Pre-season Analysis–Western Carolina, UT-Chatt, & Wake Forest

Opening game is September 6 against Western Carolina at home. While many fans will pass up the opportunity to witness the first win of the season, the thought of an upset has to be the back in everyone’s mind after the shock in Michigan last season. Nonetheless, opening day seems to be promising for a great kick-off to the Seminoles’ 2008 season.

The next game against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on September 13 is another sure-win for the Seminoles. These two first games will give Bobby and staff a chance to test out the new OL and move players around as needed. Parker won’t be missed too much.

But come September 20, all hell will break loose at Doak Campbell. The first conference game this year just happens to be against the last team to shut out Florida State at home–Wake Forest. The Seminoles have been waiting 2 years for this game. After the embarrassing 30-0 loss to the Demon Deacons in 2006, every player, fan, and coach will be focused on redemption.

This game will be the defining moment of the Seminoles season. It will prove whether we have a season to look forward to or to dread.  While Wake’s sudden surge in wins the last few seasons has brought new competition to this game, they were hit hard by the loss of 4 offensive linemen and all-ACC receiver Kenneth Moore. But where the Deacons’ offense has weakened, their defense has strengthened. Nine of the eleven defensive starters are returning this year, including all-ACC cornerback Alphonso Smith and OLB Aaron Curry, who was second team all-conference last season.

Even with the reconstructed offense, Wake Forest can’t be counted out as a serious contender for the ACC conference trophy this year. After what Jim Grobe has done with that program, no one can deny the Deac’s credibility as a legitimate team. Wake Forest had won just 38 games in the 10 years prior to Grobe’s arrival. But since he came in 2001, Coach Grobe has led his team to two 9+ win seasons and a conference title. Wake ended last season winning 9 of their last 11 games and going 5-3 in conference games. But with the disappointment of not making the conference championship game, the Deacons are even more determined this year to make an impact in the ACC.

More pre-season analysis to come.

Win One for Bobby

Last season was supposed to be our season. After a coaching staff revamp and the promise of old coaches coming back to Bobby’s side, we were poised for at least an ACC title. Or so we thought. As the season opened and we fell early to Miami, a sure win against a struggling team, the garnet and gold covering was peeled back from the eyes of every fan. This team was no different. This season would be no different.

After a stunning loss to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to end last season, Coach Bowden began preparing for one of his most memorable seasons–his last season. Ending 33 years of coaching at Florida State and currently holding the record for most wins by a Division I coach (373 victories as of the end of last season), Bobby will hand the reigns over to offensive coordinator and assistant coach Jimbo Fisher. But at age 79, he has one last season left in him.

Bobby has much of the same squad to work with. A struggling quarterback, a runningback searching for a breakout season, a rookie offensive line, and a group of players who seem to have more energy off the field than on. Star wideout Preston Parker will start the first two games of the season on the bench following a suspension for a felony gun charge in the offseason. Six starters will also sit out the first three games due to involvement in the academic dishonesty scandal that brought much undesired attention to Florida State last season.

But come September 6, Doak Campbell will be focused on one goal–giving Coach Bobby the final season he deserves. After 12 ACC titles and 2 National Championships, it’s what he has earned. Bowden transformed Florida State, the one-time all-girls school with little sports program, to a major powerhouse contender in the ACC.

Let’s hope his last season will be worthy of his first 33.

Florida State vs Clemson Final

Well it is over. Finally. What started out as a pure slaughtering became a close game as Florida State came out and started playing good Seminole football. After a safety and a couple scores, the score was 24-18 with 11:40 left in the game. What seemed to be a total 180 degree turn soon halted.

After some missed catches and after giving up key yards, our team began struggling once again. Now both teams were struggling. As the clock ran out, it became reality that Florida State had lost their first game.

So now we are 0-1 and we have dropped from our position as the #19 team in the nation. We have set an uphill course for ourselves for the rest of this season. We can come back, but it will be that much harder for us.

I am still upset, but like after other lost games, it will take a little time for me to come back down and reacquire the love for my Noles. They failed me tonight, but do not worry. I will forever love them.

Our next game is against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) this Saturday, September 8, at 2:00 PST

Florida State vs Clemson Halftime Update

Okay this will be short but not sweet. It is halftime and our team officially stinks. We came out and did not do anything. Our running game is getting no where and our offensive line cannot block worth anything. Our defense, usually our strong point, cannot tackle and are defenseless against the Clemson running game. And so considering all of this, we are losing 24-3. Great first game, eh?

We choose the high road and decide to play a competitive and half-decent team and what do we get? We get pounded and lose our chance at any shot we had to have a decent season and make a decent ranking. Yes, we could have played East Carolina like Virginia Tech or played Western Kentucky like Florida, but no, we are a respectable ball club who don’t play piddly teams just for a win. We are going to earn our wins or losses. Agh, frustration.

Well, we will see what the second half holds. I can only hope and pray we get our act together.

It’s Gameday Baby!

Over the next few months, you will see an increasing number of posts on sports. Mainly football. Well, today is the day of our (meaning my team, the Florida State Seminoles) opening game. We play at Clemson at 5 pm PST. As I sit here on my couch, I can hardly wait one more hour.

I had some business to take care of earlier in the day but am home now with my gameshirt on. This looks to be a tough game too. It is the classic Bowden Bowl. Bobby Bowden (FSU coach and father) vs Tommy Bowden (Clemson coach and son). These contests have been going on for eight years now and the games are not all fun and games. Mrs. Bowden has been torn between the two and she often, as she will again this year, miss the game. But amidst all the hype and media coverage is the fact that this is a tough first game for Florida State.

Last year we had a tough first game with Miami which we won. What we thought was a good win that would springboard us into the season proved to be merely a win over a struggling program. We ended the season 7-6 which is the most losses under Bobby Bowden since 1986 when we went 7-4-1. But this year is to be a rebuilding year. We have hired four new coaches on our staff and picked up several young players who have promising talent.

All in all it will be an interesting game. I believe this game will set the tone for our season. We are ranked 19th in the AP top 25 poll. With the losses of Tennessee and Michigan, we are due to move up in the rankings if we win tonight.

We shall see. I will post more after the game.