Bobby Bowden

fires back at critics

BY JUSTIN A. RICE

Special to The Miami Herald

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Florida State's loss to Boston College on Saturday marked the first time the Seminoles have started conference play with two losses.

FSU (2-3, 0-2 ACC) also knows the 28-21 defeat -- despite erasing its largest deficit since trailing Georgia Tech 13-0 in the fourth quarter in 2003 before winning by a point -- will bring out calls for coach Bobby Bowden's job.

``Well, you know what? What would I gain by stepping down right now?'' asked the 79-year-old who will turn 80 in November. ``Fire the whole coaching staff? I'll evaluate myself; I'll wait until the end of the year.''

FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who is slated to take over the program after Bowden retires, also knows what waits back in Tallahassee.

``You don't [worry about it], you go coach,'' Fisher said. ``That's their right to do it. Everyone wants to win. They're passionate like we are. We have to keep coaching, that's part of coaching and part of playing. You have to put that away, and the thing that will bring it back is a good victory. And to get a good victory you have to go back and practice well and stay together.''

When asked if one good victory can turn things around, Fisher said, ``One victory doesn't do it. One victory doesn't change something like one loss doesn't destroy something. But we have to get consistent and play with consistency.''

Fisher was pleased with FSU's 411 yards in total offense, which included 341 passing yards, but was upset by his team's inability to score near the goal line.

HERZLICH'S GAMEDAY

ESPN's `College GameDay' crew was in Chestnut Hill on Saturday and honored Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year who in May was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past five months, and has three treatments to go in the next five weeks.

``I understand you got some very good news in a very matter of fact way, what's the most recent diagnosis?'' `GameDay' host Chris Fowler asked Herzlich during the broadcast.

``I was out to see [a] movie with my roommate, and I got a call from my dad, he wanted to know if the rebate check from Apple was for him or to me,'' Herzlich said. ``I said it was mine, he can't keep my money. And he was like, `Oh yeah, we met with Doctor Staten today, too.' I was like, `O.K., what did Doctor Staten say?' ''

Herzlich said to thunderous applause that his doctor said his cancer is 99 percent gone.

HOMEFIELD EDGE, AT LAST

Boston College's victory marked the first time the home team was victorious in the FSU-BC series in five meetings since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005.

At the same time, it was also the fifth consecutive meeting between FSU and BC in which the team that scored the first touchdown went on to win. The Eagles managed to reach the end zone first with 3:18 left in the opening quarter when Montel Harris, a Jacksonville native, scored on a 3-yard run. Before Saturday, the Seminoles won at Alumni Stadium in odd years (2005, '07), including their 27-17 upset of the then-second-ranked Eagles in the last road meeting. The Eagles, however, have won the even-year matchups (2006, '08), also beating FSU 27-17 last season.

• FSU senior cornerback Patrick Robinson did not return to the game after sustaining a left ankle injury. He was hit from behind by teammate Nigel Bradham with 9:39 remaining in the first half.

• Sophomore running back Jermaine Thomas started for the first time since losing his spot in the season opener against Miami. He ran 10 times for 26 yards, as FSU only had 70 yards rushing.