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Close-up on the Competition: Canes get a running start in spring game

Graig Cooper's two TD runs and the play of impact freshmen were the highlights of Miami's spring game on Saturday. But the Ibis crew is still challenged at QB.

Not that there isn't hope. Redshirt freshman Robert Marve (shown above) displayed a strong arm and good mobility. The bad news: he's not on the same page yet as UM receivers, all of whom had a poor day catching the ball.

For some expert observations on the game we turn to Kartik who publishes Canes Rising*:

   Once again I left a Miami Football related event with a real sense of impending doom for the program. We'll start with the few positives:

    * Javarris James looked quick and decisive again in the running game. He's still got the size and has regained the speed to hit the hole he had as a freshman
    * RB Graig Cooper. He's bigger and still as quick.
    * The secondary was quite good but that maybe more to the poor competition than anything.
    * Arthur Brown (true freshman LB) is going to be a stud. We knew that already but today confirmed it.
    * Marcus Fortson. He was all over the place in the backfield, harassing the QBs and runner

Now the bad:

    * I thought all three Miami QBs looked like Freshman, which they are but get ready for a long year. Robert Marve should have done more with all the time he had to throw
    * The WRs are terrible. Just awful. Khalil Jones had three drops and the rest of WRs were unimpressive even the much touted Aladrius Johnson.
    * Still no solution at TE
    * Jake Wieclaw has a strong leg but got a kicked blocked
    * Anthony Reddick's two ACL injuries have effectively ended his effectiveness.
    * Derron Thomas suffered a nasty injury I am not sure he'll be back for a while

In other words, Miami like much of last year can run the football and not do much else consistently. But if Baby J (Javarris James) really is back and Coop stays healthy, I can see the Hurricanes being a little better than I initially thought because they may be able to control the clock by grinding it out on offense. But the bottom line is that despite all the young talent, this team is in a full fledged rebuilding mode and getting to 5-7 again this year will likely be an accomplishment.

* Check out Kartik's new site dedicated to covering basketball in the Sunshine State.

No Tears For Drew

Insensitive? Callous? Player-hating?

Nope. We're not anti-Drew. We're for getting better play out of the Quarterback position. And Drew's injury is a lucky break that gives Ponder and Richardson exactly what they need: more snaps and the chance to develop.

Come fall practice, Drew will still have an edge on experience. But will his three years as starter and strong leadership skills be enough to trump what appears to be the superior playmaking ability of David and Devo?

So while we wish Drew a speedy recovery, the bottom line, real deal, naked truth is that good things will come out of last week's bad news.

How will FSU compare to in-state competition 10 years from now? Part 2 with Bob Thomas

Today Bob Thomas tackles our question about what FSU football will look like, vis-a-vis up-and-coming in-state schools, ten years from now. Bob covers the Noles for The Florida Times-Union, and we highly recommend his blog "Whataboutit Bob?" 

Q: With the rise of USF and UCF -- and even younger programs like FAU and FIU -- do you see FSU keeping a competitive edge over younger rivals? Or will those schools in larger markets pull even with or surpass the Noles in strength of program and ability to recruit Florida's best?

Bob Thomas: Imagine, a half-filled Doak Campbell Stadium on a Saturday afternoon with Florida State squaring off against ACC juggernaut Wake Forest, while four hours to the South, USF is playing UConn before an SRO Raymond James Stadium crowd. Just up I-4, Bright House Networks Stadium is bulging at the seams with fans as SMU visits UCF.

Now, pinch yourself.

Envisioning the day when FSU is no longer considered one of the state's "Big Three" in college football is incomprehensible, at least for this middle-aged sports writer. Still, it's an interesting concept to consider.

As the neophyte program among the state's "Big Three" at 62 years of age, Florida State long ago shed its girls' school image to become one of the nation's perennial football powers, thanks in no small part of Bobby Bowden. Without him, Tallahassee may have never evolved into one of the sports great outposts.

Though Bowden's days are numbered, what he's been able to accomplish - the 14-year dynasty run, two national championships, two Heisman winners and countless contributors to the NFL - has virtually assured FSU a permanent place in the consciousness of college football fans. While the Seminoles' relevance as a player on the national championship scene has waned in recent seasons, the program continues to attract quality players and maintain its essential television presence.

The case for an indoor practice facility at FSU, part 3: Georgia Tech's big umbrella

FSU travels to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech on November 1. Tech will have two potential edges in that game: The confusing option offense of first-year coach Paul Johnson, and because the Jackets won't miss a minute of prep. Should the weather get lousy, the team will simply take a short bus ride to the nearby Georgia Dome where it can practice on one of the finest indoor fields in the nation.

Not only does Tech have access to a world-class facility on its doorstep, the school didn't have to build it, nor does it pay to maintain it. And because the Dome is home to the Atlanta Falcons, it's a good recruiting tool when recruits learn they can practice on the same field where NFL stars play.

One of FSU's Best Receiving Corps Ever (on paper, that is)

It's only Spring. But looking ahead, here's our Best Case Scenario of all the talent available to catch the ball this fall. It's a versatile group with unlimited potential. Preston Parker is a proven game-changer. Greg Carr has the stats to prove he can produce. Some others have shown flashes of brilliance.

Now if the newcomers can deliver, and if an improved offensive line can give QBs time, and if the Football Gods smile on the Noles -- this 2008 offense could truly be something special.

Zips Zap Noles in Season Finale

by Bill from Tampa

Florida State’s first ever meeting with the Akron Zips will be a forgettable one. The MAC tournament runners-up outscored the Seminoles 14-9 in overtime Tuesday night on the strength of three three-pointers by Ohio State transfer Nick Dials to defeat FSU 65-60.

It was certainly a game Jason Rich would like to forget. Although he pulled down 10 rebounds, the  senior guard’s last game was marred by 10 turnovers at inopportune times and just 7 points.

He wasn’t alone. Toney Douglas and Ralph Mims each had just 8 points.

The Zips’ defensive strategy was obvious; put pressure on the guards when they had the ball, close the driving lanes, and force FSU’s frontcourt to beat them. It worked quite well as Uche Echefu and Ryan Reid had 20 and 14 points respectively.

Douglas however did send FSU into overtime with a driving layup with nine seconds left to tie the game at 51.

But it wasn’t enough as Douglas could not shut down Dials who was wide open above the key after Douglas was rubbed off by a screen on the right wing, open in the left corner when Douglas helped on penetration, and although Toney had a hand in his face, Dials nailed his third three of the extra period from the right wing.

The  Seminoles started the game in a manner they had managed to avoid for quite a while namely a long cold shooting slump. The ‘Noles went 9:30 making just two baskets on their way to trailing Akron 20-5.

FSU managed to work its way back with better defense (Akron after shooting 5-6 from the floor shot 3-18 at one point) and took a  26-25 lead  with 2:45 left in the half.

Akron took the lead back and with a chance to take a halftime lead Rich was called for over and back when he was double teamed out at the timeline 10 seconds before intermission.

The case for an indoor practice facility at FSU, part two: UNC's indoor advantage

FSU resumes its series with North Carolina in 2009 and 10. A revitalized Tar Heel program led by Butch Davis may be a force to be reckoned with. And one clear advantage for UNC will be its state-of-the-art indoor practice facility (The Eddie Smith Indoor Fieldhouse, pictured above).

Similar to the one at Clemson, Carolina's is a multi-use complex with a retractable artificial surface: an 80-yard football field that can be quickly rolled out when it's too wet, cold or lightning threatens. A UNC media spokesmen told us that Tar Heel coaches consider it a definite edge over opponents that miss valuable practice time because of the weather.

Noles Whack Wake, Tar Heels Next

by Bill from Tampa

Jason Rich had that look that he was not about to let his team lose this game. Saying afterwards in the press conference that he knew the season was on line in terms of having any chance at making the NCAA, Rich scored 21 points in leading Florida State to a 70-60 win in round one of the ACC tournament.

What made Rich’s MVP performance remarkable was that he scored all 17 of his second half points in a span of 5:44.

With Wake Forest putting the squeeze on FSU and trailing just 41-38, Rich just about single-handedly held the Demon Deacons at bay with a variety of shots that included free throws, three pointers, and acrobatic whirling shots in the lane.

What was a tight game that seemed like the Seminoles were just holding on by the fingertips saw a 59-49 margin develop following the senior guard’s last basket with 5:27 left to play.

That left the ‘Noles firmly in charge of the game.

And where Rich left off, Ralph Mims, Toney Douglas, and Ryan Reid picked up.  Both Mims and Douglas contributed by converting the necessary free throws. And Reid with a huge offensive put back just before the shot clock sounded to give FSU a 62-55 with a minute and half remaining.

Leonard Hamilton was obviously pleased with his team’s performance that ended a 0-3 streak against Wake  Forest in the ACC tournament. Calling it a an “overall good solid brand of basketball defensively” he added “we just told them to just get down in their stance and help stop the dribble penetration into the lane and get back quick to cover their man.”

The case for an indoor practice facility at FSU: Clemson's rainy day retreat

Aug. 31, 2007 - It was déjà vu all over again for the 19th-ranked FSU football team on Friday. For the second day in-a-row, the team was forced off the practice fields midway thru due to lightning...

Sound familiar? It happens every year -- especially during August and September -- in Tallahassee, one of the Top 10 rainiest cities in the U.S.

And while the Noles are reduced to "walk-thru's" in Tully Gym or the 25-yd. wide Turf Room in the Moore complex, some ACC opponents don't skip a beat. Case in point, Clemson.

The Tigers's Den. A $3.6 million indoor facility built for track and football in 2003, available exclusively for the football team from August through bowl season. The Tigers can scrimmage on a full-width 60-yard field with premium artificial surface (shown here in the track mode). Or they can use their 100-yard outdoor artificial surface, which, Clemson's facilities director told us, the coaches prefer unless there's lightning or heavy rain.

This type of multi-use complex sounds like the solution to FSU football's weather woes. Certainly more realistic and affordable than T.K. Wetherell's big umbrella over Doak.

But when? With FSU in a financial crunch and the Boosters shelling out to help pay for new coaches -- not to mention a certain former one -- looks like the best the Noles can hope for is drought conditions this fall.

How many Florida freshmen football players does it take to change a light bulb?

None. That’s a sophomore course.

Yeah, it's a slow news day. So with a week to go before the turf starts flying in Spring Practice, it's time to sharpen your tongue and learn some new ways to put down gators, canes and other deserving targets.

And here's a great place to start: a wacky site called Turf Sports. Their collection of CFB insults is the best we've seen.

Sure, you'll find a couple that knock the Noles. But just insert the name of any school you wanna slam and impress friends with your seemingly endless ability to dump on their team.