After learning less than two days ago that Florida State would not have the services of Solomon Alabi or Julian Vaughn for an indefinite period of time, Leonard Hamilton and his staff had little time in which to make adjustments to the game plan against Georgia Tech. But in that short space of time Hamilton’s staff obviously made the right changes and with the help of his depleted squad executing that new plan delivered a thrilling win over the Yellow Jackets in the opener of ACC play.

On a play where the ball was supposed to eventually go to Toney Douglas, Jason Rich received the inbound pass, saw his opening, and drove the ball three quarters the length of the floor. Pulling up from just to the right of the lane Rich nailed a jumper with 4.3 seconds left giving FSU a 66-64 victory.

Following the game Rich, who scored 11 points, said “I ain’t going to lie to you, I’m tired. But this was my last chance (at beating Tech). And now I don’t have to come up here anymore.”

And Rich had good reason to be tired with the senior guard playing 39 minutes.

In fact most of his teammates had good reason to be exhausted. Four of the remaining six players who saw the floor logged 30 or more minutes in the game.

But Hamilton did a masterful job of controlling his team’s pace when fatigue was setting in the second half and protecting his players defensively with a timely 2-1-2 zone defense that befuddled Tech for several minutes.

At least Hamilton’s decisions on the substitution patterns was easier.

Referring to the loss of two post players Hamilton said before the game that adversity has a way of bringing the best out of you. That obviously was the case for the Seminoles with the head coach praising his team’s focus and staying with the game plan.

“We played poised down the stretch getting knock ways and deflections. And the guys just made plays”, Hamilton said.

It didn’t start out that way however as the ‘Noles found themselves down 12-2 just two and half minutes into the game and starter matt Zitani on the bench already with two fouls.

That’s when Hamilton called timeout to regroup. And it paid off.

“I told them they had great shot position but that they just weren’t falling but to keep shooting”, said Hamilton. “Our transition defense was lacking as well. We weren’t getting back fast enough. We began to sprint back better and slowed their transition offense.”

A renewed defense began to force Tech into numerous turnovers. The Jackets mid-way through the half had eight miscues over ten straight possessions.

Behind four three pointers over the last 6:10 FSU managed to take a 40-34 halftime lead. Tech employed a strategy to attack the ball handler with a double team and paid the price for it. Several times a Seminole was left completely alone for the wide open three ball.

Jordan DeMercy’s three from the left wing gave FSU a 29-27 lead. After Tech tied it up Zitani nailed one from above the key. Anthony Morrow tied it at 32 with a jumper from the free throw line.

But FSU went on a 8-2 run to close out the half. With no foul called on the play Douglas was knocked to the floor losing the ball. Tech however turned it over before crossing the mid court line leaving Douglas all alone underneath the basket for an uncontested layup. He followed that with a wide open three. Douglas then stole the ball, one of his four in the game, tipping it to Rich who took it coast to coast.

Hamilton commented on the halftime margin saying “That lead gave us a confidence, attitude, and toughness that carried into the second half I felt.”

Tech made its adjustments in the locker room. One adjustment was to cut down on the turnovers. With 12 in the first half Tech did a much better job over the last twenty minutes giving the ball away just 5 more times.

Another adjustment was to attack the rim more and exploit FSU’s thinness in the front court. That led to Zitani’s third foul and a seat on the bench as well as numerous easy layups and a 44-44 tie at the 15:01 mark.

That’s when Hamilton switched up the defense with a 2-1-2 zone forcing the Yellow Jackets into jump shots that were missing the mark.

The lead jockeyed back and forth over the next eleven minutes with neither team getting out to more than a four point margin.

With FSU obviously gassed Gani Lawal’s slam dunk followed by DeAndre Bell’s jumper from the elbow gave Tech a 61-57 lead with 2:42 left in the game.

Rich closed it to 61-60 with one of two from the stripe and a steal that he took the distance. Zack Peacock countered with a layup.

With 1:00 remaining Douglas drove the ball in from the right side laying the ball in to pull FSU back within one point, 63-62.

On the next possession a key offensive foul against Georgia Tech on an illegal screen gave FSU the ball back.

Ralph Mims gave FSU a 64-63 lead on a floater from the lane.

With the shot clock and game clock nearly the same Tech ran the clock down for what looked to be the last shot of the game. Douglas who was guarding Bell ran into a screen and fell to the floor. Bell fell backwards over the sprawled Douglas drawing the foul with 9.4 seconds left. Bell however only made on of two tying the game at 64 setting up Rich’s heroics.

With no timeouts FSU inbounded the ball to Rich in the center of the floor. Tech had him poorly defended allowing Rich to dribble down the floor deep into Tech’s end of the floor.

Hamilton set his defense for the last play of the game and managed to force the ball into Peacock’s hands. Not known for his three point shooting prowess Peacock’s three fro above the key clanged off the rim giving FSU a 1-0 start in ACC play.

Douglas led all scorers with 22 points. Uche Echefu added 11 and contributed 8 rebounds as well. Mims was the other player in double figures with 10 points.

Morrow guarded by Isaiah Swann much of the game led Tech with 17 points on 7-9 shooting and 3-4 from behind the arc. Bell added 15.

Of note it was announced before the game that Zitani was awarded a scholarship that will commence next semester.

Also announced was that Alabi will have surgery on Wednesday to fix the stress fracture in his tibia and that Vaughn will see a cardiac specialist.

Next up, the Seminoles return to Tallahassee for a 7:00 PM tip off against the La Salle Explorers on Saturday January 5^th. The game is to be televised on FSN FL.

By Bill Kristoph

I just got back from the first part of my vacation… so here’s the Music City Preview in short…

Kentucky is going to cream FSU. It’s not going to be close, that’s the reality.

But, because I’m a fan(atic) of THE Florida State University, I’m putting that reality on hold and believing that the Noles can pull out a victory tomorrow against UK.  That’s right, my insane score prediction is Noles 20 Cats 19. Don’t ask me how, and don’t tell me I’m crazy. I’m a Seminole fan. That fact alone makes it a requirement that we ALL believe the Noles can get it done tomorrow, and that we ALL root for the team.

Fight Fight Fight… for FSU… (they’re going to need a lot of it.)

So what should ScalpEm.com readers check out?

Independence Bowl (Alabama vs. Colorado) December 30.
Why you should care: The Noles beat both teams during the regular season. Now they get to play head-to-head. Which team was the better FSU opponent? Tune in to find out!

Humanitarian Bowl (Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State) December 31.
Quite simply, any game on blue turf is a must watch. It’s just a bonus that an ACC team is playing.

Music City Bowl (Kentucky vs. Florida State) December 31.
Honestly, this might be a watch the first half kind of game. It just depends on how brutal it gets for the depleted Noles, however, I will watch the entire thing. Plus, you never know, maybe the Noles will gel and pull out a victory.

Capital One Bowl (Michigan vs. Florida) January 1.
Michigan will likely get pounded, but just in case something happens to the Gators and the Wolverines keep it close, it’ll be fun to root against the Gators, as always.

Orange Bowl (Kansas vs. Virginia Tech) January 3.
This game should result in a victory for the Hokies. Seminole fans should watch because a VT victory will be one of the few for the ACC this bowl season.

BCS National Championship Game (LSU vs. Ohio State) January 6.
Because I really, really don’t like Ohio State. Because it’s the only “title” game in town for FBS Division football. Because it’s the last college football game of the year, and because barring a freak accident, the Super Bowl’s outcome is easy to guess, so this game will be the last competitive championship game of the 2007 season, college or pro.

Thoughts? What are you guys going to watch? All of them? Parts? Just the MCB? Let me know!

Merry Christmas from ScalpEm.com!

Leave some comments, let readers know if you got and nifty Seminole related gifts!

Vote and comment!

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 By Kate Ewing

When it was announced at the beginning of the football season that twenty-three Florida State athletes in nine sports were involved in an academic scandal, I thought not again. Despite the fact that only two football players were involved, I knew this was trouble. Answers to online tests for one class were being given out by a tutor. However, despite this initial announcement, nothing more came of it, other than the four-game suspension of wide receiver Joslin Shaw. This was true until two days ago. Then it was announced that twenty-three Noles were suspended for the bowl game against Kentucky, as more academic impropriety had been discovered. Papers were written for players in addition to the online test answers given out by the tutors. And while some of the players are walk-ons, eleven have starting experience. However, due to the Federal laws involved with NCAA violations, names haven’t been revealed.

This seems to be just a disappointing end to a disappointing season, but for me it’s more than that. I’ve posted on other blogs under the pseudonym Criminole, which has been a nickname of the Noles since the Footlocker scandal in 1994. I’ve supported this team through Warrick’s Dillards escapades, Jano’s hard partying, AD’s gambling, Sexton’s thinking he was God and countless other incidents. However, it gets old. I got rid of the Criminole blog two years ago and keep hoping that the team will follow suit and change their ways, but I’m not sure.

The criminal escapades weren’t a problem when the team was winning, despite being critiqued by every news source on the planet, but not that the last title is eight years gone, it’s time to change. I hope that the four-game suspensions that are looming is enough to bring changes to a program that needs a new direction. A new staff didn’t do as much as we’d hoped, but maybe pulling together in the face of mass suspensions will allow this team to bond and demonstrate the talent that we saw in Chestnut Hill.

From the Tallahassee Democrat… FSU players not on the travel roster for the Music City Bowl.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? I’m on vacation… but I’ll check in to keep the discussion going.

I wish…

That FSU Baseball doesn’t start strong and then tank yet again.

That the Seminoles find some guys for the MCB that have the talent to play, but haven’t shown it yet.  

That Jimbo Fisher gets a big box of Halls, he’ll need it after all of the yelling he needs to do.

For a new HD scoreboard at Doak Campbell Stadium and ribbon boards that do more than display ads.

For some spare scoreboard light bulbs at JoAnne Graf Field.

For FSU soccer to take the final baby step and win the College Cup next year.

For Verne Lundquist to finally hook up with Tim Tebow. 

For Gary Danielson to be crushed that Verne got to him first.

That ACC referees get this book, and learn from the mistakes in it. 

For Preston Parker to stay healthy and motivated.

For fans to get off Drew Weatherford’s back.

For a successful 2008 for the independent bloggers out there, keep up the good work!

By Bill Kristoph

I needed something to rant about today, and Matt Hayes is all too willing to help me out, evidently (thanks to Chili over at DannyFordIsGod.com for sending it along). Hayes, of The Sporting News, shines his own light on the FSU Academic Violations. Gee, thanks Matt for that commentary, now shut up and go back to explaining your own personal Top 25 list.

Hayes, “Please, everyone. If you’re going to point a finger, point it directly at FSU president T.K. Wetherell.”

Sure there are plenty of FSU Alums hot or cold about President Wetherell, but how exactly would pointing the finger at him help? T.K. Wetherell has made all the right decisions by having the university check this situation out and report it to the NCAA. I guess Matt is pointing the finger at him and saying, “Good job?” Of course not, but moving on in the article, Hayes points to the football program and not the academic violations as reasons T.K. Wetherell is the problem. Basically, Matt is trying to say that getting rid of Bowden a long time ago would have prevented this situation.

Hayes, “Meanwhile, the foundation of FSU’s athletic program — its once elite football team — is swirling in the drain. And Wetherell has no one to blame but himself. Not Bowden, not recently fired athletic director Dave Hart, not the football players — as many as 25 — accused of academic fraud.”

Really? So, the players that cheated don’t take blame in this? Last I checked, every person is responsible for his or her self Matt, and the players that cheated made a poor life decision. Wetherell is seeing to it that they pay their dues, which at this point is 3.6 games (for football). If Bowden has “lost control” as Hayes claims, then he lost it a long time ago. Free shoes? Discounted Dillards? Why were those player-problems then? If finger pointing is going on, then the fingers point to the people that did wrong. I’d be happy to point a finger at the coaching staff, or the university if they had looked the other way, but they didn’t. The tutor involved and the students that cheated are at fault.

Hayes: “FSU doesn’t just need a new coach. It needs new direction, a new philosophy. It’s time to wipe the slate clean and start over. A new president, a new coach, a new identity.”

Here’s the million dollar problem for Matt, these things were set in motion by the prior administration and Dave Hart (who, unlike Hayes claims, wasn’t trying to make an unemotional detachment from Bowden). In case Hayes hasn’t noticed, it’s Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. There’s a statue of coach Bowden, and there’s a stained glass window of him too. Bowden gets to stay, it’s that simple. I disagreed with the naming of fields after current coaches for that specific reason back when the fad started. Wait until they retire and do it the next day, that’s perfectly fine, I said. But now, not only is FSU stuck with Bowden, but with Martin, Graf, etc. too (not that it’s a bad thing in all cases). Matt’s “problem” has no chance of being resolved.

Where is the accountability for the individual? My philosophy is well stated here at ScalpEm.com; they’re young adults and they make mistakes, but stop treating them like “kids” because it’s convenient. Each student athlete, that actually cheated, made a decision. That decision was a poor decision, which was not guided by a proper moral compass. (I’m not preaching morals, but cheating is a moral issue no matter how you slice it.) As an 18 year old “regular” student at FSU, I didn’t need a coach to motivate me not to cheat. I knew right from wrong, and sucked down a bad grade if I made a poor decision to not study or not do an assignment. Hayes is just playing into a bigger issue with society; nobody wants to look in the mirror anymore.