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Chat Reel: SI's B.J. Schecter
Last-minute Sugar Bowl predictions from the Superdome
Posted: Tuesday January 04, 2000 07:15 PM
Sports Illustrated college football writer B.J. Schecter sat down with CNNSI.com users in the hours before the Sugar Bowl to discuss his expectations for the game. An edited transcript follows:
CNNSI Host: Welcome to our Sugar Bowl chat with SI college football writer B.J. Schecter, who is joining us from the Superdome. Thanks for joining us, B.J.!
From Sean: This morning in the Miami Herald, the paper had Florida State at an advantage over Virginia Tech in the quarterback position. How is this possible when Vick's stats alone would merit the opposite conclusion, not to mention the intangibles he brings? What is your opinion on this quarterback controversy?
B.J. Schecter: Certainly it's not a quarterback controversy. The reason some have given Florida State the edge is experience. Chris Weinke is 27 years old and has played in many big games. As good as Michael Vick is, he's 19 and a redshirt freshman.
From Mustapha: Don't you think experience provides an edge over teams with equal talent? Virginia Tech is a Cinderella team and may not totally grasp the meaning of getting to a national championship while Florida State tasted it last year, but could not bring it home. So, what do you think of experience playing a major factor?
B.J. Schecter: Experience could be the deciding factor tonight. It's something you certainly can't coach or give a team. We'll find out in the first quarter if Virginia Tech has the "deer in the headlights" syndrome.
From Ed: Can Virginia Tech stuff Florida State's running game? I believe this is one of the keys to the game. If they are successful, they should be able to tee off Wienke.
B.J. Schecter: Not necessarily. Virginia Tech's strength is its front seven, especially the four defensive linemen. There's no question Virginia Tech can stop the run. The real question is can they stop the pass?
From Guest: Do you think Brett Williams and the rest of the offensive line can block Corey Moore one-on-one? No one has been able to do it this year, but Virginia Tech has not played an offensive lineman like Florida State's.
B.J. Schecter: Florida State's offensive line is very good, but I don't think you'll see the Seminoles make the mistake of trying to block Corey Moore one-on-one. Could they? Maybe, but they won't even try.
From Guest: Which team's fans seem to have the edge right now?
B.J. Schecter: There are more Virginia Tech fans down here in New Orleans, but by game time, I don't know it won't be 50-50. In a game like this, the only way the crowd becomes a factor is if Virginia Tech gets up early because they are the underdog.
From Guest: Corey Moore looked like he was ready to lose his marbles this week. Is Virginia Tech going to crack under the pressure?
B.J. Schecter: They might. Corey Moore's tirade was a well-calculated act to draw attention to him. Corey Moore will come to play; whether his teammates come to play is another story.
From Guest: Will a Virginia Tech victory vindicate the Big East or will they simply claim that Florida State was weak this year?
B.J. Schecter: It won't vindicate the Big East. This year, if any, there are no great teams in college football, so it will just go to show how wide open college football really was.
From Guest: In your opinion is the playoff format in which college football finds itself currently fair or would you like to see changes?
B.J. Schecter: If you mean the BCS, it's an imperfect system. College football would benefit with some changes, but it's a long time from happening.
From Guest: What's the latest word on Jerry Johnson?
B.J. Schecter: He's probable for tonight's game, but it will be a game-time decision.
From Guest: Any late news on Ricky Hall?
B.J. Schecter: We won't know until kickoff. Frank Beamer said yesterday Hall will try to give it a go. When the Hokies come out for warmups, we'll know a little bit more.
From Guest: How hard will it be for Florida State and Virginia Tech to get a flow for the game after such a long layoff?
B.J. Schecter: Both teams will be rusty in the first 10 minutes. After that, neither team should have any trouble establishing something. If anything, one team will have an effect on the other, but the layoff shouldn't be that big of a factor.
From Guest: Is Florida State's team speed going to be the difference in the game?
B.J. Schecter: It could be. On paper, Florida State is a lot faster than Virginia Tech, and especially on artificial turf, where speed is enhanced.
From Guest: Do you think that the punishment on Janikowski was severe enough or does Bowden sacrifice discipline for the game?
B.J. Schecter: Bowden saw Janikowski's indiscretion for what it was -- a childish mistake. He realizes in a game of this magnitude, he needs Janikowski, and the crime wasn't so severe to warrant a greater punishment.
From Guest: Will Warrick's Heisman snub affect his performance tonight, either positively or negatively?
B.J. Schecter: Not at all. That whole thing is behind him and it's something that won't be a motivating factor one way or another.
From Guest: How many different ways will Florida State use Peter Warrick in the game?
B.J. Schecter: You'll see him at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and possibly in the defensive backfield. You'll see him any way possible.
From Guest: Do you expect a high-scoring game, since both teams averaged more than 35 points each?
B.J. Schecter: No, because you're dealing with two of the best defenses in the country. In a game of this magnitude, I wouldn't expect either team to score more than 27 points.
From Guest: If Florida State wins, would it deserve the title "Team of the Decade"?
B.J. Schecter: Probably not. When you talk about "Team of the '90s," you have to look at Nebraska, which won three titles and came close to two others.
From Guest: How about Chris Weinke? Can he hold up under the pressure?
B.J. Schecter: Certainly. Chris Weinke is probably the most poised QB in the country. That comes with age and certainly the crowd nor Virginia Tech's defense is going to rattle Weinke.
From Guest: Will Chris Weinke turn pro after the game, since he's 27 years old already?
B.J. Schecter: Right now, it's a 50-50 possibility. The question for him will come down to whether he wants to have one more year as Florida State's starter or sit on the bench as a third-string NFL quarterback.
From Dusty: When is the NCAA going to wise up and change to a 16 team tournament for football? After last night's win, Nebraska looks like the best team in the nation and it is a shame that they can't prove it to Florida St and/or Virginia Tech.
B.J. Schecter: It's still a long way in the making. There's so much money tied up in the bowls, and so many politics as well, that it will be many, many years before the NCAA comes to its senses.
From Guest: Does Michael Vick have the maturity to pull out a win? What do you think of him?
B.J. Schecter: Vick is a tremendous talent who has the potential to change any game. Whether Florida State's defense can get to him and make him think twice about running up the field could be a key to the game.
From Guest: Will there be any notable recruits at the game tonight?
B.J. Schecter: I'm not sure who's going to be here for each team, but certainly any Top 50 recruit is going to pay attention.
From Brian: Why has Florida State not produced a recent NFL quarterback like the University of Miami or even the University of Florida? Danny Kanell is the last Florida State quarterback I can remember in the NFL, and he hardly had an impact. Is it recruiting, coaching, or something else?
B.J. Schecter: Like anything else, it's cyclical. If you look over the '90s, you see that Florida State has had four or five QBs in the NFL and Charlie Ward could have been playing there. It's not the talent they're not getting, it's just cyclical.
From Guest: A lot has been said about Janikowski, but looking at the stats, Virginia Tech's kicker is equally impressive. Do you see the kicking game being a major factor?
B.J. Schecter: It's certainly a factor because the game could be decided by a field goal or extra point. I would give Florida State a slight edge, but Virginia Tech is not far behind.
From Guest: What's the mood like at the Superdome right now? What's the craziest thing you've seen down there?
B.J. Schecter: Well, probably the loud party-like atmosphere and the chanting back and forth outside and in the hotel. The doors haven't been opened to the crowd yet, so there's no one inside.
From Guest: If you were a coach, which quarterback would you rather have starting for your team in this game?
B.J. Schecter: It's a tough question because they're certainly two different players. If you ask Bowden, he'd say Weinke, and if you ask Beamer, he'd say Vick. Certainly, there's no substitute for experience.
From Guest: What do you think about the defense Virginia Tech is putting on Warrick?
B.J. Schecter: You'll see a lot of special zone coverages. You'll see Ike Charlton, Virginia Tech's top cover guy, on him a lot. But it remains to be seen if Virginia Tech has a guy that can stay with Warrick.
From Guest: Do you get the sense that the players are behaving better after the problems? Or is the city too tempting?
B.J. Schecter: I don't think the players' behavior was ever a problem. When you deal with a game of this magnitude, the slightest thing gets overblown. I think the teams have behaved well, for the most part.
From Guest: Based on your conversations with players and coaches, which team appears to be the most confident?
B.J. Schecter: Definitely Florida State. The Seminoles feel like they've been here before, know what's it's all about and are definitely not glad just to be here.
From Guest: What do you feel makes Virginia Tech be the underdog, even though they dominated in the common games of the two teams?
B.J. Schecter: Overall strength of schedule and the fact that they haven't been at the level Florida State has performed at in the '90s.
From Guest: How does Virginia Tech stand to gain in recruiting because of this game?
B.J. Schecter: Before this season, many of the top high school players outside of Virginia had never heard of Virginia Tech. A game of this magnitude gives Virginia Tech exposure you can't quantify.
From Guest: Confidence is one thing, but which team seems hungrier?
B.J. Schecter: Florida State. The Seminoles lost in the national championship last year, and they've used that as motivation all season.
From Guest: What do you truly think is the greatest on-field strength of both Virginia Tech and Florida State?
B.J. Schecter: Florida State's is their overall talent and depth. For Virginia Tech, it's Vick, Moore and the fact that they have nothing to lose.
From Guest: Is there a chance that Bowden would retire if he got his first undefeated season and another national title?
B.J. Schecter: I think it's a distinct possibility. He's 70 years old, and realistically, after his first perfect season, what more is there for him to accomplish.
From Guest: Michael Vick hasn't played against a defense as talented as Florida State; how do you think he'll react and will he adjust his game?
B.J. Schecter: We'll see after he takes that first big hit from Roland Seymour and Corey Simon. That's going to be a key -- will Vick be able to get up after that first big hit.
From Guest: Do you feel some of the Virginia Tech players may feel a little fearful or in awe of Florida State?
B.J. Schecter: Certainly. Virginia Tech is definitely happy to be here and may be a little off early.
From Guest: What's your prediction for the final score?
B.J. Schecter: Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 13.
CNNSI Host: Thanks for joining us tonight, B.J.. Enjoy the game!
B.J. Schecter: Thank you.
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