The swagger returns

Behind Sexton, FSU shows dominance of old in rout

Sexton shredded the Virginia defense for 275 yards one week after struggling against Syracuse. AP

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A revival of sorts took place here at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday. The Florida State Seminoles, infected the past few years by a bad case of fall from grace, rose up against the undefeated, higher-ranked Virginia Cavaliers and treated their followers to a trip down memory lane.

Gone was the quarterback who makes you hold your breath every time he drops back to pass, replaced by a younger, sleeker version who sees the field like a fifth-year senior. Gone was the old star-studded defense that comes close but never quite lives up to its substantial billing, replaced by a dominating edition that likely made sideline observer Derrick Brooks quite proud.

And gone was that lingering feeling of dissatisfaction one sensed from the locals upon visiting here the past few seasons, replaced by a familiar swagger from the two decades before that.

"This was a big-time win, not just for this season but for this program," said quarterback Wyatt Sexton following his team's 36-3 dismantling of the No. 6 team in the country. "After the past couple years of people trying us, we sent a statement that we're still Florida State and we're still something to be reckoned with."

Sexton is all too familiar with the days when the 'Noles were something to be reckoned with. The son of 28-year FSU assistant coach Billy Sexton, he "hasn't missed a home game since I was a little kid." Only these days, he has a more direct role in the outcome.

With career 37-game starter Chris Rix looking on from the sideline, helmet on, ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble, all Sexton did was complete 20 of 26 passes -- at least four of which were drops by his receivers -- for 275 yards, a touchdown and, most notably, no turnovers. Just a week after his coach, Bobby Bowden, admitted he would have pulled the struggling Sexton against Syracuse had Rix been healthy, the redshirt sophomore guided the offense like a seasoned vet, working 11 different receivers into the mix and leading the 'Noles on six scoring drives.

"Yeah, I'd like to think I'm going to start from now on," he said with a chuckle on his way to the locker room afterward. For FSU fans, though, the quarterback position has been no laughing matter the past four years. They've made no effort to hide their venom toward the mistake-prone Rix (though they did cheer him when he came in for mop-up duty Saturday), blaming the quarterback for the 'Noles' repeated losses to rival Miami as well as several other big-game meltdowns.

Four games have passed since Rix's fateful ankle injury against Clemson, but the changing of the guard didn't officially take place until Saturday. His teammates know it, the fans know it and, much to his own surprise, Bowden knows it. "I couldn't take him out the way he was playing," said the coach. "I couldn't ask for a better outing from Wyatt."

MAILBAG MAILBAG Stewart Mandel will answer questions from SI.com readers each week in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

"We're starting to play like we know we can, and it's been since Wyatt's been in there," said running back Lorenzo Booker, who ran for a career-high 123 yards on 15 carries. "It's a different feeling when you know something's going to work instead of hoping it's going to work."

But the true measure of FSU's dominance Saturday was just how badly its defense made Virginia's previously prolific offense look. In a battle of the nation's fifth-ranked rushing offense (275 yards per game) vs. the No. 3 rushing defense (65.6 allowed), garnet and gold absolutely smothered orange and blue, with the 'Noles holding the Cavaliers to 5 yards on the ground in the first half and 20 for the game. Virginia had allowed just two sacks in its first five games (albeit against inferior competition). FSU notched five.

"We made the No. [5] rushing offense in the country go to the shotgun [the second half]," said defensive tackle Travis Johnson. "What does that say?"

The 'Noles lost seven starters from last year's defense, including stalwarts Darnell Dockett, Michael Boulware and Kendyll Pope, yet there's no question this is a scarier version. The defensive line, led by seniors Johnson and Eric Moore, repeatedly got after Virginia QB Marques Hagans and tipped several of his passes. Sophomore linebacker Ernie Sims, the nation's top recruit two years ago, had the biggest game of his young career, notching two sacks, nine tackles and blocking a punt that went into the end zone for a safety.

And in the secondary, underrated safety Jerome Carter had 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and dashed any hopes of a Virginia comeback after halftime when, on first and 10 from the 50 and the Cavs down 19-3, Carter picked off a pass deflected by lineman Darrell Burston.

"Our goal is always to hold the other team to 15 points or less," said longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. "To hold them to three is really unbelievable."

The question is, was it a sign of things to come, or was it a matter of FSU putting everything it had into this one ball game? This is, after all, the same team that opened the season with another disappointing outcome against Miami (albeit with the now-spectator Rix committing four turnovers) and, just a week earlier, was fortunate to survive lowly Syracuse. The 'Noles players, several of whom mentioned feeling disrespected coming in by analysts and pollsters, clearly were extra-motivated to embarrass the Cavs.

But the fact is, the defense has been performing at a high level all season. The 'Noles have two excellent running backs in Booker and Leon Washington, a stable of decent receivers, and now, apparently, a reliable quarterback. They have a favorable remaining schedule and, despite the season-opening loss, should find themselves in the top five when the first official BCS standings are released Monday.

"This reminded me of a '99 [FSU's last national title season] type game, where the fourth quarter was about displaying some swagger and just enjoying it," said Sexton. "It's been lacking a little the past couple years. It looks like we're headed back that way, which is where we should be."

Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.