The Citadel to visit Tallahassee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State coach Bobby Bowden won't say anything that could result in being bulletin board material for The Citadel, but he concedes he's hoping to get a look at a lot of players when the 11th-ranked Seminoles host their first Division I-AA opponent in a decade.

"You might get to use more kids," Bowden said. "You might see more things that you wanted to look at... things like that."

One of those players is redshirt freshman Xavier Lee, who was in for only one series in Monday's 10-7 victory over Miami.

"We want to play Lee more," Bowden said Wednesday. "I want to force us to do it earlier rather than late."

Bowden didn't have much of a chance peek at much at any of his new players in Monday's opener against Miami, although seven true freshmen did get into the game for at least a play.

The Citadel's visit marks the rare appearance of a Division I-AA team to Florida State and its first trip here since a 49-0 shellacking suffered in the 1962 opener. ---

THE SERIES:Florida State is 4-0-1 against The Citadel, the tie a scoreless snoozer in 1960, the late Bill Peterson's first year as coach. ---

LITTLE MAN, BIG START: Redshirt freshman cornerback Tony Carter from Jacksonville had a sensational debut against Miami, leading the Seminoles with five solo tackles, including two for losses (one sack) and broke up one pass. The 5-9, 160-pound Carter got his shot at a starting position when Antonio Cromartie suffered an offseason knee injury during a voluntary workout. Carter's father, Tony Sr., was on the basketball team at Florida State in the mid-1980s. ---

NOT SO FAST:Coach Bobby Bowden didn't like the delay the first instant replay review created early in the Miami game.

"It was slow, man," Bowden said. "They're going to have to speed it up or they're going to make people mad."

After roughly four minutes, officials reversed the call on the field on a fumble recovery, ruling that Florida State's Fred Rouse had his arm on the sideline when he got control of the loose football.

It's the first year the ACC is using instant replay. ---

ACC-CELLENCE:Seven league schools were ranked in the AP's Top 25 this week with Virginia Tech at No. 7, followed by Florida State in the 11th spot, Miami 14th, Georgia Tech 17th, Boston College 19th, Virginia 23rd and Clemson 25th.

Florida State's first ACC venture into New England, Sept. 17 against Boston College, will be televised by ESPN at 7:45 p.m. EDT. ---

BY THE NUMBERS:The Seminoles' nine sacks against Miami were three times as many as any other ACC school managed in the season's first weekend.

The offense is another story. Florida State ranks dead last in passing efficiency, passing yardage, kickoff returns and total offense in the ACC, gaining an average of 2.9 yards a play.

Coach Bobby Bowden pushed his Division I-A best career coaching victory total to 352, remaining eight ahead of Penn State's Joe Paterno, whose team hosts Cincinnati this weekend. ---

MNF:Coach Bobby Bowden would like to keep the Miami game on Labor Day night.

"The exposure is probably as good as you can get, probably as good as any teams in the country will get this year other than the national championship game. It'll match the Texas-Oklahoma, Ohio State-Michigan, Southern Cal-Notre Dame games. Because of that, I'm willing to go with it." ---

KATRINA KITTY:Fans coming to Monday's game against Miami donated more than $236,000 to the American Red Cross for use in their relief efforts on behalf of victims of Hurricane Katrina. ---

MILITARY SALUTE:Ten students and alumni who served in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored in pregame festivities Saturday as part of an Army program to recognize the veterans for their service. ---

INJURIES:Wide receiver and punt return specialist Willie Reid was nicked again, this time a twisted knee that will probably keep him out until the Syracuse game Oct. 1. Sophomore De'Cody Fagg inherits the starting spot at receiver while Leon Washington will handle punt returns. ---

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