West Virginia University Safety Robert Sands is not a fan of Florida State and he's not bashful in saying so.

"I don't like them," Sands told MetroNews Tuesday. "I don't like Florida State; never have, never will."

Sands grew up in Miami and was a fan of the Miami Hurricanes. "We never did like Florida State. This (Gator Bowl) is a tremendous thing for me because I always wanted to go up against them," Sands said.

The sophomore defender also said Tuesday he doesn't believe Florida State, despite the Mountaineers 9-3 record, has any respect for West Virginia. "They think we're a bunch of slow hillbillies, I guess, no disrespect, but they think of us as nothing and beneath them. Even though we have a better record than them, we are coming in as the underdogs," Sands said.

Sands says for him playing the Seminoles is like playing Pitt and he anticipates he'll have a big game. "I'm going to go out there and make my presence felt out there on the field. They are going to know where I am at all times," Sands said. 

Sands believes the entire state has a message to send to Friday's opponent. "We've got a chip on our shoulder. We got something to prove, not only to ourselves, but to the world. They need to know that West Virginia is not a state that needs to be pushed over," Sands said.