Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 115

OOTBALL COLLEGE SECTION SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 8, 2005 THE TIMES. Waste flail shows tti8 doo? NO. 8 FLORIDA ST. 28, NO. 17 BOSTON COLLEGE 17: The freshman QB shows his poise in rallying the Seminoles in a key ACC matchup.

to UCF i By BRIAN LANDMAN Time Stiff Wrttsr lulls win road start, completed 8 of 9 passes for 56 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown strike to freshman receiver Greg Carr, on the game-changing drive. That came after he and Seminoles saw what appeared to be a sure touchdown pass end in a fumble. "We didn't do a good job of executing in the first half, and a lot of that was on me," Weatherford said. "We went out after halftime and made some changes. Our coaches did a good job of putting us in situations where we could execute." Ditto the FSU defense.

After being bullied in the first half, the defense, especially its line, answered some questions in emphatic fashion. FSU shut out the Eagles In the second half, the third straight time it has done that, culminating with an impressive goal-line stand in the Please see 'NOLES Back page CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. Florida State redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford looked a bit lost and so did the game. For the better part of three quarters Saturday night, the Boston College Eagles, playing in their long-anticipated inaugural ACC game, dominated the Seminoles on both sides of the ball. But when the Seminoles needed Weatherford to look like a veteran, he seemed unflappable and guided them to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and a 28-17 come-from-behind win before an announced sellout crowd of 44,500 at Alumni Stadium and a national television audience.

The former Land O'Lakes star, in his first I- AP Defensive end Kamerion Wimbley pressures Boston College QB Matthew Ryan in the fourth. FSU shut out the Eagles in the second half. NO. 6 FLORIDA 16, NO. 5 TENNESSEE 7 USF 31, UCF 14: In the first game of theinstate "rivalry" the Bulls rely on the senior running back, who responds with 189 yards.

By GREG AUMAN Tlmss Staff Writer TAMPA Rivalries are the kind of college craziness that make fans print out 500 sheets of paper that say nothing but "17." Not 17, like the date of Saturday's long-awaited meeting between USF and its 1-4 neighbor, Central Florida, some nine years in the making. Not 17, as in the margin of victory for the Bulls, who gave up a late touchdown and settled for a dominating 31-14 win. No, this was 17, as in 17 losses in a row for UCF, the longest streak in the nation, a streak punctuated Saturday with a lopsided start to a new in-state rivalry. The two programs combined for a crowd of 45,139, the most ever to see the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. That crowd included a few rowdy rows of green and gold fans who were gleefully chanting "17" at the Golden Knights and holding their 17s as they left the field.

For years UCF has wanted a shot at the Bulls, and the Knights were still chasing them most of Saturday night, especially senior running back Andre Hall, who dashed, darted and spun for 189 total yards and two touchdowns behind a strong offensive line. "We wanted to come out and put them away," Hall said. "All week I've been getting Please see BULLS 4X la D)W i i if Times photo STEFANlE BOY AH Defensive lineman Ray McDonald stays on the ground after a second-quarter injury. It was later diagnosed as a torn ACL The Gators avenge last season's loss to the Vols, but two key players sustain serious injuries. By ANTONYA ENGLISH Times Staff Writer t.

GARY 8HELTON SPORTS COLUMNIST I 1 GAINESVILLE This time, the controversial play went Florida's way, the Florida defense played like it promised and it was Tennessee that missed the critical field goal. This time, Florida came out a winner. Still bitter over the memory of a last-second loss to the Vols last season, No. 6 Florida exacted re- -I Rivalry marked more oy fizzle than sizzle TantiQCCOO in fmtlf nf QO 71 fi fit I TAMPA So what did they win? The Old Oaken Mosquito? The latest, greatest rivalry in college football history finally made it to the field Saturday night, and I am sure you will agree this was the overwhelming sentiment Oh. That's it? That's the game that Central Florida has been squawking about for years? TWs the fierce, heated, these-guys-just-don't-like-each other grudge match? Call it the Bore on 14.

No one returned a kickoff through the marching band. No one accused anyone of hitting late. The goal posts remain intact. Lindsay did not run, Bama did not punt and no one choked at the Doak. South Florida finally gaverUCF a game, and darned if UCF could give one back.

The Bulls won 31-14, and it should have been worse. Prospects of a certain stature will receive the DVD extended edition Tuesday. In die world of rivalries, in other words, Alabama-Auburn is safe. Oh, people wanted this to be a rivalry. Right up until USFs Andre Hall started weav- PleaseseeSHELTON4X 0 Ben Hill bnrnn staaium on Saturday.

The victory was bittersweet Starting receiver Andre Caldwell broke his right leg on the second-half kickoff, and defensive tackle Ray McDonald tore his ACL in the first half. Caldwell will have surgery Monday, and McDonald's istatus is unknown. "It was a great day for Florida football and a great day to be a Gator," coach Urban Meyer said. "The Gators won, but the loss of those two players is devastating." Whether Meyer's spread offense will be as successful in the SEC as it was at Bowling Green and Utah still remains to be seen. At least for today, Florida fans are most likely saying, who cares? With the win, the Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) got a leg up in the SEC East and will likely move into the Top 5 for the first time since 2001.

"That was a big-time win against a very talented team," Meyer said. "They showed me something." Last season, a controversial personal foul against Florida led to the winning field goal and dominated talk after the game. This year, Vols fans will most likely point to instant replay as the turning point. With the score tied at 7 and the Gators with the ball, Meyer made a decision that could be called gutsy or insane. He went for it on fourth and 1 at the Florida 44.

The quarterback sneak by Chris Leak failed, and the Vols took over. "What the hell?" Meyer said. "You can't get 6 inches? Well cor- Please see GATORS 5X Times photo STEFANlE BOYAR Earl Everett gets pressure on Erik Ainge during the fourth quarter. The Gators allowed only Ainge's 8-yard touchdown to Bret Smith. Belief has come back with a new pitchman if4' longer be necessary.

As traditions go, this one still is a few hundred kickoffs shy of entrenched. Does it seem corny? Perhaps. Is it an obvious indulgence? Surely. But there is a larger issue that should not be easily dismissed. Along with his shotgun formation and multiple-receiver sets, Meyer has brought something else with him to GAINESVILLE He is not yet a legend.

The IQ still is a few brain waves shy of genius. He doesn't annoy with enough consistency, and has trouble gloating with a proper smirk. On the other hand, that Urban Meyer can carry a tune. That was the Gators coach in the far corner of Florida Field Saturday night, promoting his own tradition and singing what may become his ballad. It was minutes after a 16-7 victory against Tennessee, and Meyer joined his team in front of the Florida band where JOHN ROMANO SPORTS COLUMNIST TOP 25 SCOREBOARD No.

1. Southern Cat No. 13 Miami 36 vs. Arkansas late No.20Clemson 30 No. 2 Texas 51 No.

14 Michigan 55 Rice 10 E.Michigan 0 No.4Va.Tech 45 No. 15 California 35 Ohio 0 Illinois 20 No. 6 Florida 16 No.16Ga.Tech 28 No. 5 Tennessee 7 Connecticut 13 No. 7 Georgia 44 No.

18 Arizona St. 7 vs. Northwestern late No. 8 Florida St. 28 No.

19 Texas Tech 80 No. 17 Boston Col. 17 Sam Houston St. 21 No.90hioSt. 27 UCLA 41 San Diego St.

6 No. 21 Oklahoma 24 Michigan St. 44 No. 22 Iowa 45 No. 10 Notre Dame 41 N.Iowa 21 No.

1 1 Louisville 63 Oregon 37 Oregon St. 27 No. 23 Fresno St. 34 No. 12 Purdue No.

25 Virginia 27 at Arizona late Syracuse 24 Gainesville. Something just as strategic. the players belted out the alma mater. Meyer has set about convincing this Under Meyer, this is to be customary an el LZnS after every victory. with elite traditions and expectations.

The And, at this rate, lip synching may no Please see ROMANO 5X BIG 12 An ugly game ends with Nebraska blocking a last-second field goal for a 7-6 victory over Htt The win leaves Nebraska 2-0 and Pitt, under new coach Dave Wannstedt, 0-3. 2X SEC Vanderbilt 34? 2-0 in the SEC? Believe it. The Commodores blow almost all of a 24-3 lead before scoring a late touchdown and holding on 31-23 over Mississippi. 6X ACC West Virginia pulls away from Maryland for a 31-19 victory behind backup quarterback Pat White after losing starter Adam Bednarik to a third-quarter injury. 3X BIG TEN Michigan State wins for the fifth straight time at Notre Dame Stadium 44-41 in OT after blowing a 21-point lead to hand the Irish their first loss under Charlie Weis.

2X.