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FSU in the running for one of 2010's top DL

While the 2009 recruiting class is Job #1, FSU coaches aren't ignoring next year's needs. One guy who's getting lots of attention -- along with a scholarship offer -- is Denzel McCoy from Atlanta's Northview High School. Problem is, the 6-4, 273 lb. rising Senior has offers from several schools, including LSU, Bama, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, Vandy and West Virginia.

At least we won't have to wait long to find out where Denzel is headed. He told the AJC that he "hopes to decide before spring practice. I want it off my mind and be able to contribute everything I have in my final season."

Imagine a Triple Mac defensive line at FSU, with McCoy joining McDaniel and McAllister. For now, young Denzel should imagine future NFL riches, thanks to the expert teaching of Coach Haggins, as presented rather convincingly by Tomahawk Nation's sales pitch to young D-Linemen. 

Poise and defense help FSU whack the Pack in their own lair

by Bill from Tampa

As all ACC basketball fans know, winning conference road games are hard to come by.

For Florida State, winning at North Carolina State is extremely rare. Well, apparently not that rare as the Seminoles for the second year in a row traveled to Raleigh and came away with the win, this time 78-65 over the Wolfpack.

Leonard Hamilton called it a “significant win” and “a win we had to have."

And it was.

While not a must-win game for the Noles, evening the ACC record to 1-1 is obviously a better situation than being 0-2 that NC State now sees its record fall to.

Hamilton credited his defense that held NC State to just two points over the last 6:09 of the game.

“We got big rebounds we had to have with the game on the line," Hamilton said. On that last six  minutes with the Wolfpack leading 63-59 Hamilton added “We challenged the players and they responded. There was no panic. We remained poised.”

One of those big rebounds belonged to Jordan DeMercy who corralled a Toney Douglas missed long three attempt fought off a Pack defender to put back the slam dunk rattling the rim in the process to make it 63-61. It was one of three highlight plays of the game.

While Hamilton was giving the defense its due, FSU’s offense played a prominent role as well in the decisive last minutes.

Solomon Alabi made back to back turnaround jumpers to give FSU a 65-63 lead. Following a DeMercy steal, Devidas Dulkys put back a Douglas missed layup.

And then came the third highlight play of the game that should get at least a nomination for Sports Center’s Top 10 plays. Dulkys snared the loose ball off a missed Wolfpack shot quickly taking it up the far sideline. Spinning with the ball to avoid  Courtney Fells’ cutoff move, Dulkys took it in from the right side shielding off another NC State player to lay the ball in with his right hand.

His two free throws shortly after that gave FSU a commanding 71-63 lead with 1:45 remaining.

FSU a finalist for sleeper Safety prospect

He's not a household name in this year's recruiting wars, but the Atlanta Journal-Contitution reports the Noles are among the final three schools for Cedric Wilson.

If you've never heard of Wilson maybe it's because he plays for tiny Chattahoochee County High School in Cussetta, Georgia, a town with less than 2,000 residents in the last U.S. Census.

Wilson is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete who's projected to play safety, linebacker or running back. Besides FSU, Wilson has Southern Miss and Troy on his final list. His coach says he'll take trips to all three this month before he decides.

According to the AJC, Wilson was also recruited by Auburn, South Florida and Clemson.

Giving the Devils--and Noles--their due: post-Duke observations by Bill from Tampa

After attending Saturday’s opening conference game in Tallahassee against Duke and upon returning home to the city by the bay (not the one on the west coast of the country but the one on the west coast of Florida) I watched my recording of the game just to see if I noticed anything different from seeing it live.

As I expected, I didn’t. The tape didn’t reveal anything I really didn’t see in person.

Those who watched the game either in attendance or on TV saw a defense that, to me, looks like it can play with just about anyone else in the country. It’s physical and it’s tenacious. This is much more a get in your face defense than past years.

And it has that distinct height advantage (if you missed it in the broadcast, FSU is the tallest team in the NCAA this season). That was readily  apparent early on when Solomon Alaibi forced Jon Scheyer to put far more arc on his mid-range floater than he wanted. It, of course, resulted in a missed shot.

Going small doesn’t take anything away from the effectiveness of the unit either giving us the ability to really mix and match against other team’s personnel.

The smaller unit of Chris Singleton, Toney Douglas, Derwin Kitchen, Uche Echefu, and Devidas Dulkys certainly bothered Duke enough to cause a seven minute drought by the Blue Devils allowing FSU to get back into the game making it look respectable against the second ranked team.

There was a lot of intensity from the group in particular Dulkys who showed me much hustle on defense in the game. For example, during the 14-4 run that made it 50-40 Dulkys had a near knock away right in front of the FSU bench, stayed with the play, and seconds later tipped the ball away. He made several other nice hustle plays as well that  should earn him more minutes, if only he can knock down some more shots.

And that brings me to the offense. First let me say, it wasn’t all bad. You have to remember Duke is pretty darn good on defense. And FSU’s defense is not one that's geared to take advantage of Duke’s overplaying the passing lanes. The Seminoles will not run into that kind of defense every game.

Three reasons for Nole fans not to get their hearts set on Valdosta's Greg Reid

Great news from Steve Ellis at The Democrat. Georgia's Player of the Year, Greg Reid, is taking an official visit to FSU this weekend. Congrats to Jimbo and Mickey for getting on Reid's dance card and diverting him from a trip to Bama. But here are three things going against Reid becoming a Nole (though we'd love to be wrong on this).

His orange and blue outlook. We're told by a Valdosta media source that Greg's favorite team growing up was those slimy reptiles. And while Reid de-committed from UF, it would take a great sales job to change his Sunshine State loyalty.

He's like a kid in a candy store. Anybody who didn't know about Reid woke up to his talents during last week's Under Armor Game. As the MVP he's now on the radar of school's coast-to-coast. Reid told the Valdosta Times, “Everybody (is talking to me), from Big XII to Pac-10. I plan to take a lot of visits.”

He has an Achilles heel. While Reid could play for any D-1 team in the country, he might qualify for none of them. Our Valdosta source says that Reid's potential spoiler is grades. No hard evidence, but this is the X factor to watch for after signing day -- whoever he signs with.

FSU's newest in-state rival just could be next season's hottest ticket

You have to hand it to Randy Spetman. He catches on quickly. FSU fans want a better reason to make that drive to Tallahassee than another 1-AA cupcake. And by sweetening the schedule with an instant in-state rival, can you say sellout? So kudos to the new guy for dialing up Temple Terrace and scheduling one helluva game.

The news was like Christmas morning for USF message board regulars. Including one Bully poster who wrote: "Yessss....finally those cowards will play us." Wow, who knew we'd been ducking them all these years?

Meanwhile, the Go USF Bulls blog wondered if the 2012 game in Tampa will even be played. We say it makes too much sense from so many angles -- from team travel costs to creating bodacious trash talk opportunities. Think about it: don't you have more friends and co-workers who are Bull fans than Cane faithful?

In fact, a decade from now a USF rivalry could challenge Miami as the team FSU wants to beat most -- after the reptiles, of course.

We're Not Worthy: Why 13 - 2 Florida State hasn't cracked the Top 25

By Bill from Tampa

So after the college basketball Top 25 rankings came out Monday, I was asked why isn’t Florida State ranked. After all FSU has a comparable record to other ranked teams at 13-2.

Other numerical data would seem to favor the Seminoles as well. The ‘Noles have an RPI of 17. Even with playing five teams with a RPI over 200 FSU’s strength of schedule is ranked 42^nd. They are 4-2 against teams with a RPI less than 50. Yes, believe it or not Northwestern right now has a RPI of 41.

There are wins over other power conference teams such as California, Cincinnati, our friends located in Gainesville as well as a neutral site win over a respected Western Kentucky team. Plus FSU has not slipped up against any lower level teams.

So what is it that is keeping Florida State out of the Top 25 where this week’s poll saw the ‘Noles pick up just 13 votes in the AP and just 1 vote in the USA/ESPN poll?

Some may point to FSU’s lack of historical presence on the national scene over the last decade plus.

But in my opinion here’s what is keeping FSU out of the ranking. It lacks that signature win over a ranked team. Had the Seminoles beaten Pittsburgh I guarantee you the team would be ranked right now.

Look what the win over North Carolina Sunday night did for Boston College. It went from unranked to 17^th.

Looking at the bottom seven teams in the AP Top 25 all of them except Louisville and Arizona State have wins over ranked teams. In the Cardinals case the case can be made because of their SOS ranking of 15. It helps to have a name coach like Rick Pitino as well. Arizona State still remains ranked despite a recent loss to that same Cal team that FSU beat because of its RPI of 18.

So if FSU wants to find itself ranked, get a win over a currently ranked opponent.

The first and best opportunity to really move up into the rankings is this Saturday. Beat the #2 ranked Duke Blue Devils, no easy task as we all know but not impossible, and the ‘Noles will definitely move into the Top 25. 

What If? #2: If Bobby stays past 2009, how does Jimbo get paid Five Million?

In What If? #1, we explored what life would be like after Bowden. In What If #2, we wonder what happens if Bowden decides to stay after next season.

Specifically, how does FSU afford to pay Jimbo the $5 million he's owed for not becoming the head coach, and shell out $2 million-plus on a new one-year Bowden contract?

Here's how: IF Bowden decides for whatever reason (Ego? The shootout with JoPa? Fear of the grim reaper if he retires?) he wants another year, and T.K. Wetherell can't say no, then his salary for that year should be $1, not seven figures.

Well-heeled corporate CEO's like Steve Jobs work for $1 a year. Presidents of the Big Three automakers pledged to work for a buck if their companies got a bailout. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger takes home $0 for his efforts.

How could Bobby say no? Heaven knows he doesn't need the money. He's a millionaire many times over. And taking the one-dollar deal shows that his priority is coaching, not another boatload of cash.

Using millions that would go to Bowden to help pay off Jimbo is only fair to Nole boosters and fans who'd help bankroll part of the deal. But if Bowden is determined to stay, all of his compensation -- including endorsements and his radio and TV shows -- should go into the debt owed Fisher.

Of course, this solution completely avoids the other major question: If Bowden continues past '09 will Jimbo stay? On one hand he's set for life with $5 mil from Florida State's coffers. On the other, he hasn't achieved his career objective.

We'll address that one in What If #3.

FSU finishes non-conference play with a win

by Bill from Tampa

In the book of great college basketball games, Saturday’s contest between Florida State and Texas A&M Corpus Christi will not be listed.

But a win is a win no matter how ugly, as FSU pulled away in the second half to beat the Islanders 69-48.

Some of the stats indicate the less than stellar level of play..

The two teams combined for 37 turnovers, 16 by FSU. The ’Noles shot a terrible 5 of 18 (28%) from behind the arc and converted a miserable 4 of 14 from the free throw line, a season low. The visiting Islanders weren’t any better connecting on just one of their twelve three point attempts and 7 of 16 from the line.

The Seminoles even survived one of those lengthy scoring droughts. With FSU leading at the half by the score of  35-23, the ‘Noles misfired on their first seven shots and had three turnovers before Chris  Singleton knocked away a pass and Toney Douglas took it the distance for the layup at the 15:01 mark.

Fortunately TAMCC was unable to make up much ground over that span with only a Kevin Palmer (21 points) three-point play to show for their efforts.

But the Seminoles were too talented and a flurry of layups and slam dunks, punctuated by a three-pointer by Devidas Dulkys from the left wing with 3:58 remaining, opened up a 59-41 margin that just about assured FSU its 13th win on the season in 15 games.

Seconds later Douglas tapped away the ball and made it a twenty point lead.

Dulkys and Brian Hoff added three pointers in the closing minute and a half.

FSU never trailed in the game opening up a 16-4 lead and maintained an eight to twelve point lead throughout the game until pulling away.

What if the Bowl win was Bobby's last game?

What if during Erin Andrews's post-Champs Bowl chat with Bobby Bowden, FSU's Coach said something along the lines of, "Erin, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce that this is my final game coaching Florida State. I'll be retiring as of tonight and I wish Jimbo and the team all the best in the coming years."

How would you feel? Elated? Surprised? Devastated?

You might be ready for the news, whenever it comes. But will you be ready for the change that will follow? FSU's program will never be the same. In fact, neither will college football.

This is not a sympathy plea on behalf of Bowden. We don't embrace either extreme of FSU fans: On one side, those who want him gone now; on the other, Bowden faithful who believe he should be able to stay as long as he likes.

Whatever your feelings about Bobby's future, though, his retirement will mean among other things:

Less coverage of FSU Football. Like it or not, Bowden is the face of the program and drives much of the team's media coverage. No offense to Jimbo, but dadgumit, he can't hold a candle to the funny, quirky quote machine known to the press simply as Bobby.

Fewer FSU games on TV. Mediocre teams aren't on television 11 or 12 times every season -- unless they have a living college football legend at the helm. Which is why, even during the Noles mediocre 7 - 6 seasons, fans were able to catch virtually every game on the tube. 

Florida State loses a special place in football history. Many Nole fans have become blase´ about the Bobby vs. JoPa competition. But 50 years from now the one who actually becomes the winningest coach will still be a household name, and their school will continue to reap the benefits. Chances are that will be Paterno and Penn State if Bowden retires at the end of 2009.

There'll never be another like him. First, it's a pretty safe bet no coach will ever approach him in number of wins. Second, you'll never see such a genuine, tell-it-like-it-is, good old boy personality. Today's successful coach is as cold and calculating as a Fortune 500 CEO, and as political as a congressional candidate in a tight race. There's no better example than the humorless corporate-style equivocator running the show in Gainesville.

Again, this is not a guilt trip for those eager for a change. Just a sobering consideration of what all that change will bring. Like the old song says, you don't know what you've got until you lose it.