Never as good as the first time

Posted Sep 25, 2009 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Sep 25, 2009 at 09:02 AM

Florida State officials compiled a stat this week that since Bobby Bowden became coach at FSU, the Seminoles have faced 31 opponents for the first time.

Bowden’s record in those games is a remarkable 30-1 with the only loss at No. 5 Michigan 20-18 in 1986. USF will become the 32nd opponent on Saturday.

So I thought I’d take a look at USF’s - and Jim Leavitt’s - record in the same situation since the Seminoles will be the 69th different opponent USF has faced.

Leavitt’s record in the first meetings with each opponent is 39-29, including a 16-20 mark against Division I-A opponents.

Wofford and FSU were the only first-time foes on this year’s USF schedule.

Familiar foes: Bowden said when USF visits Saturday for the first time, long time FSU’s football fans will certainly recognize a resemblance between USF and FSU, Steve Ellis writes on TBO.com.

“The fire in the South Florida players’ eyes and the boulder-sized chips on their shoulders on Saturday is something that FSU took into so many road games against higher-ranked teams during the building years of the Bowden Era.

South Florida, with 12,000 Bulls fans pulling for them every bit of the way in Doak Campbell Stadium, will be out to prove they belong among Florida’s so-called Big Three. This is just USF’s second game against such a team after playing, and losing to Miami, in 2005.”

Please click here to read the rest of Ellis’ story.