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Will the Sooners losses be FSU's gain?

Welcome back for the third in our series of Q & A's with Oklahoma Sooners blogger Allen Kenney of Blatant Homerism.

ChantRant: With all the Oklahoma talent drafted by the NFL last week, will the Sooners have the players to be as good or better than last year when they were 8 - 5?

Allen:  "It's important to remember that one of Oklahoma's four first-round draft picks, Jermaine Gresham, didn't play a down last year. The top overall pick, quarterback Sam Bradford, essentially played a game-and-a-half. Injuries plagued the Sooners all season, particularly on offense. By the end of the year, OU's team bore little resemblance to the one that started the season so highly ranked.

"When you consider who's returning and who's getting healthy, besting last year's 8-5 record looks like a solid bet."

Which Stoops brother will outsmart the other this September in Norman?

This is the second in a series of Q & A's with Oklahoma blogger Allen Kenney from Blatant Homerism.

ChantRant: Which Stoops brother has the edge predicting what the other will do: Bob outguessing Mark on defense, or Mark reading Bob's offense?

Allen: "Advantage: big bro.

"Although Mark has never worked directly for Bob, he has spent the past five years as their other brother Mike Stoops' defensive coordinator at Arizona. While progressing up the coaching ranks, Mike and Bob worked in concert to develop the concepts and principles underlying their defensive schemes. As such, assuming that he's not planning to completely junk what he was doing in Tucson, Mark's defense is steeped in a system that Bob helped mastermind.

"Meanwhile, Oklahoma's offense is pretty much Kevin Wilson's show. In 2008, Bob asked OU's offensive coordinator to give the Sooner O a makeover, installing Wilson's high-speed no-huddle attack. So, Mark probably doesn't have the kind of 'under the hood' experience with OU's offense that Bob has with Mark's defense.

"Truthfully, though, whatever edge Bob has is slight. Mark is a very good coordinator in his own right and is undoubtedly putting his own stamp on the system he's bringing to Tallahassee.

"Mark knows that Bob knows what Mark knows. FSU's D will undoubtedly throw some unexpected wrinkles at the Sooners in September."

Why no TV of Oklahoma's spring game? Bob Stoops wants to keep "everybody in the dark"

Because FSU's first real test of 2010 will be a Battle of the Titans-like showdown in Norman, we're doing a series of Q & A's with Oklahoma Sooner savant, Allen Kenney at Blatant Homerism. Here's the first.

ChantRant: Why did Bob Stoops not allow TV of the spring game? Was it to keep FSU in the dark about what OU will do in the fall?

Allen:  "It doesn't seem that long ago that OU was hosting the ESPN crew at the Red-White Game and opening up some scrimmages and practices for fans. Ever since the Rhett Bomar fiasco, though, Stoops seems to have taken a much more guarded stance towards who has access to the program.

"He hasn't allowed TV at the last three spring games, for instance, and scrimmages have been closed to both the public and the media. You've got a better chance of getting Stoops to kiss Mack Brown's butt than you do of him allowing you to watch an entire practice.

"So, no TV at the spring game has become standard operating procedure under Stoops. When asked about all the secrecy, he usually responds with something to the effect that he doesn't see the point in giving everyone a look at what OU is up to. It's not specifically aimed at FSU; it's really about keeping everyone in the dark."

Life After Alabi: Can the Noles rebound from losing their big man?

by Bill from Tampa

With Alabi going pro, who becomes the big man in Hamilton's offense?

BFT:  Well, it's not like FSU was scoring a whole lot of points in the first place. Obviously Solomon was a focal point of the offense. With his departure that role will probably fall to Xavier Gibson. And then you have Jon Kreft in there most likely for defense, and Bernard James who scored a lot and rebounded a lot at TCC. So replacing Solomon's points will most likely be by a committee of big men. And I would not overlook the improvement possibilities of Chris Singleton and definitely Michael Snaer. This also may get incoming freshman Ian Miller, who is known as a shooter, more involved in the offense earlier than usual. Same goes for Okaro White. In other words, right now Leonard Hamilton has options. Far better than few options.

Who can come close to replacing Alabi's rebounding and inside scoring threat?

BFT:  His departure could mean increased responsibilities for Singleton who was the leading rebounder at 7.0 boards per game. I've already mentioned James who could fill that role. Don't overlook what a player like Derwin Kitchen (4.9 rpg) can do in that area.

How will Alabi's departure change Hamilton's offense next year?

BFT:  Probably a little. Every year every coach goes through some adjustments because personnel is always changing. FSU changed from a Toney Douglas led offense two seasons ago to one that utilized the 'Noles front court strength. Where that focus will be will depend on practices come next October. But you can bet the staff has already been meeting to discuss what adjustments they will make.

Worst case scenario, did FSU just become an also-ran next season?

BFT: I doubt that. Hamilton has made progress just about every season. And with a solid core even without Alabi and the number of ACC underclassmen that have left for the NBA, Florida State will have a good opportunity to be in the upper level of the ACC once again.

FSU in a white helmet? As the Soprano's would say: "Faagheditaboutitttttt!"

Geez, the message board buzz on those crude locker room photos of a Seminole spear on a white helmet. The comments flew faster than anything about PRob drafted in the first round.

Well, it's been a fun little diversion. But forget about seeing it this season at Norman, Doak, or anywhere else in the foreseeable future.

At least that's the word from Bob Thomas, Assoc. Director of Media Relations.

Bob told us the helmet was "just ordered to dress up a few mannequins in multiple mix 'n match uniform combinations to show recruits." Sort of like a concept car that never makes it to a showroom.

So who took the photos we saw on the web? "Stuff shot by kids who paraded through the locker room," says Bob, "and probably with a cellphone camera" (which explains the awful clarity and color of the shots).

Bob added that if FSU was introducing new uniform combos, it certainly wouldn't be through the digital backdoor of somebody's social networking page.

But the most telling thing for Nole fans that we heard from Bob was this: "Jimbo favors the traditional uniform."

Case closed.

Bill from Tampa explains Alabi's decision

Despite reports from various internet sites that it was determined last week, this time the news that Solomon Alabi will enter the his name into the draft is legitimate.

And frankly it is not unexpected that he would declare. He's a little older than many players. He's had injury issues. Most draft services have him in the first round noting that Solomon has improved his play each year.

But more importantly than that, you can bet that Leonard Hamilton has looked into this a lot for him. And by the way, that process by Hamilton to assess Alabi's draft position did not start until within the last week (again contrary to various internet reports). Alabi has done everything the staff has asked of him so the level of trust in Hamilton to do what's in Solomon's best interest is unquestionable.

So good luck, Solomon. Obviously Seminole fans will miss seeing you play at the civic center for a couple of more years.

A Nole fan's guide to Clemson's Death Valley

This is the first of an occasional CRant series on the FSU fan experience at opponents' stadiums. We're looking for other Noles to profile home fields of B.C., N.C. State, UNC, UM, etc. Email us ([email protected]) if you can tell FSU faithful what to expect, including tailgating, seating and how hostile or hospitable rival fans are. And thanks to Nolepjd3883 for this excellent 411 on Death Valley.

by Nolepjd3883

Stadium:  Stadium size is basically equal to that of Doak Campbell. However, the layout is quite a bit different. There are more sideline seats at Clemson, and they are higher than they are at Doak.

It's another stadium where they divide fans from the visiting teams. They put FSU fans in three different locations in the ballpark. The worst being, where I have always wound up sitting. The "D" Deck.

The concourse getting to it is fine with ample room. However, the concourse ends at the base of the D Deck. Thus if you're in the top rows, you have a "hike" to reach your seat.  And it is straight up.

Concessions:  I couldn't answer that, because once I reached my seat, I wasn't coming down until the game ended. I've brought a coke with me to the top and milked it throughout the first half.

Parking/Tailgating: Have always parked at a park next to a lake. (I forget the names).  Seminole Boosters have always gathered there.  Some have driven in closer to the stadium, but I've always walked in from that spot. It's probably a good mile to mile and a half from the stadium. The walk in is fine...but if we lose, the walk back will be memorable. Everybody driving by will add a comment or two.

Fans: They're a unique bunch. They all love football so that is a plus. They all talk smack because that appears to be their nature. Half of them are "good sports" and enjoy smack directed back at them. I've always sensed that they have a great deal of respect for Florida State.

I imagine it's because we're the only team that travels in good numbers to their stadium, besides South Carolina. They do have trouble-makers though.

Getting real about the Spring game: Part 2

A few days ago we unearthed an idea that won’t die: a real spring game against a real opponent.

Arguments for it include: (1) A far more exciting event for fans (2) A greater challenge for the players (3) A better measure of progress made during the spring, and (4) A welcome new source of income for a cash-strapped athletic department trying to fund a full slate of men’s and women’s sports.

What’s not to like?

Okay, now the fine print. While the game needs to be as real as possible, there should be a few caveats to avoid injuries. Among them, no hits on QBs and probably no kick returns. And we recognize that coaches would probably be less interested in winning and more attuned to trying out different personnel, formations and plays. So, yeah, in some respects it would be more like an NFL exhibition game. But in our book, FSU teeing it up against another D-1 team still beats Garnet vs. Gold.

Remember this is all a fan fantasy at the moment, but dream along with us a bit longer.

So what team is the Noles’ ideal spring opponent?

Twisted gator logic: This billboard isn't bad sportsmanship, it's just good fun

Leave it to the dark side to justify this billboard design as "all in good fun" and a "friendly message to FSU."

Funny, they left out what a classy act it would be.

If you haven't heard, the Gator Tailgating site is trying to collect money to post this message on a 14 x 48 foot billboard along I-10 "westbound outside of Tallahassee." Donors can pony up from $5 to $50 to put the orange 'n blue monstrosity on the interstate for a six month run. The cost? About $7500, according to the fun-loving publishers of the website.

Checking the list of donors, to date they've collected $620. Naturally, we'll be monitoring the site to see just how many reptile rooters put their money where their mouth is.

Then again, maybe we should hope they do raise the bucks to post it. Hey, there's never been better -- or bigger -- in-your-face bulletin board material.

Bill from Tampa sheds some light on the Solomon Alabi situation

A ChantReader posted this comment about Solomon Alabi after Bill's take on the FSU center's draft status: "I won't be sad to see him leave. He had flashes of potential, but as the season wore on, he disappeared for long stretches, got outrebounded by people half his size, was a turnover machine, and had little impact other than altering shots..."

To which, Bill felt compelled to reveal some little-known info on Alabi and clear up possible fan misperceptions:

Regarding those fans that don't see Alabi's possible departure to the pros as much of a problem for FSU next season by pointing out his late season struggles, you're right, he did struggle.

Now here's the part you don't know. He was injured. Not injured enough to prevent him from playing but certainly enough to affect his game.

I'm not going to disclose where the injury was and really I hesitate to even mention it at all. But it's silly to think he won't be missed and that injury was a large factor in his performance late in the season.

You don't just stick a seven footer in the paint and immediately expect that he's going to be a shot blocker. How many times have we seen where a big man the size of Alabi has not been much of a defensive force in the paint? Does Andre Reid ring a bell?

And the part about being a turnover machine, it's a funny thing about perceptions. Because interestingly Alabi was fourth on the team in turning the ball over. This from a player who took the second most shots on the team and, oh by the way, had a 53% shooting percentage from the floor.

Alabi may indeed leave but it is not a given. What is a given is if Alabi does leave, Florida State's defense and offense will significantly change. My guess is a lot of ACC coaches' game planning against the 'Noles next season would get a whole lot easier.