THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410270622
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER ACC NOTES
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Welcome to Showdown Saturday, featuring Colorado vs. Nebraska, Ohio State vs. Penn State, Miami vs. Virginia Tech and - come on, say it - Duke vs. Florida State.
If it is difficult for you to picture Duke vs. Florida State in such company, you are not alone.
Although Duke (7-0) will roll into Tallahassee as the ACC's only unbeaten team, it seems even the gamblers are having trouble taking this one seriously. Florida State (5-1) is a 23 1/2-point favorite.
``I just can't believe that,'' Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Wednesday. ``Don't they know we are not playing good yet?''
And don't ``they'' know that Duke is at the top of its game?
``We are healthy and playing our best,'' said Blue Devils coach Fred Goldsmith.
But, get real. Do the Blue Devils really have a chance?
``Certainly,'' said Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell, whose Demon Deacons have been plastered by both teams. ``Duke might surprise a lot of people.''
Clemson's Tommy West, whose Tigers have lost to both Duke and Florida State in the last two weeks, agreed that the Blue Devils could give the Seminoles a good game.
``But,'' he added, ``Florida State is a tremendously talented team that has been in a lot of big games before.''
The only big games for Duke lately have been in basketball.
Goldsmith realizes that the game is much bigger to Duke than to the Seminoles, who still have Florida and Notre Dame to play. Just don't tell Goldsmith that this is the game that will tell whether Duke is for real.
``I resent anyone saying that,'' Goldsmith said. ``Florida State has beaten some very good football teams, and losing to the Seminoles didn't mean those teams weren't for real.
``How can anyone say we are not real based on one game? We are for real, and no one can take away what we have accomplished.''
Bowden says he is taking the Blue Devils seriously. He said Duke reminds him of his son Terry's team at Auburn, which has not lost the last two seasons.
``He (Goldsmith) has them thinking they can't lose, and that concerns me,'' Bowden said.
OFF-WEEK BLUES: If Virginia coach George Welsh had his way, the Cavaliers would load up the momentum they got from last week's victory over North Carolina and be in another big game Saturday. But the Cavaliers will be in front of a television instead of on the screen, compliments of their second open date this season.
``One open date is good, but I don't like two,'' Welsh said. ``I would rather be playing.''
This isn't a lost weekend, however. The time off gives linebacker Randy Neal a chance to heal from an ankle sprain.
``We have a few other players who are nicked,'' Welsh said. ``(Tailback) Derrick Brooks and (fullback) Charles Way have bruised shoulders.''
Welsh also is taking extra time to remind his players that they were 6-1 at this point last year and lost four of their last five games.
QUIETER TOPIC: What Welsh isn't talking about is who will start at quarterback when the Cavaliers resume play against Duke next week.
Backup Mike Groh has been more effective than starter Symmion Willis most of the season and has led Virginia to its last three wins with Willis nursing a hamstring injury.
Welsh believes that a player shouldn't lose his starting job because of an injury, but . . .
``You have to consider how the team is playing, and that Groh has been playing well,'' Welsh said before closing the topic for discussion.
BRUISED HEELS: North Carolina had more than its pride bruised in the 34-10 beating by Virginia.
``We came out of that game devastated emotionally, and we are probably in the worst physical condition we have been this year,'' coach Mack Brown said.
The injury problem is so great that the Tar Heels have been in shorts and pads for most of their preparations for Saturday's game against North Carolina State.
Brown is down to starting two sophomores and two freshmen in the offensive line, and he said all of his linebackers ``have something bothering them.''
Meanwhile, N.C. State is healthy, rested and oozing with confidence after last weekend's open date.
Wolfpack defensive tackle Carl Reeves even went on television and ``guaranteed'' a victory over the Heels. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Duke's Tom Cochran loses the ball in one of Duke's few miscues in a
51-26 win over Wake Forest on Saturday. Unbeaten Duke is a 23-point
underdog vs. Florida State this week.
by CNB