Young Florida State Looks for Another Shot at Elusive National Title

One game. Just one game.

That’s all that has prevented Florida State from winning the national championship in each of the past three seasons.

Will this be the year the Seminoles finally make it to the top?

“Our goal is to win every game, but we’ve got to get some breaks and have to improve every Saturday,” Coach Bobby Bowden said.

Experience won’t be on Florida State’s side. The Seminoles, who have won 32 of their last 36 games, open the season with just five seniors among eight returning starters.

“I’m not sure we’re old enough to be as good as last year,” said Bowden, who is starting his 15th season as Seminoles’ coach.

But even a young Florida State team should be able to handle the Seminoles’ September schedule. They play East Carolina, Georgia Southern, Tulane and Virginia Tech in the opening month before facing their first big test--back-to-back October showdowns at Miami and Auburn.

“They might be the two best teams in the nation and we’ve got to play them at their place,” Bowden said. “I just hope we’re ready when we get to the mountaintop.”

Last season, Florida State finished with a 10-game winning streak after season-opening losses to Clemson and Southern Mississippi. The Seminoles capped their season with an impressive 41-17 rout of Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.

But some of the best players from that team are gone, including quarterback Peter Tom Willis, tailback Dexter Carter and a pair of All-Americans--center Michael Tanks and defensive back LeRoy Butler.

Junior Brad Johnson won a three-way spring battle for the starting quarterback’s job. The 6-6, 215-pound Johnson played basketball for two years at Florida State before moving to football full-time.

“The great thing about him is his intangibles,” Bowden said. “All he needs is experience, and you can’t coach experience.”

Sophomore Amp Lee takes over at tailback, a position occupied the past two years by first-round NFL draft picks Carter and Sammie Smith. Lee averaged 4.8 yards a carry last year as a backup, but also proved to be a dangerous receiver, averaging 27.2 yards a catch.

Last year’s talented receiving corps was dubbed “The Fab Four,” but only one member of the group--Lawrence Dawsey--is back. Dawsey, who led the team with 38 catches, will be joined by Matt Freier, Shannon Baker, Kevin Knox and Eric Turral.

Senior Hayward Haynes anchors the offensive line, where sophomore Robbie Baker steps in for Tanks at center.

On defense, the Seminoles are led by junior linebacker Kirk Carruthers, who led the team with 145 tackles last season. Sophomore Terrell Buckley replaces Butler in a fast and talented secondary, while twins Henry and Joe Ostaszewski join sophomore Carl Simpson up front.