DATE: Monday, November 10, 1997             TAG: 9711100142

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.                 LENGTH:   65 lines

TAR HEELS A FEW LOSSES AWAY FROM BIG TIME, BOWDEN SAYS THE SEMINOLES PAID THEIR DUES WITH ``WIDE RIGHT'' DEFEATS, THE COACH RECALLS.

Bobby Bowden thinks he knows what's keeping North Carolina from joining the ranks of truly elite college football teams, and it has nothing to do with a lack of talent or poor coaching.

``They haven't had enough `wide rights' yet,'' Bowden said Saturday after his Florida State Seminoles beat UNC 20-3. ``You have to get kicked around enough in big games to learn how to win them.''

The Tar Heels were kicked around Saturday in what was touted as the biggest game in school history. North Carolina (8-1, 5-1 ACC) was held to 73 yards of total offense and left without starting quarterback Oscar Davenport, who was lost for the season with a fractured right ankle. The loss dashed North Carolina's hopes of playing for a national championship.

Bowden, who turned 68 on Saturday, knows a thing or two about tough losses. The Seminoles were a missed field-goal attempt away from beating archrival Miami in 1991 and a missed kick away from tying the Hurricanes in 1992 - the famous ``wide right'' games. Florida State finally beat Miami in 1993 and went on to win the national championship.

Florida State (9-0, 7-0) has become UNC's Miami. ``Our final hurdle,'' as defensive end Greg Ellis put it.

Although the score didn't reflect it, the Tar Heels contend that they are closer than ever to parity with FSU. The ``talent gap'' is no longer a chasm.

``It's not a matter of one or two players,'' linebacker Kivuusama Mays said. ``It's one or two plays. We've just got to make the plays.''

Florida State's defense never gave the Tar Heels time to make a play. Davenport was sacked seven times and backup Chris Keldorf twice. Tailback Jonathan Linton was held to 21 yards on 13 carries.

``We wanted to show the country which team had the better defense, and I think we proved it tonight,'' FSU linebacker Sam Cowart said.

The Seminoles also had the better offense, rushing for 175 yards and passing for 159. Freshman tailback Travis Minor rushed for 128 yards, and five Seminoles receivers caught at least two passes.

``I don't think any team in this country could have beaten them tonight,'' North Carolina coach Mack Brown said.

The Tar Heels certainly couldn't. Their play-calling was conservative on a night when the Seminoles were their usual free-wheeling selves.

``The pressure was more on them,'' FSU defensive end Andre Wadsworth said. ``We are used to the big games. In fact, we've got another one in two weeks,'' when the Seminoles travel to Florida.

North Carolina has one next week. The Tar Heels visit Clemson, where they haven't won since 1985.

``If we finish 10-1, it's been a great season,'' center Jeff Saturday said. ``We should have a great shot at an alliance bowl (game).''

And a shot at winning it, FSU linebacker Daryl Bush said.

``They're on the right track,'' Bush said. ``They've got the depth and coaches to get there.''

And the Tar Heels are accumulating the tough losses, Brown hopes. After the game, Bowden reminded Brown that in 1988, when the Seminoles were ranked No. 1 and thought they'd arrived, they were trounced by Miami 31-0.

``That helped them make the progress that they had to have to get where they are now,'' Brown said. ``We've got to learn from this loss that way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

There was no joy on the North Carolina bench Saturday night as the

clock ticked down on a 20-3 loss. Florida State has become UNC's

``final hurdle,'' defensive end Greg Ellis said.

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