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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 2000)
Nothing compares to Florida football Not only will the outcome of Florida’s ballot re counts decide our next president, it seems, but the state is almost certain to deter mine a more coveted prize: college football’s national champion. Yeah, the Sunshine State may be whacked when it comes to poli tics, but throw a pigskin in the mix and everything is status quo. Just check out the Bowl Championship Series rankings: Following No. 1 Oklahoma are, in order, Miami, Florida State and Florida. And Vice President Al Gore thought he had assembled a strong contingent of heavy-hitters to bat tle for the top spot. Florida always seems to bring on the big guns when the stakes are high. Of course, in-state rivalries are in vogue this weekend all across the country. Clemson and South Carolina battle it out in the South east, with Auburn and Alabama feudin' in the deep South. Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan tie one on in middle America, while Texas Christian and Texas El-Paso go mano-a-mano in the Southwest. Closer to home, UCLA and USC play for pride in California, but Washington will perhaps be play ing for a bit more against Washing ton State in Pullman. Of course, Oregon can put to rest any Husky hopes of having a rosy day with a win against Oregon State. None of those games, however, can match the hype of Florida State versus Florida. This game of fers more melodrama than an Aaron Spelling marathon on Fox. The coaches dislike each other, for starters. Florida State’s Bobby Bowden jokingly asked for God’s forgiveness the other day when he told reporters that he and Gator coach Steve Spurrier have a good relationship — the implication be ing that ol’ Bobby broke a com mandment by telling a whopper. Speaking of starters, Florida State signal-caller Chris Weinke is a front-runner for the Heisman Tro phy, while Spurrier will rotate his two quarterbacks, redshirt fresh man Rex Grossman and senior Jesse Palmer. This is interesting if you know the two coaches’ styles: Bowden puts trust in the individ ual, while Spurrier believes it’s his system that produces victories, so the individual is irrelevant. (Not surprising, Bowden is considered a legend, even by Florida fans, while Spurrier is pretty much seen as a jerk throughout the state.) Plus, there’s the amusing history between the two schools. In 1905, the Florida Legislature reorganized its higher education system and es tablished two state institutions, the University of Florida and the Flori da State College for Women. Forty one years later, both schools went co-educational, but it took the threat of legal action by then-Flori da Gov. Leroy Collin in 1958 to force Florida onto the field to play Florida State. Florida officials did n't want to open up the possibility of losing to the “all-girls” school. Nowadays, both teams could agree to play in Victoria’s Secret lingerie and the fans would still foam at the mouth the week lead ing up to the game. Here ifi Eugene, and up in Cor vallis, the frenzy for the Civil War is beginning to reach a fevered pitch, to be sure, thanks to the added bonus of a Rose Bowl berth on the line. But until the two teams play with these sorts of stakes year in and year out — and Turn to Jack Attack, page 22B I FIRESTONE GREAT DEALS! Mon-Fri: 7-6; Sat: 8-6; Sun: 10-5 TWO LOCATIONS firestone \ AFRICA'S HOME EOH fiRES & SERVICE TO SERVE YOU! L 185 E. 11TH: 345-1593 *310 VALLEY RIVER CENTER: 342-4300 J I Don’t go back on ( an empty stomach.V Treat Yeur&effl The Best pizza with over 30 microbrews on tap 1045 NW Kings, Corvallis • 752-5151 Check out the Rogue Thanksgiving Weekend Warehouse Sale at the Rogue Brewery in Newport Oregon at the South Beach Marina. Amazing savings on all your favorite Rogue apparel, glassware and other cased items. Perfect opportunity to stock up for your Holiday parties, or take care of friends and family on your gift giving list. For more information call 800-850-1115- To mail order items call 800-489-4582. Void where prohibited by law. WWW Pick up an Emerald at J2 0 camPus & community locations.
