Archive for July 2007
By Bill Kristoph
Drew Weatherford, or Xavier Lee? Xavier Lee or Drew Weatherford? What about Christian Ponder, who threw some pretty balls during the Spring Game? Here’s a little secret folks… there is no Quarterback Controversy at FSU.
Why?
It doesn’t matter who ends up at QB this season.
That’s right, it doesn’t matter. The 2007 campaign is being built up as the return of FSU dominance. The Noles are picked to win ACC. Various fans love to think that FSU can win 10 games in 2007. Many fans think that new coaches were the only thing missing from contending for a MNC again. But they’re wrong. It’s not going to happen this year, both quarterbacks are destined for mediocrity. They can’t do it alone, and the talent at FSU isn’t back to where it was 6 years ago.
A couple of months ago, Chuck Amato made it a point to say that the ACC had caught up with the Noles over the years. They’ve recruited guys that used to be 2nd and 3rd string on the Seminoles to be their starters. Freshman that used to sit the bench for a couple of years in Tallahassee, now have the opportunity to start at a Wake Forest, Virginia or Clemson. In this day and age of me, myself and I, why wouldn’t a talent kid go somewhere that he knew he was going to get playing time right away? That has diluted the talent pool at FSU, which means those 2nd and 3rd stringers that could play or beat anybody else’s first team, aren’t there. Which means more boneheaded plays, more turnovers, less getting open, etc. etc. etc.
But back to my original point, whether the FSU offense ends up being led by Drew Weatherford, the entrenched, smart, but mediocre armed quarterback, or by Xavier Lee, the quick, strong armed, but not-willing-to-put-in-the-extra-effort quarterback, the Seminoles of Florida State won’t be winning more than 9 games this season. The schedule is far too tough, the Noles are still too young. Their most talented receiver, Greg Carr, takes plays off and FSU will have to rely on their biggest talent, Antone Smith, far too often behind an revamped, supposedly meaner and tougher FSU Offensive Line.
We’ve seen how that’s gone in previous season. Rick Trickett might be a miracle worker though, who knows.
And while I’m not making any solid predictions yet (that’s in August), I’ll make my final points:
@Clemson
@Colorado
@Boston College
@Virginia Tech
@Florida
(Oh yeah, and there’s that neutral site game against Alabama.)
Good luck Drew. Good luck Xavier. I’ll be behind both of you. And, say your prayers that Antone doesn’t get hurt!
By Bill Kristoph
It seems that FSU Football is another step closer to playing a neutral site game in Orlando in 2012 or 2013. According to Seminoles.com the City of Orlando is looking to spend 1.1 Billion dollars to upgrade the downtown area, arena, performing arts center and the Citrus Bowl. They promise that FSU will face a “quality opponent.”
My question is, “What qualifies as a quality opponent?” The last couple of years, Troy and UAB certainly qualified. I’m still on the fence about losing a potential home game against a smaller opponent, versus a better opponent at a neutral site. Florida isn’t doing it. Miami’s not doing it. Why should FSU make its life any tougher than it has to be?
By Bill Kristoph
Rumor has it that FSU is strongly considering moving an 8th home game to Atlanta for the 2008 season.
What I think about it:
Pros:
Higher presence for recruiting in Georgia.
More exposure to Seminole fans in areas that can’t visit Tallahassee.
It’ll likely be a high profile SEC opponent.
Season Ticket holders don’t have to pay for the 8th game unless they want to travel.
Cons:
It’s one less home game for FSU.
It might tick off Georgia Tech (whether that is a con is debatable).
The Georgia Dome is a pit.
It’s bad for the local Tallahassee fans.
It’s extra money on top of the season tickets that fans have to pay to go to Atlanta.
That’s off the top of my head, but what do you guys think? I’m curious. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for the FSU Football Program. Is it a trend you’d like to continue seeing? What about in cities like Tampa & Orlando?
So, FSU news is a little thin right now. It’s the end of July and there are a couple of more weeks before things really start to crank up for the football season. Hence, EA Sports tends to release their NCAA football game for the various consoles out there. Guys everywhere ditch their girlfriends & jobs for a weekend or two and play out a couple of seasons as their favorite team.
But then, the whining comes.
“Why did I spend $50 on a roster update?”
“Why are there inaccuracies at Doak?”
“Recruiting could be better. The strategy part of this isn’t great.”
For those of you longing for a better strategic game, I’ve found the solution for you. Gridiron Dynasty at WhatIfSports.com. Sure, you can’t play the games out arcade-style, but every ounce of coaching a “Playstation All-Star” could want is in the game. Recruit players, visit them, send them letters and make phone calls (you can even bribe them, but don’t get caught or you can suffer repercussions). When recruiting is over, set up your practice schedules for the team and each position, and then game plan every situation. What set to use? Are you going to be aggressive or conservative? I-Form or Shotgun? Who is #1 on your Depth Chart? Should you use that fast RB with bad hands or your slower, but steadier Senior?
The games are then simmed each day, and you can read the play-by-play. Granted it’s not the arcade, but it is fun to read that your DB picked off 5 passes in one game, or that your RB had 4 TD’s en route to a 72-14 victory.
One last thing, don’t think that you can just waltz in to FSU. You’ll have to start at the bottom, in D-III to build your program and your reputation. After one season at Wesleyan (CT), I posted a 5-8 record, the most wins in 7 seasons. I have a long way to go to FSU, they require a stellar record and a loyal coach (whereas Clemson only requires the very good record and a pretty loyal coach) but it’s going to be fun trying to get there.
Anyway, give it a try since were in a bit of a dead period for news. It’s a lot of fun. Look me up under “TeamAugie” if you’d like. Let’s go head to head!
By Bill Kristoph
Every time I head over to the Seminoles.com Football Page, I get this “Season Tickets Available” advertisement. Sure, I can turn it off, but frankly I’m amazed by it. For the first time that I can remember since I started going to games in 1997, Florida State appears to be struggling to sell out season tickets. At least they are struggle to the point that they are still advertising them.
My big question is, “Why?”
My theories are:
1. The price of tickets has skyrocketed, while the quality of the product has gone down since 2001. $215 for 5 home games? That’s an average of $43 per game. Does anybody really want to spend $43 on Duke? It’s an even higher price once Booster Donations are factored in to the formula.
2. The home schedule is awful. The number is bad enough, but it’s UAB, N.C. State, Miami, Duke and Maryland. The only highlight of that game is Miami.
3. The big out of conference game (aside from Florida) is on neutral turf in Jacksonville. Perhaps Seminole fans are saving for that trip instead of the bad home schedule?
4. The verdict is still out on whether or not FSU football will compete for an ACC Title this season. New coaches can only do so much in a short amount of time, and while optimism is high, it should be realistic. 8 wins this season would be fantastic with the brutal road schedule that the Seminoles have.
5. The Doak Campbell experience is rough at times. The seating is certainly not cushy, day games in September and October are hot and sticky, especially on the Visitor’s side of the stadium, and the concessions aren’t the greatest thing on the planet. $3.50 for a bottle of water? Oh wait, that was last year before Jeff Bowden’s payoff was due. I’m sure those prices will be even higher.
Frankly, I’m hoping that I get my new seating assignment that I asked for when I renewed. So maybe the lack of renewals is a good thing for me. What do you think? Leave me some comments!
No news from the Presidente Wetherell’s office, other than the fact that he and Dave Hart met for two hours today.
You can bet your bottom dollar the buyout talks have already started.
Over at the Tallahassee Democrat, they have the PDF file (you’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader) of T.K.’s letter.
Talk about short and to the point.
“In an effort to provide you as much notice as possible, this is to advise you in writing that your employment agreement dated January 27, 1999 will not be extended,” Wetherell wrote.
By Bill Kristoph
It’s Deathmatch Time!!!
vs. 
By now I’m sure Seminole fans everywhere have heard about the ongoing saga between Athletic Director Dave Hart and University President T.K. Wetherell. Hart has a contract that runs through 2009. President Wetherell has already informed Hart that he has no intention of renewing a contract with Hart. Basically T.K. just told Hart to take a hike. And now, Dave Hart has just turned into the biggest lame duck athletic director in Division I sports. With over a year on his contract, he’s lost all power, thanks to FSU’s President. What exactly did T.K. prove by doing this? How can Dave Hart continue to do his job? And what really is driving this decision by T.K.?
*** The following is purely speculation ***
In my opinion, this isn’t a bad move by FSU. Hart appears to have enjoyed being in the right place at the right time. The late 90’s and early 00’s saw a huge influx of dollars to the University that was long overdue. I watched it happen in person when I was a student from 1997 to 2001. The campus in 1997, in 2001 and now is completely different and rivals all top-notch universities in the United States. Think of it as a perfect storm, where FSU merchandising + Donations from alumni that were happy to have a powerhouse football team + numerous grants and donations to improve the school + an exploding student population = success for a lot of people.
Fast forward to the mid and late 00’s when everything wasn’t going so well, and a mediocre A.D. rears it’s ugly head. Sure, there have been improvements in the soccer program and tennis program, but the Men’s Basketball team is still in disarray, the baseball team continues to sink and it took three years too long to start saving the football program for a post-Bowden era. Even the softball team appears to have peaked a couple of years ago.
It seems to me that the A.D. was all too willing to listen to entrenched coaches and boosters that say everything is okay, when in reality he needed to be stepping up and pushing for change. It’s a lot of status quo, because that’s what got Dave Hart to his current situation. Now Dave Hart is voicing how he wishes to retire a Seminole. T.K. doesn’t want him. Dave is voicing the fact that he intends to stay through his contract if it’s not possible for him to end his career as a Seminole. My question is why?
Dave, you need to step down. Immediately. For the good of FSU Athletics. Regardless of whether anyone out there thinks you’re doing a good job, your boss just told you you’re not. He also told you there is no hope of changing his mind, by sending a letter to your house establishing that he’s not renewing your contract in 2009. If you really do love the Noles, FSU and the fans, then you’ll allow the change to happen now.
Heck, Jeff Bowden got a nice severance package, maybe you can get in on some of that concession money too?
FSU Women’s Basketball Coach has received a contract extension through the 2011-12 season. Her base salary is $195,000 with total guaranteed compensation to be roughly $300,000 per year.
It’s money well spent for the Seminoles!