INSIDE SLANT

   After his first collegiate start was a rousing success, Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel was struck by how much he missed playing in a game.

   “I was surprised at how fun it was. At the college level, it was a lot more fun than in high school,” he said.

  He’s hoping to continue the party Saturday when the Seminoles (5-5, 3-4 in ACC) play Maryland in their final home game at Doak Campbell Stadium. In addition to the game being senior day, it will be the final home game for long-time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who has announced his retirement.

  At issue is whether it might also be Bobby Bowden’s last home game, although he has given little indication it will be. Instead, Bowden has spoken privately and publically about returning next season. Bowden hasn’t had a losing season since his first one in Tallahassee, back in 1976. He needs a win Saturday to assure it won’t happen.

The Seminoles’ final game is the annual rivalry game against Florida, this time in Gainesville. Should the Seminoles beat Maryland, they will extend their 27-year streak—longest in the nation—of going to a bowl game.

  “That was not our beginning-of-the-season goal,” Bowden said when asked about the bowl streak. “Our goal was to try to win the conference championship, get to a BCS bowl and see what happens.”

  The Seminoles have played a lot of first- and second-year players this season, fueling hope for the future. In the middle 1980s, Bowden took his lumps, especially against Florida, before the 14-year run of 10-win seasons began in 1987. Bowden would love to repeat that feat.

  “I would give anything that it was,” he said. “The characteristics are very much like it … I’m going to always look at it as the glass is half full. So when I look at it, I’m going to say yes.

“This thing is going to turn around. The question is, who’s going to be the head coach?”

NOTES, QUOTES

   —TB Jermaine Thomas is the first FSU player to record three straight 100-yard rushing games since Greg Jones had five consecutive over the last two games of 2001 and the first three of 2002. Thomas needs to average 118 yards in his last three games (assuming the Seminoles make a bowl game) to become the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Warrick Dunn in 1996.

   —The Seminoles will be wearing new uniforms in Saturday’s game against Maryland, all part of a one-game tryout that supplier Nike is asking its member teams to make. The most noticeable difference with FSU is the Seminoles will wear black helmets with a gold spear, rather than traditional gold helmets with a red spear. While fans have given unfavorable reviews of the design and ensemble, the players say they love the new uniforms. It’s caused the coaches to be wary of the players getting too focused on their new garb and less about the game. The Seminoles have not fared well in their uniform changes, going 1-3 in all-black or all-white uniforms.

• The Seminoles are on pace to average their lowest attendance (71,000-plus) in 11 years, prior to the expansion of the stadium to its current capacity of 83,000. Mindful of the problem, the school has done a marketing blitz in an effort for fans to arrive early for the senior ceremony and a special pre-game tribute to defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

   SERIES HISTORY: Florida State leads 17-2

   SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Against a difficult schedule this season, the Seminoles rank second in the ACC in total offense, including a respectable fifth in rushing offense. For so many years, the Seminoles were at the bottom of the league in rushing offense. The Seminoles liked the way QB E.J. Manuel managed the team in his first start and they gave him a game plan featuring short passes and not a lot of high-risk throws. He is also a threat to run, but he’s been told to do it with caution, given the fact the No. 3 quarterback is a walk-on.

   SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Since winning the shootout against N.C. State three weeks ago, the Seminoles’ defense has shown improvement, albeit baby steps. The Seminoles have created more turnovers and forced more punts in the past two games (Clemson, Wake Forest), both on the road. They have made improvements in rush defense. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said he can’t fault the effort of his players all season, but inexperience, injuries and other issues have affected play. Of course, he won’t say recruiting has been a problem, too.

  QUOTE TO NOTE: “It took a lot of messing up for me to get things down pat. I was a little soft when Coach Jimbo (Fisher) got on me, but I just know he’s doing that just to get me better and just to get more out of me. And I want (him) to continue doing it, because it does bring the best out of me.”—Florida State TB Jermaine Thomas on how offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher’s coaching has made him a better player.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

   THIS WEEK’S GAME: Maryland at Florida State, Saturday, Nov. 21—Emotions will flow during pregame when long-time Seminoles defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews is honored in a ceremony. It would stand to reason the Seminoles as a team will be fired up to send Andrews out in a memorable way in his final home game. The other significant aspect is FSU needs the win to assure a .500 record this season and continue a 27-year streak of going to a bowl game. Given the incentive, the Seminoles couldn’t have asked for a better conference opponent. Maryland is arguably the worst team in the league and will be starting a new quarterback.

  KEYS TO THE GAME: Given the stakes for FSU, there should be no danger of the Seminoles not being focused and ready to play. But the one issue is to keep redshirt freshman QB E.J. Manuel from having a bad start. The Seminoles must avoid Maryland getting an early touchdown or a lead that can only fuel the Terps’ confidence and put some doubt on the FSU sideline. The Seminoles need to make sure Manuel can succeed with short throws and get support from a much-improved running game. On defense, the issue will be containing Maryland’s quarterback.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB E.J. Manuel—In his first collegiate start, Manuel was 15-of-20 for 220 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the 41-28 win over Wake. He also added 45 yards rushing and another touchdown.

  PK Dustin Hopkins—In addition to his impressive success as a field goal kicker, Hopkins ranks fourth nationally with 21 touchbacks. Hopkins deserves an asterisk next to his name, because the three kickers in front of him all play at high altitudes.

   LB Nigel Bradham—With 19 tackles in his last two games, Bradham has grabbed the team lead in tackles by the narrowest of margins, 66-65. Over the last five games, Bradham has registered 39 stops, including a team-high 27 of the solo variety. That’s a vast improvement from his 27 tackles (18 solos) through the first five games.

  ROSTER REPORT:

• OG Rodney Hudson (knee) is unlikely to play. He is considered the Seminoles’ best offensive lineman and one of the best guards in the nation. He sprained his knee last week against Wake Forest. “It doesn’t look (good),” FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said during his weekly press conference. “But I’ve learned to never say never.”

   —Fourth-year junior Brandon Davis, one of two offensive linemen on the roster not recruited by current offensive line coach Rick Trickett, replaced Hudson in the lineup at Wake Forest.

   —WR Richard Goodman (groin), who has missed the last four games with a groin injury, is unlikely to play, too.