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GO NOLES!!!

FSU finished 6th in the coaches poll. Below are a few oddities in where certain coaches voted us :

Ken Wilson, Nevada - 12
Dana Dimel, UTEP ; Jeff Traylor, UTSA - 11
Danny Gonzales, New Mexico ; Mark Stoops, Kentucky ; Kyle Wittingham, Utah - 10
Blake Anderson, Utah State ; Terry Bowden, ULM ; Sonny Cumbie, LA Tech ; Jeff Monken, Army ; BILLY NAPIER , UF - 9

January 27 one of the best in Georgia will be in town. FSU made his top group this week, too.

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Got it right by leaving us out of the playoffs. Everyone here has to know our biggest weaknesses were running the ball and defense. I can see why they were worried about JT being out and Tate having to step in would guarantee a disaster of a playoff game. Take a gander at these stats that show they were right……

Phenix - 255 total pass 1 TD and 2 int

McCarthy - with a heisman like CFP champ performance of 140 total passing yards! Wait that’s not all he should have been hands down MVP of the game since he counted for not ONE damn Passing TD.
Could you imagine Tate or Glenn having to even come close to that type of production on the big stage!!

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Like a Candy Granny Smith Apple, Florida State's 2023 Year was sweet and sour all in one bite.

We witnessed the majesty of a 12-0 Florida State Football team win the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship on December 2, two days before the Women's Soccer team won its fourth national championship, Yet earlier that same day we witnessed that same gutty Seminole football team evicerated on national television by the College Football Playoff Committee, which shockingly made the unprecedented decision to deny an undefeated Power 5 conference champion a berth in the last four team playoff.

2023 will also be remembered for Florida State University's Board of Trustees unanimous vote to file a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference, asking the court for a declaratory judgement about the veracity of the Grant of Rights. FSU's lawsuit was filed just hours after the Atlantic Coast Conference filed a similar declaratory judgement lawsuit against the FSU BOT for breach of contract on the Grant of Rights.

We witnessed the Women's Softball Team reach the National Championship finals against Oklahoma, while unfortunately suffering through the first losing season in Florida State baseball history.

These are just a few of the big picture moments that come to my mind. Please share each of the moments -- big or small -- that stood out to you and how they made you feel.

@Fishbits when can we get some nuggets about 2025 recruits?

Some thoughts from Adam Gorney here, including on FSU:

No. 2 LB recruit Elijah Melendez will kick off February at FSU's junior day

QB- DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State)

Comments: Most of you already know my feelings. DJ is the perfect fit for MN offense. If you look at some of the things he did for Jordan the past few years, DJ can do many of the same things, maybe even better. What I know DJ will do better is throw the deep out routes and the deep post. Outside the National Title game Monday Night, Washington was able to use the entire field with Penix. That is why their offense was so dangerous. I expect the same with MN and DJ.

Why did DJ struggle at Clemson - This is a major concern for many...Why, Because Dabo does not know how to adjust his scheme to fit a players skill set. You never saw designed runs to really stay in front of the sticks. They did not try and roll him out. DJ was supposed to be a statue in the pocket. That is not playing to his strength.

Grade A


RB-Jaylin Lucas -(Indiana) (Transfer to FSU) / Roydell Williams

Comments: From my understanding Lucas is coming in as a special teams player. Solid prospect. I would think he will get some reps each game as a slot guy and play some in the backfield. Williams gives FSU a bigger back. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He doe snothave great speed. He almost looks like he is jogging. He will lower his shoulder and pick up some yards. I thought one ofthe biggest reasons why Bama struggled is they did not have ag reat back. I think this kid is just keeping the seat warm until Kam Davis is ready to take over. While not committed FSU looks like one of the leaders for Williams. If he does not come expect FSU to get on someone when the next window opens. (Grade B if Williams comes)

WR-Jalen Brown-(LSU-Transfer) Malik Benson (Alabama Transfer)

Comments: I was a big fan of Brown coming out of high school. When he left already I had concerns. Seeing that someone close to LSU I know said it was a loss for them is a good thing. Brown will come in and be ready to contribute day 1. He ran track in high school and was very smooth. I expect him to make some plays. Benson was a highly rated player but to be honest a Juco prospect should hit year 1. Mike has done well with reclimation projects and that is what Benson is. (Grade B+)

TE-No options at this time

OL-Terrance Ferguson (Alabama) - Richie Leonard (UF)

Comments: Not a fan of Leonard. He is another SMALL OL. FSU needs to get away from Leonard type lineman. You look at Bama, UGA, Michigan, Texas and even Washington. They are all big up front. FSU saw what big time looked like up front in the Orange Bowl, time to recruit that way.

Will break down the defense later. FSU would still like to sign 2-3 OL. They will also bring in more guys on defense.

the DE from Oregon State!!!!

The FSU men's basketball team keeps rolling. They beat Wake Forest 87-82 Tuesday night to snap the Deacs' nine-game winning streak and win for the fifth time in the last six games.

FSU 87 WF 82 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


The Good

The last time Wake Forest lost a game this season was on November 16th, 2023. A string of 9 straight wins followed, the 5th longest streak in the country. Make that January 9th, 2024 as their last loss as Florida State ends the Demon Deacons winning streak and hands them their first conference loss. The Seminoles improve their overall record to 9-6. The 3-1 conference record is currently good for 2nd place. Turning defense into offense, FSU's calling card, was in full display as the 'Noles forced the Deacs into a season high 20 turnovers. The Seminoles converted those miscues into 22 points. With 14:01 to play, FSU had its largest lead of the game, 56-43. The Deacs were not about to go away chipping away at that lead eventually leading 69-67 with just over six minutes to play. One minute later FSU took the lead back, 72-69, and held a four to eight point lead down to 32 seconds left in the game. A Kevin (or Boopsie as he is called) Miller's jumper closed it a three point game, 83-80. The Seminoles held them off via the FT line connecting on all four attempts. In fact FTs were key from the 6:04 mark as FSU shot 13-15 from the stripe. For the game, the 'Noles were 24-30 (80%). It was a game where both teams made runs throughout the game, but FSU had the run that counted the most, the last one of the game.

A win by committee as Leonard Hamilton called it after the game. Everyone that played found a way to contribute something.

Jamir Watkins leading the team with 19 points that included 11-11 from the charity stripe. Darin Green add 17 and Baba Miller with 14.

Career highs: Miller's 14 points adding 3 blocked shots. A career high in steals (5) for Darin Green who moved into 14th place in the FSU record books for three pointers made passing Theron Mayes. In the last three games, Green has recorded 10 steals. A career high in assists for Jalen Warley with 9.

The bench with 26 points to 13 for WF's bench which consisted of just Parker Friedrichsen who was the only reserve Deacon to score any points.

Hunter Sallis with only 10 points, 8 points below his average. The Seminole defense once again focused on preventing the opponent's leading scorer as many touches as they could. Did the same with Andrew Carr with just 4 points, nine. below his average. Miller's 21 and Cameron Hildrith's 25 were just not enough to offset the defensive performance of the Seminoles.

Plays of the game: Darin Green's first three in the game from the right wing putting him in 14th place all time at FSU, 7-5. The 10-0 FSU run highlighted by Watkins' blocked shot on Sallis as he tried to go coast to coast for the lay up. Miller's banked three pointer from above the key, 15-10. The inbound pass from Warley to Watkins under the basket for the slam dunk, 25-15. It was followed immediately by Darin Green's run out lay up, 27-15 to end a 7-0 FSU run. Darin Green deflects a pass to the WF backcourt and taps it farther down the floor to Miller who pulls up for the three, 40-38 FSU. Warley passes to the left wing to Miller who passes back to Warley. The Wake defense gets caught watching the ball as Miller circles down to under the basket and sinks the FG with his back to the basket. Plus the foul, 51-43 FSU. The 14-0 run to give FSU the 56-43 lead. Justin Gainey with the blocked shot from behind on the point blank lay up by Boopsie Miller. Darin Green's steal blazing coast to coast for the slam dunk, 82-72 FSU.

Radio color analyst Adrian Crawford's assessment of the officiating after Warley was whistled for a very questionable foul. "These refs are calling fouls on plays they could not do when they played."


The Bad

Warley absolutely hammered under the basket and no call prompting Crawford to comment "these guys are awful". Been watching them longer than you Adrian. You are not telling me or many of us something we did not already know.

The 17-5 WF run to tie the game in the first half at 32 all erasing a 12 point FSU lead.

The defensive lapse at the end of the half when Hildreth went unchallenged coast to coast and his turnaround jumper pulling the Deacs to within one, 42-41.

The 9-0 WF run that gave the Deacs that 69-67 late lead. FSU went more than three minutes without a FG. It was one of the few stretches where FSU did not execute, something Hamilton said post game needs to be cleaned up although he was generally pleased with his team's performance.


The Ugly

More humorous than ugly, Jeff Culhane's comment at the start of the game, "Its a late arriving crowd". Very late that was announced at just over 5,000.OK, there was a storm earlier in the day and school was closed.

In the 1st 4:09 of the game WF shot 22% from the floor and 0-4 from the arc. Come to think of it, that's a good thing. But if you are a WF fan, it was ugly.

After yet another illegal screen called on FSU, to say Hamilton was animated on the sideline during the timeout would be an understatement.

The TV graphic showing time remaining and the score that went haywire. The clock decided to get stuck on 1:56 remaining as play was continuing. It was "fixed" with less thana minute to play. However the score now read 0-0. Must have been a result of the storm.


Up Next

FSU will take to the road after its seven game homestand traveling to balmy South Bend where they are expecting a foot of snow on Saturday. Tip off is at 2:15 with the game to be aired on the CW network (where I understand the announcing is not exactly stellar). Currently Notre Dame, 6-9, 1-3, is going to overtime at GT. ND is attempting to win its first road game since February of 2022. The Irish are clearly struggling, but they did put a 76-54 pasting on UVa earlier this season.

A year after he was the No. 1 overall junior college recruit in the 2023 class, speedy wide receiver Malik Benson is transferring from Alabama to FSU.

Definitely feel better about DE now! A rotation of

Pat
MJJ
Turner
Durojaiye
Lolohea
work in Boots

And still have Dante, Holmes, Jones and Holmes.

Really wanna see how that top 6 rotate in. I love the size of guys we have also. Maybe Boots can turn into the speed guy with Pat.

GO NOLES!!!

Davonte Brown will spend his final season of eligibility at FSU next fall, the school announced Monday morning. A former UCF standout, Brown did not break into the starting lineup this past season at Miami as a transfer addition.

FSU has further bolstered its defensive end depth with the addition of West Virginia transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye.

Okay quick, FSU D. Beam over and get on the field and shut Michigan down. I know y’all can do it.

Following up from earlier thread, that got deleted, regarding U Penn President resigning.

'"
Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned from her leadership role Tuesday, capping a dramatic fall from power fueled by both her response to antisemitism on campus and mounting allegations of plagiarism.

The resignation comes after weeks of criticism over her initial response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and early December comments at a House committee hearing that equivocated on whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people violated the campus code of conduct.

Though she had maintained the support of Harvard’s governing body, she also faced escalating external calls to resign over allegations that she failed to properly credit other researchers in her published work."