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GAME 4: FLORIDA STATE 34, CLEMSON 3 // Busby finally breaks out

 
Published Jan. 4, 1997|Updated July 6, 2006

Florida State quarterback Thad Busby raised his arms, pumped his right fist madly, then leapt into the arms of center Kevin Long.

As much as it might have seemed to anyone watching, Busby wasn't celebrating a last-second, game-winning pass against Clemson.

It was only the second quarter of what turned out to be an easy 34-3 victory. But the reaction was appropriate. Busby hadn't had many such moments, and the timing of his best performance of the season _ 16-of-29 for 304 yards and four touchdowns _ couldn't have been better.

"We had to find out something before we played Miami: If we snap the ball to him, can he do the job," said FSU coach Bobby Bowden, who for the first time put the pressure squarely on his junior to win the game. "He had a typical Florida State quarterback night, I thought."

Typical for past years, not recent games.

Busby and the offense came into the game averaging just 320 yards, including 167 through the air. That's why Busby, senior Warrick Dunn and senior tackle Todd Fordham called a meeting to discuss unity and turning around the offense. Busby, however, understood the onus was on him.

"I wasn't going to hang my head," he said. "That's when things get worse."

After throwing an early 37-yard touchdown to E.G. Green, Busby got hotter. He hit Green in stride for a 60-yard touchdown and followed with a 50-yarder to Peter Warrick, which led to the touchdown by Dunn.

"When big plays like that happen and we score, I get excited," Busby said. "I didn't come here to just go over there to the bench after you throw a touchdown pass. You've got to get excited, get pumped up. That's what this game is all about."