'Good stuff' rallies FSU for much-needed win

CHAPEL HILL -- At halftime, Bobby Bowden told Florida State's players and assistant coaches that they had played the worst half he had seen in 55 years of coaching.

Bowden was furious about the team's nine first-half penalties and a fumble that led to North Carolina's second touchdown. But he was all smiles after a stunning second-half comeback gave Florida State a 30-27 win on Thursday night at Kenan Stadium.

In his 34th season at Florida State, Bowden has come under pressure from fans and even the head of the school's Board of Trustees as the Seminoles have lost four of their first six games.

But after Christian Ponder threw three second-half touchdown passes to help erase a 24-6 third-quarter deficit, Bowden was pleased.

"We needed it, son," he told a reporter. "We need it next week, too. And the next week."

For most of the season, Bowden has explained how the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC) were playing close games but losing in the fourth quarter. As Florida State fell behind by 18, though, he said he realized on the sideline that he might have to use another excuse.

When the game got close, he said he'd settled again on the same "close games" excuse. As it turned out, he didn't need any excuse at all. He was hoping the win would spark a turnaround for the team, and he expressed hope that Florida State will get even better next season.

But he gave offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher most of the credit for the play-calling that turned the game around in the second half.

"That was some good stuff going on there," Bowden said. "I wish I could claim it."

Ponder said the team just needed to relax in the second half, and he said the comeback showed the players haven't given up on the team or the season. He said a two-play sequence in the third quarter when Jamie Robinson intercepted T.J. Yates and Rod Owens caught a 98-yard touchdown pass turned the game around.

"We took advantage and kept rolling," Ponder said.

Little plays big role: North Carolina coach Butch Davis went into last week's open date hoping to find ways to rejuvenate an offense that had produced a total of 10 points in two ACC games.

One area of emphasis was clear. UNC was determined to get the ball to junior Greg Little, the most experienced wide receiver on the team.

On North Carolina's opening drive, Little caught three passes for 53 yards and ran 5 yards on an end-around for a touchdown. For the game, Little caught six passes for 60 yards.

He also rushed four times for 48 yards as offensive coordinator John Shoop incorporated some elements of the orbit sweep that Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe has used to frustrate ACC defensive coordinators for years.

Reddick gets start: North Carolina had one significant starting lineup change. Freshman Kevin Reddick took the place of sophomore Zach Brown at the weakside linebacker spot.

Tar Heels tight end Zack Pianalto returned after missing four games with a foot injury, but he lasted just two series. He left the game with a head injury.

Pianalto did throw a key block on Greg Little's 5-yard touchdown run on the Tar Heels' opening drive.

Panthers visit: Carolina Panthers defensive ends Everette Brown and Julius Peppers spent the evening on separate sidelines. Former Tar Heel Peppers was on the home sideline, and Brown, who played at Florida State, supported the visitors.

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