Quote:By DOUG CARLSON
Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 10, 2004

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State's team motto for the 2004 season, unveiled during Monday's opening practice, needs no explanation, according to Coach Bobby Bowden.
Players wore shirts under their jerseys during a two- hour workout with the motto - ``It's Time!'' - printed on the front.

"It's self-explanatory,'' Bowden said. ``It's time for us to get back up there with the big boys. We haven't been with them the last two or three years and it's time for us to get back. That's the way we're approaching it.

"Anybody who keeps up with Florida State football probably knows exactly why that is your motto.''

Bowden is eager to get back to being a front-runner in the national championship race. In other areas, he's learned to accept change.

For instance, he decided it's time to do away with the longtime FSU tradition of shaving the heads of incoming freshmen. It's why highly touted freshman quarterback Xavier Lee still wore his long braids Monday, and why Land O' Lakes quarterback Drew Weatherford only cropped his blond hair closer to his head.

But freshman kicker Gary Cismesia surprised Bowden by having his head shaved, then donating the hair to a charity that makes wigs for cancer victims.

"When we signed him he was very emphatic that he had had his pigtails since 6 years of age,'' Bowden said.

"I took the approach with [veteran players], `We're not gonna make anybody [shave their head]. You want to encourage them to? Good. If they want to? Good.' But if they do not want to because that's the way they were raised, we're not gonna force it.''

NOTES: Junior guard Matt Heinz has decided to end his playing career because of back problems.