Bowden says FSU is unsettled at quarterback

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- With the sweltering August practices winding down and the season opener against Western Carolina just 10 days away, Florida State coaches are sweating out a decision on a starting quarterback.

The lone experienced signal caller, fifth-year senior Drew Weatherford, has failed to separate from sophomores Christian Ponder and D'Vontrey Richardson during the August workouts.

``Our quarterback battle is a lot closer than I expected,'' veteran coach Bobby Bowden said Wednesday, adding that the final decision on a starter has been entrusted to his heir apparent, offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

``Maybe he's waiting until next week,'' Bowden said. ``We'll go into the ballgame with a starter. The other two guys, whoever is not starting, Jimbo will have a package for them.''

``I know this, he's going to want to see them,'' Bowden added.

Bowden said he and Fisher are anxious to see all three in game situations and hopes they have that opportunity in the first two games against undermanned Western Carolina and Tennessee-Chattanooga.

``A lot of it will be how these games go along,'' Bowden said. ``The closer the game is, the tighter I get.''

Neither coach wants to be tinkering with the quarterback position when Wake Forest comes to town for the Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Sept. 20.

Weatherford has a big edge in experience, having thrown 1,105 passes in his Florida State career compared to 18 for Ponder and zero for Richardson and coaches hope to redshirt prized freshman quarterback recruit E.J. Manuel.

Weatherford's 7,409 passing yards rank 16th in Atlantic Coast Conference history, but his 20-13 record as a starter is the poorest of any starting quarterback since Bowden's first season at the school in 1976.

Meanwhile, Bowden lamented the Seminoles bad luck with the weather.

``Thank goodness we don't open this weekend,'' Bowden said. ``We haven't been able to practice three out of the last four days, because of (Tropical Storm) Fay. We're a couple of days behind right now.''

And still in need of a starting quarterback.