Three new starters named

On the heels of a stunning 20-17 upset loss at Maryland head coach Bobby Bowden decided to shake things up a bit on Monday. Three starters will be on the bench this weekend, and that includes quarterback Wyatt Sexton with Chris Rix returning to the starting lineup.

Sexton, a redshirt sophomore, came on in relief of Rix after the senior injured his ankle in the first quarter of the Clemson game. He then rallied the team to a 42-21 win and started the next five games leading FSU to a 4-1 record. After an ineffective three quarters at Maryland, where Sexton was 14 of 30 for 164 yards and two interceptions, the coaching staff made the decision to go with Rix.

"I was in agreement of the change when we made it Saturday because I felt like we needed mobility with us doing so much shotgun," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said.

Whether the younger Bowden, who has been a proponent of Sexton in the past, is in agreement to bring Rix back as the full-time starter is uncertain. When asked if he agreed with decision to change quarterbacks at Monday's weekly question and answer session with the media, he twice answered by saying, "next question." Later in the interview he said everybody was in favor of starting Rix, but you have to wonder.

In the final quarter at Maryland, Rix completed 8 of 21 passes for 140 yards and accounted for FSU's lone offensive touchdown on a 16-yard pass to senior Chauncey Stovall. For the season he is 42 of 87 (48.3%) for 464 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. For his career, the California signal-caller is 26-11 in games he started and finished, and that includes the 2002 Gator Bowl.

Rix learned he would be returning to the starting lineup after getting a phone call from quarterbacks coach Daryl Dickey Monday afternoon.

"I'm grateful," Rix said. "I didn't know what they were going to do. I was just trusting in the coaches and waiting to get the word, whatever that was. I'm just grateful and I'm just getting ready for this week.

"I always believed I would get a chance. You never want to think negative thoughts. I just tried to stay positive and believe that I would get another chance before the end of the season. It came later than I probably would have hoped but it's better late than never."

The other surprising development from Bobby Bowden's Monday luncheon was the announcement that freshman kicker Gary Cismesia would be the starter on field goals while senior Xavier Beitia would continue to handle kickoffs and extra points. After Saturday's 1-for-4 effort at Maryland, Beitia is 12-21 (57%) on the season on field goal attempts. Cismesia, a first-team All-American from Kicking.com out of Bradenton, Florida (Lakewood Ranch HS), has not seen action this season.

The third change in the starting lineup is James Coleman taking over for B.J. Dean at fullback. Dean, a junior from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has been FSU's primary starter for the past three seasons at fullback, including eight games this year.

Coleman, a former walk-on from Florida High School in Tallahassee, is FSU's third leading rusher going for 63 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns.

"Just right now he's playing better than B.J.," Jeff Bowden said. "His pass protection is better and he probably is the best runner at the position."