Nole Watch

Six Seminole football players, three from the offense and three from the defense, have been named to award watch lists for 2008. Everette Brown, Derek Nicholson and Myron Rolle were named as candidates for the 14th annual Chuck Bednarik Award. In addition, Greg Carr, Antone Smith and Drew Weatherford were placed on the watch list for the 72nd Maxwell Award. Each list is comprised of 75 players who were selected based on their performance in 2007

The Maxwell Award is presented to the outstanding collegiate football player in America and the Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great.

"... the offense is going to be a big concern for the Seminoles. "

"As it seems every year, the offense is going to be a big concern for the Seminoles. Quarterback Drew Weatherford is now a senior and he is going to need to live up to expectations and really step it up this year."
onlinesportshandicapping.com analysis of 2008 Noles

" I've got to be very very careful in the position...."

"I've got to be very very careful in the position that I am in, not to become an FSU shill, you don't last 20 years on national television by loving a school as much as I do and talking about it. You've got to be very careful, because most of the guys up at ESPN, they've never been near Florida State."
Former Nole and now ESPN analyst Lee Corso regarding FSU as quoted by WCTV in Tallahassee

Noles Hire Kerns From "Cradle Of Equipment Managers"

Miami University of Ohio has long been known as the "Cradle of Coaches." If that is the case, observers are saying that Marshall High in Missouri should be called the "Cradle of Equipment Managers."

At one time, three Marshall grads were working in that capacity in the NFL. The most senior of that group was recently hired by Florida State University. Darin Kerns, Marshall High Class of 1984 who worked in the NFL for 18 years is now in a similar position for the Noles.

Kerns most recently worked at the University of Minnesota where he introduced Riddell's Head Impact Technology System. Using sensors inside the helmet, all contact is automatically recorded by computer and used to assess potential concussive effects of hits.

Noles Pick Up 12th Commit For 2009

The Noles went out of state to Texas to get their 12th commitment for the 2009 class. Dustin Hopkins, a 6'2" 174 lb. kicker from Clear Lake High School in Texas gave the Noles his verbal commit on Wednesday.

Hopkins was named First Team All-State 5A at kicker and is ranked by some as the the #1 ranked kicker.

Comments from kicking coaches state that he is strong, consistent, and mentally tough. ESPN says that he is a "...talented kicker who has a very strong leg. His kickoffs are deep or out of the end zone; good hang on kickoffs."

Here is a clip from a kicking camp that Hopkins attended: Dustin Hopkins Kicking Camp

Noles To Play Michigan ?

We have another let's throw darts and see who will play in the bowls this season. The latest is from ESPN's Mark Schlabach. He has the Noles playing in the Champs Sports Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines.

New Additions To Doak In 2008

Doak Campbell Stadium will be getting a new look for the upcoming season. There will be two new scoreboards and over 500 feet of LED ribbon boards.

For a look at the work in progress, click here.

" His high school coaches did a great job with him...."

"His high school coaches did a great job with him in the weight room, so fundamentally he's very sound in what we're doing. He just needs conditioning in the heat. He needs to (acclimate) to the college game and the speed of the college game."
FSU Strength and Conditioning coach Todd Stroud regarding Class 4-A all-state first-teamer Nigel Carr as quoted in The Tallahassee Democrat

Speed Drills

Last week, many Seminole football players participated in speed drills with of course the exciting 40-yard dash. And the winner was cornerback Patrick Robinson who ran a sub-4.3 40. In addition, incoming freshman QB E.J. Manuel ran an eye popping 4.61.

Noles Go Pink

The Noles have gone pink. As in Victoria Secret pink. Limited Brands, owned by Victoria's Secret, is now offering a loungewear line in co-operation with 33 universities. And you guessed it, FSU is one of the schools now in the pink. Nole logos will adorn sweat pants, tank tops and panty sets. Prices will range from $25 to $55. According to reports, the target customer is a 19-year-old college sophomore.

Bobby Gets A Parade

Bobby Bowden is heading a parade. However, it is not in Tallahassee or even Florida. Bowden is attending The Alabama Sports Festival in Birmingham, Alabama, and will be given the Empowering Hands Award during Friday night's opening ceremonies. The coach will also be grand marshal of the Parade of Athletes which is part of the sports festval.

"... that’s three too many. "

“If you sign five kids in West Virginia, that’s three too many.”
FSU Offensive Lines coach Rick Trickett on recruiting kids from West Virginia, his native state, as quoted in The Orlando Sentinel

Graham Gets Diverted

Former Nole starting tight end Charlie Graham has agreed to the terms of a pre-trial diversion program as a first-time offender related to a misdemeanor charge of firing a handgun into the air last month.

Graham is currently in junior college for the spring semester and hopes to re-enroll at FSU before the start of the 2008 season.

The incident involved Graham firing a .32-caliber semiautomatic handgun that he legally owned into the air, telling officers that he didn't intend to harm anyone and that he made a "stupid decision."

Fisher Takes On Fans On Wednesday

FSU Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher will take questions this Wednesday, June 18th in his first ever live video chat on Seminoles.com. This will be a free service that will allow Florida State fans across the globe to interact with Coach Fisher.

Fans can submit questions early but should click on below link on Wednesday at 7:00pm for a live video chat with Coach Fisher.

Jimbo Fisher Live

And The Winner Is...

850 The Buzz in Raleigh, North Carolina has compiled a list of the five worst groups of fans in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

And the winner is- Maryland, whose followers are described by the Buzz as "crude, disgusting, and at times dangerous." The rest of the top five includes NC State at number 5, Duke at number 4, Clemson at number 3, and Miami at number 2.

" I’m fixing to give these junkies a fix.”

“I’m almost like heroin. I’m fixing to give these junkies a fix.”
Offensive lines coach Rick Trickett telling Orlando Sentinel's Andrew Carter what he was thinking as he prepared to discuss FSU football with the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando

FSU To Meet The Irish?

Ok, it's hot and there's not a lot going on in the world of college football. Therefore, from the let's just have fun department comes this fearless prediction from Phil Steele who has a college football magazine. In his bowl projections, he has FSU meeting Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

King Of The One Liners

You just have to love Offensive Lines coach Rick Trickett. He rides a Harley and talks big. Now if he will walk the walk the Noles may have something. Going into the upcoming season, Trickett will have four sophomores and seven freshmen. No Juniors or Seniors. A daunting task to say the least.

Trickett recently spoke to the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando. If he ever gets out of coaching, he may want to think about the comedy field. When asked about players wearing earrings, he said this. “I keep ‘em and don’t give ‘em back … I know girls like it but ain’t no girls in that room when they’re in there with me.”

How about this one? When asked about saggy pants, he stated , "I see their underwear, it’s five hundred up downs right on the spot. Right now. We don’t do it.”

Blunt and to the point with a touch of humor. Hopefully that is a combination for success.

" He's going to be good. "

"The first day of seven-on-sevens, he was out here making diving catches. He can really move. He's going to be good."
FSU Sophomore QB Christian Ponder commenting on 6-2, 220-pound receiver Jarmon Fortson as quoted in The Tallahassee Democrat

"... he's going to be a really good player."

"Preliminarily looking at Fortson is that he's going to be a really good player. I got a good vibe from him in the weight room."
Strength and conditioning coach Todd Stroud as quoted in Florida Flambeau regarding 2008 recruit Jarmon Fortson who is already practicing with the team

In Their Wake

This is the time of year when we as Nole fans watch games of the Nole glory years and browse the myriad preseason college football magazines to see where the Noles are in the rankings. Here's a hint. Look toward the bottom.

The latest preason college football magazine, Lindy's, has FSU at number 25 while Athlon's has the Noles at 26. Lindys does say that the Noles have unfulfilled talent in such players as Myron Rolle, Patrick Robinson, Tony Carter and Greg Carr. However, the magazine points out that in the Atlantic Division, the Noles will be looking up at number 10 Clemson and will even be in the wake of number 16 Wake Forest.

The Heat Is On

Although off season conditioning and workouts is not the most exciting part of football or gets a lot of attention, it is very important for the ultimate success of the team.The Seminole football team this past week began conditioning under coaching supervision for the first time since the Garnet and Gold game in April.

Fighting intense heat, the 'Noles were led by strength and conditioning coach Todd Stroud in the first week of mandatory sessions. The current workout schedule will continue for the next few weeks until the summer break. Then Florida State will get their first look at the 2008 recruiting class.

Relive The Glory Years

What better way to beat the heat, be a couch potato, and relive some of the glory games of the Seminoles.

Back for its fourth season, Sun Sports is airing its series, GRIDIRON GREATS. All games replay once the following week. Nole games that will be featured are:

6/14/08:7pm Florida State @ Florida (11/27/93)

Charlie Ward hit Warrick Dunn on a 79-yard TD pass with less than three minutes to go as the Seminoles beat the Gators 33-21 in Gainesville thanks in large part to an FSU defense that held the Florida rushing attack to -33 total yards.
Commentary by Warrick Dunn, William Floyd and Derrick Brooks

6/21/08:9:30pm 1981 Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Oklahoma (1/1/81)

With time running out and the Seminoles leading 17-10 Oklahoma QB JC Watts throws an 11-yard TD pass, and then is successful on the 2-pt. conversion as the Sooners beat FSU 18-17.
Commentary by Rick Stockstill, Monk Bonasorte and Ron Simmons

6/28/08:7:30pm 1988 Fiesta Bowl: Florida State vs. Nebraska (1/1/88)

With 6:38 left in the game, FSU took over at its own 3-yard line, trailing 28-24. Down to a daunting fourth-and-goal situation from the 15-yard line, Danny McManus hit WR Danny Lewis in the end zone for the go-ahead score with only 3:07 remaining.
Commentary by Danny McManus, Sammie Smith, Dane Williams and Victor Floyd

7/5/08:6:30pm Florida @ Florida State (12/1/90)

It was the first FSU/UF game under coach Steve Spurrier and the Gators were going for their first 10-win season. FSU's Lawrence Dawsey scored on a 76-yard TD pass on the second play of the game and the `Noles went on to beat the Gators 45-30.
Commentary by Casey Weldon, Amp lee, Terrell Buckley, Lawrence Dawsey, Matt Frier, Kirck Carruthers and Bill Ragans

7/5/08:9:30pm Florida State @ Florida (11/30/91)

Shane Matthews throws two TD passes and the Gator defense keeps Heisman Trophy runner-up Casey Weldon and the Seminoles out of the end zone late in the 4th quarter to preserve the 14-9 victory.
Commentary by Brad Culpepper, Shane Matthews and Casey Weldon

7/12/08:3:30pm 1994 Orange Bowl (National Championship): Florida State vs. Nebraska (1/1/94)

True freshman kicker Scott Bentley nails a 22-yarder with 21 seconds to go, vaulting the `Noles to the 18-16 victory to claim the school's first national championship.
Commentary by William Floyd, Derrick Alexander and Ken Alexander

7/12/08:6:30pm Florida State @ Michigan (9/28/91)

FSU travels to Ann Arbor to face #3 ranked Michigan in front of 106,000 fans. The Wolverines were led by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard but on the second play of the game Terrell Buckley intercepts and returns for a TD as the Seminoles go on to rout Michigan 51-31.
Commentary by Casey Weldon, Amp lee, Terrell Buckley, Lawrence Dawsey, Matt Frier, Kirk Carruthers and Ken Alexander.

8/2/08:9:30pm Florida State @ Florida (11/22/97)

With the #1-ranked Seminoles coming to the Swamp, the Gators and head coach Steve Spurrier used a bit of trickery with a rotation of QBs and confused Florida State enough to beat the Tribe in an upset.
Commentary by Doug Johnson and Travis McGriff

8/9/08:4pm Florida @ Florida State (11/26/94)

In one of the most remarkable comebacks in NCAA college football history, the Seminoles scored 28 points in the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the Gators 31-31 in what has since become known as "The Choke at Doak."
Commentary by Kez McCorvey, Andre Cooper and Daryl Bush

8/16/08:3:30pm Florida State @ Florida (12/2/89)

P.T. Willis capped off a best single season by any QB in FSU history by passing for 319 yds, his sixth 300-yd. game of the year as FSU finished strong holding off a stingy and tenacious Gator team and claim a 24-17 victory.
Commentary by P.T. Willis, Terry Anthony, Bruce LaSane, Lawrence Dawsey, Odell Haggins, Reggie Johnson, LeRoy Butler, Dexter Carter

8/23/08:2:30pm Florida State @ Miami (10/7/00)

Matt Munyon's 49-yard FG attempt sailed wide right as time expired sealing Miami's miraculous 27-24 victory over the Seminoles in a game that featured over 1,000 combined yards of total offense.
Commentary by Ken Dorsey and Joaquin Gonzalez

8/23/08:5pm Florida @ Florida State (11/29/86)

In a driving rain on a muddy field, UF registered a 17-13 comeback win against Florida State in front of a school record crowd of 62,307 at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Commentary by Kerwin Bell, Ernie Mills, Ricky Nattiel and Jarvis Williams

NOTE: For out-of-state viewers with digital cable, many games will also air on Fox College Sports. Check www.foxcollegesports.com for airdates/times.

" I don't want people to think I have a bitterness toward Florida State."

" Nobody can take away the fact that I'm a Seminole. I watched every game last year. I don't want people to think I have a bitterness toward Florida State."
Lorenzo Booker as quoted on 1270 The Team radio sports show attempting to clarify his remarks in a Philadelphia article

Can You Hear Me Now?

Here's a shocker. Jeff Bowden was not a good offensive coach and now we are hearing that from former Noles who played under the talent challenged Bowden. The latest is former Nole running back Lorezo Booker.

Booker who is now on the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded by the Dolphins recounted his experiences in an article in the phillyBurbs.com site. Booker recounts that he was upset at the fact that Jeff Bowden was unwilling to take a measure of responsibility for FSU’s failures.

“Jeff Bowden would consistently come into meetings and tell us it was all our fault,” said Booker. And here's a surprise. According to Booker, “ He told one coach, ‘I just call plays off the top of my head.’ He went on to say that "There was just no accountability."

Jeff Bowden's response to the article? “It would be wise to not comment” on what Booker said. I guess over a half million dollar buy out allows you to just stay calm and say nothing.

" President Wetherell's statements were counterproductive...."

"Let me be very clear to tell you I don't agree with the Florida State president. I don't support a playoff. President Wetherell's statements were counterproductive because those who support a Plus-1 do not support a playoff."
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive's reaction to FSU President T.K. Wetherell's statement that a college football playoff is inevitable

Cupcake Time

The ACC has released its early schedule and playing times including the times for FSU and its two cupcakes.

The Noles will open the 2008 season at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 6 versus Western Carolina in Tallahassee and the second game on Sept. 13 versus Chattanooga is slated for 3:45 p.m. on ESPNU.

Bobby's Vision

You have to wonder if an indoor practice facility should be at the top of Bobby Bowden's priorities but apparently it is. How many games did FSU lose in the last couple of years due to the fact that that there was not an indoor practice facility? Zero. And yet it seems that this is Bobby's vision and therefore it is FSU's vision.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that during the university's monthly athletic-committee meeting last week, it was announced that FSU hopes to have selected by July an architectural firm to provide a feasibility study to give an estimated cost of the project and a location for the facility to be built.

FSU Athletic Director Randy Spetman apparently wants a multipurpose facility that could be utilized by several other sports. Heading the fundraising effort for the indoor facility is Jimbo Fisher who during Bowden's annual spring booster tour called on FSU supporters to open their wallets in support of the indoor facility.

" Bobby doesn't know why his players pack pistols...."

" Joe hates the Internet. Bobby hates beating or being beaten by his boys. Bobby doesn't know why his players pack pistols, pot, and speed around the Gold Coast. Joe has no idea why his wide receiver pulled out a blade and tried to stab an offensive lineman on campus."
Dan Boone,Bleacher Report, regarding Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden

Bo Goes FSU

Hoping to bolster the tight end position, FSU has secured a signed letter of intent from Fort Lauderdale Dillard's Bo Reliford, a tight end who stands at 6-foot-8. "The big fellow is headed up to Florida State," said Dillard coach Keith Franklin. "He's an outstanding athlete. First team in football and basketball."

Reliford is considered a member of the 2008 recruiting class and has a chance to make an immediate impact due to the fact that starting tight end Caz Piurowski is ineligible for the first three games and Jonathan Hannah's status is uncertain because of academics.