European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and Stripe tuesday november 12,1991 Sunshine showdown Erickson noles rightly favored by Steven wine Coral Gables Fla. Apr Miami coach Dennis Erickson says the Florida state seminoles deserve to be labelled the favourites in saturdays showdown with his hurricanes. A a they re right where they should be a ranked no. 1, Erickson said. A a we be got to go to a new level. We re playing the Best in the  last week the hurricanes 8-0 slipped into a tie with Washington 9-0 for the no. 2 ranking. On sunday associated press voters gave Miami the Edge Over Washington by one vote. A a that a because they wanted the anticipation of no. 1 and 2, right a Erickson said. In three seasons under Erickson the hurricanes have been ranked lower than their opponent Only three times a against Florida state and Texas last year and against notre Dame in 1989. Miami won All three games. A i like being the underdog a defensive tackle Anthony Hamlet said. A that motivates us  the seminoles Are 10-0 and have been ranked no. 1 All season. A a they re the heralded team a defensive end Rusty Medearis Miami a Dennis Erickson. Seeks a new level said. A we like that.�?�. A Victory at Tallahassee would put Miami in a commanding position to win its fourth National championship since 1983. The hurricanes would be heavily favored in their final regular season games against Boston College and san Diego state then Likely would play either Nebraska or Colorado on Jan. 1 in the Orange bowl where Miami has won 43 games in a Row. A the Winner of the game this weekend is in pretty Good position a Erickson said. The hurricanes cleared their final hurdle to the main event by beating West Virginia 27-3 saturday. Florida state beat South Carolina 38-10. Erickson said the hurricanes injury list is Short. Top running Back Stephen Mcguire who missed the previous game with a knee injury started against West Virginia and carried 16 times for s3 Yards. A was the game went on he got better a Erickson said. A a that la be a real plus for  in three seasons under Erickson the hurricanes Are 29-3 and have won plenty of big games. But saturdays showdown will be a new experience he said. A a in be never been so excited As a coach to have the Opportunity to play this game a he said. A a in be already had an Opportunity to watch Florida state on film probably More than i want. You watch everybody else we be played and then watch them Ana its a different Ball  elite teams from the Soma state thet have been 1-2intheappol 1942-Qeorala no. 1, Georgia tech no. 2 1943�?notre dome no. 1, Purdue no. 2 1967�?Southern cel 1. Urcla 2 1968-Purdue 1. Notre dome 2 1981-Perm state 1.pm2 1988-Mtami 1, Florida state 2 1991-Florida state 1, Miami 2llutm a Ufrano. 1 is. No. 2  meetings Between the no. 1 end no. 2-ranked tame in the associated press College tooth pol. The no. 1 team has won 16 times the no. 2 teem has won 7 time and two genes ended in ties in the Case of Jan. 1 bowl games the year indicates the regular season 1943-no. 1 notre Dame 35, no. 2 Michigan 12 1943-no. 1 notre Dame 14, no. 2 Iowa pre flight 13 1944-no. 1 army 23, no. 2 Navy 7 1945-no. 1 army 32, no. 2 Navy 13 1945-no. 1 army 48, no. 2 notre Dame 0 1948-no. 1 army 0, no. 2 notre Dame 0, tie 1962-no. 1 Southern Cal 42, no. 2 Wisconsin 37, Rose bowl 1963-no. 1 Texas 28, no. 2 Navy 6, Cotton bowl 1963-no. 2 Texas 28, no. 1 Oklahoma 7 1966-no. 1 notre Dame 10, no. 2 Michigan state 10, tie 1968-no. 1 Ohio state 27, no. 2 Southern Cal 16, Rose bowl 1968-no. 1 Purdue 37, no. 2 notre Dame 22 1969�?no. 1 Texas 15, no. 2 Arkansas 14 1971 no. 1 Nebraska 38, no. 2 Alabama 6, Orange bowl 1971-no. 1 Nebraska 35, no. 2 Oklahoma 31 1978-no. 2 Alabama 14, no. 1 Penn state 7, sugar Bond 1961 a no. 1 Southern Cal 28, no. 2 Oklahoma 24 1962-no. 2 Penn state 27, no. 1 Georgia 23, sugar bowl 1965-no. 11owa 12, no. 2 Michigan 10 1966-no. 2 Miami 28, no. 10klahoma 16 1966-no. 2 Perm state 14, no. 1 Miami 10, fiesta boat 1967-no. 2 Miami 20, no. 1 Oklahoma 14, Orange bowl 1967�?no. 2 Oklahoma 17, no. 1 Nebraska 7 1986�?no. 1 notre Dame 27, no. 2 Southern Cal 10 1969�?no. 1 notre Dame 24, no. 2 Michigan 19 no one catches St. Bobby dozing off after the Kickoff by Rick Warner a football writer Tallahassee Fla. A two years ago Bobby Bowden fell asleep in the locker room minutes before the i Kickoff of a Florida state Sianii game. A Check i do that All the time a said the seminoles coach. A a there a no use worrying at the Point anyway. If your team ainu to ready to play by then they re never going to be  Bowdens team was ready. Florida state beat Miami 24-10, handing the eventual National champions their Only loss of the season. Its hard to imagine Lombardi or Rockne or Bryant taking a Nap before a big game. But then the Man they Call a Saint Bobby has always done things his own Way. Part preacher part stand up comedian and part military historian Bowden is also one of the most successful coaches in College football history. The 61-year-old Alabama native has won 214 games during his 26-year career More than any Active coach except Penn states Joe Paterno. The Only others ahead of him on the division i Victory list Are Bear Bryant Amos Alonzo Stagg pop Warner Woody Hayes and to Schembechler. That a pretty fast company for a pin sized country boy who earned $4,500 in his first head Job at South Georgia Junior College. Today he a got a lifetime contract at Florida state Worth about $700,000 a year. But they still Call him Bobby he still uses words like dad gum and gosh and he still is so informal that he recently conducted an interview in his office while getting a haircut and watching game films on a giant to screen. A i done to pay much attention to this Saint Bobby stuff a he said. A if you re looking for a Halo Over my heat you re going to be disappointed. In a just a football coach trying to win a few games and have some  Bowden is doing both this year. His seminoles Are 10-0 and ranked no. 1 going into saturdays Home game against no. 2 Miami. If they get by the hurricanes they have a Date at no. 5 Florida in their final regular season game. Already there is a growing feeling that this could finally be the year Bowden wins his first National championship. The seminoles have come close the last four seasons finishing second in 1987, third in �?T88, third in �?T89 and fourth in �?T90. Winning it All has become an obsession for some Florida state fans but not for Bowden. A sure i would love for it to happen. But in a not going to Slit my wrist if it does no to he said. A frankly id rather go 13-0 and not win it than go 12-1 and win it. I like  almost As much As he likes trick plays. No coach has Ever gotten More pleasure from baffling the opposition with Flea flickers Fumble rookies and fake kicks. Last week Florida state used a double pass play called a the Crocodile and a sneaky shovel pass to help beat Michigan 51-31. But Bowdens most famous fake was the a  he called against Clemson in 1988. With the scored tied at 21 and Florida state facing a fourth-and-4 at its own 21 with 1 30 left in the game the seminoles lined up in punt formation. However the Center snapped the Ball to one of the up men who then placed it Between the legs of blocking Back Leroy Butler. By the time Clemson realized Butler had the Ball it was too late. He ran 78 Ards before being knocked out of funds on the Clemson 1, and two plays later Florida state kicked the game winning Field goal. Bowden says his fascination with Fak cry dates Back to his childhood. A i was always the smallest kid in the neighbourhood a he said. A i  run anybody Over so i had to figure out other ways to  some of Bowdens daring decisions s Haven to worked out As Well As the Hunt Rookie. Last year a a Fumble Roos Iez backfired against Auburn and sparked a comeback Victory by the tigers. And in 1987, a failed two Point try against Miami in the final minute Cost the seminoles the game and the National championship. A gamblers done to always win but they re never Dull a Bowden said. Bowden has been entertaining football fans for a Quarter Century. He spent four years at his Alma mater Sam fora University in Birmingham ala., and six years at West Virginia before coming to Florida state in 1976. The seminoles were 4-29 in the three years prior to Bowdens arrival. Since then Florida state has averaged nine wins a season and been to 12 bowl games in 15 years. A Bobby Bowden is Florida state football a said athletic director Bob Goin. A a he a a perfect fit for this school. He a a Down to Earth Guy who knows How to communicate with people in this part of the  Bowden is no bumpkin though. He a a voracious Reader a sought after speaker and a student of military history who has picked up a few pointers from the Battle plans of Napolean Patton and Rommel. A a they re the types who would have called a punt Rookie a Bowden said. A they had audacity. They weren to afraid to try something  like his military heroes Bowden has a deep drive to win. A a he a a great competitor a said defensive line coach Chuck Amato. A the loves to laugh and joke around but he also wants to beat  one of the keys to Bowdens Success is his ability to keep his players Loose without taking away their intensity. A we were so psyched up before the Michigan game he had to Calm us Down said defensive Back Terrell Buckley. A we were in the locker room slap is 14 Titi Florida state s Bobby Bowden a a. Trying to Nave some fun Ping Heads and going crazy. When coach Bowden saw that he told us to chill out. He said a relax its just a  a but Bowdens made it More than that at Florida state whose fans think Saint Bobby can do no wrong. As a Young coach Bowden dreamed of working at Alabama or Auburn. Not anymore. A Why would i leave this place a he asked. A a in be got the Best Job in the whole  k