Noles embarrassed again, 24-20 @ NC ST

Well I had the score right but the teams wrong.

FSU's 24-20 loss to unranked NC St. marked the official end of the era of domination the Seminole football program had enjoyed for the entire 90's and most of this millennium.

It ended last night at approximately 11PM when the Noles walked off the field in Raleigh as losers to a team that had lost on that very field a mere 3 weeks ago to Akron. A Wolfpack team, led by embattled former Bowden assistant Chuck Amato, that had been battered & bludgeoned at Southern Miss, 37-17, 2 weeks ago. The once mighty Florida State offense scored a whopping 20 points against this offensive jugger-not, and Jeff Nepotism Bowden has rendered the offense not even a shell of its former self but a carcass of that shell.

The Noles appeared to be in control of this one, leading 20-10 late in the 3rd quarter after an 99-yard drive culminating in a TD from Drew Weatherford (16-29, 249, 2TDs, 1INT) to Brandon Warren. But then all hell broke loose and the Noles were left scratching their heads and wondering what happened-again.
Redshirt Sophomore QB Daniel Evans (13-22, 190, 3TDs) played like a senior in guiding his team on two drives that won the game. Evans either handed off to 1 of 2 capable backs, Andre Brown (18 carries, 114 yds) or Toney Baker (12 for 44, all late) or threw it up to his superior freshman receiver, 6'4" Geron James, who went up and caught balls numerous times, Randy Moss-like, including the score that made it a 3pt game to end the 3rd. A sweet 12-yd TD to from Evans to John Dunlap with 10:36 to go put the Pack ahead for good, and the pitiful Nole offense couldn't muster another point in going down for the 4th time in 7 games against their former coach.

Other horrible notes from this game include the re-disappearance (not a word) of the running game; after ripping off 287 yards on the ground vs. Rice, FSU only mustered 96 against the Pack, who themselves racked up 190 against the porous Nole D. Lo Where are you? Booker managed 58 yards, and the talented senior has only 233 yards & 1 TD in 5 games. Yikes.
And the passing game isn't faring any better: Gregg Who? Carr has only 12 catches for 168 yds, and St Pete bust Chris Invisible Man Davis has 11 for 175 & 2 TDs. Wow. Not exactly Peter Warrick and Javon Walker, now are they? Hell they're not even Kez MCCorvey & Tamarick Vanover. QB Drew Weatherford, of whom great things were expected this season, has been mediocre-to awful, amassing these less-than-stellar numbers: 81-135, 964 yds, 5TDs, 3INTs- not exactly reminiscent of Chris Weinke. Or Charlie Ward. Or even Thad Busby.
The D was also further decimated by an injury, this time to soph MLB Derek (brother of AJ) Nicholson, who appeared to suffer a season-ending tear in his knee on a play in the 1st quarter. He joins the growing walking wounded list, which this week included spectacular DB Tony Blocked Kick Carter- boy they could have used him on those jump balls against James.

They say all good things must come to an end. First it was the Noles unprecedented string of 14 consecutive seasons ranked in the top 5. Then came the graduation and/or early exits of a number of top-flight NFL-caliber (Warrick, Weinke, Walker) players year after year- tough for any team to keep reloading and recovering from that, just ask Miami; then came the 3-loss season (2004), the 5-loss season of last year, and now they've got 2 losses in 5 games with plenty of tough tests ahead. The way these guys are playing they are all tough, even against Troy and Nc. State.

Bobby has now lost to his son ands mentor in the same season-again. When will this madness end? Most likely when Jeff removes himself from duty. Or it might come to Papa Bear himself having to step away from the embarrassment this program has become.

We'll get em next time, boys

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Noles hang on for 3-point win over Miami

It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty, but FSU wins at Miami for 1st time since 1998

The first half was one of the ugliest, wettest, messiest, okay let's say it-most boring- halves of football that a fan could endure.

Both teams looked like it was their first game of the season-oh right, it was- and both teams look like they have a lot of kinks to work out, at least on offense.
The Noles struck first with a 37-yd field goal by Cismesia just 8 minutes into the game; might it be an offensive show in the mud of Miami? Unfortunately the answer was a resounding "no", as the two teams then traded pointless drives until The Canes capitalized on a stupid Nole personal foul penalty that kept Miami's drive alive and resulted in a 4 yd TD run by Charlie Jones. When Miami added a 20-yd FG by Countryside's Jon Peattie with under 4 to go till the half, the Noles were on the verge of being embarrassed: they managed only 1 yard rushing and 43 total yards in the half.

But whatever Bobby and the rest of the coaches said to the players at halftime, it worked, because FSU played like a team possessed in the second half. Late in the 3rd Q they marched down the field behind a poised and confident looking Drew Weatherford, who despite having mediocre numbers (16-32,175yds, 1 INT) played like a seasoned field general when it came to crunch time. He directed a game-tying drive that was highlighted by a 28-yd reception by De'Cody Fagg and a momentum-building short catch-long run by Lo' Booker that brought the Noles to the Miami goal line. Minutes later fullback Joe Surratt scored from a yard out, the game was tied at 10 and the pendulum had swung to the FSU sideline.

By now it was the Nole "D" that was hurting the Canes newly retooled offense; through 3 quarters they held the Canes to 1-yd rushing and 17 total yards in the 2nd half. Bruising linebacker Buster Davis had 2 sacks and nearly decapitated Miami QB Kyle Wright on a keeper in the red zone. They also held tight end Greg Olsen to 2 catches for 8 yards after he torched the Noles last year with 8 grabs for 137 yards. The Canes finished the game with a mere 134 yards of offense- a dominating performance from Mickey Andrews' boys.

But as usually is the case with Noles/Canes, it was a tight game that came down to the kicker. With the score tied almost midway thru the 4th, Weatherford marched the team down the field again, the big play a twisting, 18-yd Fagg snag near the sideline that put them in position for a makeable (33-yd) FG. We've all been there before with this rivalry, though, so we all know that even an extra point is no gimme here. As the Nole faithful held their breath, Cismesia lined up the kick in the drizzle and carried the weight of the team on his shoulders. Just don't miss it wide right or left and you're okay he had to be thinking. No pressure.

Cismesia lined it up and let it fly, and wouldn't you know- IT WENT IN!

The Noles took a 3-pt lead and then hung on for dear life for the final 8:00, when CB Michael ray Garvin intercepted a desperate and overmatched Wright to seal the win.

So now the Noles have a mini-winning streak started as well as stopped their Orange Bowl losing streak. Did they look like a National Championship contender? Not with that offense. But if the defense continues to play the way it did, I know this offense will put up some points- they're too talented not to. And with FSU barely leaving the state of Florida this season (2 games in NC, 1 in Maryland) it has a good chance at a New Year's Day bowl and a possible title shot.

Nobody is worrying about that today, though. All Nole fans want to do is bask in the glory of another victory over their archrival, and then get their offense on track by pounding the men of Troy next week at Doak.

Go Noles!

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Labor Day Cookout: FSU @ The "U"

The 11Noles and 12Canes get together for their annual Backyard Brawl

Are you ready for some FSU football?!

The rivalry that has defined college football for much of the past 15 years takes center stage on this holiday evening for a renewal of the annual "Wide Right Bowl"

The Noles will be facing a rebuilding and depleted Hurricane squad. Miami has suspended 2 of its best players for this game, star receiver Ryan Moore and stud RB Tyrone Moss. Junior QB Kyle Wright should be better prepared to face the Noles than he was in last years' opener when he was making his first collegiate start; he also has a new O coordinator, Rich Olsen, who brings a pro-style offense to the mix.

But FSU figures to be better than when they squeaked out a sloppy 10-7 victory last year, thanks to Miami K Jon Peattie missing 2 FG's and the special teams muffing the snap on the potential game winner at the buzzer. QB Drew Weatherford also made his first collegiate start in last years' game, and his experience with the offense should play a key part in making the always-tough trip to the Orange Bowl, where FSU has not won since 1998.

Look for the Noles to pound strong & speedy senior back Lorenzo Booker a ton & then try to go spread the field with slick receivers Chris Davis, De'Cody Fagg and Greg Carr. Miami will counter with their trademark tough defense behind beast DL Baraka Atkins, LB Jon Beason and S Branden Meriweather.

In other words it should be another tough, sloppy (hey, it's the first game-luckily next year it goes back to mid-Oct) and physical contest, one that will probably be decided with...GULP...a kick. Which means the most important matchup of all could be Gary Cismesia vs. Jon Peattie. Oh the joy of kicking!

Go Noles!

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