BYU football: Seminoles catch Cougars 'when they weren't ready'

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Provo » Florida State coach Bobby Bowden believes his team's experience in big games was a large factor in his Seminoles' convincing 54-28 thumping of No. 7 Brigham Young.

Bowden, as well as his players, believed that the Cougars, coming off their own upset victory against Oklahoma, underestimated the 'Noles.

"I know for a fact, if it was us and we had seen a team play like we played against Jacksonville [State], I would have, too," FSU linebacker Dekoda Watson said.

Following an emotionally draining season-opening four-point loss to Miami, the Seminoles performed poorly in beating Jacksonville State, 19-9. Saturday, it was Florida State that played like the ranked team.

"They were sitting on top of the world," Bowden said of BYU. "It gave us a chance to slip up on them, catch them when they weren't ready. I know their coach doesn't want to hear that they weren't ready. Jacksonville State was the best thing that ever happened to us."

Everything worked on offense for FSU, including an amazing 12 of 15 third-down conversions. Behind a physical offensive line, the 'Noles rushed for 313 yards, which effectively gave quarterback Christian Ponder more than enough time to scan the field. His 21-for-26 completion rate is a testament to his line's dominance.

"I was impressed through the week in FSU's athleticism," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "But they were more physical than I expected today. ... Florida State was more prepared in general than we were tonight."

Florida State had the advantage of team speed, too.

"We felt like we had that," Bowden said.

Saturday's effort also placed a bit of pressure on Florida State. Unranked, they came into the stadium of the No. 7 team in the nation and made them look almost ordinary.

"I'm tired of hearing we have potential," said FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. "We've now stepped over the line. We can't go back."

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