Thursday, December 30 Tech's Moore has plans for FSU
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- Florida State is about to experience
pressure-cooker defense, Corey Moore style.
"I don't think I have ever seen a pass-rusher any more
relentless than he is," Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said of
Moore, Virginia Tech's 6-foot, 225-pound All-American end who set a
Big East record with 17 sacks this season. "He doesn't ever stop
coming."
Bowden knows all about terrific defensive ends. He coached a
bunch of them, including All-Americans Andre Wadsworth and Peter
Boulware.
"They were bigger," Bowden said Wednesday, "but he is as
quick as any of them and evidently as strong."
In Tuesday night's Sugar Bowl, No. 1 Florida State's national
title hopes might hinge on the Seminoles' ability to keep Moore
away from quarterback Chris Weinke.
"It'll be a big challenge for us," 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle
Brett Williams said before practice at the Louisiana Superdome.
"They're real aggressive, they play well together and they play
hard the whole game."
They means more than just Moore, who is complemented at the
other end by 6-4, 262-pound John Engelberger. In rolling to a
perfect season, the second-ranked Hokies (11-0) recorded 58 sacks,
and Engelberger chipped in with six.
"They're two different kinds of ends," Williams added. "The
other guy looks more like a bull-rush type guy, lots bigger and
stronger."
Weinke, the Seminoles' 27-year-old quarterback who threw for
3,103 yards and 25 touchdowns, rarely left a game with a dirty
jersey. Florida State's front five, anchored by All-American guard
Jason Whitaker, allowed just 22 sacks in 420 passing attempts.
"Of course, they're well coached and have been very good on
offense," Tech coach Frank Beamer said of the Seminoles (11-0),
who averaged 37.5 points and 425.7 yards. "I wish I could see some
weaknesses. Anything we can get from that crowd, we're going to
have to earn."
Moore, thought to be too short and too light to be an effective
end, has earned nothing but praise from coaches and opponents. He
won the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player and
the Lombardi Award as the nation's best down lineman.
"I think just tremendous drive and determination" have made
Moore the player he is, defensive coordinator Bud Foster said.
"Obviously, he's not the biggest guy, he's not your prototype
defensive end, but he does have good abilities. He's relentless in
everything that he does on and off the field."
Beamer says the senior is a self-made star who goes all out all
the time -- at practice, in the weight room and on game day.
"He didn't always have an explosive jump off the ball, but he's
worked at that," Beamer said. "It didn't just happen. He's really
worked to become a great football player. He was always fast, but
he always wasn't a great player."
Moore hasn't been shy, either. Before the season, he was asked
if he was the best defensive player in the country. He said he was
and why would he say anything different? "That's what I want to be
... the best," he said.
Before the second-ranked Hokies showed up in New Orleans, Moore
said Virginia Tech's best season was "going to be even better
after we win and burn down New Orleans."
He also said the Seminoles missed their chance at a national
title a year ago "when they probably should have won it all, but
didn't get the job done," and that by the time they respected the
Hokies on Jan. 4, it would be too late.
He's toned down his act this week, saying he's honored to have
the chance to share a field with the Seminoles.
And maybe he can get some autographs before kickoff.
Bowden only cares about what Moore does, not what he says.
"This team here tries to put so much pressure on your
quarterback, you can't throw to Peter Warrick," Bowden said. "You
all talk about anybody you want to, Weinke's the key. We win when
he's in there. I don't care who's missing, we've still got a chance
of winning. If he ain't in there, it gets shaky."
Williams, a freshman who has come on strong in starting the last
six games, is looking forward to the challenge. In his last game,
Williams kept Florida's Alex Brown away from Weinke in Florida
State's 30-23 win on Nov. 20.
"It's going to be my biggest challenge all year," Williams
said. "I'll probably be nervous right before the game, but after
the first play is over, that all goes away and it's back to work
playing football."
