Irish headed to Florida State hoping to avoid a repeat of '93

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- In 1993, Notre Dame won its showdown with Florida State, breathed a sigh of relief, then went out and lost to Boston College -- blowing a shot at the national title.

The Seminoles won the championship that year, which irks the Irish to this day. That disappointment turned out to be the beginning of a steady slide for Notre Dame.

The Irish have turned things around under first-year coach Tyrone Willingham, though, and they take a No. 6 ranking and 7-0 record into Saturday's game at Florida State.

Even though Florida State is 5-2 and ranked 11th, it's a 10-point favorite for the game in Tallahassee, Fla.

"We're undefeated, we're the higher ranked team and we're underdogs once again," Irish linebacker Courtney Watson said. "You take it as a bit of disrespect."

Since 1993, the Seminoles won another national championship and put together a string of top-five finishes. The Irish, meanwhile, have not finished in the top 10 during that span -- an eight-year drought that is the longest in the school's history.

During that time the Irish have had four coaches -- if you count the one-week tenure of George O'Leary -- and some hard times. Everything is golden this season under Willingham.

Still, it's never easy to beat the Seminoles at their Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State is 84-4-1 there since 1989.

Two of the losses came last season, which gives hope to Irish center Jeff Faine.

"In recent years it's been kind of proven that you can go there and win," Faine said.

Notre Dame hasn't exactly been a dominant road team in recent years. It went 1-4 on the road last season, and last week's 21-14 win over Air Force was Notre Dame's first at a ranked opponent since a 24-6 win over No. 11 LSU on Nov. 15, 1997.

But Notre Dame's confidence keeps growing under Willingham. A significant statistic: The Irish are 5-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer.

"When you have played in close ball games and been successful it's a tremendous confidence-builder to your team," the coach said. "They feel like they can go in those situations because they have done it and been successful."

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said he knows the Irish are for real.

"They're good enough to beat us and we're good enough to beat them," he said.

With an overtime loss to Louisville and a 28-27 loss to No. 1 Miami two weeks ago on a missed field goal, the Seminoles are two points away from being undefeated.

"With the athletes that they have and the coaching that they have and the way they are playing, they concern us in every aspect," Willingham said.

He marvels at Bowden's ability to keep the Seminoles among the nation's elite for so long.

"It has to be a testament to one's confidence in his system. Because it's very easy when you have those down moments to doubt yourself and doubt the things that are a part of your system and begin to change," Willingham said. "You can get inflated and somebody can say you're this or you're that, and you start to believe it. It's amazing how destructive that can be."

Dorsey could topple UM records Saturday

Ken Dorsey, selected Wednesday as one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, is expected to break the University of Miami career records for passing yards, completions and total offense Saturday at West Virginia.

Yet for all the records that keep tumbling and all the recognition Dorsey is earning with a 32-1 record as a starter, the quarterback acknowledges he is being criticized more than ever.

"People nowadays are dwelling much more on the negative stuff,"' he said. "It's just at the point where you shove it all aside."

It's impossible to ignore, he concedes, especially when there's debate as to his Heisman Trophy chances.

"It's hard not to hear about it," said Dorsey, who finished third last year.

-- From wire reports