ESPN The Magazine Ranks Florida State No. 1 in Top 25College Football Preseason Poll.

Sports Editors/College Football Writers & Columnists

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NEW YORK--(BW SportsWire)--Aug. 8, 2000

-- Virginia Tech Standout Quarterback Michael Vick on

2000 Season Preview Issue --

For the second year in a row, Florida State University captures the No. 1 spot in ESPN The Magazine's Top 25 preseason poll, part of its college football preview issue, on sale tomorrow.

Virginia Tech Hokie Michael Vick - who thrilled fans with his performance in last season's national championship game against the Seminoles - is featured on the cover of the comprehensive preview.

                      ESPN The Magazine's Top 25

#1 Florida State        #11 Florida                   #21 Ohio State

#2 Nebraska             #12 Tennessee                 #22 Colorado

#3 Alabama              #13 Penn State                #23 Oklahoma

#4 Miami (Fla.)         #14 Purdue                    #24 Illinois

#5 Georgia              #15 Washington                #25 Texas A&M

#6 Wisconsin            #16 Mississippi
#7 Michigan             #17 Clemson
#8 Texas                #18 Oregon
#9 Kansas State         #19 USC
#10 Virginia Tech       #20 Texas Christian

Gene Wojciechowski, The Magazine's college football senior writer, offers the following insights to the coming season: On No. 1 Pick Florida State Seminoles: "If the world's oldest college quarterback can stay healthy, if its new place-kicker can be Sebastian Janikowski Jr. (but without the arrests), and if the Seminoles can stay away from Dillards and the Coyote Uglys of Tallahassee, then Bobby Bowden has a chance to do the near impossible in college football: two-peat."

On Michael Vick: "Florida State's players don't offer compliments very often, but to a man, the Seminoles gave post-Sugar Bowl props to Virginia Tech's living, breathing contrail. Vick is the best thing to come out of Virginia since baked ham and Sam Snead. I'd pay to watch him throw skeleton drills."

On the Most Dominating Conferences: "If the Southeastern Conference were any stronger, the Justice Department would come after it waving anti-monopoly papers. You know the SEC is loaded when Florida's Steve Spurrier says perennial floor mat Vanderbilt could win lots of games this season - and says it without the signature Spurrier smirk. You have two national championship contenders - Florida and Alabama - at least four other bowl locks (Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss) and maybe two surprises (LSU and Arkansas). The Big 12 isn't far behind, especially with the threesome of Nebraska, K-State and Texas. The Big Ten has the best quarterbacks in the country and the Pac-10 will recover from last year's embarrassing non-conference losses to New Mexico State, San Jose State and Idaho."

With contributions from ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Mike Gottfried and Rodney Gilmore, additional elements of the college football season preview include: an in-depth profile on cover subject Michael Vick by Bruce Feldman; Gene Wojciechowski on the increasingly tough position of defensive end; a photo essay on the "freakiest" players in the game; and the ultimate road show at the University of Hawaii where Eric Adelson reports on June Jones' resurgent program.

ESPN The Magazine is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized biweekly looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.

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