High Expectations: Miami, FSU looking to raise the bar in ACC football

Pinehurst | Lean times along the college football landscape are defined quite differently at places like Miami and Florida State than at most schools.

What translates to a quality season on one campus might be considered a disaster in Coral Gables and Tallahassee, Fla.

Two of the top programs in the nation not long ago, the Hurricanes and Seminoles are going through a bit of a transition these days, the result of several years of uncharacteristic play.

Ironically, both programs can point to the beginning of their demise at trips to Chapel Hill, hardly a place known for causing distress to powerhouse gridiron teams.

Unbeaten and ranked No. 6 in the nation entering its Sept. 22, 2001 contest with the Tar Heels, FSU was manhandled 41-9 by a winless team that had been outscored by an average of 36-16 in its first three games.

After joining the ACC in 1992, FSU won its first 29 league games and entered that fateful day at UNC having pulled out 71 of 73. Since then they're 34-13, and finished last season 3-5 in the conference.

"You ever see anybody get to the top and never come off of it?" 32-year FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said Monday at the ACC Football Kickoff at the Pinehurst Resort.

The Seminoles won national titles in 1993 and 1999 and were 18-9-1 against non-conference teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 from 1992-2000. Since the benchmark loss to Carolina, FSU is 3-10 in such affairs.

What happened?

"I asked the coaches, 'What's the difference between when you were here in the 1990s and now,' and they said it's attitude," said FSU defensive tackle Andre Fluellen.

Bowden suggested playing quarterbacks younger than what was the norm hasn't helped. Before Chris Rix started as a freshman in 2001, only one underclassman did so once the program became nationally relevant in the late 1970s.

Miami's fall has been more recent and much more rapid.

Before succumbing in the final seconds at UNC on Oct. 30, 2004, the Hurricanes had won 41 of their previous 44 games. Since, they are 19-11. Miami went 7-6 (3-5 ACC) last year.

"What's wrong with 9-3?" asked new Miami coach Randy Shannon, noting the Canes' record in 2005 that put former coach Larry Coker on the hot seat before being fired last November.

"This is my point: Everybody always gets on the things that have happened. But most places in the country, you tell a coach he's going to go 9-3, how many will take it? Miami's a different place, you have a higher standard."

Winners of five national championships between 1983 and 2001, expectations at Miami are certainly unique. So when a team loaded with NFL draft picks suddenly doesn't challenge for the league title, something isn't right.

Shannon, Miami's defensive coordinator in recent years, chooses to look forward and won't discuss the past. But based on changes he's implemented, perhaps he thinks the program lacked discipline.

"It's pretty much every aspect, whether it's on the field or off," said Hurricane offensive guard Derrick Morse. "In the classroom it's acting like you should act. You shouldn't be on your phone in class. You shouldn't be late to meetings. Just basic stuff."

Andrew Jones:

andrew.jones@starnewsonline.com