Family Pride Spurs Bicknell

Louisiana Tech Coach Jack Bicknell III is the son of former Boston College coach Jack Bicknell Jr., now coaching the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe.

His father’s Boston College teams played USC twice, in 1987 and ’88.

“He’s 0-2 so I’ve got to break the string for the family,” said Bicknell, who played for his father and was the center for Doug Flutie on the 1984 team that upset Miami on the famous Hail Mary play.

“My relationship with my dad is a very special one,” Bicknell said. “Taking over as head coach here, I’ve relied on him a great deal. He’s been through this a lot, so he’s been a great help trying to tackle the day-by-day things.”

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USC’s 11-for-20 field-goal performance this season is a major frustration to Coach Paul Hackett, who said the job will be open for competition this off-season.

David Newbury is 11 for 19--and only four for eight from a range of 30 to 39 yards. Backup David Bell missed his only attempt.

“We cannot go through another year like this, lacking consistency in field-goal kicking,” Hackett said. “One option is to go recruit somebody. The other option is to study both guys and improve.

“We’ll take a look at the punting too.”

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Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden, on Louisiana Tech quarterback Tim Rattay after the Seminoles’ 41-7 victory:

“You don’t know whether to get after your kids or praise Rattay. He was every bit as good as I was afraid he was. [He] is so accurate and delivers the ball on time. It is so tough to defend.”

Blitzing might not be the answer. Rattay has been sacked only 20 times this season. “He throws the ball quickly, so a lot of times the pressure is not a factor,” USC linebackers coach Shawn Slocum said. “Florida State only got one sack against them.”

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Senior starters playing their last game for USC: Quarterback John Fox, receiver Windrell Hayes, left guard Donta Kendrick, center Matt McShane, right tackle Travis Claridge, tailback Chad Morton, receiver R. Jay Soward and safety David Gibson.