Bobby Bowden picks Hurricanes to beat Florida State on Saturday night
BOCA RATON — Bobby Bowden likes what he sees from Florida State so far this season, especially on defense. But he does not believe the team he coached for 34 seasons will beat Miami on Saturday at Sun Life Stadium.
"I feel like Miami (has the edge) because they are playing in Miami," Bowden said Friday before a signing for his recently published book.
"If it was in Tallahassee, I'd say Florida State. But the thing with Miami is - is the quarterback going to play steady enough?"
Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris has thrown eight interceptions, tied for the fifth most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
FSU's defense is the reason Bowden believes the Seminoles are headed for a turnaround after finishing 7-6 in three of Bowden's final four seasons, including 2009.
The 23rd ranked Seminoles are 4-1, 2-0 in the ACC. No. 13 Miami is 3-1, 1-0.
Bowden said much of the credit for the improved defense should go to new coordinator Mark Stoops. Bowden cited Stoops' philosophy, which is based on zone principles, and his ability to bring out potential in young players.
"If they can keep up the defense, watch out," Bowden said.
Bowden was 14-21 against Miami as the head coach at Florida State. The rivalry blossomed into arguably the best in the country during that time with one of the two teams playing for the national championship 14 times between from 1983 through 2002. Saturday's 8 p.m. game on ABC will mark the 22nd time both teams are ranked at kickoff.
When asked for his memory of the series, Bowden said: "I think of two great teams playing and I think of how many champions came out of this game. I think of the years where if we kicked a field goal we would have won the national championship and if we miss it they win."
One of those was 1991, when Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining, giving Miami a 17-16 victory. It was the first of FSU's heartbreaking "Wide Right" games (along with one "Wide Left").
Bowden offered one of his most memorable quotes following the 1991 game.
"They're going to chisel on my tombstone 'He played Miami,' " Bowden said at the time.
He is proud but frustrated that he maintained the rivalry - before the schools joined the ACC - while other teams declined to play Miami.
"Florida dropped them," Bowden said Friday. "Penn State dropped them. Notre Dame dropped them."
Bowden vowed not to hover around the program this season and will keep his word Saturday, heading home to Tallahassee after a 10:30 a.m. book signing in Vero Beach. But, he said, he will be more interested in this game than any other he has watched this season.
"This one is has a little bit more significance because both programs can get a gauge on how far they have come," he said. "Both programs are on their way back to the top. Whoever wins this one can get a little ahead."
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