U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., says "it's not hard" to root against Florida State. The Republican presidential candidate graduated from the University of Florida and called FSU a school for people who "can't get into Florida."
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Apparently, Marco Rubio isn't concerned about the votes of his Florida State University alumni constituency.
The U.S. senator and Republican presidential candidate offended the FSU fan base with his recent remarks about the Tallahassee school.
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"Look, I don't have anything against Florida State," Rubio said in a weekend radio interview in Iowa. "I think there has to be a school where people that can't get into Florida can go to college, and so that's why we have Florida State."
Rubio, who received an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and attended the University of Miami for law school, said he's never been to the rivalry game between the Seminoles and the Gators in Tallahassee, but he has been when the game is played in Gainesville.
He said Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, affectionately known as "The Swamp," is the toughest place to play in Florida and the Southeastern Conference. The Seminoles are scheduled to play the Gators there Nov. 28.
Rubio admitted that FSU has been the more successful program in recent years.
"But these things ebb and flow," he said. "I feel good about the future of the Florida program."
Rubio was also asked who Florida fans support when the Seminoles play the Hurricanes.
"I grew up in Miami," Rubio said. "I'm a Gator fan, but I don't root against the Hurricanes, and when (they) play Florida State it's not hard for me to root against Florida State."
FSU President John Thrasher, who previously served with Rubio in the Florida legislature, took a jab at the senator Tuesday.
"He's a nice kid," Thrasher told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I'm sure he's frustrated by his low standing in the polls, which I believe could be a reflection of where he got his education."
In response to the backlash, Rubio told FSU fans on Twitter to "relax."
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"It was just college football trash talk on sports radio, not serious statement on @meetthepress," Rubio tweeted.
He then followed it was another tweet.
"But we are still going to #BeatFSU," Rubio wrote.
Later in the day, Rubio posted a photo of his office door on Facebook with the caption, "My FSU staffers vandalized my office door before I arrived this morning with references to historical aberrations in #UFvsFSU. Maybe they forgot -- All Time Series: University of Florida 32 wins, Florida State University 23."
Rubio also may have rankled New England Patriots fans during his radio interview. The Miami Dolphins fan said he has told supporters when campaigning in New Hampshire that he doesn't like the Patriots and wanted quarterback Tom Brady suspended all 16 games for the deflated football controversy.
"So I probably won't win New Hampshire because of that," Rubio said. "I'm not sure."
Miami at Florida Atlantic, Sept. 11: Miami makes the short trip north to Boca Raton for its first-ever visit to FAU Stadium. This Friday night game will give Florida Atlantic a chance to showcase its 5-year-old stadium against a marquee opponent. The Hurricanes soundly defeated the Owls, 34-6, the last time these teams met in the 2013 season opener.South Florida at Florida State, Sept. 12: Florida State hosts South Florida for the first time since a 17-7 loss to the Bulls in 2009. Of course, that was before Jimbo Fisher took charge of the Seminoles, who beat USF, 30-17, in Tampa the last time these state schools met in 2012.Nebraska at Miami, Sept. 19: Nebraska will make its first regular-season visit to Miami since a 17-9 victory in 1976. The Cornhuskers were victorious on their last trip to South Florida, defeating Miami, 24-17, in the 1995 Orange Bowl to claim the national championship. The Hurricanes were outmatched by Nebraska in last season's 41-31 loss in Lincoln. Miami's last win against Nebraska was a 37-14 decision in the 2002 Rose Bowl, when the Hurricanes won their last national championship.Florida at Missouri, Oct. 10: Can Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk improve to 3-0 against Florida? The Gators have lost two in a row to Missouri, including a 42-13 drubbing for homecoming last year. The Gators will be out for payback at Missouri, where Florida fell, 36-17, on its last visit in 2013. Mauk made his first start in that game, throwing for 295 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers have won the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division each of the past two seasons.Miami at Florida State, Oct. 10: Miami led 23-7 in last year's game before the Seminoles rallied for a 30-26 win. Miami native Dalvin Cook ran for two scores, including a 26-yard touchdown with 3:05 remaining that proved to be the difference in the game. Florida State is 5-0 against Miami under Fisher. Bobby Bowden was in his 34th and final season at FSU in 2009 the last time the Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles. That game was, like this year's meeting, in Tallahassee.Florida State at Georgia Tech, Oct. 24: Florida State beat Georgia Tech to win Atlantic Coast Conference championships in 2012 and 2014, but the Yellow Jackets won the last two regular-season meetings. The Seminoles travel to Georgia Tech for the first time since a 31-28 loss in 2008. Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas ran for 104 yards and threw for 134 yards and a touchdown in last season's 37-35 conference championship game loss.Florida vs. Georgia, Oct. 31: Florida running back Kelvin Taylor carried the football 25 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns as the Gators snapped a three-game losing streak to Georgia in Jacksonville last season. Florida's 38-20 victory improved its record to 19-6 against the Bulldogs since 1990.Florida State at Clemson, Nov. 7: The winner of this rivalry game has represented the Atlantic Division in the ACC title game each year since 2009. Florida State narrowly escaped Clemson at home in a 23-17 overtime victory last season. The Seminoles have won three in a row, including a 51-14 walloping on their last trip to "Death Valley" in 2013. However, the Tigers won the previous five meetings at Clemson.Florida at South Carolina, Nov. 14: Steve Spurrier is 5-5 against his alma mater since becoming head coach at South Carolina in 2005. The Gamecocks have beaten the Gators in consecutive seasons, including a 23-20 overtime victory in Gainesville last year, and won four of the past five meetings.No description found
Miami at Florida Atlantic, Sept. 11: Miami makes the short trip north to Boca Raton for its first-ever visit to FAU Stadium. This Friday night game will give Florida Atlantic a chance to showcase its 5-year-old stadium against a marquee opponent. The Hurricanes soundly defeated the Owls, 34-6, the last time these teams met in the 2013 season opener.
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