Posted by NoleCC

By Bill Kristoph

Most fans would say that the turning point of Saturday’s contest against the Florida Gators came when UF blocked a Gary Cismesia field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown, to lead 14-0 over the Seminoles. However, those same fans missed the actual turning point earlier in the game with the score 0-0. With a 4th and inches, FSU’s offensive play-calling was downright awful. Instead of sneaking Drew Weatherford forward for the few inches needed, Jeff Bowden called for a hand off to Lorenzo Booker, 3 yards deep in the formation. You don’t go backwards to go forwards, but if you MUST try something like that Jeff, at least put Leon Washington in the game, a player that can break a few tackles. Plays like that sum up FSU’s downward spiral. Hopefully it does not continue next week against an angry and talented Virginia Tech team.

Quarterback Drew Weatherford, once again had to succumb to the “laundry factor” as his #11 jersey was green from the pounding he took at the hands of the Gator defense. Having only 7 healthy lineman to start the game did not help FSU, nor did the Lewis ejection. Nor did having boneheaded mental errors like Kyler Hall’s personal foul, giving the Gators a much-needed first down. The running game, according to head coach Bobby Bowden was better than expected, but when Leon Washington checks in around 50 yards total for the game, expectations have sunk far too low at FSU.

Give credit to the Gator defense who disrupted the ‘Noles from the first play. Is Urban Meyer a genius? No, but Gator Nation forgives him for his 3 losses for the time being. If UF can win a bowl game for the first time since the Spurrier era, then it will be a successful season in Gainesville. Chris Leak continues too look more comfortable in the spread option, and was good enough to win against FSU again.

Turnovers did not help FSU’s cause, but they were only a symptom of the disease infecting the Seminoles. While Drew Weatherford was dejected in post game interviews, his youthfulness allowed him to be strong and look at the loss as a time for learning. Andre Fluellen likely showed what most of the team was feeling, sad, sullen and not knowing what to do next. Tom Block, a Sun Sports reporter, told Andre that he couldn’t be down too long, since the ‘Noles have to play next weekend. Fluellen’s response, “Yeah, we know, but it’s going to be tough getting back up again.” Obviously Fluellen understands how things have worked around FSU for a while now.

The ‘Noles look and sound like a team that has quit. The problem for FSU, is that two games against quality opponents remain. Mental mistakes will continue to get worse if the Seminoles cannot find a reason to fight for the 2005 season. There is no hope for injuries, as most of them were season-ending and there is no reason to believe that the defense will suddenly take its first-four-games form. In other words Seminole fans, rock-bottom is yet to come.

Coach Bowden sounded sad in the post game conference, but what was more scary was that he didn’t seem to know what to say. There was no proclamation that FSU would change things this week. Just a glimmer of hope that the ‘Noles might be healthier. Coach Bowden even stated that this Seminole team was not prepared to go to Gainesville. They had the talent, but not the know-how, since injuries prevented them from practicing at full speed. Sadly, that will not be corrected in one week. Bobby Bowden posed the question to reporters, “Will we be good enough?”

Sorry coach, you won’t.