. "Miami always takes it away from us. We're not going to let it happen this year."

The Seminoles (10-0) are 3-point favorites over the Hurricanes (8-0), who became known as the "Team of the '80s" after winning three national titles during the decade.

"We want to be the team of the '90s," Carruthers said. "Beating Miami would start us out on the right foot."

But the tough-talking Hurricanes are confident they will beat the Seminoles again.

"We want to play them up there because we know when they come to Miami it's going to be no problem," defensive lineman Anthony Hamlet said. "We're going to beat them anyway up there, but it's just the fact that we're going to their field and we're going to spoil their dreams of a winning a national championship."

Florida State's only victory over Miami in the past six years was a 24-10 win at Tallahassee in 1989. Still, the Seminoles don't feel the Hurricanes have their number.

"You take away two or three plays in a couple of those games and the series would be even," Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon said. "We just didn't get the breaks."

A classic example was Miami's 26-25 victory in 1987. Florida State scored with 42 seconds left and went for the two-point conversion, but Miami's Bubba McDowell batted down a pass by Danny McManus to preserve the victory.

"I still don't know how we lost that one," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose team blew a 19-3 lead.

"So many strange things happened in that game. We had a screen pass intercepted, we missed an extra point and we botched a field goal when our snapper snapped the ball before our holder was ready. That's the only time that's ever happened to me in my coaching career."

Although the rivalry between Florida State and Miami is intense, the Hurricanes aren't the Seminoles' most hated foe. That dubious distinction goes to the University of Florida.

"Miami is a friendly rivalry. There's no hatred on either side," said Wayne Hogan, Florida State's sports information director. "Florida is a whole different thing. When you play Florida, you get sick to your stomach.

"When Miami beats you, the sun comes up the next morning. When Florida beats you, it's like death."

Saturday's game may not be a life-or-death struggle, but it could decide the national championship.

"You'll see the best athletes in the country on that field," Miami defensive tackle Eric Miller said. "I wish I could sit at home and watch it on TV. Unfortunately, I have to play."