Although the Syracuse football team and No. 8 Florida State haven’t met since 1991, the Orange should have a pretty solid gameplan on its non-conference opponent.

With the Seminoles’ speed and athleticism, FSU is drawing comparisons to a former Big East team, one SU knows all too well.

‘I relate these guys a lot to Miami,’ SU defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap said. ‘(With) the great talent, the great speed, the great size, they have some of the best players in the country playing for them.’

On Saturday, Syracuse will play Florida State at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. SU hasn’t faced the Seminoles in 13 years. When SU does so Saturday, it will be on Homecoming weekend, televised on ESPN2 and most likely played in front of the largest Dome crowd of the season.

The game means little for the Orange (3-2, 1-0 Big East) in the grand scheme. Against a ranked, non-conference opponent, SU has already been given little chance. But there’s an opportunity to shock FSU on Saturday at home, and in front of a national audience. It’s another chance for bragging rights against an Atlantic Coast Conference team, the last one SU plays this season.

The fact that it reminds SU of a former Big East turncoat should provide motivation, as well.

‘Fortunately, over the years we have played some awfully good teams,’ SU head coach Paul Pasqualoni said. ‘We played Miami every year for the past 12 to 14 years. I don’t think we approach this any differently.’

Which could be a problem. SU has beaten the Hurricanes twice in the past 14 years. Florida State, recruiting from basically the same regional high school hotbed, is equally stacked at the skill positions as the Hurricanes.

SU coaches warn of FSU’s speedy wide receivers like they’re weapons of mass destruction. Seminoles running backs Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker will be used similarly to Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes and are perhaps equal in talent.

The duo is averaging 165.7 combined yards this season. Reyes and Rhodes average 167.4.

‘They’re a more rounded team than in recent years,’ Dunlap said.

The one caveat of Florida State (3-1, 2-1 ACC) is at quarterback. Sophomore Wyatt Sexton will start in place of the injured Chris Rix. Sexton earned his first career start last Saturday against North Carolina. SU coaches said if the Orange can rattle the young quarterback, its chances of staging the upset are much greater.

But there’s plenty of talent around Sexton. Dunlap said wide receiver is probably FSU’s strength. With seniors Craphonso Thorpe – whom Dunlap said has 4.3 40-yard dash speed – Chauncey Stovall and Dominic Robinson, it’s tough to argue against him.

‘If they’re not the best (group of receivers in the country) then they’re pretty close to the best,’ Dunlap said.

‘Anybody will have match-up problems with them,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘I think the Miami Dolphins might even have match-up problems with FSU.’

SU coaches are anticipating FSU to stretch the field Saturday and rely heavily on deep balls. But they’re excited about the return of cornerback Tanard Jackson, who sat out last week’s game recovering from a stab injury. Dunlap anticipates Florida State to go deep ‘six to eight times.’

‘They’re a lot like the Oakland Raiders,’ Dunlap said. ‘They believe in the deep ball and letting their guys run under it.’

Offensively, as evidenced by last week’s 41-31 shootout win against Rutgers, Syracuse can compete. But the Orange has to improve defensively and contain FSU’s speedy, athletic players in order to keep the game close.

‘They are athletic at every position,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘I don’t care if it’s linemen, linebackers, safeties, running backs, wide receivers or tight ends, they are just an impressive-looking team. They are a top team.’

Published on October 10, 2004 at 12:00 pm