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Highlights from Jimbo Fisher's ACC Media Teleconference on Wednesday

Q. I know it was four years ago, but how much did you use this and how much can you get the attention of these kids by showing them what Louisiana Monroe did to Alabama in 2007?

Jimbo: We don't discuss that. I mean, we know that these things happen all the time. I mean, look at James Madison last year, it was a 1-AA, look at App State a couple years ago at Michigan. Kids know about all those things, and I don't like dwelling on negative things, I don't like dwelling on anything that's happened in the past. I just like to concentrate on us playing the best we can play, and I don't ever go that way in how you prepare kids.

Our kids know that everybody has got a good football team. They can look at the film last year when Arkansas led (ULM) 7-0 at halftime and 14-0 in the third quarter and had opportunities in the game and did very well. From that standpoint, I think we just have to worry about ourselves and try to play the best we can play.

Q. I'm wondering how much with what has gone on at the University of Miami in relation to the NCAA has been a lesson to you and your team. I know you have some South Florida kids. Have you spoken to your players about boosters and used what's happened at Miami as a way to approach the subject maybe?

Jimbo: You know, before the Miami situation occurred, we always talked to our guys, and like you say, you try to educate them in every way, shape and form about the pitfalls out there that go on in the world today and the way folks get to you. Sometimes it's innocently and sometimes it's guys with a purpose. You don't ever know. That's something as a coach you constantly have to educate your kids and bring up to and just keep them aware of all the time. I mean, we can use Miami as an example right now, but we have done that way before the Miami situation.

Q. By nature most head coaches are worried about something. I was wondering, what are you fretting about the most going into this season opener? What are the areas that you see that are just kind of nagging at you a little bit?

Louisiana Monroe set to start two freshmen offensive lineman against FSU

One of the keys to FSU getting an early lead and avoiding a dog fight with Louisiana Monroe is the ability to pressure QB Kolton Browning. The sophomore earned his stripes last year, passing for 2553 yards and 18 TDs. With that under his belt, and four proven WRs, ULM should be able to move the ball with a short-to-medium passing attack.

However, ULM beat writer Matt Vines of the Monroe News Star reports that the Warhawks will apparently start two freshman OL on Saturday. He wrote: "Left tackle Joseph Treadwell (Pine Bluff, Ark.) and right guard Ben Risenhoover (Jenks, Okla.) could be opening-day starters, according to Berry."

Update: ULM's latest depth chart, released Monday, lists both true freshmen offensive linemen as starters.

We checked in with Vines to find out more. He told us: "The way Berry describes it is they really tried to 'break' the two freshmen offensive linemen during fall camp, but he said he really liked the way they responded and that they haven’t been overwhelmed. Now from what I understand, the offensive line was pretty bad last year, so the fact that some of those guys might not keep their starting positions may not be too surprising. Obviously starting true freshmen in this situation is not ideal, but it actually may be ULM’s best option at this point."

ULM Coach Todd Berry prepared his team by playing the chant throughout practice

Highlights from today's Sun Belt Coaches' Media Call with Todd Berry of ULM.

"We've had a good pre-season camp in terms of our conditioning. We've had a very physical camp, and I'm kind of pleased with the fact that we've had a physical camp. We've got one injured (and unnamed) player that would miss the game this upcoming Saturday. So we feel good about our preparations. It's a much more mature team, so we've been able to cover more of the nuances of the game. And I think we're playing smarter because of it. And obviously we'll know a lot more on Saturday against a great Florida State team."

Asked how he prepared his team for a tough environment at FSU.

"It's a great environment. One of the more impressive things in college football is when Chief Osceola rides out on the horse and throws the spear down. I think it'll be another great venue for our team…The chant is something that's incessant. And that's something we've tried to get ready with, just being able to utilize our scoreboard and being able to play that chant for all of practice. Because basically that's what ends up happening down there…I think our guys have got to the point now to where we've mentally kind of blocked it out, because we've been practicing with it for quite some time now. We're used to the crowd noise. We've certainly played in some venues before. But this is one of the better college experiences, and one I'm kind of excited about showing our players…"

A sneak preview of things to come starring Mario Pender

Talk about must-see TV, check out this (slow loading) video. That's FSU commit Mario Pender spinning, breaking tackles, going backwards and somehow magically escaping the entire Lehigh High School team on his way to a 20-yard TD.

It was Pender's second TD of the night, his first coming on a 94-yard burst. Maybe because it was a pre-season game, Pender's coach limited his carries to only six. That's all it took for the 4-Star RB to tally 161 yards and two TDs.

Barring bad mojo from the football gods, imagine a 2012 Seminole wrecking crew of running backs that includes Chris Thompson, Devonata Freeman, James Wilder and the amazing Mr. Pender.

TomRob's Duke Blue Devil Preview

Duke Blue Devils
2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)

OFFENSE

Scheme:  David Cutcliffe is a former QB and this is a QB-friendly offense. Perhaps partially because of a lackluster offensive line, Duke has struggled to run the ball and airs it out for the most part. Cutcliffe would like to strive for a more balanced offense, like he featured at Tennessee, but until Duke gets better along the line, expect them to throw the ball around. Last year, the Blue Devils ranked 22nd in passing offense and 59th in total offense, but just 104th in rushing. A marginal improvement in the run game could do wonders.

Quarterbacks:  Cutcliffe has preached competition and nowhere was this more evident during spring ball when Cutcliffe had returning starter Sean Renfree #3 on the depth chart. Renfree (3,131 yards, 61%, 14 TDs, 17 interceptions, 4 rushing TDs) rose to the top of the depth chart as spring ball ended, but Cutcliffe was surely trying to send a message to the entire team that you have to earn your job. If Renfree can cut down on the picks, he has all the tools—size, arm, footwork, and a quick release. The coaching staff expects Renfree to cut down on the turnovers and push for all-conference accolades.

Depth behind Renfree is good with sophomores Brandon Connette and Sean Schroeder. Connette (125 yds, 46%, 2 ints., 321 yds rushing, 8 TDs) started one game and was used extensively as a situational runner last year. While still needing to work on his passing, Connette is a talent who turned down Stanford to learn under Cutcliffe and should continue to add a wrinkle as a physical runner. Schroeder is a southpaw who is a precision passer. He still needs to bulk up a bit and does not have any game experience, but he was pursued by several Pac-10 teams and should only improve under Cutcliffe.

Running Backs:  Duke has struggled for years with the ground game and it is hard to say if it is due to the line, a lack of talent at RB, or both. Looking at the RB corps, the Blue Devils have strength in numbers but appear to be average, at best, in talent.

Junior Desmond Scott has led Duke in rushing the past two seasons and appears to be the likely starter in 2011. Scott (530 yds, 4.4 average, 3 TDs, 34 receptions, 266 yds) is versatile and quick, but lacks the size (5-9, 185) to be an every-down back. Sophomore Juwan Thompson carried the ball 25 times last year and had a big spring. He brings good size (5-11, 215) and power to the group. Senior Jay Hollingsworth (175 yds, 3.9 avg, 2 TDs, 5 recs) and junior Patrick Kurunwune are useful in short-yardage situations as well. The back with the highest ceiling is probably sophomore Josh Snead. The same size as Scott, Snead (221 yds, 4.9 avg, 1 TD) has a bit better speed and the ability to make defenders miss than anyone else on the roster. He should push Scott all year for the starting job. 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:  The passing game should be a strength not only because of the return on Renfree, but also because Duke quietly has one of the better groups of pass catchers in the ACC. The backups are unproven, but Duke has recruited well here and has three players that will garner NFL attention.

FSU's Top 5 Rejected Team Slogans for 2011

TomRob's Wake Forest Preview

Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7 ACC)

OFFENSE

Scheme:  Wake Forest has stuck with the same recipe for Coach Jim Grobe’s entire tenure at Wake—running out of passing formations with lots of motion and misdirection. Wake uses more of a spread look now than they did when Grobe first arrived, but the game plan is to run the ball, eat up clock, and stay in the game. Wake usually has not put up big stats on offense, but last year they hit bottom, finishing 91st in scoring offense and 108th in total offense. That was largely due to an inept passing offense that finished 114th in the country at just 143 yards per game and 109th in passing efficiency. If Wake can get the passing game going, they have a chance to move the ball on the ground thanks to a good RB and 4 returning starters on the line.

Quarterbacks:  Everyone knew that the graduation of Riley Skinner would hit the program hard, but no one probably thought it would be as bad as it was. Through injury and necessity, Wake used four different QBs last year and two other players threw passes on trick plays. Needless to say, it was not an ideal situation. 

The coaching staff hopes that the lumps sophomore Tanner Price took on the job last year will pay off this season. Price (1,349 yards, 57%, 7 TDs, 8 interceptions, 160 yards rushing, 4 TDs) started 9 games and appeared in two others as Wake looked toward the future. Price certainly had some bad games, but displayed good accuracy, mobility, toughness, and poise. There was competition from junior Ted Stachitas in the spring, but it seems likely Price will keep the job. Stachitas (131 yds, 52%, 1 int., 171 yds rushing, 2 TDs) played in 5 games, starting 3, and is a slightly better athlete than Price.  He had a strong spring, but it seems unlikely he unseats Price. After all, why throw Price into the fire if he isn’t going to be the long-term guy? Wake has a third QB, sophomore Brendan Cross, who saw 4 games of action last year, but he isn’t a threat to start.

Running Backs:  Wake Forest will always be a running team first under Grobe and they had a string of very solid runners in Grobe’s first few years on campus. However, the position had not produced up to expectations in recent years, but the coaching staff is confident that sophomore Josh Harris has the ability to be the guy that has been lacking recently. Harris (720 yds, 5.7 average, 7 TDs, 8 receptions) came from off the radar to lead the team in rushing and exploded for 241 yards against Virginia Tech. Harris can run between the tackles, but also has the speed to hit the home run. He should contend for All-ACC honors for years to come.

The coaching staff has said they like the depth behind Harris with senior Brandon Pendergrass and redshirt freshman Nick Knott. Pendergrass (115 yds, 4.8 avg, 2 TDs) is experienced and tough, but his production has gone down every year since his freshman season, partly due to injuries, so it is hard to say how much of an impact he can have spelling Harris. Knott provides a change of pace, bringing excellent speed and decent hands to the fold. He could be a 3rd down back. 

Wake is one of the seemingly few teams that still uses a traditional fullback and has a good one in junior Tommy Bohanon. Bohanon (77 yds, 4.5 avg, 11 receptions) is an excellent blocker who can also be a bruising north-south runner. He is one of the strongest players on the team.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:  Wake has never fielded an elite WR corps under Grobe, but last year’s unit was a particular disappointment. It wasn’t their entire fault, but the unit as a whole lacked consistency and did not do a great job getting open. Leading receiver Devin Brown transferred and Marshall Williams, who finished 3rd in receptions, graduated, but the coaches hope strong spring showings from a few guys carry over to the season.

Can Seminole wide receivers go deep against Oklahoma's sharks?

Oklahoma may have shaken up its secondary after last year, but this group doesn't lack for confidence. They call themselves "the sharks" and claim that when they take the field "there will be blood." Here's an ESPN preview of what FSU's receiver corps will go up against on September 17.

FSU may be Top Ten on the field but it's number 22 at the cash register

The Collegiate Licensing Company has announced its annual list of top-selling institutions and manufacturers (see their top 25 below) and the Noles are nowhere near the top. OMG, Kentucky rings up more fan merchandise than FSU!? Geez, how many John Calipari beer coasters does a Wildcat need?

And how does a school with a smaller stadium and fan base like West Virginia sell more stuff? By offering super-flammable couches in the bookstore?

Okay, the gauntlet has been thrown down, FSU fans. Don't leave campus this fall without buying at least one cool, wearable or even tacky item with a Seminole logo on it.

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. Auburn 
5. Michigan
6. Georgia
7. Kentucky
8. North Carolina
9. LSU
10. Penn State
11. Notre Dame
12. Oklahoma
13. Nebraska
14. Tennessee
15. Wisconsin
16. West Virginia
17. Arkansas
18. Missouri
19. Texas A&M 
20. Kansas
21. South Carolina
22. Florida State 
23. Illinois
24. Clemson
25. Texas Tech

Kick the Canes while they’re down? Not so fast, my friend

The college football world woke this morning to find that it really is all about the U -- and not in a good way. The Canes are suddenly deeper in doo-doo than a swamp buggy stuck in Everglades muck.

It’s easy for fans of most college teams, including FSU (but minus Ohio State and Southern Cal) to tsk-tsk over Miami’s tsunami of troubles. But no program should assume they don’t have an embarrassing skeleton or two in the closet. One that can pop out any time, just like a renegade Ponzi scheme booster brought shame, and certain penalties, to the Canes.

Besides not being smug, we’re hoping the NCAA doesn’t bring a firing squad to Coral Gables. You know they’re gonna get spanked, but a death sentence should be out of the question.

Seriously, can you imagine a season when FSU doesn’t play Miami?

The Noles have more common history with the Canes than any other team. No school has appeared on FSU’s schedule more than Miami: 55 games, same as the gators.

The series goes back 60 years. Unlike the reptiles from G-ville, Miami wasn’t too good to schedule FSU. It took legislative action to bring the gators and Noles together on the same field.

Maybe that’s why Miami raises your blood pressure, while the gators unleash genuine hate.

The Noles and Canes even started their rise to the top 25 around the same time. From the late 70s to the early 2000’s, FSU vs. Miami was the game of the year more years than not.

It wasn’t always pretty, neither with the teams on the field or the combative fans in the stands. But what started as a football series has become a co-dependent relationship that neither side can do without.

Which is why most FSU faithful want a competitive, worthy -- yeah, maybe even swaggering -- UM team every year. One that can ignite the passion on both sides that delivers yet another classic nailbiter.

Remember when FSU beat the Canes 47 - 0 in 1997 because Miami lost scholarships due to the Pell Grant scandal? Yawn. How much fun was that?