Mirror images face off when Miami meets Florida State

By Lee Roberts  |   Thursday, October 02, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Florida State Seminoles
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The similarities between Miami and Florida State’s football programs are unmistakable right now. This rivalry game has lost considerable luster, but when the two teams take the field this weekend, it’ll be as intense as ever with seasons on the line.

Commentary: It’s hard to believe that there is so little fanfare for one of the most heated rivalries in college football. The series that brought us Wide Right I and II is set to rekindle the flame Saturday and no one seems to care.

The reason for the lack of hype is that both schools are struggling under the shadow of what they once were. This year, both schools are loaded with talent, but all that talent is young. Because of that youth, we see two once-great programs struggling to be consistent. At times, they’ve looked ready to compete at the highest levels; at others, they've looked like teams that are rightfully at the bottom of the conference standings.

Florida State and Miami are both led by punishing run defenses. With athleticism abundant, they fill gaps and hit. Hard. Florida State has yet to surrender a rushing touchdown all season and allows only 223.5 total yards per game, best in the ACC. Miami gives up only 65 rushing yards, tops in the conference.

Offensively, both teams are led by first-year quarterbacks who are going through growing pains. At Miami, freshman Robert Marve is playing well, but he also threw two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter during the loss to North Carolina. At FSU, sophomore Christian Ponder is only completing 50.6 percent of his passes, but he's clearly a better option that senior Drew Weatherford.

This Saturday, six weeks into the season, each program is looking for its first conference win. How times have changed.

Fan Pulse: Miami fans aren’t sure what to think of their team’s chances Saturday. The loss to UNC has been a hit to their confidence.

Injury Watch: Cornerbacks Tony Carter and Patrick Robinson are questionable for Florida State. Running back Javarris James is still out for Miami.
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About Lee Roberts

Born in Richmond, Va, I moved south to UNC-Chapel Hill for college and received a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and cover Auburn, LSU and the ...
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