Oh, yeah... the Florida State Seminoles versus the Miami Hurricanes. Here we go!
Quote:
Hurricanes, Seminoles expect another close season-opening battle - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer
No. 11 Florida State -- the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champs -- visits No. 12 Miami on Monday night in a nationally televised, marquee matchup of archrivals. It's the first time since 1982 the annual showdown doesn't have at least one team ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll, yet there's plenty of intrigue nonetheless.
"There's only two schools in the country who open with a game like this," Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said. "One is the University of Miami, because they play against us. And the other is Florida State University, because we're playing against them. Both teams know the story. This game, you better be ready to play."
Six of the last seven meetings between the schools have been decided by eight points or less, and five of them were ultimately decided by a special-teams miscue -- with four going Miami's way.
Matt Munyon missed a 49-yard field goal wide right as time expired in Miami's 27-24 win in 2000. Xavier Beitia missed a 43-yarder wide left at the end of Miami's 28-27 victory in 2002, missed again when the Hurricanes beat Florida State 16-14 in the 2004 Orange Bowl -- and had a kick blocked to aid Miami's 16-10 overtime win in the 2004 season opener.
The exception came on Labor Day 2005, when this time, the Hurricanes were the ones blowing a chance.
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So what happens in 2006 between the Seminoles and the Hurricanes? Does it come down to another thrilling last-second conclusion? Will it be FSU or Miami who comes away with the all-important season opening win this time around?