Florida State Seminoles: The Garnet And Gold's Return to a National Powerhouse

Since I can remember, I've done the tomahawk chop, I've chanted along with the fans, I've even made my character in NCAA Football for PS2/PS3 a Seminole every year, in hopes of giving them that extra "push" needed to, once again, claim the National Championship crown, but next year?

I don't think so.

If anything was made apparent this past season, it was that the restructuring of the Florida State program has been successful.

As much as I hated seeing Mister Bowden leave—especially in the way he left—it opened the door for Jimbo Fisher to implement his plan for a team that always has the tools, but never seems to utilize them properly.

There was some worry when I heard Bobby was going to be pushed into retirement and Jimbo would finally take his place as Head Coach of the Seminoles. I almost despised Jimbo before the season started as Bobby was to FSU, what, well, Paterno is to Penn State.

He's that iconic image on the sidelines—when things got rough you saw Bobby with the headset calling plays.

Sadly, those plays didn't cut it anymore and other coaches had Bobby's number, causing our franchise to swim in the kiddy pool instead of in the deep end with the big boys of the nation.

After the first game, I liked what I saw—but I knew our true "first game" was going to be against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oh, those same Sooners that ripped away our National Championship dream in 2000. As fans we licked our chops thinking we were going to finally get our well deserved revenge, taking down Oklahoma early, shooting them in the kneecap—

WRONG.

They trampled us.

We looked like the Seminoles of old and I didn't like what I saw, yet I didn't lose faith. I did scoff at Jimbo though, I thought for sure they made a mistake with him—Bobby would of been better off right?

I mean if we're going to have a losing season, at least let Bobby try and catch Paterno in the process—An assumption that I was gladly was wrong about.

After that game, we went on an impressive five game winning streak, outscoring our opponents 168-60. Three of those games came against ACC Division Rivals, the best one being when we destroyed the Hurricanes, the first of two interstate rivalries we would walk away with bragging rights for.

Beating Miami IN Miami was the sweet revenge I wanted to get when we faced Oklahoma in Week two—but beggars can't be choosers.

We allowed five touchdowns in five games, amazing!

I for one was stoked, Jimbo came through for us. Forgetting Bobby will never be done, but with Jimbo leading the charge, it'll make the process a bit easier.

Then tragedy struck.

Just when we were on cloud nine, we were brought back to reality with back to back losses in the division against NC and NC State, two games that we could have won if not for mental errors and a lack of play-making.

If Dustin Hopkins didn't miss that FG and if Christian Ponder didn't fumble on the play-action, we'd be sitting pretty—a one lost record in commanding lead of the ACC Atlantic. But those two losses showed us that we had to fix some issues before thinking about playing with the big boys in a BCS bowl game.

We came back though, beating Clemson and Maryland back to back—we were out of a big bowl game but the ACC Championship was in our reach—Maryland did us a favor and knocked NC State out of contention on the SAME day we finally broke the streak and DESTROYED the Gators.

Yes, DESTROYED.

Its been a while since I said that, or even was able to imply that we beat them. But we did, and we did it in convincing fashion, just like when we ate up Miami

In 2010-11?—The team that best represented the state of Florida wasn't Urban Meyer's Gators like early season predictions thought—not even Randy Shannon's Hurricanes—but those darn Seminoles from Tallahassee that people thought would be stuck in a funk with a new head coach.

We did lose the ACC Championship to a much better Virgina Tech, but it was a start. We got our butts handed to us on on a silver platter on defense, but offensively?—We looked good.

We'll be OK.

Next year, we're losing Christian Ponder who helped turn this team around. We all knew he was going to leave sooner or later, but I want to thank him for the great seasons he's produced as a QB for FSU.

Of the last decade, he's definitely right below Weinke, above Weatherford and Rix. Don't even get me started on Sexton.

Lyme Disease, right?

Right.

But next year, Seminole fans—rejoice.

I promise you, our step towards returning as a National Powerhouse isn't TOO far away.

We a dynamic backfield consisting of Chris Thompson and Ty Jones.

To EJ Manuel, who some have said can be the next Charlie Ward, we'll be fine. Work on that defense, make the secondary stronger so we're not suspect to the pass. With work and recruits who will definitely make an impact, we're going to be back under the that shining light, playing each game like we used to where we know at the end of the season we can be playing for it all.

For a chance, to once again kiss that trophy and go down in history as "the best."