Going Old School: "We'll Install Some Old-School Tactics"

"We're going to wipe the slate clean. During the next 10 days we will re-teach everything they've ever done. We'll install some old-school tactics."
New strength coach Todd Stroud at press conference

"Noles Should Make A Pit Stop For Some New Gear"

"With several new coaches on the payroll, including former Tiger Jimbo Fisher, I have no doubt that Florida State and the Seminole boosters have already emptied their wallets. However, one look at LSU - particularly the team's full-size indoor practice facility - and it's obvious the 'Noles should probably make a pit stop for some new gear on their way back to the top."
Florida Flambeau

Comment:Bobby Bowden has in fact been lobbying for an indoor facility for several years now.

"How You Take Care Of Them Is The Imperative Thing"

“Everybody in college football has facilities, 85 scholarships and there are huge populations everywhere which leads to more available talent.How you train them and take care of them is the imperative thing.”
Comments of new strength coach Todd Stroud

Stroud Named New Strength Coach For Noles

Florida State University Director of Athletics Dave Hart has announced that there has been a reorganization of the Florida State Strength and Conditioning department. Former Seminole Todd Stroud, who played nose guard for FSU from 1983-85, will return to his alma mater to handle the Strength and Conditioning responsibilities for the football program. Jon Jost, who has been with Florida State since February 2001, will continue as Director of Strength and Conditioning and will now work with the Seminole baseball team.

Stroud brings with him 21 years of coaching experience, including a seven-year stint at NC State as a member of Chuck Amato's staff where he served as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach from 2004-07 and Director of Strength and Conditioning coach from 2000-03.

"I am excited about the opportunity to come back home and get the chance to serve Coach Bowden and help FSU," Stroud said. "I have been a Seminole my entire life and this is a great time for Florida State football."

While with the Wolfpack, Stroud helped lead NC State to bowl game victories at the 2000 Micronpc.com Bowl, 2003 Gator Bowl and the 2003 Tangerine Bowl. He also coached Mario Williams, the No. 1 pick overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, and Manny Lawson, a NFL first round pick in 2006, to the All-ACC first team in 2005.

Noles Get Another One

The Seminoles picked up their eleventh commitment of 2008 and their third player on offense in less than a week when speedy athlete A.J. Alexander, one of the nation's top 75 overall prospects, confirmed Sunday that he has committed to FSU.

Alexander, who finished second in Pennsylvania Class 3A 100-meter dash and fifth in the 200, capped off his big weekend by committing to FSU assistant coach Rick Trickett on Saturday night. He was just one of three sprinters to make the finals in each event.

Alexander said that he received more than 40 scholarship offers before narrowing his final group to FSU, Georgia, Penn State and Pittsburgh. Alexander (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) finished his junior season at Altoona Area (Pa.) High with 26 touchdowns. He reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds and entered the state meet seeded first in the 100 meters with a time of 10.64 seconds.

In Memory

Bobby Bowden To Receive Another Award

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden, Wayne Reese head coach of the McDonogh #35 Roneagles, and Sports Columnist Peter Finney will be recognized for their contributions to football by The Touchdown Club of New Orleans during a banquet on June 16 at the Plimsoll Club atop the World Trade Center in New Orleans. Bowden will receive the collegiate award.

Noles Get Verbal Commit Number 10 For 2008

Avis Commack, a talented 6'4" wide receiver from First Coast,was added to the long early list of FSU commitments for the 2008 recruiting class. Thursday Commack made public that decision to become FSU's 10th commitment.

Noles Snag Another Verbal Commit For 2008

The Noles secured another verbal commitment for 2008 when Lincoln junior Jabaris Little committed to Florida State on Wednesday.He is the ninth prospect to orally commit to the Seminoles.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end also had offers from several other programs including Georgia, LSU, Southern Cal, South Florida and Alabama, but he said there were too many positive aspects to joining the Seminoles.

“It's close to home and I was always a fan of Florida State,” Little said. “There are a whole lot of different reasons."

Rolle In London

One FSU Seminole is spending time abroad. Sophomore rover Myron Rolle is spending part of his summer in London as part of FSU's International Programs. He provided some commentary from London:

"Big red busses, heavy foot traffic and smart-sounding accents. One can find all of these in London, England. I have been here for approximately two weeks. There are some experiences that I have enjoyed and others that I have not. Nevertheless, it is always interesting meeting new people, seeing historic sights and comparing my American culture with the British one.

We have visited several places around the city as well. We went to Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square and even the place where William Wallace ("Braveheart") was executed. Our tour guide always had a Ripleys-believe-it-or-not type story to accompany any place we visited. I was leaning on the "believe it not" side, but it was still interesting to hear the tales.

I got to meet up with former FSU National Champion and All-American Garrett Johnson. We were close friends when he was in school so it was great to spend a whole day with him here in London. He is doing well and adjusting to the European lifestyle. He is truly my role model and embodies everything an ideal scholar-athlete must possess - intelligence, discipline, confidence and a heart for helping others. He has been competing all around Europe and I am planning on traveling to Scotland to see him compete. Garrett also helped me locate a weight room near the FSU Study Centre that was conducive to the type of lifts I needed to perform. The gym is in a school of a UK Olympic thrower named Scott Rider. Don't worry, Coach Jost, I am still training and eating right - currently at 214 lbs. " (I guess that Myron hasn't heard that Jost may be gone or reassigned by the time he gets back)

FSU-Colorado Game To Be Televised Nationally On ESPN

ESPN announced today that Seminole fans will be able to watch the Noles make their first ever trip to Boulder to face Colorado live on ESPN.

The Saturday, Sept. 15 game between the Seminoles and Buffaloes was picked up by the network today and is scheduled for a 10 p.m. EST kickoff

With ESPN's decision to televise the Colorado game, two {Clemson and Colorado) of FSU's first three games in 2007 are already set to be seen from coast-to-coast.

And in honor of this event, here again is Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins in his famous rant:

Former FSU Linebacker Released By Bengals

The Bengals released former FSU linebacker A.J. Nicholson,who pled not guilty to assault charges on Monday.

The woman who claimed that Nicholson hit her, told reporters at his arraignment Monday that Nicholson never hit her.

Nicholson was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday, the first arrest of a Cincinnati Bengals' player since commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on misconduct last month.

Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2006, appeared in only two games last season, when he had a hamstring injury. Nicholson had last March pleaded no contest to burglary and grand theft in Tallahassee and was sentenced to two months in a work program. He had been charged with stealing electronic equipment and other items from the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.

This is a sad ending to such a promising career but is a necessary thing that the NFL is doing to cut down on the criminal conduct of many NFL players.

King Of The One Liners

Bobby Bowden is known for his wit and sense of humor and during his booster tour in Naples,he showed it with the following:

Someone asked him why Jimbo Fisher, Florida State's new offensive coordinator, left SEC juggernaut LSU to take the same position in Tallahassee. Before talking of Fisher's history with son Terry Bowden, the Florida State coach put his new assistant's decision to leave Baton Rouge in simple terms.

"We paid him more money," Bowden said, "than they did."

Another one-Someone else asked him about the quarterback situation at Florida State, where fourth-year juniors Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee are expected to battle through fall drills for the No. 1 spot. Bowden mentioned the heritage of QB excellence at the school, reminding that most of the great ones didn't start until late in their careers.

"Now Weinke started as a sophomore," Bowden said of Heisman winner Chris Weinke, who arrived at Florida State after playing six seasons of pro baseball, "but he was older than I was."

And it wouldn't be complete without a Chuck "The Chest" zinger:
Bowden also talked of the return of Chuck Amato to the Florida State coaching staff. He brought up the success the Seminoles had in Amato's first stint with the team, before the longtime Bowden assistant left to take the head job at N.C. State.

"And he beat us four times when he wasn't with us," Bowden said of Amato, who was fired after seven seasons as the Wolfpack coach. "So we bought him back."

Getting Them Early

At one of his recent booster outings, Bowden was asked about the early commitments FSU has in recruiting. Bowden responded by talking about the effect new player personnel director Bob LaCivita has had on recruiting. He said LaCivita's job is to get kids right after birth, put a ruler on them and if they measure up, sign them.

My Name Is "Buddy"

Dexter Carter Goes Country

As Bobby Bowden continues his golf tour around the state,Dexter Carter attended the recent Jacksonville booster event.In introducing Coach Bowden, Dexter told a story of when coach Bowden came to his house 21 years ago to recruit him. Dexter said he didn't have to come because he "had him at hello."

He further thanked Bowden for taking a chance on a 150-pound "soaking wet, runny-nosed Georgia kid" 21 years ago.

Is Another Coaching Change Being Weighed?

It is being reported that probably another coaching change is in the offing and it involves the strength and conditioning position currently held by Jon Jost.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding the rash of injuries that FSU football players have incurred for the last several years.

For the past two weeks, negotiations have apparently been under way that will restructure that program and responsibilities. FSU athletic department officials however are close mouthed in regard to any changes.

Former FSU defensive lineman Todd Stroud, who has served as a director of strength and conditioning at North Carolina State, Auburn and Samford, is being discussed as the likely candidate. That speculation was fueled during Stroud's long visit with Bobby Bowden on the practice field tower during spring drills

Trickett In The House

During the Bobby Bowden golf tour, there are other speakers that join the coach. Rick Trickett joined Bowden recently in Orlando and had some remarks:
Trickett joked about how running backs coach Dexter Carter has in his office every game ball he won and all these pictures. He said that if you are ever in Tallahassee, for $5 he would take you into the Dexter Carter Museum.

One player's mother apparently called Trickett talking about how her son was a five-star player and how great he was. Trickett said he told her that a bar had been set at FSU and it will not be lowered. If her son did not meet the bar, Trickett said, he would not play.

Trickett talked about the weight loss he's required of his players and how David Overmeyer's mother didn't recognize her son.

Is Tampa In the Running For ACC Championship Game?

The inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference football championship game in 2005 was a huge success as a packed stadium showed up to watch Florida State upset Virginia Tech before a prime-time national TV audience.

However, that was short lived as the ACC learned this past December. While other major conference championship games around the country were sold out - including the SEC Championship Game a few hundred miles away in Atlanta - Georgia Tech and Wake Forest played in a half-empty Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

The two teams were not the draws of a FSU, Virginia Tech, or Miami. The game was bad (Wake Forest squeezed out a 9-6 thriller) and the weather worse (rain and wind), leaving ACC officials contemplating moving the game from Jacksonville after only two years. In February, the league opted to pick up just one year of a two-year option with Jacksonville to serve as the game's host, a sign the league is ready to listen to other cities interested in the game.

With Tampa, Charlotte, N.C., Orlando and Baltimore competing for the game, Tampa is now considered Jacksonville's strongest rival at this point. Officials from those cities will be in Amelia Island at the ACC's annual spring meetings this week to gauge the league's interest. While the conference isn't expected to take official bids until after the 2007 game, the prep work has begun.

"We're just standing by waiting to see if, or when, the league sends it out to bid," said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. "We really enjoyed hosting the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament and we enjoy our partnership with the ACC. If anything does become available, we would love to be considered."

In March, Tampa received mostly rave reviews when the ACC's premier postseason event made a four-day stop at the St. Pete Times Forum. ACC commissioner John Swofford left town impressed, saying Tampa would be strongly considered as a future host of the tournament.

"Sports Gets Less and Less Civil"

"Sports gets less and less civil every year, because [society] is going crazy. If you won by 30 points every game, they would be so mad -- you should have won by 40. American people are spoiled. I'd be the same way if I was sitting in the stands."
Bobby Bowden comments on the state of sports today

113 Days And Counting

"Unhappiness Motivates Improvement"

"Bowden's legacy will not be his record of the most wins, but rather the strength of the Seminole program he leaves behind.

Unhappiness motivates improvement.

Seminole Nation was unhappy to say the least.

My goodness, how quickly things can turn about when you're willing and able to pay the cost of doing business at the championship level."
Charlie Barnes,May FSU Report To Seminole Boosters

"I Doubt I Can Go Past 87"

"This is my last shot. I'm 77 and I doubt I can go past 87."
Recent comment by Bobby Bowden

'The Plug Was Pulled"

"But something happened on Wednesday that rarely did during his Seminole days - the plug was pulled on the electrifying Deion. The former FSU cornerback and punt returner was not among the 12 former players and two coaches to be inducted as members of the hall's 2007 class. "
Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat, regarding Sanders not being inducted into HOF
Comment: I think Deion Sander's big mouth is the reason why he is not being recognized. He is unquestionably one of the best players ever to play at FSU but he has little regard for FSU or anything else.

Deion Sanders In Running For HOF And Barnhart Picks

Former FSU All-American Deion Sanders is one of 75 former college players on the ballot for the 2008 hall of fame class that will be announced Wednesday during a noon press conference in New York City. Defensive lineman Ron Simmons, FSU's first two-time consensus All-American at FSU , is also on the ballot. Simmons (1977-80) was considered to be Bobby Bowden's first nationally visible signee.

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Tony Barnhart, Mr. College Football at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, says FSU and Georgia Tech represent the best of their respective divisions. His picks in the Atlantic Division:
1) Florida State
2) Clemson
3) Wake Forest
4) Boston College
5) Maryland
6) NC State

"They Have Me Excited"

"Whether that's 10 with a bowl game or 11 with a bowl game, that's what I would want to happen. They have me excited. I think the quarterbacks will play better; the offensive line will play better. I think they will be more balanced on the offense. I think Chuck Amato on defense will be an impact and will create a nice working relationship with Mickey (Andrews) like the old days and (it) will result in a few more wins."
Terry Bowden commenting on the upcoming football season

"Now We're Spending It"

"As you know and the nation knows, Florida State has gone out and hired the best in the business. We've gone out and hired coaches that are not, 'Wonder if they're any good?' They're proven. And it cost a lot of money. We could have done this 10, five years ago, but we didn't want to spend the money. And now we're spending it."
Bobby Bowden speaking before Orlando FSU booster group on Saturday

The View From Atlanta

What the Atlanta Journal Constitution is saying about FSU:

WHAT WE LEARNED
Two new offensive coaches — coordinator Jimbo Fisher and line coach Rick Trickett — already have made their marks. "Those guys give us something that was missing," Bobby Bowden said. "I like what I see and I left them alone to do it." ... Antone Smith is ready to roll at tailback. With former FSU great Dexter Carter joining Bowden's staff as running backs coach and Trickett's line promising big holes, Smith could improve on his 5.2-yard-a-carry average. ... Special teams could be special, for a change. For the first time in his career, Bowden has assigned one of his assistants, Jody Allen, to be in charge of that area.

WHAT WE DIDN'T
Who'll start at quarterback come Sept 3? Fisher says an answer won't come until August. Drew Weatherford threw for 2,154 yards and 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. Xavier Lee's athleticism makes him hard to ignore. "I have an opinion," Bowden said, "but I'm keeping it to myself." ... How much of an impact will former N.C. State boss Chuck Amato have as linebackers coach? Better be a big one, with Lawrence Timmons and Buster Davis both off to the NFL. ... Is this schedule someone's idea of a practical joke? FSU plays only five home games after agreeing to play Alabama in Jacksonville. They open the season at Clemson and end it at Florida. In between: trips to Colorado, Boston College and Virginia Tech.

• Fall forecast: First in Atlantic

ACC Football And Clemson Violations

Atlantic Coast Conference football coverage on FSN South and SportSouth kicks off with a spring football edition of ACC All-Access hosted by reporter Heather Catlin. ACC All-Access debuts Tuesday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FSN South and Wednesday, May 9 at 10 p.m. ET on SportSouth.

Reporter Paul Crane highlights all 12 conference squads in a spring football round-up and provides key insight and commentary on the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions.

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Clemson revealed seven NCAA secondary violations Friday, including an instance in which an athlete's brother received free transportation, lodging and meals from an athletic booster while attending one of his sibling's road games last September.

That was among the two most serious, Level I violations the athletic department reported directly to the NCAA between July 1 and Feb. 1, according to documents released by the school. The names of those involved and the teams were not released, as per school policy, sports information director Tim Bourret said.

Noles Get Another Verbal Commitment for 2008

The Noles have grabbed their eighth verbal commitment for 2008.Defensive tackle Moses McCray (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) of Tampa Middleton High becomes the seventh high-school prospect to commit to FSU since last month's spring game.

McCray, the seventh defensive player to commit to FSU, confirmed his decision late Wednesday. He said opportunity on FSU's defensive line after the 2007 season figured into his decision. So did defensive-line coach Odell Haggins, who recruited him.

“I've been a 'Nole fan since I was little," McCray said. "(Haggins) is from the same area (Bartow). He's a religious man. He's real cool and nice. He's a good person.”

Rimington Nominees And USC-Virginia Game

Georgia Tech center Kevin Tuminello has been named to the Spring Watch List for the 2007 Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center.

A senior from Youngstown, Ohio, Tuminello enters his third season as the starting center for the Yellow Jackets. He has helped Tech to productive rushing offenses the last two years, paving the way for Atlantic Coast Conference rushing leader Tashard Choice in 2006.

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The Virginia football team will open its 2008 season at home against Southern California on Aug. 30 at Scott Stadium both schools announced today. Virginia will play the second game in the series during the 2010 season at The Los Angeles Coliseum on September 11. The 2008 match-up will be the first meeting between the Cavaliers and Trojans in football.

"The opportunity to open the 2008 season at home against a team of this caliber is truly exciting," said Executive Associate Director of Athletics Jon Oliver. "Coach Groh has worked hard to create a great college football atmosphere at Scott Stadium and our fans have been tremendous in supporting this effort. They deserve to see this type of game. I can promise we will introduce a couple of game day initiatives to support the excitement around the game."

The game marks a rare trek by USC to an Atlantic Coast Conference venue. The only previous occurrence was in 1998 when USC played at Florida State and lost 30-10 at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Trojans have played at current ACC member schools Miami (1966, L 10-7), Georgia Tech (1973, W 23-6) and Boston College (1988, W 34-7), but none of those games took place while their football programs were members of the ACC.
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University of North Carolina senior center Scott Lenahan has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List. The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the nation's top center. Former Tar Heel Jason Brown was a finalist for the award in 2004.

Lenahan started 11 of 12 games last season. The 6-1, 290-pound senior from Marietta, Ga., played on the first-team offense during the spring under new head coach Butch Davis. He will compete with Ben Lemming for the starting spot this fall.

"Under The Lights" Set To Air

Press Release for Sun Sports Special:

Back for the second consecutive year, Sun Sports' acclaimed UNDER THE LIGHTS: SEMINOLES SPRING FOOTBALL is a one-of-a-kind television show that is sure to have FSU football fans pumped up for this coming fall. Not only does the show offer early insight from the players and coaches on the `Noles upcoming season, it also offers fans a backstage pass to the unique sights and sounds from FSU spring football in Tallahassee. It's a show unlike any other offering rare access with players wearing microphones during scrimmages and letting fans see and hear first-hand what goes on. Sun Sports goes inside the locker room, into the conditioning room, around campus and closer to the action, uncovering the personalities of players and coaches.

Hosted by Sun Sports' Tom Block, this season's UNDER THE LIGHTS: SEMINOLES SPRING FOOTBALL begins by introducing fans to the new, and some familiar, faces on the FSU coaching staff. Jimbo Fisher, offensive coordinator, and Rick Trickett, offensive line coach, are charged with reinvigorating the offense and fans will hear from them first-hand and watch as they guide players through spring practice. Viewers will also hear from former FSU players and now members of Head Coach Bobby Bowden's coaching staff, Dexter Carter and Lawrence Dawsey, as well as Chuck Amato, who has returned to FSU as executive associate head coach and linebackers coach.

Finally, it's time for the big game - the annual Garnet & Gold game. UNDER THE LIGHTS®: SEMINOLES SPRING FOOTBALL follows all the excitement from the tailgaters in the parking lot, to the mood in the locker room during pre-game preparations, to the action on the field. Rolle and receiver De'Cody Fagg wear microphones during the game so fans can listen in.

UNDER THE LIGHTS: SEMINOLE SPRING FOOTBALL premieres statewide 5/4, 6pm with replays scheduled on Sun Sports 5/7, 11:30am; 5/13, 3:30pm; 5/15, 5pm; 5/18, 6pm; 5/21, 9pm; 5/22, 4pm; 5/28, 11:30am; 6/3, 1pm; and 6/11, 11:30am (ET).

FSU Ranks High With NFL

This weekend's NFL draft once again illustrated just how highly NFL teams think of players who have worn the Garnet & Gold. With five Seminoles chosen, FSU was tied for the most players chosen from any school in this year's draft. Below are a few other facts backing up FSU's case as one of the most productive universities when it comes to placing players into the NFL.

• With five players selected in the 2007 NFL draft, Florida State now leads all schools with the most players drafted (97) since 1993.

• When Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons was chosen as the 15th overall selection in the first round of the NFL Draft, it marked the third straight year the Seminoles have had a No. 1 selection. Florida State has had at least a No. 1 draft selection in 13 of the last 17 years and has had either a No. 1 or 2 pick in 16 of those 17 years, having just a third round pick in 1996. Since 1988, the Seminoles have had 46 players selected in either the first or second round of the NFL Draft.

• FSU is tied with Tennessee, Miami and Ohio State for the most players (5) taken among the first 128 picks in the draft.
• When you combine the last three drafts, FSU has tied its record of 22 players taken over three consecutive years. FSU had 22 players taken from 1993-95 and the same number from 04-06
• FSU has had at least one WR selected in the NFL draft in each of the last eight years, 13 of the last 15 and 15 of the last 18 NFL drafts.
• Six FSU linebackers have been taken over the last four drafts
• Six FSU OL have been taken over the last five drafts
• Three of the last four years have seen an FSU RB drafted
• Heading into the NFL Draft, the ACC, with 17 first-round selections, has had more players chosen in the first round of the NFL draft than any other conference during the 2005 and 2006 drafts. The Conference also has had the most overall players drafted, having had 87 selected in the past two years of the NFL draft including 51 last year.

Bobby Bowden Response To Warren Appeal

Bobby Bowden was not present at the Brandon Warren hearing last Friday. He did however submit a letter which in part said:

""When Brandon came by my office in January 2007 to tell me he wanted to transfer from FSU, I told him I would not even consider it. If players are allowed to break a contract whenever they wish, we do not need the national letter-of-intent. Without it, we would allow unscrupulous coaches to steal players from other schools. It would cost thousands of dollars every time this occurs.

"I would like to see Brandon become a man and honor his commitment."

I agree. Commitments and your word should mean something.