Quote:By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

The excitement in Kendyll Pope's voice is the only clue needed to know what's next for Florida State.

A game with national-championship implications, the kind of showdown Pope wanted when he signed with the Seminoles, takes place Oct.11. Second-ranked Miami comes to town for the first top-five matchup between these storied rivals since 1993 - if the Hurricanes take care of West Virginia on Thursday.

Pope's words provide the clues as to what may lie ahead for Miami.

"We owe those guys one," Pope said. "I've never beaten Miami since I've been here. I had those two close calls and the one time they blew us out ... I think we'll be more than ready for them.

"Miami is a good team, but we're just as good as those guys."

The senior linebacker is confident but not cocky. He is optimistic that FSU can reach Miami quarterback Brock Berlin, and Pope has statistics on his side. FSU has 22 sacks and, according to players, their coaches haven't come close to showing the full array of defensive packages.

"I don't think (Miami is) really good in long third-down situations," said Pope, who missed the Duke game to give his injured knee and leg more rest. "The way they are playing now I think we'll cause some problems for Brock. To me, from the games that I saw, he don't look good with pressure in his face."

Pope's teammates walk with a giddy-up in their step but not yet a brazen swagger. This is a different Florida State team from the one that gave the Hurricanes all they wanted a year ago in Miami. Different and better.

And it begins with a defense that ranks No.1 in scoring defense nationally (7.4 ppg.). Only the 1993 national champion Seminoles allowed fewer points in the first five games of a season under Bobby Bowden.

"In the meeting on Friday, coach (Mickey) Andrews pulled out the '93 team's defensive stats versus our defensive stats," Pope said of a team that beat Miami after a long drought. "It's just so comparable how they did things and how we are doing things. History might just repeat itself."

FSU also ranks seventh in total defense (256.4 ypg.) and passing defense. Miami's ground attack demands respect although it is averaging just 166.3 yards. The Hurricanes can light up the autumn nights as they did with 340 yards passing and two touchdowns against Florida. But FSU's secondary should match up with Miami's receivers better than it has in years.

"You turn on those films and you look at all those wide lefts and wide rights," Pope said. "The defense is going to make sure it doesn't come down to the kick."

It won't. FSU will win. That's not Pope's words but just the opinion here. FSU is back. Pope isn't ready to agree but is eager to prove that conclusion to be correct.

"We're both undefeated, and all of America is going to be watching," Pope said. "Everybody wants to see whether Florida State is back. People around town are already talking about it. It brings chills to your body. A high-noon game.

"This year they have to come to our house."

And what Miami will find is a house - the University Center that wraps around Doak Campbell Stadium - with even more bells and whistles. And, inside it, a team worth making noise about.

:wave: Do the Warchant :wave:

Hid Dad lives in my neighborhood!! :wave: :wave: Gotta love our hometown hero