'Reeling' Seminoles Deserve A Second Look

#14 Georgia Tech at #20 Miami. It looked a bit more like unranked Troy at No. 1 Florida, if you ask me.

While the score didn't ring true to a severely lopsided affair (33-17), anyone who tuned in saw a Georgia Tech team who simply could not contain the receiving corps of LaRon Byrd, Dedrick Epps, Travis Benjamin, and Graig Cooper.

...and they are just the first four of nine receivers Jacory Harris used in a win over the Ramblin' train-wreck.

So Miami, a team with only one QB, and a borrowed stadium, once expected to start the season no better than 1-3 or 2-2, is now looking like the leader in the ACC.

John Swofford would be proud. While it's still early, his idea of a National Championship front-runner coming out of a 12 team ACC is exactly what people saw in Miami on Thursday night
finally.

Meanwhile FSU was still recovering from week two cupcake, Jacksonville State.

"So what does Miami beating #14 Georgia Tech have to do with FSU?"

Patience. It's coming.

FSU—Miami.

There are a bunch of reasons why FSU should have beaten Miami. This is another issue for another day.

Wyatt Sexton, Drew Weatherford, Chris Rix.
These are not reasons why FSU should have won.

Christian Ponder was.

He was amazing in his first game of the year, spreading the ball between eight different receivers.

His pass on the last play of the game was the difference between a win and a loss. Period.

FSU lost in their opening weekend because they allowed 38 points. It was FSU's first loss in 25 years when they managed to score 34 points or more. FSU's defense, and especially their secondary, were blown by, brushed back, and basically ignored in the aerial attack by Miami.

Yeah, Miami was good. They proved it by doing it to two ranked teams in a row.

So buck up FSU fans. Florida State wasn't terrible on defense. Miami's receivers and its quarterback were just that good.

Tough to swallow, but a close loss to a top 15 team is better than a fluke to a team rebuilding.

So what else is there to say?

Plenty.

This still doesn't solve the tough loss....er, WIN to Football Championship Subdivision Jacksonville State.

Well let's rewind to Georgia Tech.
We're not quite done with them.

Ironically, in some amazing twist of fate, the JSU Gamecocks, (not to be confused with the South Carolina team), also played Georgia Tech in week one.

Georgia Tech defeated Jacksonville State easily 37-17.

"So FSU struggled to a team that GT dominated."

FSU played a Jacksonville State team that lost to Georgia Tech by 20.
20 points!

Georgia Tech would score on 6 of 8 possessions in the Red Zone.

Jacksonville State would only score on 3 of 6. But what Jacksonville State did do, is make it in the red zone six times. Not too bad for an FCS school.

What would make the 20 point loss more impressive for Jacksonville State is the fact that they would have nearly as many first downs, just one shy of Georgia Tech's 21. They would also dominate time of possession, (30:35) turnover margin, (2-3) and passing yards, (193 yds. to 162 yds), which wouldn't be too surprising considering Paul Johnson's option minded offense.

So the Gamecocks weren't exactly "spring chickens" in this contest. What will really make you cry 'fowl" (I couldn't resist,) is when you recognize the biggest missing cog from the GT vs. JSU matchup.

It is the man under center.

So GT beat a ho-hum FCS team right? You might be inclined to think so, but the story goes further.

In the Gamecock's first game of the season, JSU's talented Quarterback, whom many of you may remember from a certain SEC Championship game almost two years ago, was serving a one-game suspension for off the field issues.

His name? Ryan Perriloux.

Sure there are more pieces to football matchups than just one player, but this one player wasn't just 'some player.' This young man was an SEC Champion with the 2007 LSU Tigers.

He wasn't some bench sitting nobody, he was the quarterback who led them to a National Title.

Now what difference he made in his first game back is definitely something you might want to ask yourself before passing judgment on FSU.

As it is, the Yellow Jackets didn't even play Jacksonville State's number one guy. They played against a backup. They played a young QB who wasn't recruited in 2008, and his name was Marques Ivory—who may showcase some small similarities to P-loux, but he's not nearly the same caliber passer.

For all of the verbal beatings FSU took, a closer look at the actual numbers show that FSU's "weak" defense fared better against JSU than Georgia Tech did.

The 'Noles held JSU to just nine points in seven red zone trips.

Nine...In a contest where Jacksonville State had their starting QB back, a once top prospect from high school, along with National Champion Defensive Tackle Torrey Davis (of the 2008 Gators' squad,) and transfer Wide Receiver Greg Smith from Georgia Tech, whom were all contributors. FSU allowed just nine points, and had zero offensive interceptions.

JSU was no school of "boys." They were a D-1 school slipping under the media's radar. Jimbo Fisher and Mickey Andrews knew it, and even on short rest, playing a hostile and amped Ryan Perriloux—the coaching staff started a large lot of freshmen on offense and defense for the first half of the rain soaked contest. Several second teamers saw playing time that Saturday night, including a run attack led by Chris Thompson.

It wasn't until the 3rd Quarter—tired, and unprepared, that the FSU first team players would begin to take the field. Their lethargy showed. Their commitment to winning at any cost however, did not.

Christian Ponder passed for over 400 yards, and ran for another 21, the most on the team.

Jaccobi McDaniel added a sack in the fourth to seal the game at 19-9 for FSU, and even with the missed extra points by young Dustin Hopkins, the feeling was relief.

Sure, FSU's hearts were on the bench, and it was a dreary rainy night, but as the old saying goes 'a win is a win.'

It is nothing to be ashamed of on four days rest. JSU was simply ready to play, and the Seminoles were ready to take a nap.

Once the game in Miami was final on Thursday night, the feeling of complete disappointment felt by the proud FSU faithful may have been lightened, if only a bit.

After all—FSU lost by four points, to one of the most impressive upstart Miami Hurricanes teams in seven years, and they beat a very underrated FCS opponent that would have easily covered the spread (if there were one) against a solid Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket team, that was dominated by Miami.

FSU faithful, if you can do the math, just remember, once it all settles out, there is plenty to be optimistic for.

JSU may have scared the fans, but FSU knew this team was no cakewalk. FSU showed their brilliance in the waning moments and proved they can win games in clutch situations, just like a winning team does.

Even if the score doesn't reflect the game.

The only question to ask yourself now is—"Can Miami beat Oklahoma?"

The reason I ask is this—If you said yes, then you have to believe FSU would beat Oklahoma too. You see, in my book, FSU and Miami are four points apart. They have many of the same talents, and many of the same weaknesses. The only thing separating FSU and Miami right now, are those four lousy points.

Much the same, I feel Oklahoma is only one point separated from BYU, and when Bradford comes back, they may even be a slight bit better (even with the loss.) So, there's the whole breakdown. Like it or not, in the very least, now you know the whole story. It's something to consider.

Will FSU walk into Provo and walk out a winner? Maybe, maybe not. From what I gather BYU is favored by seven this weekend. I'll take my chances on FSU—by that magic number...

Four points.

FSU-35; BYU-31.

Unapologetic, and Unconquered.
Fear the Spear.