"... they've shown a different attitude."

"In the off-season so far, they've shown a different attitude."
Jimbo Fisher regarding FSU wideouts and their off-season training as quoted in Palm Beach Post

Fore!

Want to see Bobby Bowden make more bogeys than there are holes in swiss cheese? If so, Bobby Bowden may be coming to a town near you if you are in Florida or the southeast. The occasion will be the annual Bobby Bowden spring booster tour.

To top off the tour, there will be a roast of Bowden that is scheduled for May 21st at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club.

Here are the dates:
April 13 – Orange Park
April 16 – Pensacola
April 17 – Panama City
April 20 – Atlanta
April 23 – Lake City
April 24 – Polk County
April 25 – Miami
April 27 – Wakulla
April 29 – Orlando (private event)
April 30 – Tampa (private event)
May 1 – Tampa
May 2 – Orlando
May 4 – Jacksonville
May 5 – Ocala
May 6 – South Florida (private event)
May 7 – South Florida (private event)
May 8 – Fort Lauderdale
May 9 – West Palm Beach
May 14 – Bradenton
May 15 – Pinellas
May 16 – Fort Myers
May 18 – North Carolina (private event)
May 19 – North Carolina (private event)
May 20 – North Carolina (private event)

"... they're not going to get enough reps."

"You start working with three and four and they're not going to get enough reps."
Bobby Bowden commenting that having only two scholarship QBs for spring practice is a good thing as quoted in St. Pete Times

Noles To Begin Spring Practice On March 16

The Noles had originally scheduled the beginning of spring practice to be next Monday. However, Florida State has pushed back the start of spring practice to March 16. FSU decided it would be better to start after spring break, which begins on March 9, instead of starting practices and having a long layoff.

The spring game will still be on April 4, but now FSU will have two practices after the spring game.

Texas Producing QBs

So what state produces the most college quarterbacks? Turns out that Texas in the past three recruiting classes has produced 73 quarterbacks who have signed with Division I-A teams. And 15 of the teams that finished in the top 25 this past season signed quarterbacks from the Lone Star State. FSU recently signed QB Will Secord from the Dallas area and also has Christian Ponder who is from Texas.

" It was really a worst-case scenario. "

" It was really a worst-case scenario. You have a home team, a team that doesn't travel and a bad economy. "
Music City Bowl President Scott Ramsey regarding the huge decrease to the local economy with the Boston College-Vanderbilt game

Note: The local economy had a decrease of more than $17 million from the 2007 bowl which pitted FSU against Kentucky

" I was hoping I'd squeeze in there...."

"I was hoping I'd squeeze in there, but it's obviously difficult to invite a kid who didn't play (much) his senior year."
Drew Weatherford who was not invited to participate in the NFL scouting combine as quoted in St. Pete Times

Will Leach Be Thrown Overboard?

So will Texas Tech fire head football coach Mike Leach? Looks that way. Leach who has an obsession wth pirates and is let's be kind a little eccentric has turned down a five year, $12.7 million contract extension from the university.

He had until Tuesday to accept the offer but Leach declined due to a few clauses that the university wanted in his new contract. Seems Leach doesn't want to have to notify the university when he interviews with another university and also doesn't want to have to buyout his contract if he gets a better deal elsewhere.

The university has called a special teleconference Friday afternoon amid growing speculation that the school is preparing to say adios to Leach. I say good for the university. We need more schools taking stands against coaches who believe they are above the entire program.

____
So where is football a way of life? Try Nebraska. The University of Nebraska has sold 63,000 tickets for its spring game, with officials expecting a sellout of 81,067. A reserved ticket is going for $10.
____
Speaking of coaches being prima donnas, how about reporters who cover them? Seems that ESPN sideline reporter Stacey Dales has left the network over a travel provision. Dales reportedly was unhappy flying coach while many of her colleagues were flying first class. Poor baby having to endure coach with all the other peasants.

"... bell cows that we throw out there that are great examples of hard work."

" Now that you have a few bell cows that we throw out there that are great examples of hard work."
FSU strength and conditioning coach Todd Stroud regarding mat drills that began last week as quoted in Tallahassee Democrat

" We have the talent to do it...."

"That's one thing about this team. We have the talent to do it, we've just got to pull it together."
FSU wide receiver Bert Reed as quoted on ESPN

Easterling Sustains Ruptured Achilles

ESPN is reporting that Florida State wide receiver Taiwan Easterling will miss spring practice with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. Easterling is scheduled to have surgery in a week. This obviously is not good news for the receiver corps with the departure of Greg Carr and the dismissal of Preston Parker.

" I'd rather play it later...."

" I think I'm probably like Miami; I'd rather play it later, but this is just too good of a deal to turn down."
Bobby Bowden regarding the upcoming FSU-Miami game Sept. 7 on Labor Day on ESPN as quoted in St. Pete Times

It's Official- Noles Take On Canes On Labor Day

The ACC today released its conference schedule and as expected, the Noles will kickoff the season againt the Hurricanes on Labor Day on ESPN at 8 PM.

The FSU 2009 Schedule:

Sept. 7 Miami Tallahassee, FL

Sept. 12 Jacksonville State Tallahassee, FL

Sept. 19 BYU Provo, UT

Sept. 26 USF Tallahassee, FL

Oct. 3 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA

Oct. 10 Georgia Tech Tallahassee, FL

Oct. 17 OPEN

Oct. 22 North Carolina (Thurs) Chapel Hill, NC

Oct. 31 NC State Tallahassee, FL

Nov. 7 Clemson Clemson, SC

Nov. 14 Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC

Nov. 21 Maryland Tallahassee, FL

Nov. 28 Florida Gainesville, FL

Jacksonville State May Be On Noles' Schedule For 2009

As reported, it looks as if the FSU-Miami game on Labor Day is a gimme but not yet announced. In order to avoid a huge amount of money to pay to Maine, FSU and the ACC are looking to find a suitable opponent for Maine which looks as if it may be Syracuse.

If the Noles take Maine off their schedule, they need another I-AA opponent to play on Sept. 12. The school is expected to be Jacksonville State. This is a school that has been willing to play the likes of Kansas, Memphis, and Georgia Tech for nice paydays. The Gators even have them scheduled for a game in 2012.

Noles Working To Drop Maine For Hurricanes On Labor Day

According to Maine's Bangor Daily News newspaper, FSU is working to be released from a matchup with the Noles and the University of Maine scheduled for September 5. Instead, if the plans are finalized,the Noles would be playing Miami in a nationally televised (ESPN) Labor Day (Sept. 7) night contest against the University of Miami.

“It was ultimately being driven by the ACC’s need to have Florida State in a different game on a given weekend,” UMaine athletic director Blake James said Monday of the pending switch.

“I don’t believe we’ll be playing Florida State [in 2009],” said James, who pointed out UMaine will still receive the $450,000 it had previously been guaranteed for the game.

" After the game somebody will always tell me how he did."

“After games, I’ll find out. Sometimes I’ll check at halftime. After the game somebody will always tell me how he did.”
Bobby Bowden admitting he keeps up with Joe Paterno during the season as quoted in the Daily Citizen (Dalton.Ga.) speaking at Faith and Football Day at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church

"... that's what's going to make our backfield so good."

"Everybody has a different style of running the ball and that's what's going to make our backfield so good."
FSU running back Tavares Pressley commenting on the upcoming season as quoted in Tallahassee Democrat

Note: Pressley was a junior college transfer from El Camino (Ca.) Community College in 2008 but ended his first season at FSU in preseason due to a torn ACL

"... Coach, how long are you going to coach?"

“You know, I didn’t have a single boy ask me that … I didn’t have a single boy say, Coach, how long are you going to coach?"
Bobby Bowden regarding whether recruits had asked how long he was going to coach as quoted in Orlando Sentinel

Young Kiffin Spouts Off

Move over Steve Spurrier. I think Lane Kiffin may have taken your place as the biggest jackass in college football today. Kiffin who is currently the head coach at Tennessee has put his foot in his mouth so many times since becoming the coach for the Vols. Never mind why Tennessee decided to hire a guy that has been a loser in his only head coaching job with the Raiders. The only thing this guy has going for him is his father.

The latest example of his big mouth was when he blatantly announced to Vol boosters that Florida had committed a recruiting violation and called Urban Meyer a cheat. Not long after Kiffen was forced to issue an apology after the SEC announced he was wrong and there was no violation.

Don't get me wrong. I could care less about the hurt feelings of Florida and Meyer. However, Kiffin is obviously out of his league and is totally clueless. Wonder what he will say when he travels to Gainesville this year and has his head handed to him on a platter?

"... the closest thing to Warrick Dunn that I've seen but faster...."

" I told him — not to put on any pressure — but I said in my opinion you're the closest thing to Warrick Dunn that I've seen but faster...."
FSU running backs coach Dexter Carter referring to newly signed running back Chris Thompson as quoted in Tallahassee Democrat

Canes Top ACC With Noles Close Behind

So who are the "big boys" in the ACC when it comes to signing the best recruits in the nation according to ESPN? In the ACC, the school who had the most players in ESPN's top 150 was Miami with 6 ESPN 150 players.

Next was FSU with 5 ESPN 150 players. They were DT Jacobbi McDaniel, CB Greg Reid, DE Demonte McAllister, S Gerald Demps, and ATH Willie Downs.

Noles Sign 21 Players

FSU signed 21 players today, including receivers Willie Downs, Willie Haulstead and Rodney Smith. Downs is the No. 150 player in the ESPN 150. Eight of the players who signed with FSU today earned a grade of 80 or higher from one recruiting service which means they have the potential to play as true freshmen.

The Noles added two late commits as they got Dan Hicks,a 6-4, 251, DE from Oxford, MS. They also picked up Bryan Stork, a 6-6, 240, OL from Vero Beach, FL (Vero Beach).

McDaniel And Hopkins Officially Noles

As of 1:34, the Noles have received the letters of intent from highly recruited Jacobi McDaniel who is ranked as the fifth-best player in the nation by ESPN and the top defensive tackle in the nation. Also, the number one ranked kicker in the nation, Dustin Hopkins has signed his letter of intent.

Complete list of letters of intent as of 1:34 P.M. :

Justin Bright,6-0, 180, S from Duncan, SC (Byrnes)
Gerald Demps, 5-10, 190, S from Valdosta, GA (Lowndes)
Willie Downs,6-2, 192, WR from Tallahassee, FL (Godby)
Jajuan Harley,6-2, 190, DB from Tallahassee, FL (Rickards)
Willie Haulstead,6-3, 210, WR from Titusville, FL (Titusville
Dustin Hopkins,6-2, 174, K from Houston, TX (Clear Lake)
Brandon Jenkins,6-2, 230, DE from Tallahassee, FL (Florida High)
Demonte McAllister,6-3, 263, DT from Tampa, FL (Alonso)
Jacobbi McDaniel,6-0, 267, DT from Greenville, FL (Madison County)
C.J. Mizell,6-2, 212, LB from Tallahassee, FL (Leon)
Henry Orelus, 6-2, 292, OL from Belle Glade, FL (Glades Central)
Aubrey Phillips, 6-6, 310, OT from Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch)
John Prior, 6-6, 283, OT from Portsmouth, OH (Portsmouth
Lonnie Pryor, 6-1, 195, RB from Okeechobee, FL (Vero Beach)
Greg Reid, 5-9, 175, DB from Valdosta, GA (Lowndes)
Xavier Rhodes,6-2, 195, WR from Miami, FL (Norland)
Will Secord,6-3, 204, QB from Frisco, TX (Wakeland)
Rodney Smith,6-6, 208, WR from Miami, FL (Archbishop Carroll)
Chris Thompson, 5-8, 173, RB from Greenville, FL (Madison County)

Noles Have 17 Letters Of Intent

As of 12:30, the Noles have 17 signed letters of intent. Notable among the signed letters of intent is that of 5-9, 175, DB Greg Reid from Valdosta, GA (Lowndes). He is rated as No. 15 on the ESPNU150 and the No. 2 cornerback in the nation. Once a commitment to Florida, Reid had also considered Miami, Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State.

Also, the Noles picked up 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback, Will Secord ,of Wakeland (Frisco, Texas). Secord switched his commitment from Arkansas to Florida State. Secord, rated No. 60 among quarterbacks in the class of 2009, passed for 2,382 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.

Jenkins First Commit

6-2, 230, DE Brandon Jenkins from Tallahassee,Fl(Florida High)is the first to sign on national signing day. Jenkins is rated by some as the No. 2 DE in the state.

" But they have weathered the storm."

" But they have weathered the storm. This is one of their stronger classes they have had over the last five or six years."
Tom Luginbill, recruiting analyst, regarding FSU's recruiting as quoted in Palm Beach Post

Parker Dismissed From Team

Bobby Bowden's traditional method of punishing players by having them run stadium steps will not be his punishment of choice for Preston Parker. The talented receiver instead was dismissed from the football team by Bowden today.

After his second arrest in less than a year,Bobby Bowden in a terse one sentence statement indicated that Parker has been dismissed.Parker will remain in school on scholarship.

"... Parker should be dismissed from the team."

" According to common sense, Parker should be dismissed from the team. There are always two sides to every story, but clearly last year's suspensions weren't a deterrent."
ESPN's Heather Dinich who covers ACC football regarding Preston Parker