The following article was written by guest writer Bill Bishop. If you'd like to contact Bill with questions or comments about the article, email myself or Joshua J.
Florida State Seminole football. The Streak. Wide Right 1 and 2. If you have ever wandered down Tennessee Street in Tallahassee, Florida, you understand. Florida State football is often a matter of incredible highs and gut-wrenching lows. Neither fades with time, you just have to decide where you want to focus your thoughts. FSU football once spent fifteen years ranked in the top-five. The 1990’s saw two National Championships and made Charlie Ward a household name throughout the Southeast. FSU recruited a run of NFL players unseen outside of the Big Ten. Glory days, indeed.
Since the turn of the century, life around Doak Campbell Stadium has been less than what many North Floridians hoped. The embarrassing loss to Oklahoma - when the high-powered offense could only manage two measly points; Chris Rix and Xavier Lee; Classroom scandals, and a loss to woeful Kentucky in the Music City Bowl; The unceremonious dismissal of Bobby Bowden… The mighty had fallen.
2010 saw the ushering (rushing?) in of the Jimbo Fisher era. Ten wins; Return to the ACC championship game; an always-welcome victory over Steve Spurrier in a bowl game; a heralded recruiting class; a first round draft pick QB. Could life be turning around?
Last Saturday the sun was shining in Doak Campbell stadium again. Expectations were as lofty as the pre-season #6 ranking. The Seminoles boast a team with returning starters on both lines and at many skill positions. On offense, EJ Manuel is the new Charlie - Big, strong, talented, intelligent. He’ll be complimented by 7 returning starters on offense, including both OT’s, a guard, running back, wide receivers, and a tight-end. The biggest question on the O-line is JUCO transfer Jacob Fahrenkrug at center, since he didn’t actually play the position in junior college. If he adjusts, life up front will be good. The offense did notch an unexpected loss when wide receiver Taiwan Easterling decided to pursue a baseball career full-time rather than return to the football field. Speed is difficult to replace. Against Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday, the ‘Noles put up 34 points. On the surface, that’s not like the crazy hey days of the 90’s when half-a-hundred was the norm. However, Manuel completed 65% of his passes (22-34) for 252 yards and hit ten different receivers. Casey Weldon and Thad Busby had to be pleased.
Defensively, the boys in garnet return 8 starters from last season. Defensive end Brandon Jenkins is a consensus pre-season All-American. Linebacker Nigel Bradham is on the Butkus Award pre-season watch list. Anthony McCloud (NG) and Everett Dawkins (DT) are also returning starters on the line. Both safeties and corners are returning starters. Experience led to the shutout last Saturday: Zero points. 10 tackles for loss. 5 sacks. If the 'Noles D can keep this up, Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops will rest a bit more comfortably in Mickey Andrews’ old office. Marvin Jones and Peter Boulware had to be pleased.
If you follow college football, you know that in two weeks FSU will host the Oklahoma Sooners. Two weeks is a long time. By then, the Sooner Schooner could be headed for the PAC 12.. 14..? 16..? Although I haven’t been skiving through the old haunts on Tennessee Street for a few years, I know most of the talk in the taverns will be about that game. Charleston Southern is actually the next tune-up, but, really it’s just an excuse to tailgate.
Two weeks. Can Jimbo and this group of talented ‘Noles put the team back on that national championship stage? The media will still talk about last year’s blowout in Norman. Seminole fans still want to wipe 2000's two point game off the books and reboot the Dynasty. We like to focus on the incredible highs.
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