Courtesy of Palm Beach Post


The lasting image of Florida State's most recent victory over Florida was center David Castillo hoisting an alligator head above his shoulders at Florida Field while Seminoles supporters celebrated a dramatic come-from-behind.

That was so long ago that Castillo, who is in his third year of medical school, was just a sophomore; Chris Rix was the Seminoles quarterback who engineered the 38-34 victory and Urban Meyer was on his way to being named the Mountain West Conference coach of the year in his first season at Utah.

The year was 2003.

"There are teams that go on runs for stretches of four, five, six years in a row," said Castillo, who starred at Palm Beach Gardens High. "I definitely did not think that was going to happen then."

Since then, the only celebrating taking place during this rivalry has been from the Florida side as the Gators have kicked aside the Seminoles as if they were a bunch of walk-ons attempting to slow down the first-teamers.

Florida has won six straight entering Saturday's 3:30 p.m. game at Doak Campbell Stadium. And it's not just the wins, but how they have dominated.

After winning two of the first three (2004, 2006) by just a touchdown each game, the Gators have humiliated FSU the last three years by a combined score of 127-37.

That's an average of 30 points per game.

"It's a little ridiculous right now," FSU linebacker Vince Williams said.

Is this the season the pendulum swings back to Florida State? For the first time since Florida began the streak upsetting FSU at Doak Campbell in Ron Zook's farewell, the Gators (7-4) are unranked.

The No. 22 Seminoles (8-3) have rebounded from a 7-6 record last year (its third such record in past four years) in Jimbo Fisher's first year. And FSU still has a chance at a BCS bowl, but only if N.C. State loses to Maryland Saturday, which would put the Seminoles in the ACC title game for the first time in five years.

But that is not the Seminoles' focus, not with a chance to tip the balance of power in the state back to the Panhandle for the first time in a decade.

"Everyone tells us, 'You got to beat Florida this year. You got to beat Florida this year,'" quarterback Christian Ponder said.

"I think if we went 1-11 and beat Florida everyone would be satisfied."

Fisher is attempting to do something his predecessor, Bobby Bowden, never could: Beat Florida coach Urban Meyer, who is 5-0 against FSU.

Fisher has been steadfast in his belief that it will take more than one season to change a culture that started eroding about five years ago. He says the last two wins over Maryland and Clemson, both accomplished in the final seconds after similar losses to N.C. State and North Carolina, are proof his team is learning how to win.

"They're finding ways even when the bounces don't go your way," Fisher said.

And the approach must remain the same, even if the opponents are wearing orange and blue.

"Wanting to beat them sometimes can be the worst thing that happens because it gets in the way of preparing to beat them," Fisher said.

A victory over Florida would further put Fisher's stamp on this program. Not since 1999 - the year the Seminoles were undefeated national champions - has FSU defeated Miami and Florida in the same season to win the mythical state championship.

"We win the ACC championship, that's important to us," Castillo said. "Beating Florida and beating Miami would be huge as far as recruiting.

"You have guys between Florida State and Florida and Miami if we can beat both schools they might say 'I'll go to Florida State.'"

Fisher knows nothing but Florida dominance since arriving at FSU. His first season, 2007, started the string of Gators blowout victories (45-12, 45-15, 37-10). Of course, that year coincided with Tim Tebow taking over as the Gators' starting quarterback.

"Tim was one of the great players in college football history and not only for his physical play but for the impact he had on his teammates," Fisher said. "He was a special player for them."

While Tebow has moved onto the NFL, the Gators' offense has not only sputtered under quarterback John Brantley, but fallen off the cliff when it comes to the rankings.

The Gators are 73rd nationally in total offense. A year ago they finished No. 6.

Still, a team that has shown little resistance to Florida in recent years remains wary.

"That's another step, another challenge," Fisher said of beating Florida. "It's another thing we have to accomplish. It's another thing in which we have to get ready to understand how to do.

"They're still a very, very talented football team. They've lost a couple of heartbreakers. It's a great challenge for us but it's a great opportunity also."