If Bobby Bowden was looking for a reason to step down after his 30th season at Florida State, there were several of them at his disposal.

After suffering five defeats for the second time in four seasons, losing a host of players to the NFL Draft and returning only six scholarship seniors projected to be on the two-deep, the Seminoles have the look of a team in rebuilding mode.

Bowden doesn’t believe it, though, and he holds the basketball program at his school’s biggest rival as an example of what can be accomplished in 2006.

“Florida’s basketball (team) showed it can be done,” Bowden says. “They showed a lot of people (that) if the chemistry gets right and you avoid injuries, that’s who will win the darn thing.”

The Seminoles have plenty of holes to fill coming off an 8–5 season that was highlighted by a triumph over Virginia Tech in the inaugural ACC Championship Game.

First, they must diversify a one-dimensional offense after managing only 94.0 rushing yards per game, the fewest in Bowden’s tenure. And with only 10 returning starters — the fewest of any ACC school — developing young talent will be essential.

Most of all, they must overcome the mistakes — penalties, turnovers and missed kicks — that proved to be their undoing in three of the team’s five defeats.

LOWDOWN

Coach: Bobby Bowden (31st season, 286-75-4)
2005 record: 8-5 (Lost to Penn State in Orange Bowl)
ACC finish: 5-3 (t-1st Atlantic)
2005 I-A offensive rankings:
Rushing: 109th (94.0 ypg)
Passing: 18th (282.6 ypg)
2005 I-A defensive rankings:
Rushing: 18th (108.4 ypg)
Passing: 33rd (200.8 ypg)

DEPTH CHART

Offense (5)

WR  5  *Chris Davis  Sr.  81  De’Cody Fagg Jr.
WR  89  Greg Carr  So.  80  Joslin Shaw  Jr.
LT  75  Mario Henderson  Sr.  73  Shannon Boatman  Jr.
LG  68  *Jacky Claude  Jr.  62  *Cory Niblock  Sr.
C  67  John Frady  Jr.  58  Dumaka Atkins  So.
RG  79  *David Overmyer  Jr.  -  Matt Hardrick  Fr.
RT  73  Shannon Boatman  Jr.  79  David Overmyer  Jr.
TE  45  Charlie Graham  Fr.  -  Brandon Warren  Fr.
QB  11  *Drew Weatherford  So.  9  Xavier Lee  So.
FB  32  Joe Surratt  Jr.  -  Matt Dunham  Fr.
TB  28  Lorenzo Booker  Sr.  23  Antone Smith  So.

Defense (5)

DE  98  Alex Boston  Jr.  99  Everette Brown  Fr.
NG  56  Kendrick Stewart  Fr.  91  Emmanuel Dunbar  So.
DT  96  *Andre Fluellen  Jr.  93  Letroy Guion  So.
DE  92  *Darrell Burston  Sr.  -  Justin Mincey  Fr.
SLB  83  Lawrence Timmons  Jr.  41  Toddrick Verdell  So.
MLB  55  Derek Nicholson  So.  51  Jae Thaxton  So.
WLB  7  *Buster Davis  Sr.  10  Geno Hayes  So.
CB  15  *Tony Carter  So.  29  Michael Ray Garvin  So.
CB  18  *J.R. Bryant  Jr.  21  Trevor Ford  So.
ROV  3  Myron Rolle  Fr.  20  Anthony Houllis  Jr.
FS  8  Roger Williams  Jr.  24  Darius McClure  So.

Special Teams

K  12  Gary Cismesia  Jr.
P  Brent Moody  Jr.
KR  4  Kenny O’Neal  So.
PR  5  Chris Davis  Sr.

(#) Indicates number of returning starters
* Indicates returning starters

2006 SCHEDULE

Sept. 4  at Miami
Sept. 9  Troy
Sept. 16  Clemson
Sept. 23  Rice
Oct. 5  at NC State
Oct. 14  at Duke
Oct. 21  Boston College
Oct. 28  at Maryland
Nov. 4  Virginia
Nov. 11  Wake Forest
Nov. 18  Western Michigan
Nov. 25  Florida

OFFENSE

Quarterback Drew Weatherford broke Philip Rivers’ ACC freshman record by passing for 3,208 yards and 18 touchdowns while guiding the Seminoles to the inaugural conference championship game victory over Virginia Tech. He also became the first rookie to lead the league in total offense.

Those were admirable feats considering the Seminoles had the worst rushing attack in 30 seasons under head coach Bobby Bowden, mustering 94.0 yards per game on the ground, which ranked 109th of 117 Division I-A programs. The one-dimensionality of Florida State’s offense made it clear just how well Weatherford played in 2005.

Bolstering the run game is the top offensive priority this season, which should bode well for the two-back attack of senior Lorenzo Booker and promising sophomore Antone Smith.

Though the Seminoles have only modestly improved their depth on the offensive line — junior college transfer tackle Shannon Boatman will start on the right side — they do return five players with starting experience. Equally important was the spring emphasis on adapting a more physical mentality.

Modest improvement on the ground should serve an already hearty passing game, provided Weatherford cuts down on his mistakes — he threw 18 interceptions as a freshman.

DEFENSE

Replacing standouts is an annual chore for veteran defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, but this season will challenge his skills. The Seminoles lost six of their top seven tacklers, including playmaking tackle Brodrick Bunkley, end Kamerion Wimbley and linebackers Ernie Sims and A.J. Nicholson, who were largely responsible for the team’s run to the Orange Bowl.

Senior linebacker Buster Davis, who was second on the team with 91 stops including 10.5 behind the line of scrimmage, will call the shots on the field. Several youngsters — Lawrence Timmons, Geno Hayes, Derek Nicholson and Jae Thaxton — have the talent to stabilize the hard-hit linebacker corps.

Up front, junior tackle Andre Fluellen is poised to become FSU’s next dominant interior lineman, and depth is not an issue. Developing a quality pass rusher remains a priority and could provide freshmen Everette Brown and Justin Mincey with breakout opportunities early on.

In the secondary, freshman Myron Rolle may end up in the starting lineup as well, following the loss of two veteran safeties. The cornerback position may be a strength after Tony Carter, J.R. Bryant, Trevor Ford and Michael Ray Garvin were baptized under fire last season.

SPECIALISTS

Gary Cismesia authored the latest chapter in FSU’s haunted history of kickers, missing a PAT in regulation and two field goals in the overtime Orange Bowl loss to Penn State. Cismesia is back, but the Noles will turn to a new punter. They must also replace electric punt returner Willie Reid.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Bowden put Florida State’s victory over Virginia Tech in the inaugural ACC Championship Game right behind his 1993 and 1999 National Championship wins in terms of importance. That triumph salvaged a disappointing 8–5 season that marked the fifth consecutive season the Noles lost at least three games.

The talent to improve is on hand, but consistency has been lacking. If they can correct those shortcomings, the Seminoles could win 10 games this year and be poised for a national championship run in 2007.

This Florida State team preview was pulled from our 2006 National College Football preview magazine.  To order this or the 2006 ACC Regional preview magazine - with expanded team coverage and conference features - click here