Rout Seems Like Old Days For Bowden

For at least a snapshot, it seemed like the old days for Florida State.

The Seminoles beating a nationally-ranked team on the road. The offense zipping up and down the field, scoring on its first seven possessions and tying the most points Florida State has ever scored against a top-10 team. The defense, maligned after its performances against Miami and Jacksonville State, creating turnovers. But what's it really mean?

Was FSU's 54-28 victory over No. 7 BYU on Saturday season-changing? Or program-changing?

"We went out there and won big," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said Sunday. "What does that mean? Well, it probably means we're a little further along than we thought but there's still too much of the season to play to make a final decision on it."

FSU looks to carry that momentum into Saturday's home game against South Florida. The Bulls, who have won at least eight games in each of the past three seasons, could still be an entertaining in-state test for the Seminoles.

However, they lost their record-setting quarterback, Matt Grothe, for the season with a torn ACL suffered in last Saturday's blowout of Charleston Southern.

In an ironic twist of fate, USF is expected to start B.J. Daniels, a Tallahassee native, at quarterback. Daniels was the area's player of the year in both football and basketball at Lincoln High School but wasn't actively recruited by the Seminoles.

Bowden, of course, is still trying to figure out his own team.

FSU moved the ball consistently on offense against BYU behind quarterback Christian Ponder and an athletic offense line that dominated the home team's defense.

Ponder went 21-of-25 for 195 yards and two touchdowns and ran the ball for 76 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. FSU scored all eight times in the red zone (six touchdowns, two field goals), converted 80-percent of its third-down situations (12-of-15) and did not have a turnover.

Ponder specifically continues to impress. The second-year starter is completing 65.7 percent of his passes, and his 925 yards of total offense is by far the highest total of any player in the ACC.

"When I saw the way he (Ponder) played Saturday, I don't know who I'd swap him with," Bowden said.

"I mean, if he couldn't make a play with his arm, he'd make it with his feet. And he's so heady. He's so cool. I haven't seen anybody I'd swap him with to be honest with you. I am really proud of him."

The defense forced five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles) for the first time since 2005, resulting in 24 points. Cornerback Greg Reid, for all intent and purposes, ended any remaining suspense when he intercepted a Max Hall pass and ran it back for a 64-yard touchdown to open the third quarter. FSU entered the game ranked No. 111 out of 120 teams nationally in pass defense.

The verdict was also one of the Seminoles' most lopsided road wins versus a top-10 opponent.

"The big think I hope that came out of that game the other night was the defense found itself," Bowden said.

"That's my biggest hope. First half, we never stopped them. They never punted in the first half. We didn't either. Neither one of us punted in the first half. But our defense came out the second half and stopped them time and time again. Getting some sacks, got the interception.

"I hope that is the beginning of something."

SU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher certainly liked what he saw across the board, saying after the game that "I think it's huge for our program. Like I told those guys after watching Miami play the other night, you're probably a little better then you think you are."

With Miami thumping Georgia Tech and moving into the Associated Press top 10, Bowden agreed with Fisher and admits the prognosis could be improving for his team. But he also stressed it's way too early to be doing any chest-thumping.

The Seminoles return to ACC play Oct. 3 at struggling Boston College before it welcomes Georgia Tech at home Oct. 9.

With its victory over BYU, however, the effort has thrust FSU back onto the national radar. For four quarters it also felt like the olds days to Bowden, who earned the nickname "King of the Road" during his early years at FSU for playing anybody, anywhere, anytime.

"I preached that to the kids all week. I preached to them about the Michigan game, I preached to them about the Ohio State game, the Notre Dame games, the Arizona State games, all the games we had to play away. They wouldn't come to our place," Bowden said.

"We were telling our kids we went up there and won them. Would I say this is kind of the same thing? I sure would. It's a great feeling and a great feeling for the players. You are playing a team that was No. 7 in the nation and you are playing team that beat Oklahoma on a neutral field who was No. 3 in the nation. You are playing in a big-time atmosphere .. it was a great feeling for me, and our coaches and players."