Seminoles planning to continue 'dominance' in UM rivalry

This Saturday afternoon, freshman quarterback James Blackman will lead the Florida State offense into action against No. 13 Miami.

The last time FSU lost a game in this series, Blackman was entering the fifth grade.

Although the Seminoles are slight underdogs this time around -- Miami was favored by three points as of Monday night -- no player on the Florida State roster knows what it’s like to lose to the Hurricanes. FSU has won seven straight games in the series, and Seminole veterans like senior linebacker Matthew Thomas have no intentions of letting that streak come to an end.

“I’m looking forward to playing them (the Canes),” Thomas said after FSU’s 26-19 victory Saturday night at Wake Forest. “I’m looking forward to getting another ‘W’ in the Doak. For the last time.

“It’s gonna be a nice experience, and it’s going to be a real competitive game. I know they’re gonna be coming to Tally thinking they’re gonna win, being real confident. So I’m looking forward to it.”

The FSU-Miami rivalry has seen streaks on both sides through the years.

Miami won six straight games against FSU in the early 2000s, and the Seminoles claimed five consecutive wins in the series before that.

“You always want to keep that going,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said of the streak’s importance to his older players. “I mean, you know, because you understand the importance of the rivalry. It's one of the reasons you play at Florida State. It's one of the great rivalries in college football.”

While win streaks are coveted in any series, they are especially appreciated in a rivalry such as this. The Seminoles have more than a dozen players on their roster from South Florida, and many others were recruited by the Hurricanes.

“I know a lot of guys on their team,” FSU safety Derwin James said before singling out running back Mark Walton and wide receiver Ahmmon Richards. “I’m friends with a lot of those guys from camps and combines and different things. It’s always great that we can say that we beat them the last couple of years.”