Coaches Accept Pigskin Classic Invitation : College football: Florida State and BYU figure to take to the air in season opener at Anaheim Stadium.

Coaches Bobby Bowden of Florida State and LaVell Edwards of Brigham Young were in town Monday to formally accept bids to the second Disneyland Pigskin Classic Aug. 29 at Anaheim Stadium.

While they were at it, they spoke with reporters about recruiting (what else?), Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer’s right shoulder (it’s healing well), and even the game itself (a dream matchup, according to Bowden).

The Pigskin Classic will be only the second West Coast appearance by Florida State since Bowden became the school’s coach in 1976. The first, in 1977, was a 38-6 loss to San Diego State.

“They killed us, just killed us,” Bowden said.

BYU’s last Southland appearance was a nightmarish 65-14 loss Dec. 29 to Texas A & M in the Holiday Bowl.

“It was a total demolition,” Edwards said.

Florida State and BYU figure to fare better this trip.

Last week, the Seminoles (10-2 last season, including a 24-17 victory over Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl) signed two of the nation’s top recruits.

Marquette Smith, a running back from Casselberry, Fla., who gained 2,409 yards last season, and safety Derrick Brooks from Pensacola join 17 returning starters, including quarterback Casey Weldon and running back Amp Lee.

“The thing that makes you feel good is picking up the newspapers and reading how Florida State and Penn State blew everyone else away in recruiting,” Edwards groused. “I’d rather play Bobby in golf than football.”

Detmer, slowly returning to health after having both shoulders separated in the Holiday Bowl whipping, is back for his senior season. Doctors in Provo, Utah, placed a steel pin in Detmer’s right shoulder to aid the healing process, but Edwards expects him to be ready when spring practice begins March 11.

“I’ve seen him quite a bit on TV,” Bowden said. “He’s a natural, just a natural winner.”

The quarterback matchup should provide much of the game’s intrigue.

Detmer has broken 42 NCAA passing records, including the single-season yardage mark with 5,188 yards last season. With Detmer leading the way last year, BYU (10-3) averaged 42.5 points.

Weldon, who took over as the Seminoles’ starter midway through the season, finished third in passing efficiency behind Virginia’s Shawn Moore and Detmer. In only six starts, Weldon passed for 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“To me, it’s a dream-type of a game,” Bowden said. “They throw the ball, we like to throw the ball. People love that kind of football game.”

The inaugural game between Colorado and Tennessee featured 939 yards of total offense--436 by Colorado, 503 by Tennessee--in a 31-31 tie last August.

The Pigskin Classic, apparently knowing an attractive draw when it sees one, again opted for explosive offenses.