Sitting in Florida State’s locker room after another dismantling of an ACC opponent was a trophy.
Not sure of its significance, linebacker Christian Jones had to be reminded that the 59-3 victory over Wake Forest Saturday meant the Seminoles clinched the top spot in the ACC Atlantic Division and would be returning to the conference’s championship game.
“We were like, ‘oh, OK. This is nice, but. …” Jones said.
And that’s a very big “but” because Florida State’s sights are set much higher in a season that is unfolding as if it could be historic.
The Seminoles (9-0, 7-0 ACC) entered Saturday’s game at BB&T Field as the hunted and not the hunter for the first time this season, with a solid grip on the No. 2 spot in the BCS standings after Oregon was upset Thursday at Stanford. The first two teams in the BCS will play for the national championship on Jan. 6 in Pasadena.
And while the team was reminded incessantly by friends and family how Oregon’s loss completely changed the tone of the remainder of this season, coach Jimbo Fisher made sure they weren’t listening.
“Where we’re at (in the BCS) should not matter,” Fisher said. “How we play and prepare is what should matter. Success to me reveals what you really are.”
Although Fisher said he believes his team is approaching the final month the right way, he saw enough, especially offensively, that he will not allow them to enjoy this win.
Florida State’s offense played a supporting role with the defense forcing seven turnovers, including a school-record-tying six interceptions, and getting touchdowns from two freshmen safeties: Nate Andrews on a 56-yard interception return and Jalen Ramsey on a 23-yard fumble recovery. The Seminoles held Wake Forest (4-6, 2-5) scoreless until a field goal with 9:07 remaining.
Wake Forest had 94 yards of total offense entering the fourth quarter. Florida State had 103 yards in interception returns. The Demon Deacons finished with 166 yards and their quarterbacks completed one more pass to their receivers than FSU defenders, going 7-of-25 for 63 yards.
“Absolutely amazing,” Fisher said about the defense. “They were just outstanding, playing the run, playing the pass.”
The offense, though, never got into a rhythm.
“I thought offensively (we) did not play as well,” Fisher said. “We missed a lot of little things. We need to clean up a lot of stuff.”
Quarterback Jameis Winston’s stats were modest — 17-of-28, 159 yards, two touchdowns, one interception — and probably did not help his Heisman Trophy candidacy. Winston admitted he has to do a better job of “commanding the team.”
Fisher was especially unhappy on Winston’s interception, a fourth-and-2 play in which he could have easily run for the first down.
“He did some good things but he did some things I didn’t like,” Fisher said. “He made some decisions and got a little greedy at times. The game is bigger than me as a coach, it’s bigger than Jameis as a player. There’s been a bunch of Jameises before. There’ll be a bunch of him after.”
Winston, who passed former N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers to become the ACC’s all-time leader among freshmen with 26 touchdown passes, said he was trying to get backup tight end Giorgio Newberry his first career reception.
“I didn’t see the defender right there,” Winston said. “I should have run.”
The Seminoles had 296 yards of total offense and 250 yards in interception and fumble returns (130) and kickoff and punt returns (121). Included was a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by freshman Kermit Whitfield.
“They’re so fast to the ball,” Winston said about the defense. “For them to create turnovers the way they do and give us the ball so fast, that’s how you win championships.”
You also win championships with a little help, which is what FSU got from Stanford.
“It’s exciting to see (Oregon) go down and get up to that two spot,” said Jones, who recorded his first career interception. “Everybody is talking about Florida State-‘Bama and the whole national championship thing. We’re just trying to get through the season and hopefully we’ll be in that game when the time comes.”
