Jeff Bowden Discusses Upcoming Season

FSU offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden spoke to the Tallahassee Democrat about the upcoming season. Here's what he had to say:

TD: We in the media have used the word “predictable” in describing some of your offenses in the past. It's not a word you like, but is that what we're really talking about with this season's offense - that defenses will find it less predictable?

Bowden: I hope so. I don't want to let a defense dictate everything we do. But to a degree, without being hard-headed about some things, they can dictate a little bit whether you are pass to run or run to pass. We are going to bust our fanny to try to be less predictable.

TD: To that end, what has to happen?

Bowden: Here's one thing that I think will help us this season and the seasons to come. Two of the three guys lining up at fullback can catch the ball out of the backfield. And the tight ends (group) I think we are fixing to have, have the same kind of ability. There will not be situations this fall where we have to put one guy to run block and then substitute him to bring a guy in to catch passes. These guys have potential to be good run blockers and in pass protection, and catch the ball.

The fact that (freshman tight end) Caz Piurowski is 6-foot-6, 6-7, he's going to present some problems down the road, as will the other freshman coming in.

TD: Will we see Drew Weatherford working more out of the I-formation as we did in the spring?

Bowden: It will be about the same. Now that you have a fullback that can come out of the play-action pass and catch the ball in the backfield, now your play-action passes, which means being under center, will be more effective. Those two positions (fullback and tight end) are going to help our run, play-action pass formation.

TD: Everybody wants to know about Xavier Lee. What are your plans for him? His shoulder seems ready to go.

Bowden: I'm going to see what he will allow me to do. I don't want to advertise some of the things I'm thinking about with him.

TD: Is Drew the best quarterback you've had as a coordinator?

Bowden: He has the potential to get to the show. I thought he had a heck of a freshman year in every way. Everything I put on him, he handled as well as I have seen.

TD: Who are some of the younger players or lesser-known players fans should keep their eyes on this fall?

Bowden: It is interesting to see how some of these guys are going to help us - guys like Robert Hallback, who was a walk-on. Joslin Shaw has done things quietly, right and well. (Fullback) Joe Surratt - his time has come.

TD: A lot of your offensive linemen did well during the summer strength and conditioning program.

Bowden: Jacky (Claude) and Dumaka Atkins are starting to look like brick houses a little bit. John Frady tested real well. The linemen are just going to be such a blue-collar bunch. I don't know how many All-Americans they have but they have a bunch of fighters. The one thing that they can take into next season is they've already lined up against the best they are going to see, and they've done really well. Hopefully that gives them the confidence because that's all they lack right now.

FSU #10 In Coaches Poll

Florida State was ranked 10th in the preseason USA TODAY Coaches' poll released today. The Ohio State Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the poll.

The rest of the top 10: 1. Ohio State; 2. Texas; 3.(tie) Notre Dame; 3.(tie) Southern California; 5. Oklahoma; 6. Auburn; 7. West Virginia; 8. Florida; 9. LSU. Miami was ranked 11th.

Fagg Ready To Shine

DeCody Fagg takes great pride in improving his route running.But the route to a full-time starting role at Florida State has been cluttered with obstacles for the wideout from Quincy. He signed with the Seminoles in 2003 but did not meet the NCAA initial eligibility requirements. He enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, where he broke...Read More>>>.

FSU Countdown Begins

The countdown begins in earnest today for Florida State football players.

Back from a weeklong break between summer sessions, they have six weeks before the first practice begins Aug. 7. The task of preparing for a 12-game regular season, and the defense of FSU's ACC title, begins without reserves Kenny O'Neal (dismissed) and...Read More>>>.

FSU Loses Two Players

Jeff Bowden had seen enough of Kenny O'Neal to appreciate the speedy wide receiver's potential. One of the Californian's five catches as a Florida State redshirt freshman went for 75 yards, and he was also the team's leading kick returner.

That talent won't be of any help for the offensive coordinator...Read More>>>.

2006 Season Preview- Game One:Miami

Game 1 - Miami - Coral Gables, Fla.

Last season the Hurricanes (9-3, 6-2 ACC) fell to the Seminoles on Bobby Bowden Field. This year the 'Noles meet the 'Canes in Miami for the first game of the 2006 season in what is ironically one of their furthest away games. The Hurricanes return with a now-veteran quarterback in Kyle Wright that struggled mightily against the Tribe's defensive rush last year, but faces FSU this time with 2,403 passing yards under his belt. Conference touchdown leader Tyrone Moss - who nabbed 12 rushing scores last season - is still recovering from an ACL injury that might leave the powerful back not up to his usually explosive ways. On the other side of the ball, the 'Canes posses two defensive stars in safety Brandon Merriweather and defensive

Weatherford Knows His Role

Drew Weatherford wasn't sure what his role would be when he and his Florida State teammates began summer workouts last year.

This summer, Weatherford is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback and as a team leader. Although just a redshirt sophomore, Weatherford...Read More>>>.

Q & A: Myron Rolle

Q: What have you been up to since spring practices concluded?

A: “I’ve been taking two classes and lifting at eight o’clock four days a week. And now we’re just starting some workouts and (I’m) trying to prepare myself for the season.”

Q: Who coordinates the dills that the defensive backs do after workouts?

A “We just do it ourselves. I know that Coach (Mickey) Andrews likes for us to get that extra work in after practice. Some of the older guys … Roger (Williams) and Tony (Carter) got us together and said, ‘We should get some extra work in and just improve ourselves with nobody out here watching.’ It’s a good thing to do and I think that I got better today.”

Q: Can you get more out of that than doing one-on-ones with wide receivers?

A “I think so because it’s all about technique. You can apply what you learned in those drills when you start the one-on-ones but right now we want to get out foundation a little better. Then we will go out there and try those guys a little later.”

Q: Who has stood out to you so far in the two days of workouts?

A: “Roger Williams is a great leader. I think that he’s a guy I look up to at safety. He’s a guy that takes command and is very athletic. Most of the spring he was hurt so you didn’t really get to see too much but right now you can see his great foot speed and his break on the ball and his athleticism. I think he’s impressed me and really stood out.”

Q: Have you continued to study film even though there hasn’t been regular practice with your coaches?

A: “(I’m) definitely studying film. I’m still trying to pick up some stuff because we didn’t put everything in yet (in spring) so there’s still some things I need to learn. Coach Andrews wanted me to sit down and watch some film and go over some of the packages to get ready for two-a-days. That’s what I am doing and it’s benefiting me.”

Q: Do you study just packages or your stuff from the spring?

A: “Just packages. I looked at the spring game a little bit. I definitely wanted to see the interception. I didn’t see it on TV so I wanted to check that out. You definitely want to know what you are doing and watch some of the clips from last year. I am watching Kyler Hall and seeing how he played the position and how he played some of the defenses. If I can learn from that and I am even watching some of Jerome Carter’s film from a couple of years ago. That can help me a lot and get me ready.”

Q: What did you think of seeing your interception return from the spring game?

A: “I thought it was pretty good. I was pretty close to going out of bounds but I was happy that I didn’t. But it was a good play and I just liked the emotion that everybody had once I scored.”

Q: What are your personal goals for the summer workouts?

A: “I just want to stay fit and under 220 (pounds). I have never had a problem losing weight … I’m a guy that sweats a lot so that won’t be a problem. I am about 217 right now. I want to get faster and just get myself ready. When Coach Andrews sees me in two-a-days he will see the progress I have made from spring to August.”

Q: It’s now been six months since you enrolled at FSU. Are you still happy with the decision?

A: “Absolutely, absolutely. I have been talking to a couple of recruits. Dionte Allen from Michigan, I know he was thinking about coming in early. And some other guys. I’ve just been telling them this is probably one of the best decisions I have made recently. It’s been such a positive for me. I have been able to get ahead in class and get a jumpstart on the season.”

Q: After your strong spring you have been put on a lot of lists as a young guy to watBch. Do you follow that stuff?

A “Yeah, I saw that a couple of magazines had me as top ACC newcomer and Sports Illustrated had me as an All-American as a freshman. I don’t think that’s a negative thing. I take it as a plus. I take it as people recognizing my abilities and just seeing the type of things that I can do on the field. That’s something that I want to use motivation to keep trying to be the best possible player that I can be on the field.”

Q: How often do you get to talk to Coach Andrews and Coach (James) Colzie?

A: “Pretty much everyday. I know that it is recruiting season and they are on the road a lot but they call me a lot to check in with me and see how I am doing. I go up to their office just to talk to them a little bit. Coach Andrews got inducted into the hall of fame and I talked to him about that. The other day we talked about who Earl Campbell was. I didn’t know who he was and Coach Andrews said he was one of the best running backs.”

Q: Your brother is down here with you now, how is it having him here?

A: “It’s great. My brother is like my right-hand man. This will be the first time that we are actually going to school together. It’s nice to have him here. He’s a person that is honest with me. You ask about getting hype and all the pressure, he’s the one that tells me straight up if I am not doing something right or if I need to work on something. It’s good to have him here as an ego

Noles Lose Brewer to Baseball

The Florida State football program has lost one of its' top signees to professional baseball. Brent Brewer, a highly touted wide receiver from Tyrone, Ga., picked baseball over football Wednesday night when he signed a non-compete contract with the Milwaulkee Brewers.

The shortstop was selected in the second round of the draft by the Brewers for a bonus believed to be about $500,000. The Brewers will also pay for a college....>>>Read More.

Summer Football Workouts Begin Today

From here on out it will be full speed ahead for the Seminole football team until the conclusion of the 2006 season. The summer workouts officially kickoff today and will continue until the start of preseason practices on August 7th. The players will get a week off between summer sessions later this month, and a few days of rest before practices officially begin, but for all practical purposes football will be the team's primary focus from here on out.

In addition to lifting weights four times a week, which began in May, starting today several players will take part in daily workouts on the practice fields. According to NCAA rules, a team's strength and conditioning staff is permitted to conduct organized training sessions four times a week for a period of eight weeks prior to the start of official practices. These workouts are not mandatory, but typically a large majority of FSU players participate.

Last year, an average of 50 players took part in the early June workouts and that number grew to 80 or 90 when the next academic session started later in the month. If all goes well, the attendance this summer should be comparable, if not better.

"I think we have more people in summer school than I've seen in a while and that's a good sign," according to senior linebacker Buster Davis. "That includes a lot of key people. Probably 95 percent of the people are in summer school so that's a real good number. When you do those off-season drills, the pass (drills) and things like that it's good because football takes time. You only have so much time in two-a-days.

"I'm very impressed with the way the team has answered the call from the strength and conditioning coaches so far. Hopefully, we can press on and this can be the start of another dynasty. I think the way to get started for the next season is preparation and I think we have prepared very well so far."

When Davis signed in 2002, the 'Noles played for national championships in three of the previous four seasons. However, since he arrived on campus, FSU hasn't come close to college football's promised land. That's something he hopes to change in his final season as a Seminole.

"This my last year and you want to go out on top," Davis said. "The next step is the NFL and when you leave you want to make sure you gave everything to your team and your school so you could to help them win a national championship. That's what it really comes down to so that's why it's so important to win it this year."

With the start of the college football season just three months away, both fans and the media have dramatically different opinions on how good the Seminoles will be. Part of the reason for skeptics is last season's 8-5 record and the loss of four first rounders in the April NFL draft. In addition, there are only seven scholarship seniors on the entire roster. That lack of seniors could be why some experts doubt FSU's ability to excel on the field in 2006.

Buster Davis is one of those few seniors and the only one to start all 13 games last season. With such a lack of seniors, experienced players like Davis and Lorenzo Booker will have to go the extra mile to lead their teammates through the workouts, practices and upcoming season.

"As soon as everybody left for the draft, and we knew who was leaving and who was staying, we knew there were only a couple of us (seniors)," Davis said. "We want to do as much as possible since we are the leaders of the team. Everybody is looking for us to take them where we need to take them and that's a national championship

Andrews Has High Expectations

Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews apparently raised his expectations for next season after Ernie Sims, Kamerion Wimbley, Brodrick Bunkley and Antonio Cromartie were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in April.

''We'll just put somebody else in there and tell them to play...Read More>>>.

FSU Scheduled To Play Three Night Games Nationally

The Florida State football team will play at least three games on national television in primetime this season.

FSU plays at Miami on Sept. 4 (a Monday) at 8 p.m. on ABC and at N.C. State on Oct. 5 (Thursday) on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. FSU hosts Clemson on Sept. 16 (a Saturday) at 7:45 p.m. on ESPN.

No other game times for FSU have been set.

Bowden Reflects On Thirty Years At FSU

Because he is wrapping up his 30th year as Florida State University football coach, he could be considered the epitome of loyalty. But he also recognizes the loyalty of fans that have supported him and the Seminoles through the years.

That's what brought him to the Treasure Coast Seminole Club golf event Thursday as part of the "Bobby Bowden Legacy Tour."

"They've been very good," Bowden said. "We couldn't do it if the fans weren't loyal...Read More>>>.

Another Award for Bowden

One week after their paths were cleared to enter the Hall of Fame together, Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno will share another of college football's highest honors.

The venerable coaches were named today as the 49th and 50th recipients of the National Football Foundation's Gold Medal.

The list of previous winners includes seven U.S. presidents, four generals, three admirals and one Supreme Court justice.

''That's probably the highest honor I'll ever get,'' Florida State's Bowden...Read More>>>.

FSU Among Leaders In Graduation Rate

Nine Atlantic Coast Conference schools were recognized for graduating at least 70 percent of their football student-athletes according to the American Football Coaches Association annual Academic Achievement Awards data, released today.

SMU won top honors with a 100 percent graduation rate while Boston College and Duke were among six Division I-A institutions with a graduation rate of 90 percent or better. The ACC led all conferences with nine schools on the honors list, followed by the Big East and Big 12 with four. The Big 10 and Conference USA were each represented by three schools while Mid-American, Mountain West, Pacific-10, Southeastern, Sun Belt conferences each had one school.

In addition to Boston College and Duke, three other institutions achieved a rate of 90 percent or better: Northwestern, Notre Dame and Southern Mississippi. Those institutions graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes are Auburn, Baylor, California, Cincinnati, Clemson, Colorado State, Florida State, Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Nebraska, North Carolina, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

The overall graduation rate of the 104 schools that responded to the survey was 58 percent, equaling last year's mark. Fifty of the members responding were above the average and 54 were below the average. The median graduation rate was 57 percent, compared to 57 percent last year and 60 percent two years ago.

The study involves the freshmen class from the academic year of 2000-2001, including those who entered at that time but who did not receive financial aid until after their initial year, or who transferred from another institution and subsequently received a grant-in-aid.

Andrews Prefers Wins Over Being Head Coach

For 22 years, Mickey Andrews has lived happily in the shadows.

As Bobby Bowden's defensive maestro Andrews routinely produces defenses that rank among college football's elite. He's content stopping opposing offenses while working alongside an old friend.

He's also spoiled rotten...Read More>>>.

Weldon Coming Home

Casey Weldon was peering out the window of his new second-floor office trying to figure out if the gray sky wanted to clear up or let loose another downpour.

"Fourth-down calls are easy compared to this, right?" he asked.

Will Holley laughed. This is exactly the kind of decision they were talking about -- the ones that have nothing to do with game-day glamour but rather the behind-the-scenes...Read More>>>.

Ward and Bowden to Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden and former FSU quarterback Charlie Ward will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The announcement was made Tuesday morning.

Bowden, college football's all-time winningest coach with 359 victories, has won two national titles (1993 and 1999) and had 14 straight season....Read More>>>.

What Me Worry?

"Shot an 85,'' the Florida State head coaching legend said after a Thursday round at Palm-Aire Country Club, followed by a talk to Seminole football fans.

"That's good for me. Usually I shoot in the 90s.''

Bowden's 'Noles finished 8-5 last season. That's not so good, for Bowden or an FSU constituency accustomed to so much more.

"If we don't win them all,'' said college football's all-time winningest coach....Read More>>>.

Former Nole Set To Sign Huge Deal

Former Seminole Javon Walker is set to sign a five-year extension worth more than $40 million with the Denver Broncos, who acquired the wide receiver in a draft-day deal.

''We do have a deal in place,''...Read More>>>.

FSU #4 In APR Poll for 2005

USA Today ran a graphic that presented a combination of academic and athletic success of the football programs at ACC member institutions. The newspaper took the final USA Today/Coaches Top 25 poll and re-ordered it using the recently released NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR).

The re-organized poll has five ACC teams among the Top 15, including the "academic" No. 1 Boston College with a 982 APR score and Florida State at No. 4 with a 959 score. Miami ranked sixth at 956, Clemson 12th with a 940 and Virginia Tech 14th at 935.

The Academic Progress Rate (APR) metric was developed by the NCAA in 2004 to examine academic success on a more real-time basis. One point is awarded each term to each scholarship student-athlete who meets academic-eligibility standards and an additional point is awarded if they remain with the institution. A team's APR is the total points earned by the team at a given time divided by the total points possible. A cutoff score of 925 corresponds to an anticipated graduation-rate of about 50%.

Pointed Criticism Typical for Bowden

Bobby Bowden was proud to see four Florida State Seminoles drafted in the first round of April's NFL Draft. But Bowden also knew that FSU's performance in the draft -- eight players selected in the first five rounds -- will do nothing to stem the avalanche of expectations around his program. "People expect [us] to ....Read More.

Schedules Leave Little Leeway for Threatening Weather

Florida State athletic director Dave Hart can't sound the alarm any louder or any more often, but it's not for a lack of trying.

With the NCAA allowing a 12th game during this 13-week football season, schools possess little flexibility if severe weather forces any postponements. That's an increasing possibility with... Read More>>>.

FSU Committment Wants To Bring Friend

“I didn’t participate but I did check in at 6-foot-5 ½ and 302 pounds,” Antwane Greenlee of Columbus (GA) Hardaway said. “I wanted to check out the competition. I spent most of my time hanging out with Chris Little.”

Greenlee would love for Little, a top offensive lineman in Georgia, to join him in Tallahassee for college.

“We met last year at the Georgia football camp and ever since then we have been best friends,” he said. “I think Florida State is his top team but I know he likes Georgia as well. It would be great if we could start together at Florida State. I’m not worried about competition.”

The Georgia standout still keeps in contact with Seminole offensive line coach Mark McHale on a regular basis.

“I called him the day before yesterday to tell him we have a new head coach at our high school,” he said. “I really like Coach McHale. When we watched film together, he told me how to defeat the bull rush. I feel he can help me get into the NFL. The Seminoles have a pretty good track record about putting players in the NFL.”

Greenlee, who has a 3.0 grade point average, is also a student of the game.

“When I get home from work, I like to pop a tape into the VCR and breakdown the game,” he said. “I think I would like to major in communication in college.”

This summer Greenlee and Little will attend the FSU football camp together

Washington No Longer Overlooked

Running back Leon Washington, a New York Jets fourth round selection from Florida State, has often been overlooked throughout his life due to a lack of height. However, with 4.3 speed, humility, poise, soft hands, and return skills, he’s not one tool short of becoming a success in the NFL.

Washington stands 5’8”, but following years of ridicule, he’s built up the confidence of a giant. His response to critics is very similar to his reaction to opponents....Read More>>>.

Castillo Named Male Scholar Athlete of the Year

Eight Florida State student-athletes were named 2006 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars announced in the April edition of Black Issues in Higher Education. Senior football player David Castillo was selected Overall Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in addition to first team honors.

Dean, Henshaw Sign Deals

Florida State fullback B.J. Dean was signed by Baltimore and tight end Matt Henshaw reached an agreement with Seattle, according to the Seahawks' Web site.

Henshaw, son of New Orleans assistant coach George Henshaw, led all FSU tight ends with 21 receptions for 177 yards. In addition to playing tight end, Seattle plans to use Henshaw as a long snapper.

Dean, one of two Florida State fullbacks to enter the draft, netted just three yards and one touchdown rushing in his final season.

Q & A: Bernie Waxman

Bernie Waxman, the current Associate Athletics Director for Facility Planning, Operations and Event Management who is in his 31st year working at FSU and 14th in the athletics department, oversees event management for most of the 19 sports in which FSU competes at the NCAA division I level. He answered a question regarding Doak Campbell additions.

Q: Are there any additions planned for Doak Campbell such as banners, jerseys, or other markers of Florida State's football history?

Waxman: We are working through how we can tastefully display some of the great tradition of Florida State football in Campbell Stadium. The key for us is how can we do it tastefully. The tradition is rich with the ACC Championships, the National Championships, the All-Americans, and some of the phenomenal coaches we have had. We want our fans that come into our stadium and feel like they are walking into a sacred space. When they walk in there we want them to feel the ghosts of the past and the spirit of the unconquered Seminoles and those guys that played here 40, 30, 20, or 10 years ago. There is just a really fine line about how you do that or it just turns into glitz and glitter. We want to make it that sacred space, a special place for the people that walk in and for the people that don't know the sense of Florida State's past, when they walk in there we want them to have a sense of a the symbol of the Seminoles, the unconquered Seminoles, and we want them to have a sense of the excellence that we have had in the sport and the good people that have played on the field and filled the seats in the stadium. There are so many of those and there are so many student athletes that have done well that have come through the program that we want that feeling to filter through the stadium.

You want to do it right the first time, you don't want to make a mistake. Right now we are continuing to do the appropriate planning. When we are ready to move, we will move the right way.

Steelers Tempted By Reid's Speed

It wasn't as if the Steelers were looking for a punt returner to replace Antwaan Randle El, especially after they traded up in the first round of the NFL draft to take Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes.

With Holmes, the Steelers found the perfect answer for Randle El's departure...Read More>>>.

Sam McGrew Signs Free Agent Contract With Fins

Former Florida State linebacker Sam McGrew has signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, his agent Monday afternoon. Jerrold Colton said McGrew decided on the Dolphins over about 10 other teams. McGrew signed a two-year deal.