DATE: Thursday, October 23, 1997            TAG: 9710230739

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN

LENGTH: 90 lines

ACC REPORT

Loss to Cavaliers

in '95 still rankles

Bowden, Seminoles

If Florida State ever decides to become politically correct and drop its Seminoles nickname, maybe it could adopt the name ``Elephants.''

You know, as in elephants never forget.

Two years after the fact, Florida State still has not forgotten its only ACC loss, which came to Virginia. With the Seminoles' first trip back to Charlottesville since that loss coming Saturday, they've had their memories refreshed this week.

Coach Bobby Bowden says he's brought up the subject every day in practice, just to make sure no one has forgotten.

``We've still got kids on our team who were there, so they are spreading the word, too,'' Bowden says.

One of those is quarterback Thad Busby, who remembers the long, quiet flight back to Tallahassee. But, says Busby, it had a positive effect on the team.

``It's helped us to focus the last two years on preparing for every team, no matter who it is,'' he said.

The Seminoles were favored by 18 two years ago. This time, the line is 19 1/2.

Better beat 'em now

Virginia coach George Welsh says he's surprised no other team has beaten the Seminoles since they became an ACC member in 1992. But Welsh predicts that if no one else knocks off the Seminoles this season, it will be tougher in years to come.

``They have a lot of good people who will be back the next two or three years,'' Welsh said. ``I don't know if anyone is going to get them (again) if they don't do it soon.''

Let it snow, let it snow . . .

Welsh, who wants to be a television weatherman in his next career, is hoping for a cold, blustery evening on which to play the Seminoles.

``I'd trade 10,000 fans for snow,'' he said.

Unfortunately, though, a cold front moving through Virginia is expected to be gone by Saturday. The prediction is for temperatures in the 60s and no rain - or snow.

O'Cain isn't packing

North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain thinks his program is headed in the right direction despite last Saturday's 20-7 loss to No. 4-ranked North Carolina.

Some N.C. State fans were demanding that O'Cain be fired after the loss, but he says he plans to be back next season unless there is a collapse in the final four games.

N.C. State (3-4, 1-4) visits Florida State on Nov. 1 but could finish 6-5 by defeating Virginia, Maryland and East Carolina in its final three games, all at home.

``If we continue to play the way we're playing right now and we end up 6-5, then, yes (I will be back),'' O'Cain said.

It would be State's first winning record since 1994.

Big catch for UNC

N.C. State lost another battle to the Tar Heels this week when prepster Adam Metts, a 260-pound lineman from Burlington, N.C., committed to UNC.

Metts' father, Carey, was a key player on the 1967 N.C. State team that finished 9-2 and defeated Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.

Metts said he picked UNC over State because of its current success. ``They are going to contend for a national championship and that is going to be great fun while I'm there,'' he said.

He says his family understands his decision even if other Wolfpack fans don't.

Quick hits

Virginia tailback Antwoine Womack is showing progress in coming back from a knee injury, but Welsh says he doesn't expect him to play Saturday because of a lack of practice time. . . . Florida State will start its third different tailback in as many weeks against the Cavaliers. Travis Minor gets this week's audition. . . . Duke's defense, which starts only two seniors, seems to be coming of age. It allowed only second-half field goals to both Florida State and Virginia in the last two games. . . . Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary says this week open date will allow quarterback Joe Hamilton and offensive lineman Ken Celaj to recover from injuries received in Saturday's loss to FSU. off this weekend.

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