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FSU seniors aim for magic 50 wins

 
FSU senior Lamarcus Brutus dives to bring down Wake Forest’s Cam Serigne.
FSU senior Lamarcus Brutus dives to bring down Wake Forest’s Cam Serigne.
Published Nov. 20, 2015

TALLAHASSEE — The last goal remaining for Florida State's seniors is to leave school with 50 wins to their credit.

If the 16th-ranked Seminoles win out — Saturday against Division I-AA Chattanooga, the regular-season finale at No. 8 Florida and a subsequent bowl bid — the seniors would have a 50-5 record. Defeating the visiting Mocs would tie the Seminoles with last year's class for the most in school history (48).

For a group that has a national championship and three ACC titles, getting to 50 would cap an impressive run.

"It is important to have a record like that because it separates you from the great teams," said safety Lamarcus Brutus, who has a team-leading two interceptions.

The only other senior class that could claim larger bragging rights is Ohio State, who has 48 wins going into Saturday's game against Michigan State.

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher has been stressing sending the seniors out on a high note since a 23-13 loss to top-ranked Clemson on Nov. 7. Even though this is the first time in four years FSU will not reach the ACC title game, it still has an outside shot at making one of the New Year's Day six bowl games.

"What they've accomplished in these last four years, winning almost 90, 91 percent of their games, this class is one of the all-time greats," Fisher said.

The 19 seniors will be honored Saturday.

NAGURSKI FINALISTS: The five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy that is given to the nation's best defensive player are Clemson linebacker Shaq Lawson, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib, Duke safety Jeremy Cash and Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich. The winner will be announced Dec. 7.

Duke: Quarterback Thomas Sirk was upgraded to probable for Saturday's game at Virginia. Sirk was out last week with an unspecified upper-body injury.

HOUSTON: With first-year coach Tom Herman attracting interest from higher-profile schools, the University of Houston System regents voted to give him a $3 million-a-year raise and increase his performance incentives. Herman now earns $1.35 million a year .

Mississippi: Linebacker and leading tackler Denzel Nkemdiche has been hospitalized this week for an undisclosed reason in Oxford and will not play Saturday against LSU. The family said his condition is not life-threatening.

TCU: Receiver Josh Doctson (wrist) will miss the last two regular-season games, against Oklahoma and Baylor.

UTAH: Running back Devontae Booker, the centerpiece of the offense, will miss the final two games and perhaps the postseason after having left knee surgery. He suffered a torn meniscus and bone bruise last week against Arizona.

women's SOCCER: FSU (15-2-4) hosts South Alabama (18-2-2) in the second round of the NCAA tournament at 4:30 today. … Tampa (13-4-5) faces Barry (14-2-1) at noon today in the Division II South Region in Jefferson City, Tenn. Barry beat the visiting Spartans 2-1 on Nov. 8 in the Sunshine State Conference tournament final, and the teams tied 1-1 on Oct. 17 in Tampa.