Quick Notes From Tommy Bowden's Weekly Press Conference

by Dan Scott - Correspondent - Tue Aug 28 11:39:15 GMT-04:00 2007

Quick notes from Tommy Bowden's weekly press conference:

- Monday night vs. Thursday night - Probably very similar. Players will like it because it's the only game on. Fans will be more excited because it's the weekend and a holiday...More electricity than a Thursday night.

- Noise will be a factor. Want to encourage our fans to make as much noise as possible when FSU has the ball....Could be helpful in our favor.

- Pregame ritual - Thought about going to a hotel for an extra night, but decided not to do so.

- Don't talk much about the game with dad. Vacation is a chance to get away from it. Usually we're talking about golf. Got some cheaters in my family, and he's one of them.

- Starters: Bandit end may not be settled. One receiver spot.

- Preparing for FSU never easy, even nine years in. We didn't have a lot of running yardage last year until we broke that long run.

- It will be different because they'll be doing something new offensively. Defensively it won't be much of a change.

- Family: Both of us are coming off frustrating years. Usually it's just us. That adds a little flavor to the game that hasn't been there in the past. Losing the first five, and now us winning three of four, it's become a little more of a rivalry. It's never a rivalry unless you beat the other guy a little bit.

- Confidence in Harper on a scale of 1-10: Not a fair question because he's never played a game...I think he'll be steady. Over the last year he's been very consistent and very steady. I don't think he'll get rattled. But there will some natural nervousness and anxiety as a first-time starter.

- Wouldn't surprise me if Florida State went into the game to try and have success with four-man pressure. If they can do that it will be a long night for us.

- Korn: Don't know if he'll play. Probably just wait and see how it goes.

- Spiller: I know his expectations are high. James too. I hope Spiller is very successful, because if he is that means we're winning games.

- Playing Monday: Get six days practice instead of four. Have to look at how much you practice and how hard you hit. Then you have to remember you have a short week the next week. So we have adjusted our schedule. And we've talked to our team about the fact that one sign of maturity is being able to adjust to change.

- Thoughts on this game: It was too good to pass up. Even though the opponent was Florida State. I thought the national exposure was too good. The positives outweighed the negatives.

- Jimbo Fisher: Tough, hard-nosed runs. Run-action pass. Those are the biggest things he brings. He's a bold guy. Has a lot of confidence.