Recommendations from One FSU Fan

I found this on one of the sports message boards and thought it was an interesting list of recommendations:

1. Demote Jeff Bowden to receiver's coach, if he wants to stay. When he had that job, he did it well and our receivers did not drop balls and could block downfield on runnng plays. (When was the last time anyone saw a receiver actually block downfield for a run?)

2. Hire a new offensive coordinator. We should find and hire the best in the nation and pay him whatever it takes to get him.

3. Mark McHale, our offensive line coach, should be placed on notice by Dave Hart that McHale has one year to solve the problems with our line (a lack of run blocking or pass blocking - actually any semblence of blocking at all!). If he does not do so, he should be replaced.

4. Immediately fire Darryl Dickey and hire a new quarterback coach. F.S.U. has produced a number of quaterbacks over the years that might do well in this capacity (Danny Kannell might be a good candidate and he has NFL experience).

5. Hire a good special teams coach. Our special teams coaching has been horrible all year (e.g.; the fielding of kick-offs against UF - twice we did not get beyong the 10-yard line). Mickey Andrews should focus his genius solely on the defense. Hiring a special teams coach will permit Coach Andrews to focus his efforts where they belong.

6. Billy Sexton should also be told that major improvements to the running game must occur next year if he is to keep his job. We have three of the best running backs in the nation. For F.S.U. to have the worst rushing attack in 32 years is incomprehensible and unacceptable.

In short, we need new ideas from our offensive coaching staff; the current staff cannot get the job done and have not been getting the job done for more than 5 years. Please remember our problems began with the horrible play calling and offensive execution against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl/National Championship Game in 2001. That game was Jeff Bowden's first game as offensive coordintor.

Dave Hart needs to have a long and very direct discussion with Coach Bowden. If he is truly honest with himself, Coach Bowden with agree that offensive coaching changes are warranted because the current coaches are not getting the job done. Based on his comments after the UF game in his press conference, I believe that Coach Bowden really knows intelectually what needs to be done; for obvious reasons he can't admit it to himself.

If we do not take prompt, decisive steps to remedy the problems that are obvious to every analyst that has looked at them, I fear that our recruiting will be damaged. I am seriously concerned that the great athletes will decide to move to more competitive programs that are doing what it takes to be successful.

Coach Hart should do his part to help Coach Bowden make the painful decisions necessaary to restore F.S.U.'s program to the level it enjoyed from 1987 until 2000. If he does, we and Coach Bowden can all enjoy Seminole football the way Boach Bowden built it to be.