Bleacher Report - Articles by Shawn Allen

The ACC at the Halfway Point

Shawn Allen — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:24:29 -0400

Author's Note: I told my friend Tyler I would write this in my next article. He said, "You were too critical of UM's QB Marve. He is just a college athlete and you stereotyped him as selfish and by all accounts his teammates love him. A perfect example is Chris Rix. He didn't fit that type and he was one of the most selfish players in recent memory."

Well said Tyler. I was wrong. I stand corrected.

We are halfway through the football season. The ACC is shaping up a little bit like the ACC of old and not the one that had been expected this year. Sitting atop the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions are Florida State and Georgia Tech, respectively. Both teams are not original ACC members, but both have had success, historically, in the conference.

What is interesting about the conference this year is that most teams involved at this point control their own destiny.

Georgia Tech’s only loss came to Virginia Tech. VT has two conference losses, so if GT wins out in the conference, they will be headed to Tampa for title game. It is quite possible for them to accomplish. Of their last four conference games, GT has three at home.

Their opponents are Virginia, Florida State, at UNC, and Miami. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, each team on the schedule has shown both flashes of brilliance and apparitions of mediocrity.

UVA and Florida State have improved steadily with each game they have played and seem to be gelling as a team. After losing 31-3 to Duke, the Cavaliers beat Maryland 31-0 and then stole one at Chapel Hill in overtime, 16-13.

Florida State opened with two DI-AA (I refuse the playoff subdivision title) teams, lost to Wake with a limited team, and has their last two conference games on the road nonetheless.

UNC and Miami both have very good, young talent. Unfortunately for UNC, they have suffered several injuries to several starters, including their top WR and starting QB.

Miami has not been able to get over the hump and win the close ones, which is a sign of youth. If Shannon keeps his players focused and working hard, they can finish the season strong and be a real conference force next year.

Florida State’s road appears a little tougher than GT’s. They have VT this weekend at home, GT on the road, Clemson and BC at home, and end their conference play with Maryland away.

VT just lost their starting safety. This does not bode well for the Hokies since their defense has not been the typical Frank Beamer D fans are accustomed to—ranking 33 in total defense, allowing 312 yards per game and 39th in pass defense.

GT is probably the most formidable opponent. Paul Johnson’s offense has been effective, ranking ninth in the nation in rushing.

Clemson looks anemic, but with the weapons they have, it is never easy to count them out of a game. Then again, FSU has a score to settle with the Tigers from the past three years. With Tommy’s Tigers' (oops, sorry) offensive line as young and porous as it is, and the 'Noles defense being third in total defense, it could be an ugly game for the away team in Tallahassee.

BC is a stale holdover from last season’s ACC title game contender, but they are still very well coached and are a tough opponent year in and year out.

Maryland is the team that is the strangest to predict. They are not the most worrisome because they have not proven to be consistent. They have lost 31-0 to UVA and then beat Wake 26-0. Not always sure what you will get, but they are 59th in total offense and 77th in total defense. It is not exactly a solid team.

Both teams sitting atop the standings have a decent row to hoe in front of them. Only FSU needs help from Wake. If Wake loses another conference game, then FSU is not held back in the head to head tiebreaker.

Of all the ACC teams, it seems FSU is on the road to being the best by the end of the year. Although not the highest conference team ranked in the polls, they are the highest ACC team ranked in total offense (29th), total defense (third), time of possession (sixth), and third down conversion (sixth).

These are all key stats that point to a particular dominance. Here is a sampling of other teams listed in the top five of these stats: Okalahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, USC, and GT. It is good company.

Then again, at the beginning of the year, the pundits hailed Clemson, Wake, and VT. With five, six, or for some, seven games left, the conference will shake out. We may be surprised like we were with WF two years ago or happy to see a team like FSU or GT return to a certain prominence they once held.

The only thing that would be a negative is if no team rose to the top and the conference beat each other, sending a mediocre team to a BCS bowl.

Florida State-Miami: Canes Lost the Game and Never Have Had Class

Shawn Allen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:52:10 -0400

“We won! We won! Holy crap! I can’t believe it. We Won!”

This was a text I sent out to a friend of mine as I rode home from Dolphin Stadium. This jubilation was the culmination of multiple aspects of the weekend (others being the 10 bourbon and cokes and my friend Dan’s bachelor party).

The only thing that challenged to bring my happiness down were the classless Miami fans.

The game was not as close as the score made it out to be. The Noles controlled the football on offense and defense—notice I did not say “special teams.”

Jimbo called a great game. Mickey had the defense ready. Our quarterback grew up and played the best game of his short career, and Antone Smith had a second game where he looked like a pro.

Starting the game, I had a sense of nervousness. I did not think we were going to lose, but I did not think we were going to win.

How is that? I didn’t think the Noles were gonna win the game, but everything in my heart would not consider the possibility of the Canes winning a game where I was in attendance on the road.

I‘ve been in that stadium for two bowl games, and we lost both (one on my birthday). The fact that I could be there again while a slumping Miami team was gonna beat a surging Florida State team was more than I could handle.

I walked in and sat down...in the Miami alumni section. Did I mention Dan’s extended family are all Canes?

I am a cordial fan. I have sat in Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Florida alumni sections. Each time I behaved. I never stand too long. I cheer politely and never boo or berate the opponent. I am a guest in their stands.

Imagine going to someone’s house and insulting their décor, food, and choice of raising their children. I am not classless.

Then I sat in the Miami alumni section and realized the majority of the people there were not Miami alumni. At the end of the game two Seminole fans sitting five rows in front and a few seats to my left started chanting, “Show your diploma!”

The response? “Show your tits!” That was the response. Not “Have some class,” “Go back to Tally,” or even “At least we don’t cheat to get ours.” Well done.

I think highly of the UM. The university is a good institution, and I am glad to claim it as a Florida school. They compliment the other two flagship schools well. I respect the university. That is why I do not respect this guy.

I will mention there was a nice older couple sitting next to me with whom I talked. Classy people. Another man was sitting just in front and he shook my hand.

But those do not make up for the 12,000 “alumni” fans who, like the two Miami girls in front of me, do the tomahawk chop with their middle finger and chant “F*** you Seminoles. F*** you. F*** you.” I give the girls a pass because they were hot and kept turning around because they couldn’t get enough of my friend Ben and me.

So Jill and your friend (sorry, don't remember your name), we were very pleased to be sitting behind you.

I knew the students did this. Hell, the FSU student chant against Miami is “F*** Miami!” Not clever. Not smart. Just hate—kind of like GT and UGA.

But the alumni? Really? Sidewalk alumni most likely. That is the only explanation.

I thought this “the U” nonsense was over when they had a losing season last year and Randy Shannon came in and instilled discipline—something that Johnson, Erickson, and Coker didn’t demand (maybe on the field. But not off. Read Cane Mutiny).

But the whole game, the scoreboard said, “It is all about the U.” The U of what? Because you have an upper case "U" on your helmet. So are Missouri, Michigan, and Minnesota all “the M.”

I do not understand this inflated pride that attracts so many of the “I’m a mother f-ing soldier” types. No kidding—camouflage shorts sitting one row up and three seats in front of me. Next to him, black jean shorts.

Is it because they are in a pro city that the only thing these fans think about is football, and nothing else matters? Are they a Miami Dolphins minor league? What causes so many non-university people to come to a game and act like thugs?

I give them some credit. They were loud...except they were piping in the sound of the band and their student section. OK, so not so much credit there.

I will say my good friend, Tyler, a lifelong Miami friend from Ft. Lauderdale, shook my hand and congratulated me on my victory. That is class. It is a shame for every one of him there are at least two of “the U” fans running around.

I guess that is what you attract when your most famous wide-receiver is a cokehead who says things about Tony Romo on ESPN like “...[there must be] some brothers in that line somewhere...(laughs to himself) somewhere there are some brothers...I don’t know who saw what, where...[maybe] his great, great, great, great Grandma ran over in the hood or something went down...(laughter).”

You had rappers on the sideline handing out cash for sacks, your team secretary supplied and smoked weed with your players, and your starting QB has old English tattoos on the backs of his arm...

OK. Shots at student athletes are not OK. But the kid is showing the world his initials so they can know who he is, and in two games in a row he has thrown an INT in the end zone at the end of the game. If you want everyone to know you, make sure it is for what you do well.

Maybe that’s just it. Maybe “the U” is all nominal. It isn’t about substance. It’s all persona. All style. All swagger...oh wait—you have to win to have that last one.

Florida State-Miami: First Big Time Matchup Between Teams Since 2000

Shawn Allen — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:33:50 -0400

I took a week off following the Wake loss. I didn’t want to say anything absurd or overly emotional. A few examples I thought of were, “We suck! We’re gonna lose the rest of our games! We’d even lose to Duke.” But that’s a little much.

Following Colorado, I found some new hope but had cautious optimism. I am not exactly sure why my mood for the week is dictated on the play of the Noles, but I do know that I hate when my mood is sullen, angry, and directionless.

The past two weeks we have seen two different offenses, but for the most part the same defense. We have got back all our starters on defense. Our line is strong. Our linebackers are underrated, and our secondary is solid.

Here are a few problems I see with the defense that can make us vulnerable to Miami.

* First, Colorado’s number one back, Rod Stewart (too many jokes to write one), carved us up. He had 21 carries and 105 yards for an average of 5.1 YPC.

This is bad because Colorado has never and will never have the athletes FSU (or most Southern schools, in particular Florida schools) will have. This guy was the No. 1 RB last year. He is raw.

Miami has talent out the wazoo. They picked from their backyard at Miami Northwestern. We throw a four-man front at them because our line is strong enough to pressure the QB and stymie the run. I think our rush defense will need to be strong, or else it could...

* Lead me to my next point—which is, our secondary is not great. It does have experience, but against Wake and CU, they were still beat on deep balls, seam patterns, and posts. For some reason Rolle, McClure, PRob, and Carter are being beat.

The run for Miami will set up the pass. Watch (I’ll call it), Myron Rolle will get sucked up to the linebackers thinking the run is coming when Marve pulls the ball down and throws to an open receiver, who is being trailed by Patrick Robinson, where Rolle should be.

Marve is a good QB. He has a strong arm and sees well down the field. He’ll make us pay if we do not stay at home and not let their WR get past us.

Sub-point: Mickey Andrews is good. But when he runs the cover 2 against UM we get torched. I think can start with it, but I hope we mix up the linebackers and secondary. By giving Marve different looks and frustrating him with multiple DBs, we can slow down the offense.

* Point three: Ponder will need to get over nerves and make his reads quickly. He has been taking too long to decide where he wants to throw it. His talent is there, but he hasn’t come around.

He is only a RS sophomore, so we can’t get on him too much. Charlie Ward threw four or five picks in one of his first starts as a junior. It takes some time. But we need him to deliver for us.

And where the hell has the wide receiver screen been? I have not seen any consistency in the offensive play calls. Is it due to the defenses we have seen? Is Jimbo afraid of an easy pick six? Is he not tipping his hand to Miami? I don’t think so on that one. You don’t set up a rival by losing your conference opener.

* Holy Antone Smith. He became the five-star back we thought he was four years ago. He fought through tackles. He hurdled people on the ground. He was decisive in the hole. Good for him. We’ll need that performance this week.

Sadly, he is faster than CU’s defense, but not Miami’s. He won’t get another 60-yard type run. But he can get solid yardage and make this game an old fashioned FSU/Miami game: a lot of running, a handful of big plays, and great defense.

* The home field advantage will favor FSU. The Nole fans bought up the open tickets from Miami’s ticket office. The sidewalk alumni for UM won’t make it to the game because of the new location, and Dolphin Stadium is nowhere near as good of an atmosphere as the Orange Bowl. It will play more as a neutral site, all the way down to the lack of home paint on the field.

* Last point: this is the first time that both teams have had good athletes and good coaching at the same time since the 2000 game. The '01 and '02 games were with coaching staff holdovers from Butch Davis for UM and Jeff Bowden for FSU. Since then, the recruiting base fell off for both teams until the last two years.

I think we’ll see both teams in the 20s.

Prediction: 24-20, Miami—and no, a field goal won’t decide it this year.

Florida State Football: Hey, It's Not Bad

Shawn Allen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:27:13 -0400

The opener to the FSU season was a delayed a couple times, but the offense showed. Unfortunately, I had enough after lightning delay No. 3, so I headed home and watched other games around the nation while listening to Gene Deckerhoff on the Seminole Radio Network.

I had a few thoughts on the game based on the radio broadcast and box score. But I waited until the replay of the game on Sun Sports to develop a full analysis and opinion.

We are not bad. That’s it. We’re not bad. It reminds of a conversation I had with a girl I had dated after we had broken up. I went something like this.

Me: We don’t really seem to get along. I try to be nice and say hey and not try to be awkward.

Her: Yeah.

Me: What’s the deal?

Her: Well…I don’t hate you.

That kind of translates to the state FSU football is right now. We are not good. We are not even average. I am not sure what we are, except we are not bad.

We played a Western Carolina team that was the bottom feeder of the NCAA Division 1 FCS. They won one game and lost every game in their conference last season. So when we look at our incredible offensive output and record-breaking margin of victory, we cannot get an accurate view of our team’s capability.

Any team should have throttled the Catamounts. But here are a few observations from the game that are not directly tied to the poor quality of the opponent.

· We have a plethora of speedy wide receivers. Speed can appear to be relative on the football field. However, there is also the eye’s judgment. One can tell speed when one sees it. Burt Reed, Taiwan Easterling, Jarmon Fortson, Rod Owens, and Corey Surrency are very explosive and dangerous wide receivers. Not to mention the addition of Preston Parker after he serves his suspension…. Side note: Our receivers blocked the best they have in years. It helps we had some size, but it stems from the coaching of Lawerence Dawsey. He was a WR known for blocking skills.

· Both Ponder and Richardson made good decisions. Yes, the secondary of WCU was slower and smaller; the QBs made the right reads as well as making the right decision to pull the ball down or throw it away. In addition, they were very accurate with their throws. On the whole, they put the ball where either their receiver could catch it or no one could catch it. Strong arms and good mechanics show why Fisher made the choice to promote the young QB’s to the first and second string.

This game allowed the freshmen on both sides of the ball to gain experience and get a feel for a collegiate football game. No doubt nerves were high. Imagine having to play a Clemson or a Miami the first game of the year. The polls may have knocked programs for opening up with cupcakes. We don’t have the luxury of having the type of team where we can open with stronger opponents. We are trying to re-build a program, it takes baby steps.
“We haven’t had to ask for effort,” Jimbo Fisher said of this year’s team. The players are motivated and will sacrifice. They seemed to execute well. Mental errors were rare. What is left to be scene is how they will respond to adversity.

I can’t say that we will have a great season. Hell, I can’t say if we’ll have a good season. But we will not have a bad season. Fisher has said this year, “I am excited about this team.” He didn’t say this kind of thing last year.

Changes to Florida State Football Program Have Fans Excited for 2008

Shawn Allen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:19:42 -0400

Today, college football starts. There is an excitement in the air at universities around the nation—and there is excitement for me, because I am back in more ways then one.

I have returned to the hallowed grounds of Florida State University. After a year of teaching, I was offered a scholarship to pursue a Master's Degree and work as a graduate assistant for the FSU Track and Field team.

Being immersed again in the garnet and gold, I have found new life. Two years of 7-6 crushed me. The eternal optimism that springs with each season faded away. I came back cynical, guarded, and waiting for the football program to prove itself.

But after three weeks walking around the Athletic Department and hearing rumors of how we are progressing, I cannot hold out any longer. I am not expecting much, but I am expecting more than 7-6. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, here we come!

Since 2000, the three major sports have struggled here. In the meantime (thanks to great vision from former Athletic Director Dave Hart), the Olympic sports have moved up in national rankings.

In the last year, FSU has played for four national titles and won one. They have won conference titles in swimming and diving, golf, and track and field. Every team except volleyball made the postseason. Overall, the Athletic Dept. has been progressing with leaps and bounds.

However, football has struggled. It has been blamed on everything from Chris Rix to Jeff Bowden to injuries to suspensions to Bobby’s lack of day-to-day activity to not having an indoor practice facility. It has been eight years of misdiagnoses and somewhat divided fans, boosters, and even teammates and coaches.

Now, the athletic administration has changed at the urging of FSU President, former FSU football player, and State of Florida Speaker of the House T.K. Wetherell. Football has undergone a minor facelift. Even the Doak S. Campbell Stadium has received technological renovations.

A buzz has returned around town. Plenty of people (like my brother, Jason) are quietly optimistic. He will not concede that he thinks we will go 10-2 or even be undefeated heading into Clemson (week nine) or Florida (week 12), but every now and then he will let his guard down and allow the fantasy to overtake him.

“What if we make it through the first three weeks? I mean, we have injuries and suspensions. We only have two scholarship defensive tackles for those weeks. We need to avenge the last Wake home game.

“We’ll beat Colorado. Miami is really not that good. Sometime around this game Ponder will take over.

“Thursday night at NC State is the midseason tester that sneaks up on you. Not because they are good, but because it is on a Thursday night. We are terrible at those games.

“We can get past VT at home and GT on the road. We are sitting and waiting for Clemson to come in. We need to win that game...and we can ride that wave and beat BC, Maryland, and we’re 11-0 when Tebow rolls into town.

“And you know there is no way we’re gonna be 11-0 and let Florida beat us at home. Just a few breaks. Just some luck. We can do this.”

I would love that. That is what is great about college football. Each season you can go through the schedule and diagram how your team can win each game. Theoretically FSU could be national champions come January. But there is a huge difference between theory and practice.

Practically, FSU will go 8-4 or 9-3 in the regular season. The national media is two years behind our story here. We are no longer overrated...in fact this year we are underrated.

How can we be an underrated 8-4 team?

The past two years are the years we were overrated. Because the national media like the AP and Coaches' polls and ESPN’s coverage do not have the ability to cover each team thoroughly, this year they have made sure not to give FSU the credit of coming over the hill.

So here is a quick rundown of our team.

The strength of FSU is their young talent: Corey Surrency (a junior, but a transfer), Preston Parker, the offensive line, and two highly talented quarterbacks. Skill positions are fairly solid, and that brings buzz.

The weakness of FSU is their young talent. Young players do not have great game experience or time to learn the system.

However, there is a flip side. The first two games of the year are cupcakes that will allow us to work out the kinks, plus we will not miss the players we lost to suspension or injury. So week three against Wake is the week everyone is looking to.

The RS sophomore, Christian Ponder, has already graduated and is working on a Master's degree. He is not having any trouble with the system.

The OL is thin. It has been that way for a couple years. Hopefully, with the emphasis on recruiting, that position will make this year the last year for such problems.

The defense will be solid except for the injuries to the DL. The secondary should be the strength of this year’s team, yet I am skeptical. The way our CBs are taught to cover in the one on one packages still bothers me. We face guard, and as a result we continually have wide receivers making catches over our CBs.

You may notice that I have conveniently left out Bobby Bowden and Drew Weatherford. That's because they do not matter too much. Bobby will be the head coach in name only and most likely will not coach after next season. Jimbo Fisher is running the team.

Weatherford is a fifth-year senior. He is a good guy. I think he is a hard worker. He has taken a strong stance as a leader. But really, he has been under too much of the former regime to change his habits or unlearn the bad things he learned in his first few years. Physically, he is not the athlete Ponder or Devontry Richardson are.

There is a good chance Ponder will usurp the incumbent QB the way Casey Weldon did with Brad Johnson.

On the whole, we have remade our program inside and out. I predict losses against VT, BC, and Florida. We may lose to UM, NC State, or GT. So we win the games we should and lose the ones we probably should.

FSU Football: Recruits to Fill Holes, Coaches to Win Championships

Shawn Allen — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:39:15 -0500

“Recruiting is a whole other season for college football fans.”

That is what my boss, the headmaster at the school in which I teach, said to me yesterday. I always thought that other season was college basketball, and I thought he might agree since he is a UK grad and avid fan.

See the thing about recruiting that bothers me is not the insane pressure we put on coaches, but the insane pressure we put on 18 and 19 year old young men. Even in an age where our youth are growing up faster and stronger, they are also staying at home longer and maturing slower.

I think we place too much responsibility on young men in collegiate athletics, especially football, and expect them to show the poise and maturity of a seasoned veteran. It has become quasi-professional.

On the other hand, recruiting for a football team is necessary and legal. Athletes perform at high levels in high school so they may have a chance to play at the next level. With this being said, I will give a brief over view of the Florida State recruiting class. And unlike many others, I am not going place a high emphasis on individual recruits.

The reasons for this are Lorenzo Booker and Myron Rolle. Both were 5 star recruits, highly touted out of high school and both did not or have not to this point lived up to the hype. I am not blaming them for the hype, nor for not living up to it. For that I blame the coaches.

Finally at FSU, I think the coaching staff is at a place it was almost a decade ago. We have coaches who can recruit talent, but more importantly they can develop talent. That was somewhat of a lost art from the Jeff Bowden, Darrell Dickey days in Tallahassee, especially at the quarterback position.

The team needed offensive and defensive linemen. Losing seniors on both sides, this year’s class brings depth. Hopefully getting the Freshmen reps early and often will allow the team to bring back the line depth that the Seminoles made famous during their decade and a half run atop the polls.

We’ve picked up to key linebackers in Nigel Bradham, Nigel Carr, and Nick Moody. They will help replace the whole left in the linebacking core vacant from the early departure to the NFL by Geno Hayes. We also picked up Terrance Parks as a CB and 6’4”, 245lbs DE Markus White.

On the offensive end, the Noles had an early commit, EJ Manuel. He has been compared to JaMarcus Russell in both stature and arm strength. Most likely redshirting his first year, he will gain experience playing behind now starter Drew Weatherford and RS SO, Christian Ponder, who had only one year of tainted leadership under the previous regime.

For skill positions, we signed the bruising, 6’1” 215 lb RB, Tavares Pressley and fellow 4 star 6’5”, 200 lb WR, Corey Surrency.

Coach Fisher, referring to Bradham and Manuel,said “The offense and defense are lead by two key players. We feel like we got the best two players at those positions.”

FSU has a top 10-15 class depending at which rankings you look. I think it is a group that gives us exactly what we need and lays a foundation for the coaches to revive a down program. It is never the recruiting class that wins you a national title, it is the coaching and development of talent.

How many first rounders were 5 star recruits? How many Heisman winners? How many Hall of Famers?

It is not the recruits who do the winning—It is the program, the coach, and the system. Just ask Florida State Basketball. We have top recruits every year since Leonard Hamilton has been our coach, but Coach Ham has a real problem turning them into winners.

Guess how many NCAA Tournament births we have in the same time frame.

That’s right, the same number of BCS games we won with Jeff Bowden as coach.

The Fall of the Florida State Seminoles

Shawn Allen — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:59:47 -0500

When I was in high school, I had a basketball coach who graduated from Purdue University. He would talk about the Boilermakers all the time. He would say the Big Ten was the best conference in the nation. He would throw out obscure facts to overwhelm me.

The worst was his complete discrediting of FSU and anything they did. He was definitely from the old school where mid-western football was all that existed, and frankly I think he had an inferiority complex, being from Indiana and having to deal with IU and Notre Dame fans.

I finally got him to stop his barrage of nonsense...

Dave Lettermen used to run fake advertisements. I watched Dave every night. I think Leno is awful and Dave might be one of the smartest people on television. Either way, Gene Kady was the coach at Purdue forever, and he had an awful comb-over. He had this scowl and this giant bald head with four to eight strands of hair running over top of it.

“This was brought to you by: Purdue basketball—it’s a comb-over!” Alan Kalder would repeat this night after night. So I went in one day and told my coach about it. This is what he said: “If we have reached the point of being joked about on Dave Lettermen, maybe it is time to give it up.”

Why did I tell you this story? Because it is time for FSU to give it up.

My friend, AJ, is going to Nash-Vegas for the game. She goes to all the games. She loves FSU football and may love some of the players as well. She always asks what I think about the team and what has transpired.

Recently, she asked if I had any suggestions for a sign she could make and try to get on TV with. Here were my ideas:

“At least we do not have a chance to cheat on our sisters;”

“Instead of losing by 2 TDs, it will be 3;”

“Our next head coach wanted to go to WVU.”

Ok...the last one was not real, but it is true.

In the last few months, our team has been a lightning rod for stupidity. And by lightning, I mean self-inflicted, dumb-ass behavior.

We have an offensive coordinator who is going to be the next head coach at one of the more prestigious programs in the nation. He has a 2.5 million dollar buyout, yet decided that he wanted to go to WVU.

Our current head coach does not game plan. He does not coach on the sidelines. He does not remember his players names.

He has a field named after him, a stained glass window, and a statue in his likeness. He is a great man with great character, but the only thing he was really good at recently—recruiting—has been taken over by the coach who wanted to go to WVU.

The first thing people said when Fisher wanted to leave was, “There go our recruits. The only reason people want to come here is because of him. They have openly said that.”

FSU was well on its way to becoming another faded program.

Then we had 20-25 players cheat academically. As a graduate, a former student-athlete, and a fan, I think those people are stupid.

I am not going to sit here and defend them. People would ask me what I thought, and I would tell them that our players are idiots and do not deserve to play. They should be penalized, and the people in the athletic department who knew about it or turned a blind eye should be fired.

Do not come at me with this nonsense. I am not going to say it is ok. I am a fan, not an administrator. Now, if you want to make fun of or rag on the players, then yes, by all means please do so.

The icing on the cake, however, was that Bowden wanted a four year extension. He was given a one year contract, and can collect a million dollar bonus for “lifetime achievement” when he retires.

Do you see what this is? We are trying to coerce our 76 year old head coach into leaving.

If that is not enough, Fisher’s contract states that if we do not hire him in three years, we will pay him 2.5 million dollars.

He will be the head coach soon. Most people think he'll take over after next year, since the schedule is favorable. A few say after this bowl game.

I say: what does it matter?

We are a bad team. We will be bad until Fisher is the coach, and even then we may not be that good. That is, at most, three years away.

I am not going to hold my breath or analyze the X’s and the O’s. I am going to make jokes and poke fun. Because, at this point, humor is all we have left.

FSU Football — It's Hilarious

Shawn Allen — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:14:51 -0500

The worst was his complete discrediting of FSU and anything they did. He was definantly from the old school where Midwestern football was all that existed, and frankly I think he had an inferiority problem being from Indiana and having to deal with IU and Notre Dame fans.

But then something happened that finally got him to stop his barrage of non-sense.

Dave Lettermen used to run fake advertisements. I watched Dave every night, as he might be one of the smartest people on television (way better than Leno). Either way, Gene Kady was the coach at Purdue forever and he had an awful comb-over. He had this scowl and this giant bald head with four to eight strands of hair running over the top of it.

“This was brought to you by: Purdue basketball — it’s a comb-over!” Alan Kalder would repeat this night after night. So I went in one day and told my coach about it. This is what he said, “If we have reached the point of being joked about on Dave Lettermen, maybe it is time to give it up.”

Why did I tell you this story?

Because it is time for FSU to give up.

My friend, AJ, is going to Nash-vegas for the game. She goes to all the games. She loves FSU football and may love some of the players as well. She always asks what I think about the team and what has transpired.

Recently she asked if I had any suggestions for a sign she could make to try and get on TV. Here were my ideas:

“At least we don't have a chance to cheat on our sisters”

“Instead of losing by 2 TD’s, it will be 3”

“Our next head coach wanted to go to WVU.”

Ok. The last one was not real, but it is true.

In the last few months, our team has been a lightening rod for stupidity. And by lightening, I mean, self-inflicted dumb ass behavior. We have an offensive coordinator who is going to be the next head coach at one of the more prestigious programs inthe nation. He has a 2.5 million dollar buy-out, and he decided he wanted to go to WVU.

Our current head coach does not game plan. He does not coach on the sidelines. He does not remember his players' names.

He has a field named after him, a stained glass window, and a statue in his likeness. He is a great man with great character, and the only thing he was really good at recently — recruiting — has been taken over by the coach who wanted to go to WVU.

The first thing people said when Fisher wanted to leave was, “There go our recruits. The only reason people want to come here is because of him. They have openly said that.”

Looks like FSU was about to become another faded program.

Then we had 20-25 players cheat academically. As a graduate, a former student-athlete, and a fan, I can say that those people are stupid. I am not going to sit here and defend them. People would ask me what I thought, and I would tell them that our players are idiots and do not deserve to play.

They should be penalized and the people in the athletic department who knew about it or turned a blind eye should be fired.

Do not come at me with this non-sense. I am not going to say it is ok. I am a fan, not an administrator. Now, if you want to make fun or rag on the players, then yes, by all means please do so.

Finally, Bowden wanted a four year extension. He was given a one year contract and can collect a million dollar bonus for “lifetime achievement” when he retires. Do you see what this is?!

We are trying to coerce our 76 year old head coach into leaving.

If that is not enough, Fisher’s contract states that if we do not hire him in three years, we will pay him 2.5 million dollars. He will be the head coach soon. Most people think after next year, since the schedule is favorable. A few say after this bowl game.

I say, what does it matter?

We are a bad team. We will be bad until Fisher is the coach, and even then we may not be that good. That is at most 3 years away. I am not going to hold my breath or analyze the X’s and the O’s.

I am going to make jokes and poke fun.

Because, at this point, humor is all we have left.