Many come out in support of Florida State’s Bobby Bowden

After a trying week, which began with the chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees calling for his ouster, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden received several symbols of support Saturday.

First, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who earned his undergraduate degree at Florida State, issued a statement to the media, saying he wanted to wish Bowden and the Seminoles “the best of luck” against Georgia Tech.

“I wish all the best for coach Bobby Bowden — one of the greatest coaches of all time,” Crist said.

Then, when the Seminoles entered the field before kickoff, Bowden’s players walked onto the field with him in unison, arm-in-arm. That was a switch from their usual practice of sprinting through the tunnel in the North end zone.

And after FSU got a touchdown on its opening drive, the fans started chanting Bowden’s name: “Bob-by, Bow-den. Bob-by, Bow-den.”

Bowden has been under fire for the Seminoles’ sluggish start this season, and his future came into question when trustee Jim Smith told reporters that Bowden should retire at the end of this year. Smith said Bowden should turn the team over to “head coach in waiting” Jimbo Fisher, the team’s offensive coordinator.

A FIRST START

Freshman defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, who played well in Florida State’s first five games, earned his first career start Saturday. McDaniel entered the game leading FSU’s defensive tackles with 10 tackles and three tackles for loss.

Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said he was most impressed that McDaniel has been willing to play through pain. McDaniel injured his knee two weeks ago against South Florida but still played the following week at Boston College.

“He’s playing every week, and he’s playing banged up,” Andrews said. “That’s a hard thing for a senior to do sometimes, much less a freshman. We are very encouraged with his play.”

CAREER SEASON

To say fifth-year senior Richard Goodman is having a career year would be a major understatement. Goodman, from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, had just 27 career receptions coming into this season, but he had 26 catches in the Seminoles’ first five games.

Goodman entered the weekend tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 5.2 receptions a game.

“He’s really been a spark,” Bowden said. “He’s fighting through some discomfort, too. I was surprised he practiced Monday. I was surprised he practiced Tuesday. I was surprised he practiced [Wednesday]. But he pushes himself through it.”

TOUGH SCHEDULE

Florida State’s schedule was ranked as one of the nation’s toughest in the preseason, and it seems to be living up to that billing.

Coming into this weekend, the Seminoles’ first five opponents had a combined 19-5 record, and three of those teams — No. 11 Miami, No. 18 Brigham Young and No. 23 South Florida — were ranked in the Top 25.

DELAY OF GAME

The game was delayed for 78 minutes because of lightning in the area.

The game was stopped with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter and the scored tied at 7.

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