Closing the Talent Gap on the Seminoles


Marques Hagans made his first start vs. FSU in 2002.

The last time Virginia played Florida State in Tallahassee, Al Groh acknowledged Monday, the Seminoles were “significantly bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced” than the Cavaliers. Two years later, much has changed. But FSU still holds a sizable advantage in one of those areas, Groh said.

“They are still, I think, significantly faster than we are,” he said.

Groh said Virginia’s team speed has increased a great deal since that 40-19 shellacking on Aug. 31, 2002. But not to Florida State’s level. The Seminoles have two of the fastest running backs in the ACC in Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker. They have a blazing wideout in Craphonso Thorpe, the 2003 ACC outdoor track champion in the 100 and 200. And their overall speed on defense is something special.

...