Seminoles hope to kick old habits

MIAMI (AP) _ Bobby Bowden can almost kick himself when he thinks about Florida State's history with field goals. <br><br>Sure, his Seminoles won two national titles in the 1990s. In fact, the first

Tuesday, January 2nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ Bobby Bowden can almost kick himself when he thinks about Florida State's history with field goals.

Sure, his Seminoles won two national titles in the 1990s. In fact, the first one came on a late kick.

But for all their success, the Seminoles are almost equally as well known for what went wrong.

Wide Right I and Wide Right II cost them two crowns, and Wide Right III led to their only loss this season.

``It is still not national championship kicking,'' the Seminoles coach said.

``Iffy, we're iffy,'' he said. ``It's been our Achilles' tendon, our biggest liability. It's gotten better, but we are not as confident as we would like to be.''

No surprise, the No. 3 Seminoles (11-1) would like to put away No. 1 Oklahoma long before Wednesday night's Orange Bowl comes down to a late field goal.

The Sooners (12-0) are 12-point underdogs. Naturally, they know about Florida State's past on 3-pointers.

``We're aware of it, but we as coaches are not talking about it,'' Sooners offensive coordinator Mark Mangino said Monday.

And, with a big laugh, he added, ``We're just hoping for a crosswind.''

Until this season, Florida State had kicked aside its old troubles. But minus two-time All-American Sebastian Janikowski, now with the Oakland Raiders, they're back.

Bowden has tried freshman Brett Cimorelli and walk-ons Matt Munyon and Chance Gwaltney. None have been consistent enough to earn the full-time job.

Florida State missed eight extra-point attempts and 10 of 24 field-goal tries. The biggest miss came in the 27-24 loss to Miami on Oct. 7, when Munyon's 49-yard attempt sailed wide right as time expired.

Punter Keith Cottrell, the holder on field goals, knew what the reaction would be.

``I watch them kick field goals in practice, and they make one after another,'' he said. ``Then we miss the one against Miami and it's the same old FSU kicking stuff.''

Of course, a 49-yarder is no certain thing.

Indianapolis' Mike Vanderjagt, one of the NFL's most reliable kickers, missed from that distance in overtime Saturday, costing the Colts a victory in an AFC wild-card game against Miami. That miss came at Pro Player Stadium, the same place where the Orange Bowl will he held.

``I'm very aware of the wide rights, and I'm also aware of our successes, too,'' Cimorelli said. ``I am ready to help us win if it comes to that.''

Most times, it doesn't. Led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Chris Weinke, Florida State averages 42.4 points and 549 yards.

But with titles at stake, the Seminoles are shaky.

After wide rights against Miami in 1991 and 1992 ended championship hopes for the Seminoles, they won their first crown the next season on a late kick.

Scott Bentley, a kicker specifically brought to Florida State by Bowden, made a 22-yarder with 21 seconds left for an 18-16 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The Cornhuskers had their chance to rally, but Byron Bennett's 44-yard field goal attempt on the final play went wide left.

Against the Sooners, Cimorelli will handle short- to medium-range field goals; Munyon will handle long field goals and kickoffs.

``There's been a lot of pressure to come in and replace a guy like Janikowski,'' Munyon said. ``If it comes to it, I'd love the opportunity to kick a long field goal to win it. It would make up for everything.''

On Sunday, Munyon was back at the Orange Bowl stadium, site of the miss that would have forced overtime against the Hurricanes. His teammates even kidded him about it as the team walked in for media day.

``Hey, Matt, right there is where you missed the field goal,'' Gwaltney said.

``It brought back a lot of memories,'' Munyon said. ``If we weren't in the national championship game, it would bother me a lot more. But I can deal with it.''

All season, the Seminoles were plagued with kicking woes, beginning with the first extra-point attempt in the first game against BYU. Weinke threw a TD pass to Javon Walker, and Munyon came on and missed. Bowden winced on the sideline.

Cimorelli was set to open the season, but a groin injury kept him out. Munyon was the team's main kicker through the first six games; Gwaltney took over after the Miami game; and Cimorelli claimed the job in a 58-14 win over North Carolina State.

In that game, Gwaltney missed a field goal, Munyon missed an extra point and Cimorelli made seven extra points and a 38-yard field goal. A week later, he was 4-of-4 on field goals and 6-of-6 on extra points against Clemson.

Cimorelli's confidence has been building, he's healthy and he's gained the support of the coaching staff. So much so that he's already envisioned his game- winning kick against the Sooners.

``Somewhere between 30 and 40 yards, with everyone a little excited,'' Cimorelli said. ``It wouldn't be for a tie. Maybe we're down by two points. I come in, make the kick and we win.''