MIAMI - Florida State's Chris Rix and Miami's Brock Berlin have been booed at home, blamed for losses and ultimately benched.
And both have bounced back.
The embattled quarterbacks have a lot in common, including a chance to change public perception when the fifth-ranked Hurricanes host the fourth-ranked Seminoles at the Orange Bowl on Friday night, a game delayed four days by Hurricane Frances.
``Boy, they are identical,'' Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. ``Both have had great games, and both have had games where you wonder why they are out there.''
Rix's career has been filled with ups and downs.
He started all 12 games in 2001, set an Atlantic Coast Conference record for total offense by a freshman and gave Seminoles fans hope of winning a third national championship.
But Rix struggled as a sophomore. He was in and out of the starting lineup, openly questioned by teammates and nearly given up on by coaches.
He reclaimed the starting job and led the Seminoles to a win against rival Florida when Adrian McPherson got kicked off the team. But just as he started to regain his teammates' confidence, he missed a final exam because he overslept and was suspended for the Sugar Bowl.
Last year was much quieter for Rix, although he was issued a $100 ticket for parking in a handicapped spot on campus. He finished the season with 23 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions and a career-high 3,107 yards passing.
When asked what advice he had for Rix before the season, Bowden said: ``Stay healthy. Park your car in the right place. If any teacher dares mention a final exam, take it, and let's roll. This is your year. You've paid the price.''
Through it all, Rix has gone winless against the Hurricanes. He has six touchdown passes and seven interceptions in four losses to Miami. In the two losses last season, he threw three interceptions, floated several more passes and took four sacks.
``I feel if I can do a better job of that this year and limit the turnovers, we'll get our shots to make big plays, whether it's on the ground or through the air,'' said Rix, who is 24-10 as a starter since replacing 2000 Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke.
Berlin also hopes to minimize mistakes in his senior season.
He threw 17 interceptions, fumbled three times and lost twice last season the same number of times two-time Heisman finalist Ken Dorsey lost in four seasons.
He made poor decisions, often at critical times, and struggled to read defenses something Dorsey did so well. He finished with just 12 touchdown passes and led the offense to its second-lowest scoring average in two decades.
Berlin was benched after consecutive losses and loudly criticized by fans.
``That's the way the position is,'' said Berlin, who spent two seasons at Florida before transferring to Miami. ``When things are going well, things are going well. When they're not, you get the blame. That's just the way it is. You have to take it.''
Berlin did beat Florida State twice, though. He also played well enough this spring to hold off talented freshman Kyle Wright and solidify the starting job.
``The big thing for me right now is having a year of experience in this offense,'' Berlin said. ``Comparing this time to last year, I can tell a big difference. I feel a lot more comfortable.''
Berlin, from Louisiana, and Rix, from California, met at a high school quarterback camp and have been friends ever since. They talk a few times a year about religion, school and football.
And about bouncing back.
``The quarterbacks at Florida State and Miami are going to get maligned some when thing don't go well,'' Miami coach Larry Coker said. ``Dorsey was the same way. There are a lot of things that go with that position.''
Thursday
April 24th, 2025
12:30AM
