Passing Out Really Shouldn’t Be Part of the Game Plan

Hurricane or no hurricane, Tallahassee is a difficult place to play--as Florida State’s 35-game home unbeaten streak attests.

USC offensive tackle Ken Bowen, who is from Orlando, Fla., and grew up a Seminole fan, has been trying to tell his teammates what to expect.

“It gets so noisy, it looks like everything is moving,” said Bowen, a senior who might have gone to Florida State if the Seminoles hadn’t backed off their recruiting of him during his senior year. “We’ve been practicing a silent count, trying to get acclimated.

“And I told the guys how excited they’ll be when Renegade [Florida State’s equivalent of Traveler] rides down the sideline and [Chief Osceola] points that flaming spear at you, rears up and slams it in the ground. You’ll almost pass out, you’ll be so excited.”

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Lonnie Ford will start at tight end ahead of Antoine Harris, who is available despite a sprained right ankle. . . . Center Matt McShane probably won’t play because of a knee injury but is available in an emergency. . . . Reserve defensive lineman Darren Collins, who has been out because of a foot injury, also is available but probably won’t play.

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HOW THEY COMPARE

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USC Florida State 34 Scoring 30.7 14.3 Pts. allowed 17 195.7 Passing 246.3 159.3 Rushing 162.3 355 Total offense 408.7 147.7 Passing defense 147.7 117 Rushing defense 77.3 264.7 Total defense 225

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