The word for today is INSANITY -We have watched this team every week since Georgia Tech and continue to expect a different result. I started watching FSU football in 1980. Have told the story many times. I went to my first FSU game in 1980 when the Seminoles played Oklahoma in the OB. Never has a team that FSU has had have they left me feeling the way I do. This is the worst FSU football team we have witnessed in our lifetime. There have been times FSU has had a terrible offense (Rainbow offense) anyone. There were some bad defenses. Never have we seen both sides of the football this bad at the same time.
WHY? This is the question that I have asked Bob, Pat, Curt. I have asked people who are Boosters at FSU. I have asked so called experts who cover FSU not part of this site. No one has answers for this mess. I will say this when I spoke to Pat about this team before the season started he did say to me that this team did concern him. While he could have never predicted the team to be 1-8 after 9 games, Pat did feel they were not very good. After GT and BC this team was just plain BAD.
So what happens next? I said on the post game podcast yesterday that there should be at least one firing done by MONDAY. I know it will have very little to no impact on the field. At this point it does not matter. 1-8. This is unacceptable. As I re-watched the game last night the team did not play terrible in the first half. They had pretty much shut UNC down most of the first half. Then towards the end of the first half all the mistakes started to happen and before you knew it 14-3.
WHY 2? In the first quarter FSU had UNC 3rd and 9, 3rd and 14 and 3rd and 10. Under MA the one thing you could count on at FSU was a great defense. Yes towards the end of his career it was no longer great but that had to do with college football changing and MA defense was no longer a good fit. Why does FSU defense have such a hard time getting off the field in these situations. When you look back at the season the defense to me has been the biggest disappointment. The reason why is because at FSU the one thing you could always count on was a great defense. When Jimbo took over I spoke to coach James Coley and he said Fish the defense will be easy to turn around. He goes that side of the ball is always easier. Mark Stoops came in and while his defense was not for everyone, we saw improvement in year 1. Some will say well it is the scheme. Well Texas A&M uses the same scheme and it works. It is the messenger. There are communication break downs between the coaches and players. That must be fixed.
Coaching changes - I have been told that there will be MANY....Once the season ends I will go over the changes. Pat Surtain is safe BUT.....There is a BUT. Surtain will have a choice to make. He is being sought after by Southern Miss. He also could take a job in the NFL. This is one to watch over the next couple of weeks. There are two other coaches I have been told will be back. Everyone else is on the chopping block potentially.
Re-watched the game - WHY? I really don't know why I did this. The second half started 14-3 and FSU team quit. They gave up an easy touchdown. The Seminoles did score a TD to make it a closer game only to watch the defense give in again. DISGUSTING. I can't defend this effort against UNC. JUST CANT. Neither can the coaches.
QB-Luke/Brock/Luke/Brock - I don't like this back and forth with the two. Pick a QB and roll with them the rest of the way. I know Pat has concerns that one or both could transfer. 1-8 - I really don't care if both decide to leave. I know many don't want to hear this but if FSU has to take a portal kid-then go after one. If you take a portal player and both QB's decide to leave - you take Carter Smith. They should take him anyway. Luke is not ready to play next year. JUST NOT. He takes terrible sacks. He does not know how to get rid of the ball. He keeps his eyes down when there is a pass rush. Unless FSU has a very good OL and run game next year, the Noles will have another losing season. FSU needs to go out and get a true dual threat QB. This way if there are breakdowns in the OL - you can still run your offense.
RB- I have no idea why Toafili does not get 20 touches a game. For a kid who has stayed loyal to FSU, He should be the focal point of the offense. When he does get the ball it seems like LT comes through.
WR- I liked the early reception to Hykeem - They targeted him one other time and it should have been a PI....Again, why no more touches? McCoy has flashed enough for me to realize he will be fine. I think he could be a very good slot receiver.
TE-Why? Why does Kyle Morlock continue to play. His blocking is terrible. On one play he tried to block it was a terrible attempt to do so. FSU will have the two freshman back. I thought I saw Amaree go in on defense but could be wrong. I hope they find a position for him and just let the kid play there.
OL- Darius Washington - I really don't know how a kid goes from a decent player as a freshman to what we saw yesterday. He whiffed on two sacks. I mean you would have to think the kid took money to play this poorly. Kieondre Jones - Can we see if Auburn wants him back. He can't hold his spot. Jones gets pushed back into the backfield. I kept my eye on Otto. He is big and can move. I feel he will start next year and be an ALL-ACC lineman. He will be fine. I also think Early and Rizy are two others FSU can work with. FSU needs to fix the tackle spot. FSU needs to go and get two portal OT and hope and pray Simmons takes the next step. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GO AND GET OT over 6'5.
DE- Marvin, Marvin, Marvin - If there is one player who is coming back it is Marvin. He is a player that is frustrating to watch. You can see some speed and quickness from him at times. What I just don't get is how lost he looks. For a kid who came from a football family he seems to have zero football IQ. I am hoping that another full off-season, some new coaching possibly and a year in the system that Marvin can make the jump. We have seen it before...Marvin needs to commit himself to football this off-season. He does that and FSU will have one of the edge spots filled. Pat Payton - NFL - LOL. Payton won't get drafted. 11 has just gone full LAZY this year. His film is awful for NFL Scouts. I expect him to hit the portal and play somewhere else next off-season. Byron Thomas - WHY????? I have no idea why he plays.
DT-Grady Kelly - Lets just say that losing Braden Fiske was huge. Kelly gets dominated and pushed back on almost every play. He needs to get much bigger and stronger this off-season. This is not the mountain west conference. He still plays like a Colorado State player. Joshua Farmer - If there is ever a kid who needs another year it is him. Darrell Jackson - He had one sack and acted like it was a big deal. SMH.
LB- For all the crap Randy takes on these sites, I feel the LB spot is the one that has actually gotten better. It is where it needs to be - NO....Omar Graham made back to back plays on the goal line. He has improved more than any player on defense. He had one trait coming out of HS - Omar was smart. It shows as the kid actually seems to care. I still think Nichelson has gotten better. Losing Crier stinks. I wish FSU had Cam Riley back for one season.
DB-After watching the game yesterday I wonder if these guys practice. Another game where two defensive backs ran into each other. It seems like the secondary players are just out there running around in space.
Final Thoughts: If I could pull the plug I would.. This is unwatchable. It is like seeing an accident up ahead on the highway and slowing down to see the damage. This season is DEAD ON ARRIVAL. Nothing you can do. To expect anything differently at this point is useless. To think they have Notre Dame up next is painful. I have heard FSU fans say in the past that you can go 1-10 or 1-11 as long as that one win is over UF. Well we will find out if that is true this season. Uf lost Lagway for what looks like the season. Their back up to him is downright terrible. SO LIKE LLOYD SAID AT THE END OF DUMB AND DUMBER - So you are saying we have a chance. YES - As sad as it can be the only thing FSU is playing for this season is a win over UF.
College Football
UGA - Carson Beck - He went from a guarantee of being a first round pick to possibly not going by round 3. His decision making this year has been down right terrible. CHRIS RIX BAD. He needs to clean up his act or UGA will not beat Ole Miss next weekend.
Oregon - This maybe the team that wins it all. Lanning's team has an identity. They are tough. Watch them near the red-zone and it seems like they always score. I think Dan Lanning is quickly rising to the top of college football as far as coaches go. He has the traits to be elite - He can coach and recruit. That is rare in college football. When you can do both the odds are trophies follow.
James Franklin - I like coach Franklin. I think anyone that wins 9 games two years in a row at Vandy and then goes to Penn State and wins 11 games multiple times. BUT-WTH was that yesterday. 1st and goal from the five and you run a fat OL in motion. SERIOUSLY. Are you trying to lose the game. Penn State could have easily won that game. They will most likely now run the tables and get into the playoffs. The loss hurt them less than it would Ohio State.
As for Ohio State - You know a coach is feeling the pressure when he comes out after the game and SAYS SEE WE ARE TOUGH. OUR PLAYERS ARE TOUGH, THIS WAS A TOUGH WIN. Ryan Day realizes that his team is not tough and has to tell the world how they are tough. Ohio State loses yesterday and 20 million in pay roll goes down the drain. I feel that Indiana has a very good shot at pulling the off the upset.
As for IU - They are now 9-0. Michigan is up next and they end the season with Purdue. Indiana football is most likely going to win 11 games. CURT CIGNETTI - You are a great coach. DO ME A FAVOR LEAVE NOW. You will not duplicate this feat. Don't think this is sustainable. PJ Fleck should have left Minnesota after winning 10. These programs you don't sustain. Appreciate your great season and go and get the UF or OU jobs. PARLAY IT INTO A BETTER JOB. I think Curt Cignetti is the one coach who will look at a team coached by Ryan Day and say - quietly under his breath...Coach Day we are actually tough. YES-IU is tougher then Ohio State- Ask Michigan State as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead before IU put 40 plus straight up on on them.
Michigan - 5-4 after winning a Natty. They will most likely be 5-5 after next week. There is a good chance that Michigan has a losing record in 2024. I know some of you don't believe me when I say FSU wont be the last team in this new era of college football to fall flat on their faces a year after winning it all. This is the NEW COLLEGE FOOTBALL we are watching. Take note....Because next year IU will probably have a losing record.
Billy Napier - He got his team to 4-4 after 8 Games. His team fought yesterday and that is one thing you cant bash him for. His Florida team is TOUGH. They do fight. They will go out and not embarrass their University. UF plays @ Texas, follows it up against LSU and Ole Miss....UF will be 4-7 after the next three games. Lagway has shown the people in UF there is hope for 25-26....Problem is you have a Napier problem. In year 3 - 4-7 in Gainesville is going to get you fired. Beating a potentially 2-9 FSU team is not going to fix that. Napier needs to go.
Playoffs -My Rankings
1-Oregon (Big 10)
2-Miami (ACC)
3-UGA (SEC)
4-BYU (BIG 12)
Remember seedings are based on conference Winners.
5-Ohio State
12-Boise State
6-Texas
11-SMU
7-Penn State
10-Tennessee
8-Indiana
9-Penn State
First Four Out
1-Alabama (2 Losses)
2-LSU
3-Mississippi
4-Iowa State
WHY? This is the question that I have asked Bob, Pat, Curt. I have asked people who are Boosters at FSU. I have asked so called experts who cover FSU not part of this site. No one has answers for this mess. I will say this when I spoke to Pat about this team before the season started he did say to me that this team did concern him. While he could have never predicted the team to be 1-8 after 9 games, Pat did feel they were not very good. After GT and BC this team was just plain BAD.
So what happens next? I said on the post game podcast yesterday that there should be at least one firing done by MONDAY. I know it will have very little to no impact on the field. At this point it does not matter. 1-8. This is unacceptable. As I re-watched the game last night the team did not play terrible in the first half. They had pretty much shut UNC down most of the first half. Then towards the end of the first half all the mistakes started to happen and before you knew it 14-3.
WHY 2? In the first quarter FSU had UNC 3rd and 9, 3rd and 14 and 3rd and 10. Under MA the one thing you could count on at FSU was a great defense. Yes towards the end of his career it was no longer great but that had to do with college football changing and MA defense was no longer a good fit. Why does FSU defense have such a hard time getting off the field in these situations. When you look back at the season the defense to me has been the biggest disappointment. The reason why is because at FSU the one thing you could always count on was a great defense. When Jimbo took over I spoke to coach James Coley and he said Fish the defense will be easy to turn around. He goes that side of the ball is always easier. Mark Stoops came in and while his defense was not for everyone, we saw improvement in year 1. Some will say well it is the scheme. Well Texas A&M uses the same scheme and it works. It is the messenger. There are communication break downs between the coaches and players. That must be fixed.
Coaching changes - I have been told that there will be MANY....Once the season ends I will go over the changes. Pat Surtain is safe BUT.....There is a BUT. Surtain will have a choice to make. He is being sought after by Southern Miss. He also could take a job in the NFL. This is one to watch over the next couple of weeks. There are two other coaches I have been told will be back. Everyone else is on the chopping block potentially.
Re-watched the game - WHY? I really don't know why I did this. The second half started 14-3 and FSU team quit. They gave up an easy touchdown. The Seminoles did score a TD to make it a closer game only to watch the defense give in again. DISGUSTING. I can't defend this effort against UNC. JUST CANT. Neither can the coaches.
QB-Luke/Brock/Luke/Brock - I don't like this back and forth with the two. Pick a QB and roll with them the rest of the way. I know Pat has concerns that one or both could transfer. 1-8 - I really don't care if both decide to leave. I know many don't want to hear this but if FSU has to take a portal kid-then go after one. If you take a portal player and both QB's decide to leave - you take Carter Smith. They should take him anyway. Luke is not ready to play next year. JUST NOT. He takes terrible sacks. He does not know how to get rid of the ball. He keeps his eyes down when there is a pass rush. Unless FSU has a very good OL and run game next year, the Noles will have another losing season. FSU needs to go out and get a true dual threat QB. This way if there are breakdowns in the OL - you can still run your offense.
RB- I have no idea why Toafili does not get 20 touches a game. For a kid who has stayed loyal to FSU, He should be the focal point of the offense. When he does get the ball it seems like LT comes through.
WR- I liked the early reception to Hykeem - They targeted him one other time and it should have been a PI....Again, why no more touches? McCoy has flashed enough for me to realize he will be fine. I think he could be a very good slot receiver.
TE-Why? Why does Kyle Morlock continue to play. His blocking is terrible. On one play he tried to block it was a terrible attempt to do so. FSU will have the two freshman back. I thought I saw Amaree go in on defense but could be wrong. I hope they find a position for him and just let the kid play there.
OL- Darius Washington - I really don't know how a kid goes from a decent player as a freshman to what we saw yesterday. He whiffed on two sacks. I mean you would have to think the kid took money to play this poorly. Kieondre Jones - Can we see if Auburn wants him back. He can't hold his spot. Jones gets pushed back into the backfield. I kept my eye on Otto. He is big and can move. I feel he will start next year and be an ALL-ACC lineman. He will be fine. I also think Early and Rizy are two others FSU can work with. FSU needs to fix the tackle spot. FSU needs to go and get two portal OT and hope and pray Simmons takes the next step. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GO AND GET OT over 6'5.
DE- Marvin, Marvin, Marvin - If there is one player who is coming back it is Marvin. He is a player that is frustrating to watch. You can see some speed and quickness from him at times. What I just don't get is how lost he looks. For a kid who came from a football family he seems to have zero football IQ. I am hoping that another full off-season, some new coaching possibly and a year in the system that Marvin can make the jump. We have seen it before...Marvin needs to commit himself to football this off-season. He does that and FSU will have one of the edge spots filled. Pat Payton - NFL - LOL. Payton won't get drafted. 11 has just gone full LAZY this year. His film is awful for NFL Scouts. I expect him to hit the portal and play somewhere else next off-season. Byron Thomas - WHY????? I have no idea why he plays.
DT-Grady Kelly - Lets just say that losing Braden Fiske was huge. Kelly gets dominated and pushed back on almost every play. He needs to get much bigger and stronger this off-season. This is not the mountain west conference. He still plays like a Colorado State player. Joshua Farmer - If there is ever a kid who needs another year it is him. Darrell Jackson - He had one sack and acted like it was a big deal. SMH.
LB- For all the crap Randy takes on these sites, I feel the LB spot is the one that has actually gotten better. It is where it needs to be - NO....Omar Graham made back to back plays on the goal line. He has improved more than any player on defense. He had one trait coming out of HS - Omar was smart. It shows as the kid actually seems to care. I still think Nichelson has gotten better. Losing Crier stinks. I wish FSU had Cam Riley back for one season.
DB-After watching the game yesterday I wonder if these guys practice. Another game where two defensive backs ran into each other. It seems like the secondary players are just out there running around in space.
Final Thoughts: If I could pull the plug I would.. This is unwatchable. It is like seeing an accident up ahead on the highway and slowing down to see the damage. This season is DEAD ON ARRIVAL. Nothing you can do. To expect anything differently at this point is useless. To think they have Notre Dame up next is painful. I have heard FSU fans say in the past that you can go 1-10 or 1-11 as long as that one win is over UF. Well we will find out if that is true this season. Uf lost Lagway for what looks like the season. Their back up to him is downright terrible. SO LIKE LLOYD SAID AT THE END OF DUMB AND DUMBER - So you are saying we have a chance. YES - As sad as it can be the only thing FSU is playing for this season is a win over UF.
College Football
UGA - Carson Beck - He went from a guarantee of being a first round pick to possibly not going by round 3. His decision making this year has been down right terrible. CHRIS RIX BAD. He needs to clean up his act or UGA will not beat Ole Miss next weekend.
Oregon - This maybe the team that wins it all. Lanning's team has an identity. They are tough. Watch them near the red-zone and it seems like they always score. I think Dan Lanning is quickly rising to the top of college football as far as coaches go. He has the traits to be elite - He can coach and recruit. That is rare in college football. When you can do both the odds are trophies follow.
James Franklin - I like coach Franklin. I think anyone that wins 9 games two years in a row at Vandy and then goes to Penn State and wins 11 games multiple times. BUT-WTH was that yesterday. 1st and goal from the five and you run a fat OL in motion. SERIOUSLY. Are you trying to lose the game. Penn State could have easily won that game. They will most likely now run the tables and get into the playoffs. The loss hurt them less than it would Ohio State.
As for Ohio State - You know a coach is feeling the pressure when he comes out after the game and SAYS SEE WE ARE TOUGH. OUR PLAYERS ARE TOUGH, THIS WAS A TOUGH WIN. Ryan Day realizes that his team is not tough and has to tell the world how they are tough. Ohio State loses yesterday and 20 million in pay roll goes down the drain. I feel that Indiana has a very good shot at pulling the off the upset.
As for IU - They are now 9-0. Michigan is up next and they end the season with Purdue. Indiana football is most likely going to win 11 games. CURT CIGNETTI - You are a great coach. DO ME A FAVOR LEAVE NOW. You will not duplicate this feat. Don't think this is sustainable. PJ Fleck should have left Minnesota after winning 10. These programs you don't sustain. Appreciate your great season and go and get the UF or OU jobs. PARLAY IT INTO A BETTER JOB. I think Curt Cignetti is the one coach who will look at a team coached by Ryan Day and say - quietly under his breath...Coach Day we are actually tough. YES-IU is tougher then Ohio State- Ask Michigan State as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead before IU put 40 plus straight up on on them.
Michigan - 5-4 after winning a Natty. They will most likely be 5-5 after next week. There is a good chance that Michigan has a losing record in 2024. I know some of you don't believe me when I say FSU wont be the last team in this new era of college football to fall flat on their faces a year after winning it all. This is the NEW COLLEGE FOOTBALL we are watching. Take note....Because next year IU will probably have a losing record.
Billy Napier - He got his team to 4-4 after 8 Games. His team fought yesterday and that is one thing you cant bash him for. His Florida team is TOUGH. They do fight. They will go out and not embarrass their University. UF plays @ Texas, follows it up against LSU and Ole Miss....UF will be 4-7 after the next three games. Lagway has shown the people in UF there is hope for 25-26....Problem is you have a Napier problem. In year 3 - 4-7 in Gainesville is going to get you fired. Beating a potentially 2-9 FSU team is not going to fix that. Napier needs to go.
Playoffs -My Rankings
1-Oregon (Big 10)
2-Miami (ACC)
3-UGA (SEC)
4-BYU (BIG 12)
Remember seedings are based on conference Winners.
5-Ohio State
12-Boise State
6-Texas
11-SMU
7-Penn State
10-Tennessee
8-Indiana
9-Penn State
First Four Out
1-Alabama (2 Losses)
2-LSU
3-Mississippi
4-Iowa State
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