This would be a much more persuasive argument if this weren't in it, or if it said Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, UF, insert ANY top 50 division I school.
"That’s when the junior cornerback jumped an out route, snared a Devlin Hodges throw and promptly raced 63 yards to the house, effectively slamming the door shut on Samford."
Also, being a fan of the Seminoles, I'm fully aware of what happened after 2013 that guaranteed we would absolutely suck on defense until Jimbo left. And, adding fuel to the fire Jimbo didn't take the now Tennessee special teams coach with him that spent the previous four year being paid as and pretending to be a top DC. Same goes for his top lieutenant and OL coach that was beloved by the NFL. Whatever that means.
I could not get the game on TV, so have no real feel for what things looked like live. I was able to listen to a good bit of it and follow the stats line.
Hey, believe me, the level of opposition was not top 50 Division 1, but still a pretty solid team that had 10 days to get ready for us. Chris Hatcher is a name we will likely hear more of in years to come and his QB is excellent. I really wonder if Samford had played the team from the east yesterday who might have won that game. The Bulldogs are likely as good a team as Kentucky at this stage of the season.
The point in my mind is that this Seminole team did not quit and they did something no other team has done more of since 2013 against any opponent, including the sisters of the poor. Five turnovers against any team is a dang good stat.
It is pretty obvious to you, me, and others that this team has a long road ahead and there will certainly be rough spots in that road. But, the reality is that they found a way to win and there will be more wins to follow.
Losing Laborn hurt and Dickerson’s ankle puts more pressure on a group that is under the gun... to put it nicely. It seems like, other than those guys, the team is in decent health and will continue to learn how to work the new systems.
The warning signs had been in front of us for years, but who really could quantify just how far the program had suffered. Obviously the administration gave the last guy basically free rein and he mailed it in at the end.
I really believe in Coach Taggart and feel like his players and staff do as well. The guy has rebuilt basically every stop along his road and he now has the chance to do it at a place that matters to him tremendously. Except for Oregon, FSU has far more resources and history as a program than his previous gigs, and I expect he will put those components to good use.