Florida State Seminoles: What Will It Take?

Orignially Posted on SportInformant.com

Florida State has the chance to be on top of the world again this year.

Well, at least the Atlantic Division of the ACC.

Florida State, after clinching the Atlantic Division of the ACC with Boston College last year to become co-champions with the Eagles, have another chance to do it again this time around and to win it all for themselves. With a large returning senior class, a strong quarterback in Christian Ponder, and new recruits like freshmen defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel, the only question that really remains is if the 'Noles are up to the challenge.

And challenges come right out of the gate on Sept. 7 with a game against Miami.

The season opener against the Hurricanes will not only set a pace for the team and show Bobby Bowden and Co. decisively what they need to work on in the coming weeks, it will also be a litmus test of what is to come in the next few months.

With teams like Wake Forest, Maryland and North Carolina State looking to gain from the change of head coach this year at Boston College, the only thing in between these teams and a conference championship is Florida State. All three teams went 4-4 in conference play last year and all three teams will see the Seminoles in the second half of the season.

November will be a long month for Florida State if they don't have the kinks in the armor fixed by then. With a home game against North Carolina State on Oct. 31, FSU will then go on the road to Wake Forest and Clemson before a home contest against Maryland on Nov. 21.

While much is not expected from Wake Forest on the field this year, they do have the chance of the lifetime with five of six home games in the early season and the chance to go 6-0 before Oct. 10—ensuring a bowl appearance. This kind of pressure could lead to trouble for FSU, who will compete with most of their ACC counterparts in the month of November, late in the season.

The first trial in the ACC for FSU will be Boston College on Oct. 3. While Spaziani will be in as head coach for the Eagles of Boston College, it does not mean it is new ground for the man. As a part of the varsity squad for over a decade, he will be a tough opponent and will show not only what they are made of to the ACC, but also to FSU, who will stand to try and build upon earlier success against them and come out on top as sole champs this year.

Bobby Bowden and his team have their work cut out for them, starting early and not ending until after January (hopefully). However, as long as they keep their war paint on, Bowden and the boys might have another winning season under their belt yet.