Very seldom do I have a man on the scene when I prepare these columns, but Bill Curry Jr. lives in Orlando and is a careful observer of football in his adopted state. He has a superb football mind and an uncanny sense of what players are thinking during games. I admit, he's my kid, but he was force-fed football from the cradle and really does have a gift. I called him on this week's Florida State-Miami extravaganza.

I asked what he had seen in the Hurricanes. "Those guys are scary. They have 'legs' all night long," he said. "They never get tired. They never hit their knees with their hands. Coach Coker has their undivided attention and they are deadly serious about doing their jobs when they take the field." Finally, he said I should call Miami's strength coach to see how he had gotten them into such extraordinary shape. I followed instructions.

Game Plan: No. 1 Miami

Offense: Your conditioning will be an advantage. Ken Dorsey, you should be the difference. Be precise. Secure the football and you win. Defense: Tackle Greg Jones by driving your feet and shoulder pads. Force more turnovers! You will not intimidate these guys. Play all day. Special Teams: Freddie Capshaw, net punt and hang time must improve! Expect the unexpected. FSU will come with some sophisticated trickery. Todd Sievers, 50 percent will not be good enough today. Players: You must deal with penalties. 83 yards per game is too much. If the young secondary gets burned, rally to them. They haven't been tested. The athletes are evenly matched here. Conditioning may be your edge. Coaches: Be certain your players understand this is still Florida State. Get inside Bobby Bowden's mind. He loves this role. Deal with the penalty issue early. It could cost you in this kind of game.

Miami strength and conditioning coach Andreu Swasey has an unusual background for the job he holds. He has coached the secondary, understands elite athletes, and emphasizes the kinds of things that undergird success in that lonely, laser-fast world of the defensive back. He is the first strength coach I have found with that secondary mindset.

When asked about the fourth quarter, he didn't hesitate. "We emphasize the Olympic lifts," he said. Those include the clean-and-jerk and the snatch, two sophisticated maneuvers that involve explosive quickness, refined coordination and sheer power. Proper technique is crucial. In case those terms have a familiar ring, they are the very attributes good football players must have to compete.

"I coordinate all running and conditioning with the strength work for that day," he continued. "If we are doing explosive moves in the gym, we do explosive work on the field. I am very focused on first-step drills. So much of football is predicated on the first step."

I asked about the actual conditioning. "We do virtually all our running with emphasis on change of direction."

When he said that a picture popped into my mind. I recalled interceptions and fumbles being returned the length of the field by Hurricane defenders. I relived Maurice Sikes' 97-yard interception return against Florida, with the sense that something was strange about the picture. The third or fourth time I saw it I realized what looked so odd: the phalanx of teammates escorting him was led by No. 94 William Joseph, a defensive tackle. He was running stride for stride with Sikes, a defensive back!

Joseph had not only changed direction from rushing the passer, but glided along the gridiron with his teammate. It was as if he were a giant super hero with uncommon grace and speed, and he was not alone. Defensive linemen running and cutting like defensive backs? Maybe that's a stretch, but that is how it looks on game day with this team.

My point is that this team is so fast and deep, so well conditioned and intense that it may be on its way to becoming one of the best ever. It has no apparent flaw. Even the perceived weakness in the secondary appears to be on its way to becoming a strength. Sykes, Antrel Rolle, Sean Taylor and company are allowing opponents just 8.67 yards per catch, fewest in the nation. Secondary coach Mark Stoops wants more interceptions - they have four - but is pleased with his young unit's improvement.

Speaking of "best teams", Florida State is emerging from one of the more remarkable stretches in the history of college football. Last year was the first time in 14 years the Seminoles didn't win at least 10 games and finish ranked in the top five. Those kinds of accomplishments do not occur without true grit at the top of the chain of command, and Bobby Bowden is at his most dangerous at times like this.

Bobby relishes the role of underdog and has very seldom gotten to play it in the last couple of decades. Do not be deceived, though. He knows what to do.

In 1988, Bobby visited our staff at Alabama. We had asked him to talk to us about goal line offense. He was his usual friendly self, swapping ideas, innovative play calls, and even some of his patented trickery.

Game Plan: No. 12 Florida State

Offense: Bonehead mistakes mean no chance. You can play with poise. Offensive line, you are beginning to be great. This is the day. Play knock-down, drag-out football all day and you can win. Defense: Consistency prevents big plays. Play all day like the second half vs.Clemson. You must produce at least three turnovers. Michael Boulware, you are the big-play man. It is time. Special Teams: This is the time for a Bowden "exotic" play, maybe two. Block a kick. It is your style. Punter Chance Gwaltney, more hang time is required, net punt must improve. Players: This will be man-on-man, gut-check football. Whip your man. Spring returner Leon Washington. He can be the difference. Be there for the fourth quarter. Your conditioning must match theirs. Coaches: Get out the Bobby Bowden trickery book. Use it early and late. Bowden's affinity for the "dog" role must translate to performance. Keep your poise on the sideline. Ranting will not help in the Orange Bowl.

Then he turned serious, walked to the board, and drew a play. It was the basic fullback "roll" play, reading the guard's and center's blocks. It was probably invented by Knute Rockne or Clark Shaughnessy, and has been run by almost every team since their time.

"This is our goal line offense, that's it. I'm not kidding," he said. "If I get in trouble, I'm getting in the I formation. When we get near the goal line I'm handing the ball to the dadgum fullback, we're going to knock the other guys back, and we are going to score. We are going to keep handing it to him and keep knocking them back till we get good at it."

Like all great coaches, Bobby has evolved, adding here and there to his offensive and defensive packages as athletes, rules, and opponents changed. But one thing has not changed, and Miami must realize it when they take the field Saturday. When most coaches speak of "going back to basics", it is too late.

If the basics of blocking, tackling, and ball security are not hallmarks of your program, it will do little good to reinforce them in the middle of a season. When Bobby Bowden goes back to basics, he and his staff have a foundation on which to build. When his men slip, it is not because they never knew. It is because they forgot. There is a difference.

Every day is basics time on the Seminole practice field. So when those blocking, tackling and poise lessons falter on Saturdays, there is a basis on which to remind that is matched by very few programs. If Miami thinks Bowden, Mickey Andrews or any other coach on that staff isn't still hammering real football into their charges, the Hurricanes will get beat.

We learn when we try to remember, and in order to remember we have to have known. FSU players will remember. The question is one of time. Coach Bowden would like the years of hard taught lessons to kick in for this team this Saturday, and odds are they will.

Odds are established by facts, not wish lists. Here are some Bobby Bowden facts from his last underdog experiences, which occurred in the 70s: the "dogged" Seminoles went on the road and defeated Nebraska (twice in four games), Ohio State (2-of-2), LSU (4-of-5) and others almost as impressive.

Bottom line: if you are playing Bobby and it looks like he has no chance, get ready for some football. His troops will show up.

Florida State's quarterback situation is very difficult. Chris Rix is a good player, but when plays begin to break down he freezes. Rather than make something positive happen he goes away from his progression and bolts out of the pocket. It looks like the guys in the huddle wish backup Adrian McPherson were good enough to play right now. He isn't, and the whole offense struggles when it isn't handing the ball to tailback Greg Jones. In fact, a very good idea would be to hand it to Jones about 30 times this Saturday.

FSU has simple routes to get the ball to gifted wide receivers Anquan Boldin (17 catches, 18.8 yards per) and Talman Gardner. Simple plays invariably evoke aggressiveness from a beleaguered unit. This is part of the Bowden magic.

Hidden yardage is really up for grabs with this many great athletes on the field. Any one of the skill players on these special teams could take over the game at a crucial time. Florida State has a big advantage in the crucial category of turnover margin, plus-9 to minus-1. Both teams have wonderful kick and punt returners, any one of which could turn the game. Each team has an outstanding field goal kicker, although Todd Sievers is well off his normal accuracy at just 4-of-8 this year.

Surprisingly, each team is poor in the net punting department, one that should be a strength for teams like these. Both teams are penalized far too much. In the final analysis the team that can maintain aggressiveness, make plays in the kicking game without penalties and protects its kickers and punters will win the hidden yardage battle.

The game within the game this Saturday is one of timing. Florida State will become a dominant force again. Even last year, the Seminoles progressed so much throughout the season that they manhandled a very good Virginia Tech team in the Gator Bowl. If they want to avoid another trip to Jacksonville, this year's team must develop somewhat more quickly, as in before Saturday. Larry Coker knows very well what he faces. His job is to be certain his men believe and prepare accordingly.

For the observer interested in the subtle things, this will be the most fascinating aspect of a great game.

ESPN College Football analyst Bill Curry coached for 17 years in the college ranks. His Gameplans for marquee matchups will appear each week during the college football season.